Out of all the films we’ve watched this semester I would say that the Flor Contemplacion story is the toughest to write about, the main reason being it’s a true story. Whereas the other films are works of fiction based on social observations or documentaries about a certain time period, this film depicts the real life of a Filipino overseas worker. For this reason it is hard to critique and to distinguish between which are the actual facts and what are the director’s use of creative freedom.
Flor is an overseas worker in Singapore who is charged for the murder of a little boy and his nanny Delia Maga. The truth of the matter is that she was framed for this crime. The day the supposed “crime” took place, Flor visited Delia at her employer’s residence to give her “padala” or “send home presents” to Delia since she was about to go home to the Philippines. It is a common practice for Filipinos overseas to send some gifts to their family through a friend or relative who is coming back home. While Flor is conversing with Delia, the kid she was taking care of was taking a bath upstairs and accidentally drowned on a big water drum. Thinking the situation would get worse if her boss sees her there, Delia sends Flor home. Later we see the angered Singaporean father beat Delia up and throws her down the stairs killing her. Being a man of high stature with connections within the government, he puts the blame on Flor for killing the two people. However he told the true story to his brother who also had a Filipina maid. They didn’t expect her to understand Malay and she later on testified on what actually transpired that tragic day, relating what she overheard.
What is really frustrating and caused me anger is the way the Philippine embassy handled her case. They called her dumb just because she came from a poor class. They even suggested not doing anything. To me this is the most annoying part of all. It is one thing to not be able to help because you just can’t or you don’t have the ability to help. But for such an authority to take the low road just to get out of the hassle is plain heartless. If I were present the time they said that, I would’ve gave them a kick to the head just for mentioning it, then repeatedly kick them in the gut for having a rock for a heart.
Was the Philippines to blame for what happened to her? Yes. Both directly and indirectly. It is their fault for not handling her case to the best of their abilities from the start. Also, it is their fault for having her leave the country in the first place. She left because her work while in the Philippines is not enough to sustain her family. Doing the same amount of work in another country would earn her a lot more. She left not because the workload abroad is easier, in fact work is harder abroad. Overseas workers have to deal with cruel bosses and the hassle of expiring visas all the time. Either way, she is still a slave wherever she goes- whether she go abroad or stay home. She still has to work her body to the point of exhaustion to be able to feed her family.
Maids, factory workers, and entertainers are not the only ones who leave the country for better opportunities abroad. Nurses are one of the largest number of people who offer their services to foreigners and leave their country. With low salaries in the Philippines and a high demand abroad, a vast majority of college students are nursing majors. In this mix are also certified doctors who take up nursing because it is easier to get hired as a nurse than as a doctor. As a result not only do the best of the Philippines nurses depart the country but also a number of its doctors, further reducing the number of healthcare workers in an already undermanned medical field. This brain drain is one of the worse problems the Philippines is currently facing.
So what can the government do? How can they keep everybody from leaving to work overseas? It’s not like they want to leave, but circumstances force them to. This is tough to answer. With the current slow economy, misuse of government funding, and a large percentage of the annual national budget allocated to repay debt, there is little money left in the wallet to strengthen any field.
Perhaps the answer is to build the country back from scratch, but then again where can you find hardworking people to do the job? They’ve already left the building.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
REACTION TO THE MOVIE:FLOR CONTEMPLACION STORY A. Flores
Reality is the execution in 1995 of Flor Contemplacion, a Filipina OFW, led to a strained diplomatic crisis between Singapore and the Philippines. Three coffins a day all containing OFWs coming back to Manila is three to many. The movie made a good point of discussing the horror of OFW abuses as well as the sad sociological effect of parents not seeing their children for several years. Since the film has already achieved this point, I would like to elaborate on another point of view for situations of OFW. Although the OFW horror stories are what get senstionalized or what gets broadcasted - there are exceptions.
FAMILY FIRST
About a year ago, my mother mentioned to me, “Joy is going to New York.” Joy is a first-cousin from the Cagayan province who attended nursing school in Manila.
My mother has always made it known to the entire family that she “put Joy through school.” She was “making a speech” during our discussion that Joy is now able to send back money (remittances) to her family so that her family can be better off. This would be the same theme that ran throughout the movie. That theme would be of a family who “has” (income) supports those who “have none.” My mom concluded that she does not need to send my auntie (her sister) any more assistance and if any, the assistance should be now minimal.
I agreed with mom. However, I reminded my mom then that Joy first needed to pass the initial culture shock (assimilate) as well as get use to New York’s extreme weather conditions in order to fulfill her three year contract.
Just to ruffle my mom’s feathers, I asked her, “If all the nursing students from the Philippines left the country after graduation because of better opportunities (immigration pull), who is going to take care of the Filipinos back home?” As if a strong psychological barricade protected her from the ethical viewpoint of the question, she immediately dismissed the question and she went on to say, “Your cousin Nelson, the electrician, now has two homes in Vallejo [California]. I helped him become an electrician – I paid for his schooling too.” Afterwards, she went on to numerate the other relatives she assisted. She was proud of her “achievement.” I could honestly feel and see the pride that she was experiencing that moment. She did not want to understand or accept that brain drain was happening to the nagilian.
