Kiliti ng Isang High School Student

4C
Produksyon: Philippine Stagers Foundation (PSF)
Direksyon: Vincent M. Tañada
Mandudula: Jomar Bautista (Fan), Vincent Tañada (Romeo Loves Juliet), Alex Dorola (Judas’ Lair) at Patrick Libao (Felipa)
Mga Nagsiganap: Kierwin Larena, Glory Ann Nacional, Jordan Ladra, Vincent Tañada, atbp.

ISTORYA

Isang koleksyon ng apat na one-act play ang pagtatanghal. Upang magkaroon ng isang nagbibigkis na tema, lahat ay tumalakay sa pag-ibig. Ang “Fan” ay tungkol sa isang batang bakla na humahanga nang head-over-heels sa kanyang paboritong pop icon. Sinilip naman ng “Romeo Loves Juliet” ang mundo ng eyeball at cyber romance. Pag-ibig sa bayan ang gustong sundutin ng “Judas’ Lair” samantalang inter-racial affair naman ang tinahak ng “Felipa”. Ang bawat act ay sinabawan ng ilang dance number at monologo tungkol sa ilang pananaw sa pag-ibig.

HALO-HALONG PALABAS

Hinabol ko ang napakaagang (8am) staging sa Cinema 9 ng SM City – North EDSA. Hindi pa talaga bukas ang mall ng ganitong oras at hindi gan’un kadali ang ma-interogate ng babaeng guwardyang nakapinid sa side entrance. Bakit daw wala pa akong ticket. Dapat daw ay kinontak ko na ang eskwelahan. Dito pa lang ay alam ko na ang target audience ng produksyon. Huli kong naramdaman ang ganitong agam-agam noong manood ako ng “Noli Me Tangere” ng Gantimpala Foundation dati nang mapagkalaman ako na isang titser sa high school. Inaasahan ko na na ang mga ganitong pagtatanghal ay tumatarget lamang sa mga estudyante at pinatunayan naman ito sa dami ng mga nanood mula sa Bestlink Colleges.

Sa loob ng teatro, naabutan kong naglelektyur ang isa sa mga staff ng PSF tungkol sa inaasahang respeto at disiplina mula sa mga manonood. Ganito rin ang umpisa n’ung mapanood ko ang kanilang “Enzo Santo”. At muli, nalungkot ako na kinakailangang gawin ang mga ganitong paalala sa art appreciation para sa mga mag-aaral, mga paalalang una kong inaasahang naituro na dapat ng mga magulang at mga guro.

Nagdilim ang teatro sa takdang oras ng pagtatanghal. Bumulaga ang mga performer suot ang isang post-apocalyptic get-up at umindayog sa isang trance music (dispensa pero ang una kong naisip ay ang mga contestant sa “Showtime”). Pagkatapos nito ay ipinakilala ang “leading man” ng PSF na si Kierwin Larena at nagbigay ng kanyang pananaw tungkol sa pag-ibig bago ipakilala ang unang dula (ganito ang itinakbo ng buong pagtatanghal: isang sayaw muna, monologo at one-act play na).

Hindi ko masyadong maintindihan ang gustong landasin ng “Fan”. Tungkol ba ito sa sekswalidad ng mga bata? Tungkol ba ito sa nag-uumapaw na pop culture? O tungkol sa isang busilak na pagkakaibigan ng dalawang bata? Sa aking pagkakaintindi, ang redeeming value na gustong sabihin ay, higit sa lahat, sa sekswalidad man o pagiging avid fan, mas nananaig ang pagkakaibigan. Siguro ay masyadong limitado ang iksi ng one-act play upang matalakay lahat ang mga nasabing tema.

Ang “Romeo Loves Juliet” naman ay gagana sana kung ginawa itong purong monologo mula sa pananaw ni Juliet na isang call center agent na hindi masyadong mapalad sa larangan ng pag-ibig. Muling pinaigting ang kanyang destiny ng isang pagkasawi na hindi masyadong nabigyan ng sapat na timbang at paliwanag. Sana’y mas pinalawig pa kung ano talaga ang kulay ng anino ni Romeo at hindi hinayaang nagtatanong ang mga tao kung ano ang kanyang mga pinaghuhugutan.

Isang retelling naman ng conflict sa pagitan ng magkaibang pananaw na political ng dalawang magkapatid ang binagtas ng “Judas’ Lair”. Ang una kong naisip ay ang Palanca-winning piece na “Sa Ngalan ng Ama” na sinulat ni Roberto Jose de Guzman. Gan’un din ang atake: politics, paternal, confrontation at trahedya. Promising sana ang pagkakasulat pero mukhang kailangang gupitin na ang mga punchline tungkol sa Lady Gaga song at Belo Medical Group. Hindi ito masyadong nagpakita ng focus at mas lalong hindi ito nakatulong sa tono ng dula. Malabo rin sa akin ang pag-devise ng confrontation scene sa harap ng burol at ng maraming tao.

Stand-out naman para sa akin ang huling dula tungkol sa eksorsismo ni “Felipa” na naganap sa turn of the century noong panahon ng mga Kastila. Ang staged na pagsapi ng demonyo ay isang magandang metaphor sa bawal na pag-iibigan ng isang Pinay at isang dayuhan. Bagama’t nadapa pa rin ito sa ilang gimik upang maabot ang target audience nito, nand’un pa rin ang kinang at ito ang mas mahalaga. Kung meron man akong hindi matanggap, ito na siguro ‘yung British accent ng aktor na si Jordan Ladra na gumanap bilang Kastila.

