ninanais lumaya, makawala.

pero kailangan kumita, kailangan kumain

kailangan mabuhay

ngunit para ano pa ang buhay kung di ka naman masaya?

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The first Filipino indie film I remember watching is Kubrador, back when I was in college. I liked the documentary, realistic feel and the stark difference it showed from the usual pinoy movie fare (think john Lloyd-bea).

Access to pinoy indie films in Davao is a bit limited, I would often get my copy from an artsy friend or watch it online. Unlike here where indie films are shown in Cinemas like Robinsons Galleria, in UP Dil, Cubao Expo, malls,  and you’ll even find pirated copies of indie films in Quiapo and Makati Cinema Square.

Of the indie movies I watched, two stood out. Both are very different, with the other tackling life in the slums of Quiapo and the other one a glimpse into the life of a successful woman with less than a hundred days to live.

Tirador by Brilliante Mendoza

Set in Quiapo, you get hooked in by the lives of people living in the slums of this popular place in Manila. There is no object or person that connects the characters, only the fact that they all reside in Quiapo. It’s a brilliant depiction of the day to day life in Quiapo, from a young lady losing her dentures to snatchers returning a necklace because it was fake, to young boys starting out as robbers.

Watching this film left me in awe. I grew up in a middle class environment with a short stint in student activism in college so I had my own share of exposures and mind opening trips. And yet what Mendoza showed in his film is so crass, so different, and it’s definitely on a higher level than the kind of slums we had in Davao. Either that or I just wasn’t observant enough. I think comparing the two would be like pitting a toddler against a fully grown man.

Jaclyn Jose and Coco Martin, were as always, brilliant in playing their roles. Jiro Manio was in the film as well, and played the son of a seemingly cunning thief who gets duped by his own cohorts.

I have to admit though, this film scared me from going to Quiapo, even though I really really love the ukay-ukay in Carriedo.

100 by Chris Martinez

Top billed by Mylene Dizon, 100 is not your usual pinoy indie fare of life in the slums, blatant sex scenes, and violence. Here, Mylene is a successful corporate executive – bossy, in charge of her life,  lives in a spacious condo, has a laptop, car and all the works. Problem is she just found out she had cancer and has barely 3 months to live.

100 details how she chose to live the rest of her days and gives an insight at how a dying person would want to spend the rest of her days. The plot is almost predictable- you’re dying so you try to atone for your mistakes, do stuff you haven’t done yet (e.g. travel).

Mylene writes the things she needs and wants to do on yellow post it notes and sticks them on her bedroom wall. Her mom, played by Tessie Tomas, and best friend, played by Eugene Domingo, posts their own lists as well on Mylene’s wall. It’s a pretty interesting list—from choosing her own casket to skinny dipping, to making peace with her failed relationship with Emil.

I guess what I love about this movie is that makes you feel good. There is also a sense of closure, so unlike Brilliante Mendoza’s Tirador, which leaves you reeling and a bit lost.

Anyhow, Cinemalaya is ongoing at The Fort and I’m hoping and crossing my fingers I could catch at least one movie before it ends. :p

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Make You Feel My Love

When the rain
Is blowing in your face
And the whole world
Is on your case
I could offer you
A warm embrace
To make you feel my love

When the evening shadows
And the stars appear
And there is no one there
To dry your tears
I could hold you
For a million years
To make you feel my love

I know you
Haven’t made
Your mind up yet
But I would never
Do you wrong
I’ve known it
From the moment
That we met
No doubt in my mind
Where you belong

I’d go hungry
I’d go black and blue
I’d go crawling
Down the avenue
No, there’s nothing
That I wouldn’t do
To make you feel my love

The storms are raging
On the rolling sea
And on the highway of regret
Though winds of change
Are throwing wild and free
You ain’t seen nothing
Like me yet

I could make you happy
Make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn’t do
Go to the ends
Of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love

[wpaudio url="http://cheapandfab.com/mp3s/09  Adele - Make You Feel My Love.mp3" text="Adele - Make you feel my love"]

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This is as public as it gets, I promise.

Thank you, I guess, for taking care of me that one time. I know I can be fiercely bullish about my independence and what you’d call my feminist crap and I know I freaked out the next day but do know that I am grateful.

It was supposed to be our day, our weekend but I veered away from the plan and got stinking drunk with my office mates. I don’t get that drunk with beer, it must have been the tequila and boy, it will be days, probably years before you’ll see me drink that nasty stuff again.

Taking care of each other wasn’t part of the setup. It was supposed to be all fun and casual, just two old friends taking a break from work. I’m a little embarrassed that you saw me that way, and mortified that you had to take care of me.

So thank you… for the breakfast, the conversation, and the morning after. I really am sorry that I freaked out on you the next day. I’ll make it up to you, I really will.

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Note: Click on any of the thumbnails for a larger view.

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