Juan Republic

This is a personal blog where rants, raves, and everything in between is written and posted. About the Blogger: His name is Juan, a frustrated writer who hails from a sauna town at the foot of Mount Makiling. He spends his being an overworked and underpaid High School Teacher who is trying to make a difference, one post at a time. nuffnang_bid = "c4cc94f5bfd6192bb532dd7b7f7a23b7"; document.write( "

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1,431 posts

[juanrepublic]

The Purge: Pinoy Edition

Isa akong Guro sa Senior High School at nagtuturo ng Introduction to Ethics sa mga mag-aaral sa Grade 11. Sa subject na ito’y madalas naming pag-usapan ang mga batas, karapatang tao, moralidad, at iba pang mga usapin na may kinalaman sa pagiging tao ng isang tao, kung anu-ano ang naghihiwalay sa kanya sa ibang nilalang.

Minsan habang inihahanda ko ang aking klase sa paksa ng Law and Freedom, nagkaroon kami ng preliminary activity kung saan ay magsasabi sila ng mga bagay na dapat ay mayroon ang isang tao, particularly silang mga teenagers, para masabing sila ay tunay na malaya. May mga matatalinong sagot at may mga kakatuwa din. Ngunit mas nagmarka sa akin ang mga sagot na kung hindi gagabayan ay magkakaroon ng masamang implikasyon at epekto sa kanilang mga pananaw:

May mga nagsabing dapat ay wala na raw mga patakaran at batas sa paaralan katulad ng wastong uniporme at maaaring lumabas ang isang estudyante sa campus anumang oras ang kanyang gustuhin. Sa madali’t sabi ay mas gugustuhin nila na gawin kung ano ang kanilang nais dahil dito sila mas magiging masaya. Dahil dito sila mas malaya. Na ang kalayaan ay ang paggawa ng anuman ang gustong gawin.

Isang napakadelikadong pag-iisip.

Natural na pasaway ang mga kabataan. Halos lahat naman siguro sa atin ay dumaan sa “phase” kung saan ay sakit ng ulo tayo ng ating mga magulang – dahil ayaw nating sumunod sa kanilang mga tagubilin, pangaral, at itinakdang mga patakaran. Bakit nga ba kailangan pa ng batas? Hindi ba nililimitahan ng batas ang kalayaan? Hindi ba may kontradiksyon ang Law at Freedom?

Isa sa mga paborito kong halimbawa kapag ganito ang aming paksa sa silid-aralan ay ang pelikulang The Purge. Sa istorya ng pelikulang ito, taon-taon ay may kalayaan ang mga mamamayan sa loob ng 12 oras na gawin ang gusto nilang gawin – kahit ang pagpatay. Ito ay kapalit ng isang buong taon na payapa at walang krimen. Walang emergency personnel o Gobyerno ang tutulong sa iyo. Walang batas na umiiral. Malaya ang lahat sa gusto nilang gawin.

Isang napakalaking kabalintunaan sapagkat ang batas dapat ang nagpo-protekta sa ating kalayaan.

Mainit pa ring usapin ang extrajudicial killings (EJK) o ang pagpaslang sa mga (pinaghihinalaang) nagkasala sa batas na walang nakamit na patas na paglilitis o kahit anumang prosesong legal. “Extra Iustitia” sa salitang Latin na ang ibig sabihin ay “outside justice”. Walang hustisyang umiiral. Parang sa pelikula lang na The Purge. Ganoong kasimple. Kaso hindi ito pelikula. Nangyari at patuoy na nangyayari ito sa tunay na buhay.

Sapat bang dahilan na bilang kapalit ng katahimikan, kaayusan, at kapayapaan sa lipunan ay patayin na lamang nang walang pakundangan ang mga (inakusahang) nagkasala? Hindi ba’t isang napakalaking pag-uuyam na para mabawasan ang krimen ay gagawa pa ng isang krimen? Tama nga ang isang akda na nabasa ko noon: sa pagpatay sa mga pumapatay ay hindi nababawasana ang bilang ng mga pumapatay.

Bilang Guro na nagtuturo ng Ethics sa mga kabataan, pilit kong ipinapaintindi sa aking mga estudyante ang dignidad ng bawat tao sapagkat lahat tayo ay may buhay, lahat ay may Human Rights – kriminal ka man o biktima, mayaman man o mahirap, babae man o lalaki. Walang itong pinipili at walang diskriminasyon.

“Every Saint has a past, every sinner has a future”, ika nga. Tunay nga naman. Si San Pablo (na may-akda ng karamihan sa mga Kasulatan sa Banal na Aklat) ay si Saul na umuusig at pumapatay sa mga Kristiyano bago nakilala si Kristo. Si San Agustin (na isa sa mga Dakilang Pantas ng Simbahan) ay babaero, lasenggero, sugarol, at sakit ng ulo ng kaniyang ina na si Santa Monica bago nagbago matapos marinig ang sermon ni San Ambrosio.

Isipin mo na lang kung hindi sila binigyan ng pagkakataong magbago, nabago din kaya nila ang takbo ng mundo?