Malinaw naman para sa akin ang layunin ng PSF sa pagsasadula nitong 4C. Nais nilang magkaroon ng platform ang mga manunulat upang mai-showcase ang mga akda na maaaring hindi mag-qualify sa panlasa ng mga bumubuo ng Virgin Labfest sa CCP. Nais din nilang mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga high school students na magtanghal at mapaligaya sa pinakamabisang paraan upang makaiwas ang mga ito sa droga at kung ano pa mang bisyo (at ito para sa akin ang pinakaimportante). Hindi rin naman maiikailang isang ensayo ito para sa mga resident actor, stage manager, choreographer at costume designer ng PSF upang mapagbuti pa ang kanilang ginagawa. Sa katunayan, nandito pa rin naman sa 4C ang pangako ng mga nauna nilang produksyon. Maliksi pa rin ang choreography at maigting pa rin ang talent na pinamalas dito. Halimbawa, ang atake ni Kierwin Larena sa isang aktibista na namalagi sa US ay napakamental, kontrolado at tila isang malalim at tahimik na ilog. Mahusay rin si Glory Ann Nacional subalit kakarampot at stereotypical ang role na naibigay sa kanya. Ang gumanap na Romeo at Juliet ay nakasabay sa challenge ng emotional shift at blocking na nakakapagod. Pinag-aksayahan din naman ng panahon ang mga set at halata namang nage-enjoy ang audience nito at maging ang mga performer.

KONKLUSYON

Ang una kong impresyon ay maraming excess at palamuti ang 4C na kailangang isantabi. Nariyan ang paggamit ng mga good looking performers (na minsan ay kailangan pang gumiling at magpakilig). Nariyan ang nag-uumapaw na punchline mula sa script at maging sa direksyon. Nariyan ang theatrics na brutal na pinakita sa “Felipa” sa paggamit ng mga nahuhulog na picture frame at gumagalaw na mga upuan. At iba pa na ang tanging nais maabot ay ang kiliti ng target audience nito. Kung tutuusin, hindi gan’un kadali ang kanilang ginagawa dahil mahirap sabayan ang psyche at humor ng pangkaraniwang high school student ngayon. Ang mas mainam dito, seryoso silang makarating sa kabataan ang ligaya ng performing arts. Sa katunayan, magkakaroon sila ng libreng acting workshop sa mga nagnanais linangin ang kanilang talento sa pagganap. Siguro ay magmumukha rin namang pretentious kung sa isang iglap ay magtatanghal sila ng isang Shakespearean play sa kabuuhan ng teksto, konteksto at panahon nito. Pero hindi sana ito maging isang limitasyon pagdating ng panahon.

Este, Punta del Este

Most of the people who have gone through Uruguay claim that there are only three major tourist spots in the country that are worth visiting (and I hope to contest that someday): Montevideo, Colonia and Punta del Este.

I understand Montevideo for being on the list as it is the capital city where the presidential, senate and congress houses are seated. It also brags of its own huge ciudad vieja where some historic buildings are found plus the beautiful sunset in the rambla and a nice gastronomic haven in Mercado del Puerto. Colonia, on the other hand, has a small well maintained ciudad vieja with a lighthouse strategically erected to overlook Rio de la Plata (where a tiny Buenos Aires can be seen on a clear day). The oldest church in the country is also there and sunset is best enjoyed in the yacht port. As for Punta del Este, below is my share:

TAS D’VIAJE HOSTEL

Just like any other out-of-town trips from Montevideo, we took a COT bus from Tres Cruces Shopping/Bus Station (as its slogan suggests, is “where the country meets”). There are other options, of course, but I remember the guys in The Amazing Race – Season 5 taking the same bus company. The direct bus, one-way, costs us UYU 158 (or PHP 340) and we bought it two days prior to the trip. If I remember it correctly, there are two more COT busses going to Punta del Este for the 9:15am trip.



Weekend trip pictures here and the rest of the pictures of the hostel here.

Based on the atmosphere in Punta del Este, it seems like a hotel reservation is needed at least three days prior to the trip. It’s not peak season yet when we went there last November 27 – 28 weekend but I imagine the summer days in February to be so jam-packed with visitors. Out of the three options we had, we picked Tas D’Viaje Hostel probably because of location and availability of rooms with 10 – 12 dorm-like beds.

It’s strategically located roughly four blocks away from the central bus station in Punta del Este. From the same bus station, La Mano can be seen already. So we took a really quick stop there and walked to the hostel which is just along 24 St. (one of the main streets).

The hostel is, first and foremost, doesn’t remind us of the movie “Hostel”. Beside it is actually a sex shop, a notion that the hostel is probably a fun place. There’s a small gate on the right with a visible sign “RING” that points to a doorbell. Don’t try banging the gate as the guard dog Sargento might confront you. The lobby seems like a nest for surfers or backpackers or both. There’s a cozy couch, a big LCD TV and some magazines. The porteros are very friendly, to a point that you’ll mistake them for stranded backpackers. Kitchen is just beside the lobby where you can use the cooking ware and utensils if you wish to cook (breakfast is free, by the way). A few meters from the hostel is a supermarket (with a bakeshop inside it) that opens as early 9am and closes at midnight.

Going to the rooms will have you glance and adore the artwork almost everywhere. The walls are brightly painted and very warm to the eyes. We were only 10 but the room we got is good for 12. The 11th bunk bed belongs to an Aussie guy who stood our snoring at night and the occasional noise. Just like in other hostels, the toilet is common to all visitors. For the guys, it has two small rooms for toilet bowls and four shower rooms separated by a plastic glass divider and covered by shower curtains. True to its artsy feel, the toilet itself is charming. They have towels for rent at UYU 60 (PHP 129) each. Locker is for free so long as you bring your own small locks.

Rate is at UYU 358 (PHP 771) per person/day. I’ve only tried three hostels (one in Edinburgh and two in London) in my whole travel life and this one is definitely the best.

PLAYA DE LOS INGLESES



More snapshots of the beach here.

At past 12 noon, after settling in, we found ourselves strolling along the streets of Punta del Este hunting for food. We reached the Western side of the area facing Rio de la Plata and started browsing through a couple of restaurants there. We ended up in a make-your-own chiviteria which wasn’t so bad.

