And The Winner Is Exposes Pinoy's Toxic Behaviors

We saw And The Winner Is ... the other day ... and I believe the reviewer who said that Meme Vice indeed went out of his comfort zone ... to give us a thought-provoking movie. True the usual VG brand of slapstick comedy was there ... but the movie's soul delves deeper into what we Pinoys usually ignore why breadwinners go out of their way to be USED ... and be ABUSED.

Ginagawa ba nila ito dahil gusto lang nilang makatulong ... or gusto lang nilang magpakabayani?  This nagging question demands answers and to the director's credit he succeeded in bringing to light how far a breadwinner will go to help his family in need. Was there a need in the first place one will ask ... or namimihasa lang ang ating pamilya dahil may isang member na nagvolunteer akoin lahat?

May mga reklamo ba sila sa kanilang pagiging breadwinner ... do they have regrets ... or have they become repentant accepting this awesome job? What happens kung sa tagal ng panahon pamilya ang naging sentro ng kanilang buhay ... na mistula ginawa na nilang araw ang gabi ... at palipat-lipat siya sa napakaraming part time jobs para kumita at makaipon ... nauwi lang pala sa wala ang kanyang pinaghirapan?

Bambi (female for Bamboo) in that scene where he made that lengthy soliloquy: "Ano pa ba ang silbi ng pagiging breadwinner ko" ... ngayon naubos na at winaldas na nang kanyang pamilya ang pinapadala niya at pinag-ipunan niya.

Ano pa nga ang silbi niya ... ngayong wala na siyang financial na maitulong? Will the family member's attitude changed ngayong wala nang mapigang gamit sa kanya? Kailangan pa bang ituloy ang magandang samahan ngayong wala na siyang mai-ambag ... monetary that is. Or tuluyan nang mawasak ang pamilya at magkanya-kanya na?

What is worst ay niloko siya ng bawat member ng pamilya ... "Ate ito ang magiging kuwarto mo" ... pina-dim light pa para makita ang mga revolving lights ... ano yon parang disco? Kinuha lang pala ang ideya sa isang advertisement.

Ang brother niya naman nasa itaas ng isang building na under construction (isang OFW nagpagawa ng isang building?) at pinavideo pa: "Ate ito ang floor mo ... kanya kanya tayong floor dito."

Nang nagkabukuhan na ... tanong ni Bambi: "Ano na ang nangyari sa bahay na pinagawa ko?" Sagot ng brother: "Ate babayaran ko naman eh."

Ha? Babayaran niya ... kailan at paano dahil wala naman siyang trabaho. Babayaran sa panaginip? Ilang eksena na ba sa tunay na buhay ang naringgan ko ng ganyan?

The movie also examines the toxic notion that the OFW as breadwinner takes all the responsibility for sending everything that the family needs - while the rest of the family continues their kind of life devoid of responsibility and direction. Nagpakasasa sila sa kaunting biyaya na hindi naman kanila.

The movie also succeeded in showing other toxic Pinoy traits and attitude ... yong mga kapatid na mando ng mando na padalhan sila ng sapatos or the like ... laway lang at kapal ng mukha ang kapital ... na parang pinupulot lang ang pera abroad.

It also question another toxic Pinoy behavior na iisa lang ba ang breadwinner sa pamilya? Bambi question that when he said: Ako na lang ba lahat ... bakit wala man lang akong BACK UP? ... and she question her elder sister na pumunta rin sa abroad pero walang kusang tumulong? Di ba gagaan sana ang problema kung ito ay pinag-usapan ... at pinagtulong-tulongang lutasin?

More often than not ... instead of appreciating the work and his effort ... siya pa ang sinisi at inakusahang siya ang may kasalanan ng lahat kung ano man ang nangyari sa kanya. Do breadwinners really deserved to be blamed "Desisyon mo yan ... wala namang nagoobliga sa iyo?"

Ang younger brother ni Bambi ay may lihim palang pagkasuklam sa desisyon ni Bambi at bakit tinanggap nito ang responsibilidad bilang breadwinner. Kulang na lang sabihin niya na mas approve siya sa set-up na ang kinikita mo ay para lang sa iyo. 

Kahit hingi siya ng hingi ng pasalubong ... ayaw na ayaw pala nitong tularan si Bambi ... dahil ayaw niya sa ganyang masalimuot na buhay. At ayaw niya sa taong hindi man lang marunong magtira para sa sarili.