May karapatan tayong mabuhay at habang nabubuhay, may karapatan ang isang taong magbago. Bilang isang Historical Being, ang istorya ng isang tao ay hindi nagtatapos sa kung ano siya noong nakaraan at ano siya ngayon – dahil meron pa siyang kinabukasan.

At ang mga katotohanan na ito ang nagbibigay kahulugan sa pagiging tao nating mga tao. Dahil kung hindi ay ibababa natin ang ating sarili sa lebel ng mga hayop.

Sa lebel ng mga nagpapatayan nang walang pakundangan. Katulad ng mga karakter sa pelikulang The Purge.

[juanrepublic]

Narito na ang isang straightforward na review ng STRAWBERRY FRIES ng Jollibee. Here we go: (Disclaimer muna: Hindi talaga ako 'strawberry person'. Sure, I eat strawberries at ilang strawberry-flavored foods pero hindi para i-crave na parang buntis na naghahanap ng manggang hilaw sa hatinggabi. Okay, here we go.) 1. May ilan talagang misteryo ng Cosmos na hindi natin maintindihan: Can we travel faster than the speed of light? Bakit hindi ka crush ng crush mo? Bakit hindi pa natatapos ang Ang Probinsyano? At ngayon, BAKIT GUMAWA ANG JOLLIBEE NG STRAWBERRY FRIES?! 2. To be fair, okay naman ang strawberries e. Strawberry jam at preserves galing Baguio? Check. Strawberry-flavored pretzels at ice creams? Check. Yogurt na strawberry? Sige na nga. Frappe? Nakakasuka minsan pero sige. Pero fries? FRIES? Bakit? Are you stoned? 3. Nagsimula siguro to sa R&D Department. May isang eccentric na researcher na nagsawsaw ng Jolly Crispy Fries (na masarap on its own, sorry McDo) sa strawberry jam from Baguio na pasalubong ng officemate niya at sinabing "Uy! Masarap to ah?". 4. Hindi lahat ng masarap sa isang tao ay masarap na para sa lahat. Also, not because you can does it mean you should. 5. Anong lasa? Familiar ba kayo doon sa 'Monami' candy? Yung strawberry and cream? Ganun. Tunawin niyo sa bibig niyo sabay luwa. Tapos doon niyo isawsaw yung fries. Okay, bad analogy but you get the idea. Matamis na strawberry flavor (as expected) pero may after-taste na medyo maalat (dahil sa fries siguro). 6. On a personal level, hindi ko nagustuhan. To be honest, sumama ang pakiramdam ko at muntik na akong sumuka. Hindi ako gutom lang dahil kakakain ko lang ng Jolly Spaghetti at Burger Steak. 7. Pero siguro, kung adik ka sa strawberry, baka magustuhan mo. Again, it's not for everyone and go back to my disclaimer at the beginning. 8. I have to cleanse my palate after eating this (hindi ko naubos, ibinigay ko kay Ermats) by eating catsup and gravy. Sabay lagok ng Coke. 9. Babalik pa ba ako sa Jollibee? Opkors. A pail of filth does not make ocean dirty. Naks. Shet nag-crave tuloy ako ng Amazing Aloha. (1 Star out of 5 dahil #NeverAgain at #NeverForget)

[juanrepublic]

Sinubukan ko ying Bingsu ng BonChon. From someone na sanay lang sa halo-halo at sorbetes at walang idea kung ano to, narito ang aking "Sa Panlasa ng Jologs" food review: 1. Ang first impression ko ay "Uy! Ang ganda ng presentation. Instagram worthy!". Sulit yung halos 15 minutes na pinaghintay ko (more of that later). 2. And then, reality hit me in the face. "Uy, bakit ang nipis nung chocolate powder at bakit kakaunti lang ang ice cream?". It was followed by "Uy ano tong nasa baba? Shaved ice?". Sabi naman sa inyo wala akong idea kung ano to eh. Haha! 3. Tapos siyempre, di ko alam kung paano kakainin. Haha! Dapat ba isang scoop hanggang baba? Yung ibabaw ba muna? Bakit walang lasa yung ice? (Talino mo, John Emmanuel) Dapat bang haluin? Medyo conscious ako kanina kasi I have this feeling na people were judging me kung paano ko yun kainin. Haha! 4. In fairness sa yelo, sobrang pino. Ganun ba ang snow? Wala akong idea e. Akala ko nga ay desiccated coconut. Haha! Kaya pala matagal bago i-serve - mukhang nag-import pa sa North of the Wall at pinatakbo pa si Gendry. 5. Masarap ba? Tama lang. Sakto lang. Again, perstaym kong makatikim at mukhang mas masarap yung ibang flavors. Saka ko na huhusgahan kasi may bias ako sa chocolate at sa brownies. Haha. Wala munang stars kasi legit na natatawa talaga ako kanina habang kumakain. Haha! (at Centro Mall)

[juanrepublic]

Pinoy Alternate History (Part 6)

It’s the time of the year again when history meets crazy.

For six (6) straight years, I have been joining RocketKapre.com’s Twitter discussion/trend/story telling about alternate Filipino history. By means of the hashtag #RP612fic, Twitter users shared their tweet-length stories about our country’s alternative history and realist micro fiction.

