The screenplay was claimed to be comprehensible as exactly what it was. It had four testimonies that do not match. It’s about hearing and watching the same events described by all three participants in three different ways. And the twist is that all three claim to be the killer.
First of all, I embraced the essence of the film showing that it had three testimonies on the killing of the husband. It is said human nature to listen to all witnesses and determine which of the three is telling the truth.
Even if the film was in Japanese, subtitle was provided and helped understand the film. Kurosawa, the director of the film is said to be fond of silent film and modern art. The film also had minimal sets and production designs. Almost all scenes were recorded in same areas. I think the sound effects and music really gave the best effort on showing the intricate and complicated plot of the film.
The message of “In a Grove” or Rashomon is to know how to suspect even with what we think we have seen. The film shows how humans listen to different stories and how one does not easily judge or point fingers without confirming. Although, in the film, there was never a confirmation on who was the real murderer and a possible rape.
If I were to recommend this to others, they should know that this film is psychologically and morally complicated. It may be viewed to the young since the rape was not depicted onscreen, but it was still discussed. The murder is depicted realistically, without bleeding and goriness.
The one thing I loved about the film is how the writer leaves the audience to decide on who to point fingers at. Its the viewer’s decision to say whether who is the suspect. The film practically shows that lying is natural for all of us, honesty is always set aside by people in order to save themselves.
Monday, December 21, 2015
Friday, December 18, 2015
Film: A Walk to Remember
A Walk To Remember
When a prank on fellow high-school student Clay Gephardt goes wrong, popular but rebellious Landon Carter (Shane West) is threatened with expulsion. His punishment is mandatory participation in various after-school activities, such as the drama club, where he is forced to interact with quiet, kind and bookish Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore), a girl he has known for many years but to whom he has rarely ever spoken. Their differing social statures leave them worlds apart, despite their close physical proximity.
When Landon has trouble learning his lines he asks Jamie for help. They begin practicing together at her house after school. At first Landon is only using Jamie for her help with the play, and treats her coldly when his other friends are around. But as he spends more and more time with her, he is surprised to find that she is far from the person he thought she was, and begins to question who he really wants to impress.
During the play, Jamie astounds Landon and the entire audience with her beauty and voice, and Landon kisses her on the stage. Afterwards, he tries to get closer to her, but she repeatedly rejects him. Soon thereafter, however, Landon's friends publicly humiliate Jamie by altering a photograph of her and placing her head on the body of a scantily clad woman. Landon angrily confronts his former friend, punching him and publicly siding with Jamie. Afterwards, Landon and Jamie begin a relationship in which Landon dedicates most of his time to her. He discovers that she has a wish list, and sets out to make all her ambitions come true, such as taking her to a state border so that she can stand on either side of the line and, thus, be in two places at once.
In the final stretch of the movie, Jamie confesses to Landon that she is afflicted by terminal leukaemia and has stopped responding to treatments. Landon gets upset at first, and Jamie tells him the reason she did not tell him is that she was moving on with her life and using the time she had left but then Landon happened and she fell in love with him.
Jamie's cancer gets worse, her father rushes her to the hospital where he meets Landon. Landon doesn't leave Jamie's side until her father practically has to pry him away. Jamie's father sits with Jamie and tells her that "If I've kept you too close, it's because I want to keep you longer."
Soon, word gets out about Jamie's illness. Eric, Landon's best friend, comes and tells him how sorry he is and that he did not understand. Other friends come and apologize too.
Later, Jamie gives Landon a book that was her mother's filled with quotes. Landon reads 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 along with her. Jamie then tells Landon that she believes that God sent him to her to help her through her illness and that he is her angel. He later learns that his estranged father is going to pay for private home care for Jamie. Landon shows up at his father's door and thanks him before breaking down in tears as his father hugs him.
Landon continues to fulfill various wishes on Jamie's list, such as building her a telescope so she can see a comet. Through this process, Landon and Jamie learn more about the nature of love. Landon is finally able to grant Jamie's top wish by marrying her in the same chapel her parents got married in. Landon narrates that they had a perfect summer together with more love than anybody could possibly know and that she died soon after. Landon himself becomes a better person through Jamie's memory, achieving the goals that he set out to do, like she did.
Four years later, Landon visits Jamie's father and shows that he is still a better person because of Jamie by informing her father that he has been accepted into medical school; prior to falling in love with Jamie, he had no plans for his future after high school. Jamie's father tells him that both he and his mother are proud of him and that Jamie would be too. Landon tells him that he is sorry he never granted Jamie's wish to witness a miracle. Jamie's father tells him that she did in fact witness one: it was him. Carrying that thought, Landon goes for a walk on the docks where he narrates saying that Jamie changed him forever and that while he misses her, he believes their love is like the wind: he can't see it, but will always feel it. The movie ends with Landon, looking at the sunset, smiling.
The highlight of the story was how Landon fell in love with Jamie even though Jamie was his complete opposite. Jamie changed Landon into a whole new person that his friends started to neglect him. His friends even tried to separate the two of them but they failed since Landon was completely in love with Jamie.
The story was conflicted by Jamie’s illness. She was diagnosed with leukemia years before but she wanted to live a normal life. That’s why she stopped taking her meds. When Landon and Jamie were together, Jamie didn’t inform Landon about her condition. When she did, Jamie expected Landon to break up with her or end their relationship. But to Jamie’s surprise, Landon did not give up on their relationship. They both continued with their relationship even with Jamie’s illness. They lived normally even when Jamie was admitted to the hospital many times. Landon stayed strong for their relationship. He did not let go despite all the struggles and hardships he suffered from.
The lesson I learned from this movie was that love can change a person. Even the most impossible person can be changed when someone touches his or her hearts. I love Landon for not giving up on Jamie when she needed him most. He savored each and every minute he could spend with her. For me, I think this movie didn’t have much flaws. I think that the story was well written that the adapted movie did the same favor. Even though Jamie passed away, the story didn’t end there. Her gone was something else in the story. It was a new story on Landon’s life.
