Reach the Unreached

I grew up in a family of Christians. My Dad and Tatay Lolo have been involved into Mangyan mission in Mindoro for almost a decade already. When my family goes to Mindoro, it's either the Mangyan will go to my Tatay Lolo's house or we ourselves will go to wherever they are to conduct a worship service. I once went to Rosakara, one of the places in Mindoro where Mangyan tribes live, where we travelled almost 2 hours car ride and 1 hour walk to go over the mountain of Mangyans. We distributed brand-new shirts from the radio personality Maloy Maliviran-Salumvidez and held a worship service. Three missionaries from GCI stayed for three weeks and got to empathize with the Mangyans.

After 3 years, I got to be part of the Mangyan mission again. It was really not my plan to go with my parents to Mindoro in the first place because since I'm in my OJT during weekdays, I just let myself do nothing and relax on weekends. But since children are obliged to obey their parents commands, I just found myself sailing through the sea of Batangas to Calapan habang tuma'Titanic feel ako and my churchmates. Mangyan mission started on Sunday, we left Tatay Lolo's house at 6am, had 2 hours car ride, and almost 2 hours walk/trek/tawid ilog/hu ha hu ha kind of lakad adventure. I wasn't easy, I tell you! I asked my Tatay Lolo "Tay, malapit na?" when I thought I walked 87624629 miles already, then he would say "Nako! Di pa tayo nangangalahati!" My reaction: -_-

The entire journey through the mountains and the mabatong ilog was fun kasi ang dami namin. My family, of course, Daddy, Mommy (na nakuha pa mag-payong), little brahw, cousin Pam, cousin Merimae, cousin Kuya Boy, Uncle and Auntie, two mangyan helpers from Tatay Lolo's house (Dory and Munting Atay), Tatay Lolo Narding. And my churchmates from GCI Mla. South, Gem, Arvie, and Papang. Oh di ba? Isang buong barangay lang? Three mangyans from Sigaw had to pick us up for them to carry the galvanized roof (a.k.a. bubong) that we donated for their service hall.

After several pataas at pababa passage and mala'ice cream flavor na very rocky road, we finally reached our destination! We went straight to their service hall, there they have wooden chairs that can occupy less than 20 people and a little podium. The mangyans were kind enough to give us free buko as we regain our strength from our 2-hour walk (na for them would them only 30 minutes to walk, according to Tatay Lolo).
Tatay Lolo gave the opening remarks and introduced us to the mangyan community. Papang shared how blessed we are to get to be in their place and be welcomed by them. He stated that God has a purpose why He brought us there and gave assurance to them that we are willing to help with whatever they need. Tatay Lolo shared verses from the Bible, followed by Daddy's message about how they are highly favored and deeply loved by the Lord. As the service goes on, I saw Arvie talking to the kids and showing photos from her camera, I took a photo of that scenario and tagged along. The kids barely spoke for they don't understand Tagalog that much, but some of them understood "Anong pangalan mo?" Their given names is not as normal as Ana, Ben, Marie, Mark, no. They have very cool names that you won't understand at the first time you hear the name but you will surely remember. One named Ambon, the other is Bolbolod, there's one girl named Maisek, and a little boy named Puge. We thought Puge was just a bansag like "pogi", hindi pala pangalan pala talaga yon. We showed them how to make pogi pose, they just smiled and let us do it ourselves. I asked one kid if they go to the near river to take a bath, and I got a smile. We went to the river and played like little kids na sabik na sabik sa ilog. We stayed there with the kids and exchanged smiles.

In 3.. 2.. 1.. *faints*

True Fiction

     As you watch a film, your awareness is being abducted by the scenes that you think exist in the real world. The filmmakers make us believe that the impossible could happen, thus, we are not mindful that a certain scene is implausible. Believe it or not, movies have fooled you several times without you knowing it.

Sword Slash
        Battle between two knights using swords has been a Hollywood cliché. Gladiator, Lord of the Rings and The Last Samurai practically revolved their fight scenes using swords. As the two swords clash, you can almost see the hint of lightning spark in between and the most famous cutting-the-villain’s-sword-into-half scene. The actual battle ready swords cannot be cut into half because swords are made up of pure steel, or carbonized iron, which enables a metal blade to have a sharper edge and to withstand much greater stress without breaking or staying bent. Hence, there’s no way a sword can cut through another sword regardless if you’re a sword expert/samurai or not.

Locks Myth
            The breaking-in scene will never get old in action films. If the man with the black leather jacket can’t break the door by kicking it with all the force he has, he would most probably break the lock by shooting it with a handgun and the lock would automatically disengage on its own, as it is shown in one of the scenes in Big Trouble in Little China. But, can it be done in the real world? As tested by the experts, a 9mm (Sig Sauer P239) shot a padlock and a deadbolt three times and still worked out fine. So as for .357 magnum, the lock is battered but still left unopened. So if you’re trying to trespass using that strategy, you might want to think of another way, otherwise, the pieces and parts of the deadbolt will be etched on your face.

Not with a fizzle, but with a crash…
            In almost every car chase scene, there will always be a ramp that a car will have to go through. By the time the car is drifting through the air, the motion of the scene will ease off as the car gradually land and keep on running. The World’s Longest Car Jump was 272th by Ray Brownman, he gained his title but spent six weeks in the hospital with broken vertebrae. It has been proved that a car can jump and run through a ramp, but it is impossible that you can still drive away without having your car crashed.