I decided to collate and post my #RP612fic tweets here in my blog because eventually, these stories will be covered with other stories, opinion, and whatnots on my timeline. I would like to preserve these precious tweets and let it reach a wider audience through Juan Republic.

The men behind La Solidaridad and La Independencia were dubbed as "Presstitutes" after writing against the Spanish Government.

A Spanish sympathizer named Margarita Uson tried to discredit them by writing fake news in her own paper, La Mocha.

"I may not live to see our glory but I will gladly join the fight.."  - The Katipuneros singing in Pugad Lawin

"Adolf, I'm your father. It ia useless to resist. Search your feelings you know it to be true.." - Jose Rizal, probably

"Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was captured in Palanan, Isabela after Sen. Leila De Lima gave orders to the Macabebes" - DOJ Sec. Aguirre

Name a sexier, MOMOL song than "Versace on the Floor", I'll wait. Ferdinand Marcos: "Pamulinawen" *Dovie Beams approves.."

President Aguinaldo did not attend the proclamation of independence in Kawit in 1898 because he only had 2-3 hours of sleep.

On the day of Andres Bonifacio's "Witness" album release, Emilio Aguinaldo decided to re-release his entire catalogue on Spotify

Melchora "Tandang Sora" Aquino was bashed online for helping the Katipuneros in Marawi. They said it was a mere publicity stunt.

The ghost of Apo Macoy possessed. Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano and proposed - again - to rename the Philippines.

Asec. Mocha Uson proposed to rename the Philippines "Mahalaya" based on 1. Our Malay ancestry 2. Freedom 3. Her core values.

A recently rediscovered document in Rizal Shrine in Calamba shows an unpublished poem by Pepe entitled "Sa Aking mga Momshies".

"Iwawagayway natin ang bandila sa ika-12 ng Hunyo sa Kawit.."  "Ngunit, yan ay bandila ng Espanya?"  "Simbolismo! Gago!"

"Heneral, nakakuha po kami ng armas na tiyak na makakapagpapanalo sa atin laban sa mga Kastila." *sabay abot ng Nerf Gun*

Battle cry of the Katipuneros to make the Spaniards go crazy:  "Doobidoobi dapdap..doobidoobi dipdip. Bee-bee-beep beep beep”

Jose Rizal, returning to Manila after his exile in Dapitan: "Ibig mong sabihin, hindi pa tapos ang FPJ's Ang Probinsyano?"

The year was 2022. Senator Mocha Uson received the National Artist Award for Dance (Mocha Girls) and Literature (Mocha Uson Blog).

"Gabi-gabi po kaming nanood ng Balagtasan pero wala naman kaming nakikitang patayan" - M. Uson, Instituto de Mujeres, 1924

Padre Damaso, on a visiting time traveler from the future: "Hindi na inihahain ang Tinola sa mga espesyal na okasyon? Buti naman!"

Nagwala si Padre Damaso nang ihain sa kanya ang wing part ng Chickenjoy. Ilang araw na siyang nag-ce-crave ng thigh part.

Before, we had Sun Tzu's Art of War as our guide in the battlefield. Now, we just need to watch the reruns of Ang Probinsyano.

"Either you die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the next Juan Ponce Enrile." - Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight

This year’s entries surpassed my previous years in numbers. But honestly, I was a bit disappointed. This was just my observation but most of the entries were copy-pasted from other sources. Gone are the days of creativity and originality. They probably don’t even know that this was started by RocketKapre.com. Or maybe, just maybe, the original and creative entries were not that visible. (Damn that Twitter algorithm!)

It has been repeatedly said there are no ifs in history. We cannot dwell on the past and try to change it. But we can always learn from its lessons. But we can always use our imagination and think of a good and creative historical fiction. And have a good laugh.

Mabuhay ang Kalayaan! Padayon!

Pinoy Alternate History (Part 1) - My #RP612Fic tweets last 2012 - inspired by pop culture, television shows, and conspiracy theories.

Pinoy Alternate History (Part 2) - My #RP612Fic tweets last 2013 - inspired by pop culture, Game of Thrones, and conspiracy theories.

Pinoy Alternate History (Part 3) - My #RP612Fic tweets last 2014 - inspired by pop culture, the Marcos sex scandal, politics, and conspiracy theories.

Pinoy Alternate History (Part 4) - My #RP612fFc tweets last 2015

Pinoy Alternate History (Part 5) - My #RP612Fic tweets last 2016

[juanrepublic]

Myosotidium

“What are your hobbies?”, she asked me.

“I write”, I told her with my signature smirk, “I watch movies and TV series, I play the piano, guitar, ukulele, and drums. But I write most of the time”

“I would be happy to read some of your works one of these days.” She smiled as we bump two bottles of ale, while I Wrote My Out from the Hamilton Mixtape plays on the background.

______

Yes, I write. Or I used to. It has been years now since I last wrote a decent entry in my blog. Most of the entries in my blog were copy pasted from Facebook, usually long statuses and my two cents on the movies that I have seen. I may have some articles written and saved on MS Word but most of them are unfinished and I can’t seem to find my mojo to finish them.