Schafer (2005) mentioned that this concept of brain drain “is the immigration to the United States of skilled workers, professional, and technicians … The pay differential is so great that by 2004, when foreign physicians were no longer favored with entry to the United State, physicians in the Philippines were retraining as nurses so that they could immigrate to the United States where, employed as a nurses, they would make four times what they would make as doctors in the Philippines.” (Schaeffer, 2005, 103)
This would include my sister in law who graduated as a Registered Nurse in the Philippines. After she arrived, someone suggested that she qualifies herself as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). After she became a CNA, she then acquired a license to become a Care Home Operator. This is all within three months after her arrival to Hawai`i. After two years as a Care Home Operator, she qualified to own a home in the Honolulu area. The price range of the home she purchased is unattainable for some of the people who immigrated years earlier than her who were not “skilled.” If she remained in the Philippines as an R.N., she probably would be better of than most of her neighbors – however, not as much income as she is making now.
My sister-in-law and her other Care Home Operator friends made a lucrative business for their skills. Using the income that they are earned from the Care Home business, some of her friends are purchasing other bigger properties to rent to other Care Home Operators (the property mortgage is being paid off from the rent). Of course, my sister-in-law, the former RN turned CNA are my children’s favorite aunty because of her “unbelievable” generosity.
However, some people who came to America on the “brain drain” concept (although still making more money here versus if they remained in the Philippines) had to step down in their status. I was speaking to a “white” physician (who I have known for a long time in one of our state funded medical facility) if he knew where Dr. “So And So’s” office was located. Initially I was informed that Dr. “So and So” was a Filipino MD. The “white” physician informed me that there was no Dr. “So and so,” however there was a “So And So” in the facility but not a Medical Doctor – to the best of my knowledge, I believe the “white” doctor referred to him as a “community counselor.” I informed the “white” physician that receptionist at the front (Filipino) referred to him as “Dr.”
The “white” physician then informed me that he may have been an MD in the Philippines but not in the U.S. Out of respect for him, the receptionist may still be referring to him as “Dr. So And So.”
Because of the benefits of immigration “pull” – some of the Filipinos gave up their status or titles in-lieu of more income. Others like Flor, left her family, to take care of another family gave up more than her family life – her entire life.
FAMILY FIRST
About a year ago, my mother mentioned to me, “Joy is going to New York.” Joy is a first-cousin from the Cagayan province who attended nursing school in Manila.
My mother has always made it known to the entire family that she “put Joy through school.” She was “making a speech” during our discussion that Joy is now able to send back money (remittances) to her family so that her family can be better off. This would be the same theme that ran throughout the movie. That theme would be of a family who “has” (income) supports those who “have none.” My mom concluded that she does not need to send my auntie (her sister) any more assistance and if any, the assistance should be now minimal.
I agreed with mom. However, I reminded my mom then that Joy first needed to pass the initial culture shock (assimilate) as well as get use to New York’s extreme weather conditions in order to fulfill her three year contract.
Just to ruffle my mom’s feathers, I asked her, “If all the nursing students from the Philippines left the country after graduation because of better opportunities (immigration pull), who is going to take care of the Filipinos back home?” As if a strong psychological barricade protected her from the ethical viewpoint of the question, she immediately dismissed the question and she went on to say, “Your cousin Nelson, the electrician, now has two homes in Vallejo [California]. I helped him become an electrician – I paid for his schooling too.” Afterwards, she went on to numerate the other relatives she assisted. She was proud of her “achievement.” I could honestly feel and see the pride that she was experiencing that moment. She did not want to understand or accept that brain drain was happening to the nagilian.
Schafer (2005) mentioned that this concept of brain drain “is the immigration to the United States of skilled workers, professional, and technicians … The pay differential is so great that by 2004, when foreign physicians were no longer favored with entry to the United State, physicians in the Philippines were retraining as nurses so that they could immigrate to the United States where, employed as a nurses, they would make four times what they would make as doctors in the Philippines.” (Schaeffer, 2005, 103)
This would include my sister in law who graduated as a Registered Nurse in the Philippines. After she arrived, someone suggested that she qualifies herself as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). After she became a CNA, she then acquired a license to become a Care Home Operator. This is all within three months after her arrival to Hawai`i. After two years as a Care Home Operator, she qualified to own a home in the Honolulu area. The price range of the home she purchased is unattainable for some of the people who immigrated years earlier than her who were not “skilled.” If she remained in the Philippines as an R.N., she probably would be better of than most of her neighbors – however, not as much income as she is making now.
My sister-in-law and her other Care Home Operator friends made a lucrative business for their skills. Using the income that they are earned from the Care Home business, some of her friends are purchasing other bigger properties to rent to other Care Home Operators (the property mortgage is being paid off from the rent). Of course, my sister-in-law, the former RN turned CNA are my children’s favorite aunty because of her “unbelievable” generosity.
