Wanted: Articles for Anthology of Kinaray-a Writing 2009

Hiraya Media Arts through Datu Lubay Center, Inc. is publishing an anthology of Kinaray-a writing in 2009. Contributions are welcome. Please observe the following guidelines:

1. All articles (poems, stories, essays, drama) must be written in Kinaray-a.
2. Selected articles shall be translated into English by the editor/translator of the issue.
3. Articles must be encoded in Microsoft word or compatible application, without any special lay-out (0nly flush left, single space), and shall be attached to email as document. No RTF please.
4. Include a cover letter stating your interest to be included in the anthology and a short bio-note about you (3-5 sentences only).
5. Email all contributions to datulubay@yahoo.com on or before June 30, 2009.
6. The budget for this publication covers printing only. No royalty shall be given to authors. Contributors shall be paid with two complimentary copies of the book.
7. The individual authors retain the copyright of their own work.
8. By contributing articles, it is assumed that the contributor agrees with these guidelines, and gives permission to Datu Lubay Center, Inc. to publish their work.

Please inform other Kinaray-a writers.

5th OKM Awards, higher level na

Thanks to Sammy Rubido for giving me a CD of the 5th OKM Awards finalists. Wara takun nakalantaw kang actual performances kang mga finalists, kasi naman the awards night was held in far away Bugasong. Well, mga one hour drive man lang, but my car is still in the talyer, so I had nothing to drive. Drive me crazy na lang. Tried hard to convince Poks to bring her carurang, pero wiz feel kang murat magrampa sa Bugaysong hay wa man driver, and her chubby daughter Mariela wara't mabantay.

In other words, nagahinulsul gid ako tulad nga wiz ko witness ang 5th OKM, especially nga nag-winalou si Love Estaris for her song "Ti ano karon." Listen na lang me sa CD nga givsung ni Sammy Rubs.

Jongga ang song ni Love, in the tradition of Cabaret and Hey Big Spender. It's about a chaka girl nga nagarationalize kang anang pagka-chaka. Shades of Betty La Fea. Sureness, it's not Love's persona coz super-jutiful si Rubbie Rizza Estaris, Lin-ay kang Antique 2005. But for her to take on the persona and be the voice of the homely is unselfishness. May feminist voice sa kanta ni Love, so that indi matrivialize as just another Liza Minelli/Shirley Bassey wannabee. In a pop music tradition nga puro love song kang panganduhoy kon bukut over the top romantisismo about the Maragtas, matawag ta nga novelty ang kanta ni Love Estaris. Dugangan pa nga super performer si Love, ti bukut makatiringala nga madaug na ang top prize this year. Congrats, Love.

Ang second cut sa CD - "Wara" ni Noel Tabotabo stars out in a Sting-ish beat, and I suspect amo gid ang model ni Noel. On second thought, daw si Billy Joel man. Something between rock and jazz. Rock ang beat pero gina-jazz up ni Noel. hahaha. Amo gid man ang signature ni Noel, who's been into composing and music for the longest time I remember. I got him as my musical director for "Hiniraya" in 2002, pero wara nagsipot sa performance hay nagbata si misis na. Trademark na man dya. hehehe. Anyway, Noel's music is something he alone could sing. Amo ria wara nagapopular ang anang music. If I remember right he also won first prize in the 3rd OKM. Si Love Estaris ang interpreter na. Small world.

The second prize winner, "Ikaw nadura tungud kanakun" is by Marte Jun Granada, who Jun Teneso told me is still a student. This is a love duet, and quite mushy. A song about lost love, the lyrics are prosaic and corny, but the music is good enough. It gives enough material for the local singers.

The other songs in the album are forgettable. There's Edison Otañez's "Daw Hangin", which is a far cry from his earlier music, plus the rather trying hard singing style he puts on. He won third for this. It's easy to accept. Edison is OKM's first champion, when we started the competition in 2003. He lost in the second, and that was quite an issue. But as one local composer said in his one-time popular OKM, "Pa-tyempo tyempo lang" (sing that 100x).

There's another song I would tend to like - "San-o" (track 9), which comes in the tradition of Pinoy rock. Am not a big rock music fan, but this one hits me good enough. It's by Filbert Paunon (music) and Thelmo Fano (lyrics).

I think the 5th OKM is in a higher level now. Kauna, most of the music is about Kinaray-a, kag Maragtas, ek-ek beng. Mga romantisismo nga mabudlay huksun sa Karay-a artists. Pero tulad, thanks to new music artists like Love Estaris, and old timers like Noel, who are experimenting, and trying to put new elements in OKM.

We must congratulate Paranubliun Antique, for sustaining OKM Awards, which has now become an annual event to look out for.

Si Bitoy sa "Larawan"

Nasa third year hayskul pa lang ako nang napanood ko ang dulang "Larawan," na pinalabas sa ngayon ay dilapidated nang Little Theater sa UP Visayas sa Molo, Iloilo City. Ito yata ang pinakaunang professionally produced play na napanood ko. Ang opening scene nito ay ang monolog ni Bitoy Camacho na siyang pinakaintroduksyon ng dula.

Pagkatapos kong napanood iyon ay sinabi ko sa sarili kong gusto ko ring mag-artista sa entablado. Dito yata nagsimula ang pagkagulo ng isip ko kung anong karera ang gusto ko at anong kurso ang kunin ko sa kolehiyo. Ilang beses kong binasa ang iskrip ng larawan, at read aloud ko ang mga linya ni Bitoy. Well, for some time, naging artista ako sa mangilan-ngilang dula, pero never bilang si Bitoy. Ngayon 42 na ako.

Kagabi ko lang nakilala iyong Bitoy Camacho na pumukaw ng aking pag-ibig sa entablado. Si Dennis Marasigan pala iyon. Kung hindi pa kami nag-chikahan ni Dennis pagkatapos ng nakakapagod na 2-day workshop sa Orchid Gardens, hindi ko pa nalaman.

Napag-usapan tuloy namin ni Dennis ang Antique ayon sa naalala niya noong 1983. Nagside-trip sila sa Antique noon, bago ang palabas ng "Larawan" sa Iloilo. Si Behn Cervantes, na siyang direktor ay konsultant ng dulang "Hantik-i" ni Bernie Salcedo. Cast ako sa dulang iyon. Isa sa mga direktor si Susan Macabuag, na kaibigan ni Behn Cervantes. Kaya nainvolve si Behn sa produksiyong iyon. Kaya nagside-trip ang cast ng "Larawan" sa Antique, at nag-judge ng beauty contest sina Susan Valdes, Barbara Perez, Rez Cortes, atbp.

Sabi ni Dennis, napakalayo ng nilakbay nila mula Iloilo noon. Lubak-lubak ang daan. May stop over pa daw sa bundok, bago ang pagbaba sa mga bayan ng Antique. Well, two hours na lang ngayon ang biyahe, aspaltado na ang daan except sa mga nasira ng bagyo; baka sa Tiolas ang stop-over. May scenic view ito ng dagat.

Binirayan Festival noon, at say ni Dennis first time daw siyang nakakita ng street-dancing. Baka ang sinasabi niya ay Ati-ati, dahil may kumpetisyon noon ng ati-ati. Doon daw sila pinatulog sa ospital, na nakapagtataka dahil kokonti ang tao doon. Baka sa payward sila pinatulog. Ang karamihan sa charity ward. Ang mga may pera sa Antique sa Iloilo nagpapagamot. Pero kakaibang strategy ito ng hosting guests for Binirayan. Ganito pala noon. Kasi nga wala pang mga hotel sa Antique noon. May Rizalitos Hotel, pero baka nagtipid lang talaga si Gov. Ike Zaldivar noon. Ngayon, malaki ang ginagastos ng Binirayan Foundation para sa mga VIP tuwing Binirayan. Bakit nga pala hindi gawin muli ito. Province naman ang may-ari ng ospital, bakit hindi gamitin ang mga bakanteng private rooms para sa ibang guests? Suggest ko nga.

Ang mga stars naman daw ay pinatulog sa Binirayan Guest House. May swimming pool sa likod nito, at one time daw na nagsuswiming sila, nagulat na lang sila sa dami ng nagsulputang mga taong nanonood sa kanila. Bigla daw naconscious si Susan Valdez na nakaswim suit at nagsa-sunbathing. Naglaro daw sila ng kuning-kuning na water hockey at di nagtagal may mga fans na silang nag-cheer at napalakpakan.

May pinuntahan daw silang party sa Hamtic, by the beach. It turned out reunion party ng mga Pacificador iyon. At ang feeling naman nila, dahil family affair at outsider sila, para silang mga circus animals na dinala doon for show and for free lunch. hahaha. Ganyan talaga ang strategy para makatipid. Ibig sabihin, in good terms pa ang mga Zaldivar at mga Pacificador noon. Governor si Ike Zaldivar, assemblyman si Turing Pacificador at nasa iisang partidong KBL lang sila. Nung 1984, nagbago ang lahat ng ito, dahil sa Pangpang massacre. Namatay ang mga paryente ni Zaldivar, suspek naman nito si Pacificador. Kaya may alam din si Dennis sa politika sa Antique.

Kinse anyos pa lang ako noon nang napanood ko si Dennis Marasigan sa dulang "Larawan." Kaya kami nakapanood dahil treat iyon sa amin ni Gov. Ike Zaldivar pagkatapos ng pagtatanghal ng "Hantik-i" sa Binirayan. Nagsponsor din siguro siya dun, bilang kapalit ng pagpunta ng mga artista sa Binirayan Festival. Star-studded pala ang Binirayan 1983.

Walang wala sa "Walang Kawala"

Nang pinanood ko ang "Walang Kawala" sa Robinson's Ermita noong November 20, sasampu lang kaming bakla sa loob ng sinehan. Bakit kaya ganung isang mega treat sa mga bading ito. Imagine Polo Ravales at Joseph Bitangcol na naglalaplapan, hindi lamang sa isang eksena, kundi mga tatlo o apat pa. Hanggang sa katapusan, kahit in the throes of death na si Polo, sabay sabing "mahal na mahal kita" kay Joseph, ay may kissing scene pa. Sinong bakla ang hindi mag-eenjoy dito?

May frontal nudity pa ang aktor na gumanap na macho dancer na kaibigan ni Waldo (Joseph Bitangcol). Baka ito na nga ang longest frontal nudity sa history ng gay films na napalabas sa sinehan dito sa Pinas. (Somebody make a study.)