I even doubt that my students and colleagues know that I write and I used to be active in my blog, Juan Republic, with more than 35,000 followers.

Perhaps my work as a teacher has taken its toll in my old, er, writer-self.

Earlier this morning, out of boredom, I grabbed my copy of Gerry Alanguilan’s critically-acclaimed graphic novel Elmer. Even though I have repeatedly read and finished that seminal comic book, I still browse and admire its way of telling a story. Perhaps to get an inspiration from chickens.

Yes, chickens. Rational chickens.

And then it came to me. On one part of the story, Elmer Gallo wrote in his diary that one should write because it is important not to forget. That message inspired his son, Jake Gallo, to write a book about the story of his father and the story of how chickens fought for their rights and equality.

It is important not to forget. Back when I was still in School, I used to keep a journal. I wrote there my reflections, dreams, and even those one-paragraph ideas that would eventually be the basis of my full-length article, short story, and other things that are worth writing and publishing (for our school publication, at least).

I had ideas, great ideas. Or to borrow Jake Gallo’s lines, “great ideas that would make great movies.” But they eventually lost just because I forgot it. Because I did not write it. Because I just let them slip past my consciousness.

Sayang naman.

I don’t want to make a promise to myself, or to my blog, or to you, whoever you are who stumbled upon this note, that I would start writing more regularly. I believe that is a slow process of recovery, of getting used to it, of making it a habit.

But for now, write. Write even the smallest things. Write even the craziest one-liners. Write on any medium - on a piece of paper, at the back of the receipt, or at the calendar hanging on your wall.

Write as if no one will read your work. Write for yourself. Write for the universe. Screw your readers. You don’t owe them anything yet.

Write.

Because it is important not to forget.

_________

I look forward to the last days of March (not just because of the sought-after summer vacation, but it is a factor) because it gives me another excuse to oil my rusted gear, wear my writer’s hat, and write about what I learned from the past academic year.

Yes, a deadline and a necessary requirement is enough motivation for me to write – just like the old days of my blog when I hurriedly write a political and social opinion on a hot, current issue before everybody else does.

Enough with the excuses. Here are some of the things I learned from the past year:

1. This is a confession. I admit that when I was at school, when I was the age of my students, I used to despise some of my teachers – especially those who do not teach well. And now that I am a teacher for almost five years, I see my old self with some of my students. And I find it amusing, entertaining, and inspiring. I think that is the secret on understanding our students – by putting ourselves in their shoes. Empathy, if you may call it. Or metaphysical and psycho-emotional transcendence.

I love students who challenge their teachers, who are not afraid to speak up and ask questions. And I am thankful that this school year, I already found some and they are also the reasons why I won’t leave this institution after this school year. I love challenges. And I love to speak with intelligent and brave students.

2. Fight for what you think is right, not for yourself, but for the future generation and the younger ones who look up to you. Even before I became a teacher, I consider myself as a Political Animal. Or a Political Junkie. My conversation with close friends (outside the school, unfortunately) usually ranges from pop culture to politics. But mostly politics. When Ferdinand Marcos was secretly and hurriedly buried at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani, I, together with thousands who know their history, made a statement on social media and made our presence felt.

I even related my examination in Religion about the sacrament of confession and forgiveness in the issue of Martial Law and the Marcos Burial. That’s what I call inclusive learning. Education is being dynamic, being social, being involved.

I may not be a Social Studies teacher (though how I wish I was, given my passion for History and Political Science) but I think it is my responsibility as a teacher – regardless of the subject that I teach – to teach my students proper history, justice, and patriotism based on facts and not idolatry of a particular leader.

And I will continue to do it as long as I teach and inspire the younger generation.

3. Rest, if you must, but don’t quit. Being a teacher is exhausting – from teaching for 8 straight hours inside the classroom plus paperworks and other stuff. We are even called the modern-day martyrs. And sometimes, the thought of leaving this profession for good or just being a Patama teacher who doesn’t even go inside the classroom and teach crossed my mind.

But then I thought of my students, I thought of the young ones who are looking up to me as their teacher and their inspiration. So I decided to carry on. I think the secret of this craft is to use our time wisely (which, I am glad my 8-year stint in the Seminary has taught me), to balance work and other stuff, and to look at the students as an inspiration on everything that we do. At the end of the day, all things will zero in to our students. I vowed to teach them, to be an inspiration, to share my knowledge, talents and skills, to be of service. And that is one hell of a big responsibility.

Who am I to give up and leave the future of the Patria Adorada hanging in mid-air?

4. Pursue your passion. When the Priests asked me to undergo the regency program, I told myself that I will continue to do the thing that I always like – to write, to talk, and to inspire young people. This profession, or shall I say, this vocation is not financially rewarding. I may not get rich by teaching but this dictum has been my mantra for some time now: Choose the job that you want and you don’t have to work for the rest of your life. If I work just for the money, I have long abandoned this institution (sa liit ba naman ng suweldo ko dito). But life is all about happiness, and as long as I am happy with what I am doing, I will still stay on the same ship.