From there, we had a few blocks’ worth of walking, heading back to the Eastern side which is facing the Atlantic Ocean (so it’s river on the left and ocean on the right). It all began with a barefoot walk along the beach sand but we ended up setting up our mats and having a swim. Not all 10 of us swam (including me). It must be the temperature. It’s very cold. The rest braved it along with the giant waves that were enjoyed, too, by the surfers young and old.

The beach front we were at is called Playa de los Ingleses. It’s a stretch of fine but not so white sand. A Quicksilver event for surfers was being held that time but we were far from where the real action was (the announcements were in Spanish, anyway). Family and friends also gathered there enjoying the warm weather, having a stroll, a sunbath, a football game or just plain bumming around.

LA MANO


The rest of La Mano pictures here.

In the late afternoon, while the guys were probably playing some card games, I sneaked out and took a solo stroll near La Mano area. It was probably close to 6pm and the place was not occasionally busy. I managed to capture some pictures of it without anyone covering the view.

La Mano, by the way, is a sculpture by Mario Irrarazabal using mamposteria. It’s a giant structure of five fingers that represent a hand with the palm up, the last image that you can see from a drowning person. You have to be a bit far from the artwork to get the picture (otherwise, it looks like a polished Stonehenge piece up close). It’s put up in an elevated part of the sand in the playa and people in cars stop by from time to time just to take pictures. Just don’t ask me why the hell it is there and let’s just take it as a safety precaution.

CASAPUEBLO

The next day, we went to the highlight of the weekend trip (well, at least for me). The hotel/museum is used as the first pit stop in The Amazing Race – Season 5 (same season where the racers visited the Philippines). We went there by public transportation, particularly by COT bus. It’s the same bus that leaves for Montevideo and departure schedule is at every hour (return fares at UYU 68 or PHP 147). Taxis offer a back-and-forth transfer for UYU 1,000 (can accommodate four so it’s UYU 250 or PHP 538 each) and the taxi driver that I talked with mentioned that he’s willing to wait for 30 minutes (otherwise, we can just contact him for pick-up).

From the stop where the bus dropped us (the trip took roughly 15 to 20 minutes), we had to walk for two kilometers. There’s a good view of the city and other beach fronts along the way so the walk wasn’t boring at all. On our part for example, we stopped every ten minutes just to take pictures. I didn’t time the whole walking part but it probably took us 20 minutes to reach our destination.




More of Casapueblo pictures here.

Casapueblo is Carlos Páez Vilaró’s living sculpture that resembles those iconic white houses in Santorini, Greece with some hint of Gaudi’s signature domes. It’s primarily a hotel (an expensive one, I suppose) but it also has a museum with coffee shop. They charge UYU 120 (PHP 258) for the entrance but I think taking pictures from the outside should be fine. It is built in the remote Punta Ballena and romantically located on a hill facing the Atlantic Ocean. Beneath the grandeur of the place is a story about Vilaró’s son who is one of the survivors of the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 that crashed in the Andes (the basis of Frank Marshall’s “Alive” in 1993).

The museum is not really a big one but it houses Vilaró’s extensive collection of paintings and sculptures. In the topmost floor is a specially designed (probably by Vilaró himself) audio-visual room where a short film about the man’s inspirations and life is played. The coffee shop leads to a veranda facing the Atlantic where sunset is best experienced.

More of Vilaró here.

We capped the weekend with a short trip to La Mano and a quick dinner at La Pasiva. The bus going back to Montevideo left at 8:15pm. It was also sunset time. I was probably smiling when I slept during our trip back to reality.

P.S. If we look tired on the pictures, blame the Friday night party that we attended to. Evidences here.

Kung Ako ang Nanalo ng P741 Million sa Lotto

Out of the blue lang ulit ‘tong blog na ‘to. Nabalitaan ko kasi na may nanalo na raw ng jackpot na pumatak ng P741 million. Heto ang mga unang pumasok sa isip ko:

1. Baka totoo ‘yung conspiracy theory ni manong driver dati na kontrolado raw ni PGMA ang pagkapanalo sa lotto. Wala raw naman talagang nananalo dahil kay Gloria bumabalik ang pera. Siguro ang point ni manong ay wala kasing nabo-broadcast na panalo. Naisip ko n’un eh kung ako ‘yung lotto winner, hindi ko ipagkakalat. Baka mautot ako sa pagpipigil ng isang major, major na sikreto;

2. Saan ko ba gagamitin ang P741 million? Hmm, una, magtatayo ako ng sariling kumpanya na maliit lang at well compensated ang mga empleyado. ‘Yung tipong wala akong maririnig na reklamo pagdating sa suweldo. Taun-taon, merong increase at ang summer outing ay sa dalawang lugar lang puwedeng gawin: either sa Boracay o sa Palawan;

3. Ikalawa, magta-travel ako around the world. Magme-meryenda ako ng lumpiang Shanghai sa Shanghai, magpapaluto ako ng lutong Macau sa Macau, I will walk like an Egyptian in Egypt, hindi ako magda-Dutch treat sa Netherlands at sa tuktok ng Mt. Everest kami magco-coffee break ni Scarlett Johansson;

4. Ikatlo, ipapasara ko ang pinakamalaking Disneyland para lang sa tatlo kong pamangkin at sa mga kaibigan nila;

5. Ikaapat, magtatayo ako ng sindikato na may sariling hustisya para sa mga corrupt na politiko. Galit-galit na lang muna. Para naman sa bayan eh;

6. Pero sa totoo lang, nakakatakot sigurong magkaroon ng gan’un kalaking halaga. Baka maging sakim naman akong masyado. I mean, masaya na ako sa mga biyayang meron ngayon. Nakakakain pa naman ako nang tama sa oras at nabibili ko pa naman ang mga munting bagay na kailangan ko (at ilang kakarampot na luxury kamukha ng sine); at

7. Baka mawalan ako ng kaibigan kapag yumaman ako. ‘Yung totoong kahulugan ng kaibigan ha, hindi ‘yung nariyan lang kapag mataas ang sikat ng araw. O ‘yung present lang kapag gumuguho na ang mundo nila kapag merong problema. Masaya na ako sa klase ng mga kaibigan ko ngayon.