Indie daw itong pelikula ni Joel Lamangan, pero mainstream na mainstream ang finish nito. Walang bago o experimental dito. Hindi naman bago ang pelikulang may temang bakla o may hubaran di ba? Ano na ba ang working definition ng indie film? Anyway indie or not, mag-eenjoy pa rin ang bakla sa pelikulang ito.

Love story ito nina Joaquin (Polo Ravales), isang mangingisda, at Waldo na isang high school graduate. Saan may mangingisdang sing gwapo ni Polo? Pupuntahan ko. Ang asawa niya'y dalawang taong nagtrabaho sa Dubai. Nagkadebelopan sila ng kapitbahay na bagets. Mukhang si Waldo ang dead na dead kay Joaquin. Di ba naman lahat tayo'y nag-ilusyong may gwapong binatilyong magkagusto sa atin? Syempre tigang na tigang ang asawa ni Joaquin nang umuwi galing Dubai; titigasan naman ang mga heterong lalaki sa mga eksenang kangkangan dito. Mukhang may gustong lamangan si Lamangan sa paggawa ng mga eksenang ito? Scorpio Nights ba ang naiisip niya? Kaya lang wala nang bago dito. Bongga't kaka-L din ang eksenang kangkangan sa opening scene ng Lalaki sa Parola, I recall, at mas lyrical iyon.

Nang nalaman ni Waldo na nabuntis ang asawa ni Joaquin, naimbyerna siya kaya naglayas. At dito nagsimula ang paghahanap ni Joaquin sa kanyang trulab. Metapora din ito sa kanyang paghahanap ng sarili at pagtanggap ng kanyang sekswalidad. Ang problema, talagang napariwara si Waldo at napunta sa mga kamay ng salbaheng pulis na si Rufo (Emilio Garcia). Kapangalan pa niya ang ex kong may pagkasalbahe nga't nambubugbog pa. Teka, alam ba ni Joel ang kwento ng buhay ko?

Anyway, ipinaglaban nina Joaquin at Waldo ang kanilang pagmamahalan, nakatakas nga sila sa tulong ng traidor na si Beng (Jean Garcia), ang battered wife ni Rufo na sadyang piniling magiging alila ng kasamaan ng asawa. Siya yata ang embodiment ng baklang masokista. In the end, nabaril ni Rufo si Joaquin, nakatakas wi Waldo na siyang nagsumbong ng child-trafficking operations ng sadistang silahis na pulis.

Para magkaroon ng layers at texture ng mga pangyayari sa ating lipunan itong halos imposibleng kwento ng dalawang napakagwapong batang bading, ipinasok ni Lamangan ang mga reportage tungkol sa mga nawawalang tao dahil sa political harrassment na mas nakakatakot kung tawaging desaparecidos. Mukhang hang-over pa ito ni Lamangan sa kangyang pagiging aktor at direktor sa Peta. At para may relevance pa, ay pinilit pa ang isyu ng child-trafficking. May suspetsa akong feeling talaga ni Joel Lamangan ay siya na ang pumalit kay Lino Brocka.

Litaw na litaw din ang mga artifice ng direktor/scriptwriter. Halimbawa, para magkaroon ng lyrical ek-ek ang pelikula, hobby daw ng asawa ni Rufo ang pag-aalaga ng mga isda sa akwaryum. Ito pala ang objective correlative kuning sa mga batang kinikidnap ni Rufo at ibinibenta sa Intsik ng 25T kada ulo. Dahil nga naman gasgas na ang mga ibong kinukulong sa hawla, isda naman ngayon. Pero keri na rin. Metaporikal nga.

Sina Joaquin at Waldo bilang mga bakla ay biktima ng mga mapang-aping institusyon ng lipunan, halimbawa ng batas, kustombre at tradisyon, at ng realidad ng kahirapan. Biktima din sila ng kapwang naapi pero ayaw labanan ang umaapi sa kanila, katulad ng mga baklang tinatanggap na lang na sila'y pagtawanan, gawing gatasan, o alipin ng kanilang lalaki, at walang balak na labanan ito (symbolized by the Beng character).

Mas gusto ko naman ang paggamit ng basketbol bilang metapor kay Waldo. Ganito; ang eksena: kinakabayo ng asawa niyang napakalibog si Joaquin pero walang gana ang lola mo dahil nga iniisip ang naglayas na si Waldo.

Asawa: May problema ba? Wala ka yatang gana.... (to that effect)
Joaquin: (Hindi magsasalita. Camera cuts to Waldo's orang basketball sa sofa.)

Cut to: Morning the next day, galit na galit ang girl dahil nalamang malangsa ang jowa. Like a woman scorned pinalayas niya (na lalayas naman talaga dahil hahanapin si Waldo). Pagbalik niya sa loob ng bahay, nakita ang basketbol. Kinuha ito at tinapon sa dingding. Tinamaan ang kanilang wedding picture; basag ang picture frame. O diva!

Kakael din ang eksenang nakahiga ang lasing na si Waldo, nakabrips lang. Hinipo-hipo ng nagnanasang si Paolo Rivero (ang gumanap ng bading na nag-take home sa bagets from the gay bar) ang notes nito. Utog na utog po ako dun! Ilang seconds yun, at makikitang humuhulma ang notes ni Joseph Bitangcol. (Balita daw sa pagka Dakota Harrison niya! Naospital daw ang isang teen star na kakangs niya?). Mapapanood din ang buong dance number ng mga macho dancer sa gay bar, at ang finale ay nakadipang si Tolits, labas ang bird, na kahit hindi pa matigas ay mahaba na.

Kaya alam ko na kung bakit kokonti ang mga vaklang nanonood sa sinehan. Am sure binabantayan ang DVD nito at panonorin in the confines of their bedroom, dahil mas siguradong mag-eenjoy sila. Am sure kikita sa DVD sales ang nag-iindie-indihang pelikulang ito.

Love is death is love

Hindi pala simpleng love story na pa-cute itong "My Only U" ng Star Cinema, starring Toni Gonzaga at Vhong Navarro. Well, pa-cute pa rin siya, pero may redeeming value naman. Kasi kakaiba. Kasi, imbes na about love ito, about death pala.

At iyon lang ang bago dito. Karamihan sa pelikulang Pinoy na love story ay happy ending. Kasi naman, dapat maging masaya tayo. Kung kamatayan naman sa ending, yung tipong tragedy, tipong "Hihintayin kita sa langit...." na tipong "Wuthering Heights." E kasi naman adaptation nga pala iyun. Ano ba? Have I seen enough of Pinoy movies to say this?

Well, going back kay mareng Toni at pareng Vhong.... Or kay Manding Cathy Garcia Molina na director nila (kasi nga director's hand talaga ang makikita natin dito, si Toni at Vhong nagpa-cute lang talaga), ang bago sa ginawa nila ay to treat the subject of death in a light, although not necessarily flippant manner. Hindi common sa ating mga Pinoy ito, diva? Kasi pag death na iiyak na lahat, gurahab na si Vangie Labalan, dadapa pa sa kabaong, with super tears, etc. May iyakan din sina Toni at Vhong, pero lalo silang nagiging maganda at gwapo dito.

Ganito kasi ang storya: May taning na daw ang buhay ni iyay Toni. In-love naman si Vhong sa kanya, kaya gagawin niya ang lahat para lumigaya si Toni habang nasa mundong ibabaw pa. Kung pwede pang i-delay ang appointment kay Kamatayan, gagawin niya. It turns out false alarm itetch kasi maling lab results ang naibigay ng lab (siguro mas maganda ang pelikulang tungkol sa mga pabayang laboratory at hospital). Ang trulili pala si Vhong ang dying. Nang malaman ni Toni, nagpakasal na sila para masaya. On the way to their honeymoon, nadisgrasya sila. So magkasama na sila ever after sa kabilang buhay. Morbid, diva?

Pero hindi. Kakatuwa siya. Hindi mo pag-iisipang malungkot ang mamatayan ng minamahal. Baka nga maging uso pa ang lovers na magpapakamatay to prove that their love is till death together forever. To see death in this way, fresh yun in the context of Pinoy cinema, of course. Marealize natin, na kung mahal natin ang isang tao, dapat tanggapin natin na hindi forever ito, dahil sooner or later, mahihiwalay din tayo sa kanya or sa kanila kung marami tayong mahal. Kaya ang importante talaga ay magmahalan habang buhay pa kayo pareho. Paligayahin mo ang love mo, kasi pag tsugi na ang isa sa inyo, iba na iyon. At hindi tayo matatakot na mawala ang taong mahal natin, kasi minahal na nga natin, walang nasayang na sandali. Pero kung gusto mo talagang kasama pa rin siya, mamatay ka na rin. May pagka-existentialist ang worldview nito. Huwag na lang nating pag-usapan ang existensialism. Di ko keri ngayon.

Kwelang-kwela ang mga eksena dito, pero para sa akin halos "conceit" na ng direktor ang paggawa nito. Marami kasing pinaglalaruan lang talaga for its own sake kasi kwela. Halimbawa, ang eksenang naglalaro ng taguan-pung ang buong neighborhood pagdating ni Vhong. Masaya yun, pero kebs? Oo, kunwari mis en scene yun sa condition ng mag-irog, at sinusuport ang ideyang tatay ni Toni (Dennis Padilla) na bulag pa ang "nakakita" ng pagmamahal ni Vhong kay Toni, pero ang buong neighborhood ba naman nagtataguan sa oras na dapat nagtatrabaho ang mga tao para may kita sila, noh!. Iyung ideya na si Benjie Paras ay multong sinugo para sunduin si Toni/Vhong ay ilang beses nang ginawa ng Hollywood (sa Brad Pitt movie ba?). Kwela din ito. Iyung eksenang nagmumuni-muni si Vhong throughout the seasons was witty, pero homage kaya sa Crouching Tiger ek-ek vang yun, o sa Kill Bill? Lalo na yung snow effect. Kung sa bagay kahit poster pa lang na sinampay sina Vhong at Toni mukhang fresh idea, pero naalala ko ang isang painting ni Frida Kahlo na ganito. Wala namang kinalaman ito sa pelikula. Magandang poster lang talaga. Suspetsa ko din na may pinagkunan ang ending nito. Maganda lang ang last scene dahil Pinoy na Pinoy: puting jeepney ang sumundo sa mga kaluluwa.

Bilang pelikulang Pinoy, siyempre kailangan kumpletos rekados para sa masang mag-eenjoy nito. Sina Kitkat at Empoy ay magbabatokan palagi habang nagpapalitan ng punchline, katulad ng ginagawa ni Pogo at Togo, or Dolphy at Panchito. Si Arlene Mulach ang pumalit kay Ike Lozada. At si Janus del Prado bilang Nyork ang ngongo na katawa-tawa. Mga sidekick lang sila, kasama ng buong cast na nakatira sa compound na kasali sa mga production numbers.