5. The Philosopher Heraclitus once said, “You could not step twice into the same rivers; for other waters are ever flowing on to you.”. Change is inevitable. It is constant. And we must learn to adapt to it.

Life is a constant flux. We welcomed this school year with a new Principal who brought radical change to this Institution. He proposed a 360-degree turn on the usual ways and means of this school. I admit, I was the first who opposed his Gender Section act but then, as I have repeatedly say in the past months, I see the wisdom and improvement in the performance of our students.

If that is what change is all about, if all of them will be to save and uplift this once-respected but slowly-dying Institution, count me in. I am more than willing to give everything.

6. Thank God for everything. This school year has been a blessing for me in all aspects. And I thank the Lord for giving me an opportunity to stay on the institution and to continue to be of service to the young generation.

________________

These are just some of the stories, some of the things that happened this past year that are worth telling. Why write anyway?

Someday, all of these would be replaced with new memories, with new challenges, with new stories that are equally worth telling. We write things to preserve memories. We write things for the future.

But sometimes, just like this, we write just to express ourselves.

And because I do not want to forget.

[juanrepublic]

A Few Thoughts on “I'M DRUNK, I LOVE YOU” (JP Habac, 2017)

1. This movie hits right at home, as if speaking to me in a personal level. It contains two of the things that I love the most - good booze and good music. Almost 80% of the movie involves drinking, which is relatively the same percentage of what I do during my free time. Or so I thought. Also, it is packed with great music from talented Filipino artists like Ang Bandang Shirley, Cynthia Alexander, Bullet Dumas, Johnoy Danao, Parokya ni Edgar, and Ebe Freaking Dancel! We'll get more of that later.

2. I'm claiming this: This is the best performance of Maja Salvador in a movie, a full 360-degree turn from her laughable role in One More Chance. The way she portrayed her character Carson was a natural and a very convincing, er, drunk Iska who fell into the Friendzone Realm. Paulo Avelino? He's a great, versatile actor. You can't argue with that. He fits perfectly for the role, though, what surprised me is how convincing he is as a musician and a film student. Dominic Roco was downright hilarious as Jason Ty, Carson's BFF. Though some of my friends would dismiss his acting as "OA", I think he candidly provided the much-needed humor in this painful movie. Jasmine Curtis-Smith as Pathy (with an "H") provides balance to the wacky, unholy trinity of Dio, Carson, and Jason Ty.

3. In a dialogue-heavy movie like this, the script plays a vital role in delivering a good story. You have to give it to the writer(s) for making the lines natural, smart, funny, relatable, and towards the end, painful. You add up good music (with equally, great lyrics) to pair up with the lines and you come up with a masterpiece. (Side note: Suddenly, "graduation" has a new connotation. Hay.)

4. Let's talk about the music. As mentioned above, this contains some of the best songs from Filipino artists. Even before I saw the movie, I was already playing "Lloydy" on loop on Spotify (I even made a cover of the song twice). Hearing Ang Bandang Shirley's "Tama na ang Drama" made me want to play it repeatedly inside the car. I almost screamed when I heard the intro of Cynthia Alexander's "No Umbrella" (though, I just sang inside the theater, haha!). But the best song in the movie? Of course, the version of "Burnout" by Danao, Dancel, and Dumas. What a fitting end for a wasak movie like this.

5. I seriously craved for beer, bagnet, and butter balls after watching this. Why you do this to us?

6. Bonus feature: This includes the short film "Anghelito", a spin-off to the widely-successful "Heneral Luna". If that doesn't get you hyped for Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral next year, aside from Paulo Avelino (duh), I don't know what would.

7. Another bonus feature: The trailers of the upcoming movies mostly from TBA (Tuko, ButchiBoy, Artiko Uno) Productions. I fucking smiled from ear to ear (pun intended) when I saw the trailer of "Smaller and Smaller Circles"! Fast forward to that movie please!

(5 Stars for being brutally drunk, honest, and painful)

[juanrepublic]

A Few Thoughts on HACKSAW RIDGE (Mel Gibson, 2016)

1. This is a story of Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector during the second world war who enlisted in the military but refused to carry or use firearms or weapons of any kind. The movie is dubbed as "One of the greatest heroes in American history never fired a bullet". If you would look at a broader perspective, this is the perfect commentary and a huge slap in the face against the fucked up gun ownership laws in the United States. And the culture of violence that is slowly killing our humanity, our country the Philippines included.

2. I grew up with a father and a grandfather who both love war-themed movies so, it is quite obvious that I developed the same love at an early age. When I first saw Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan a few years ago, I easily told myself that that was my favorite World War 2 movie in terms of a realistic portrayal of the horrors and violence of war. Until I saw David Ayer's Fury last year, which for me, was the most human and truthful depiction of the atrocities of the second world war. But then, I saw Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge and it changed everything.

3. What made this movie stand out among others, in my opinion, is how the fight scenes were choreographed and how they were shot with great camera angles. I can name few battle scenes from recent memory who stood up above the usual - Colin Firth's fight scene inside the Church in Kingsman: The Secret Service, the opening sequence of The Revenant Movie by Alejandro González Iñárritu, and the much-lauded 'Battle of the Bastards' episode of Game of Thrones last year. Mel Gibson did not disappoint in showing us the realistic and bloody depiction of the Battle of Okinawa. Give the old man his Oscar!