However, some people who came to America on the “brain drain” concept (although still making more money here versus if they remained in the Philippines) had to step down in their status. I was speaking to a “white” physician (who I have known for a long time in one of our state funded medical facility) if he knew where Dr. “So And So’s” office was located. Initially I was informed that Dr. “So and So” was a Filipino MD. The “white” physician informed me that there was no Dr. “So and so,” however there was a “So And So” in the facility but not a Medical Doctor – to the best of my knowledge, I believe the “white” doctor referred to him as a “community counselor.” I informed the “white” physician that receptionist at the front (Filipino) referred to him as “Dr.”
The “white” physician then informed me that he may have been an MD in the Philippines but not in the U.S. Out of respect for him, the receptionist may still be referring to him as “Dr. So And So.”
Because of the benefits of immigration “pull” – some of the Filipinos gave up their status or titles in-lieu of more income. Others like Flor, left her family, to take care of another family gave up more than her family life – her entire life.
RESPONSE TO BATA, BATA PAANO KA GINAWA - A. Flores
Uncomfortable! That is my response to the movie. The reason for my choice of the word is that t he word does not suggest that I agree with the content of the movie nor I completely disagree with content of the movie. Reason why I am uncomfortable with the movie is because I am responding with using a frame that looks to protect a child’s security.
I am under the impression that as parents, once you bring another life into this world you are responsible for caring for that life. The parent loses all their rights. The child becomes the main focus of the parent – in a way the child becomes the tyrant king. All attention is now devoted to the child and the child gets what the child demands and what the child do not demand. As an example, the whole world stops when the child is sick. Parents burn the midnight oil to make sure that the child is safe throughout the night hoping the child successfully has another day - a chance to live life. In any culture, when a community, tribe, or a family is threatened by outsiders, it is immediately commanded to put the safety of the children first. Foremost reason for protecting the children is for the survival of the lineage – whether patrilineal or matrilineal.
So why was the sanctity for the security of the child diminished in the film, Bata, Bata Paano Ka Ginawa. Yes, I am uncomfortable that the female chose to put first her “wants” in-lieu of the children’s security. As a strong example of her misguided want: she chose to “throw away” her children to “any person” so she could have her carnal pleasures, her sexual desires, fulfilled. Is “self-fulfillment as your child is in danger” a virtue that we should now preach? Whether women, gays, heterosexual men, ninety-year-old transsexual – all have the right to be promiscuous if they chose to be. In fact, when the mother character asks a friend if a woman is a whore because she initiates sex – “I say no.” However, when a mother initiates sex in order to fulfill her carnal desire with no strings attached, while at the same time, the helpless children fend for themselves until she is done with the act – maybe then she becomes a whore.
And that is one way where the children’s security is threatened. Another obvious threat to the child’s security is obvious throughout the entire movie where the children argue who can access the most love from their “fathers.” Because of her desire to pursue her selfish goals, her independence, the children are permanently insecure – as fatherless. Over and over, the children’s security is thrown away. The implicit questions of the children: “Who should I turn to for security – which daddy?” “How much do you truly love me more than my other sibling?” “Since you are not married, can you leave any time without me?” The whole concept of liberation through self-fulfillment is a big mess – I can’t see any moral justification for her action of want of sex and forget the children. Again, what a mess!
When the woman mourner at the funeral wailed, “children do not need a father, but they can’t live without a mother” I argue that is old school thought. Male fathers, can do what was once exclusive duties for the females. With great electronical inventions, male-parents can bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan.
And speaking of mess, what is the justification of committing adultery to release their “unfinished relationship.” So they made a mess of things, they separated, they reunited, they brought together their mess, and to help alleviate their guilt of making a mess of things, they commit adultery. Legalities of marriages are not important to discuss. The man has promised himself to the now pregnant mate. He just ruined the future security of the just born child. The adulterer just complicated the newborn’s security. Self fulfillment now! Try to explain later to your child that you love them – but commit adultery anyway. And then you hope that they will believe there is still the virtue of honesty and trust in the family. That is summation of the movie.
Sexual liberation? I don’t get it. Feminism in this frame? Social distortion is more like it. I am always for Kant. In this case, I can’t find any reason to justify her actions of acting only in ways that respect self dignity and self-rights. Uncomfortable!
One quick note, Maya was a good actress – very young and talented.
I am under the impression that as parents, once you bring another life into this world you are responsible for caring for that life. The parent loses all their rights. The child becomes the main focus of the parent – in a way the child becomes the tyrant king. All attention is now devoted to the child and the child gets what the child demands and what the child do not demand. As an example, the whole world stops when the child is sick. Parents burn the midnight oil to make sure that the child is safe throughout the night hoping the child successfully has another day - a chance to live life. In any culture, when a community, tribe, or a family is threatened by outsiders, it is immediately commanded to put the safety of the children first. Foremost reason for protecting the children is for the survival of the lineage – whether patrilineal or matrilineal.
So why was the sanctity for the security of the child diminished in the film, Bata, Bata Paano Ka Ginawa. Yes, I am uncomfortable that the female chose to put first her “wants” in-lieu of the children’s security. As a strong example of her misguided want: she chose to “throw away” her children to “any person” so she could have her carnal pleasures, her sexual desires, fulfilled. Is “self-fulfillment as your child is in danger” a virtue that we should now preach? Whether women, gays, heterosexual men, ninety-year-old transsexual – all have the right to be promiscuous if they chose to be. In fact, when the mother character asks a friend if a woman is a whore because she initiates sex – “I say no.” However, when a mother initiates sex in order to fulfill her carnal desire with no strings attached, while at the same time, the helpless children fend for themselves until she is done with the act – maybe then she becomes a whore.
