modules m.p.coloma

“American Adobo”
“American Adobo” captures the clichés of Filipinos living in the United States. The movie focuses on a barkada or group of friends with each member trying to make it in the “land of milk and honey.” I will go through certain points brought up in the movie and discuss them separately in this response paper.

Food = People
Food is a large part of all cultures around the world. In all gatherings, food will always be present and usually in the middle or it may even be the highlight of a party. In the Philippines, adobo is one of the most popular dishes one can find in any home. With the title of this movie being “American Adobo,” the elemental components of the dish will always be present—but now when found in America, there will always exist a slight variation. This alludes to the people living in the United States who are originally from the Philippines. In essence, the characters in the movie are all still very Filipino even though they may have been living overseas for quite a while. Experiences living in New York have added to their “flavor.”

Family, Morals, Rights, and Tradition
In “American Adobo,” the characters’ barkada became family and their home is now New York. Living though in New York brings upon a different set of challenges. There is a new lifestyle that the barkada must adjust to. For example, one of the male characters has a family, but his children and wife have become accustomed to a loose and not being tight-knit. He loses control over his loved ones. In the traditional sense, it is usually the father who is the head and authoritative figure. His role of father in this movie though has been switched. His wife has become the one in more power and his children have lost their bond with their parents.
I want to say that the gap between each family member is because of the fact that they live in the United States, but I can’t prove this. I have known this to happen even in the Philippines. I think people in the United States are more aware of this family situation happening, but the problem still is very much existent else where. In the Philippines though, it is emphasized to not talk back when our parents are talking and one could possibly be slapped in the face. In the United States though, media and other influences are encouraging of freedom. Freedom is good-- but depending on where and how it is used is solely up to the individual. Children can negatively view this freedom as their basic right and this can lead to disrespect.
The character’s daughter in the movie came home very late one night and this lead to an argument about her being “old enough” to do what she wanted. I think in most countries outside of the United States this reason definitely can’t be used as an excuse to say to one’s parents. But with the belief that at the age of 18, one is legally entitled to freedom even from their parents, the moral decision to rebel or not to rebel against their wishes becomes and issue. There is a conflict between tradition and the American view of our basic rights.

The Female Role
“There are no more Maria Claras these days,” my grandma would say sometimes when she would see our clothes or hanging out with friends. My grandmother is the typical Filipino lola and was brought up to be very lady-like and dainty. Maria Clara depicted in Jose Rizal’s composition was not outspoken. Maria Clara was a good daughter who followed the rules and was very obedient. From the movie “American Adobo,” I did not see any of the characters resembling her. The closest was probably Tere. She dressed conservatively and did not live risqué. Tere also knew how to cook. The knowledge of this basic “home skill” is of great importance to traditional people like my grandmother. In America, there is not much importance on knowing how to cook but more emphasis if you can make enough money to buy good food. This is where Marissa came into play. She was the more “American” of the two girl friends. She had a lover, crazy sex life and a high paying job. I say she’s more “American” because of these attributes that she has. I’m not saying that it is wrong to have these attributes. Going back to my point about freedom, we can live our lives as we want to in the United States—but if she did these things in the Philippines, a few eyebrows especially of my older relatives would be raised.

Conclusion Statement
I think the movie achieved its goal of capturing problems that are faced by Fil-Americans. The direction of the movie was off sometimes though because I couldn’t see relevance in some of the scenes shot like for example why they had to play up sex so much in the movie. I also think they could have improved on the script. Tere said a few lines twice to many times.