When a prank on fellow high-school student Clay Gephardt goes wrong, popular but rebellious Landon Carter (Shane West) is threatened with expulsion. His punishment is mandatory participation in various after-school activities, such as the drama club, where he is forced to interact with quiet, kind and bookish Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore), a girl he has known for many years but to whom he has rarely ever spoken. Their differing social statures leave them worlds apart, despite their close physical proximity.
When Landon has trouble learning his lines he asks Jamie for help. They begin practicing together at her house after school. At first Landon is only using Jamie for her help with the play, and treats her coldly when his other friends are around. But as he spends more and more time with her, he is surprised to find that she is far from the person he thought she was, and begins to question who he really wants to impress.
During the play, Jamie astounds Landon and the entire audience with her beauty and voice, and Landon kisses her on the stage. Afterwards, he tries to get closer to her, but she repeatedly rejects him. Soon thereafter, however, Landon's friends publicly humiliate Jamie by altering a photograph of her and placing her head on the body of a scantily clad woman. Landon angrily confronts his former friend, punching him and publicly siding with Jamie. Afterwards, Landon and Jamie begin a relationship in which Landon dedicates most of his time to her. He discovers that she has a wish list, and sets out to make all her ambitions come true, such as taking her to a state border so that she can stand on either side of the line and, thus, be in two places at once.
In the final stretch of the movie, Jamie confesses to Landon that she is afflicted by terminal leukaemia and has stopped responding to treatments. Landon gets upset at first, and Jamie tells him the reason she did not tell him is that she was moving on with her life and using the time she had left but then Landon happened and she fell in love with him.
Jamie's cancer gets worse, her father rushes her to the hospital where he meets Landon. Landon doesn't leave Jamie's side until her father practically has to pry him away. Jamie's father sits with Jamie and tells her that "If I've kept you too close, it's because I want to keep you longer."
Soon, word gets out about Jamie's illness. Eric, Landon's best friend, comes and tells him how sorry he is and that he did not understand. Other friends come and apologize too.
Later, Jamie gives Landon a book that was her mother's filled with quotes. Landon reads 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 along with her. Jamie then tells Landon that she believes that God sent him to her to help her through her illness and that he is her angel. He later learns that his estranged father is going to pay for private home care for Jamie. Landon shows up at his father's door and thanks him before breaking down in tears as his father hugs him.
Landon continues to fulfill various wishes on Jamie's list, such as building her a telescope so she can see a comet. Through this process, Landon and Jamie learn more about the nature of love. Landon is finally able to grant Jamie's top wish by marrying her in the same chapel her parents got married in. Landon narrates that they had a perfect summer together with more love than anybody could possibly know and that she died soon after. Landon himself becomes a better person through Jamie's memory, achieving the goals that he set out to do, like she did.
Four years later, Landon visits Jamie's father and shows that he is still a better person because of Jamie by informing her father that he has been accepted into medical school; prior to falling in love with Jamie, he had no plans for his future after high school. Jamie's father tells him that both he and his mother are proud of him and that Jamie would be too. Landon tells him that he is sorry he never granted Jamie's wish to witness a miracle. Jamie's father tells him that she did in fact witness one: it was him. Carrying that thought, Landon goes for a walk on the docks where he narrates saying that Jamie changed him forever and that while he misses her, he believes their love is like the wind: he can't see it, but will always feel it. The movie ends with Landon, looking at the sunset, smiling.
The highlight of the story was how Landon fell in love with Jamie even though Jamie was his complete opposite. Jamie changed Landon into a whole new person that his friends started to neglect him. His friends even tried to separate the two of them but they failed since Landon was completely in love with Jamie.
The story was conflicted by Jamie’s illness. She was diagnosed with leukemia years before but she wanted to live a normal life. That’s why she stopped taking her meds. When Landon and Jamie were together, Jamie didn’t inform Landon about her condition. When she did, Jamie expected Landon to break up with her or end their relationship. But to Jamie’s surprise, Landon did not give up on their relationship. They both continued with their relationship even with Jamie’s illness. They lived normally even when Jamie was admitted to the hospital many times. Landon stayed strong for their relationship. He did not let go despite all the struggles and hardships he suffered from.
The lesson I learned from this movie was that love can change a person. Even the most impossible person can be changed when someone touches his or her hearts. I love Landon for not giving up on Jamie when she needed him most. He savored each and every minute he could spend with her. For me, I think this movie didn’t have much flaws. I think that the story was well written that the adapted movie did the same favor. Even though Jamie passed away, the story didn’t end there. Her gone was something else in the story. It was a new story on Landon’s life.
Film: Tuhog
Tuhog
Due to a road rage between two buses, an accident occurs which puts the lives of its passengers in jeopardy. But the ones greatly affected by such event are a middle-aged woman named Fiesta (Eugene Domingo), an old and retired family patriarch Tonio (Leo Martinez), and a lad named Caloy (Enchong Dee). These three people are pierced through a single steel bar – a dangerous situation that even their doctors find hard to solve. But even before this unfortunate circumstance, these three have their share of ill-fated lives.
Fiesta is a bus barker of Janus Express whose life revolves around taking care of her demented father Carding. Being a dedicated daughter to Carding turns her into a lonely spinster that scares men away with her fierce and masculine demeanor. Until she meets Nato (Jake Cuenca), a new driver hired by Janus Express that eventually wins her heart. But just when she thought that she’ll finally have her far-fetched happiness with Nato, things start to get complicated when she finds out Nato’s painful secret.
Tonio is a retired old man who after getting past his prime and being a refuge to his family, now wants to fulfill his shrugged off dream of becoming a baker. He decides to use his pension to fulfill this dream. At first, his own family is skeptical about it but he eventually gets their support along with his friends to make it happen. Now, it’s all up to him to make this work and find out if this is a dream worth all that risk.
Caloy is a young man preserving his virginity for his girlfriend Angel (Empress). They have made an agreement to give up their virginities to each other and only to each other. However, Caloy gets challenged to remain faithful to this pact because of the difficulties of the long distance relationship he shares with Angel. Moreover, he starts to doubt the loyalty of Angel to him and to their relationship because of a guy named Jun Rey who is seemingly getting involved with his girlfriend.