At dahil wala na ngang pera si Bambi ... at may kanser pa pala in the end ... kailangan bang magbago ang trato sa kanya ng pamilya dahil wala na silang mahuthot sa kanya?

All in all ... naipakita ng pelikula (pati na rin yong segment sa Showtime "Kung Sino Ang Breadwinner") what made them accept such gargantuan responsibility. 

It boils down to one thing - their love of their family ... at yong ayaw nilang makitang napariwara sila dahil lang sa kakulangan ng pera at opportunity.

Hello Love Goodbye

Hello Love Again ... has this tagline ... "in every goodbye ... love finds its way back".  The Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards movie is now on its billion mark ... (and still counting) and is lording it over in the box-office supremacy ... and this early it is projected to become a mammoth champion at the tills.

Hello Love Goodbye ... is also a Kathren Alden movie two years ago. It should have been the perfect title for the movie top-billed by BBM and Inday Sara. This political melodrama if made into a movie ... has all the ingredients of a potential box-office hit. This will be a colossal saga - imagine two ruling families combining forces to form a Unity Team ... they tag-teamed to strike gold in the 2022 election. 

Now the relationship was soured by political intrigues, conspiracy, collusion, trickery, and double-dealing. All salad ingredients make up a convoluted but awe-inspiring script and storytelling.

The highlight of the movie is her tour de force performance in the riveting press conference where the female lead has a meltdown... opening her heart and soul out ... as she poured her resentment and bitterness to BBM. the First Lady and the Speaker of the House ... for all the world to see.

Pamilya Sagrado - Sagrado Ang Pamilya

Pamilya Sagrado ended last night ,,, and one thing is sure ... ABS-CBN leads the way in giving the viewers quality and socio-political commentaries about important issues besetting Pinoy society. The cast was topnotch and it would be a mortal sin not to mention their names: Piolo Pascual, John Arcilla, Tirso Cruz III, Joel Torre, Mylene Dizon, Rossana Roces, and Shaina Magdayao. I have never seen an ensemble of acting talents in my memory bank ... one that consistently outdoes each other. Pero hindi nagnanakaw ng eksena.

And I am thrilled that the young stallions especially Kyle Echarri and Grae Fernandez did not fail ... they even surpassed our expectations.  Their eyes in some of their scenes run the whole gamut of emotions, their eyes speak volumes as if trying to show the young neophytes in the acting field (we have plenty here) and the veterans as well ... this is how acting needs to be done.

With the neophytes ... there is the promise we saw in Jeremiah Lisbo, Miggs Cuaderno, Daniella Stranner, Ron Angeles, and Emilio Daez.  We will not be surprised if more projects will come their way ... by virtue of what they have shown in this family drama.

The direction of Andoy Ranay, Lawrence Pajardo and Rico Navarro is not something to be sneezed at ... because they have given us a compelling story worthy of our patronage.  Again I will not be surprised if come awards time, the actors and the direction, and the story of brotherhood, family loyalty, and the tension between morality and reputation will figure prominently in any acting awards derby.

I just want to point out that Piolo Pascual in the ending has given us the best line so far. Let me quote that ... "Naniwala ako na habang may buhay ... may pagasa. Pagasa na makamit ko rin ang inyong kapatawaran ... pagasa na mabigyan ninyo ako at ang aking pamilya ng pagkataong magbago."

"At sana sa mga katulad ko na ilang beses nang kinatok ng konsiyensiya ... pero nananatiling MANHID o TAKOT para harapin ang pagbabago. Imulat na natin ang ating mga mata ... dahil kung namulat ka na TAMA ... kasalanan na ang PUMIKIT."

"Dahil kung BULAG ka na sa TAMA ... nasa LIWANAG ka na .... pipiliin mo pa bang bumalik sa DILIM?"

Diyan pa lang humahagolgol na ang aking kaibigan. Tinamaan yata. Masisisi ko ba siya?

TIGIL-HINGA-KALMA: Kim, Ogie, MC and Lassy's buwis-buhay Magpasikat 2024...