And that is one way where the children’s security is threatened. Another obvious threat to the child’s security is obvious throughout the entire movie where the children argue who can access the most love from their “fathers.” Because of her desire to pursue her selfish goals, her independence, the children are permanently insecure – as fatherless. Over and over, the children’s security is thrown away. The implicit questions of the children: “Who should I turn to for security – which daddy?” “How much do you truly love me more than my other sibling?” “Since you are not married, can you leave any time without me?” The whole concept of liberation through self-fulfillment is a big mess – I can’t see any moral justification for her action of want of sex and forget the children. Again, what a mess!
When the woman mourner at the funeral wailed, “children do not need a father, but they can’t live without a mother” I argue that is old school thought. Male fathers, can do what was once exclusive duties for the females. With great electronical inventions, male-parents can bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan.
And speaking of mess, what is the justification of committing adultery to release their “unfinished relationship.” So they made a mess of things, they separated, they reunited, they brought together their mess, and to help alleviate their guilt of making a mess of things, they commit adultery. Legalities of marriages are not important to discuss. The man has promised himself to the now pregnant mate. He just ruined the future security of the just born child. The adulterer just complicated the newborn’s security. Self fulfillment now! Try to explain later to your child that you love them – but commit adultery anyway. And then you hope that they will believe there is still the virtue of honesty and trust in the family. That is summation of the movie.
Sexual liberation? I don’t get it. Feminism in this frame? Social distortion is more like it. I am always for Kant. In this case, I can’t find any reason to justify her actions of acting only in ways that respect self dignity and self-rights. Uncomfortable!
One quick note, Maya was a good actress – very young and talented.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Imelda
Imelda/ Coup D’état
The movie Imelda is a very insightful look at the former first lady of the Philippines. The movie touches upon her rationale for her excessiveness in a country that is in dire need of an economic stimulus. Her wealth and beauty becomes her tool for obtaining things that she wants. Her personal reasoning’s for such antics are openly shared, and at many times these reasoning’s appear to be dysfunctional.
To me Imelda has Pretty Old Lady Syndrome a phenomena when older former beautiful women can captivate male and females to follow her every wish. To those that are vain they fall right into her trap. They see only her physical beauty instead of her true self.
This movie was my first insight on Imelda. I have seen her in pictures and in movie clips but never on a biography on Imelda. My first thought was that she was very pretty in her younger days. I also thought that she sang very well. But when she opened her mouth and spoke she was smart but conceded. She was too into herself and seemed to only know how to look good.
The one thing that stuck out in my mind was of the Center that she wanted constructed but was never fully built. This center was being built day and night 24 hours a day, Imelda wanted the project to be done fast. The problem was that everything was rushed, when things are rushed problems arise and sure enough a big accident happened. Men were buried alive by accident and left to die because Imelda wanted the project to be done. Instead of helping the men she instructed the workers to keep working. After this incident no one wanted to occupy the center. They believed the men’s spirit would haunt those occupying the Center.
I thought that this movie was good; I got to see what Imelda really was like. I got to see her excessiveness especially with her shoes. I never believed it till I actually seen a clip of her collection. Although many other Filipinos worship her till this day this film showed who Imelda and the Marcos’ really are.
James Funtanilla
The movie Imelda is a very insightful look at the former first lady of the Philippines. The movie touches upon her rationale for her excessiveness in a country that is in dire need of an economic stimulus. Her wealth and beauty becomes her tool for obtaining things that she wants. Her personal reasoning’s for such antics are openly shared, and at many times these reasoning’s appear to be dysfunctional.
To me Imelda has Pretty Old Lady Syndrome a phenomena when older former beautiful women can captivate male and females to follow her every wish. To those that are vain they fall right into her trap. They see only her physical beauty instead of her true self.
This movie was my first insight on Imelda. I have seen her in pictures and in movie clips but never on a biography on Imelda. My first thought was that she was very pretty in her younger days. I also thought that she sang very well. But when she opened her mouth and spoke she was smart but conceded. She was too into herself and seemed to only know how to look good.
The one thing that stuck out in my mind was of the Center that she wanted constructed but was never fully built. This center was being built day and night 24 hours a day, Imelda wanted the project to be done fast. The problem was that everything was rushed, when things are rushed problems arise and sure enough a big accident happened. Men were buried alive by accident and left to die because Imelda wanted the project to be done. Instead of helping the men she instructed the workers to keep working. After this incident no one wanted to occupy the center. They believed the men’s spirit would haunt those occupying the Center.
I thought that this movie was good; I got to see what Imelda really was like. I got to see her excessiveness especially with her shoes. I never believed it till I actually seen a clip of her collection. Although many other Filipinos worship her till this day this film showed who Imelda and the Marcos’ really are.