Tonio and Nato were pulled out of the steel bar and were each brought to the only two operating rooms in the hospital while Fiesta was left to die. The film ends with Nato visiting the grave of Fiesta, Tonio having a success with his bakery and Caloy lying in bed with Angel.
The main highlight of the movie was the accident. It happened on the first 20 minutes of the movie. After the movie, it showed the lives of the characters before the accident. The movie was divided into three parts for each character. Each character shared different stories before the accident happened. The characters also didn’t know each other even before the accident. But the three characters had something in common. They all came across this one boy whom they had a conflict with. And when they did in the movie, the boy stated that the character will die.
The conflict of the movie was the accident itself. The characters involved in the accident were all having crisis in their lives at the same time. The term “tuhog” literally portrayed how the accident was. Maliksi Morales played a special role in the movie because when he stated that the three characters would die, the same characters were the ones who were involved in the “tuhog” or the accident. The movie didn’t portray a main problem of the story. In my opinion, the movie was trying to show how death can happen any time. It showed how accidents happen to anyone. No matter whom you are or how meaningful your life is. Accidents happen to anyone anywhere.
In my opinion, the movie’s goal was to show how doing bad things to others may lead you to your death. But in my point of view, I think the movie was bit shallow. Yes, doing bad things to others may have consequences. But I just think that, Maliksi Morales had no powers over that. No one has that much power that they can just make accident happen to anyone they had a conflict with.
The main flaw of the movie was the appearance of Maliksi’s role. He appeared on each of the three divisions once. But I think the movie didn’t show much relevance of his character throughout the movie. I was just surprised at the end that his role was very important to the story. The movie was described as a funny, dark movie. The movie did justify its comedy that it promised. But the movie was not dark at all in my opinion. I just think that some role and parts of the movie was not highlighted that thoroughly that it didn’t show much darkness to me.
Due to a road rage between two buses, an accident occurs which puts the lives of its passengers in jeopardy. But the ones greatly affected by such event are a middle-aged woman named Fiesta (Eugene Domingo), an old and retired family patriarch Tonio (Leo Martinez), and a lad named Caloy (Enchong Dee). These three people are pierced through a single steel bar – a dangerous situation that even their doctors find hard to solve. But even before this unfortunate circumstance, these three have their share of ill-fated lives.
Fiesta is a bus barker of Janus Express whose life revolves around taking care of her demented father Carding. Being a dedicated daughter to Carding turns her into a lonely spinster that scares men away with her fierce and masculine demeanor. Until she meets Nato (Jake Cuenca), a new driver hired by Janus Express that eventually wins her heart. But just when she thought that she’ll finally have her far-fetched happiness with Nato, things start to get complicated when she finds out Nato’s painful secret.
Tonio is a retired old man who after getting past his prime and being a refuge to his family, now wants to fulfill his shrugged off dream of becoming a baker. He decides to use his pension to fulfill this dream. At first, his own family is skeptical about it but he eventually gets their support along with his friends to make it happen. Now, it’s all up to him to make this work and find out if this is a dream worth all that risk.
Caloy is a young man preserving his virginity for his girlfriend Angel (Empress). They have made an agreement to give up their virginities to each other and only to each other. However, Caloy gets challenged to remain faithful to this pact because of the difficulties of the long distance relationship he shares with Angel. Moreover, he starts to doubt the loyalty of Angel to him and to their relationship because of a guy named Jun Rey who is seemingly getting involved with his girlfriend.
Tonio and Nato were pulled out of the steel bar and were each brought to the only two operating rooms in the hospital while Fiesta was left to die. The film ends with Nato visiting the grave of Fiesta, Tonio having a success with his bakery and Caloy lying in bed with Angel.
The main highlight of the movie was the accident. It happened on the first 20 minutes of the movie. After the movie, it showed the lives of the characters before the accident. The movie was divided into three parts for each character. Each character shared different stories before the accident happened. The characters also didn’t know each other even before the accident. But the three characters had something in common. They all came across this one boy whom they had a conflict with. And when they did in the movie, the boy stated that the character will die.
The conflict of the movie was the accident itself. The characters involved in the accident were all having crisis in their lives at the same time. The term “tuhog” literally portrayed how the accident was. Maliksi Morales played a special role in the movie because when he stated that the three characters would die, the same characters were the ones who were involved in the “tuhog” or the accident. The movie didn’t portray a main problem of the story. In my opinion, the movie was trying to show how death can happen any time. It showed how accidents happen to anyone. No matter whom you are or how meaningful your life is. Accidents happen to anyone anywhere.
In my opinion, the movie’s goal was to show how doing bad things to others may lead you to your death. But in my point of view, I think the movie was bit shallow. Yes, doing bad things to others may have consequences. But I just think that, Maliksi Morales had no powers over that. No one has that much power that they can just make accident happen to anyone they had a conflict with.
The main flaw of the movie was the appearance of Maliksi’s role. He appeared on each of the three divisions once. But I think the movie didn’t show much relevance of his character throughout the movie. I was just surprised at the end that his role was very important to the story. The movie was described as a funny, dark movie. The movie did justify its comedy that it promised. But the movie was not dark at all in my opinion. I just think that some role and parts of the movie was not highlighted that thoroughly that it didn’t show much darkness to me.
How Conyo Are You?
HOW CONYO ARE YOU?
Conyo. OMG! OH MY GOSH! You’re so conyo naman! You’re so arte. Speak full English kaya. I don’t understand naman what you’re saying.
There seems to be no university in the Philippines where we can not find conyo students. Conyo is a term used to classify students or people who speak in an irritating tone with poor vocabulary and diction. The youth today are very familiar to this speaking. Even with the errors and its negativity look on other people, it is however accepted by all.
This kind of language is one of the newest trends nowadays, and we, as teenagers use this kind of language in our own way. As a matter of fact, conyo is now a laughable matter driven by the youth. Students talk conyo in a funny way for entertainment or simply just for communicating.