TIGIL ... HINGA ... KALMA Just like the reminder before we cross the railroad ... we have to Stop ... Look ... and Listen. Sa Magpasikat DAY 2 naman ang kanilang battlecry ay Tigil ... Hinga ... Kalma. Indeed the theme of Ogie, Kim, MC and Lassie's magnum opus is relatable and any parent worth his salt understands where they are coming from. Any Filipino has experience to be in the main leads psychological shoes. That is why when one of them said: "Wala na ba tayong karapatang magpahinga ... may kirot akong nararamdaman ... dahil everyday nakipagbuno tayo sa lahat ng mga challenges ... at times we feel na para tayong kandilang nauupos ... and we feel strangulated and suffocated at hindi na tayo makahinga. Wala na ba tayong karapatang mag-day off dahil pag ginawa mo yon ... may mga nakaambang mga problema waiting to happen. Para akong nanonood ng Broadway at binuhay natin ang kantahan at sayawan sa teatro in the likes of Godspell or Jesus Christ Superstar. Kim Chiu's daring trapeze act is one for the books ... and it will be forever etched in my memory. This proves one thing ... she can do just about anything. Ogie despite his insecurities about new talents lording it over and giving the veteran's the run for their money is still a musical genius and his musicality has still the touch of gold. MC and Lassie both stand up comedians have left their comfort zones and tried drama this time ... and both succeed with flying colors. Aside from Kim's terpsichorean ability ang acrobatic skills ... what stole the show was Ogie's composition in the near finale where the chant Tigil ... Hinga ... Kalma ... rose to a crescendo ... that gave me goose bumps. I can't help but clap until my palms turned crimson ... because I felt similar pain ... especially waking up in the morning to go to work: My body says I need to REST ... but my spirit says otherwise. Dahil ang isang araw na pahinga ... is already a luxury. Katumbas nito ang kawalan ng maraming bagay - like pambayad sa ilaw, tubig, renta at kuryente. 

Mga kwento ng pag-asa, bumida sa touching performance nina Vice, Karylle...

 Starting the Magpasikat Week is one heck of a job ... for one thing the first group of performers has to set the tone for what their audience should expect for the rest of the week. And team VIce, Ryan and Karylle did not disappoint. Their theme is all about HOPE, a very relatable topic dahil lahat naman tayo ay umasa ... at namumuhunan sa salitang SANA ,(sana magbago ang mga anak ko ... sana maging responsable sila ... sana tularan nila ako maging isang good provider ... in the real essence of the word). 

  The vignettes of life that was depicted are true to life stories of the main protagonists. Karyll's family life is an open book. This is the first tiwme she had actively talked about it on TV ... especially her relationship with his father that was cut off because he passed away. Karylle's only hope was "sana nabigyan pa sila ng time to show their love for each other. 

 Her scenes singing an original song written for his Dad ... was almost palpable. Her angel scene was beautifully photographed ... had I not blinked I was almost seeing on screen the younger version of Zsa Zsa Padilla hanging in the skies.

Ryan Bang came from a broken family . And that is the reason why in his early formative years, he migrated to the Philippine. When he has a family dinner with his Pinay girlfriend ... Ryan notice how his mother laughed at the jokes of his father. She was responding to him positively ... and these fuels HOPE in Ryan na "SANA magkaroon ng part 2 ang kanilang samahan." 

 Ryan's family dance routine where the three were mounted in some kind of a rolling platforms ... that every time they move no matter how they reach out to each other ... the oscillating motion prevented them from holding hands and bond together as ONE family - a perfect dance symbolism for a family in squabbles. 

 Meme Vice has a different issue ... it is more about his relationship with Ion and his suspicion that somebody out there is making a concerted effort to bring him and his show down. In his words... ang mga intriga ay parang mga suntok at tadyak na sabaysabay pang dumating ...na parang pinagtulong-tulongan siya ... at pinagbugbug sarado is enough to make him feel defeated and disillusioned. His only HOPE ... "SANA malmpasan niya ito ... at huwag siyang sumuko. 

 His dance sequence where the dancers lifted him in the air ... sabay sumabog ang ang apoy sa paligid gave me a semblance that he was made a sacrificial lamb ... sabay sabay naglabasan ang mga voice over na "di maganda makita sa TV si Vice Ganda .... hindi magandang ehemplo ... bakla eh. Tapos dinagdagan pa ng sahog na "Wala kang matunan na mabuti diyan ... puro panlalait lang ... " Or maghiwalay din yan ... siyempre si Ion maghanap talaga yan ng babae. Perfect symbolism indeed. 