James Funtanilla
American Adobo
American Adobo
This movie was about the struggles and tribulations of a group of immigrant Filipino Americans who find themself longing to maintain their Filipinoness while trying to belong and become accepted into American society. Each character has very distinct and different views on lifestyle and life in general. However their one common thing is that they enjoy gathering together to have a Filipino meal every so often. This ritual of having dinner together is the only thing that connects them all with being Filipino and the Philippines. Although their lifestyles and perspectives differ they treat each other like family.
One of the men in this film is a struggling writer for a newspaper. Although his life might seem perfect it really isn’t. He has a family, a spoiled daughter, a son, and a very materialistic wife who exemplifies being colonized by the U.S. Because the wife has struck it big and has lots of money she doesn’t do anything but play cards. She doesn’t help with raising the kids and relies on the nanny to raise her own children while her husband is at work. IN the film this man decides to leave his family and pursue his dream in the Philippines, he soon realizes it is not the life for him and heads back to the U.S.
The second man is a playboy. He drives fast cars and chases beautiful women. Life is good for him until one of his one night stands writes him a letter saying that she is HIV positive. At this point his lifestyle and attitudes change. He is forced to get tested and reevaluates the way he lives and the kind of women he chases. In the end he changes for the better.
The third man is very successful in the U.S. Everything for him seems perfect, except his mother wants him to get married and have children. But he is gay. In the U.S. he is able to live his life without shame but with his Filipino friends and his mother he is forced to hide his true self. Not until his partner is near death because of AIDS he reveals not only to his friends but also his mother that he is gay. In the end he is able to show his true self knowing that people will or will not forgive him.
The first woman is also a very successful and powerful woman but she allows men to control her. She is used by her boyfriend and finally with the urging of others leaves him for good. Although she is powerful and strong in the business world, she settles for less when it comes to her love life. She sticks with the same man because she is not strong and believes she is vulnerable when in fact she is a strong woman.
The second woman seems like a saint/ nun. She is extremely religious and is the envy of the first woman because she can cook well, and is good at house making. (a virtue sought after by men) although she has all the virtues and potential of becoming a great wife she cannot seem does not seem to attract any men. For one she is still a virgin and two she isn’t at all very good looking. “She has what it takes but nothing to back it up.” Kind of like, “all the money in the world but no one to spend it on”.
This movie seems to good to be true, and it doesn’ represent any Filipino I know, for one we all aren’t Tagalog. Number two not everyone that comes from the Philippines have good jobs, they are usually low paying, and physically demanding jobs. This movie also seems to have some sort of dramatic turning point for each member of the group and it changes their life for good. In any society, not only Filipino society, we don’t have fairy tale endings.
If I were to make my own version/ ending of American Adobo the fist man would eventually marry the first woman. The second man would still be a playboy and maybe have HIV or do drugs. The third man would be unwanted by his mother and also would have contracted HIV from his boyfriend. Last but not least the second woman would still be an old hag.
James Funtanilla
This movie was about the struggles and tribulations of a group of immigrant Filipino Americans who find themself longing to maintain their Filipinoness while trying to belong and become accepted into American society. Each character has very distinct and different views on lifestyle and life in general. However their one common thing is that they enjoy gathering together to have a Filipino meal every so often. This ritual of having dinner together is the only thing that connects them all with being Filipino and the Philippines. Although their lifestyles and perspectives differ they treat each other like family.
One of the men in this film is a struggling writer for a newspaper. Although his life might seem perfect it really isn’t. He has a family, a spoiled daughter, a son, and a very materialistic wife who exemplifies being colonized by the U.S. Because the wife has struck it big and has lots of money she doesn’t do anything but play cards. She doesn’t help with raising the kids and relies on the nanny to raise her own children while her husband is at work. IN the film this man decides to leave his family and pursue his dream in the Philippines, he soon realizes it is not the life for him and heads back to the U.S.
The second man is a playboy. He drives fast cars and chases beautiful women. Life is good for him until one of his one night stands writes him a letter saying that she is HIV positive. At this point his lifestyle and attitudes change. He is forced to get tested and reevaluates the way he lives and the kind of women he chases. In the end he changes for the better.
The third man is very successful in the U.S. Everything for him seems perfect, except his mother wants him to get married and have children. But he is gay. In the U.S. he is able to live his life without shame but with his Filipino friends and his mother he is forced to hide his true self. Not until his partner is near death because of AIDS he reveals not only to his friends but also his mother that he is gay. In the end he is able to show his true self knowing that people will or will not forgive him.
The first woman is also a very successful and powerful woman but she allows men to control her. She is used by her boyfriend and finally with the urging of others leaves him for good. Although she is powerful and strong in the business world, she settles for less when it comes to her love life. She sticks with the same man because she is not strong and believes she is vulnerable when in fact she is a strong woman.
The second woman seems like a saint/ nun. She is extremely religious and is the envy of the first woman because she can cook well, and is good at house making. (a virtue sought after by men) although she has all the virtues and potential of becoming a great wife she cannot seem does not seem to attract any men. For one she is still a virgin and two she isn’t at all very good looking. “She has what it takes but nothing to back it up.” Kind of like, “all the money in the world but no one to spend it on”.
