The reason why I’m posting is to share a song I heard over the net just a week ago. I can’t get it out of my system because I was so blessed by the song. Maybe some of you would be interested to hear it as well. The song is from a contemporary gospel band called Tenth Avenue North. The title is Beyond Words. I like the song so much because it talks about the love of God for each one of us in profoundly human terms. From the time that I became a Christian when I was 14 years old and into my backsliding college days and into my turbulent early twenties, up until late 2006 when the Lord wretched me from a life of senselessness and self destruction, I still cannot comprehend until now the magnitude of His love for us. I remembered one preaching from a female pastor where she mentioned that God is a God of a thousand kisses.I couldn’t agree more. Going back to the song, it is just so amazing how the Lord, in His holiness and greatness, can pour out so much love for us. He is the God of all but is also a very personal God at the same time. He is not only a God when we are gathered together and singing songs of praise and worship, but He is also God when we struggle with everyday issues about work, family,and even relationships. He is Lord not only when we work for the ministry and His church, but He is also the Lord who is our Potter – molding our character into one that truly pleases Him.He is not only King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is also Immanuel who deals with us when we fall astray. When I was listening to the song for the first few times, I really cold not help but cry. How can such a great God love me so stubbornly? What does He see in me that He loves me with a love that I can never repay- not even in my wildest dreams?

I can only be thankful. Let me share with you the lyrics and the link (Imeem) where you can listen to the song in full. God bless and everyone!

Beyond Words by Tenth Avenue North

Well if you only knew the pain that I’ve been through

Since when did it become all about you

As you can see right from the start I’ve said the truth

But if the truth means nothing to you then what am I supposed to do?

But I’ll still love you beyond what words can say

I’ll take your every suffering moment and bring a better day

And I’ll still love you more than what I hope to be

Let me wrap my arms around you Let me take your breath away

And every time I ask you assure you’re doing fine But your heart looks good by smiling, you couldnt fool mine

And by the end of the night your pillow seeps to dry

In a crowded room you’re singing

But on the inside, you sigh

But I’ll still love you beyond what words can say

I’ll take your every suffering moment and bring a better day

I’ll still love you more then what I hope to be

Let me wrap my arms around you

Let me take your breath away

In a ball a pair is dancing

In a forest there are trees

In a child there is a hope that keeps him in belief

With any star there is a sky

With any beach there is a sea

With any love song there’s a lover

but in your heart i hope its….(me)

And I’ll still love you beyond what words can say

I’ll take your every suffering moment and bring a better day

I’ll still love you more then what I hope to be

Let me wrap my arms around you

Let me wrap my arms around you

Let me wrap my arms around you

Let me take your breath away

Listen to the full song by clicking the link below: http://www.imeem.com/atcorporate/music/S1duVQ-K/10th_avenue_north_beyond_words/

Hi everyone!

Apparently, it is my rundown of my favorite films of the 80′s that has garnered the most views in my blog. Thanks everyone for messaging and for commenting.

At some point, many are correct when they say that the 80′s (especially the first half) was indeed a landmark era for Philippine Cinema, both in quantity and quality. Ironically, the repression of the Marcos regime also ignited the blooming of a national cinema that discussed the pressing issues of the times. Veiled or outrightly exposed, the notable Filipino films of the 80′s truly depicted a turbulent era in Philippine history and reflected a much talked about social milieu for the movie audiences to see.

But soon enough, things started to nosedive.

The 1986 EDSA Revolution may have restored democratic rule in government but did very little in temrs of uplifting the social and economic conditions of many Filipinos. In the FIlipino film, the Aquino government accomplished ZERO when it comes to improving the quality and industrial conditions of a much-patronized artform. Hence, the golden age of the early 80′s would end sometime in 1986. It can be said that the unabated crass commercialism of Philippine Cinema and its stunted artistic growth would continue way into the decade that followed.

And that is the topic of this long overdue blog post.