Kaenjoy-enjoy naman talaga ang pelikulang ito. Naiyak ako sa discovery ni Toni. Pag naiyak ako sa isang pelikula, alam kong maganda ito. Pero 3 stars lang ito.

D'end na ang "Iisa pa lamang"

So kaka naman kasi kung kelan pa last week na ng melodramang "Iisa pa lamang" ng ABS-CBN, na swak na swak talaga sa lifestory ko (char!), saka naman nag-Muscovado at Adobo festival sa Silay City at nagpatawag ng writeshop si Gardy Labad sa Bohol. Kaya imbes na manood ako ng last week episode ay nakikidinner kami kay Tita Inday sa Sugarland Hotel (na masarap naman, at totoo po, wiz char!) sa Bacolod, o nakikichica kay Cecile Locsin Nava at nakikinig sa Humanities 101 lecture niya sa bahay niya (ipinagluto kasi kami ng masarap na pasta at salad, na chika niya'y ginamit niyang ingredients ang kung anik-anik lang ang na nakita niya sa ref niya kasi bumaha sa Bacolod that day na dumaan si Typhoon Quinta). Nang nasa Bohol naman kami'y nagpipreview ng dula ng isang theater collective sa Maribojoc at nagmimiting hanggang maduling sa antok at pagod. Bernadette talaga, dahil pagdating sa hotel namin, halos matatapos na ang "Kahit Isang Saglit."

Pero nung Byernes, last night na ng "Iisa pa lamang" sinadya kong umalis sa miting para abutan ang last episode ng melodrama ni Claudine Barreto. Iyun yung eksenang naghahanduraw na lang siya ng nakaraan, saka naman dumating si Rafael. Bumitiw pala si Rafael from being congressman at para mamuhay nang payapa, habang hinahanap si Catherine. Nang magkita na sila isang gabi ng kapaskuhan, ganito ang dayalog nila:

Rafael: Sa wakas, maligaya ako't nahanap din kita.
Catherine: Ako rin, nahanap ko na ang sarili ko.

O parang ganun. Ang nangyari pala, natsugi si Diether Ocampo/Miguel dahil nabaril nga ni Isadora, kaya siya ang naging donor ng puso ni Catherine. In short puso ni Miguel ang tumitibok sa ilalim ng voluptuous boobs ni Catherine. Ang ending, si Miguel at Rafael pala ang tuluyang magmamahalan. Cheng!

Subverted na kabadingan pala ang "Iisa pa lamang." Hindi natahimik itong mga taong naghahabulan at naghahanap ng kanilang puwang sa buhay at pag-ibig dahil hindi pala puso ni Catherine ang pinag-aagawan, naghahanap lang ng paraan kung paanong ang puso nina Miguel at Rafael ang mapag-isa. Diva?

May kumbensiyong ganito sa mga sinaunang epiko ng Panay. May mga karakter na hindi matsutsugi dahil ang kanilang mga puso'y nakatago sa kung saan-saan. Si Saragnayan itinago ang puso sa baboy damo. May isa din na itinago ang kasingkasing sa isang isda. Kailang mahanap muna ang baboy damo o isda bago masakop sila. Siyempre subliminal lahat ito. Kaya pala hindi magkatuloy-tuloyan sina Miguel at Catherine at Rafael at Catherine dahil hindi sila ang nasa equation (using their hearts as the variable x, of course!). Dahil Miguel = Rafael pala ang tamang equation. Jongga diva mga sisters?

Medium lang talaga si Catherine dito para maisakatuparan ang kabaklaang umiiral sa dalawang bidang lalaki. Kaya naman baklang-bakla ang postura ni Catherine sa bawat eksena. Alalahanin yung dayalog niya sa swimming pool habang naka-diamong necklace pa. At ang wardrobe niya throughout ay pangrampa talaga. Hitsura ng bading na kaka-out lang.

Kaek-ekan ko lang ang reading na itetch. Mas masaya kasi. Pero kung maging kumbensiyonal tayo sa pagbabasa, napaka-Katoliko ng moralidad na pinaiiral ng "Iisa pa lamang." Lahat ng mga tauhan ay simbolo ng mga karakter sa pasyon ni Hesus. Syempre si Catherine ang simbolo ng Birheng Maria/Katoliko, na kailangang tanggapin lahat ang sakripisyo dahil may kasulhayang naghihintay sa ending. At ang pangakong kasulhayan na katumbas ng salvation ay isang napakabait at gwapong lalaki - si Rafael/Gabby (na sa tunay na buhay ay napakaraming babae, diva?). Si Miguel ay si Hudas Escariote. Ipinagbili niya ang kanyang pagmamahal kay Catherine at ipinalit kay Scarlet, pero sa huli siya ay sising-sisi at kailangan niyang mamatay. Kinakatawan niya ang Hubris. Hindi siya maaring maging hero dito dahil isa siyang weakling, pushover, tinutulak-tulak ng kanyang madir na si Isadora. Si Isadora naman ang kumakatawan kay Satanas, ang archnemesis ng kabutihang kinakatawan ni Catherine. Kaya siya pinasabog, hindi na nakahintay na makarating sa mga kamay ng Hustisya, because she doesn't deserve it at all. Napakasama niya para hintayin pa ng hustisya. Si Scarlet/Angelica Panganiban naman si Magdalena. Maldita siya at masama, pero nagkaroon ng redemption dahil sa pagsisisi at pagbago ng landas.

Buti na lang at natapos na ito. Mababawasan ang kinababaliwan kong mga teleserye sa gabi. Kung bakit kasi isiningit pa ang Pinoy Fear Factor e. Sana "Kahit Isang Saglit" na pagkatapos ng "Betty La Fea," para mas maaga akong matutulog.

Pakwela ng "Dyosa"

Some weeks ago, sinikap kong sumulat ng isang nagkukunwaring seryosong essay tungkol sa fantaseryeng "Dyosa" ng ABS-CBN. Ang tesis kuning ay ang filipinisasyon ng mito ayon sa mga karakter dito. Kasi nga nandiyan si Sinukuan, Bernardo Carpio, Magayon, na mga karakter sa mitong Pampango at Bicol, pati ang pag-angkin ng mga karakter sa mitong Griyego, tulad nina Bacchus, Adonis, Diana, Mars, etc. Nag-imbento din ito ng mga bagong karakter tulad nina Amang Suga, Salaminsim, Barracuda, throw in Bruhita na minsan ay funny naman.

Hindi ko natapos ang essay na yon, dahil nga super naman sumingit ang ibang trabaho, pero OK na rin dahil nitong huli ay halatang chinuchurva na lang ng mga writers ang iskrip nito. Feel mo bang enter the dragon ang karakter ni PS o Pearly Shell na ginawa ng komedyanteng si Chockoleit. Cross-over ito mula sa mas naunang fantaseryeng "Marina" na hindi ko naman nasundan.

Sa episode ngayong linggo, kailangang buhayin muli ang nag-sleeping byuting si Barracuda/Kulas na under the spell ni Diana. Ang tanging nakakaalam ng solusyon, ayon kay Tandang Menela, ang pinakagurang na kataw o sirena, ay si PS na nakatira sa Atlantis. Kakatuwa ang pag-uusap nitong mga karakters sa ilalim ng dagat dahil ang communication nila ay sa pamagitan ng mind-reading. Hindi bumubuka ang kanilang mga labi (syempre dahil malulunod sila), kundi naririnig lang natin ang kanilang mga thoughts. Sana nilagyan na lang nila ng clouds angay sa komiks; komiks naman ang materyal nila, kundi may inter-media pa.

Anyways, kagabi si Mars ang nagvolunteer na humanap kay PS. Bakit kaya nakashorts pa si Zanjoe? Bakit di nalang nakatrunks? Ang pangit yata tingnan ang maluwag na shorts na lumulutang-lutang. Pula pa, parang ang cheap tingnan. Alam mo yong pumunta sa swimming party na walang dalang proper attire kaya napilitang mag-rent dun sa resort? Parang ganun si Zanjoe Marudo sa episode na ito. May kulintas pa siyang mga sigay, kaya para siyang sasayaw ng Pearly Shells. Pero yung sigay necklace pala ay GPRS at camera para makikita ng mga kataw ang eksena nila ni PS.

Itong si PS daw ang pinakamatalinong nilalang sa balat ng kamatis at alam niya ang kasagutan sa lahat ng tanong. Kaya lang may ex-deal palagi, at minsan ay buhay ang katumbas. O, exciting di ba. So, nang magkita sila ni Mars, e syempre, kinilig ang baklitang PS sa kamachohan ni Zanjoe. Ang kapalit sa sagot ay isang halik, na naging dalawa pa. Matanggap mo bang kahalikan ni Zanjoe si Chockoleit? Di ba dapat ako yun? So, nalusotan ni Zanjoe ang hamon dahil nakapikit ang kilig na kilig na PS na wisnowang na kalansay pala ang kahalikan niya. May word of honor naman ang syoke, at ang magic words daw para mabuhay muli sa Baraccuda ay: "Mini-mini my ni Moe." Syeeeet!

Samantala si Adonis naman ay im na im dahil hindi siya makapunta sa ilalim ng dagat. Weakness kasi ng Kasamiang ito ang waterlily. Nagpagawa siya ng orasyon sa aliping si Bruhita, at at orasyon ay: "Minikaniko ni Monico ang minica ni Monica." Syeeet na malagkit. E siyempre bulol si Sam Milby kaya di niya keri.

By now, knows na natin na pinaglalaruan na lang ng writers ang "Dyosa" para mapalawid ito. wala nang nangyayari kundi mga kalokohan ng karakters. Ito ay para mabibili pa ang mga merchandise ng Dyosa na kalalabas lang sa merkado. Nagdalawang isip akong bumili ng dolls ng Dyosa Cielo at Dyosa Agua noong nasa Bacolod ako. Mukhang cheap material kasi ang ginagamit, hindi Mattel. At gusto ko pati Dyosa Tierra ay kasama. Pag-iisipan ko pang mabuti kung babagay ba ang mga manikang ito sa koleksyon ni Datu Lubay.

Meanwhile, nag-eenjoy pa rin akong manood ng pakwela ng "Dyosa."