This movie seems to good to be true, and it doesn’ represent any Filipino I know, for one we all aren’t Tagalog. Number two not everyone that comes from the Philippines have good jobs, they are usually low paying, and physically demanding jobs. This movie also seems to have some sort of dramatic turning point for each member of the group and it changes their life for good. In any society, not only Filipino society, we don’t have fairy tale endings.
If I were to make my own version/ ending of American Adobo the fist man would eventually marry the first woman. The second man would still be a playboy and maybe have HIV or do drugs. The third man would be unwanted by his mother and also would have contracted HIV from his boyfriend. Last but not least the second woman would still be an old hag.
James Funtanilla
Santa Santita
Santa Santita
This movie is about a young girl, Malen, who takes her mother’s spot as a prayer woman. Malen begins the story as a troubled young woman who refuses to live the lifestyle that her mother wishes of her. While trying to sell her products, Malen meets a young man, a taxi driver, who she eventually runs away with. This young man also has issues from his past that he must deal with, but unlike Malen he is unable to run away from it. Malen is forced back home when she hears of her mother’s death, she is also forced to continue her mother’s work at the ………Church. At this church is a priest who is reassigned to the same church that Malen begins working at. The priest is reassigned to this specific church because he is a recovering alcoholic. The job that Malen's mother had was as a prayer woman, in this occupation people with problems would seek out individuals to pray for them, and hopefully ease their problems. After Malen’s mother dies, she resumes her mother’s job, at first many of the other women look down on her, because of her past. But as faith would have it, Malen is blessed with the touch of God’s Grace. She is able to heal everyone that she prays for. With the success that Malen is greeted with, she faces very big struggles with her bf/ ex-bf, the taxi driver. He reveals to her that he has a son that is very ill, although he is aware of Malen’s abilities to heal; he refuses for his son to be healed by her. Not until his son actually dies that he asks for Malen’s help, but it was too late. Malen’s gift is for healing, not bringing people back to life. Everyone is intertwined in the story because of their belief or non-belief in God. Malen believes in God’s work, while the priest although a servant of God, he is unable to control himself, and lastly the taxi driver who has lost faith in everything especially with the death of his son. In the end each individual miraculously reclaims God as their savior.
From my perspective the movie deals with life and death, the circle of life, and how everything will lead you to peace within. When I mention life and death I refer to the act of becoming re-born. Literally and figuratively, in this story you see the daughter of a prayer woman who becomes like her mother, not by choice but by chance. It was just by chance that Malen is the individual who was born of her mother. You cannot choose who and what your children will become but only guide them to be successful. The circle of life comes into play when, only after the mother has passed away does Malen realize the wrongs of her past. Also it is not until the death of the taxi driver’s son that he must face reality and get on with his life. The priest is reborn just like Jesus, when he realized and reemerged from his alcoholic past and into his bright future as the priest he is today. Without peace from within, each individual would have to battle their fears and demons of their past to overcome the odds. Each was able to become enlightened with the spirit of God, and not until then did they truly realize their potentials.
Personally I don’t think that paying someone to pray for your benefits would work, such as getting a job. You can’t pray for a job unless you work or try hard to get that job. In class, one of our classmates Vien made the comment that in her religion you cannot pray for something to happen but instead you, the individual must make it happen. I believe this is true, what you put into it is what you will get. However, I believe in praying for ones safety and asking for protection or a speedy recovery for those who are sick or injured. I’d love to believe that all you would need to do is pray for what you want and you will get it, but I know that this is all wishful thinking. Shit happens and you must deal with it, you can pray for help in dealing with your problems but you cannot pray to God that he/ she takes the problem away for you.
I thought that the movie was average, and very idealistic. This movie probably gives hope to those who are in need of guidance or reassurance. I think this movie is idealistic because everyone is saved by God or somehow touched by God that they lose all their faults. In real-life not everyone becomes saints. In some instances the movie tries to portray this by allowing Malen’s mother to die, the taxi driver’s son to die, and the priest to be an alcoholic. But in real-life once an alcoholic always and alcoholic, also Malen would probably still be in denial, and the taxi driver probably would be a man-whore or a pimp preying on innocent women. Possibly I could be looking at this whole movie from a pessimistic standpoint but as of right now I truly believe that shit happens and with that you must deal with it and try to make the most out of your shitty situation, or else fail and live life in despair.
James Funtanilla
This movie is about a young girl, Malen, who takes her mother’s spot as a prayer woman. Malen begins the story as a troubled young woman who refuses to live the lifestyle that her mother wishes of her. While trying to sell her products, Malen meets a young man, a taxi driver, who she eventually runs away with. This young man also has issues from his past that he must deal with, but unlike Malen he is unable to run away from it. Malen is forced back home when she hears of her mother’s death, she is also forced to continue her mother’s work at the ………Church. At this church is a priest who is reassigned to the same church that Malen begins working at. The priest is reassigned to this specific church because he is a recovering alcoholic. The job that Malen's mother had was as a prayer woman, in this occupation people with problems would seek out individuals to pray for them, and hopefully ease their problems. After Malen’s mother dies, she resumes her mother’s job, at first many of the other women look down on her, because of her past. But as faith would have it, Malen is blessed with the touch of God’s Grace. She is able to heal everyone that she prays for. With the success that Malen is greeted with, she faces very big struggles with her bf/ ex-bf, the taxi driver. He reveals to her that he has a son that is very ill, although he is aware of Malen’s abilities to heal; he refuses for his son to be healed by her. Not until his son actually dies that he asks for Malen’s help, but it was too late. Malen’s gift is for healing, not bringing people back to life. Everyone is intertwined in the story because of their belief or non-belief in God. Malen believes in God’s work, while the priest although a servant of God, he is unable to control himself, and lastly the taxi driver who has lost faith in everything especially with the death of his son. In the end each individual miraculously reclaims God as their savior.