Conyo or “coño talk” is a mixture of Filipino and English language or what we now call “Taglish.” It is a mix of predominantly Spanish and English with Tagalog. Conyo or “coño talk” came to light from the impact of the Spanish and American colonization. Because of the consistent influences from other countries’ invasion, communication with different races with different cultures, a word or phrase could be easily changed or be influenced by another dialect. That’s how effortless it is for words to be influenced to change.
In the Philippines, there are many university students that can be identified as conyos or “coños.” Although, there are still differences and certain specification on how one person or student can be considered conyo or “coño.” It is unavoidable to determine the differences of other members from another member. There are the rich ones, social climbers, intellectual, extroverts and also other people who simply uses the language just to mock other people for their own entertainment.
Sometimes people do in a conyo way intentionally. Mainly, because this matter has become some kind of amusement to many people, especially the young students in this generation. From the young generation, some adult people do mock other people as their own kind of entertainment. You can find conyos on the street and roads. Even “tambays” are familiar to this kind of language.
Media influence is also accountable to the amount of impact of conyo to the public viewers. There are many television shows on air that do not have a strict one-language speaking show. Therefore, most of the television shows aired are “Taglish” and “conyo” as well. Television personalities have a great effect on its audiences, especially to the youth.
The Philippines have been connected with the United States ever since the colonisation. This has lasted for many years, wherein many of our cultures have been altered and influenced from their own cultures. That’s one of the reasons why we have adapted their way of communication as well. With the connection and bond we had with the Americans, it’s inevitable for Filipinos to have an inclination towards what Americans have. From the start of their colonisation, stories have been said that their approach to us Filipinos was inferior. They treated us Filipino in a manner wherein they would try to trade goods with us in exchange of just chocolates from them. This simply shows how Americans think little of us.
And yet, Filipinos still has this uncanny admiration towards the Americans. Their cultures, their traditions, their way of clothing, food and most especially, their way of communication. Their language have made a huge impact to us Filipinos, that we ourselves still idolise and worship the Americans. This is something I can not fully understand with the way Filipinos think. “The American Dream” as they say, traveling and living the United States for the luxury and the so-called dream of all. Why is that? I sincerely don’t know. You see I’m the type of Filipino who is in love with my own country. May there be many obstructions towards the better of our country. May our country be completely different from the United States, but I love the Philippines just the way it is.
Filipinos living the so-called dream often say that they don’t regret leaving their country. What makes it even worse for me is that some Filipinos even deny their own nationality. I have heard so much stories about this from my relatives and I really don’t know how to react to some of them. It’s even funny how some Filipinos try so hard. I heard this one story from my aunt who’s works at a travel agency. She was calling out all the clients to redeem their tickets. She had a hard time calling out one male Filipino with a “Jorge De Jesus,” she had to repeat his name more than five times. When he finally came in, he stated that his name was pronounced as “George De Jesus” with the same pronunciation as Jesus Christ.
After hearing that story, I thought to myself that maybe we Filipinos are just truly dazed by the American that we try to become a part of it in some way. That’s why we adapt to the language and the accent they have.
Another mindset of Filipinos is that the language English should only be at its originated countries. That we are all expected to speak the language from where came from and what we all recognise to be our first language. That Indians are to speak only their language:, Why is that? Many of us don't realise that the English is the universal language of the world. May we be from different countries speaking different dialects, but we also have to know the language English.
Many of us here in the Philippines, especially this generation of the youth are very conscious in speaking the language English. I, for one have experienced this when I studied elementary in the United Arab Emirates. Arabic was their first language. Though, English was still recognise as the universal language, so I was fixed to learn English in order to communicate. Although, I would not consider my language to be conyo at that time. I think I started to talk differently when I got transferred from a Filipino school to an international school during high-school.
Based on the Urban Dictionary, “conyos” are air headed nouveau rick kids who come from a generation of linguistic mongrel and thus their lack of proficiency in both languages, English and Tagalog. They mix two languages and think that “make + tagalog verb” (Examples: Make kain, make lute, make kulit, etc.) is an accepted actual grammatical form. Conyos love to brag about their new gadgets and think that anyone who does not have a camera-phone must be really pathetic.
I have encountered many conyo students and I actually have friends who are conyo themselves. But still, it does not hinder me from giving my opinion towards them. I think there are some times in my life when I think I may be conyo in some way. But I guess, that depends on the person I’m talking with.
My point is, we as Filipinos should still know how to love the universal language. And we, should not only use our national language just for the sake of communicating but speaking each word with love and respect. That is what will make us different from the other nationalities. Speak with pride.
Conyo. OMG! OH MY GOSH! You’re so conyo naman! You’re so arte. Speak full English kaya. I don’t understand naman what you’re saying.
There seems to be no university in the Philippines where we can not find conyo students. Conyo is a term used to classify students or people who speak in an irritating tone with poor vocabulary and diction. The youth today are very familiar to this speaking. Even with the errors and its negativity look on other people, it is however accepted by all.
This kind of language is one of the newest trends nowadays, and we, as teenagers use this kind of language in our own way. As a matter of fact, conyo is now a laughable matter driven by the youth. Students talk conyo in a funny way for entertainment or simply just for communicating.
Conyo or “coño talk” is a mixture of Filipino and English language or what we now call “Taglish.” It is a mix of predominantly Spanish and English with Tagalog. Conyo or “coño talk” came to light from the impact of the Spanish and American colonization. Because of the consistent influences from other countries’ invasion, communication with different races with different cultures, a word or phrase could be easily changed or be influenced by another dialect. That’s how effortless it is for words to be influenced to change.
In the Philippines, there are many university students that can be identified as conyos or “coños.” Although, there are still differences and certain specification on how one person or student can be considered conyo or “coño.” It is unavoidable to determine the differences of other members from another member. There are the rich ones, social climbers, intellectual, extroverts and also other people who simply uses the language just to mock other people for their own entertainment.
Sometimes people do in a conyo way intentionally. Mainly, because this matter has become some kind of amusement to many people, especially the young students in this generation. From the young generation, some adult people do mock other people as their own kind of entertainment. You can find conyos on the street and roads. Even “tambays” are familiar to this kind of language.