Scenes from the Asado Night

The rest of the pics here.

Return to Colonia

The rest of the pics here and here.

Notes from the Noveno Festival de Cine de Montevideo

The 9th Montevideo Film Festival held from October 22 to 31 in four cinemas (one of it is in Punta Carretas Shopping which is just near our apartment while the other is in Montevideo Shopping, a bigger one, which is reachable by cab) just concluded quietly. It’s not really a big event (at least for a non-Spanish speaker like me). I didn’t even see filmmakers hanging around the lobby before and after each screening but I heard about affording an awarding ceremony. For me, it’s just a screening of films (like renting a bunch of videos and have it projected on a big screen) if you know what I mean.

Though limited to malls and downtown cinemas, the set-up is similar to Belfast Film Fest where a lot of venues are used like mall cinema, university film center, performance stage and even a yacht (where they screened “Yellow Submarine” roughly five or six years ago). For sure, it’s bigger than Brussels Film Fest where only two cinemas are used for the whole duration but to be fair, the Belgian event is always well attended by Filipinos.

Tickets at UYU 80 each or PHP 166 but you can get a “cuponera 10 entradas” for UYU 500 (PHP 1,036) which will make each film UYU 50 only. The thing with their “cuponera” is that you can get, say, five tickets for the same film (I’m not sure if they do that in Cinemalaya and the rest).

Film selection varies from Zhang Yimou (“A Simple Noodle Story”), Alain Resnais (“Wild Grass”) and even Jean-Pierre Jeunet (“Micmacs”). There are also films that I am not sure why it’s in there, be it because it’s so ten years ago or otherwise, but I cannot complain. The list of films below is not much. For a festival that is organized mainly for the locals, non-English films are always subtitled in Spanish.

Anyway, the rundown and some comments:

Ben Affleck’s “The Town” (2010) Don’t ask me why a recent mainstream movie from Hollywood is there but I enjoyed it. The film is still showing after the festival so I saved at least 50 bucks. Nothing grand about the movie aside from humanizing bank robbers but it is reassuring to know that Ben Affleck can direct. Hopefully Jeremy Renner could hit an Oscar for best supporting role.

Scott Hicks’ “The Boys Are Back” (2009) The film is based on the memoir of Australian sportswriter Simon Carr about the death of his wife and the coping he needs to endure along with his two sons (one of it is from his first wife that he hasn’t met for a long time). I can say that it’s a good family drama. I am not sure if I have seen a melodrama before driven by three male characters but this one’s very effective. Mainstream, yes, but it’s really well made. It’s good to finally see a Scott Hicks movie again done in his home base.

Steve Buscemi’s “The Interview” (2007) Reminiscent of films that tell a story over a night with minimal characters like Emman dela Cruz’ “Sarong Banggi”, Francis Veber’s “The Dinner Game” and Joven Tan’s “Magdamag”. Stagey it may look but I enjoyed the outwitting part between a sports editor and a soap opera star. This is not a good barometer to check whether Steve Buscemi could direct or not but being engaged to two opposing characters is something.

Brian de Palma’s “Redacted” (2007) I don’t think I have seen all Brian de Palma films but for sure, those that I have watched, this film is one of the weakest on the list. It’s an anti-war movie set against the backdrop of the US troops stationed in post-911 Iraq. I think the intention is there. It’s just that use of real time and the gimmickry over video cameras to achieve the authenticity of the ravages of war do not work.

Stephen Low’s “Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D” (2010) This one totally made me forget that I was in the middle of a film festival. Could be mistaken as a tourism ad-campaign promoting the beautiful islands of Tahiti but I don’t mind. It’s good to have an ice breaker from time to time, a jaw-dropping one to be exact. Not as structured as expected for a travel documentary but the animation used is awesome and the 3D images are just mesmerizing. It gets boring at some point but just like a day at the beach front on a clear sky, relaxing is the sole option.

Rachid Bouchareb’s “London River” (2009) It’s my sixth film for the festival and this is the first one that brought me back to my senses. This Berlin Film Festival-winning film talks about two parents who lost their children from the London bombing in 2005. Coming from different social and religious backgrounds, the two started a bit off and later on surrendered to the comforting notion that they’ve got nothing else to turn to in time of loss. The film tries to make a connection between the tragedies like a terrorist attack and the bond that happens between two individuals of opposing assents. The great Brenda Blethyn provides some lachrymal histrionics complemented by the subtle, almost quiet, acting advances from Sotigui Kouyate.

Anton Corbijn’s “The American” (2010) George Clooney has been doing excellent films lately. What’s so good about it is that his recent films do not have to be too artsy or too mainstream, just something in the middle. This film is packaged as an action/suspense where the Mr. Clooney plays an assassin who is hibernating in Castel del Monte in Italy after a mission in Sweden failed. Compared to other Hollywood-produced films, pacing is not in a hurry. It maturely captures the emptiness of the gunman’s life while still keeping its focus on the action/suspense genre. I can’t divulge much of the ending but I like the unexpected poetry that comes with the execution.

Ethan Maniquis and Robert Rodriguez’ “Machete” (2010) Violent and campy. What else can I say about this movie? Sure it’s fun. The orchestrated foolishness works for me and so is the line “We did not cross the border, the border crossed us!” I guess a capsule review is not worth it. Just go and watch it.

Movie Digest # 076

CHLOE
Glorietta 4, Cinema 5, August 5, 7:20pm

The only Atom Egoyan film I’ve seen, I think, is “The Sweet Hereafter” (1997) which is very much different from “Chloe”. The former is focused and very disciplined when it comes to storytelling, not to mention the control it has over its slow paced sequences. “Chloe”, given the genre, is reachable. Think of a Hollywood suspense movie back in the 90’s and this one, when compared, fares very well. Then there’s Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore who always shine in every scene, be it mainstream or otherwise. I think the disappointing part is that it attempts to discuss a mouthful of things like fidelity, obsession and a dash of homosexuality, all wrapped in a familiar rollercoaster ride. The resolution is a bit tacky so don’t expect a light at the end of the tunnel.

