Tuesday, November 10, 2009

First Day Jitters

Posted in , by sineasta | Edit
First day of school!

I've got one word to describe this day:

A.N.X.I.O.U.S.


I hope I survive it.

In times like these, I miss the hand that holds and the words that calm...

It seems like you're on sabbatical for a much needed break. I hope that you'll be back soon 'cause I need you...

Friday, October 16, 2009

In Focus: Madonna Singles Collection

Posted in , , by sineasta | Edit
Ang hirap mag-collect ng Madonna singles! Sobrang dami kasi. Minsan isang single lang, may ilang releases na! Minsan pa nagkakaiba-iba per country. 'Yung mga regular editions nga lang, di ko pa nakukumpleto. I do not intend to have them all naman especially if the track listing are the same. I'm more interested kung may kaiba ba sa certain release like the cover or may postcards na kasama or a certain remix not included in the standard edition. 'Yung iba super rare kasi not available na or if ever may nagbebenta, presyong langit naman!

Anyway, eto ang mga CDs na nakolekta ko throughout the years.

I don't have anything yet from the Madonna and Like a Virgin eras. Late na rin kasi ako nag-start mag-collect.

True Blue Era
Japan-released EP that has remixes of "Everybody," "Papa Don't Preach," and "Live To Tell [Instrumental version]".

Like a Prayer Era
Both are Japan-release EPs. Remixed Prayers has both "Like a Prayer" and "Express Yourself". "Keep It Together" includes "Cherish".

I'm Breathless Era
The Back Trax release (upper left) has the Single Versions for both Vogue and Keep It Together, not included on their own maxis. I love both versions of the songs rather than their album versions.

The Immaculate Collection Era
The Holiday Collection (below) is a mini-EP that has songs not included in The Immaculate Collection album. It has the original versions of "Holiday" and "True Blue," and the slightly remixed versions of "Who's That Girl" and "Causing a Commotion." Truly a Madonna collector's must-have!
Erotica Era
There are no differences in the track listing of both "Erotica" CDs except that the one on the left is Japan-released (jewel case) while the one from the right is US-released (cardboard case).

It is the same case with "Deeper and Deeper" except that the Japan-released edition is an EP version. It includes remixes of "Bad Girl" and "Erotica" (available in its own CDS [CD Single] release).

"Rain" (middle) is Japan-released EP that includes remixes of "Fever", "Bad Girl", "Waiting", and a b-side called "Up Down Suite".

Bedtime Stories Era
"Human Nature." The purple version has 5 tracks on it: exclusive on it are the "Human Club Mix" and "Chorus Door Slam With Nine Sample." (I believe that one of these two is included in the red version, but has a different title. I just forgot which one.) The red (standard) edition has 9 tracks on it.

"Take a Bow." The jewel-cased edition has 3 tracks on it. One of which is the Edit version of the song, not included in the standard edition. The regular edition has 5 tracks and is on cardboard case.

Something To Remember Era
"Oh Father" was re-released during the STR era. The CDS has postcards in it.

"You'll See" above has three tracks namely Edit and Instrumental versions, and Rain [LP Version]. Below has four tracks that included the Album, Instrumental, and Spanish versions, and "Live To Tell [Live]".

"One More Chance" has "You'll See [Spanglish Version]".

Evita Era
Exclusive to the "You Must Love Me" CDS are the Single version of the song (with instrumental beginning used in the music video) and "You Must Love/I'd Be Suprisingly Good [Orchestral Version] played during the ending of the film. Both are not available on the two versions of the movie soundtrack.

Ray of Light Era
"Frozen" in a cardboard snap-case (above) has four tracks while the jewel-cased (below) edition has five tracks that included the Widescreen Mix.

"Nothing Really Matters" cardboard snap-case edition (left) has 9 tracks while the jewel-cased (right) one has 3. Those 3 are also included in the other edition. I bought the one on the right by mistake. I thought that the Club 69 Radio Mix was not included on the other one.

I've two CDs of "Power of Goodbye/Little Star". Again, the other one was a mistake. I thought that I was purchasing the Luke Slater (LS) remixes, but I wasn't. Parehong version pala sila. Mailap sa 'kin ang LS remixes na 'yun!


Music Era
"Don't Tell Me" left has 8 remixes while right has 2 remixes plus the b-side "Cyber-Raga".

"What It Feels Like For A Girl" above has 7 remixes while the one below has 5 that includes the edited version used in the music video and the Spanish version, "Lo Que Siento La Mujer". There's another version that has a poster on it. I didn't buy it then. Kulang sa budget.