Anti-hero at komersiyalismo

Mukhang masyado nang kumplikado ang plot ng "Kahit Isang Saglit." Wala nang patutunguhan. Nalaman na natin na si Eunice pala ay ni-rape ni Anthony Mondragon, kaya junanak pala ni Anthony si Garrie.

Nalaman na ni Rocky na tatay ni Garrie ang lalaking nagpapanggap na Mr. Mendes. Alam na rin nating si Gen. Anthony Mondragon ang suporter ng drug syndicate, pero nangingibabaw pa rin ang respeto ni Rocky sa ninong niya.

Para matanggal ang duda ni Rocky sa tatay ng love niya, sinugo ni Ronaldo/Amihan si Mrs. Barbara Reyes na ituro ang libingan ng taong pumatay sa ama ni Rocky. (Ayan simula nang pumapasok ang mga minor karakter na napakasignificant pala ng kanilang mga aksiyon sa twist ng kwento; dito na tayo magsimulang magduda sa mga padihot ng iskrip.) Siyempre super emote si Rocky in front of the grave, at may I paputok pa siya ng baril to dramatize the buhos ng kanyang galit at emosyon. Syempre binanggit niya ang revelationg ito ni Barbara sa ninong niya, at syempre nagtaka naman si General kung anong kaetchosan ito dahil knows niya ang truth kung sinong pumatay sa fadir ni Rocky. Kaya sinugod naman niya si Barbara.

Meanwhile, pauwi na sa Malaysia sina Garrie at Ronaldo, at mamamatay na yata ang madir ng bidang girl. Syempre malaman ito ni General Mondragon at may I book siya ng tiket to Malaysia. Doon na kaya magkukrus ang landas nila ng kanyang arch nemesis na si Ronaldo Dimaandal?

Ibig sabihin nito ay mga scenic spots na naman ng Malaysia ang aasahang makita natin sa mga susunod na kabanata.

At ibig sabihin nito, ang tunay na conflict pala ay between Ronaldo Dimaandal at Anthony Mondragon na minsang nag-agawan sa pagmamahal ni Eunice. Sana man lang mas magandang aktres and pinili para gumanap sa kanya :-(

Ang kwento ni Rocky na isang kwentong paghahanap ng katotohanan (ang pumatay sa kanyang mga magulang) ang motif ay ginamit lamang para bumukas sa tunay na conflict. At syempre ang tunay na bida rito ay ang anti-hero na si Anthony Mondragon. Oo naman, kasi napakamajor aktors nina Christopher de Leon at Albert Martinez kung ikumpara kay Echo. Bottomline, ang tambalang Echo at Carmen Soo ay ginamit lamang para may marketing edge dahil mas bata sila. Hindi pa rin nakaligtas ang "Kahit Isang Saglit" sa komersiyalismo ng ABS-CBN.

Speaking of komersiyalismo, nakikita ba ninyo kung paano ginagamit an ABS-CBN ang mga teleserye para pasayahin ang kanilang mga sponsor? Tingnan ang bawat labas ng Biolink VCO lotion na ini-endorse ni Anne Curtis sa "Dyosa", at ang 4G, isang health and beauty product, na ini-endorse naman ni Bea Alonzo sa "I love Betty La Fea."

Minsang nakaupo si Josephine sa park at nagmumuni-muni sa mga pangyayari sa buhay niya, dumaan naman at tumigil sa likuran niya ang van na may ad ng Biolink, at for a moment, may bakground siya ng produktong ibinibenta niya. Dalawang beses na ring ipinakita na ginamit niya ang produkto - una, pagkatapos niyang maghugas ng mga pinggan, at pangalawa bilang intermission number niya sa trabaho sa opisina. Biglang dumaan ang bossing na si Maricar de Mesa na may kasamang tatlong kliyenteng lalaki, at napatigil sila dahil naamoy nila ang bango ng lotion ni Josephine. Hahahaha.

Sa 4G naman ay walang kawala ang iskrip dahil nga ad agency ang milieu ni Betty La Fea. Kliyente ng Ecomoda ang kumpanyang gumagawa ng 4G. Kaya magsu-shoot sila ng ad kasama si Bea Alonzo. At si Betty mismo ay umiinom ng 4G bago matulog. Ilang segundo ring babad na babad ang sample ng produkto, kung hindi pa ito overkill.

Kaya minsan halatang pinaglalaruan na lang ng production team ang mga teleserye, dahil siguro sa kawalan na ng materyal at kailangan pang pahabain ito. By now, wala nang magandang nangyayari sa "Dyosa" kundi maglaro ng lokohan ang mga bida. Pati skrip yata ay kanya-kanyang adlib na at pakwela.

Ang buong tema ng "Betty La Fea" ay tungkol sa komersiyalismo mismo: ang pagkahilig ni Betty sa ukay-ukay, ang trabaho sa ad agency, ang karakter ni Ruffa Guttierez, at ang challenge kay Armando for net profit of 150 million para manatili siyang presidente ng Ecomoda ay puro palatandaan ng komersiyalismo.

Isang gabing rumampa kami sa Greenbelt 5

Two days akong hindi makapanood ng TV sa gabi. Nasa Manila kasi ako. Kahapon rumampa kami nina my friend Marlene sa Greenbelt, kasama ang staff kong si Richard, at mga budding photogs na sina Sansan at Tintin Liao. May group show nga pala ang grupo nilang Diave Images sa Museo Antiqueno sa Oct 24-31, timing naman sa pagbukas ng 2nd Kinaray-a Arts Festival.

Anyways, masaya ang rampa namin sa Greenbelt 5, kahit mega-window shop lang kami ni Richard at sunod-sunod lang sa tatlong richie-richie friends. Dahil shuhalbas ang mga shops doon. Nagpramis kasi si Marlene na siya ang magpapa-dinner sa mamahaling resto. So, lafu kami sa Pia y Damaso sa Greenbelt 5. Gusto sana namin sa Felix, umaasang nandoon ang mga may-aring sina Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres. Pero wisnowang kami sa jografi ng mall, kaya di namin nakita kaagad. Wala pala ito sa loob, kundi sa side, kaharap ng Ayala Museum. Nasagap na lang namin nang tapos na kaming kumain.

In fairness, jongga naman ang Pia y Damaso. Maliit lang at cozy, friendly ang staff. Wala masyadong utaw that night. Huwebes kasi. May dalawang girlalus lang sa kabilang table, at kaming lima sa isang sulok. For starters, umorder kami ng Tubig ni Maria, a refreshing drink of cucumber juice with a slice of orange. Inofer ng weyterlu ang bago sa menu - crisp pork rolls in basil sauce - na lumpia lang namanm, pero winner ang basil sauce. Tinikman din namin ang Lang-lang soup out of curiosity lang naman. Sabi sa menu it's a Binondo favorite, kumbinasyon ng tatlong klaseng noodles - lomi, canton, at sotanghon yata. Medyo maalat ito para sa akin, pero type naman ni Tintin. Sumunod ang Pasta with juicy tinapa, na siyang winner! sa lahat. Ako ang umubos ng order, pagkatapos nilang tumikim. Busog na ako at masaya sa kinain namin pagkatapos ng pasta na yun. May I lagok na lang ng Tubig ni Maria na refill ng refill naman ng weyterlu. Ask ko nga kung may Pawis ni Jose din sila.

Pero hindi pa dumating ang main course namin. Umorder pa si Sansan ng callos, at yung inorder kong Pork in mango juice and spinach rice. Parehong wagi ang mga ito. Lalo na kay Richard na mahilig sa taba ng baboy. Pero bakit ako pa rin ang tumapos nun? Walang bago diyan dahil gourmand kuning ang lola niyo. Masaya ang kwentuhan namin in Kinaray-a, super kalog naman kasi si Marlene.

Imagine, nung rumarampa pa lang kami papunta sa Pia y Damaso, nakasalubong namin si Henry Sy. Syempre wiz ko knows ang tycoon na ito, pero si Marlene mahilig magbasa ng mga who's who, kaya namukhaan niya ang Mr. Sy. Naka-polo barong na blue, at sunod-sunod ng isang julalay na girlalu. Si Marlene naman sobrang enthusiastic yata at smile ever sa bilyonaryo, at dahil mukhang milyonarya naman si amega kahit low-profile lang, pretend naman si Henry na kilala niya at smile sa amin. Nataranta tuloy kami, dahil baka lumapit to strike a conversation. Paano mo ba chichikahin ang No. 1 richest man ng Pinas, ayon sa Forbes Magazine? Di ko keri so may I walk faster kami. Si Henry naman kinakatok ng fingers niya his head, na parang digging deep in the recesses of his rich brain kung saan niya nakilala ang girlalung kasama ko. Lumingon pa siya once with a smile, bago tuluyang nag-walk away from us. Ganun pala ang totoong mayaman, hindi suplado. Sa mind ko naman, baka hindi siya yun, pero sa newspaper today, nandun ang litrato ni Henry Sy, at siya nga yun, naka-blue polo barong din. Dun yata kinuha ang fotong iyon sa Greenbelt kahapon.

For dessert, tinikman namin ang Sisa's Dementia. Pinagtulong-tulongan namin itong isang slice ng uber sa namit na chocolate cake. Di na kami umorder ng iba dahil may balak pa kaming mag-coffee at dessert somewhere else. Si Sansan may date pa with former kaklase sa San Lo.

Dun sa Greenbelt 5, chinek din namin ang shop ni Rafe, at isang Italyanong shop na may napakagandang gown. Buy si Sansan ng shusang sa Bleach Catastrophe, isang avant garde shop ng local designers daw; si Marlene baysung ng blouse sa Promod, na Frenchy Dy naman, at si Tintin happy na with a blouse from Zara. Kami naman ni Richard, masayan nang makasinghot ng amoy ng Greenbelt 5. Dahil pinagkakasya lang namin ang perdiem na bigay ng opisina. Nagnight-cap kami sa Seattle's Best, at doon ako nag-confess tungkol sa break-up namin ng boyfriend kong Thai doon mismo sa coffee shop na yun. Wala nang sakit sa dibdib ko habang kinukwento ko sa kanila, kaya alam kong tapos na ako sa kabanatang iyon. Baka nga gawa-gawa ko lang ang kwentong iyon.

Kaya nga pala kami nasa Manila, at kaya di ko mapanood ang Kahit Isang Saglit mamayang gabi ay dahil magtitinda kami ng mga bandi at bukayo sa lobby ng Cuneta Astrodome. May benefit concert kasi ang mga OKM artists ng Antique, at dahil tipon-tipon ito ng mga kasimanwang Antiqueno, baka type nilang bumili ng mga produkto galing sa Antique. Ako naman isisingit ko lang ang mga libro ko sa pagbebenta. Ces't la vie.