Friends who might appreciate it: Atom Egoyan fans, period.

THE GHOST WRITER
Glorietta 4, Cinema 5, August 5, 10:30pm

I’m glad to be reminded that the great Roman Polanski still does movies from time to time. He has to. Taking cinema this serious is starting to be obsolete. The film involves the life of a ghost writer who is tasked to complete an unfinished job by a writer who passed away. He then realizes that the memoir of the former British Prime Minister he is working for is more than meets the eye. What follows is a series of unfortunate events done in a very Hithcock-ish manner. I can say that it’s one of the best filmmaking I’ve seen so far from a major studio this year. There’s great acting (from Ewan Mc Gregor down to Oscar-worthy performance of Olivia Williams in a supporting role). Editing is also awesome. It’s one of those films that you start to appreciate this aspect of cinema. Pacing is also very un-Hollywood to a point that you’ll find some of it very dragging. But it’s worth the wait. The ending justifies the means.

Friends who might appreciate it: Those who know Roman Polanski’s reputation.

BROOKLYN’S FINEST
Punta Carretas Shopping, Cines Hoyts – Sala 2, September 4, 10:10pm

If it’s from Antoine Fuqua, we all know that it’s about cops and their ability to be evil. This one is no different. It tackles the interconnecting lives of three Brooklyn policemen wrestling with their own shadows. One is retiring and with a dark past, and is about to unravel his biggest job ever. One is a family man who will launder money in the best way he can just to give his pregnant wife and kids a better life. The third one is a good cop but is morally challenged after a friend is murdered. All the three characters collide as they try to salvage their own sanity. After getting out of the cinema, I felt relieved that I don’t live in Brooklyn. The film creates a gloomy picture of that side of NYC in the way that even the people that you should trust the most are depicted as something vulnerable. Storytelling-wise, this is more ambitious than “Training Day” which is focused on a simpler yin-yang story. I can say that beyond being dragging at times, the film still manages to hit the spot.

Friends who might appreciate it: Those who wish to see Richard Gere play a twisted character.

RESIDENT EVIL 4: AFTERLIFE
Montevideo Shopping, Movie Center - Sala 3D, September 18, 8:20pm

First things first, I haven’t seen the first two sequels. What I remember from the original is a gruesome scene of a body being cut by a collapsing elevator. This zombie film still has all the perks of the first one only with fewer fireworks. Cinematography is still an eye candy (especially if they can get rid of some of the slow-mo) and so is Milla Jovovich.

Friends who might appreciate it: Video game fanatics.

WALL STREET 2: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS
Punta Carretas Shopping, Cines Hoyts – Sala 2, September 26, 7:40pm

After serving his term from the prison (which he got from the first movie), Gordon Gekko returns to the industry that he once held by the balls. As the title of the sequel suggests, greed is still king. This time around, people get to know the value of family ties over money. I am not sure why the movie has to have a sequel. I mean, the first one is good and probably one of those Hollywood films that could seriously define the 80’s. Gekko has even become an icon among stock brokers and traders. And here comes a sequel that is bound to correct the image? Don’t get me wrong. The movie is fine with me especially with the presence of the great Michael Douglas. It’s a delight to see him own the movie to a point that he most of the time overshadows his co-actors Shia LaBeouf and Carey Mulligan. I just don’t understand one particular scene where everything is Star Cinematic. Maybe they could have done something more subtle than that. Furthermore, here’s hoping, too, that a Filipino film this well researched would be conceived in the future.

Friends who might appreciate it: Not necessarily those who watched and liked the first one.

EAT PRAY LOVE
Punta Carretas Shopping, Movie Center – Sala C, October 10, 4:35pm

This episodic Ryan Murphy (one of the creators of “Glee”) film based on the bestselling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert tackles the life of a woman who files for a divorce and decides to travel to some parts of the world. By episodic, I really mean episodic. “Eat” part has Liz enjoying the Italian gastronomy. “Pray” has her look at her inner self somewhere in India. “Love” is about an expected love affair in the beautiful Bali. The wanderlust in me says that the material is good. It’s all about travelling and the joys that come along with it, a good reminder that discovering a new place is a far better experience than reading a book. I also believe that Elizabeth Gilbert is a great person inside and out. The thing with the film adaptation is that it’s too Julia Roberts. I’m guessing that having a hit TV series producer/director helm this project is like aiming for a blockbuster. In that aspect, it won’t disappoint.

Friends who might appreciate it: Those who can name other good verbs.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Punta Carretas Shopping, Movie Center – Sala A, October 16, 8:00pm

Some would easily comment that this film is all about Facebook and its creator Mark Zuckerberg. For me, it’s about creating a beautiful monster out of a single emotion. I don’t know about Greek mythology but I find it too allegorical. Out of frustration to keep the girl he adores, Mark Zuckerberg creates the famous social network website in the same manner an author writes an angsty novel or a rocker creates an emo music. With the help of machinations he meets along the way, everything comes into fruition. The website now enjoys more than 500 million subscribers as of July 2010. But the movie is saying something else. It doesn’t give in to social commentaries like the psyche of too much Facebooking but it tells how the creator is defeated by its creation. My take is that we need to be too wary about our actions and that maturity is expected in situations that deal with emotions. It’s like getting drunk after a break-up. You should know how to crawl back to your shell without hitting a lamppost or something.

Friends who might appreciate it: Friendster, Twitter and Plurk users alike.

Seis Películas Uruguayas

I have yet to come up with an impression on what's a typical Uruguayan film. Below is just a list of local films that I have seen so far through DVD rental. Sure, most are socio-economic commentaries, something that is very distinct in third world countries, but I still can't generalize. Maybe the absence of much cinematic identity is triggered by the fact that the country is sandwiched by two enormous nations, namely Argentina and Brazil, and perhaps it's a struggle to have its own voice. Anyway, the line-up is more of international film festival-decorated so I have to check next their more mainstream ones.