GHV2 Era
"Die Another Day." CD2 (below) has Deepsky Edit. I enjoy listening to edited versions of the remixes than the full ones. Mas gusto ko kasi 'yung radio friendly versions.

"Me Against the Music" is one of my two most favorite Madonna collaborations (the other one being "Guilty By Association" with Joe Henry), so I had to get the CDS even though it really isn't a Madonna single per se. CD1 has three remixes. CD2 has four and the poster. The US version (lower right) has seven. There are remixes that are exclusive to a particular CDS.

American Life Era
"Love Profusion" CD1 (fuschia) has the Album and Passengerz Club Mix versions, and "Nothing Fails [Radio Edit]" while CD2 (yellow orange) has the Album and Ralphi Rosario House Vocal Mix (at 6:02) versions and "Nobody Knows Me [Above and Beyong 12" Mix]. The regular maxi (blue) has 6 remixes, different from the first two plus "Nothing Fails [Peter's Lost in Space Mix]" which is not included in its own maxi.

Remixed and Revisited Era
This is a Gap in-house store promo CD that included Madonna's collaboration with Missy Elliot, "Into the Hollywood Groove", and "Hollywood".

Confessions on a Dancefloor Era
Nothing special on the two "Hung Up" maxis except that one has only three tracks and the other has six. The three-track version was the only one available locally while the six-track version is US-released.

"Sorry." Etong tatlo ay may pagkakaiba-iba talaga. The above CDS has three tracks that included the Radio and Man With Guitar Remix (full) versions and "Let It Will Be [Paper Faces Mix] (full)". The one in the middle is the regular edition that has six tracks. It has the Man With Guitar Edit version and the "Let It Will Be [Paper Faces Vocal Edit]". The one below has five tracks that also included the Man With Guitar Mix Edit, mislabeled as the full mix.

Hard Candy Era
"4 Minutes" is the only one I got so far from the Hard Candy album. I have yet to acquire the other two singles. Not much releases were made during this era. Probably because it was the last full length Madonna album from Warner. Di na sila nag-effort maglabas pa ng marami variations.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Withdrawal

Posted in by sineasta | Edit
Last week, my PC died on me. For a few times, it would suddenly turned itself off after a few minutes of being on until it doesn't turn on anymore. I refused to think that the power supply might be busted for it was just replaced a few months back. But when I had it checked, it seemed that the new power supply had given up, as well. It stayed at the repair shop for observation. Aside from the broken CPU fan, nagha-hang din daw siya.

While at the "hospital," I felt upset. Parang baby ko na ang PC ko, and whenever it exhibits some faulty behavior, nabo-bother ako. Parang isang anak, hindi ako mapakali until I know that it's doing OK. Bukod pa sa worries about sa magiging expenses, I just can't function well without it. May laptop ako, but nothing beats my PC. I do most of my work with it particularly blogging. Dami na naming napagdaanan. Marami na kaming ginawa together. Marami na kaming sikretong binahagi sa isa't-isa. Tumawa at umiyak na kaming magkasama.

For the past 6 years, everytime na magkaka-problema ang baby ko, si ex ang lagi kong takbuhan. Siya ang pinabubuhusan ko ng worries ko especially 'pag may mga nakatenggang orders. Having a computer background, the ex would stay all night just to fix the problem, without having to resort to changing any parts. Lumang PC pa ang gamit ko n'ung magkakilala kami. Ilang beses na siyang pumalya, but the ex had managed to revived it again and again. Pero s'yempre dumating din 'yung time na na niya kinaya ang hirap dala ng katandaan. Naawa na rin ako sa kanya so I decided to retire it, and buy myself a new baby in 2006. Mas bongga! Mas hi-tech! With matching LCD screen. Until now siya pa rin ang gamit ko.

One of my worries when the ex left was how would I handle it kapag tinopak ang baby ko. I was able to handle the problems myself, but somehow telling the ex about it was my way of coping with it. Alam ko namang wala na siya rito para ayusin ang problema, but the mere act of telling him gives me a sigh of relief. Alam naman niya kasi kung gaano ako nag-wo-worry everytime it happens, at marinig ko lang na sabihin niya noong nandito pa siya na he will look into it makes me feel better.