Mahal kita, mahal mo siya

Ito pala ang leit motif ng "Kahit Isang Saglit" ng ABS-CBN. Ang lahat ng major karakter ay nagmamahal pero hindi bumabalik ang pagmamahal sa kanila, kaya ang pinaka-dillema ng telenovelang ito ay "may pupuntahan kaya itong pagmamahalan nina Rocky at Garrie?"

Kasi ganito: Si Anthony Mondragon (Boyet de Leon) ay nagmahal kay Eunice Hangli (Malaysian actress na hindi ko matandaan ang name), pero ang mahal ni Eunice at nakatuloyan ay si Rolando Dimaandal/Amihan (Albert Martinez). Anak nila si Garrie (Carmen Soo).

Ang asawa ni Gen. Mondragon (Isabel Rivas, di ko matandaan ang name ng karakter niya), ay nagmamahal sa kanya ng todo-todo, pero di feel ni Boyet dahil forever siyang umiibig kay Eunice. Ngayon ang kanilang anak na si Alona (Christine Reyes) ay head over heels tinamaan kay Rocky. Poor girl, kapatid lang ang turing sa kanya ng hunk na ito, dahil ang supermegafirstlove niya ay si Garrie.

Malupit din mag-isip ng komplikadong plot ang mga writers, devah. Kaya exciting at gabi-gabi akong nanonood. To make matters really convoluted, si Rocky ay isang PDEA agent dahil gusto niyang bigyan ng katuturan ang kamatayan ng fadir niya (Noni Buencamino) na isang pulis, napatay dahil sa pagtutugis ng mga druglords. Ngayon may lead siya para madakip ang bigtime drug syndicate, na kinasasangkotan naman ni Amihan na fadir ng kanyang pinakamamahal.

In tonight's episode, ipakikila ni Garrie si Rocky sa kanyang amay. Mikikilala kaya ni Rocky ang tinutugis niyang kriminal, dahil nagpa-aesthetic surgery na ito, natanggal na ang balat sa mukha? Ano ang gagawin ni Rocky kung malaman niyang ang taong tinutugis niya ay beloved amay pala ng babaeng palangga niya to death? O devah, exciting?

Paanong di ka meexcite, e in last nights episode, pinilit ni Boyet de Leon na ninong ni Rocky - si Jericho pala ito, in case di niyo pa nasundan - si Jericho na huwag na muling saktan si Alona pagkatapos nitong lumaklak ng mga pills. Torn na torn si Echo dahil naging pamilya ni niya sina Boyet mula nang naulila siya. Pipiliin ba niya ang pamilya over pag-ibig?

Kaya mas gusto ko itong "Kahit Isang Saglit" dahil mas matalino naman ang pagkasulat at exciting ang mga karakters. At pakyut ng pakyut si Echo at si Carmen Soo. Sana ginawa na lang nilang pelikula ito, para dalawang oras lang.

Di katulad ng "Iisa pa Lamang" na lahat na yata ng sangkap para sa melodrama ay isinahog na. Kakaiba din ang charm nito para sa akin. Megawatch din ako, pero I don't mind standing up to make me a cup of tea habang nagdadayalog si Scarlet at Catherine. Ang problema naman naman sa "Iisa pa Lamang" ay lahat ng karakter may lihim at lahat gustong may sikreto; lahat ng karakter gustong maghiganti. Lahat nang karakter ay over-dressed. Well, ang dalawang bidang babae at mga staff ni congressman Rafael Torralba na lahat naka-coat and tie sa opisina. At ano naman itong headress nina Scarlet at Catherine? Buti na lang wala nang kapa si Laurice Guillen. Si Cherry Pie Picache naman, dinadaan na lang sa galing umarte at hindi sa damit. Si Melissa Ricks, napakaganda ng mukha pero kala mo naman si anhing Julie Vega kung umemote.At ang guwapo ni Matt Evans dito, buti na lang pingupit ang Afro niyang buhok.

Charisse Pimpengco, world class Pinoy (nga ba?)

Am sure proud tayong lahat kay Charisse Pimpengco, at saludo tayo sa galing niyang kumanta. Recently ay kasali uli siya sa concert na kasama si Rod Stewart at maraming big names sa global music industry, sa isang kaek-ekang nagtitipon ang halos lahat nga ating hinahangaan. Naki-sing-along na siya kay Celine Dione at Andrea Boccelli, nag-guest kay Oprah, at siya ang biggest singing sensation from the great Pinoy republic ngayon. Bow!

Kaya lang, sana naman kung sino man ang handler niya, o adviser kaya, sana gamitin niya ang mga okasyong ito para makakanta rin ng Filipino song, nang marinig naman ng madlang pipol all over the world kung ano ang musikang Pinoy, kulturang Pinoy. Kasi, as it is, puro na lang kanta ni Celine o Mariah ang kinakanta niya, na napakagaling nga naman, at mangiyak-ngiyak ako kung mapanood siya sa TV (O baka kaya ako naiiyak dahil sayang ang pagkakataon). Ang ending, napakagaling niyang copycat. Ayaw naman nating makilalang world-class na copycat, devah. Mas may kabuluhang ipagmamalaki ang suportahan natin si Charisse kung dinadala din niya ang sariling atin to the world. Yan ang truliling essence ng being a world-class Pinoy performer.

Mabuhay!

Kakatuwa ang jografi ng "Kahit isang saglit"

Lately, feel ko nang manood ng mga teleserye. Siguro pag matanda ka na, gusto mo na lang maupo sa gabi. Nagsimula ang pagkaaliw ko sa "Iisa pa lamang", hindi lang dahil kanta ng buhay ko yan, kundi dahil napagkagwapo ni Diether Ocampo. Gwapo din si Gabby, pero matanda na siya at bagay lang sa role niya. Pero, ang pagsabayin sila ni Diether, medyo pilit.

Anyway, bakit tayo napunta diyan? A, kung paano nga pala ako nahilig sa teleserye. Dati hindi mo ako mapilit manood niyan. Pero pag nakita mo si Claudine na nakalubog sa swimming pool with diamond jewelry, at may I comment si Angelica Panganiban a.k.a. Scarlet ng, "magsusuwiming ka lang, nakadiamond ka pa" at sasagot si Claudine ng "Siempre, because diamonds are forever, tulad ko." Hindi ba naman mapupukaw ang kabaklaan mo?

Kaya every night na akong nanonood ng teleserye ng ABS. kasi malabo ang GMA sa TV namin e. hehehe. Nung nag-start ang Dyosa, I had more reason to stay home in the evening after Deal or No deal. tuloy-tuloy na. Enter pa si Betty La Fea. So funny talaga. so babaw na me. At nang nagsimula na ang Kahit Isang Saglit ni Jericho, I advised Eduard not to call me until after 10.30 PM kasi busy na ako.

Kakatuwa din ang sense ng jografi ng Kahit isang saglit. Am sure aliw manood ng mga eksenang kinunan sa Malaysia, lalo pa at nag-open ang teleserye sa Citrawarna Malaysia parade sa Putra Jaya, at palaging nasa background ang Petronas Towers. Yun lang, akala ng mga gumagawa nito, wiznowang ang mga nanonood ng teleserye tungkol sa mga lugar sa Malaysia. May rendezvouz ba naman sina Rocky at Garrie sa bridge sa Putra Jaya, e napakalayo nito sa KL. Naglalakad lang si Garrie mula sa office nila, na mukhang malapit sa Petronas, yung tipong Makati ng KL, tapos maya-maya lang nasa Petaling Street na siya na siyang Chinatown street sa KL. Aba napakalayo lakarin nun. Tiyak nahabol na siya ng mga goons ng lola niya sa layo ng nilakad niya.

Kung sabagay, talagang magaling mag-promote ng Malaysia ang Malaysian partner ng ABS; may shoot pa nga sa Cameroon Highlands. Kaya exciting din makita kung paano ipupromote ng ABS ang Pilipinas. Sa mga trailers may eksena pa sa Banawe rice terraces. Sana naman magamit ng mabuti ang teleseryeng ito para maakit ang mga Malaysians na mamasyal din sa Pilipinas.

Kagabi maganda ang eksena. Sabi ng iskrip pupunta sa Pinas si Garrie; nakabook na sila ng mama niya sa eroplano. Pero para matakasan niya ang goons ng lola niyang pagkasama-samang umarte, magbarko na lang daw siya. Wala yatang barko from Western Malaysia to Philippines no?

Anyway, next scene na lang nasa pier na siya, at may bangka papuntang Pinas. Nasa Borneo/Sabah side na siya, na kung tingnan sa mapa e napakalayo from KL at may malawak na dagat na humihiwa ng West Malaysia at ng Sabah. So, sumakay na siya ng parang batel, yung tipong sasakyan mo from Caticlan to Boracay. Ganun nga siguro yon kalapit. May magandang vinta pa nga sa shot. Scenic talaga. At ilang oras na lang, dumaong na siya sa Pinas.

May katangahan din talaga si Garrie. May university degree pa naman at matagal na niyang pangarap ang pumunta sa Manila para hanapin ang papa niya. May mapa pa nga siyang tinatagu-tago sa bedside niya, tapos di pala niya pinag-aralan ang jografi nga Pinas. So, imbes sa Manila, sa Mindanao siya nakarating. Pero OK lang dahil may operation sina Rocky doon. Napakaswerte ni Garrie dahil dumating siya, nandoon sina Rocky pero may kabarilan na mga kalaban ng PDEA. Exciting ang barilan, in fairness. Naging suspect si Garrie ngayon dahil kasabayan niya sa boat si Governor na may koneksyon sa drug syndicate. In the end, maswerte talaga si Garrie dahil dadalhin siya ng PDEA sa Manila.

Pero cute si Jericho at may chemistry sila ni Carmen Soo. Kaya panonoorin ko pa rin itong teleseryeng ito. Kakainis lang ang akting ni Christopher de Leon. Noon pa nakakainis na yun, pero di ko ma-gets bakit marami silang eksena ng tumandang Isabel Rivas at Christine Reyes. At kagabi ko na-gets kung bakit hina-hype ng ABS ang suicide attempt ni Christine dahil sa lalaki kuno, yun pala nasa script ang maglasing siya dahil umiimbig kay Rocky. Ibang klase talaga kumonstrak ng ating pag-iisip ang media.

Hahaha.