4. Let's talk about Andrew Garfield: He was absolutely great in this movie! Forget about him being Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network or the doomed-to-fail Peter Parker in The Amazing SpiderMan. He was Desmond Doss and he fucking nailed the portrayal of the real-life American hero. Is he deserving of an Oscar for Best Actor? Yes, much better than Ryan Gosling.

5. Bonus: The end-credits show a montage of footage and interviews of the real-life Desmond Doss and it hit right in the feels.

(5 Stars for being my bet at the Oscars!)

[juanrepublic]

A Few Thoughts on ‘APOCALYPSE CHILD’ (Mario Cornejo, 2015)

1. I often hear my friends rave about this movie, be it on their posts on social media or over drunken conversations with our favorite potion. Some of them have seen the movie more than once. "You have to see it twice", they would often say, "to fully appreciate and understand the movie". I had the chance to see the movie last night here in UPLB but prior to that, I did not watch the trailer (or any other clips) on purpose, not even the infectious and much-praised song by Armi Millare. I want the movie to surprise me, without having any idea on what to expect (I've had enough of disappointing movies, thank you very much). As I left the auditorium after the credits rolled and the lights were lit, I was satisfied that I made the right decision.

2. The plot of the film is simple. Actually, there isn't much to it. But the film's apocryphal stories about Baler (Filipinas providing food and information to their Spanish soldier boyfriends during the siege at the Church of Baler; how seven families survived a tsunami and built a shelter far from the shore; and how in the 70's, the crew of Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now left a surfboard, which was then picked by locals, eventually turning them into surfing champs) perfectly intertwine with the manic and twisted story and flawed characters.

3. The actors were great. Sid Lucero’s outburst and curses reminds me of his drunken Philosopher character in the movie “Norte” (Lav Diaz, 2013). Ana Abad Santos was the perfect mother and daughter of Baler who clings so desperately to the stories told about her. The suffering of Annicka Dolonius throughout the movie gives us a witness and spectator on all the mess that they have created. RK Bagatsing provides an enigma and an equalizer to Lucero’s madness. Gwen Zamora was a revelation in her character who slowly set the whole conlict in motion. Archie Alemania provides balance and humor to these crazy characters.

4. What’s great about these characters was that they are all flawed and they showed the humanity of being weak, scarred, and helpless in a tangled mess. Its impact among viewers, in my opinion, is that we were just there, as if we were also included in their problems, helplessly watching them as they fall into disarray and foolishness. We were the Fionas (Dolonius) who desperately cry towards the end of the movie, as the bus moves past Baler.

5. What makes a movie better with already a great story and actors in its helm? Great music – musical scores and songs. And what would be more perfect than having Up Dharma Down’s Armi Millare do both work for you? A result so close to perfection, you may have already reached the nirvana of film making and musical scoring.

6. What’s really the root of conflict between Rich and Ford? What was the real story? Who’s telling the truth? Was Ford’s mother really telling the truth about the identity of his father? What happened to them at the end of the movie? We may never know. It’s our “What’s in the briefcase?” in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. But, let’s just leave it there. A great story needs to be talked about and discussed. I bet this will be studied in film schools for the future generation of filmmakers. This movie is an instant classic.

(5 Stars. You NEED to see this movie.)

[juanrepublic]

A Few Thoughts on ‘LA LA LAND’ (D. Chazelle, 2016)

1. So much raves for this movie - the record-breaking 14 Oscars nominations, the numerous awards it has received, and the generally positive reviews from critics and viewers. I have been listening repeatedly on its soundtrack long before I have seen the movie and when I finally saw it, it dawned on me - everything good that they say is legit. 

2. We've seen the familiar story on Once (2006) and Begin Again (2013) - two lost souls passionate in their own craft met and fell in love despite of the circumstance, with the beauty and power of music perfectly intertwining with the narrative. But there is more to this than the usual - the songs, the screenplay, the jaw-dropping cinematography, the direction, the actors, the musical score, and the musical numbers. Simply put, it's like everything good wrapped into one, excellent masterpiece.

3. I became a fan of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone (sorry, Andrew Garfield) after I saw their movie 'Crazy, Stupid, Love' (2011). What amazed me more, aside from Emma Stone's natural humor and convincing performance was how Ryan Gosling prepared for his role - he actually learned how to play the piano. Wait, not just piano but Jazz music which is considered as one of the most difficult to learn and play. (Trust me, I'm a Music teacher.)

4. Speaking of music, I think what made this excel above other movies of the same type was the use of Jazz. Jazz music relies on improvisation, that is, musicians are required to be inventive and create music on the spot. The beautiful music reflects on the story and vice versa - beautiful, sophisticated, improvised, and natural.

5. I thought the "Expectations versus Reality" montage in '500 Days of Summer' (2009) was the most heart-wrenching and depressing scene in a romantic/love story that I have seen. I was wrong. Screw that "What could have been" (or some critics say, "A typical Hollywood ending") montage towards the end of the movie! The melancholic beauty of those last minutes. Why do you have to break my heart?