Media influence is also accountable to the amount of impact of conyo to the public viewers. There are many television shows on air that do not have a strict one-language speaking show. Therefore, most of the television shows aired are “Taglish” and “conyo” as well. Television personalities have a great effect on its audiences, especially to the youth.
The Philippines have been connected with the United States ever since the colonisation. This has lasted for many years, wherein many of our cultures have been altered and influenced from their own cultures. That’s one of the reasons why we have adapted their way of communication as well. With the connection and bond we had with the Americans, it’s inevitable for Filipinos to have an inclination towards what Americans have. From the start of their colonisation, stories have been said that their approach to us Filipinos was inferior. They treated us Filipino in a manner wherein they would try to trade goods with us in exchange of just chocolates from them. This simply shows how Americans think little of us.
And yet, Filipinos still has this uncanny admiration towards the Americans. Their cultures, their traditions, their way of clothing, food and most especially, their way of communication. Their language have made a huge impact to us Filipinos, that we ourselves still idolise and worship the Americans. This is something I can not fully understand with the way Filipinos think. “The American Dream” as they say, traveling and living the United States for the luxury and the so-called dream of all. Why is that? I sincerely don’t know. You see I’m the type of Filipino who is in love with my own country. May there be many obstructions towards the better of our country. May our country be completely different from the United States, but I love the Philippines just the way it is.
Filipinos living the so-called dream often say that they don’t regret leaving their country. What makes it even worse for me is that some Filipinos even deny their own nationality. I have heard so much stories about this from my relatives and I really don’t know how to react to some of them. It’s even funny how some Filipinos try so hard. I heard this one story from my aunt who’s works at a travel agency. She was calling out all the clients to redeem their tickets. She had a hard time calling out one male Filipino with a “Jorge De Jesus,” she had to repeat his name more than five times. When he finally came in, he stated that his name was pronounced as “George De Jesus” with the same pronunciation as Jesus Christ.
After hearing that story, I thought to myself that maybe we Filipinos are just truly dazed by the American that we try to become a part of it in some way. That’s why we adapt to the language and the accent they have.
Another mindset of Filipinos is that the language English should only be at its originated countries. That we are all expected to speak the language from where came from and what we all recognise to be our first language. That Indians are to speak only their language:, Why is that? Many of us don't realise that the English is the universal language of the world. May we be from different countries speaking different dialects, but we also have to know the language English.
Many of us here in the Philippines, especially this generation of the youth are very conscious in speaking the language English. I, for one have experienced this when I studied elementary in the United Arab Emirates. Arabic was their first language. Though, English was still recognise as the universal language, so I was fixed to learn English in order to communicate. Although, I would not consider my language to be conyo at that time. I think I started to talk differently when I got transferred from a Filipino school to an international school during high-school.
Based on the Urban Dictionary, “conyos” are air headed nouveau rick kids who come from a generation of linguistic mongrel and thus their lack of proficiency in both languages, English and Tagalog. They mix two languages and think that “make + tagalog verb” (Examples: Make kain, make lute, make kulit, etc.) is an accepted actual grammatical form. Conyos love to brag about their new gadgets and think that anyone who does not have a camera-phone must be really pathetic.
I have encountered many conyo students and I actually have friends who are conyo themselves. But still, it does not hinder me from giving my opinion towards them. I think there are some times in my life when I think I may be conyo in some way. But I guess, that depends on the person I’m talking with.
My point is, we as Filipinos should still know how to love the universal language. And we, should not only use our national language just for the sake of communicating but speaking each word with love and respect. That is what will make us different from the other nationalities. Speak with pride.
Slumdog Millionaire: Film Analysis
Slumdog Millionaire: Film Analysis
Films, motion picture or photoplays begun as popular entertainment for many people, like families and friends. Film industries organize film festivals for extended presentation of particular films that were/are blockbuster to many viewers. There are also many types of film festival for different genres of films.
In this film analysis, I’ve chosen Slumdog Millionaire because I have seen this film many times and I noticed that there are countless numbers of social issues that were portrayed in the film. Slumdog Millionaire was released August 11, 2009, directed by Danny Boyle. The film received the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Director, Best in Cinematography, Best in Film Editing and many more.
Films tend to be the mirror of family and human relationship (Subotnik & Harris, 2005). Films represent many aspects of the human relationship through the use of social issues that are present in the real world. That is why viewers become so hooked to films, because they reflect and show what we have in our own world.
The social issues presented were child trafficking, children’s rights, child prostitution, environmental issues, child labor and many more.
Recruitment is another definition of child trafficking. In the film, the children gathered by Maman (a criminal individual) are forced to beg money in the streets; in return for the food and shelter that Maman provides them. Child trafficking is also recognized as human rights violation. Studies show that child beggars were found to be aggressive. They are beaten up when daily quotas are not met. Such environment leads children to learn aggressive survival skills and protect themselves. Throughout the movie, he became tough and aggressive at a very young age. And also being the “right hand” of Maman, he felt that he had that sense of responsibility that he possessed even after their escape.
Another issue presented was children’s rights. Children are not given freedom to play. They are even chased and punished for actions that are not even illegal. One scene showed the children playing in one area, when the guards came with sticks ready to hit the children. I think these children’s rights are taken even with this simple situation. Even though it may not be the right place for children to play, I think there should be no hitting and violence is not the answer to this situation.
Child prostitution was also presented when the character, Latika was to be sold for prostitution. Though it was not shown in the scene, Maman’s dialogue proved that Latika was a “prize” to him. Meaning Latika’s virginity is bonus to him when he offers her to a costumer. This scene also suggest child trafficking because Maman is only using force for them to work for him. Health consequences of child prostitution include sever trauma, stress, depression, anxiety, and eating disorder.
India is a long way from environmental quality compared to other countries. The country faces pollution as the major challenge of the country. This environmental issue is one of the primary causes of diseases, health issues and long-term impact to India.