Cesar Charlone and Enrique Fernandez’ El Baño del Papa (2007) – The film is a commentary on how religion affects the society. It’s about how fanaticism overlaps with faith and vice versa. In focus is a small and poor neighborhood in Melo, Uruguay, which is just near the Brazilian border. The poor townsfolk invest on an upcoming papal visit by selling their properties just to come up with business for the greeters and cheerers. Beto, the lead character, on the other hand, tries to earn a living by smuggling goods through border crossings using a bike. His business is going to be a toilet rental for the papal supporters (hence the title). Aside from that, he has family issues on his own to address. I can say that aside from the social commentary that overpowers the film, it is very visually affecting. The hue is maintained from Scene One up to the end and the editing makes it viewable even for the mainstream audience. I guess it has something to do with the theme that could be taken as depressing at some point. It is also a family drama where internal issues are more important than the morals or socio-economic condition. It’s a good introduction for me to Uruguayan cinema.

Mario Handler’s Aparte (2002) – It is categorically a documentary. Shot with no script whatsoever, catching a glimpse of interconnecting stories of the people from a poor neighborhood right outside the city center of Montevideo. Opposed to what is expected from a documentary, the film does not share any figures or statistics and even details like its geography and their economic state. It’s just the real-life stories but not to a point that you feel like watching clips from the Big Brother franchise. The end credits mention that Mario Handler captured the series of everyday lives for a certain period (if I’m not mistaken, it’s more than a year). At times, the actors involved are caught looking at the camera and at times, it’s the actors themselves who are helming the scene. The challenge that I see with this kind of approach is on the editing department. To be specific, the director opted to film real people’s stories but along with being real is the absence of storytelling arch. Let’s just say that it’s not every day that an interesting event comes along. Having said this obstacle, the final product still feels like wanting for more, like we don’t know what is in store for the videotaped characters, but it succeeds in letting its audience take a peek into a truth from a different angle. The film reminds me of John Torres’ works, sans the poetry.

Adrian Biniez’ Gigante (2009) – This Hubert Bals funded film (read: some of Raya Martin’s works) tells the story of stocky (hence the title) security guard named Jara who works in a supermarket during night shift. It looks like an uneventful life for him until he meets one of the female workers through a CCTV camera. Jara starts to check the girl’s whereabouts and establishes a connection from afar. Compared to the first two Uruguayan films that I have watched, this one is quiet and always finds time to exhale when needed. The topic on spotlight is also less complex but it provides input to macro economics, recession and oppression. Not to mention that out of its simplicity, it also contributes some outstanding scenes. One of it, my favorite, is a sequence where Jara follows the guy whom the girl just dated. It preempts a tension that Jara might hurt the guy but upon reaching the apartment, two street jerks appeared and do the mugging themselves. Jara and the guy ended up having coffee in a bar talking about the girl’s favorite rock band.

Federico Veiroj’s Acne (2008) – This coming of age is similar to the storytelling approach of “Gigante”: quiet and mature. It’s about a pimply teenager named Rafa who is having a race with his hormones. At 13, he affords to render money just for sex with their house help, prostitutes, etc. He came from a rich dysfunctional family, by the way. His parents are on the verge of a divorce and it is actually his brother who arranges the sex with the house help. Aside from his pimples, where he always makes it a point to be attended by a dermatologist or by himself using some skin care products, the other thing that he worries about is having his first kiss. Unfortunately, the girls he fucked avoid that part on their make-outs. The storyline could very well pass for a Hollywood teen flick (Rafa, for instance, is joined by his friends who are equally passing through their own manhood a la “American Pie” and the like) but the film opted to a take a less travelled route. Editing and music are not in a hurry and the sweet resolution in the end just landed on the right lap. Alejandro Tocar as the low self-esteemed Rafa holds the film as his own. He shines in all of his scenes and he’s probably an actor to watch out for.

Sebastian Bednarik’s La Matinee (2007) – The documentary chronicles the rise of a carnaval band composed of veterans who are trying to fit in a society that is prone to favor the younger generation. I am not sure how Fat Tuesday is celebrated specifically here in Uruguay, but it looks like a series of auditions are held first before a set of bands are chosen to perform on the pre-Holy Week merriment. The film starts with the introduction of the members and how its musical director, a young local who adores Murga (a traditional form of carnaval music), tries to gather the band. Next in line is the audition part where they made it as one of the runners-up. What follows is the group’s journey to performances here and there and having a fan base of their own little way. If there’s one thing that I like the most about the documentary is that it doesn’t opt to sentimentalize things. Yes, the band is composed mainly of men on their senior year but they seem to just go on and entertain people. Maybe it has something to do with the nature of the carnaval that even with saggy tired faces, everything can be covered by a make-up or a mask. It’s good to note, too, that just like in the Philippines, musicians here end up either poor or overlooked. One portion of the documentary details how the members cope in life with their menial jobs.

Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll’s Whisky (2004) – This FIPRESCI prize winner in the un certain regard category at the Cannes Film Fest is so far the most appealing to me among those that I have seen. The plot is very minimal. It’s about middle-aged Jacobo who tries to put up a facade to his long-lost brother Herman who comes over to Montevideo for a commemoration of their dead mother. One of the impressions that he has to build is that he’s a happily married man. To do this, he “hires” his clothing factory’s most trusted employee Marta. What transpires next is a vignette of events of pretension, patching up and moving on as if an ordinary day just passes by. Given the fact that the material only has three major characters, the script does not sway on being stagey or with too many conversations. To make a point, for instance, of how mechanical life Jacobo is having in running his clothing business, it shows some repetitive scenes like he goes for a coffee first, then drives to the warehouse and opens it, operates the machine, checks the air conditioner and asks Marta about the guy who will fix the blinds. The pattern makes a U-turn as Herman breaks in the scene. Jacobo, by the way, has an issue with his brother for choosing to be away and to have his own business and family in Brazil. There are a lot of quiet moments that are worth applauding including a killer last frame that made me clap on my lonesome watching the film. To emphasize further, whisky is the term they use to replace “cheese” in the phrase “Say “cheese!” when taking a picture. It is used in one sequence where Jacobo and Marta have to have their “wedding” photo taken as a proof. It somewhat encapsulates the covering up that is happening within.