Last week I was having some withdrawal symptoms. Feeling upset, I was having the itch to contact the ex, and tell him about the condition of my baby. Its motherboard needed replacing. Nag-give up na nang tuluyan dahil ilang beses ding nag-exhibit siya ng motherboard defect signs before. But I stopped myself. What for? What would I say, anyway? Magmumukha na naman akong needy sa paningin niya. So instead of running to the ex, I sucked it up and accepted the situations: one, my baby needed surgery, and it has to be done or risk losing it completely, and; second, I can't run to the ex anymore when problems like these occur. For one thing, he can't help me anymore, and he had stopped caring a long time ago.

So ayun, new motherboard, CPU fan, and power supply (buti na lang at umabot 'to sa 6-month warranty!) for my baby. By Saturday it was home! Malaki ang nagastos s'ympre, but all for the love of it!

Welcome back, baby!

Speaking of withdrawal, yesterday naman, Angel was crying. She wanted to go with Daddy, but he refused. So umiyak, feeling iniwan. Whenever she feels like she is being left out, she'd cry about the ex, wishing that he was with us. Siguro naaalala niya rin 'yung mga times na kino-comfort siya ni ex 'pag umiiyak siya.

She cried and cried, talking how she missed him and can't wait for the day that he'd be with us. I'd naturally told her that it would never happen, but she insisted. Nagsisinungaling daw ako. Nag-promise daw kasi si ex at tutuparin niya 'yun. Sinabi ko na he might've promised it, pero di niya 'yun gagawin talaga. He will come back pero di na namin siya makakasama.

"Saan siya pupunta?" Angel cried.

"Sa kanila ni mama niya," I told her.

Angel continued to cry. There was a point nga na tinitigan niya ko nang masama, feeling that I was lying to her.

"Ba't mo ba sinasabi 'yan? Kapamilya na natin siya, di ba?"

"Dati 'yun, pero hindi na ngayon,"I said.

Umiyak pa rin siya. I felt that she was getting confused with what I was telling her. I sensed na nahihirapan siyang paniwalaan 'yun. Yet in my heart, I can't fully explain it to her. Pa'no ko nga ba sasabihing nasa kandungan na ng iba si ex? At kung magkagan'un man, pa'no ko ipapaliwanag ang koneksyon niyon sa kanya, without completely disclosing what the true nature of my relationship was with the ex? Naku, hindi pa 'ata ako handang magpaliwanag ng mga gan'yang bagay, kahit hindi ko naman nililihim sa kanya ang totoo.

"Mahal ka n'un. Babalik pa 'yun."

"Hindi na niya ako mahal. Hindi na babalik 'yun."

"Hindi totoo 'yan!" she said, almost screaming.

"Itanong mo pa sa kanya."

"Mahal ako nu'n. Siya rin naman ang nagpalaki sa 'kin."

Jusme. At that time hindi ko na alam ang sasabihin sa kanya. Of course, wala siyang kinalaman sa kung anuman ang nangyari sa 'min ni ex, pero kailangan niyang malaman na things wouldn't go back to what they were before. Hindi na titira sa 'min si ex pagbalik niya. I wouldn't even count on us being in the same room together as a family like before.

I hugged her, and asked her to stop crying. Sabi ko magsuklay na siya ng buhok since she just took a bath.

She got up, brushed her hair, and left my room. I think she continued to pour out her feelings to Ginger. Medyo naririnig-rinig ko nang bahagya ang pagbanggit niya sa pangalan ni ex.

After a few minutes, she came back. Kalmado na siya. She came to me and said, "Sige na nga. Di ko na iiyakan si Kuya Biboy. Pero kilitiin mo muna ko!"

Ayun, natigil na siya. May mga times kasi na papasok lang 'yun ng kwarto ko para magpakiliti. Parang pang-relax niya sa buhay.

"Siguro gan'un talaga 'pag nagkaru'n siya ng bagong anak. Makakalimutan na niya ko," pahuling sabi ni Angel bago ko siya kilitiin.

That's it! Natigil na rin ang loka-lokahan moments namin.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Prayers for Family & Friends

Posted in by sineasta | Edit

Prayer for Inner Healing

Speak clearly, Lord, into my heart.
In the past, I had been busy with life and I forgot what it meant to really life
In the midst of my pains and difficulties, allow me to know You
so that I may understand what living for You is all about.

I am weak, Lord,and helpless without you.
I surrender to You, Lord, all my fears, all my burdens.
I will focus on Your truth that you will be with me always.
I will never understand Your wars
but I know that You have a purpose for me.

