ISANG SULYAP SA WALANG HANGGAN (REBYU PARA SA PELIKULANG "CHILDREN OF THE RIVER", NA KALAHOK SA CINEMALAYA 15)....

noel: a very honest portrayal in "children of the river"

May mga lugar at pook na lagi nating maaalala sa buong buhay natin. Maaaring ang mga lugar na iyon ay naging malaking bahagi ng ating kabataan, o naging testigo upang mas makilala pa natin ang ating mga sarili, Mga lugar na sadyang pesonal, mga lugar na pinagmulan natin, mga lugar na kung saan ay nakasama natin ang ating mga kaibigan.

Ang mga iyon siguro ang mga lugar na walang hanggan. Dahil sa puntong iyon ng walang hanggan, nakilala natin ng lubusan ang ating mga sarili.

Iyan siguro marahil ang naging kakaiba para sa pelikulang "Children of the River", isang pelikulang kalahok para sa Cinemalaya 15 ng taong ito.

Kakaiba, dahil sa napaka-simple at napaka- makatotohanang tema ng pelikula. Alam mong hindi pantasya lamang maski ba may pagka-'mala-romantiko' rin ang dating ng pelikula. Kakaiba, dahil kung ikukumpara mo sa nakagisnan nang mga kalahok palagi sa Cinemalaya na mga pelikula, ang isang ito ay hindi nagpakita ng karahasan, ng kapangitan, ng mga maling panghuhusga.

Ang isang ito- na pinamagatang "Children of the River", ay isang tunay na malayang pelikula, tunay ding masasabi mong SINEMA. Walang pretensyon. Walang pagnanasang maging isang dakilang pelikula. Dahil ang basta ipinakita lang niya- isang pagtuklas sa sarili at ang natatagong buhay ng mga batang iniwan ng kani-kanilang mga ama na naging sundalo at lumaban sa giyera ng Marawi.

Gustong-gusto ng karamihan ang mga ganitong uri ng pelikula na walang pretensyon. Hindi nagbabadya. Hindi nagpapanggap. Pero madarama mong may puso ang pelikula. May mensahe. May katuturan.

Yun bang makita naman kahit minsan ng mga kabataan at mga Milenyal na bata ang mga simpleng pamumuhay lamang- malayo sa DOTA o ML games at mga gadgets, sa mga gang wars, sa mga fraternities at sa mga wild parties. Makita man lang nila, kahit minsan lang, na ang mga simpleng kaligayahan sa mundong ito ay mas nagtatagal. Mas aakapin mo rin sa habang buhay.

Malinaw na naipakita ng direktor at manunulat ng pelikulang ito (na walang iba kundi si Maricel Cabrera-Cariaga) ang tunay na diwa at puso ng isang batang lalaking nakararanas ng pangungulila sa kanyang ama, pero pinasasaya naman siya ng kanyang tatlong mga kababata't kaibigan, na kung saan, hanggang sa huli, ay hindi siya iniwan maski ba natuklasan nilang lahat na bakla pala siya.

Maaaring sa pinaka-huling eksena ng pelikula ay nagpa-iwan na ang batang lalaking bida at pinauna na niyang maglakad ang mga kalaro niya, pagkatapos ay binitiwan na niya ang baril-barilan na hawak niya- maraming nais ipakahulugan ang huling eksena na iyon ng pelikula.

Dahil bilang isang batang LGBT, alam niya, hindi na dapat baril-barilan ang hawak niya kundi marahil ay isang make-up kit na o 'buhay na mikropono', mauuna na ngang humayo ang mga kaibigan niya dahil may iba na siyang mga landas na tatahakin pa.

Mahuhusay lahat ang mga nagsipag-ganap na supporting characters sa pelikula- lalong-lalo na si Jay Manalo na maski sa bandang huling parte na lang ng pelikula sumulpot, humataw naman ng husto sa napakaganda niyang monologue sa Eulogy Scene para sa mga namatay na kapwa niya kababata't sundalong namatay sa giyera sa Marawi kung saan ay siya lamang ang nabuhay. Ilang beses kaming nagpahid ng mga luha sa napakagandang eksena na iyon ni Jay, at karapatan siguro ni Jay na manalo ng Best Supporting Actor maski ba napakaikli lang ng mga eksena niya sa pelikulang ito. Sa Hollywood kasi, maski isang eksena lang 'yung artista, nananalo pa rin.

Lahat ng mga batang kaibigan ng bida, kay gagaling ding umarte. Napaka-natural ng pagganap nila. Batang-bata talaga, hindi nag-iinarte, hindi nagkukunwari. Lalo na 'yung batang mataba na nagdala ng mas magagaan pang moments o mga eksena sa pelikula.

Ang lugar na Quirino, Isabela pala ay tunay na kaaya-aya. Hindi pa ganu'n kasikat sa mga tao ang lugar na ito, pero ang ilog na ilang beses na pinakita sa pelikula, sadyang kay sarap yatang pasyalan at puntahan. 