 Another dance symbolism that was perfectly accomplished was in the sequence where VG was ascending in a steep reclining platform and his detractors relentlessly chasing him ... pulling him from his legs para hindi makaakyat at tuluyang bumagsak. But Meme persevered ... and won his battle in the long run. 

 The inclusion of SB19 was so appropriate and I commend who ever thought of this is a genius. SB19 is a perfect example of young men who struggled and become victorious. They even changed the lyrics of their song Liham so the message will become ensynch with the theme. SO generous. 

 The highlight however was the inclusion of madlang people trying to win over their individual struggles. One of them were two kids who grew up away from their Mom who was working in Dubai for six years. The genius twist however ... is this group desire to bring this mother back to Philippines and gave these yearning kids a lachrymose and tearful family reunion. Congrats Viceryll.

Senior High: Last Two Days

Last TWO MINUTES ... Last TWO MINUTES.  That's what we hear in Araneta, Ultra, and Cuneta Astrodome in the last two minutes of a thrilling basketball game.

Senior High will definitely end in two days, so I am heralding the swan song of the most successful whodunit psychodrama ever produced this side of showbiz. After Dirty Linen, ABS CBN risked its fortunes by producing a never-tested concept and storyline about social issues like suicide, teenage pregnancies, and boys' love ... a topic too heavy and serious that is usually taboo to some.

But ABS CBN and its directors and scriptwriters are one "rara avis" ... they always defy conventional wisdom and find themselves swimming against the current and do not go with what sells.  Despite Senior High serious theme ...  their gut feeling tells them they can still succeed artistically and commercially. And they did.

The cast - be it senior or junior- was superb - everyone had their moments and their shining scenes where they proved their mettle were equally distributed in every episodal installment. The top of the class belongs to Miggy Jimenez, Daniella Stranner, and Elijah Canlas - neophytes all, but no matter how new and raw the talents ... they were guided and motivated accordingly to give memorable scenes that can be forever etched in our memory.

Andrea Brillantes, Kyle Echarri, Xyriel Manabat, Zaijan Jaranilla, and Juan Carlos Labajo were nothing more than first-rate and excellent. The director and scriptwriter were a genius that despite a crowded cast - walang nakawan ng eksena ... at walang nagprima-donna - everybody stepped up. They can be compared to your grandparents' secret menu - where all condiments and ingredients contributed to impart a specific flavor, enhance the whole ensemble, or compliment the dish.

On the senior side Baron Geisler, despite his reputation and his vices deserves applause and admiration.  So was Mon Confiado who manipulated everyone into believing that he was just doing his work to protect his school. Even the audience were fooled and took his protective persona ... and swallowed them hook line and sinker.

So when creative minds and brilliant actors collide we audiences get an excellent masterpiece. It will not be surprising if acting awards are given this year ... it will be a toss-up between Senior High and Dirty Linen.

I just hope Kim Chiu's Linlang (the next teleserye to replace Senior High) will not pale in comparison.

And to ABS CBN ... keep up the good work. I know there is another serious topic coming ... by way of Pamilya Sagrado which deals with brotherhood and fraternity. But with a good director and a superb storyline ... I know you can always turn around and make " a dud turn into sud."

Team Jhong-Kim-Ion presents an enthralling dance-drama performance about...

The team of Jong Hilario, Kim Chiu, and Ion Perez won this year's Magpasikat segment in It's Showtime.  Now Kim and Ion have one bragging right for being a Magpasikat champion and for Jong ... this is his third time ... being a champion is not new or alien to him.

Indeed the message of their production dissects the harmful effects of using cell phones and social media.  It advocates the responsible ways of using them and as Anne Curtis and Pia Wurtzback said about our licentious freedom to comment on practically everything on the internet without an iota of knowledge on how your comments affect your target: "Think before you click."

Their production harnessed the Terpsichorean skills of the three protagonists... and their dance routines communicated their ideas through movements and were a potent medium ... and an expressive art form. Their athletic abilities were made as a tool to squeeze and allow their messages to come out vividly and express their creativity with graceful and precise body movements. Ion was a newbie but he held his own candle vis-a-vis the Sample King and ASAP Queen of the dancefloor. 

Their production also utilized drama to further make a cohesive crisscrossing of the three stories. It shows us poignant slices and vignettes of life (as we know it) as a trilogy of sorts ... it was juxtaposed tightly cascading in the screen one after another.