From my perspective the movie deals with life and death, the circle of life, and how everything will lead you to peace within. When I mention life and death I refer to the act of becoming re-born. Literally and figuratively, in this story you see the daughter of a prayer woman who becomes like her mother, not by choice but by chance. It was just by chance that Malen is the individual who was born of her mother. You cannot choose who and what your children will become but only guide them to be successful. The circle of life comes into play when, only after the mother has passed away does Malen realize the wrongs of her past. Also it is not until the death of the taxi driver’s son that he must face reality and get on with his life. The priest is reborn just like Jesus, when he realized and reemerged from his alcoholic past and into his bright future as the priest he is today. Without peace from within, each individual would have to battle their fears and demons of their past to overcome the odds. Each was able to become enlightened with the spirit of God, and not until then did they truly realize their potentials.
Personally I don’t think that paying someone to pray for your benefits would work, such as getting a job. You can’t pray for a job unless you work or try hard to get that job. In class, one of our classmates Vien made the comment that in her religion you cannot pray for something to happen but instead you, the individual must make it happen. I believe this is true, what you put into it is what you will get. However, I believe in praying for ones safety and asking for protection or a speedy recovery for those who are sick or injured. I’d love to believe that all you would need to do is pray for what you want and you will get it, but I know that this is all wishful thinking. Shit happens and you must deal with it, you can pray for help in dealing with your problems but you cannot pray to God that he/ she takes the problem away for you.
I thought that the movie was average, and very idealistic. This movie probably gives hope to those who are in need of guidance or reassurance. I think this movie is idealistic because everyone is saved by God or somehow touched by God that they lose all their faults. In real-life not everyone becomes saints. In some instances the movie tries to portray this by allowing Malen’s mother to die, the taxi driver’s son to die, and the priest to be an alcoholic. But in real-life once an alcoholic always and alcoholic, also Malen would probably still be in denial, and the taxi driver probably would be a man-whore or a pimp preying on innocent women. Possibly I could be looking at this whole movie from a pessimistic standpoint but as of right now I truly believe that shit happens and with that you must deal with it and try to make the most out of your shitty situation, or else fail and live life in despair.
James Funtanilla
Dekada 70
Dekada 70
This movie is about a family, whose lives are changed by the declaration of martial law in the Philippines during the 1970’s. Martial law was declared by then president Ferdinand Marcos. The family consisted of five boys a mother and father, they are from an upper middle class neighborhood. The five boys are openly raised by their father, that males are superior to women. In this sense the mother is continuously being put down or degraded by the father, at one point in the movie the mother shows an interest in obtaining a job, not because they are struggling but because she wants to feel that her life is useful. All throughout the movie/ decade 1970 there are turning points in each of their lives. One of the five boys joins the U.S. military, while another son joins in with the protestors of martial law. It is not until one of the younger of the five brothers is killed that things begin to take shape. Each son, although raised to believe that they are superior to women, help shape and give hope to their mother for becoming an individual and working for what she desires. The family must also face being conspirers to overthrowing the government or help their brother with his cause against the Marcos Regime. The term “family” and what it stands for give us hope for something to strive for and emulate as individuals of our own personal families.
To me the main point of this movie was the importance of family and striving for something that you believe in. I find that in nearly every culture family is the basis of livelihood. Without family a society or culture cannot survive. In our day and age, family is something that people seem to so easily dismiss. They lose sight of what kind of importance they hold in shaping who we become as individuals. In the movie the family is raised as a tight knit group that seems to overcome obstacles together. With the loss of one brother they all seem to help cope with the situation. There was a point in the movie that the family had to hide one of the son and his comrade because they were hiding from government officials who were after them. At this time the son that they were trying to hide was already a high ranking official in the regime against Marcos. The family was faced with the dilemma of keeping their son safe from the government or turn him in, they chose to keep his location secret knowing well that they too could be imprisoned or killed. In this scene I think they really showed what family and unconditional love is about. No matter the situation of any family member, they still cared about each other and helped out.
