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)

anne

alex

cherie

mara

ian

celeste

margie

joey

benedict

denise

joel

jess

agot

brief film reviews on 3 cinemalaya full-length film entries (ML, MAMANG & SCHOOL SERVICE)....

actress aiai delas alas ("SCHOOL SERVICE")

director benedict mique ('ML")

actress/singer celeste legaspi ("MAMANG")

director denise o' hara ("MAMANG")

actor eddie garcia ("ML")

actor joel lamangan- "SCHOOL SERVICE"

actor ketchup eusebio ("MAMANG")

director louie ignacio ("SCHOOL SERVICE")

model/actor tony labrusca ("ML")

"MAMANG"

Veteran singer/actress Ms. Celeste Legaspi shone so much in this movie. And Ketchup Eusobio looked so loving as a son who never wanted to let go of his mother, even at a time that there was no one left to care for her.

There's no pretense in this film directed by a relative of a film master. Ms. Denise O'Hara executed the film in a very precise manner, without much "ARTISTIC PRETENSE". But the scenes would linger upon your heart, and the delicate feelings would overwhelm a family bondage. 

Ghosts of the past who appeared in this film all made surprising entries and exits, and it was so timed in a form of perfect unison with the central character - "Mamang".

Though a 'feel-good' movie right from the start, it ended in a rather dark feeling. Old age was not shown in a pathetic way but in a funny but exuberant array of events and revelations.

A truly wonderful film. It would make you feel that MOMS were really the best human beings in the whole wide world. And to add, one of Cinemalaya's BEST. (RATING: ***** 5 stars)

(vid of tony labrusca, courtesy of MyMovieWorld.Com and Youtube.Com)

"ML"

A highly suspenseful film, and within it, a hidden message of space and time. Though Old Age was presented here in a rather evil manner, you would realize that the "horrors" of a dark era in the minds of those who fought for the country was never really forgotten. Because, some people refuse to move-on.

Actor Eddie Garcia excelled in his performance as an ex-Military Colonel who was still thinking that the rebels of the '70's were still out there, was so convincing.

Tony Labrusca looked so handsome in this film, but his beautiful face did not hinder the emotions he was trying to convey in the most pathetic scenes of the film. 

Just be careful of the violence and the torture, it might blow your mind away. (RATING: **** 4 stars)

"SCHOOL SERVICE"

Direk Louie Ignacio's attempt to do something different in his career as a film maker, and yeah, it would only guarantee his sincerity as a serious one.

AiAi delas Alas' very natural skills as an actress was proven in this movie, and Joel Lamangan amazingly portrayed a role that castrated his level as a Master film director- in this film, as an actor who'd do great lengths just to portray a very delicate role. Yet, he succeeded.

The ending of this film would redeem all your criticisms right from the very start. Because behind the toxic reality of existence, there's a kind of freedom hidden beneath the minds and dreams of children and the young. (RATING: **** 4 stars)

cinemalaya 14's opening night highlights ms. anne curtis' superb performance in the opening film "buybust"....

There could be nothing spectacular, but the spirit and the 'awe' of cinema lovers were fully quenched in last night's opening ceremonies of CINEMALAYA 14.

After a show-off in the lobby facade of Cultural Center of the Philippines, with an array of young drummers creating an upbeat sound of music and fascination-all the film directors (of shorts, full-length, old & new), were introduced and presented in a crowd of mostly aspiring new film enthusiasts, graduating students of Film & tri-media, Cinemalaya habitues, media people and friends of all those involved in the participating films.

Though the presentation may be less than perfect, with no proper timing as they walked down the stairs leading to the main lobby of Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo- the excitement filled-in the letdown. Only smiles and great anticipations- all fully gathered in unison was felt by all.

With no musical production numbers but only brief and enlightening speeches from Ms. Lauice Guilllen (Chairwoman of Cinemalaya) and Mr. Chris Millado (Vice president and Artistic Director of Cultural center of the Philippines)- the meaning of what the event was really all about grounded-in deeper into the hearts of everyone.

But there was a surprise, after all.

The opening film- Buy Bust, which topbilled Ms. Anne Curtis and "Dwayne Johnson-like stature" of actor/MMA fighter Brandon Vera- was a real thirst-quencher for the "90%" of all those who attended the opening night. It was well-received and the audience reacted so powerfully in the most delicate highlight scenes of the film.

And yet, there was a 'STAR' who highlighted the magnificent event- and it was Anne Curtis, mixed-in with her subdued and strong performance in the film Buy Bust. As she appeared live and in person at the stage, at the end of the film, the lights went on and the feeling became much more exuberant. Fans and the  shrieking crowd of delight and embraces of great wonder overwhelmed the Main Theater of the CCP.

Yes, it was a highlight that surely marked the soul of CINEMALAYA- 

Forevermore.



(as written by robert silverio)