The cinematic output of the 90′s would really pale in comparison to that of the preceding decade. For one, the 90′s saw the deaths of two very important pillars in Philippine Cinema—national artist Lino Brocka, who perished in a car accident in 1991, and fellow national artist Ishmael Bernal, who succumbed to a sudden heart attack in 1996. On the other hand, other luminous directors of the past decade such as Mike de Leon, Laurice Guillen, and Celso Ad Castillo, went on inactive status and only made films sporadically.

Another thing is the continued dominance of the Hollywood film when it comes to box office performance. We often see Filipino films unashamedly copying Hollywood plots, storylines, and for crying out loud—-even characters and whole titles for that matter! Producers also stuck woth tried and tested formula films that were sure to make money at the tills.

It is in this manner that most of the notable films appearing on this list have a few things in common. One, they are undoubtedly compromised works. Some films may ride on a popular genre (melodrama, action, love story, the youth film, sex film, etc.), while others capitalized on the so-called “star system” in order to recoup their capital. Few from the films on this list actually made money, but nevertheless, these films are fortunate because they were directed by gifted filmmakers who learned how to compromise between commercial appeal and artistic integrity. Save for the last film by Mike de Leon, none of the films from the 90′s that appear on this list is worthy to be called a “classic.” Nevertheless, they deserve mention because they are symbols of hope that a well made film could still be made amid a monolithic system of films made to dumb down the masses.

1. Andrea, Paano Ba Ang Maging Isang Ina by Gil Portes (1990)- This brave film was a box office nightmare. Nora Aunor essays another powerful performance as a mother who leaves her son to her bestfriend to become a political rebel. It is very interesting how the home, politics, motherhood, citizen, friendship, family, and the dichotomy of classes all come to play in this engaging and intriguing social melodrama. Aunor essays another powerful and affecting performance but actress Gina Alajar is also excellent. Gil Portes’ direction though is upstaged by the gravity of Ricky Lee’s script which is truly reasonant and relevant for the times.

2. May Minamahal by Jose Javier Reyes (1993)- Heavily attached to the romantic comedy formula, May Minamahal is gifted with topnotch scriptwriting from writer-director Jose Javier Reyes. A rehash of the rich boy poor girl format, the film rises above mediocrity thanks to convincing characterization, taut editing, and controlled acting. This film, which earned millions at the tills, shows how disciplined Jose Javier Reyes is as a director in the sense that he ner goes overboard. Aga Muhlach, Aiko Melendez, and Ronaldo Valdez turn in memorable performances.

3. Sana Maulit Muli by Olivia Lamasan (1995)- This is probably the forerunner of the OFW films that followed years after this intelligent melodrama came out (1995). The film tells the struggles of two Filipino young professionals in California, who also happen to be lovers, played excellently by Lea Salonga and Aga Muhlach. Everything seems to work in this commercial film. Intelligent scripting, assured direction, affecting performances especially of its lead actors, above average cinematography, astute editing and scoring, and competent sound. Olivia Lamasan is a good director in the sense that she uses the romantic movie foil to communicate relevant issues to her audience. Her 2004 film Milan, is another testament to her insightful storytelling.

4. Bakit May Kahapon Pa by Joel Lamangan (1996) - Another brave film done in a Brocka-ish manner, Bakit May Kahapon Pa is another story of a political rebel, a daughter of a peasant who goes to the city to seek revenge against a greedy and corrupt military man and his entire family. The images in this film seem to come out straight from the headlines —massacres, farmers losing lands, rural violence, corruption in the military, and the seeming apathy of the urban rich to the plight of the masses. Aunor gives a rather heavy handed but convincing performance.

5. Madrasta by Olivia Lamasan (1996) – This is the film that made Sharon Cuneta an actress. It is truly amazing how Cuneta discards the acting conventions and predictable roles that had prevented her growth to a truly competent actress. This controlled melodrama is the story of a woman who had to balance her roles as stepmom, wife, and career woman. A feminist film directed by a female director, the film made a killing at the box office, with the gamble paying off for Cuneta, who made this film outside her mother studio.

6. Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa by Chito RoÑo (1998) – Another feminist and melodramatic film, the film tells the story of Lea Bustamante, a social worker and a mother of two kids from two different men. This entertaining but important film examines the role of women in Philippine society. Hence, roles are questioned, prejudices are junked, and men are placed in the periphery. This film benefits from a keenly observant script by Lualhati Bautista, the excellent acting of its actors especially Vilam Santos, Carlo Aquino, and Serena Dalrymple, and the competent direction of Chito Rono.

7. Bayaning Third World by Mike de Leon (1999) – This film is perhaps the “Film of the Decade.” A deconstructionist and post modern film, the film received little patronage from the moviegoing public due to its “arty” structure and the very intellectual handling of the material. An investigation on the heroism of Jose Rizal, Bayaning Third World is the director’s answer to a centennial Rizal film that was full of factual errors and shallow historical research. Shot in black and white, the film boldy violates many conventions in filmmaking – temporal and spatial limitations, characters talking directly to the audience, film genres discarded altogether, and black and white photography at the close of the twentieth century. This film is probably the best film to come out of Philippine Cinema since Lino Brocka’s “Orapronobis.”

HI Everyone!

This post initializes my yearender posts for this year. In the next posts up until the beginning of January 2009, I will be posting my own yearend charts about music, movies, and some personal stuff as well that I want to share with you. This is my own way of looking back to the year that’s about to pass. In addition to this, movie reviews and other “top” lists would also be presented for you to enjoy. Merry Christmas!

1. January 1 to February 2 – NO ONE by ALICIA KEYS

2. February 3 to March 1 – LOW by FLORIDA feat. T PAIN

3. March 2, Ap2il 12 – WITH YOU by CHRIS BROWN

4. April 13 to May 10 – LOVE IN THIS CLUB by USHER feat. YOUNG JEEZY

5. May 11 to July 19 – LOLLIPOP by LIL WAYNE feat. STATIC MAJOR

6. July 20 to August 30 – TAKE A BOW by RIHANNA

7. August 31 to September 20 – FOREVER by CHRIS BROWN

8. September 21 to September 27 – CLOSER by NEYO

9. September 28 to November 22 – WHATEVER YOU LIKE by T.I.

10. November 23 to the present – LIVE YOUR LIFE by T.I. feat. RIHANNA

Life is a never ending cycle of misery.

            This rather pessimistic outlook, seems to be the unifying element of Ron Bryant’s third digifilm “Rotonda.” As some of you may already know, Rotonda is the Spanish term for circle. In layman’s term here in the Philippines, Rotonda refers to anything on a road that is circular or oval-shaped (the borders of Quezon City and Manila as well as Manila and Pasay City both have such a structure). The digifilm revolves around the lives of thieves, street thugs, whores, drug addicts, and crooked cops and the similarly tragic events that intertwine all of their lives.

            The principal character of the film is Abner, portrayed excellently by Mark Gil. Abner is a tabloid reporter who, in the first few images of the film, is seen walking aimlessly into the filthy and clogged streets of Manila. This rather aimless walking typifies Abner’s existence in the whole film, and come to think of it, the rest of the characters throughout this bleak and dark movie. Abner, half consciously entering a cheap nightclub, is drawn to Racquel – a professional whore who has pinned her hopes and dreams on her younger sister, whom she later finds out to be a victim of sexual molestation and pimping by Racquel’s own live in partner, the heartless and avengeful Dima, played by theater actor Mario Magallona. Dima, on the other hand, is planning to get back at his former kingpin who unsuccessfully tried to liquidate him in the past and is now a cripple, the character played by Celso Ad Castillo. Being a cripple, he is now under the care of an amateur drummer, Chito, played in the film by Jeffrey Quizon. Chito, on the other hand, while religiously performing his onligations to the now crippled godfather, is also a drug pusher and one of his regular suppliers is a rather wealthy colegiala who  in turn is under the not so welcome protection of a crooked cop, played by Emilio Garcia.