Lord, as I continue this prayer, gently touch me with your healing hands.
You are the Divine Healer and the greatest Physician of all.
I believe in my heart that nothing is impossible to You.
Heal my most innermost being, my spirit, and my soul.

I know, Lord, that there is an end to my loneliness and sickness
because You died on the cross and rose from the dead.
From now on I just want to live with a loving heart
and not with grumbling heart,
from now on, Lord, I just want to live with a faithful heart
and not with a fearful heart.

In the mighty name of Jesus,
Amen.


***

Prayer in Time of Depression

Dear Lord, You are the one who created me
and You are the one who has provided for my salvation and for my spiritual growth.
I firmly believe that You are the great God who loves me very much
and that You know where I am going and what is good for me.
I humbly beseech You now, dear Lord, because I am confused,
struggling with hurting pain.
I am afraid and discouraged.
I feel lost and very depressed.
Let me feel Your loving care and compassion.
Let me feel Your sense of purpose and understand what You have planned for me
in this crisis that I am now undergoing.

Lord, You are my refuge, my hope, and my stronghold
in this very difficult time of my life.
I lean on and confidently put my trust in You.
For I know that You will not forsake me.
I pray that You will let time heal this wound
and I will become a better person because of Your work in me in this crisis.

Amen.


***

Prayer for Those Who Suffer

For those who suffer,
and those who cry this night,
give them repose, Lord;
a pause in their burdens.
Let there be minutes
where they experience peace,
not of man but of angels.
Love them, Lord, when others cannot.
Hold them, Lord, when we fail with human arms.
Hear their prayers and give them the ability to hear you back
in whatever language they best understand.
Amen.


***

Prayers for Protection

For Oneself

Lord God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
I come before You in the name of the Lord Jesus.
I ask that I may have the powerful protection that comes from
the Precious Blood of Your Son
that was poured out for me on the cross at Calvary.
In the name of your Son, the Lord Jesus,
I ask that you send angels to protect and defend me
from any attack of the enemy
and to defend all the members of my family, my friends, and my loved ones.
Protect and bless everyone who has asked me to pray for them.
Give me the grace to hear Your voice
and the courage to walk in Your ways.
I ask this in the name of the Jesus Christ,
who will come again in the fullness of His glory.
To Him be glory and praise,
now and forever.
Amen.


For Another

Father in heaven,
I lift up (Name) to you in the name of Your Son the Lord Jesus.
In Jesus' name I ask You to release warrior angles
to drive away from him/her/them any evil spirits that may be harassing,
controlling, attacking, or deceiving him/her/them.

Let you servant (Name) enjoy the powerful protection
that comes from the Precious Blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ,
which was shed for him/her/them on Calvary.
Let him/her/them hear Your voice
and always walk in Your ways.
Amen.


***

Prayer for Serenity

God grant me serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can
and wisdom to know difference.


Living one day at a time
enjoying one moment at a time,
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace!

Taking, as Jesus did,
this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it.

Trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your will,
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.


***

Prayer for Strength

Lord, enlighten what is dark in me;
strengthen what is weak in me;
mend what is broken in me;
bind what is bruised in me;
heal what is sick in me;
straighten whatever is crooked
and revive whenever peace and love have dies in me.

Amen.
Monday, September 07, 2009

Mother, Where's My Big Book of Penis?!

Posted in , , by sineasta | Edit

This is such a funny review of the book above. I can't stop laughing while reading it!

"Oh dear. I am a 70 year old woman and I just happened across this big penis book in my son's room. My son is 45 years old and still single. I think he might be gay. That said, his big penis book is now in my room under my bed. So now my 45 year old single son is probably gay and angry. Well, he should get a job anyway or at least go find some real penis and stop reading about them in books like this. Good Lord this is a big penis book. And I love a big penis. And so does my son, apparently. I give this book ten thumbs up. I can't believe I never knew he was gay. He should get a job. Maybe as a dancer. Anyway, if you like a big penis, you will like this big penis book. Lord there are big penis's in this book. I mean big. Oh dear."

P.S. I don't own the book personally, thank you very much! :p
Thursday, September 03, 2009

Bold But Not Daring

Posted in by sineasta | Edit
Speaking of crossing over, Dinig Sana Kita is one indie film that has crossed-over the mainstream cinema in terms of how its storytelling goes.