Jong's part shows he was frustrated to know he had good news for his family ... (he was promoted in his work) but it looked like sharing the good news with them is mission impossible. It seemed that his wife and children were glued to their cellphones (magkasama sila sa bahay but Jong failed miserably to penetrate the thick wall that separates them. Their constant search for "what is the latest in gossip ... or their quest to make thousands of friend requests and their insatiable appetite to get more likes and hearts was given preferential treatment and importance over his good news. 

Then the segment showed Jong playing and horsing around with his real daughter ... ended with the much-needed oomph when he was practically begging for his daughter to give them time and open communication when she grows up. Jong loves to be remembered for his funny one-liners in Showtime ... little did he realize he is effective in delivering dramatic lines ... tagos sa puso ... may kirot ...and he hits it bullseye. His best line was when he said: "Magkasama nga tayo pero hindi nagpapansinan ... Di ba ang cellphone ay para tayo ay pag-ugnayin ...hindi paghihiwalayin? Kausapin naman ninyo ako."

In Showtime Kim's personality is pa-cute ... and when she giggled and laughs - very infectious. Pero nanggugulat siya in her tirade ... and if you are not ready and you don't have enough ammunition  to reply to her witty remarks ... dehado ka at masasapawan ka niya. The other day she was talking to Direk Olivia Lamasan na parang naglalambing. " Inang may bukas pa at kami iyon. Hinay-hinay lang sa pagbigay ng papuri in its superlative degree, Baka bukas wala ka nang matirang adjectives para sa amin ... something to that effect. Kung iba yon baka natengga na ang isip at wala nang masabi.  She can be razor-sharp with her repartee and her hosting skills has been honed and polished with the passing of time.

The same can be said with her acting skills. She can shed a tear or two right on cue and deliver long lines like a pro.  When she talks to her dad in this segment her voice cracks... and tears start welling in her eyes.Her monologue: "Kailangan ba magkunyari para magkaluwag sa buhay? Para lang makapagbigay sa pamilya ... kailangan bang mangtapak ng iba? Gipit lang ako ..." is haunting and is giving me goose bumps.

In Ion's case, his situation was almost the same as Paula Jamie Salvasa - the Amalayer girl several years ago where she was caught on video berating a security guard at a train station.  Just like Amalayer girl ... Ion was in the wrong place at the wrong time -and was also caught on video from the wrong angle ... and social media was not kind as expected.

The bullying commenced on social media and by the second day it was a 24-7 demolition and became viral. If you compare it to the war on Gaza ... there was a carpet bombing ... not a single area was spared. It looked like a conspiracy ... as everybody from Aparri to Jolo agreed to contribute and say the most cruel and bitter criticism they could think of. The bandwagon mentality again showed its ugly fangs as everybody joined forces to maintain a non-stop noise barrage of name-calling in print.  A ceasefire ... or a break is not in their vocabulary as hostilities have not simmered even for a minute to allow him a breathing space.  

Cancel culture looks like his crucifixion. When Ion said: "Ang hirap palang ma-cancel.  Sisikat na nga lang ako ... sa mali pang paraan. Hindi ako cellphone ... na gagamiting ninyo lang para sa ikasaya ninyo.  Tao ako!!!! in my memory bank that monologue was heart-rending but excruciatingly disturbing.  Ion's emotions were almost palpable.  Nararamdaman ang sakit ... tumatalab at nanunoot to the bulalo!

The attitude of Jong and Kim allowing Ion to get the meaty role is a testament to It's Showtime's generous and magnanimous treatment of the newbies. They did that Ryan Bang last year ... and this year it was Ion's turn.

When Bong Navarro asked Vice if he was proud of Ion ... he did not mince a word. Allow me to quote the words of Vice Ganda who has too much to say regarding Ion's personal life which has parallelism with his story in this prod and also with that of Amalayer girl. 

Vice started: "Araw-araw kasama ko yan di ba? Alam ko kung paano siya sinasaktan ng social media.  Everyday he is being judge ... kung ano siya ... kung saan siya galing ... kung paano siya magsalita ... kung anong klaseng relasyon meron siya.  Everyday he is being judge ... araw-araw lumalaban yan ,,, araw-araw nasasaktan ...  Hindi ninyo alam kung ano ang epekto nito kay Ion ... at sa akin ... hindi ninyo alam ... ang alam ninyo lang ay kung ano ang nakita ninyo ... pero hindi talaga ninyo alam... " That was a very poignant scene coming from the heart. Vice knows how to push the right buttons judging from the lachrymose response from the audience as they showed enough balls to weep and cry in national TV. 