            If the storyline seems complicated, maybe because it really is. The director aims to show the abject hopelessness, desperation, and moral depravity of the characters in the dog-eat-world that is the city of Manila. In the end, some of them are killed, the others manage to escape, and yet others find some artificial form of redemption and thus continue to survive in the city’s dark, filthy streets. Yet, they find no release from their hapless conditions, and there would surely be a day when tragedy or the liberating pangs of death would get them. The title of the film reflects this vicious cycle of desperation and hopelessness, with one character who happens to play an idiot is seen curiously wearing a filthy dress of blue, red, and white, hence alluding to the reality that the lives of these miserable characters are directly connected to the national condition.

            The characters in the film are all real and realistic. Perhaps once could find an exact equivalent of each character in the film in any slum area within Metro Manila. However, while the actors perform their parts in an above average manner, the fact remains that the characterization is thin and even caricaturish for some. The character of Celso Ad Castillo is thread-thin in terms of characterization, and the part played by Emilio Garcia is forgettable, if not ridiculous. Nevertheless, Mark Gil is perfect as the desperate journalist. He fits his role to a tee that his every facial expression and acting nuances effectively communicates the deep emotional scars of this wounded man. Truly, he is one gifted, if not underrated thespian who happens to come from an illustrious family of highly respected actors. Jeffrey Quizon is in his usual competent self. This actor is admirable in the sense that he can turn a short role to a meaty and engaging performance. Personally, this author would even dare say that this Quizon is better than all the other Quizons who went before him – even his father!

            But perhaps the greatest revelation in this film is Merryl Soriano. When she entered the indie scene, it is already clear that she had the makings of a fine actress. In Rotonda, she sheds her black and white image as the prostitute who has been numbed by her troubled past but has retained an all too human heart.

            It could have been much better if the script has been fully realized to include a deeper characterization for all characters. Admittedly, this could slow down the pace of this tautly edited picture. Unfortunately, to some extent, the sacrificing of characterization over pacing spells a sort of missed chance for this film, turning it into a well disguised melodrama on urban poverty.

            While the cinematography is competent, the film is overscored at times. Initially, the sound may be irritating as the noise of the streets and the verbal jousts of the characters combine with diegetic music emanating from the radio or the television set. But towards the middle, you get the idea that the film seems noisiness parallels the chaotic lives and emotional clogs of the characters. The production design is rather impressive. The motel room where Abner and Racquel checks into underscores the feeling of imprisonment, paranoia, and desperation that both characters are facing. The mammoth house where Chito and the ex-kingpin live also resembles the disparate treatment of the two residents to one another as their disfunctionality and neediness also becomes the source of their alienation. The film could only hint at the true relationship of both characters.

            Ron Bryant’s direction in this indie film is a big improvement from the heavy handed Baryoke. And though his film may carry a very dark message, he drives his point to the fore and through the heart.

            All in all, Rotonda is ultimately a competent melodrama masquerading in the tough exteriors of the gangster film. And though the director of this independent film may frown at the thought of classifying his film, it can be said that the film doesn’t really communicate much in the end – or at least something that we are still unaware of.

Top American Universities:

1.       Harvard University

2.       Yale University

3.       California Institute of Technology

4.       University of Chicago

5.       Massachusetts Institute of Technology

6.       Columbia University

7.       University of Pennsylvania

8.       Princeton University

9.       Duke University

10.   Johns Hopkins University

11.   Cornell University

12.   Stanford University

13.   University of Michigan

14.   Carnegie Mellon University

15.   Brown University

16.   University of California at Los Angeles

17.   Northwestern University

18.   University of California at Berkeley

19.   New York University

20.   Boston University

21.   Dartmouth University

22.   University of Wisconsin at Madison

23.   University of California at San Diego

24.   University of Washington

25.   Washington University at St. Louis

26.   Emory University

27.   University of Texas at Austin

28.   University of Illinois

29.   Rice University

30.   Georgia Institute of Technology

31.   University of Minnesota

32.   University of California at Davis

33.   Case Western Reserve University

34.   University of Virginia

35.   University of Pittsburgh

36.   University of California at Santa Barbara

37.   Purdue University

38.   Vanderbilt University

39.    University of North Carolina

40.   University of Southern California

41.   Pennsylvania State University

42.   Georgetown University

43.   University of Rochester

44.   Ohio State University

45.   University of Maryland

46.   Stony Brook University

47.   University of California at Irvine

48.   Texas A&M University

49.   University of Arizona

50.   Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey

Top Latin American Universities:

1.       Universidad Nacionale Autonoma de Mexico – Mexico

2.       University of Sao Paolo – Brazil

3.       Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile – Chile

4.       University of Campinas – Brazil

5.       Austral University – Argentina

6.       Universidad de Chile – Chile

7.       Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey – Mexico

8.       Federal University of Rio de Janeiro – Brazil

9.       Universidad ORT Uruguay – Uruguay

10.   University of Belgrano – Argentina

11.   Universidad de Los Andes – Colombia

12.   Universidade Estadual Paulista – Brazil

13.   Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru – Peru

14.   Pontificia Universidad Catolica do Rio de Janeiro – Brazil

15.   Universidad Torcuato di Tella – Argentina

16.   Adolfo Ibanez University – Chile

17.   Dom Cabral Foundation – Brazil

18.   Fundacao Getulio Vargas – Brazil

19.   Iberoamericana University – Mexico

20.   Universidad de Santiago de Chile – Chile

After listing down the top Asian Universities in my previous post, let me now share with you the top European universities. Obviously, one country dominates the list. Read on…

Top European Universities:

1.       University of Cambridge – United Kingdom

2.       University of Oxford – United Kingdom

3.       Imperial College London – United Kingdom

4.       University College London – United Kingdom

5.       King’s College London – United Kingdom

6.       University of Edinburgh – United Kingdom

7.       ETH Zurich – Switzerland

8.       Ecole Normale Superieure  Paris – France

9.       University of Machester – United Kingdom

10.   University of Bristol – United Kingdom

11.   Ecole Polytechnique – France

12.   University of Copenhagen – Denmark

13.   Trinity College Dublin – Ireland

14.   Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne – Switzerland

15.   University of Amsterdam – Netherlands

16.   Heidelberg Universitat – Germany

17.   Uppsala University – Sweden

18.   Leiden University – Netherlands

19.   London School of Economics and Political Science – United Kingdom

20.   Utrecht University – Netherlands

21.   University of Geneva – Switzerland

22.   University of Warwick – United Kingdom

23.   Katholieke Universiteit Leuven – Belgium

24.   University of Glasgow – United Kingdom

25.   University of Birmingham – United Kingdom

26.   University of Sheffield – United Kingdom

27.   DELFT University of Technology – Netherlands

28.   Technische Universitat Munchen – Germany

29.   University of Aarhus – Denmark

30.   University of York – United Kingdom

31.   University of St. Andrews – United Kingdom

32.   University of Nottingham – United Kingdom

33.   Lund University – Sweden

34.   University of Helsinki – Finland

35.   Ludwig Maximilians Universitat Munchen – Germany

36.   University of Southampton – United Kingdom

37.   University of Leeds – United Kingdom

38.   University of Zurich – Switzerland

39.   University College Dublin – Ireland

40.   Maastricht University – Netherlands

41.   University of Vienna – Austria

42.   Universite Catholique de Louvain – Belgium

43.   Durham University – United Kingdom

44.   Erasmus University Rotterdam – Netherlands

45.   Eindhoven University of Technology – Netherlands

46.   University of Sussex – United Kingdom

47.   University of Basel – Switzerland

48.   Cardiff University – United Kingdom

49.   Technical University of Denmark – Denmark

50.   University of Liverpool – United Kingdom

Let me share with you the Top Universities in Asia according to the Times Higher Education website. See who ranks first!