As far as mainstream Pinoy cinema is concern, there is nothing commercial about the two leads: a rocker chick and a deaf dancer dude. Kapag pinitch sila sa mga major studios, di sila bebenta for such characters are from the other end of the spectrum. Kokonti ang makaka-relate, ang sasabihin sa 'yo ng mga bosses. 'Pag nagkaganu'n, potential flop na siya kaagad.

Buti na lang at may Cinemalaya who saw the potential in these characters. Di man sila commercial, for sure, mamahalin naman sila ng audience sila.

Just knowing how different the leads are, makakaisip ka na ng maraming scenarios para sa kanila. How would a rocker chick, who is so exposed to the noise, deal with a deaf dude and a dancer at that? Could music be enough to bond them together, even if one can hear and the other can't? How can they communicate with each other when one blocks herself through noise while the other lives in silence? If ever they surpass the physical barriers, how will they work with the scrutinizing eyes of the society?

There are so many possibilities on how the story could go with such distinct characters. However, instead of going boldly, Dinig Sana Kita preferred to go the conventional way-- a typical family drama. Instead of dealing with the characters' physical differences and inner struggles, it went externally -- having an uncommunicative family and the lack thereof.

Nina (Zoe Sandejas) meets Kiko (Romalito Mallari) in Baguio where she is sent off to camp with other hearing and non-hearing teens to bond with them and eventually realize her mistakes in the past and be a changed person with the experience. She is a problem child and her parents can't deal with her anymore. Kiko, on the other hand, is an abandoned child, who reaches out to her. He longs to be with his mother whom he sees everyday in a neighboring house in a community where he moved. Friendship blossoms between them as they realized that there are more common things between them than there are differences.

I didn't like how the movie resolved the physical differences between the two leads. One would expect that Nina will learn sign language to communicate well with Kiko, but she didn't. She became deaf herself because of how she badly she exposed her ears to noise. It was only then that her father had stopped yelling at her and learned to listen to her needs. I don't get why the filmmakers had to resort to such extreme to get their point across when there are alternatives to it. Ayokong isipin na ang statement lang nila about it is take care of one's ears.

As far as Kiko is concerned, whom I believe is a much interesting character, he is reunited with his mother in the end, whom he learns was a dancer in her younger years, as well. No drama. No explanations about the past. Parang enough na pinagbuklod sila ng dancing.

While there is magic written all over the film, it was lackluster. The direction it wanted to take was clear, a romantic drama meant for kiligs. No pretentions na magpaka-deep o tunay na buksan ang mga mata ng audience sa plight ng mga kapatid nating hindi nakakarinig. Having a handicap myself, I could relate. But what about the rest of the audience? Yes, it is just right to treat them as equals, but we can't deny that they have special needs to be attended to. 'Yun ang dapat iparating sa audience. That we are alike and different at the same time. Pero 'yun nga. It seems that the movie has no desire to delve into it.

Nakakahinayang nga lang because there was so much going for it storywise. Instead of taking the high road, it took the common route. It could've been a great romantic drama if it was daring enough to go to uncharted territories. However, it sure is refreshing to watch different set of characters falling in love on film! Hindi lang ang major studios ang nakakagawa ng leads whom we can relate to and fall in love with.

Crossing Over

Posted in , , by sineasta | Edit
Francis Cruz, a film critic, in his tribute post to Alexis Tioseco, mentioned how Alexis had once teased him about crossing over to the other side -- i.e. filmmaking. He continued that once a critic had crossed-over, he may never be objective anymore in his film analysis. He would developed sympathy to the filmmakers for he would know the painstaking ways on how to create a film. Of course, that would be bad. Critics should always be objective, and should never be inclined to put his biases in his work. Since we are human and prone to judgment error, biases do happen at times.

Anyway, I have crossed-over ever since I started my workshop in GMA and moved on to Star Cinema. That was why, if you have noticed, naging madalang 'yung pag-review ko ng Pinoy movies the past few years. Naging malambot na kasi ako sa pagtira, if I may say so.

Una, I didn't want to offend anyone from the workplace. Nag-alala nga ako nu'ng biharin ko ang Moments of Love before my GMA stint and learned that one of our mentors in the workshop was the writer of the film. Ayoko namang mabansagang nagmamarunong. (Sa mga fans pa nga lang, nagkaru'n na ng uproar sa post ko na 'yun! Kaya I felt the need to write another post.) Second, you get to learn how a film was made and gets to know what happened along the way. Minsan kapag nalaman mo kung saan nagkamali ang filmmakers, you tend to be forgiving and understanding. Third, you get to be friends with the people involved in the film. Once it happens, wala nang taluhan kung minsan. Kung hindi mo nagustuhan ang ginawa ng isang kaibigan, quiet ka na lang. O kaya ay 'wag mo na lang isulat.