Over the next years, Jamal and Salin lived travelling on top of a train, selling goods to passengers, picking pockets, working as dishwashers, and pretending to be tour guides at the Taj Mahal. At an early age, they’ve learned to work for themselves and for their hunger. Because of their situation, they had to work, not that they were forced but they had to. No one else would provide for him or her but themselves. With that, they were kept away from school. This has greatly affected the children’s way of thinking and the children’s attitudes. Jamal and Samil’s childhood were also taken away from them.
Reference:
Harris, G. & Subotnik, R. (2005).Surviving infidelity: Making decisions recovering from the pain. Adams Media: MA, USA
Films, motion picture or photoplays begun as popular entertainment for many people, like families and friends. Film industries organize film festivals for extended presentation of particular films that were/are blockbuster to many viewers. There are also many types of film festival for different genres of films.
In this film analysis, I’ve chosen Slumdog Millionaire because I have seen this film many times and I noticed that there are countless numbers of social issues that were portrayed in the film. Slumdog Millionaire was released August 11, 2009, directed by Danny Boyle. The film received the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Director, Best in Cinematography, Best in Film Editing and many more.
Films tend to be the mirror of family and human relationship (Subotnik & Harris, 2005). Films represent many aspects of the human relationship through the use of social issues that are present in the real world. That is why viewers become so hooked to films, because they reflect and show what we have in our own world.
The social issues presented were child trafficking, children’s rights, child prostitution, environmental issues, child labor and many more.
Recruitment is another definition of child trafficking. In the film, the children gathered by Maman (a criminal individual) are forced to beg money in the streets; in return for the food and shelter that Maman provides them. Child trafficking is also recognized as human rights violation. Studies show that child beggars were found to be aggressive. They are beaten up when daily quotas are not met. Such environment leads children to learn aggressive survival skills and protect themselves. Throughout the movie, he became tough and aggressive at a very young age. And also being the “right hand” of Maman, he felt that he had that sense of responsibility that he possessed even after their escape.
Another issue presented was children’s rights. Children are not given freedom to play. They are even chased and punished for actions that are not even illegal. One scene showed the children playing in one area, when the guards came with sticks ready to hit the children. I think these children’s rights are taken even with this simple situation. Even though it may not be the right place for children to play, I think there should be no hitting and violence is not the answer to this situation.
Child prostitution was also presented when the character, Latika was to be sold for prostitution. Though it was not shown in the scene, Maman’s dialogue proved that Latika was a “prize” to him. Meaning Latika’s virginity is bonus to him when he offers her to a costumer. This scene also suggest child trafficking because Maman is only using force for them to work for him. Health consequences of child prostitution include sever trauma, stress, depression, anxiety, and eating disorder.
India is a long way from environmental quality compared to other countries. The country faces pollution as the major challenge of the country. This environmental issue is one of the primary causes of diseases, health issues and long-term impact to India.
Over the next years, Jamal and Salin lived travelling on top of a train, selling goods to passengers, picking pockets, working as dishwashers, and pretending to be tour guides at the Taj Mahal. At an early age, they’ve learned to work for themselves and for their hunger. Because of their situation, they had to work, not that they were forced but they had to. No one else would provide for him or her but themselves. With that, they were kept away from school. This has greatly affected the children’s way of thinking and the children’s attitudes. Jamal and Samil’s childhood were also taken away from them.
Reference:
Harris, G. & Subotnik, R. (2005).Surviving infidelity: Making decisions recovering from the pain. Adams Media: MA, USA
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Media now.
When you work in the media you have to gather information and facts to be distributed and broadcasted to the audience. This is the sole purpose and goal of media. Media personalities, personnel and journalists are tasked to inquire details and information about current issues and happenings that the public should know. Their duty is to broadcast information/news to the public through mediums like print, television and radio. That’s the whole idea of being part of the media, the main objective of media people.
Nowadays, media personalities or journalists influence the public when broadcasting information or news with their added opinions and judgment. These opinions and judgments are mixed with emotions and manipulation, on purpose or not, that exploits or twists the public to agree on what they have to say. True or not, coincidence or not, media personalities and journalists have to maintain integrity when doing one’s work. The public is subjected to conclude such actions from the media, which results to different reactions and response. Media personalities and journalists are tasked to provide concrete information, and this only. They don’t have to pitch in their opinions or direct the public into to conclusions. I think that’s one of the main dilemmas of the media now, media people are given so much privilege and recognition that drives them to thinking that their insights are very much needed. It’s becoming a norm in networks and should be stopped.
With this practice, the public is manipulated to what the mediums want them believe. And that is completely wrong. Every individual has the right to all information they could have. And with information incorporated with media’s opinions, it would dismiss the essence of broadcasting.
Individuals have their own opinion on all issues. May they be exposed on media or not, we all have our stand. Media has no control to what the crowd has to say. Print, television and radio have no control to the opinions of its viewers. But if news and information are filtered or reinforced, this will affect the public’s opinion. The public has no control in this because these are hidden agendas of media, for their own sake.
But for me, the public has the last say on what these mediums broadcast. They’re the ones to judge whether it’s good or bad information, if false or true. The public should just be aware and knowledgeable that media has its own world and has their own definition. They may be serving us but we have to realize that there are rules and regulations within their networks that we have no knowledge of.
But we have to keep in mind that without an audience, the media wouldn’t be put to use. Without the public, the media wouldn’t exist.
We all should just know what roles and responsibilities we have for the society, work with integrity. That way, all things would be fair.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Book: Looking for Alaska
"Looking for Alaska" was the first book I've read written by John Green. I heard good reviews about the book online and from some friends. The book won the 2006 Printz Award as his debut novel. I read it during the summer of 2011. I chose Looking for Alaska because I recently read it again a few weeks ago and it’s actually the first book I’ve ever read again. It was totally worth it.
Looking for Alaska has a unique arrive on my taste on books. When I read the first few chapters of the book, I didn't really capture the whole idea of the story. I thought of the protagonist, Miles as a loser, who also admitted it himself. Miles has this unusual obsession on reading famous last words and author's biographies without reading any of their books. He set himself to an adventure by moving to Culver Creek Boarding School to seek the "Great Perhaps." It was his answer to their argument for leaving home. With the heat and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek, he met Alaska Young. The out of this world, gorgeous and adventurous Alaska.