My doll collection

Check out my doll collection at my new blogsite monyekako.blogspot.com or just click the link somewhere in this page. I have posted some of the dolls in my collection (partial only), and will try to gather all the lovely things in a grand photo shoot, so you can see them. I am in need of another aparador to house them all.

Andut nagahibi ako kon maglantaw kang “Wowowee”

Ang gwapo-gwapo mo talaga Willie!

Singgit kang mal-am nga ungab,
Puti ang buhok sa tinuig nga panabon
Kang utang kag baraydan.
Ginbaligya na ang anang kaserola
Agud makapila kag makapasadya
Sa nagairigma nga may sarang
Magbutang kang bugas kag sardinas
Sa andang mga pinggan nga pingas.

Ay, pa-kiss naman Kuya Willie!

Pangabay ni misis nga bungisngis,
Nagaibok-ibok sa anang katambuk,
Nagaralabaw pa ang bulbol sa iruk.
Siyam ang andang kabataan,
Sara lang nakalapak sa eskwelahan
Kag ang iban mga klasmit na
Sa tambayan kag tong-itan.
Si mister nagapamasada lang
Pero indi bale, pabugal na pa
Basta kuno iririmaw sanda
Sa hirap at ginhawa.

Maraming salamat po Kuya Willie!

Matagsing ang limug kang bata
Sa anang kakunyag, hay may sanglibo
Tana nga manggad, para sa anang
Pagtambling kag pasikad-sikad,
Pagtindug sa anang mga palad.
Wara tana nagaeskwela
Hay ilo molo-molo sa pamilya
Gani sa una gid nga pamangkot:
“Kung kaldero ay pot,
Ano naman ang erpat?”
Wara na masabat, nagngisi-ngisi
Dara pangalot kang alap-apun
Na nga lubut.

Ang nakasabat nagatiyabaw,
Ang tanan nagahinugyaw
Nga daw mga kalag
Sa TV namun nga malus-aw,
Kag ako tana nagahiribiun
Samtang pirit nga nagakadlaw.

2nd KARAY-A ARTS FESTIVAL

Thai foodie

Our recent trip to Thailand was a real treat to the foodie in me. Our host, Dr. Maria Laosunthara and the staff of the International Relations Department of Srinakharinwirot University saw that we get a sampling of Thai food by taking us to some of the best restaurants around the Sukhumvit area, where the university is, like Baan Kanitha and Wanakarm, and international franchise S&P, that has a branch along Chao Phraya river. In photo are the shrimp cakes in sweet-sour sauce by Wanakarm (right), and S&P's version of the famous pad Thai noodles.

We also had lunch in a riverside restaurant at Ratchaburi province. The food there was more local and inexpensive compared to those in Bangkok. Our best bet was the crisp fried fish that was bigger than the plate and deep fried squid rings.

But the best food experience was at Chang Mai, when we enrolled in a cooking course at Baan Thai, a homestyle cooking school featured in Lonely Planet. There were six of us in that afternoon class, a couple from UK, a swimwear model on vacation from the US, a college graduate from the Netherlands, and the Philippines was represented by UP graduate and beauty queen Marnelli Sales and myself. Our teacher was a young chef named Boom, which according to her is Thai for "dimples."

World's best tom yam by me, of course

We agreed to cook tom yam, fried cashew with chicken, Panaeng curry with pork, and green curry with chicken. To save on time, we skipped the marketing part of the class and agreed instead to prepare our own green curry paste. Preparing the curry is an experience with herbs and spices, not to mention the laborious method of pounding the ingredients into paste.

From left, my version of Panaeng curry with pork, green curry with chicken, and fried cashew with chicken and young corn

We voted our official most popular food in Chang Mai the Kao ob saparod or pineapple fried rice with shrimp served at our hotel's restaurant. The Kao pad thai with crabs is generously topped with thumb-sized crab meat.

Pineapple fried rice by Huen Luang Prabang restaurant at Chang Mai

My new book

My latest book UGSAD KANG KINARAY-A (The Rise of Kinaray-a) will be off the press next month. It shall be my second entirely Kinaray-a book, after AGI, AGI MAY PUTAY SA DAHI. This is part of my Kinaray-a for the Karay-a book project, because I believe that for the Karay-a to show his/her emancipation from colonial consciousness he/she must seek and produce knowledge in his/her native tongue.

The cover shows me reciting poetry during the Antique Arts Festival 1999 in Casa Madrangca. Thanks to Hermie Beltran for this beautiful shot, capturing the full moon screened by blossoming madre de cacao trees. And see me a hundred pounds ago. I had reservations about using this picture for the cover (True!), but the portrait of a young poet howling to the full moon his poems is such a romantic and apt metaphor to the struggle of Kinaray-a literature. So, to hell with modesty.

UGSAD KANG KINARAY-A is the Kinaray-a and expanded version of THE RISE OF KINARAY-A published in 2003. The book will be available for orders online at www.bookoto.com. Orders within the Philippines may be made through email at datulubay@yahoo.com.

Thailand again

Am leaving for Thailand (again!) next week. We will be there for 10 days. This time we are going to Chang Mai, and that's what makes this trip exciting. But before that we have some work to do in Bangkok, like meeting students at Srinakharinwirot University. I was told the university's International Affairs office has lined up a full program for us in four days. Whew. Exciting. And I heard we will be watching the Jo Louis theater (seen that before) and the Siam Niramat (this is new). So, maybe this would be another exciting trip.
I haven't posted most pics from my Vietnam-Cambodia-Thailand sojourn in May, with Ed. Been very busy, or lazy. Will try to make up for it when I get back.
Meanwhile, am seeing the final proof of my book "Ugsad kang Kinaray-a" this weekend, before we leave, and I hope this comes off the press in September, or October at the most. I have to move on and work on the next project, you see.
Ciao.

Beers of Asia

Am not a beer drinker, but in our recent trip to the Angkor temples, Eduard and I tried these beers. Angkor is Cambodian, of course. Beer Chang is Thai and is quite an icon. My friend Poks got Beer Chang singlets (sando for us Pinoys) at Chatuchak in our recent visit. Thailand has another brand called Singha. We ordered them at a restaurant in Chang Mai. Tiger is Malaysian or (Singaporean?) - anyway we tried Tiger in Penang during our vacation there in 2006. While in Patpong, Bangkok, we went to a gay pub and ordered San Miguel Light for me, and Pale Pilsen for Ed. The winner is... San Miguel Light, of course. Oh, there's another we tried in Penang, its in a green bottle called Sin To or something, it's Chinese, though. I saw it at a 7-11 in Manila too. Notice the Cambodian tuktuk in the background.

My new stories

I think I am in my most productive this time. I am in the middle of finalizing my fourth book "Ugsad kang Kinaray-a", to be launched in October, and I have written four stories in a span of two weeks. I need two or three more to complete another collection of stories. Yehey!

I finished "Library", which I started writing in July 2007. I stopped halfway through it, because I did not know where the story is leading to. Last month I saw the unfinished story and decided to finish it. Right there.

Then one night I could not sleep. I opened my notebook and started typing anything. Then I remembered a story idea that a friend gave me three years ago. This is how "Trip-trip" got written. it's meant to be a short, a quickie, because it really is. But I don't want it to be a simple soft-porn story. It's actually about how young people now are ready to get what they want, and willing to pay for it too.

Another night, I could not sleep because I was hungry. So I ate. It was past midnight. Then I recalled Scarlet O'Hara in "Gone with the Wind." (As god is my witness, I shall never go hungry again!) So, after eating, I got my notebook again and started typing. I didn't finish the story because I felt really sleepy, but in the morning, I did not report to work. After breakfast, I said I will finish it. Before lunch, I had a story called "Gutum."

So I went to work, and while going over my folders in the computer, I discovered I have an unfinished story called "Imelda." I have managed to write a monologue to begin it, and a synopsis, too. That helped me a lot in recalling what I wanted to do. It was an idea I had after visiting Tibiao. I saw how people are very hardworking, and I thought I would write about it. It is about a woman who lost all her children and husband, but never loses the zest for living.

I have two more stories in file - "Tamawo" and "Sag-ub". These are actually the first stories I have written, but I did not include it in "Agi, agi may putay sa dahi" collection because they don't belong. Actually, the first story I wrote was "Flores de Mayo" published in Hiligaynon Magazine, like twenty years ago. I wonder if I could still find a copy of it.

So my next collection would include these, and the two or three more I am going to write. I hope I don't lose this momentum.

Biggest kropek

We bought a bag of kropeks at the restaurant (was that in Tay Nin, Vietnam) where we had our stopover for breakfast on the way to Cambodia. The kropeks are made of of tapioca flour and had a sweetish flavor, a little sticky when it melts in your mouth. They're big enough to cover your face, as Eduard is showing. We have spent all our dongs, and we did not want to spend our dollars, so we pooled our our coins to buy this bag of giant-sized kropeks. We had fun munching them between dozes on the bus to Cambodia.

Gugma sa bath house

Ah Loong: How long do you think does it take to fall in love?
Orked: A minute. How long did it take you to fall in love with me?
Ah Loong: Much less than that.

Ah Loong kag Orked, sa “Sepet”, sangka pelikula nga Malay

Sangka misuk lang

Naluyag ako sa imo haron

Nga nagapatupung

Sa dingding nga nainas run

Sa bag-id kang ginatos

ka mga ginamingaw nga likod.

Sangka kuhit lang

Ang akun panit nagsirit

Nga magdukut sa imo panit;

Ang atun mga tudlo

Nanultol sa dulum,

Lamang nga magharkanay

Ang atun mga kibul sa palad.

Sangka tikang

Paagto sa makitid nga langit

Kang atun paghingalit,

Sangka tukis

kang tualya nga nagaputos

Kang atun mga kalag,

Bisan rugya lang

Kon makahigugma kita,

Bisan kulang sa tinion.

Isipun run lang natun

Kar-on, paghalin rugya

Kon pira ka tikang

Ang masunod nga gugma.

Sa pagkaluya, kaluya.

Hello, Mr. Antique 2008

Jude Tumogdan, Mr. Antique 2008

Twenty-year old Jude Tumogdan is the first Mr. Antique. Jude is a high school graduate and a dancer of Fleet Finders. He has represented his school in Mr. Step - Antique 2007, and won first runner-up in Mr. PYAP 2008 (Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines), representing the municipality of San Jose. He is from Buhang, Hamtic.

Jrnel Vido, 1st runner up

Jrnel Vido, 20 won first runner-up. He is a senior student in criminology at the Polytechnic State College of Antique. He is also Mr. Criminology. He is from Piape, Hamtic.