(5 Stars for the City of Stars!)

[juanrepublic]

A Few Thoughts on ‘ARRIVAL’ (D. Villenueve, 2016)

1. This is the most plausible and realistic first-encounter-with-aliens movie to date. What are we going to do when another intelligent life form visit the earth? Learn how they speak. Learn how their language. Learn how to communicate with them. This is far different from the Vulcans of Star Trek, Burton's aliens in Mars Attacks, and the alien fart of M. Night Shyamalan's on The Happening!

2. If you are looking for some explosive action with aliens on this movie, this is not for you. Go watch Battle: Los Angeles instead. There are serious practical, political, and Scientific stuff in this movie.

3. This also shows that when it comes to International relations, China is a dick. This may be a work of fiction but there is a tinge of truth there.

4. I seriously become more interested in Linguistics after seeing this. It may look tedious and boring but I may use it in the event of First Encounter.

5. A bit of spoiler here: I did not expect how it ended. I liked how they use circular and non-linear narrative. It may look messy - just like the Heptapods' language - but it all connects into one, brilliant narrative.

(4.5 Stars for the brilliant narrative!)

[juanrepublic]

To my four Sang'res and adopted daughters, Congratulations! Tonight, you have transformed from girls into ladies. I couldn't be more prouder as an Adviser seeing my students exceed themselves - from young and shy (but most of the time, rowdy) teens inside the classroom into confident young women, brave and poised enough to walk and face the crowd. As cliche as it may sound, your are all winners. The mere fact that you went up on stage and proudly and boldly show what you've got is an achievement in itself. May you cherish and remember this experience as you grow older and face life's challenges. You are young and full of dreams. Never forget that ability to dream and be brave enough to achieve those dreams. Thank your classmates, from Grade 8 St. Ignatius of Loyola, my favorite advisory class so far (sorry, kids, I still love you) and your friends who gave their time and effort to support you. Lastly, please extend my heartfelt gratitude to your parents. Maraming salamat po for giving your full support to your daughters in this activity. See you again on stage next time? All the best, Sir John, Pinaka-Poging Class Adviser.

[juanrepublic]

A Few Thoughts on ‘SULLY’ (Clint Eastwood, 2016)

1. We've seen Tom Hanks as Chuck Noland in Castaway, as Captain Richard Phillips in Captain Phillips, and now, as Chesley Sullenberger in this movie. All of the aforementioned movies ended up in a disaster - whether be at sea, at air, or a combination of both. We've learned our lesson: Never travel with Tom Hanks.

2. On a serious note, I see no other actor who can portray Sully better other than Tom Hanks. I've seen the pilot's interviews and other clips on the internet and Tom Hanks' portrayal was spot-on.

3. This may not be as grand as Captain Phillips, Saving Mr. Banks, or any other biopic where Hanks starred (and I doubt this will even get an Oscar nod next year) because of its simplicity. But this movie is a perfect tribute to the events of January 2009 and the heroism and courage of everyone on board.

4. Briefly noted: Aaron Eckhart's contribution as Co-Pilot and his fake mustache. Beat that, Jim Croce!

5. The most emotional part for me was during the credits, when they showed a montage of the reunion of Captain Sully, the crew, and the survivors.

(3.5 Stars. I expected more after I saw the trailer a few months ago.)

[juanrepublic]

The owner of this Captain Phasma action figure, a Grade 4 student in our school, asked me if I know Star Wars, the characters, the movies, and other stuff. I jokingly said "konti lang". What followed was him asking me questions from Jabba the Hutt to Han Solo, from Millennium Falcon to X-Wing Fighters, down to the Skywalker family which, of course, I easily aced. I then asked him questions about midichlorians (heh), the who-shot-first-controversy between Solo and Greedo, the color of lightsabers, Order 66, and Alderaan which he failed to answer. But I saw a beam of happiness and amazement on his face about my (meager and basic) Star Wars knowledge. He promised me that he will bring more of his action figures some other day. The future looks bright. The Force is strong with that little boy. Heck, I am willing to train him as my Padawan. #StarWars (at LDLB)

[juanrepublic]

A Few Thoughts on STAR TREK BEYOND (Justin Lin, 2016)

1. After I saw the 2009 reboot of JJ Abrams, I instantly became a fan of this franchise. Growing up as a Star Wars fanatic, you can say that it is like jumping into the other end of the spectrum. That movie made me love the other nerdy things such as to be beamed up by Scotty and to live long and to prosper.

2. Sadly, I cannot say that with the third movie. The story was plain, linear, and dragging at some parts. The screenplay fits for an episode of a TV series, not a movie. Sorry not sorry.

3. I now understand why: A. It didn't fair well at the box office (compared the previous movies, at least). B. It was 'massacred' by critics and movie gods at Rotten Tomatoes. C. There was no buzz about it compared the first two movies.

4. But props to the movie for giving a homage to Leonard Nimoy and Anton Yelchin who passed away before this movie was released.

5. Will the franchise go down with the destroyed USS Enterprise? Maybe not. But please, come up with a better screenplay next time. And have JJ Abrams be back on board the Federation ship.

