The World of Second Chances

Baby Reindeer (Netflix)

April 28, 2024

That’s Entertainment
Warning: Spoilers ahead!

I just finished watching ‘Baby Reindeer’ on Netflix. The show is inspired by comedian Richard Gadd’s real-life experience with a stalker and how it affected his relationships.

In the series, Donny Dunn, a struggling comedian, works at a pub to make ends meet and lives in his ex-girlfriend’s mother’s house. His life takes a turn when he meets Martha, a seemingly depressed stranger with grandiose stories. Donny becomes intrigued, but their friendship quickly becomes one-sided as Martha hints at wanting more.

Instead of confronting Martha, Donny engages in a cat-and-mouse game with her. He despises her stalking behavior yet finds himself missing her when she’s not around. Despite Martha’s problematic behavior, Donny fails to recognize his own need for help and healing.

Early in his career, Donny lacks confidence and connections. He finds a mentor in writing who later rapes him during a drug-induced session. Rather than reporting the assault, Donny lets his offender go free, trapping himself in an emotional and mental prison.

Some may wonder why Donny didn’t seek justice, but his actions reflect a common pattern of fear and power dynamics in situations of exploitation. Donny’s low self-esteem makes him vulnerable to Martha’s attention, which fuels his ego.

If we will do a Philippine adaptation, I think that the following actors can pull it off.
1. Carlo Aquino as Donny Dunn.
2. Vivoree Esclito as Keeley

3. Kevin Balot as Teri

4. Jay Manalo as Darien

5. Shamaine Buencamino as Keeley’s Mom

6. Agot Isidro and John Arcilla as Donny’s parents
Exploring Baguio

March 29, 2024

Travel

A young student fell in love with the place and made it as a subject of his school report.

Note: Photos taken from the web. Information on the places visited can be found online as well.

baguio Download
A Very Good Girl (Netflix)

December 28, 2023

That’s Entertainment

I viewed “A Very Good Girl” on Netflix, a tale of revenge by Mercy, an entry-level marketing assistant fired by “Mother” for not meeting expectations. Mercy’s transformation into Philo, infiltrating high society, unfolds next.

Philo’s make-believe world reflects the reality of a justice system indifferent to cases unless involving the rich. Reporting Mother as Mercy is futile; none would touch such a powerful woman.

The film conveys people’s niceness in mutual benefit, echoing “birds of a feather flock together.” Mercy, aware of casualties in her revenge, must betray her friend as Philo to earn Mother’s trust.

Instead of gaining trust, Philo is blindsided about Mother’s plans, leading to a fatal showdown. The unpredictable ending feels hanging.

Kathryn Bernardo excels as Mercy but is uncomfortable as Philo. Alessandra de Rossi might have carried both characters effortlessly. Dolly de Leon is perfect; supporting actors like Jake Ejercito, Angel Aquino, Donna Cariaga, and Chie Filomeno are good.

Despite box office success and Kathryn’s transition to mature roles, my overall impression is 3 out of 5 stars, even though I enjoyed it.
Halik Sa Hangin (Netflix)

December 26, 2023

That’s Entertainment

There’s a new movie on Netflix starring Julia Montes and Gerald Anderson. It’s a dark romance with a supernatural theme. The story revolves around Mia (Julia Montes), a college student who has been in Baguio for only two months with her mother, played by Ina Raymundo, step-father played by Edu Manzano, and step-brother Sam. Despite appearing like a loner, Mia has a group of friends who seem concerned about her, especially the characters played by Miles Ocampo and JC De Vera. Alvin (JC) has feelings for Julia, but they are not reciprocated, even though Alvin seems like a good person. Instead, Mia becomes intrigued by the mysterious guy, Gio, played by Gerald Anderson. After a series of mysterious events, Mia must choose between her own happiness and the well-being of her family.

Julia Montes is doing well in her role as a college student, and honestly, she’s the one carrying the scenes with Gerald Anderson. Gerald Anderson is handsome, but I find him lacking in embodying the character of Gio. His aura as a mysterious guy who falls for a mortal girl is not sufficient. I’m looking for the vibe that Robert Pattinson had when he played Edward Cullen in Twilight—pale, slim, with captivating eyes. There are also some scenes where Gerald’s pimples are noticeable, which shouldn’t be the case if his role is that of a ghost. In one scene, Mia arrives on a motorcycle at the meeting place with Gio, but in the next scene, she’s waiting for a taxi as if to set up a scene where she’s being harassed by three classmates. Additionally, there are scenes that, if you’re familiar with Baguio, clearly show unrealistic leaps between locations that, in reality, are a 10-minute walk apart.

