“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
DECEMBER 29, 2012 Today, Carmen Pedrosa wrote in her column in the Philippine Star: I have to see the film “El Presidente” to know if it does justice to Emilio Aguinaldo, a neglected hero. He offers many lessons to our present leaders. His role in the making of our nation has not been given its rightful place.… Continue reading El Presidente, the movie
The worst fears of environmentalists and animal welfare advocates have come true. A dolphin has died on its way to the Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) Park in Singapore. Environmentalists say this may only be the beginning. According to the press release of RWS, Wen-wen, a ten-year old male dolphin suddenly died an hour before reaching… Continue reading ACTIVISTS CONDEMN RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA, DA & BFAR FOR DOLPHIN DEATH
Today, I joined the petition to stop the Philippine government from allowing the re-export of 23 Solomon Island dolphins to Singapore to be used as show animals in Resorts World at Sentosa, Singapore. The move was spearheaded by Earth Island Institute Philippines (EII-Phils), together with Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Compassion and Responsibility to Animals… Continue reading Save the Solomon Island Dolphins
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
Postprandial Musings, 2.0 