“The words are not good for the secret meaning, everything always becomes a bit different, as soon as it is put into words, gets distorted a bit, a bit silly—yes, and this is also very good, and I like it a lot, I also very much agree with this, that this what is one man’s treasure and wisdom always sounds like foolishness to another person.” ― Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha
Since I am teaching Film Criticism and Film Theory, I am uploading some of my old film criticism essays so my students can easily access it. This is my critique of Jon Red's film Utang ni Tatang (2002). I gave Jon a copy and he quite liked it. The film starts with a lighted white… Continue reading Bakhtinian carnivalesque in a Pinoy film
With the demise of film director Marilou Diaz-Abaya, I am re-posting this film critique I did in Jan. 2002. The film is Bagong Buwan (New Moon). This is a once-in-a blue moon film and as I wrote then, it would take some time before Filipinos could see another one like it. Ms. Diaz-Abaya dreamed of a peaceful Mindanao… Continue reading Bagong Buwan, a Marilou Diaz-Abaya film
I first saw Dolphy in person when I was about 10 years old. At that time, Manila still had a downtown. It was the Escolta - Quiapo - Avenida area. Quezon City was a suburb of Manila and was part of the Rizal province. My mother brought me along to shop for some clothes at… Continue reading Remembering Dolphy
From the The cyber-journalist Website. (Adapted from the Society of Professional Journalists of theU.S.) ****************************** BLOGGERS' CODE OF ETHICS Be Honest and Fair Bloggers should be honest and fair in gathering, reporting and interpreting information. Bloggers should: • Never plagiarize. • Identify and link to sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as… Continue reading BLOGGERS' CODE OF ETHICS
After ten long years, after bombing Afghanistan to kingdom come and controlling all its oil and gas resources, after invading Iraq and creating havoc there while controlling its oil and gas resources, after declaring a War on Terror and practically profiling all Muslim males as terrorists, the United States of America, through its president… Continue reading Osama bin Laden — dead at long last!
The Philippine Supreme Court (SC), in a very daring move, reversed the Court of Appeals and Regional Trial Court decisions and acquitted the accused, Hubert Webb et al, for the murder and rape of Carmela Vizconde and the murder of her mother and sister. This does not prove that there is justice in the Philippines.… Continue reading VIZCONDE – WEBB CASE: INJUSTICE FOR ALL
Postprandial Musings, 2.0 