What I also found in the movie was the representation of the one brother who was a soldier for the U.S. while another brother was a leader/ soldier in the guerilla group against Marcos. To me they both represented the U.S. and the Philippines. The father and mother represented the two sides of the Philippines, the father was the dictator, Marcos while the mother represented, the people/ community. At this time the U.S. and the Philippines had a mutual relationship as did the brothers. However, they were both still brothers and that bond couldn’t separate them apart. The two in their respective occupation may have represented many Filipino servicemen and Filipino activist still in the Philippines. In refrence to the father as the dictator, he ruled the family and didn’t allow the mother to do what she wanted to pursue. He held her down and didn’t allow her to expand. The mother was against all this and wanted a way out, she wanted her freedom just like the people of the Philippines. She was taught by her sons that you could achieve anything that you wanted to, you just had to fight for what you want. In the end I think she was able to achieve her goal by breaking away from her husband, the dictator and live her dream.
I thought that this move was good, although I didn’t live in that era I think I got a good picture of what it was like. The movie seemed to reflect the decriptions from readings in class about this time period. Unlike the many movies we watched about suppression of the peasant class, the movie portrayed the upper middle classed community and how they were also harassed and mistreated during the Martial Law era in the Philippines. This showed us the effects on people and their livelihood even if they had money. I think they should have done a follow-up film like Dekada 80 to let us know what it was like. But if they did do a Dekada 80 they should keep with the same family so we know where they wind up and what the future holds for them. For me this movie has got to be one of the better quality films, all around great. The editing, graphics, acting were good. Everything in the film was good, something that lacks in Philippine film. Either the film is aesthetically good with a sub-par theme or great theme but sub-par aesthetic quality. In all I recommend this film to others who need a look into what martial law in the Philippines was like. We read it but we don’t see it, this movie would really make a good impression on the younger generation Filipinos such as myself who look for quality films.
James Funtanilla
This movie is about a family, whose lives are changed by the declaration of martial law in the Philippines during the 1970’s. Martial law was declared by then president Ferdinand Marcos. The family consisted of five boys a mother and father, they are from an upper middle class neighborhood. The five boys are openly raised by their father, that males are superior to women. In this sense the mother is continuously being put down or degraded by the father, at one point in the movie the mother shows an interest in obtaining a job, not because they are struggling but because she wants to feel that her life is useful. All throughout the movie/ decade 1970 there are turning points in each of their lives. One of the five boys joins the U.S. military, while another son joins in with the protestors of martial law. It is not until one of the younger of the five brothers is killed that things begin to take shape. Each son, although raised to believe that they are superior to women, help shape and give hope to their mother for becoming an individual and working for what she desires. The family must also face being conspirers to overthrowing the government or help their brother with his cause against the Marcos Regime. The term “family” and what it stands for give us hope for something to strive for and emulate as individuals of our own personal families.
To me the main point of this movie was the importance of family and striving for something that you believe in. I find that in nearly every culture family is the basis of livelihood. Without family a society or culture cannot survive. In our day and age, family is something that people seem to so easily dismiss. They lose sight of what kind of importance they hold in shaping who we become as individuals. In the movie the family is raised as a tight knit group that seems to overcome obstacles together. With the loss of one brother they all seem to help cope with the situation. There was a point in the movie that the family had to hide one of the son and his comrade because they were hiding from government officials who were after them. At this time the son that they were trying to hide was already a high ranking official in the regime against Marcos. The family was faced with the dilemma of keeping their son safe from the government or turn him in, they chose to keep his location secret knowing well that they too could be imprisoned or killed. In this scene I think they really showed what family and unconditional love is about. No matter the situation of any family member, they still cared about each other and helped out.
What I also found in the movie was the representation of the one brother who was a soldier for the U.S. while another brother was a leader/ soldier in the guerilla group against Marcos. To me they both represented the U.S. and the Philippines. The father and mother represented the two sides of the Philippines, the father was the dictator, Marcos while the mother represented, the people/ community. At this time the U.S. and the Philippines had a mutual relationship as did the brothers. However, they were both still brothers and that bond couldn’t separate them apart. The two in their respective occupation may have represented many Filipino servicemen and Filipino activist still in the Philippines. In refrence to the father as the dictator, he ruled the family and didn’t allow the mother to do what she wanted to pursue. He held her down and didn’t allow her to expand. The mother was against all this and wanted a way out, she wanted her freedom just like the people of the Philippines. She was taught by her sons that you could achieve anything that you wanted to, you just had to fight for what you want. In the end I think she was able to achieve her goal by breaking away from her husband, the dictator and live her dream.
I thought that this move was good, although I didn’t live in that era I think I got a good picture of what it was like. The movie seemed to reflect the decriptions from readings in class about this time period. Unlike the many movies we watched about suppression of the peasant class, the movie portrayed the upper middle classed community and how they were also harassed and mistreated during the Martial Law era in the Philippines. This showed us the effects on people and their livelihood even if they had money. I think they should have done a follow-up film like Dekada 80 to let us know what it was like. But if they did do a Dekada 80 they should keep with the same family so we know where they wind up and what the future holds for them. For me this movie has got to be one of the better quality films, all around great. The editing, graphics, acting were good. Everything in the film was good, something that lacks in Philippine film. Either the film is aesthetically good with a sub-par theme or great theme but sub-par aesthetic quality. In all I recommend this film to others who need a look into what martial law in the Philippines was like. We read it but we don’t see it, this movie would really make a good impression on the younger generation Filipinos such as myself who look for quality films.
James Funtanilla
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