Talking about the negative effects of cell phones on the human race I wish they could have incorporated "smartphone zombies" into the production (napaka-demanding ko naman but you can't blame me because I saw the accident right before my eyes ... which could have been avoided if we started sounding the alarm bells right on the get-go.)  It is high time we start a nationwide campaign and awareness of how cell phones destroy our lives and teach the netizens that our safety comes first before anything else.

Let us spread also this awareness: The life you save ... is maybe your own!

Team Vhong-Jugs-Teddy pays homage to legendary Pinoy comedians through A...

This is a very nostalgic concept coming Teddy, Vhong and Jugs otherwise known as TVJ or was it Jugs, Teddy, and Vhong aka JTV or GTV of GMA Entertainment? Nagpapalakas ha?

As a regular tambay of Cinema 1 and PBO, seeing these fallen legendary comedians who have passed away and Showtime paying tribute to them is not only wistful and excessively nostalgic ... but also shows some Filipinos pining for mushy and mawkish melodramatics ... the kind of sentimentality for the past ... reminiscing fond memories and revisiting the good old days as we trip down the memory lane. The concept is authentic Filipino and I am sure if these comedians were streaming down this clip via celestial Wi-Fi from heaven ... I am sure they would be happy ... and they would not feel ... they were forgotten.

TVJ or JTV never fails to amaze me ... the concept was simple ... pero sabi nga ni Tirso ... meron itong kurot sa puso ... nararamdaman mo ang hapdi at kirot ... as you saw the audience and the judges wiping their tears. The concept has this message ... yong   “Oo nga pag lipas ng mga taon at tapos na ang iyong oras, pag wala na tayo sa mundo, may maaalala pa kaya sa atin?”.

The idea was so timely ... lalo na at katatapos pa lang ng All Soul's Day. This one for the books ... the storytelling was taut and tightly stretched ... the pacing was fast and the whole production introduced artificial intelligence (AI) technology ... and the desired effect ay "tagos sa puso" ... and the netizens are going gaga about the aftershocks it created. I think this is the best way to start the Magpasikat 2023 ... it sets the bar high and all indications show we are in for a roller coaster ride of the best production numbers this week.

Senior High; An Ensemble of Superb Acting

After the phenomenal success of Dirty Linen in almost all departments- acting, direction, cinematography, musical score, editing, script etc. ... naturally the teleserye that takes over the timeslot is in a precarious situation ... (if its footing or hold is not stable or not firmly placed) ... chances are you are likely to slip or lose grip especially when compared to the honor and recognition Dirty Linen has set. 

The bar was set at an all-time high, and it is to the credit of Senior High cast and directors to come up with a whodunit formula that makes you glued to your seat wanting for more.

The pilot week was the most crucial and based on the superb acting the cast had shown, and knowing that the same tandem of directors that made Dirty Linen is at the helm, netizens got hooked ... it was like a case of love at first sight.  Interesting storytelling and fast-paced editing also contributed a lot to setting the mood.

Going now on its 4th week ... Senior High manages to entice viewers to make it their late-night habit. The series touches on taboo topics like teen suicide, bullying, and drug addiction. This week we had a glimpse of what happened after the investigation and Sky (Andrea Brillantes) moving heaven and earth to shed light on her sister's alleged suicide ... or was there foul play?

Two BL actors Elijah Canlas (Archie) and Miggy Jimenez (Poch) had their penultimate moments this week as their characters were pushed to the limits to show a myriad of emotions ... and the conflict given in their situationa squeezed the very acting juices in them ... to give way to a performance worthy of a FAMAS or a URIAN.

Listen to the netizens frothing in their mouths to say the superlatives:

@yernoonnie

Kahapon lang, ang galing nung pagcreate ng tension between Poch and Tim.

Pati yung pag-iyak ni Poch while watching the video. Tapos ngayon ang galing

nya sa pagmamakaawa sa mama nya. Pati yung pag-open ng door ni JK sa

mama nya, ang natural lang, parang family talaga sila

@charleneescabarte4701

Talagang hindi pilit iyak ni Poch.Madadala ka talaga sa emosyon.Super galing!

kuddos sa lahat ng bumubuo ng senior high. Ito yung pelikulang inaabangan ko

araw araw dito sa Europe

@filomango69

I thought Miggy Jimenez was the weakest link in the cast. But in yesterday

and today's episodes, he showed his range and proved he could match the

acting skills of the other young stars in the cast. Good work!!! And we'll be

keeping an eye on this newcomer.

