What is unseen is eternal

Cinemalaya is this week, and I was accepted as a volunteer (thirty-something out of a hundred plus applicants, who would have thought?). I am very happy about having a sort-of job for most of this week, even if it was volunteer work (i.e. working for free), especially if it is for the arts.

My first Cinemalaya movie was Astig in 2009. It was mind-blowing. It was the kind of movie that I was looking for in Philippine cinema, an industry that is dogged with commercialism and predictable formulae that bring in the much needed buck. It acknowledged that the Filipino moviegoer can think. If you've known me for a while, you know I never watch Filipino movies. You can say that I hate the commercialized ones, and I won't deny it. Most of them are insulting to the intellect. The first Filipino movie that I watched was Jose Rizal, and that was followed ten years later by Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo. (I was dragged into it, so yeah...)

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You might ask what are the perks of being a volunteer. Biggest perk is that you get to watch all of the movies for free, provided that you have rendered this many hours. Second best perk is that you get a t-shirt after rendering 16 hours. Third best perk is you get to hang out at the CCP (which is quite a rare thing - for me, at least...you don't get to run around at Tanghalang Pambansa and get away with it XD). Fourth best perk is that you will never go hungry there. They never run out of food, thanks to their sponsors. No, we were not given free passes for our family and friends.

This picture here is the "makeshift" Excel spreadsheet at HQ, which shows which movies are on at what time and at what venue. One of the jobs of the volunteer is to change the signs outside the theaters to the title of the next flick. Other jobs include manning their RFID system, which is a pilot project of the CCP. At times we were also assigned to sell merchandise.

Did I abuse my perks? Not really. Out of my three days as a volunteer, I only got to watch three films: Shorts A, Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa, and Amok. I will get to those films later.

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I had a conversation with one of the employees of CCP during my duty at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo. He asked about me, if I was a student, where I lived, and why I volunteered.

"I like Cinemalaya movies," I said. "They're my type of sine."

"Why?"

"Well," I said. "I ... don't really watch Filipino movies. As much as possible, I don't." I tried to laugh it off, but it didn't change the seriousness of my answer. "They're too commercialized."

"Well, that's true." The employee said after a brief pause. "What kind of movies do you like, anyway?"

I smiled. "I like sad endings."

"Really?"

"Yeah, or endings that are sort of hanging, but will make you think. I like that sort of thing. I don't like happy endings."

"Really? Why? What's with happy endings?"

Yeah, what's with happy endings anyway? I pondered on the question; it wasn't enough that I said it was a personal preference. "I...think...there's nothing wrong with happy endings. We're all in search of that happy ending, whatever it means to us. But the reality is, we have to go through many tough times in order to reach that 'happy ending'. I think most of the commercialized movies that we have neglect that. They aren't real."

He nodded. "I get what you mean. So you're saying that the reality of our situation isn't being shown in most of the movies that we have here, and that is why you don't like it."

"Yeah," I said. "And what sucks is that it's movies that are formula-based that make so much money, but that isn't reality. It's a form of escape."

"Well, you cannot blame them." The employee told me. "It's what sells. And with the kind of people who see those movies, they'd like to see something that lightens their spirits."

"I know," I sighed. "A lot of people are hand-to-mouth in here...but that shouldn't stop us from making films that are like these."

"I'm curious, what made you decide to like movies with sad endings?"

That's a good question. I paused and thought for a while, searching for that turning point. "The Lion King," I answered. "Okay, it's a Disney movie, so it obviously ends happily, but what made me love that movie was because Mufasa died, and when that happened it made me cry.

"Until now I still get teary-eyed when it gets to that scene, but I realized that what was in front of me was reality. People do sacrifice their lives for the sake of other people. Death is inevitable. It was sad, and yet it was real."

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If you haven't watched any Cinemalaya flick and are still undecided on what to watch, here are my recommendations:

Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa is my FAVORITE Cinemalaya film thus far. If you would go gaga for poetry, music and dance, then I strongly suggest that you watch this film.

The cinematography is awesome. A lot of the shots gave me goosebumps. What was even more gripping was the poetry, most enthralling was the poetry coupled with music. Ye gads, it was beautiful. I'd buy a soundtrack of this movie if ever one came out.

If gay flicks aren't your thing (as in you're the type who would storm out of the movie house at the slightest hint of gay love), my suggestion is to keep an open mind. In my opinion, the same thing could have happened to a boy and a girl (or even girl x girl), but gender isn't really the point of the movie, nor is gay pride. It is, for me - simply put - an unlikely love story.

Shorts A is also good (didn't watch Shorts B, but a lot of people have been telling me that Shorts A is better). My favorites in Shorts A were Samarito, Every Other Time, and Nino Bonito.

Amok. HUWAW. This movie had its downs...at some parts it kind of dragged for me, but how it all finished was very gripping.

The major feat of this movie - for me, at least - was that it was shot in Pasay Rotonda. That area is chaotic, like I rarely go down the road there for fear of my life. How do you even shoot a movie there? For the execution of this seemingly impossible feat I give it two thumbs up.

The movie had its own fair share of tragedies, of reconciliation (mother and daughter, guy and his fake Levi's), and humor (oh this you have to find out for yourself!).

However, the part of me that loves the written word makes me prefer Sayaw than this movie. I'm not so much of a fan of action movies to begin with; having said that, this movie, nevertheless, was a real treat.

Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank was the first movie I watched for this year. It was downright funny, but it didn't compromise the realism. In fact, I think it was too real, more than the other two films.

This film had the hottest actors. If you'd like some eyecandy, this is the movie for you. Eugene Domingo's performance here was quite something. I don't know how real the ending was (don't want to spoil)...but if it was real then much kudos to her. I wouldn't do that for the life of me.

I also think I saw someone in this movie whom I've seen before. Like...during Sundays, specifically. O___o I could be wrong, you know.

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So much for Cinemalaya! This thing here will be happening real soon:

I GOT TIX TO THE BROOKE FRASER LIVE GIG ON AUGUST!
(I own the frontmost ticket, all the rest aren't mine XD)

There's definitely a price to pay for something like this that happens once in a blue moon. I swore I'll watch a Brooke Fraser concert in Manila. Now that it's going to happen, even if I am a professional bum, I got myself a reserved seat. It will be worth it. It's for a good cause. I will get to see Manang Brooke. It's all good.