Cooking Log # 001: Chicken and Pork Adobo

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo pork cut in cubes
1/2 kilo chicken
1 head garlic, minced
1/2 small ginger
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 cup vinegar
1 teaspoon paprika
5 laurel leaves (bay leaves)
5 tablespoons of olive oil
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 cups of water

Cooking Instructions:

1. Marinate the meat with black pepper and some salt before chopping the garlic, onions and ginger;

2. Sauté the minced garlic, onions and ginger with 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a big wok;

3. Add the meat and stir for 1 to 2 minutes;

4. In a separate sauce pan, boil the meat with 2 cups of water, 1/2 cup of soy sauce, 1 cup of vinegar, paprika and the crushed laurel leaves. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or when meat is tender;

5. Remove the meat and put it back to the wok. Heat two tablespoons of olive oil and brown the meat for two minutes or less;

6. Mix the browned meat back to the sauce pan and add cornstarch dissolved in water to thicken;

7. Simmer for an additional 3 to 5 minutes. Optionally, add two boiled eggs; and

8. Serve hot with rice.

Notes:

I think it matters when it comes to soy sauce and vinegar choices. So if you don’t feel like experimenting, always stick to your brands. As for this particular attempt, I used Lee Kum Kee Soy Sauce and Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar.

For reference, I got the idea from filipinofoodrecipes.com. Updates include ginger being required, not optional, plus a little adjustment with the amount of olive oil (I used extra virgin). It’s also good to note that while boiling, maintain the fire in low heat. My adobo ended up a bit dryer than expected.

When I first came upon the recipe (the website is easy to find, just Google "adobo recipe" and you'll get it) and started sharing to a select few about the ingredients and how it is going to be prepared, I received some scratches on the head kind of reaction. They asked "Why ginger?" or "Why does it have to be so rigorous?", questions that made me more determined to finish the thing. Biased but the final product is rewarding. Maybe that's the lesson behind the adobo experience. We usually put it in a box because it is too common and that it is easy to prepare. Possibilities just keep on showing up.

Fitness Log # 001

NOTE: This is my attempt to satirize Allan Vistan’s fitness journal, with the same format and all. He, by the way, did something similar to my Movie Digest series. So this is more of revenge than returning a favor.

Date
October 20, 2010

Warm-up
Usual warm-up (10-sec each arm and leg stretching, etc.)

Strength
5x5 Squat (40 kgs)
5x5 Bench-Press (30 kgs)
5x5 Inverted Row (body weight)
5x5 Pull-ups (body weight supposedly but replaced with 40 - 50 kgs)
3x12 Reverse Crunch

WOD
What the hell is WOD?

Oh, well. We’re actually nearing our first month of visiting La Estacada Gimnasio (just a few meters away from the apartment and yes, that’s where the national rugby team of Uruguay sweats out). In fact, we’re renewing our monthly fee para socio tomorrow. I’ve wanted to blog something like this but to be realistic, I was either always sleepy or tired from the work-out.

The program we’re doing is called Strong Lifts 5x5 and it was recommended by officemate/friend Topeng (who’s very strict and who’s having his birthday today). I can say that after gathering all the excuses that I could think of just to skip that gym thing and having them in vain, I am starting to look forward to a leaner me. Thanks to this thing called peer pressure. But seriously, the motivational quote that struck me the most, from one of the links that Topeng has shared, is about having personal sacrifices just to achieve a certain goal. So I have to say goodbye to some of my movie nights. Besides, they don’t replenish movies here the way it’s done back home.

As for the progress, I’m doing well with the squats. Before, I can’t afford to do a full squat. I would feel out of balance even without weights. The program suggests an additional 2.5 kgs every week and it’s been a long way since I started with just the bar (20 kgs). That’s actually my favorite part of the routine. It’s just right and I start to sweat a lot on my third set. My Waterloo is more on the Bench-Press or OHP as I struggle with the increments. For instance, I’ve been doing 30 kgs for Bench-Press for two sets now and I hope to graduate from that real soon.

Aside from the usual food that I am avoiding, I don’t have a diet that I religiously follow. I’m on the roll with avoiding carbs and since fish is good on this side of the planet, I always order for pescado planchada whenever there’s a chance. Maybe I have to be vigilant, too, with my daily water intake. I notice that my weight is stuck in the same digits but Topeng said that it must be the muscle improvement that’s doing that.

So far, so good. I know the road to Mt. Olympus is a long way to go but I am moving. At least I am moving. There’s this priceless self esteem after walking out of the gym. I don’t know exactly what it is but it sure feels golden. Plus, the dinner after the work-out has never been so guilt-free and rewarding.

Day Trip to Colonia del Sacramento

Last Saturday, I joined the rest of the Manila Mafia (and a Colombian queen) on the trip to Colonia del Sacramento. It’s Uruguay’s oldest city (just like our very own Cebu) and it’s around 160 kms away from the country’s capital (Montevideo).

We met at around 9:30am past at Tres Cruces shopping center. It’s a mall from ground floor up but down below is a gateway for the busses heading to different parts of the country (and, selectively, outside Uruguay). I am not sure if it has something to do with the long weekend but we missed to get a ticket for the 10am trip for seven people. No choice but to kill time for the 11:30am trip from COT Bus Company. Unfortunately, we were not aware that there are two types of a trip to Colonia. One is direct and the other, the one we got, has a lot of stops that looked endless. Ticket is priced at UYU 185 (or around PHP 390), one way.

