swordshines10: A CINEMALAYA MEMORY

A CINEMALAYA MEMORY

As the movie Buy Bust ended, and the closing credits appeared on the wide screen of Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo - the lights went on and all at once, as one blogger looked back on the upper rows of the theater, he saw Ms. Anne Curtis smiling back at him. There was a brief "eye-to-eye" stare that lasted for 15 seconds, afterwards, her eyes transformed into an 'awe-like' pop out look, and, suddenly, IT WAS ETERNITY. Moments like this would last forever. And for a blogger's memory, would never be forgotten.

That was the Opening Night of CINEMALAYA 14, and, on that brief moment of time, a blogger felt the value of his existence. Because on that Opening Night, the organizers of the event and the people behind the movie Buy Bust, most especially the cast who attended on that night, chose not to make themselves feel important, but rather chose to win the hearts and be so warm to the people and the guests who attended the event.

Mara Isabella Yokohama followed next. As she saw one blogger standing at the Finale part of the film, she stood-up and walked towards the blogger. She made a warm gesture of a sincere HUG and kisses, too. Someone followed her, and he was the handsome actor named Ian Taylor Ignacio. He greeted the blogger with a warm pat on the shoulder, plus a wonderful smile.

And the world seemed to STOP.

It was a CINEMALAYA memory that one blogger would never forget. These were important people- a mainstream actress, and scions of Royal families in showbiz (Mara is the daughter of actress-beauty queen Maria Isabel Lopez and Ian is the son of respected veteran actor Levi Ignacio).

Even though this year, the blogger only witnessed the more than a week-long event in a matter of three days only and thus he felt so hanged-up, he reminisced back that it was all okay. Just enough. He might have died and shed tears of almost loosing his Cinemalaya Media Pass I.D. (his wallet disappeared and was found back on the last day of the film fest event- and inside that wallet was his Cinemalaya Media Pass I.D.), there could have been reasons why. Reasons that might sheltered any regrets that he felt for watching four movies only out of the many films shown at Cinemalaya 14.

He only knew, whatever losses and misfortunes, something better would come up.

Perhaps, on the coming years, no more misfortunes would happen. Perhaps, everything would be okay from now on.

He reminisced back the three days of his attendance at the festival, it was all alright. Literary film artist and director Joey Reyes didn't hesitate to walk by him as they sought for a coffee break and a brief chat as they went up on the third floor of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Actresses Cherie Gil and Agot Isidro even saw them together at the CCP Main Facade.

Cinemalaya habitues- in persons of Noel Ferrer, Armand Reyes, Jerry Olea, Sennedy Que, Gorgy Rula and the Master Film Director Joel Lamangan bonded with the blogger at the basement canteen of the CCP. Direk Joel treated them for an early dinner, and Maria Isabel Lopez, together with her friend Albert Minguez walked by and greeted them all.

Margie Moran Floreindo was so beautiful UP CLOSE. She was seated in front of the blogger inside the Tanghalang Huseng Batute as they watched the Louie Ignacio film School Service. She said 'Yes' for an interview after, but the blogger was so slow in approaching her as the film ended and the exiting crowd overwhelmed his steps- while the beautiful lady might have been snatched by the others.

Director Benedict Mique looked so hansome and cute and friendly. He was so nice also to the blogger as Line Producer Ferdinand Lapuz introduced him to the director. Benedict was the only person that the blogger interviewed on the event. And his film ML was one of the best films shown there this year at Cinemalaya 14.

Indie film actor Jess Mendoza greeted the blogger as they saw each other before the movie Distance was shown. He never changed. He remained so handsome, so humble, so gentle...

Alex Vincent Medina left a very strange feeling to the blogger. As someone took a selfie for them, there was a feeling a blogger could not explain. There was a meaning in there. As the blogger felt his shoulder, there was a word asking "Why?"....

Mamang was the best movie shown this year at Cinemalaya 14, and as the movie ended, he saw a great crowd that mobbed and circled-in Miss Celeste Legaspi, asking for selfies, greetings and embraces.

The blogger saw the director of the film Mamang from afar. She was Denise O'Hara. A young film artist with lots of hopes and promises to bring...

And there were many more reminisces... many more glimpses of the first three days of the event... many more dreams, too.

But this year's CINEMALAYA 14 MEMORY was not all about that. There was a deeper meaning. There was a SIGN.

****************

The afternoon of the Opening Night of the event, as the blogger looked and viewed from his terrace, he saw a big black bird standing on an electric wire. The blogger was already dressed-up for the event and was about to leave, though, he took a brief exhale from his terrace. That's where he saw the BIG BLACK BIRD.

Yes, the bird was huge, so big, almost 3 feet long and his feathers were all black. It was a CROW. And from the wire, the crow was looking at him, as if telling him something, as if warning him. Or maybe, telling him that his life would be lost and he would give it back soon after. That was IT.

There were so many strange things happening out there. But nature speaks. Nature warns. Nature destroys. But nature also gives back LIFE.

Only the blogger knew, and only HE could tell what the CROW was telling.

In the field of Cinematic Arts, nature participates....

Birds could see from Up Above.

Because,

as the blogger reached the Cultural Center of the Philippines on the Opening Night-

the same CROW was still waiting there, sitting upon the facade exterior rooftop ceiling of the CCP-

and,

amidst

the very

gates

of...

FOREVER.

(as written by robert manuguid silverio)