M.P.Coloma


IMELDA
The documentary “Imelda” directed by Ramona S. Diaz, narrates the life of the Philippines’ most infamous and memorable First Lady. The documentary takes the audience from her past to her present state—examining her relationships with people close to her as well as those who have had the chance to meet her. Imelda is what and who she is by the past she has lived and the image she paints in her head of what her life should be.
Growing up, Imelda was always an eye-catcher. When she lived in the province, many guys were courting her and Imelda knew how to use that to her advantage. The fact that she was able to turn her attractiveness into power and influence made Imelda confident in her actions. Imelda was not the smartest young lady, but still many big names like the Pope and political figures. This shows that many were intrigued by her presence though actually having a conversation with her was another story. Imelda really believed in her looks because she protested the results of a Miss Manila contest. I thought this was quite daring and a little cocky of one to do especially since it isn’t “lady-like” to boast of one’s beauty. She won though, proving her power over the mayor during that time and she was able to get the title of “Muse of Manila.”
Imelda believed very passionately in the concept of beauty. Everything around her had to be pleasing to the eye. I think if Imelda had to choose between wealth and beauty, she would definitely pick the latter. When she was young, Imelda made dresses out of whatever resources she could find just to look more “special” than her peers. This proves that Imelda really worked with what she had to create a good look for herself and to make herself feel good about her presence. Imelda had a whole philosophy about beauty and when she tried to explain it in the documentary, I honestly don’t think she made much sense. Maybe to herself she was clear and logical, but to someone on the outside of her thinking could just view as simply quite a little crazy. Imelda thinks beauty is of such great importance that she seemed offended by the bolo that was used to try to assassinate her. She says, “Why couldn’t have there been a bow—a little yellow bow” to make the bolo look pretty and not ugly. This was really humorous because your average person would be so shocked at the mere fact that someone tried to kill them.
In her quest for beauty, Imelda was very naïve. She turned her back on “ugliness” and the unattractive things about a country she claims to love and care for very much. Imelda thought she could “buy out” her country. By this I mean keep building and building things that on the outside would look like an asset to the Filipinos (i.e. the Heart Center, Kidney Center, and Nayong Filipino) but in actuality it was just a waste of taxpayer’s money. The places she built only benefited a few and were not attainable by the masses. The average Filipina girl did not take ballet classes and perform at the Philippine Folk Arts theatre. I see the Manila Film Center and it now stands abandoned and even believed to be haunted by the very people who worked 24/7 to build it in Imelda’s time frame. There was a lot of potential in Imelda’s plan and she honestly believed that creating these structures would help the Philippines. She just lacked the planning and her way of thinking was very limited and she did not see the big picture in her projects.
Imelda was quoted in saying “When I left the Philippines, people looked in my closets hoping to find skeletons, but all they founds were shoes.” Her shoes were a symbol of her skeletons though. Her shoes may have been the product of her blindness that her husband was swindling a lot of money from the pockets of the Filipino people. Through her trial, Imelda believed she didn’t do any wrong because she felt she was entitled to the money being given to her by Marcos. The jewels, riches, and extravagancies were the product of many years of believing that was payment for the good she thought she was giving to the Filipinos. Imelda was never like one of the masses. She was always above average. Even in doing public work for her husband’s campaign, Imelda was the one that stood out. Imelda was always over dressed for each occasion, which did not send a positive message to me. It made me think she was “showing off” what she had instead of focusing on the community service.
In a few ways, I can say that there’s truth in the saying “there is a little Imelda in each Filipina woman.” Imelda was the extreme version though of the Filipina woman’s love for shopping and making herself pretty. My mother is not super rich or anything but she has a lot of shoes herself. From her, I have also had a liking in buying clothes and footwear for each occasion that it calls for. Imelda just had enough resources (how she got them- being legal or not is another question), so she was able to buy far more than the average woman.
Imelda was extravagant, witty, charming, attractive, and confident. She is what many women strive to be. Simply, she may have been so caught up in the idea of herself being the epitome of almost perfect—money, looks, family—that she was blind to the imperfections around her. Imelda is your average woman exemplified one thousand times.