June Dioso, 2nd runner-up

June Dioso, 18 is a junior Criminology student at the Polytechnic State College of Antique. He is from San Jose.

Jerome Mark Ortega, Mr. Photogenic

Eighteen year-old Jerome is the youngest of the candidates. He is the Mr. Advance Central College.

The pageant was held at the CAP Auditorium in San Jose, Antique on April 18. Fourteen candidates competed in four categories: sarong, jeanswear, formalwear, and swimwear. The winners won cash prizes and gift certificates and a ceramic trophy by artist Alan Cabalfin.

Inday Sally dolls

Binirayan Foundation, Inc. has come out with Limited Edition Inday Sally dolls by Precious Moments. Designed after Antique's popular lady governor Salvacion Zaldivar Perez, Inday Sally is a collectible doll wearing an authentic pili patadyong woven by the women of Bagtasun, Bugasong, Antique, and a kimona, the traditional costume in many islands in the Visayas.

The weaving tradition in Antique, according to the Maragtas, is believed to have been introduced by Datu Lubay, a minor chieftain under Datu Sumakwel, the chief of Hantik. This living heritage, handed down from generation to generation, continues to strive in this rural community in Central Antique despite years of modernization.

Each doll comes in a kraft box, with a certificate of authentication by Samuel L. Butcher, maker of Precious Moments. The accessories include a delicately woven abaca hat, and imitation pearl necklace, earings, and bracelet.

For orders, visit the Binirayan Foundation, Inc. website http://www.binirayanfoundation.org, or call 036-5407343 (Philippines)

Mr. Antique 2008

It's Binirayan time!

Buri hat from Cadahug, Lauaan, Antique

At about this time of the year, our office is bustling with activity and every available space is littered with posters, brochures, costumes, souvenirs, knick-knacks, event proposals, etc. It means only one thing: It's Binirayan time!

Binirayan Festival 2008 is here again. It will officially open on April 13, with the showcases of young theater artists from Bacolod, Iloilo, Capiz, and Antique. The regional Kampo Kabataan 2008, a summer theater arts camp to be held at Madrangca, San Jose closes on that day, giving the Binirayan launch a regional flavor. The EBJ Freedom Park will witness presentations by these young performers, ending with a party with the San Jose's S.O.S. (Satisfy Our Soul) band. Guests of honor are Governor Sally Perez and National Youth Commissioner Raul Dominic I. Badilla.

Other activities in Binirayan are the Cultural Caravan in Barbaza on April 16, Search for Mr. Antique 2008 on April 18, Senior Citizens Night in Patnongon on April 19, Lin-ay kang Antique Talents Night in Bugasong on April 20, Children's Festival in Hamtic on April 21, Komedya Valderrama at EBJ Freedom Park on April 22, Lin-ay kang Antique prejudging in Pandan on April 23, Pasundayag Expo & Food Fest opening on April 24, and the three-day highlights on the 25th to 27th.

April 25
Biray kang Barangay from Pantalan to Malandog Beach

Lin-ay kang Antique press presentation
Torch Parade from Malandog to San Jose
Bugal kang Antique Awards
Fireworks Display

April 26
Binirayan Confab at The Pinnacle Suites
Dog Show by Antique Kennel Club
Search for Lin-ay kang Antique 2008 Coronation Night

April 27
Parada kang Lahi
Malay-Ati Competition
LGU & Employees Fashion Show
Fireworks Display

Visit Antique in Binirayan. For inquiries, email birayfest@yahoo.com.ph, or call 036-5407343 or 09275830174. Kruhay!

Goodbye, Sid

Sid Gomez Hildawa, 1962 - 2008

I woke up at 4:00 a.m. today, and found two text messages bearing the same sad news. One from Roel Hoang Manipon, the other an unknown number. Our friend Sid Hildawa is dead.

I could not go back to sleep. It's two more hours before my regular walking schedule, so I tried to pass the news to other friends.

Sid was an architect, painter, and poet. I have always admired his dedication to art. Last week, I learned from Elvert Bañares that he was sick. I tried to contact him but he could not be reached. He must be at the hospital, recuperating. But today I got the news he has passed away. I learned from another blog he died of typhoid and dengue.

My first encounter with Sid Hildawa was at his exhibit at the old Ayala Museum many, many years back. I did not know him. He did not know me. His show was just right after the Tiananmen massacre, and his works looked to me like enlarged graphing paper painted over thinly by white, so that one could barely see the drawings underneath.

His second show that I went to was the ode to Mona Lisa at the CCP. It was his statement on the duplicity of art offered by the xerox technology, so that even Da Vinci's obra is no longer safe from reproduction/modification. To a probinsiyano like me getting an introduction to Manila's post-modernism, the huge artwork looked like a giant gift-wrapper. I would learn later that Sid had been given a 13 artists award.

As artist, Sid was indeed way ahead of me, or of the many.

I first met him at an NCCA meeting for the National Committee for Museums and Galleries (NCMG). That was around 1991 or 1992, when I was still with Nayong Pilipino. I admit (as I have admitted to him) I had a crush on him. He had a religious aura then. He was wearing a white shirt and looked like a seminarian. Precious Leaño introduced me to him, but I knew he would forget me just as soon as the meeting started.

In 1995, Sid and I met again at the 2nd Iligan National Writers Workshop. Our friendship started there. We worked out together at a nearby gym. At the workshop he became a hit with his "Wind)ow to the wind" poem. But in a trip to Marawi, all of us fellows discovered something about Sid. He snored. And how he snored. No wonder his roommate Roel Hoang Manipon preferred to stay out late at night to early morning in Iligan. Where we spent the night at Mindanao State University, no one wanted to sleep beside him. Good thing he had such good humor to accept all the ribbing.

After that workshop, Sid came up with a publication called "3ng" an anthology of poems and artworks in limited edition. We had to submit 30 copies of our work and he bound them. We had a launch at Penguin Cafe in Malate. Later, that same year (1996?) we would both find ourselves teaching part-time at the Philippine Women University. He taught painting; I taught Theater Arts.

Then he seriously pursued literature by taking an MFA in creative writing at DLSU. He would always text everyone whenever he had a poem published in Sunday Inquirer, Starweek, or any publication. He would invite everyone to a poetry reading he was in. He won his first Palanca with his play "Heartbreak Motel," and later for his poetry.

He visited me in Antique in 1999, when I organized the Antique Arts Festival. Came back again for Binirayan two years ago. He was here last year at about this time to monitor our museum project for the NCCA. Sid and I had nurtured a friendship that was genuine enough to bridge our distance from each other. Our text messages to each other were sparse, our meetings rarer, but we knew we have a friend in each other everytime we would meet and hug, or exchange news about each other in his office at the CCP.

This morning after I received the message from Roel and I couldn't go back to sleep, I took out the book "What the Water Said," which he gave me on September 3, 2004. He wrote on the frontispiece: "To Alex, from many waves ago till now, Sid." I used to kid him that the book's title must be "What the waiter said," referring to our private jokes about attractive waiters whenever we had a chance to go out for dinner together.

In "Cleaning" he wrote: "age is determined by one's/surrender to soil." But I am sure Sid did not surrender, because all his life he was defining his own space. In "God explains space to His angels" he said:

"....Space is the disposable
furniture of a mind
enmeshed in its own
metaphors, brandishing
a meter stick under
our immeasurable
sky.

You'll need wings."

By now I am sure Sid has his wings.

I will surely miss you, my friend.

An Orange Evening

It was another of those long meetings, where you keep going back to the buffet for coffee. But this time it was in Bacolod. The evening was more than gratifying though.

After the meeting, we were invited to Manny Montelibano's exhibit at Orange Gallery, owned by one of Bacolod's pride Charlie Co. We were told Charlie himself would be there to entertain us. I met Charlie at the Philip Morris Art Awards last year; he gladly posed for my photo collection of local artists, which I show to my Humanities class. I also have a good collection of pics of his works - the Madonna series in the collection of Tita Inday Pefianco, who was herself a very gracious host to us when we visited Bacolod in October 2007.

But this was Manny's show, not Charlie's. Manny is a multi-media artist, and he sits in the Committee for Visual Arts, representing West Visayas. I sit in Cultural Education, and that was an inter-committee regional meeting, another innovation at the NCCA. That's how I got to his show.

The show was titled "Poasa" (Fast). The gallery facade greeted us with a cross made of incandescent bulbs and a smiley. Initially I wondered if we were being brought to the Victory Christian Fellowship prayer meeting. But I have been to the Orange Gallery before, so I was sure this was the place, at the second floor.

At the entrance we were greeted by the tarpauline poster showing the cross outside, so I was assured I was not lost. The second floor gallery was fully carpeted in red, with matching red curtains. The hall was a shower of "Dear God" letters written by kids on intermediate paper. The visual was stunning: white paper swaying on strings from the ceiling against a background of red. One had to go through the delicate maze of prayers, and that alone was a spiritual experience.

The upper gallery was a video installation. The main video showed the Santo Intierro, and devotees trying to reach the glass case, wiping ther white handkerchiefs as an expression of faith, but foregrounding the main video screen were smaller screens showing various scenes of gospel sharing by various religious sects. We didn't hear what they were saying, but they were very distracting. At first there seems to be no connection at all between the lower and upper galleries, except that the video screens were also predominantly red, and white paper were scattered on the floor. The upper gallery, however, was enveloped by darkness, unlike the lower's deep red.

Manny Montelibano's "Poasa" is a pun on the words Po, a Tagalog expression of respect or reverence, and Asa (hope). The artist challenges one's faith (prayers, Santo Intierro) against popular icons - the smiley, the preachers on TV, the cross as a Broadway marquee. The skeptic might ask, where do these prayers go? Who would read them? But the devout would not be bothered, because between them and their god, they know there is no difference between the white paper pads and the white handkerchiefs, for it is in their act of faith (writing the letter, wiping the Santo Intierro) that they are healed.

The better part of that evening was meeting Bacolod's artists Charlie Co and Dennis Ascalon. Both artists are exhibited at the Singapore Art Museum. In fact, SAM curator Joyce Toh flew in that day just to - according to Dennis - "check how we are doing." Also present that night aside from Manny, Charlie, and Dennis were Milton Dionzon, actor, artist, event organizer, etc., Aklanon writer and post-modernist/post-colonial critic John Barrios, and Florence-based Wena Diaz. Poet Ricky De Ungria was there ahead of us for dinner, but he left earlier.