Teka nga pala, nagustuhan din namin sa pelikulang ito si Juancho Trivino, ang lihim na pagibig ng batang bida sa pelikulang ito. 'Yung mga eksena nila nu'ng batang bida sa pelikula, tusok na tusok sa puso. Kuhang-kuha ni Juancho ang tamang pagganap sa karakter niya.


*******  *******   *******  *******


Sabi nga nila, kapag nasulyapan mo na ang lugar na walang hanggan, wala ka na nga siguro hahanapin pa. Doon na rin siguro matatapos ang maikling biyahe mo sa buhay at pagibig.

Pero gaano man kaikli iyon, kapag may isang batang nakaalalang ngumiti sa iyo, mag-imbita, at magpahalaga, alam mo, hahaba pa rin ang biyaheng tinatahak mo. Magkakaroon pa iyon ng PART TWO.

Dahil tulad nu'ng batang bida na gumanap sa pelikulang "Children of the River", na walang iba kundi si NOEL COMIA, JR., ang pag-arte na ginawa niya sa pelikulang nabanggit ay masasabi mo ngang ISANG SULYAP SA WALANG HANGGAN.

Dahil naroon na lahat ang mga sangkap, mga detalye, mga mas malalalim pang kasaysayan.

Na hindi ikinahiyang gampanan ng isang batang aktor na may malawak na kaisipan. Buong puso niyang binigyang-buhay, buong kaluluwa niyang inakap at pinagmasdan.

Kaya naman, isang mariing saludo sa batang ito

si NOEL COMIA, JR.

Dahil sa kanya 


muling nakita

ng isang nilalang...



ang tunay na kahulugan



ng 





WALANG HANGGAN.









(sinulat ni robert manuguid silverio)

NOEL COMIA, JR. PORTRAYS A GAY ROLE IN HIS NEW CINEMALAYA FILM (A VERY SPECIAL INTERVIEW)

noel: impressive

noel comia, jr. with blogger robert

noel with his dad

From the glass circle moving doors of the entrance of Promenade Mall in Greenhills, he saw him. He was wearing black leather jackets and a rather rugged pair of pants, walking side by side with his father.

He followed him, as he walked fast in a separate glass entrance door of the Promenade. He never noticed that someone was following him already. And as he and his dad looked around looking for someone, he called their attention.

His mom and elder sister soon appeared, and they became a complete family, together with a lone guest- out to bond and eat supper altogether.

A rather naive and gentle but unassuming boy, he smiled upon seeing his guest.

And the rest of the running minutes and clicks of time seemed to be just like ETERNITY.


*****   ****  *****  *****


Noel Comia, Jr., the lead star of the upcoming Cinemalaya film entry entitled Children of the River, was every inch an actor of distinction, style, poise, breeding and intensity. At a young age, he knew the proper ways and manners of creating such a good and lasting impression upon his guest, who was out to interview him at that time. He was never harsh, he was always gentle when he spoke, and in between, his boyish ways could be cutely felt.

"Shooting the film was masaya, it's so much fun, too", came Noel's first answer to a question. "It was a great shoot for six days, far from the pollution of Metro Manila. Because you see, Sir, one of the aims of our film Children of the River is to promote tourism in Qurino, Isabela. That's the place we shot the film for its entirety. And we did capture the very many beautiful places there.

"Maganda po talaga doon", Noel further continued to say. "There's a great river flowing, hills and mountains and fields. It's like heaven. It's so quiet and peaceful. We slept in an Inn or Hotel every shooting wrap. As much as we loved to camp, we couldn't because we had to sleep after every shoot in preparation for the next shooting day."

How would Noel describe the film Children of the River?

"It's a coming of age film", Noel answered. "You will be surprised about my character in this movie. When we had a press conference, na-reveal na doon 'yung character ko sa movie. I portray po a gay role in this film. And it's my first time to portray a role like that. It's a gay role but I did not act gay and there's a lot more surprise if you'll gonna watch the film.

"But basically, the film is also a family-oriented film", Noel quipped. "It talks about the sadness of life and the simple joys, too. And also, the main ingredient of the film is about what happens to the families of soldiers being left behind as they go to wars. What happens to the children like us when their soldier-father leaves them behind. What was the feeling, ganu'n po. That's why I can say by now, this film tackles the sensitivity of one boy and one family."

What can you say about your director in this film, in person of Maricel Cariaga?

"She's a very hands-on director", Noel was quick to answer. "And I would like to thank her very much because I learned much from her about becoming responsible for my role. She's a good director.

"I made so much research on my role here, Sir, because my director told me to research and study further about the feelings and the lives of gay people", he continued saying again. "I did many observations and investigations. Medyo 'yung role ko po kasi, hindi totally out na gay, eh. Medyo boy pa siya. So I really dug deeper a lot and I applied some techniques that I learned in Theater. I mixed it all up and how I wish by now, people will like the way I portrayed my role here. I dedicate my role here to all LGBT's of the Philippines."