M.P. Coloma


“Nailed” and “The Bontoc Eulogy”
I.
The first movie we watched was a documentary by a young Filipino-American woman. She had never been to the Philippines prior to the visit accounted in her documentary and was thoroughly moved by all the events she witnessed during the famous crucifixion re-enactments during Holy Week.
The documentary shows the director’s journey discovering the Filipino people’s faith. It centers on a woman named Lucy and her unique ability to heal and how she becomes taken over by allegedly the spirit of the Sto. Nino. Because of Lucy’s deep faith in her religion which is Catholicism and the belief that she was called to service by the Sto. Nino, Lucy continues to be crucified every year. This leads to the ethical question of what makes a “good believer” or “follower of faith?”
A subtitle in the documentary was “Ritual” and it was described as “blind faith.” Rituals are something commonly associated with fanatics or people who obsess over something. So I can see why it is called “blind faith”—they are done even without thinking of the reasons or consequences of the actions. I personally do not believe in religious rituals because I feel it is unethical and unnecessary in professing one’s faith.
From the documentary, it seems as though the Philippines has a idol-worshiping culture when it came to the predominant religion of Catholicism. Therefore, culture has a huge relevance on the Filipino people’s decision-making. To them, their decision to worship and give praise to a lady that claims to be embodied by the spirit of the Sto. Nino is ethically correct. There is confusion with being devoted and being a good follower.
There was a lot of symbolism in this documentary. In a number of scenes, a man can be seen coming from the ground and digging. It may be a metaphor for re-birth or a coming-out of man. He digs because even though he has become alive again, there is still something he searches for. In another scene, the narrator prays in front of an altar with religious relics on it as well as a small t.v. This is strong symbolism conveying the message that the media also plays a role in the actions of how people act even in their way of worshiping.

II.
The second documentary we watched entitled “The Bontoc Eulogy” chronicles the journey of one man’s great grandfather to the United States. It approaches the history of the native Filipinos through the eyes of a second generation and the compassion and sadness he has for what happened.
According to the narrator, “home is what you try to remember, not forget.” This shows he has difficulty trying to recall the events that shape what kind of person he is now. He also states “he who does not look back to where he came from will never reach his destination.” To find himself, he had to face his past head on even though it wasn’t easy for him to recall what had happened.
Native Filipinos lived in a sustenance environment. They were content with what they had and the resources that surrounded them. But, when foreigners came, they were enticed by empty promises of a better life and the promise of being able to see their families again. Many did not know what they were getting into. The choices they made, in their opinion were night right because they made the decision to go to the United States with their family in mind.

M.P.Coloma

Module 7 - Flor Contemplacion

The movie Flor Contemplacion is about a Filipina domestic worker in Singapore. This brings up the issue of having house help and is it ethical? Being a domestic worker is still a job. It is a job that is moral, and the income can provide for families. From the movie, we witnessed how some domestic workers were treated like servants and not humans. Too often does verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse result from domestic workers being placed under the supervision of bosses that see them as low class citizens.

Flor Contemplacion was a domestic worker abroad but when it came to her family, it seemed there was a time when they resented her. Her husband was upset that she was away but was fooling around with another woman. This showed very low respect for what she did. Her husband would not have had a mistress if he were dedicated to her as he claimed. The distance from her family definitely took a toll. Through the years, she slowly could not distinguish her twin boys from one another. This is a sacrifice many domestic workers face when going abroad. They give up “being a parent” so that they can “provide like a parent.” In my opinion, physically being there for the children is much more important than money. In difficult situations though, this decision is very hard and I can see why Filipinas choose to work abroad instead. They wish for a better future for their children as to not have them go through the same hardships they go through.

In the movie, Flor Contemplacion becomes good friends with many of the other Filipina domestic workers in Singapore. Her trouble came when she was at a fellow friend’s boss’s house dropping off some presents for her family. Her friend was the house help of a Singaporean family with a son who had seizures. Unfortunately, the child she was watching had a seizure while playing in water. From anger, her boss beat her to death. Not knowing what to do, the blame was placed on Flor Contemplacion because she was at the house that day.

The man responsible for killing the other woman was not ever charged for his crime. This shows how power and politics can have a greater weight that justice. Flor Contemplacion was a domestic worker—this automatically made people view her as someone low and not worth the effort of fighting for. The female representative at the Philippine Embassy made very little attempts to get her case to the media and to people in the Philippines to push the Singaporean people to do a retrial.

The reality that many people—not only Filipinos—are wrongfully accused of crimes they did not commit in circumstances they did not have much control over is really saddening. Ethically they shouldn’t be in those circumstances in the first place. The economic situation in the Philippines and places where domestic workers originate is a big factor why they go abroad. The home countries should make ways and policies to keep our good human resources back in the country and keep their expertise within the country.

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