... I wouldn't be surprised if major-major puns start coming in. Yes, I was disappointed with Venus Raj's answer --- although I am not sure that it is proper to blame the hostage situation last night as the reason why she screwed up her answer in Miss Universe earlier. I mean, seriously. I am not saying she stated that she was at a loss because of the incident last night (we have yet to wait and see), though some people MIGHT do that.
Why not? We always look for excuses. I can just say that I have become dysfunctional because the latest True Blood episode made me more frustrated re: fantasies to marry or bite Alexander Skaarsgard in a major-major way.
Monday, August 23, 2010
On Hostage Situations
I was really tired when I got home from the 69 1/2 premier last night at the Powerplant Mall that the moment I got home, I hit the couch and was "gone" for two hours. Since I had to finish something before daybreak, I turned on my computer and saw the stream of Newsfeed on Facebook re: the hostage situation at the Quirino Grandstand.
When I saw the news yesterday I was hoping, and even thinking, that the situation would end peacefully. A similar situation happened in Manila a few years ago involving a busload of students; this time, with tourists from Hong Kong onboard, I was hoping that Rolando Mendoza, the former senior police officer / hostage-taker, would find a resolution with the government in order to avoid any casualties. But alas, it did not happen.
I have been reading articles as to what happened last night (apparently the last few hours of the event was being broadcasted on TV as I was sleeping) and an officer who was interviewed earlier on GMA's morning show somehow partly directed the blame at the media. He said that Mendoza probably saw how the event was being covered and he could see it on the bus' television; hence, he panicked and started firing. Another angle I haven't thoroughly read about is that Mendoza's brother, who is also a police officer, said something to the media that would provoke Mendoza.
This morning Facebook was flooded with comments blaming the SWAT team. I have to agree that much needs to be improved. But for situations like this, the incident is not an isolated event. It requires that you look at the overall system of the country, the morale of people, and yes, the culture which establishes our ability to respond to these events. This tragedy serves as a lesson, and unfortunately, great losses had to take place.
I feel sorry for the tourists and I feel sorry for my country for potentially losing the trust of the international community to travel here again. According to the news on CNN, many tours to the Philippines from Hong Kong have been cancelled; that's loss business. It's a painful hit to the gut that the Philippines is blacklisted, and yes, this is coming from the most developed state in one of the most powerful countries in the world. I feel sorry for the families, and I feel sorry for Mendoza as well. I don't think that he wanted this to happen too.
It's sad, but how do we restore this?
When I saw the news yesterday I was hoping, and even thinking, that the situation would end peacefully. A similar situation happened in Manila a few years ago involving a busload of students; this time, with tourists from Hong Kong onboard, I was hoping that Rolando Mendoza, the former senior police officer / hostage-taker, would find a resolution with the government in order to avoid any casualties. But alas, it did not happen.
I have been reading articles as to what happened last night (apparently the last few hours of the event was being broadcasted on TV as I was sleeping) and an officer who was interviewed earlier on GMA's morning show somehow partly directed the blame at the media. He said that Mendoza probably saw how the event was being covered and he could see it on the bus' television; hence, he panicked and started firing. Another angle I haven't thoroughly read about is that Mendoza's brother, who is also a police officer, said something to the media that would provoke Mendoza.
This morning Facebook was flooded with comments blaming the SWAT team. I have to agree that much needs to be improved. But for situations like this, the incident is not an isolated event. It requires that you look at the overall system of the country, the morale of people, and yes, the culture which establishes our ability to respond to these events. This tragedy serves as a lesson, and unfortunately, great losses had to take place.
I feel sorry for the tourists and I feel sorry for my country for potentially losing the trust of the international community to travel here again. According to the news on CNN, many tours to the Philippines from Hong Kong have been cancelled; that's loss business. It's a painful hit to the gut that the Philippines is blacklisted, and yes, this is coming from the most developed state in one of the most powerful countries in the world. I feel sorry for the families, and I feel sorry for Mendoza as well. I don't think that he wanted this to happen too.
It's sad, but how do we restore this?
On Watching the Making of the Most Artistic Filipino Pornographic Film Ever Made
I was invited last night to watch the premier of 69 1/2, aka the Making of the Most Artistic Filipino Pornographic Film Ever Made.
Was it Artistic? Yes. How else can you translate oral sex, anal sex, intercourse, etc. but turn them into, surprisingly, a musical? Somehow the process reminded me of this scene in Glee the night Jesse and Rachel were supposed to have sex; Rachel locks herself in the bathroom in fear and in hesitation, and on the other side of the door Jesse says something like, "Maybe we can talk about it. Or maybe we can sing about it" --- so yes, if you can't talk sex, sing it. Guys can complain about cunnilingus whilst standing on a grass of pubes.
Was it Filipino? Very. I could not help but laugh at the idealistic spins (typically young) indie filmmakers rant on about. And it's funny but not in a slapstick way. In true Filipino fashion, the funny parts seem more like a joke translated into a scene. Like those knock knock, "wala ka sa lolo ko" kind of funny.
Was it pornographic? Let's say there's that part that is reminiscent of Justin Timberlake's "Dick in a Box". And implied bestiality.
I really enjoyed the movie, and what I liked about it is that the actors --- despite being relatively unknowns (except for Jao Mapa, Bituin Escalante, Tado and Katherine Luna) or are more popular outside the mainstream --- are very effective. Harry Chua's character was hilarious and the sidekick (I'm sorry I can't remember his name) is so deadpan that there is hilarity in his "moments". I do think that 69 1/2 is a movie that sketches characters and the stereotype, but what makes the movie hit home is that fact that despite all the show, the amusing songs and the puns, there is the underlying truth that strongly enforces the movie.
69 1/2 (2009), dir. Ted Manotoc.
Was it Artistic? Yes. How else can you translate oral sex, anal sex, intercourse, etc. but turn them into, surprisingly, a musical? Somehow the process reminded me of this scene in Glee the night Jesse and Rachel were supposed to have sex; Rachel locks herself in the bathroom in fear and in hesitation, and on the other side of the door Jesse says something like, "Maybe we can talk about it. Or maybe we can sing about it" --- so yes, if you can't talk sex, sing it. Guys can complain about cunnilingus whilst standing on a grass of pubes.
Was it Filipino? Very. I could not help but laugh at the idealistic spins (typically young) indie filmmakers rant on about. And it's funny but not in a slapstick way. In true Filipino fashion, the funny parts seem more like a joke translated into a scene. Like those knock knock, "wala ka sa lolo ko" kind of funny.
Was it pornographic? Let's say there's that part that is reminiscent of Justin Timberlake's "Dick in a Box". And implied bestiality.
I really enjoyed the movie, and what I liked about it is that the actors --- despite being relatively unknowns (except for Jao Mapa, Bituin Escalante, Tado and Katherine Luna) or are more popular outside the mainstream --- are very effective. Harry Chua's character was hilarious and the sidekick (I'm sorry I can't remember his name) is so deadpan that there is hilarity in his "moments". I do think that 69 1/2 is a movie that sketches characters and the stereotype, but what makes the movie hit home is that fact that despite all the show, the amusing songs and the puns, there is the underlying truth that strongly enforces the movie.
69 1/2 (2009), dir. Ted Manotoc.
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