Bullet Breakout
            No way out? Kate Beckinsale’s character in Underworld showed us how you can escape from a place that’s completely locked out,  by spinning in circles while shooting two 9mm pistols to cause the tile floor to fall away.The experts tested if that way of escape is plausible or not. It turns out that tile floor cannot easily be broken with a 9mm pistol even with a 12-gauge shotgun for a reason that the floor holds too much support to be broken in an instant.   

IN-DEPTHpendent Film

     “She had me at my worst, you had me at my best… And you choose to break my heart.” “Syinota mo ang best friend mo, Bogs!” Who doesn’t recognize these lines? The ever famous lines from the movies that made every viewer get a tissue and began weeping. Well, let’s see if you can still keep up, “May mga magulang na handang magbago at pilit na nagbabago, may mga ama na gustong humingi ng tawad at may mga anak na handang magpatawad.” Does this line ring a bell? No? Maybe, because this line doesn’t come from a mainstream film that gets all the publicity and gets the opportunity of having shown the giveaway trailers over and over after every commercial gap. This line was said by Cherry Pie Picache from the independent film ‘Boses’.Independent films are considered the unnoticed gems of Philippine film industry. It’s way different from what we usually see from mainstream films; boy-meets-girl, that foot-poppin’ kiss that paved the way through the confession of their love for each other, and let’s not forget the airport scene (Classic! It never gets old.) Indie film is a mirror image of real Filipinos’ way of life and shows serious social issues in the country.  With the patronage of these films, Filipinos can be more aware of what the country is going through and the disposition of its people. Reality is indie film’s middle name, it feeds our mind with the untold truths that we don’t usually see and hear in TV, radio, print and any other medium of media. Indie film lets us delve deep on what the eye doesn’t meet, and what our senses can’t grasp. As we watch these films, we are getting to know more of who we are, where we came from and it gives us an elaborate explanation of why some matters exist. Also, these films would make people aware of the society they belong to. Film is an art; it is not plainly for entertainment purposes because films should have a story to tell, a story that will captivate the viewer’s psyche. Do mainstream movies today make us think? Does it leave us with hanging thoughts that’ll make us go beyond our thinking space? Maybe you’d say, “Uh, yes. Twilight does!” or better yet “Hunger Games does! I can’t wait for its sequel!”
    It is not veiled that most Filipinos are dominated by the foreign mainstream films that make them change the way of their living. Even the local mainstream films have showcased the lifestyle of other cultures from foreign films. One manifestation for that is the release of ‘Desperadas’, which is a total rip-off from ‘Sex and the City’. Was it just a coincidence that they were four desperate woman in ‘Desperadas’ as it is in ‘Sex and the City’?
     I'm not a Film major, just FYI, but indie films should be noticed! Indie films divert our attention from our favorite stars to the story of the film itself. It is given that indie film stars are not as big as those who work for the mainstream film, and that’s one main reason why indie films get the least patronage from the mass. Another reason is that indie film doesn’t exhibit what the mass wants to see, for they wish to see a story plot that’ll keep their mind off from stress and break free from reality. That’s why mainstream films spoil its viewers; we always see what we want and not get what we ought to see. Mainstream films lets us feel sorrow out of a love that has lost, while indie films lets us see the social problems that we must be aware of and must take action to. Why don’t we buy movie tickets for once and know that the movie that we’re going to watch is something that’ll take you to a place you’ve never been to before.

           

Akala ko *insert akala moments*

Habang nakasakay sa likod ng pick-up truck at dinadama ang paghampas ng hangin at sariling buhok sa aming mga mukha, nagyabangan kami ng mga inakala namin nung kami'y mga musmos pa lamang at naging nakakatawa ang mga ito nang magkaroon kami ng divine clarity (haha wtf).

• Akala ko may totoong tao sa loob ng TV. Alam mo yung butas sa gilid? Sinilip ko yun, hindi naman pala tao yung laman, picture tube pala 'yon.
• Akala ko lumiliit ng kusa ang mga damit. Hindi ko naisip na ako yung lumalaki. Nagfifreak out pa ko lagi pag napapansin kong maliit na ang damit ko tapos sasabihin kay Mommy "Ma! Lumiit na naman yung damit ko!"
• Akala ko nangyayari sa totoong buhay yung mga action movies. Nagtataka pa ko kung bakit hindi hinuhuli ng mga pulis yung mga bad guys.
• Akala ko totoong ibabalik ni Mommy ang bubble gum na nilalaro ko sa bibig dun sa tindahan.
• Akala ko yung dulo ng ice cream cone na itinitinda ng sorbeterong si Mang Pete ay may kulangot.
• Akala ko nag-uusap yung mga laruan ko pag hindi ko sila nakikita. Nagsimula 'tong akalang 'to nang manuod ako ng Toy Story.
• Akala ko maayos ko ang nagsastuck na VCD pag hinipan ko.
• Akala ko porket masaya ako sa pagsuswimming, ilalagay ko na syang sa slumbook bilang Favorite Sports, ahit hindi naman talaga ako marunong lumangoy.
• Akala ko kung mas malaki yung TV screen, mas maraming scenes ang makikita.
• Akala ko pag tumatakbo ako, hinahabol ako ng moon.
• Akala ko pag nawala sa grocery store, maliligaw na ako habang buhay doon.
• Akala ko cute ako pag nagsuot ako ng headband na may buhok na fake sa dulo.

Mga akala nga naman oh. Pero sabi nila, nakakamatay raw ang akala, ang sabi ko "Hindi rin".