But of course, what’s most important to me is to make women realize that with the abundance of decent men, why choose someone with issues? Like in this case, Alvin is okay and a devoted suitor, but she chose a stranger whose identity she doesn’t even know. The film’s message, for me, is about properly understanding the people we encounter because flowery words are not enough to say that we like someone and accept them for who they are. For me, it would be more fitting if Enrique Gil played the role of Gio because Enrique has that face that no woman would suspect of hiding secrets. If the goal of “Halik sa Hangin” was to scare, like “Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara,” the movie didn’t achieve that intention. If they had increased the scenes in the old house rather than the meeting place of Gio and Mia, the scenes might have had more fear factor.

Hence, I am giving this movie 3 out of 5 stars only.
Break Up Real Talk

December 24, 2023

Life & Love

It’s just a rumor that the KimXi breakup happened in October, but the two only confirmed it after two months. Why is it difficult to admit or announce a breakup? It’s challenging to admit because you’re still processing what happened, and in the back of your mind, you may still hope for a chance to fix things. It’s difficult to say because it only reinforces the reality that it’s over. It’s hard to say when people believe that everything is okay between you two, and suddenly it’s not.

I don’t believe there’s equal love in a relationship. Someone always loves more, even if it’s just a 0.1% difference. In a breakup, the impact is the same—someone is more affected. The one more affected doesn’t immediately speak up because the pain is too much. More often than not, they don’t seek sympathy while processing the breakup, especially if they still love the person. They don’t want others to view their ex in a negative light.

There’s a Parokya ni Edgar song that I really like, “Lagi Mong Tatandaan.” It gives advice to women in a relationship and expresses the singer’s stand on a woman’s boyfriend’s life. The bottom line is, if your boyfriend truly loves you, he won’t let you go. I believe there are levels of love. Some genuinely loved each other but separated because the guy loved something else—whether it’s a career, ambition, family, or another person. I also believe that if a relationship lasts more than two years, it might be because it serves as the guy’s safety net or comfort zone, not necessarily because he sees a future with his girlfriend. It happens.

Let’s not bash women who are waiting for a marriage proposal. It’s not outdated. Just as there are women who are fine being single forever, there are those who want to get married and start a family. There should be no comparison in the happiness of each individual.

Moving on after a breakup takes time for different people. Some can move on after 6 months, while others may take 6 years. It’s challenging to move on when you’re the one left behind, especially when you recall the places where you used to go or eat together. So my advice to those in the healing stage is to leave, if possible. If relocation is an option, go for it. It’s not healthy to be trapped in the past while your ex quickly moves on. Find a new hobby, explore new places, and meet new people. Change your phone number and limit your social media exposure. Not everyone genuinely cares about you; some are just curious. Keep your healing process private and special because not everyone cares about you. Look at the positive side of life.

When I was 17, my dorm mate Ate Joy asked me how I would feel if my first boyfriend broke up with me. My response was, “That’s how it goes.” “That’s how it goes” because I might lose him when we’re old. “That’s how it goes” because even if we get married, we might still separate. “That’s how it goes” because one of us might get sick and pass away. If I’m bound to lose him someday, all I have to do now is show him how much I love him. By the way, I was only 17 when I said that. When it actually happened and we broke up, no matter how mentally and emotionally prepared I thought I was, I wasn’t. It took me a while to process it, and my mistake was having a rebound relationship too soon, which didn’t work out either. So, I don’t recommend having a rebound relationship. Just heal in peace and quiet. And, of course, prayers can do a lot to nourish our spiritual state.
Chapter 14: Q and A

December 3, 2023

Poems & Stories

“So, after almost 20 years… what brings you back here?” nakangiting tanong ni Clara.

Tinapos ko munang nguyain ang steak. Sinadya kong tagalan dahil naghahagilap ako ng isasagot na hindi na mag-uungkat ng maraming follow up questions. Napasulyap ako kay Rupert na tila walang nadinig at abala sa kinakain.

“Wala naman. May kinuha lang documents sa registrar. Baka maunahan pa akong makakuha ng diploma ng anak ko eh,” pang-patay malisya kong sagot.

“Oh, I forgot to ask. Ilan na nga pala ang anak mo? How’s Jim?” nakangiti pa ring tanong ni Clara sabay inom ng juice. May naiwang lipstick sa baso na agad naman niyang pinunasan. Parang nabigla naman si Rupert sa tanong at sumulyap kay Clara.

Nabigla din ako hindi dahil hindi normal na tanungin ng isang dating kasama sa bahay ang mga personal na bagay sa isang tao kundi ayokong pag-usapan ang estado ng married life namin ni Jim.