His roommate, The Colonel introduced him to Alaska. Along the way, he met Takumi and together they spent most days. Spending time drinking, smoking, studying, hanging out and the highlight of it all, the pranks. Miles evolved wildly into a whole new person, caught in the snare of drugs, cigarettes and pranking the rich and authoritative students of the Creek. While looking for "Great Perhaps" he then became affected by these changes. Miles falls in love with Alaska deeply in his own definition. When they shared one kiss, she stopped and told him "to be continued."
After that one kiss they shared, Miles' life changed drastically. The Colonel and Pudge aka Miles tries to make sense of it all and seek for answers. And on this process, they find answers to questions they weren't even asking.
When Miles became Pudge, the smoking wine drinker, he felt the deepest, obscure love and sorrow towards what has happen to the "Great Perhaps" that he was looking for.
This book has taken me to a whole new level on the concept of love. It was amazing. And I know that “love” is not something that one person can talk about fluidly. I think anyone can and will understand love when the person has experienced it. Any reader may think of the story as mainstream but once you get into the character's life and view, it is beyond ordinary. Every detail told unveils a different story and that's what I loved most about the book. Each character just moves you. Love and grief moved me. Pudge made it seemed that love is something you don't have to wait for. Not like those books with stories, telling that love is something you strive and work hard for. This book showed the different kind. Love was something you just do. It's something that just comes naturally. And even if he was given love vaguely, he had it and he felt it. It was there. The book was dramatically passionate. The sorrow Pudge felt was for loss.
But in my point of view, it's a bit different. I believe that no one can be that broken that cannot be mend. In my view, I think the sorrow was for Alaska. The point was to find the way out of the labyrinth but she just found herself helpless, weak and cold in the end. That's brokenness for me. That's what people should work on.
Looking for Alaska has a unique arrive on my taste on books. When I read the first few chapters of the book, I didn't really capture the whole idea of the story. I thought of the protagonist, Miles as a loser, who also admitted it himself. Miles has this unusual obsession on reading famous last words and author's biographies without reading any of their books. He set himself to an adventure by moving to Culver Creek Boarding School to seek the "Great Perhaps." It was his answer to their argument for leaving home. With the heat and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek, he met Alaska Young. The out of this world, gorgeous and adventurous Alaska.
His roommate, The Colonel introduced him to Alaska. Along the way, he met Takumi and together they spent most days. Spending time drinking, smoking, studying, hanging out and the highlight of it all, the pranks. Miles evolved wildly into a whole new person, caught in the snare of drugs, cigarettes and pranking the rich and authoritative students of the Creek. While looking for "Great Perhaps" he then became affected by these changes. Miles falls in love with Alaska deeply in his own definition. When they shared one kiss, she stopped and told him "to be continued."
After that one kiss they shared, Miles' life changed drastically. The Colonel and Pudge aka Miles tries to make sense of it all and seek for answers. And on this process, they find answers to questions they weren't even asking.
When Miles became Pudge, the smoking wine drinker, he felt the deepest, obscure love and sorrow towards what has happen to the "Great Perhaps" that he was looking for.
This book has taken me to a whole new level on the concept of love. It was amazing. And I know that “love” is not something that one person can talk about fluidly. I think anyone can and will understand love when the person has experienced it. Any reader may think of the story as mainstream but once you get into the character's life and view, it is beyond ordinary. Every detail told unveils a different story and that's what I loved most about the book. Each character just moves you. Love and grief moved me. Pudge made it seemed that love is something you don't have to wait for. Not like those books with stories, telling that love is something you strive and work hard for. This book showed the different kind. Love was something you just do. It's something that just comes naturally. And even if he was given love vaguely, he had it and he felt it. It was there. The book was dramatically passionate. The sorrow Pudge felt was for loss.
But in my point of view, it's a bit different. I believe that no one can be that broken that cannot be mend. In my view, I think the sorrow was for Alaska. The point was to find the way out of the labyrinth but she just found herself helpless, weak and cold in the end. That's brokenness for me. That's what people should work on.
Film: Spellbound
As a communication arts student, I’ve had a glimpse of performing arts myself. I’ve a performing arts class for one semester during my sophomore year here in De la Salle University – Dasmarinas. I’ve experienced performing in front of a huge crowd for our final production in class. I can say that performing arts is something that can’t be eradicated. There are numerous amounts of people who values and support performing arts. Not just for us students who take communication arts or in the same field, but the ones who truly love performing arts. I can say that there are still people who do love performing arts.
Film may be booming at this age but performing arts is unavoidable. I’m also taking Media Production as my course track this semester, and my course track revolves mainly around the field of filmmaking. But I’m not saying that film has taken over the limelight of performing arts. My point is, that film and performing arts has their own audiences. They both have a different crowd.
I just don’t think that performing arts will lose its grip because of film. I don’t agree because I’ve had a chance to experience both even for a short amount of time. I just think that they both have different kinds of people who appreciate it, and clearly have their own way of appreciating it. Film supporters appreciate film by watching films available all over the place. While performing arts supporters appreciate performances by watching them in selected areas. Another thing that I can say is that all actors and actresses need to go through performing arts before anything else anyway. I guess performing arts is irremovable to the industry after all.
Spellbound is an exact example of this. It was a horror romantic comedy film. It is about a magician named Jo-goo, who falls in love with a woman named Yeo-ri, who apparently sees ghost and is being followed by one ghost from her past. Yeo-ri became an inspiration of all the magic performed by Jo-goo, and she eventually worked for their production. Yeo-ri is known to be an introvert in their workplace, she never socializes with anyone. She leaves alone in her apartment, with her family and friends separated from her.