1. University of Tokyo – Japan

2. Kyoto University – Japan

3. University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong, China

4. National University of Singapore – Singapore

5. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology – Hong Kong, China

6. Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong, China

7. Osaka University – Japan

8. Peking University – China

9. Seoul National University – South Korea

10. Tsinghua University – China

11. Tokyo Institute of Technology – japan

12. Nanyang Technological University – Singapore

13. Hebrew University of Jerusalem – Israel

14. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology – South Korea

15. Israel Institute of Technology – Israel

16. Tohoku University – Japan

17. Fudan University – China

18. Tel Aviv University – Israel

19. Nagoya University – Japan

20. National Taiwan University – Taiwan

21. University of Science and Technology of China – China

22. Nanjing University – China

23. Shanghai Jao Tong University – China

24. City University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong, China

25. India Institute of Technology Delhi – India

26. Kyushu University – Japan

27. Chulalongkorn University – Thailand

28. Hokkaido University – Japan

29. India Institute of Technology Bombay – India

30. Waseda University – Japan

31. Pohang University of Science and Technology – South Korea

32. Kobe University – Japan

33. Yonsei University – South Korea

34. Keio University – Japan

35. University of Tsukuba – Japan

36. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University – Hong Kong

37. Zhejiang University – China

38. University of Malaya – Malaysia

39. Korea University – South Korea

40. India Institute of Technology Kanpur – India

41. University Kebangsaan Malaysia – Malaysia

42. Mahidoi University – Thailand

43. Ateneo de Manila University – Philippines

44. Ben Gurion University of the Negev – Israel

45. Hiroshima University – Japan

46. University of Delhi – India

47. University of the Philippines – Philippines

48. National Tsing Hua University – Taiwan

49. University of Indonesia – Indonesia

50. Chiba University – Japan

Back to my class. I ended up recommending a few films from the 80′s to some students who looked really interested. Though I may not be as helpful in looking for the actual copies of these films, I believe that somehow, I was able to enhance their knowledge on Philippine Cinema especially its rich and checkered history. These kids practically grew up in a national cinema that featured dizzying close ups of matinee idols and Fil Ams who probably know nothing but wooden acting. Thank heavens for the indie revolution!

Let me share my personal list of notable films from the 80′s, and just a few reasons why I particularly liked each film.

1. Bona by Lino Brocka – This film is just shimmering with raw humanity. Actress Nora Aunor reveals yet another layer of her acting chops in this film about a slum girl who is obsessed with a movie bit player. Despite numerous technical flaws, the film features topnatch acting and restrained melodrama from the country’s most prominent director.

2. Manila by Night by Ishamel Bernal – This cyclical film from Ishmael Bernal features a cast of sleezy and weird characters from Manila’s underbelly. A film devoid of hope and clean cut morality, it is very interesting how the city of Manila becomes a character in itself, as it seduces, traps, confronts, and eats its own children. While the sex scenes can still be shortened, the real gift of this film is its director, who also happens to be the film’s writer. Bernal here dramatizes his personal tribute to a city so beautiful yet so horribe at the same time.

3. Kisapmata (In The Blink of An Eye) by Mike de Leon - This political film is probably Mike de Leon’s best. He gets everything right in this film – the mood, the acting, the cinematography, the music, everything! This shocking film is probably one of my favorites. It’s just timeless!

4. Salome by Laurice Guillen- The Filipino version of Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon, the film features a career crowning performance from Gina Alajar and a thespic zenith for its director. The film focuses on the subjectivity of truth, as a housewife is tried for the murder of a cityboy. Issues of rape,adultery,unfaithfulness all come to play in a town plagued by gossip mongers. Watch out for the ending as it truly is poetic and unforgettable.

5. Batch ’81 by Mike de Leon – Another political film from Mike de Leon. It uses the college fraternity as a microcosm of a society suffering under a fascist regime, where acts of violence and inhumanity are disguised amid the lofty ideals of order, unity, and brotherhoood. The fight scenes in this film are just unforgettable, not to mention the highly symbolic production numbers from the three fraternities towards the final third of the film.