“Kate. Kate ang pangalan ng anak ko. Jim is good,” maikli kong sagot.

“Isa lang pala ang anak ninyo. Perhaps naging busy sa career?”

Sasagot sana ako pero pagtingin ko kay Clara ay mukha ni Mama Tam ang nakita ko. Nakangiti at buhay na buhay. Napapikit-dilat ako ng tatlong beses bago nawala ang pangitain niya. Napansin naman ito ni Rupert at inakalang nabubulunan lang ako. Tinapik niya ako sa likod at hinagod.
“Andami mo kasing tanong, Clara. Pagod pa siguro si Leona. Buti pa ay dumaan muna tayo sa bahay para maibigay ko sa iyo ang documents na napirmahan ko,” pinutol ni Rupert ang tensyon.

“Okay, boss. I am just happy to see Leona.”

Hindi sumabay sa amin si Clara at minabuting mag-convoy na lang. Hindi ko maintindihan ang pagbabago sa asal ni Clara.Napahawak ako sa bulsa ng jacket ko para kapain kung may naiwan ba akong gamit sa restaurant.

“Tahimik ka?” basag ni Rupert sa katahimikan.

“Wala, nabusog lang sa treat mo. Thank you pala,” sagot ko. Ngumiti siya sa akin at gumanti naman ako ng matipid na ngiti. Nahihiya ako sa mga kaganapan na sa tinagal na panahon ay parang mga ibang tao na ang mga taong naging bahagi ng aking kabataan.
“Belated happy birthday…” matamis niyang sabi.

Lumukso ang puso ko. Naaalala ko ang mga panahong pinaghahanda ako ni Mama Tam kapag birthday ko. Naroon si Jenny, Marie, Joy at Clara na halinhinang nagpapaypay ng iba-barbecue habang ako naman ay nagbabasa ng magazine sa tumba-tumba.

Naaalala ko din ang di inasahang madinig ko ang phone conversation ni Mama Tam sa kanyang amiga na medyo nakapagbigay sa akin ng ibang dating.

“Busy ako dahil birthday ng mamanugangin ko. Papakawalan ko pa ba ito kung kamukhang-kamukha ng anak ko?”

Mamanugangin? Parang napakaaga naman yata ng plano ni Mama Tam para sa amin. Marami pa akong pangarap sa buhay habang si Rupert ay tila naghahantay lang ng kung ano ang ibigay ng tadhana. Magaling ding makipag-negotiate si Mama Tam dahil kahit sa mga magulang ko ay nakumbinse niyang kami muna ang mag-celebrate ng 18th birthday ko at after mid-terms na lang ang grand celebration sa Pampanga. Inip na inip ako at gusto ko ng hilahin ang araw para dito.

“Belated happy birthday kako,” patampong sabi ni Rupert.

“Ay, sorry. I mean, thank you,” nagulat ko naman sabi.

Napatingin si Rupert sa bulsa ng jacket ko, “Kung ano-ano yata ang nasa isip mo.”

Pinindot niya ang remote at kusang bumukas ang gate. Natanaw ko naman sa side mirror ang sasakyan ni Clara. Binuksan ni Rupert ang pinto ng kotse at saka ako bumaba.

“Sa front gate na lang ako dadaan. Thank you nga pala sa docs at sa treat mo. So nice to see you again, Clara,” kaway ko.

Nagulat si Clara na paalis ako. Pinigilan naman ako ni Rupert pero inalis ko ang kanyang kamay. Hindi ko alam kung paimbabaw lang ba ang pagpigil niya o nagmamadali lang siyang ibigay ang kailangang documents ni Clara pero mabilis din akong nakalakad palayo sa bahay.

Yakap-yakap ko ang documents habang sinasara ang front gate. Lumulukso ang puso ko sa mga ala-ala ng aking kabataan na pinalala pa ng pagtataka sa malapit na ugnayan ni Clara at Rupert. Iyon lang at mabilis kong inabot ang bulsa ng jacket ko para kumalma. Ayokong datnan ako ni Dina na parang wala sa sarili.
Batang Quiapo

December 2, 2023

That’s Entertainment

Dahil wala naman akong pinagkakaabalahan tuwing lunchbreak at ibinibigay ko sa sarili ko ang isang oras na pamamahinga liban na lamang kung super busy ako, ang libangan ko ay manood ng teleserye. Natapos ko ang Dirty Linen pati na ang Linlang. Ngayon ko lang nasisimulan ang Batang Quiapo kaya baka medyo talon-talon ang istoryang naabutan ko.