But finally, Jo-goo invited Yeo-ri to go out to drink with their co-workers, and that’s when they started talking. Eventually, they fell in love with each other. As time goes by, they both discover that a ghost is following Yeo-ri from her past, her best friend who got killed in an accident. Her best friend was angry to Yeo-ri because during the accident, Yeo-ri was saved first by the rescue. She wanted to take revenge for having to die when they both had the chance to live. She hinders Yeo-ri from being happy by sabotaging all her happiness, even harming her loved ones.
For the rest of her life, Yeo-ri lived a quiet, isolated life because she didn’t want to harm others. But in the end of the film, she discovers that her best friend only wanted to get back what was hers, the necklace that Yeo-ri borrowed. After that, her best friend left Yeo-ri and Jo-goo alone with no danger and interruptions. They both were free to fall in love again.
I liked the movie. The camera works and technical jobs were amazing. I’m not even criticizing the film because the cinematography was excellent. I guess Korean filmmakers have that edge against other filmmakers. I just think that their cinematography works are very flawless and full of effort. They put so much work in to small details and scenes of the films that makes it even more appealing to its viewers. No wonder Korean films are thriving in the Philippines.
In regards with the plot or story of the film, it was very mainstream and basic to me. It’s just that films with plots like Spellbound are common and have become common to the eyes and ears in the film industry. Not even only in the Philippines, but all over the world.
I just think that the Korean film industry has their own edge in filmmaking for their efforts in filmmaking. If a film like Spellbound were to be produced here in the Philippines, it would clearly be not the same. I’m not saying that it would be bad; I just think that film viewers will see the significant difference of both films if it were produced in Philippines and Korea.
Film may be booming at this age but performing arts is unavoidable. I’m also taking Media Production as my course track this semester, and my course track revolves mainly around the field of filmmaking. But I’m not saying that film has taken over the limelight of performing arts. My point is, that film and performing arts has their own audiences. They both have a different crowd.
I just don’t think that performing arts will lose its grip because of film. I don’t agree because I’ve had a chance to experience both even for a short amount of time. I just think that they both have different kinds of people who appreciate it, and clearly have their own way of appreciating it. Film supporters appreciate film by watching films available all over the place. While performing arts supporters appreciate performances by watching them in selected areas. Another thing that I can say is that all actors and actresses need to go through performing arts before anything else anyway. I guess performing arts is irremovable to the industry after all.
Spellbound is an exact example of this. It was a horror romantic comedy film. It is about a magician named Jo-goo, who falls in love with a woman named Yeo-ri, who apparently sees ghost and is being followed by one ghost from her past. Yeo-ri became an inspiration of all the magic performed by Jo-goo, and she eventually worked for their production. Yeo-ri is known to be an introvert in their workplace, she never socializes with anyone. She leaves alone in her apartment, with her family and friends separated from her.
But finally, Jo-goo invited Yeo-ri to go out to drink with their co-workers, and that’s when they started talking. Eventually, they fell in love with each other. As time goes by, they both discover that a ghost is following Yeo-ri from her past, her best friend who got killed in an accident. Her best friend was angry to Yeo-ri because during the accident, Yeo-ri was saved first by the rescue. She wanted to take revenge for having to die when they both had the chance to live. She hinders Yeo-ri from being happy by sabotaging all her happiness, even harming her loved ones.
For the rest of her life, Yeo-ri lived a quiet, isolated life because she didn’t want to harm others. But in the end of the film, she discovers that her best friend only wanted to get back what was hers, the necklace that Yeo-ri borrowed. After that, her best friend left Yeo-ri and Jo-goo alone with no danger and interruptions. They both were free to fall in love again.
I liked the movie. The camera works and technical jobs were amazing. I’m not even criticizing the film because the cinematography was excellent. I guess Korean filmmakers have that edge against other filmmakers. I just think that their cinematography works are very flawless and full of effort. They put so much work in to small details and scenes of the films that makes it even more appealing to its viewers. No wonder Korean films are thriving in the Philippines.
In regards with the plot or story of the film, it was very mainstream and basic to me. It’s just that films with plots like Spellbound are common and have become common to the eyes and ears in the film industry. Not even only in the Philippines, but all over the world.
I just think that the Korean film industry has their own edge in filmmaking for their efforts in filmmaking. If a film like Spellbound were to be produced here in the Philippines, it would clearly be not the same. I’m not saying that it would be bad; I just think that film viewers will see the significant difference of both films if it were produced in Philippines and Korea.
Film: Shift
It was not a love story. That’s one sure thing that I can say to the film, Shift. I wasn’t. The film was about gender, love, culture and work. Though, the concept of love was present in the film, it was not the center of it. That’s in my opinion, at least.
The film revolved around the life of Estela (Yeng Constantino), who is an unconventional call center agent. Estela struggles for direction in her life with numerous talents, interests and ambitions. I think that’s the main dilemma of Estela in the film. The fact that she has all those talents and ambitions, but never having the guts to try them out. Throughout the film, Estela is portrayed as a free-spirited girl with a lot of potentials. But there was never an execution of any of it. She knew photography, she writes songs, she sings and many others but never focused on one skill that she has.
Then Estela meet Trevor. Their unusual friendship became something more personal than Estela could ever imagine. It was a mixture of being real and true to them.
Their odd friendship was conflict to the main message of the film. I guess their close friendship was misinterpreted by viewers, which made them think that the film was a love story. There was just too much chemistry between the two characters. And as we all know, typical Filipino viewers look for romance in every film they watch. But I know that the love formed between the two characters was not the message of the film. And I think that, that was one of the things that I noticed. The film gave so much emphasis on the ‘friendship’, that it was misinterpreted. There were too many scenes and sequences that showed their closeness to each other. And that’s why people who have watched the film would say that it was ‘bad’ love story, as what a typical Filipino viewers. Because we all know Filipinos want the “and they lived happily ever after” ending in every film.
“Shift” was about change and transformation. At first look, many would probably say that the film was about ‘shift’, like the term usually used by call center agents. The long hours of staying in one cubicle, talking to random callers for a conversation with answers prepared beforehand. But instead of change and transformation, instead of portraying what the word really mean, Estela finds herself in the same situation where she was before. No change and no transformation. The same as she was from the beginning of the film.
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