6. Himala (Miracle) by ishmael Bernal – This rather philosophical film focuses on religion as the new opiate of the masses. It tells the story of how a woman manages to fool an entire provincial village plagued by drought on how the Virgin Mary appeared to her. Actress Nora Aunor is again at the top of her game and she is backed by an equally spectacular supporting cast. It is also impressive how Bernal uses the location to effectively communicate and enrich the audience’s viewing experience. Though slow and dead-serious in many parts, the film is truly one of Philippine Cinema’s best.

7. Oro, Plata, Mata by Peque Gallaga – This epic film tells the story of two families and how the Japanese occupation left scathing wounds of war and psychological turmoil in their lives. The production design in this film is just superb. Jose Javier Reyes’ screenplay is also keenly observant. Truly, all of Gallaga’s succeeding works seemed inferior to this masterpiece.

8. ‘Merika by Gil Portes – This melancholic film is truly one from the heart. It is an early indictment of the American Dream and how it has affected the lives of Filipinos who have dreamt all their lives to reach the United States. This quiet but moving film is gifted with notable performances from Nora Aunor as the lonely nurse and Bembol Roco as her opportunistic suitor. The cinematography and production design are also commendable. The music underscores feelings of loneliness, nostalgia,and  desperation.

9. Paradise Inn by Celso Ad Castillo – This film is another production that mirrors the nation’s sociopolitical climate during the turbulent 80′s. Despite lopsided scripting and overscoring, the film manages to succeed thanks to memorable performances from Lolita Rodriguez and Vivian Velez, who play mother and daughter who are managing a sleezy bar cum brothel in the midst of a politically charged provincial town. This film uses subtle yet powerful images that call for revolution against a repressive regime. This film came out in December of 1985 — 2 months before the EDSA Revolution that toppled the dictatorship.

10. Pahiram Ng Isang Umaga (Lend Me One Morning) by ishmael Bernal – A tearjerker through and through, this melodrama, thankfully, is not devoid of great acting from Vilma Santos, who plays a dying working mom trying to make sense of her life that is about to come to an end. Apart from Santos’ noteworthy performance, the film also features powerful images of life and death, body and would-be-spirit, while at the same time channeling the commercialist workings of melodramas in the Philippines.

For one, Cinemaone, the cable channel that showcases Filipinop films, has an outstanding Lino Brocka film on their primetime programming last night. A 1980 film that is, though flawed technically, is truly compelling and affecting.

Bona is one of Brocka’s films that was showcased in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival – the olympics of world cinema. Though not in competition, watching the film will convince the viewer why the French truly obsessed with THE Lino Brocka — and why Nora Aunor, in spite of her colorful life, remains to be one of the Philippines’ true thespians.

Bona is the story of a slum girl, played by Nora Aunor, a hopeless fanatic. However, she is not obsessed with a superstar but with Gardo, a bit player, a movie “extra” so to speak, portrayed by Phillip Salvador.

Truly obsessed as Bona was, she would attend to the myriad needs of her “master” everyday – cooking for him, washing his clothes, cleaning his house, helping him take a bath – and in one moment of weakness, even offering herself to her master which she has come to regard as the hub of her life.But Bona’s devotion is never really acknowledged by Gardo, as he continually treats Bona like a slave, even bringing home other women.

Bona’s dreams, bound to be shattered in from the star, ends with the disillusioned fanatic dousing boiling water on her abusive master.

This really affecting psychological film has, as its main strength, the brilliant acting of Aunor and Salvador. It is very convenient to go the easy way and make caricatures out of their characters, but Aunor and even better – Salavdor, envelope their roles with very human qualities and a rare depth. Hence, it is in the acting that the film is able to0 achieve its goal, sans the bad cinematography and sound, misplaced scoring, and haphazard editing.Whiel not technically assured as Brocka’s “Maynila”, the film succeeds in communicating insightful statements as it is very intelligent, not to mention very Filipino.

All in all, Bona is an affecting film about the Filipino’s blind fanaticism, the poverty and subhuman conditions that has rendered the fanatic to be immersed in an escapist universe of silly dreams, blind servitude, and irrational obsessions – with often tragic results.