But in real life, Noel is a very straight GUY. It's just that being an actor, you must be open to every kind of roles offered. It's your job. It's your dedication to the world of Arts that mattered the most.

"And I find it very challenging, too, Sir", Noel told to the interviewer. "I love challenges. Portraying a role that I could not relate to, yeah, it's hard. But the result was fulfilling."

According to some observers, in the film Children of the River, it's going to be Noel who will carry the film all throughout. Without much big cast support compared to his previous film at Cinemalaya which was Kiko Boksingero (wherein he won the Best Actor award a couple of years back) - and he got there the likes of Yul Servo and Yayo Aguila as support, now in this film, only Jay Manalo sounded familiar in the names of the cast and maybe, Rich Asuncion (the bell doesn't ring loud, though.)? The rest of the cast sounded so unfamiliar. If we are right? Excuse us, please. Haha. Sorry po.

"Not really, Sir, I have Rich Asuncion and other stars from channel 7 as my support here also", Noel contradicted. "And I guess po, pare-pareho lang kaming actors. I can't say that I'm just the only one who will carry the movie all throughout. Iba-iba po ang binigay naming galing at paghihirap sa movie na ito. I must not take the sole credit. It's like we're one big barkada in this movie. We worked as a team, Sir."

Oh, okey. Hihihihihi.


******  *****   *****  *****


A product of KIDS ACT PHILIPPINES, Noel considers Mr. Luigi G. Nacario and Eugene Belbis, both Acting teachers of Kids Act Philippines, as his original and very first mentors. 

"It's with them that I learned how to act because that's where I studied Theater Acting and also Music Theory", Noel revealed. "I also learned how to read musical notes because of them. Now I can benefit from reading musical notes whenever I perform in a musical play, a concert or a show. I also know how to compose songs, and I can sing, too, as much as I can dance."

What a talented boy, indeed. Aside from acting, dancing, singing, modelling- Noel can also play musical instruments. He could play the piano, the drums, the Ukelele, the Harmonica, the recorder, and the Melodica. Pretty fascinating, indeed.

"Whenever I have the spare hours, I would play the instruments", Noel revealed to a blogger. "But like any ordinary kids, I also spend so much time playing the Mobile Legend on my cellphone. Hahahaha!"


********   *******   *******

More on Noel Comia, Jr. on Swordshines10.Blogspot.Com before or after his film "Children of the River" gets to be shown at the coming Cinemalaya 15. For now, everybody's thrilled to see him again on the wide screen. With a rather surprising role that would further prove his versatility as an actor.

After "Children of the River", Noel's next films are: "Versus", directed by Ralston Jover, "Huling Gitarista", directed by Jason Orfalas and the international film of Raya Martin out to be shown at the Venice Film festival- "Death of Nintendo".

Surely, this boy soon turning to be a fine, young man will mesmerize us more. His career pattern is impeccable- almost like the career path of a Hollywood 'big-time' actor. But sad to say, Noel comes from the Philippines and not from Hollywood.

Yet still, he was able to create such a serious, convincing formula of a great actor-



FOREVER.




(as the words were written by robert manuguid silverio)

NOEL COMIA, JR.: ACTOR PAR EXCELLENCE

Actors come in many sizes, shapes, forms... and ages.

You have no right to discriminate whether he's old or young. Because actors are actors. They do their jobs, imagine much and create new-found expressions and styles in the way they perform.

They go to further lengths and glory. They explore. They mature. They invent. They dream and they hope, too.

But there's one actor that's so delicate to touch at, so young to dream at, so fragile to look at.

A young actor worthy of high impressions and feelings, having proven much about himself and his God-given talents. In the years to come, we will wait and see him grow.

He became the Poster Boy of the very successful first run of "Noli Me Tangere, The Opera" this year. In which, he also acted there the precious role of Basilio. His performance was praised all-over the very high-end interiors of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. And that happened on the early part of the year 2019.

A lot of Cinemalaya fanatics already noticed him in the film "Kiko Boksingero", which was a film entry at the Cinemalaya film fest a few years back. And in that film, he won the Best Actor award at the Cinemalaya awards right after, besting the veterans.

He's a prominent young TV actor, too, having appeared in lots of TV drama shows and TV teleseryes. Recently, he taped an episode on the top-rating Maaalala Mo Kaya at ABS-CBN Channel 2.

He had done lots of theater projects, too. Too many to mention. And with that, he became an Hall of Famer at the Aliw Awards as Best Child Performer!

He could sing and dance, too. Remember him in "Your Face Sounds Familiar"?. Haha. He was so great there.

And now, this year, before 2019 ends, his star will be shining much brighter in a Cinemalaya film that's out to be shown at this year's Cinemalaya 15. 

Again, he's the lead actor, together with other three main lead stars and kids of the film.

The title of the film: "CHILDREN OF THE RIVER"

And his name:


NOEL COMIA, JR.



As in

FOREVER.





(as the words were written by robert manuguid silverio)