@AbcdeFagaha-ih1km

Hindi talaga nawawala every episode 'yong pag-praise sa acting ng mga

actors and they really deserve it. Grabe mga bagets, kayang-kaya makipag

sabayan sa veterans! Sobrang galing, walang tapon!

@angelorey7885

Miggy really shine in this episode. Grabe ung pagswitch nya ng emotion

from being arogant to nakakaawa. Naaasar ako sa kanya kung nakaraan pero

ngayon biglang naawa ako sa kanya. Mahusay na artista.

@jamjam7881

Ganda talaga ng kuwento... I did remember sinabi nila sa interview na hindi

lang iikot sa main character ang kuwento at bawat character mabibigyang

back story at spotlight... grabeng galing ni Miggy! And ang galing nung pagka

-execute ng kuwento, one moment inis na inis ka sa character and then the

next naaawa at nakikisimpatiya ka na sa kanila... Kudos sa buong team! I do

hope by the end of this series maging magkakaibigan lahat ng bagets... and

sana mas lalo pang ma-highlight yung mga pinagdadaanan at nararamdaman

ng mga kabataan ngayon para naman mas maintindihan sila ng mga older

generations... na hindi lang sila basta puro go lucky at walang iniintindi o

makasarili... I know iba iba ang experiences and circumstances ng mga tao

but still... I do hope this can give an insight para mas lalo pa nating maintidi

han ang mga kabataan ngayon.

Maid In Malacanang" Review

I was able to see Maid in Malacañang (MiM) last Saturday with some friends. Biases aside, the film felt like it was made by an amateur second-year college student — and this is coming from someone who didn’t like and even lambasted the “award-winning” Katips.

It is rather disappointing that Imee Marcos who was the head of ECP (Experimental Cinema of the Philippines) — responsible for making iconic films such as Himala and Oro Plata Mata — allowed this hodgepodge of cinematic clichés and hammy acting. The most tragic (and unintentionally funny) was Ruffa Gutierrez who seemed like she lost her keys whenever she tries to convey an emotion. She should have taken notes from Tessie Tomas’ portrayal of Imelda Marcos in A Dangerous Life for Tomas was exemplary in that film. The performance of the rest of the cast who played the other Marcoses was underwhelming despite some of them being award-winning actors. It didn’t feel like they studied their characters — from the mannerisms to the tone of their voice, which could only be blamed to one thing: the director of the film is an amateur. The only saving graces were the three maids who had some hilarious scenes and showed good chemistry. But they still couldn’t save this camp of monstrosity

Storytelling-wise, MiM was too disorganized. For example, Imee Marcos returned from Singapore to the Philippines to heed her father’s request and upon arriving in the Palace, she discovered that they were already running out of basic necessities because they couldn’t go outside for days already due to the strident rallyists. Then how in the world did Imee enter the Palace? The film heavily used real-life footage to probably mask the inability of the director to execute them. The movie could have been given more grit if they acted out the iconic inauguration of Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. with his wife singing in the balcony or even the discovery of the assassination plot against the first family by Ricardo Morales instead of relying on historical footage and hollow scriptwriting.

Yap tried to impress by doing a one-take continuous shot with Dutch tilt in the confrontation scene between Bongbong and FEM, but the script was just too weak and a clear attempt to answer the issues thrown against Bongbong (FEM describing him as problematic in his diary, his lack of achievements, and him being a party animal) — it felt like it was written by a loyalist obsessed in winning an argument against the anti-Marcos forces on social media.

The film tried to “have a heart” by making it seem like the story was really about the struggles of the maids and other workers in Malacañang, but they were just used as tools to deodorize the image of the Marcoses (“Uy! Mabait silang amo!”) who shoved it into our face how they feel so entitled to remain in the PEOPLE’s Palace via this film (that cringe scene where Imelda repeatedly utters the line, “Hindi na tayo makakabalik!” still haunts my ears).

A world where an abhorrent film like Maid in Malacañang exists only reminds me of the other contemptible acts performed by politicians to the minds of our poor voters. Be careful of this deceptive pariah of cinema. It deserves to be awarded 0.5/5. It earned it.

- Paolo Miguel Quimbo