Una, fan ako ni Coco Martin at para sa akin, si Coco ang pinakapinagpala ngayon dahil bukod sa siya ang actor, siya din ang director at producer ng mga teleserye niya. Tignan mo nga naman ang tadhana, ano? Parang kailan lang na extra siya sa mga teen-oriented shows ng GMA-7 na kalaunan ay naging guest actor sa Daisy Siete. Parang kailan lang ay naging Prince of Indie Films siya at wala sigurong nag-akala na mapapasok niya ang mainstream media. Nung sabihin ni Katherine Luna na siya ang ama ng dinadala niya at inako naman ni Coco ang responsibilidad, lalo akong humanga sa kanya noon. Of course, years later ay nalaman din niya ang totoo na hindi pala siya ang ama ng bata through a DNA test.

Pangalawa, naaalala ko ang Batang Quiapo ni FPJ kaya curious ako kung malaki ba ang binago ng istorya. Hindi naman ako nabigo dahil sobrang laking pagbabago nga. Na-focus ang story ng Batang Quiapo ngayon sa malungkot na buhay ni Tanggol (Coco Martin).

Pero ang di ko maintindihan ay ang role ni Christopher de Leon bilang Ramon. Sagad sa buto ang kasamaan niya na gusto mo na lang makitang nakakulong siya. Umpisa pa lang ng kwento ay siya na ang puno’t dulo ng kamalasan ni Tanggol, eh.

Sa isang eksena ng pagtakas niya, natyempuhan niya si Marites at sa halip atupagin ang pagtatago sa mga pulis ay nagawa pang pagsamantalahan ang walang kamuwang-muwang na babae. At syempre, ang twist neto ay si Rigor na isang alagad ng batas na tumutugis kay Ramon ang siyang asawa ni Marites. Kaya minsan, naiintindihan ko ang sagad sa butong pagkamuhi ni Rigor kay Tanggol lalo kapag nakakagawa ng masama dahil reminded sya na dumadaloy sa dugo nito ang dugong kriminal ni Ramon. Syempre ibang usapan na ang pagiging marupok ni Rigor kay Lena at kung paano niya bastusin ang byenang si Tindeng. Kairita talaga siya pag ganon.

Mas gusto ko pang maniwalang anak ni Ramon si David dahil iisa ang kalikot ng budhi nila. Pero syempre, hindi ganon ang story. Ang anak ni Ramon ay si Tanggol na ang awkward pa ay napangasawa niya ang love of Tanggol’s life na si Mokang. Kaya nung lumabas sa istorya si Bubbles, nag-shift na ako ng gusto from MoTang to BuTang. LOL.

Etong si Cherry Pie naman, nagiging suki sa role ng walang kamuwang-muwang na misis. Sa Sandugo ni Ejay Falcon at Aljur Abrenica, ganun din ang role niya na sobrang walang kaaalam-alam sa mga kaganapan. Pero may kilig factor din sila ni Pareng Mando kaya kung di ubra kay Rigor, sana sila na lang. Hehehe.

Andami ko yatang nalaktawan kaya di ko gets sino ang anak ni Olga na napatay ni Tanggol at kung si Tanggol ba talaga ang salarin. Nga pala, akala ko si Olga ay yung artistang si Dolly de Leon. Si Irma Adlawan nga pala siya. Pareho kasi silang magaling. Napagpapalit ko.

Itong si Edwin ay representation ng mga bayaw o hipag na abusado sa natikmang kaginhawahan. Binigay mo na ang kamay mo, gusto pati buong katawan, kunin pa. Si Marsing naman at si Nita ay simbolo ng mga magulang na pinu-push ang anak makahanap ng rich papa para maiahon sila sa hirap. But in all fairness, mahal na mahal nila si Mokang. They just thought that marrying Ramon is the only way.

Gandang-ganda ako kay Camille. Teka, nakunan ba siya o buntis pa? Kasi kung di na siya buntis at wala naman ng dapat pang ipag-stay kay David, layasan na niya. Wala syang future kay David sa sama ng ugali noon.

Magkakatuluyan ba si Mokang at Tanggol? Ay ayoko! Haha. Ang awkward na ang “step-mom” mo ay siyang love interest mo pa din. Basta kay Bubbles ako!

Yayaman ba si Tanggol? Naku, galing sa drugs ang pera ni Ramon, so di bale na lang.

Matagal pa ang lalakarin ng teleseryeng ito pero sana, ang ending ay yung makatotohanan naman. Wag yung parang sa Linlang na pagkatapos ng lahat at pagkamatay ni Olivia at Sylvia, nagpapa-cute pa sa isa’t-isa sila Victor at Juliana.