One reason why I was in limbo the past few months was that, in my mind, I was still trying to understand what he did and why he did it. I was rationalizing for his behaviors, even during through the course of our relationship. Gets ko siya, I'd tell myself. But from an outsider's point of view, they'd tell me na niloko niya ko, and I really had to let go. Sa isip ko pangloloko ngang maituturing ang nangyari, but I still get to justify it. Kasi ito ang need niya. Kasi ito ang dapat niyang punan.

Kakahanap ko ng excuse sa nangyari, I have overlooked what I was doing to myself. Kakabigay ko pala ng dahilan sa kanya, sarili ko lang ang sinaktan ko, ang pinabayaan ko.

Joseph Estrada, in his Probe Profiles interview, was asked by Che-che Lazaro if his wife, Loi, ever gets hurt with his philandering ways. He answered, "Kaya nga ako nag-asawa ng psychologist, eh. Para maintindihan ako." That was me. No doubt about it.

However, no matter what the circumstances are, the end does not justify the means. Sa paggawa ng pelikula o kung ano mang trabaho, it doesn't matter what the makers went through in making it. What matters is the by-product. Pulido ba? Maayos ba? Worthy bang parangalang? Sa pag-critic, one should always bear that in mind. It is the work that matters and not the process. A critic is not interested in the drama behind it (as what Rajo Laurel always say in Project Runway Philippines when contestants start to make excuses for their bad designs).

In relationships ang pangloloko ay pangloloko. Walang dahilan na pwedeng mag-justify sa pananakit ng iba. Whether the other party is to be blame for the decline of the relationship, the moral thing to do is end the relationship immediately.

Just like in Alexis's and his gf's death, the criminals had no excuse to do so, kahit pa sabihing gipit na gipit sila. Kapit sa patalim, 'ika nga. Di pa ba sapat na ninakawan na nila sila? (Although may theory na baka may kinalaman ito sa pagiging kritiko ni Alexis, lalo na sa recent National Artist scandal.)

In life there are things that should always be seen in black and white, no grays in between. 'Pag maganda, maganda! 'Pag pangit, pangit! No excuses. If one can't be objective about it, he should excuse himself then from making judgments.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Goodbye Before Hello

Posted in , , , by sineasta | Edit
I woke up with the news that film critic Alexis Tioseco died. I was shocked, of course, and had to know what happened to him. According to news report, he and his girl friend were murdered by three gunmen who were robbing their house. The robbers were already inside the house when they arrived. It was an inside job. Their newly-hired house help was with the robbers.

I don't know Alexis personally. Napapanood ko lang siya nu'ng nag-re-review siya ng movies sa Review Night sa Cinema One a few years back. Then I saw him again on cable in ANC's Media In Focus a few weeks ago talking about the recent Cinemalaya festival. Somehow, I feel some sort of affiliation with him since we're both movie critics. (Hindi nga lang ako professional critic like he was.) Kahit hindi kami magkakilala, I feel a connection just because we both love movies. It is the same connection I have with fellow Sharonians or Madonna fans. Kapag nagkakilala kayo, may instant bonding na, 'ika nga. Nasa isang circle kasi kayo. So I can't help feel saddened by the news. (Just like the way I felt when I learned that Wanggo Gallaga, whom I also know through Review Night, is sick. But of course, this case is different.) Hindi ko pa man siya nakikilala nang personal, nawala na siya. I was hoping to meet him pa naman. (O sige na nga! Crush ko siya, kaya ganu'n! Pati si Wanggo! :D)

Murder is not the way to go! Nakakalungkot talaga at nakapanggigigil at the same time! It was a case of coming home at a wrong time. Napaisip nga ako na what if na-delay sila ng kaunti sa pag-uwi. What if they stopped for gas muna? What if they had coffee muna? O nasiraan kaya? Maaga-aga pa rin naman nu'n kung tutuusin. Or hadn't left the house at all?

Bakit ba ganu'n na lang kadali sa iba na kumitil ng buhay ng tao? It is one thing to take their possessions and another to take their lives, as well. Ganu'n na ba kaliit ang halaga ng buhay ng tao?


Photo taken from Reenshi's Flickr account
See his works:
Atioseco's Photostream
CritiCine

Read more write-ups about him by fellow critics:
Noel Vera
Francis Cruz