Manny took us back to our hotel at past midnight. He was asking if we wanted to be anywhere else in Bacolod that night, but I thought his show and meeting so many creative people were enough to call a day.

(Photos from top to bottom: Charlie Co's Chinese Madonna (Inday Pefianco's Collection), Manny Montelibano's "Poasa", John Barrios reading through prayers; Milton Dionzon, Charlie Co, Singapore Art Museum curator Joyce Toh, Manny Montelibano, and Wena Diaz at the gallery for a funshot; Dennis Ascalon posing solo for my collection.)

Lola Masing musical

A group of Japanese activists and theater artists are producing a musical on Lola Masing, the comfort woman from Antique. Rie Arima, lead actress, visited the Lola Masing Center for Culture and Peace at the Museo Antiqueño and other sites relevant to Lola Masing's life, including my ancestor's house along Gobierno Street, believed to have been used as a Japanese headquarter during the WWII.

Susan Macabuag of the Asia Women's Rights Center-Malaya Lolas, our partner in putting up the Lola Masing Center last year (hey, there's a story on this at the Inquirer of March 8, 2008), who accompanied Rie Arima in this trip to Antique, the Lola Masing musical will be a big production in Japan, with three separate productions in Tokyo and two other cities, and each production having a cast of hundreds! Lola Masing is a star in Japan, actually. It seems the Japanese activists are using the Lola Masing platform to advance their cause for charter change, so that the Japanese government would acknowledge war crimes. I'll have to get more details on this production, and I hope we get to see it too, even from DVD.

In photo is Rie Arima, who is playing Lola Masing. She dropped by my office, although we did not meet because I was in Manila at the time of her visit, and left for me a t-shirt of the Lola Masing musical. The sewing machine (Lola Masing was a seamstress), was used as the central metaphor, which brings in a lot of texture in the play: Lola Masing sewing together pieces of her life, as she tells her story as comfort woman, and ironically, the machine as the mechanical metaphor of invasion and oppression experienced by Lola Masing.

Thanks for the t-shirt, Rie. How flattering that you would think I would fit in an XS size! Will raffle this off to the staff on Christmas, if I don't shrink at all.

Massacre, assassination & gout

Nine days in Manila (Quezon City and later Pasay, actually but they're all Manila to me) was an awful lot of time to be away from home. I attended the Komedya conference at the UP Diliman, and later moved to the Orchid Garden Suites along Vito Cruz for a three-day marathon planning meeting for the National Committee on Cultural Education.

But I will not talk here about the conference and the meetings. I would rather talk about the extra-curricular activities. They were much more fun.

Orosman at Zafira

At the UP Diliman, we had a chance to watch the hit dance-drama Orosman & Zafira by Dulaang UP. It was my second time to watch the play, so I knew more or less what to expect, and I was prepared to sit through more than two hours of excitment going on stage.

The first time I watched was on February 17, when I took some of my cast of the Komedya to an exposure of sorts. Afterall, we don't get to watch a play like this in Antique. Cris Villongco was playing Zafira then. On February 28, it was Maita Ponce. I must say the latter was the better actress. Or maybe because I was seated in the rear the first time I watched, that I could hardly feel Cris's intensity. The second time I was in the third row, giving me a good view of the actors. Or maybe I was more aware of Cris Villongco as the singer, so it was a different view altogether.

"Orosman and Zafira" is world-class Filipino production. The Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero stage, however, was quite small for such a spectacle. I wish they would have a rerun at the CCP or a bigger venue. Dexter Santos's choreography was so intense, without let up the moment the play opened until the climax. It was a very demanding play, that at some point I wished there was respite from all the movements and massacre. Or maybe that was the whole point of the play. Pinikpikan's live music added to the overpowering energy that filled the venue.

Evelio Javier at the CCP

I paid hard money to watch this play. I could have used my CCP connection, but I did not bother because I was to watch a musical on Evelio Javier. I did not regret it. Not that the musical was something to rave. It did not give me the kind of lift from "Orosman and Zafira". I was only too happy to hear Kinaray-a spoken by actors in the first part of the play, and Antique mentioned several times (of course!). If only for that, I could have gone home happy.

The play, which purports to be a rock musical (although 'musical' would be enough) was a parrallel play on two lives: governor Evelio Javier of Antique, who was assassinated at the provincial park in Antique on February 11, 1986, and the militant leader Edgar Jopson (Edjop), who was killed during a military raid in Davao on September 20, 1982.

There was no interface between Evelio and Edjop's lives, thus the device that the two met in heaven, or wherever assassinated political leaders go, engaged in a debate (rather small talk) on the opposite approaches they took as political leaders. The play also banked on the two's being Atenista as a unifying thread. The use of Jun Yango's character hovering around in all scenes also helped in stitching the two narratives, but this poetic character's production numbers however were wacky scene stealers, and undoubtedly took the limelight from both protagonists. His scenes as Ferdinand Marcos tied to a chandelier of dextrose, and as the trigger-happy general alluding to Fabian Ver were the most remembered.

Edjop's scenes were more visually exciting than Evelio's. The China sojourn scene, for example was very witty, not to mention the striking sea of red in the background, and the interrogation scene was hauntingly disturbing. But Evelio's scenes were rather contrived, except for that Kinaray-a scene about the sakadas and that scene where Evelio and Precious walk on benches, creating a very rustic scene in the imagination. I wished that the Binirayan scene was more "maximized" instead of the caricature with the white paper fans, which to me trivialized Evelio's brainchild. Enamored with the Binirayan as a kid, and having listened to Beloy's Binirayan speeches, I must say that the Binirayan says all of Evelio's vision.

As for the music, I am not very keen on the music of the Dawn to really say that it has captured the (musical) texture of both lives, except that when they sang "Salamat" my mind automatically volunteered San Miguel Beer.

Like all plays, though, we see only what their playwrights and directors have envisioned for us. "EJ" was a very entertaining play, but maybe a play on Evelio (and similarly on Edjop) is yet to be written and staged.

The Kite Runner

I had a bout with gout. Thanks to the hotel's airconditioning and the fatty foods (which I did not resist) served at conferences and meeting. So I had to ask my friend Insoy to join me at Robinsons Ermita. I wanted to have lunch at Penang Hill, because I felt a little nostalgic. Actually the choices were Secret Recipe, Old Spaghetti House, and Penang Hill. But I figured that Secret Recipe's to die for lamb stew would only make my pain twice unbearable, and Old Spaghetti House was Insoy's nostalgic place, and since I am footing the bill I must have the privilege to feed my nostalgia.

Penang Hill, of course, is none other than Bukit Bendera in Penang, where Eduard and I had a wonderful stroll in 2006. (Read my poem "Bukit Bendera" dedicated to him). It's also a restaurant serving Malay, Thai, and Asian fusion cuisine. We had Hainanese (Singapore) chicken (Insoy has a secret fixation with Singapore), Indian rice (we had a little argument on the spices), and oyster omelet (my favorite hawker's food at Chulia St.), which were very close to authentic. It had to be a long dinner, while waiting for the painkillers to take effect. The Penang Shake (cucumber with lemon) was also very refreshing.

After the late lunch-early dinner, I managed to amble down to Cinema 3 to watch "The Kite Runner." This Asian film capped that Asian dinner. It's about a boy who witnessed the rape of his best friend (who would later turn out to be his half brother), and faced his own guilt by pushing away the best friend. I think there are enough reviews of this film, and I suggest you read them. I like the film very much, if you ask me. But I will not waste my time reviewing it here.

After watching this film, I bought two bibingkas from Bibingka House (one salted egg - oh the gout - and one cheese), and went back to Orchid Garden Suites. I switched on the Asian Food Channel, and watched Riyusi Rusi (the feature was on Chang Mai), and another feature on Scandinavian food (roast breast of duck with artichokes and garlic mayonnaise). Yumyum.

I slept dreaming of home. The next day, the gout was gone.

(Photo credits: www.gibbscadiz.blogspot.com for Orosman & Zafira, Tanghalang Pilipino website for EJ, and wikipedia for The Kite Runner poster.)

More on Komedya Antiqueña

The cast of the komedya "Kasanag batok sa sugal" (Light versus gambling) by Hiraya Theater Company: McLaurence Saligumba as Prinsipe Kuryente, Jean Matias as Prinsesa Bombilya, Jayro Oriel as Prinsipe Doble, Ralph Armonio as Tigwati, Felipe Alejo III as Haring Plantino, Mercycar Patiño sa Reyna Alabrea, Richard Salameda as Emperador Koredor, Phoebe Rose Buquing as Emperatiz Bangkera, Glenn Mark Rocapor, Lozel Lacbanes, and Kelvin Catipon as Konseheros, Julius Revaldo, Shiela Marie Villeta, Ryan Lista Pameroyan, and Randy Montero and Antonio Arnaiz as Soldado. The music was provided by Doming Moscoso band of San Pedro. Production management was by Richard Magbanua, stage management by Janice Matias, Mayet Cabrera, Mark, Mario Jr., and Minnard Arbozo were stage assistants.

I have to thank the komedya veterans who helped in creating the luwa, marcha, and fight scenes: Cora Cataluña of Barbaza, Gerry Baclagon of Lauaan, and Mario and Bicbic Patiño of Madrangca. Also the many komedyante I have interviewed in my research on the komedya, Kap Genaro Encarnacion, Rebecca Baña, Tita Edith Altar, the komedyante from Lauaan, Barbaza, and Igbalangao, Bugasong. Dr. Cecile Locsin Nava introduced me into this, when she asked me to help in her research on the korido.

This komedya is a product of my research since 2003. After writing several papers on the komedya in Antique, I have gotten to direct one, infusing all the insights I have from the research, and using my own directorial and artistic vision. I have always been fascinated by the komedya, since I witnessed Genaro Encarnacion's rehearsals at the public plaza in the 70's, although I had no idea that I would direct one later.

After working on Exaltaction Combong's "Light versus gambling" I would like to create a komedya of my own. Hopefully I would find the time to write this, perhaps after my long overdue book "Ugsad kang Kinaray-a" is off the press.

Meanwhile, I am participating in the first International Komedya Conference at UP Diliman on February 27-29. Our paper is titled "Faith, Land, and Life in San Antonio," a study on the sustainability of the komedya in San Antonio, Barbaza. I share authorship with co-researcher Richard Magbanua.

The photos here are from our last performance at Belison National School on February 22, 2008.

Hiraya Theater Company's "Komedya batok sa sugal" is open for sponsorship and tour performances. Contact Binirayan Foundation, Inc. at 036-5407343.