Touchdown at close to 3pm and the minute we got out of the bus, we changed our return tickets to 'directo'. Then off we walked along Calle Manuel Lobo to reach Barrio Historico (which is very much like our Intramuros, only with a century old lighthouse and overlooking the Rio del Plata). The walk took us around 15 to 20 minutes.

We had lunch at Restaurant El Torreon (which has a giant ‘torre’ behind the dining tables) with seafood platter and two orders of steamed Corvina. Self-help walking tour started at close to 5pm, giving us ample time to visit the ‘faro’ (lighthouse where a glimpse of tall buildings in Buenos Aires can be seen on a clear day), Igleasia Matriz (the oldest church in Uruguay) and the sunset-drenched Puerto de Yates. At close to 8pm, we left Patrimonio Lounge Bar/Restaurant after having a cappuccino fix. Off to Montevideo at 8:30pm, on board via a bus with Wi-Fi.

The rest of the pictures here.

Plus among other photo albums that I haven't published here yet:

1. Peruvian and Italian nights at Da Pentella;
2. Our attempt to chase sunset in Montevideo;
3. Another nice dinner at La Perdiz; and
4. My kind of other half of Sunday.

Dia del Patrimonio is Not Related to Alvin

From top to bottom row, left to right: Palacio Legislativo, Antel Telecommunications Tower, Estancia del Puerto, the Cabildo, the vintage bus (Erhitran), Museo del Carnaval, Teatro Solis, Palacio Taranco and Museo de Arte Precolombino y Indigena.

Last weekend was one of the best weekends for me here in Montevideo. I got to do the things I love to do on a clear day. To be precise, that’s walking along the streets, visiting some interesting places while cam-whoring on the side (with my little red backpack, of course). Uruguay just held its Dia del Patrimonio, or Heritage Day, and everything fell into the right place. Entrance fees are waived and most historical buildings that are accessible only on weekdays are open to the public. Lots of tourists, be it local or otherwise, were everywhere (making me, or Asians in general, slightly expected).

Held every last weekend of September, the two-day event is Uruguayans’ way of respecting the past and reminding people of what valuable their history is. All the museums and other old buildings are open to the public for free from 11am to 4pm-ish (others close an hour later), complete with flyers about the significance of the place and occasionally guided by some ushers. There are also street performances here and there, particularly in Ciudad Vieja (“old city”) area so the mood was festive enough for me to kill the weekend.

Anyway, below are the places I’ve visited courtesy of Dia del Patrimonio. I haven’t seen a lot of blog entries containing an itinerary about the event but hopefully the list would help.

1. Palacio Legislativo – As the name suggests, the historical edifice is their sort of parliament building where both the senate and congress are housed. It was probably built during the dawn of 20th century, and it’s a fine example of neoclassical architecture (just like our Manila Post Office Building in Lawton). We went there at around 11am by cab. It’s in the center of a roundabout and it’s roughly ten blocks away from Avenida 18 de Julio. A lot of visitors were already present when we went there but not too crowded;

More pictures of Palacio Legislative here.

2. Antel Complejo Torre de las Telecomunicaciones – Just two or three blocks away from Palacio Legislativo, this tower, privately owned by Antel (closest in the Philippines could be PLDT/Smart), is the tallest building in the whole Uruguay. Since most buildings in Montevideo are not that high, this one is easy to locate (in the same manner that you see Eiffel Tower in Paris). Designed by architect Carlos Ott, you won’t miss the similarity with Burj Al Arab. I am not sure if it has something to do with the time the architect did designs for some buildings in Dubai or it is just plain coincidence. The main attraction in the complex is the building’s panoramic area on the 26th floor. Staffs are very friendly and one of them even bothered to describe the city landmarks in English;

More pictures of the complex here.

3. Ciudad Vieja – From the bus stop beside Antel building, a lot of busses are heading to the old city. One of it is a special bus designated only for Dia del Patrimonio. It was already past 1pm when we reached the port area and nothing beats a hearty late lunch at Estancia del Puerto at Mercado del Puerto. After a plate of asado and morcilla, we headed to three more museums namely Museo del Carnaval (just beside the market), Museo de Arte Precolombino y Indigena and Palacio Taranco (both along Calle 25 de Mayo). We reached Teatro Solis at five minutes past 4pm and right in front of us were the ushers closing the entrance doors;

More pictures of Ciudad Vieja here.

4. Teatro Solis – The next day, right after mass at Catedral Anglicana dela Santisima Trinidad (which is also open for Dia del Patrimonio), I headed to Teatro Solis. It’s another neoclassical architecture and it’s a cultural center, much like of our CCP, with an astounding performance hall;

More of Teatro Solis here.

5. Plaza Matriz – From Teatro Solis, I just walked along Calle Sarandi to browse through the items in the stalls along the street. Before having a short rest in one of the benches at Plaza Matriz, I visited Cabildo de Montevideo which is a perfect heritage of the colonial times. There was also a makeshift performance stage nearby where I witnessed a chorale, a one-act play and some flamenco. Just a few meters walk, there’s the CUTCSA Office which was converted into a museum and Centro Experimental de Formaccion which houses some impressive sculptures (some of it were under construction); and

See more pictures around Plaza Matriz here.

6. Equipo Recopilador Historico del Transporte – To cap the day, I had a cozy trip on a vintage bus. Fare is UYU 17, one way, and it has stops at Puerto de Montevideo, the Antel Complejo Torre de las Telecomunicaciones, Estacion Central then back to Teatro Solis. It was a great experience and most tourists always find time to take a picture of the bus every time we pass by.

More pictures of my cozy vintage bus trip here.

Off-topic, below are the photo albums that I haven't posted here yet so:

1. My fifth week in Montevideo here;
2. An exciting futbol match here;
3. Our favorite after gym dinner spot here;
4. Mike's awesome birthday dinner at La Vaca here; and
5. Pictures of the best Japanese restaurant in Montevideo here;