(3.5 Stars. It wasn't that bad but it wasn't that good either.)

[juanrepublic]

A Few Thoughts on DOCTOR STRANGE (Scott Derrickson, 2016)

Be careful for minor spoilers. You have been warned. Here we go:

1. Some actors were born to play an iconic role. You cannot separate them from the character they portrayed. Daniel Radcliffe is Harry Potter. Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark/Iron Man. Johnny Depp is Captain Jack Sparrow. Vic Sotto is Enteng Kabisote. Benedict Cumberbatch is Sherlock Holmes. And Benedict Cumberbatch is also Dr. Stephen Strange!

2. Stephen Strange, prior to his car accident, was an eccentric, cocky surgeon. I swear I can still hear a bit of the famous detective from 221-B Baker Street from Cumberbatch.

3. To say that this movie is "visually stunning" is an understatement. Earlier reviews repeatedly said that this should be seen on iMax. Unluckily for me, we only have a regular cinema here in our area. But still, it is a visual masterpiece which can be at par (or better than?) with Christopher Nolan's "Inception". It is one hell of a trippy, stoner masterpiece!

4. If there's one thing that separates Marvel from DC - aside from box office ticket sales (Haha!) - it is the former''s humor against the latter's dark stories. The exchanges between Cumberbatch and Benedict Wong had the whole theater laughing. (Thank you, Adele and Beyonce. Haha!)

5. The movie can also be viewed as a battle between a Magical Sherlock Holmes (Cumberbatch) and a Magical Hannibal Lecter (Mikkelsen). But anyone else here who noticed the easter egg/homage to their respective TV shows? The name of the street in London is almost similar to 221-B Baker Street and the armor/mouth guard used to trap Kaecilius looks like the iconic look of Hannibal. Or it's just me.

6. This may not be the best in MCU's series of movies to date but this can stand as good on its own. (If you remove the post-credits scene/MCU connection, it can stand as a solo movie and not a part/one of the prequels to Infinity War)

(4.5 Stars for the Cumberbitch!)

[juanrepublic]

A Few Thoughts on the documentary "Hamilton's America"

1. When History meets music and music meets History. This is 'Hamilton', probably one of the greatest pieces of art ever conceived. Much has been said about the musical and this documentary allows us to look at the story behind the conception of this masterpiece.

2. I haven't seen the musical, obviously (save from some bootleg videos on YouTube) but I have been listening to the whole soundtrack for how many months now. That's how powerful it is.

3. First seventeen (17) minutes into the documentary and I was already blown away by the genius of its creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda. I've seen some clips and videos, I've read articles about him but journeying with him in this documentary about the creation of the musical gave me a new-found, or shall I say, an intensified respect and admiration to the man.

4. "[Alexander Hamilton] proved that the condition of your birth should not determine the outcome of your life." This was said by US House Speaker Paul Ryan, describing Hamilton. But it isn't just about the musical and American History. This also speaks for us, all of us dreamers.

5. This is the closest thing that we can have to the musical. I encourage, no, I compel you to watch this!

(5 Stars. Definitely 5 Stars)

[juanrepublic]

A Few Thoughts on SWISS ARMY MAN (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, 2016)

1. I'll go straight to the point: This is a GOOD movie. Wait, this is a GREAT and TERRIFIC movie.You should go see it. Was that convincing enough? Not yet? Okay. Let's talk about it.

2. When I first saw the trailer, I thought it was just a shallow comedy and Daniel Radcliffe's attempt to be a corpse and a tool for survival (Tom Hanks' Wilson in 'Castaway' and Piscin Patel's Richard Parker in the "Life of Pi" would be put to shame). It's more than that. This movie talks about life, loneliness, emptiness, resiliency, survival, and uhm, a bit of obsession and stalking.

3. It adds a mix of dark humor which deserves its R-Rating. But looking beyond the sexual innuendos and references, it deals with man's deepest desires (albeit sexual) and how far he would go to survive. I think this can pass as a Philosophical (and Psychological?) movie. I recommend this to my comrades who are teaching Psychology, Ethics, Anthropology, Philosophy, and other related studies. (Sorry kids, due to the movie's R-rating, we cannot watch this in our class.)

4. One of my favorite lines in the movie: "If my best friend keeps his farts from me, what else is he hiding from me? And why does that thought make me feel so alone?" How profound was that? You cannot separate farts from friendship. But on a serious note, the context of that line made love this movie more.

5. The ending was BRILLIANT. I won't spoil it but here's some hint: A part of you would wish that it could have ended at one point, shattering your established beliefs about the story and another part of you seeks for another resolution about the conflict. Are you curious yet? It's for you to find out.

6. Will I recommend this movie? Absolutely yes! But I'm afraid this movie isn't for everyone. When this premiered on Sundance Film Festival, half of the attendees stormed out of the theater after seeing Daniel Radcliffe's farting corpse during the first few minutes of the movie. Again, it's more than that. As what I learned in my Metaphysics classes in College, "Use the third degree of abstraction in watching this movie".

[5 Stars because of that mellow music and the damn feels. Also, Mary Elizabeth Winstead. HNNG.]