Saturday, May 14, 2005
On its third edition this year, the country's most hysterical film event, the Pink Festival (The International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival), unreels from June 1 to 7 at the Gateway, the newest mall to rise in Cubao, Quezon City.
Celebrating with the world the annual Gay Pride Month, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, in cooperation with the Mowelfund Film Institute and ProGay, mounts this week-long film event with empowering images of gays and lesbians, a community much too often ridiculed with stereotypes on screen. With its theme, "In the Pink of Health," the festival highlights the human and health rights of this marginalized sector.
The extravaganza opens with Ellen Ongkeko's dazzling directorial debut, "Mga Pusang Gala" (Wayward Cats) starring Irma Adlawan and Ricky Davao as next-door neighbors sharing a house, sex fantasies and lousy lovers.
The always impressive Davao manages to deliver not just another gay role, but a totally different take on the tortured, if hysterical, existence of the Pinoy bakla. But Adlawan shares half of the fun (and the tears) in the film as she essays a highly sympathetic role of a fiercely independent bohemian Marta. The film is as much a woman's as it is a gay film.
In another major film premiere, the freshest male showbiz sensation, Coco Martin, gambles on a most offbeat debut character as the exploited male prostitute in Brillante Mendoza's "Masahista" (The Masseur), opposite "Macho Dancer" stars Alan Paule and Jacklyn Jose.
Not to be outshone is the Taiwanese film that will open this year's international section. "F-17" is a feel-good movie with to-die-for handsome Chinese boys loving and hurting in the mad world of Taiwanese society. Balancing the gay fantasies generated by this film and other titles like last year's megahit, Hamilton McLeod's "Inter.Mates" starring Ian Veneracion, are gay and lesbian films that take the mask off society's hypocritical regard of LGBTs.
Academy award-winning director Debra Chasnoff brings from the American heartland three powerful documentaries that hit intolerance and homophobia among young audiences in "That's a Family" and two other films. In her "One Wedding and a Revolution," she chases around town the troublemaking Gavin Newsom who figures in a huge firestorm of debate as the new mayor of San Francisco when he gave same-sex couples the right to get married at city hall.
Filipino-American filmmaker Jennifer Ting peeks into the secret world of lesbians in Seattle and we see how ordinary lesbians dispel bad stereotypes among their peer groups in the docu-drama, "Not Straightforward."
From Norway, Kenneth Elvebakk uncovers "The Secret Club," an underground society for homosexuals established in Oslo in 1950 when homosexuality was a criminal offence then. With humor and a touch of sadness, a group of older homosexual men recall titillating episodes from their youth, as well as the negative reactions from society. In a similar film, memories of teenage lesbian love are awakened and suppressed feelings begin to rise when two old ladies bump into each other in Claudia Lorenz's "Hoi Maya" from Switzerland.
The festival also boasts of promising Filipino artists such as Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo who joins the digital revolution with her whimsical short film "Babae," a tale of two women who boldly redefine what family means in a community along the railroad tracks. A group of students from De La Salle capture the magic of "hard-of-hearing" gays whose sign language takes wild flights of fancy in their thesis film, "When Pink Fingers Talk."
Chris Pablo's rediscovered 1998 educational video "Slow Motion" is a subtle yet penetrating diatribe on anti-gay bullying in grade schools.
The Pink Festival 2005 is also supported by the Finland Embassy, the Swiss Embassy, Philippine NGO Support Program (PHANSuP), Women's Educational Media (Womedia), Norweigian Film Institute, University of the Philippines Film Institute and AIDS Society of the Philippines.
Reservations and Season's Passes will soon be made available. Corporate sponsorships and provincial bookings are now being accepted. For more information, call: Mowelfund Film Institute at 410 4567; 727 1915 local 202; or 3673109. Visit the website at www.pinkfilmfest.cjb.net or e-mail progay@yahoo.com
6:04 PM
|
Monday, May 02, 2005
Last Supper
(Sampung Minutong Monologo)
ni Milky
Tauhan
Sigrid,23: isang Tri-Media Model (Print, Ramp, Screen). Moreno, mahaba ang buhok, may nunal sa ilalim ng mata. Mayaman, may sariling condominium sa Annapolis, Greenhills. Kasalukuyang boyfriend ni Ryan.
Ryan,24: isang photographer at graphic artist sa isang advertising firm. Gwapo. Tahimik at mahilig maggitara. Boyfriend ni Sigrid.
Panahon at Tagpuan:
Kasalukyan. Isang gabi sa condo unit ni Sigrid. Maliit lamang ang buong unit. Pula ang kulay ng dingding. Nakakabit ang isang malaking orasan sa dingding sa itaas ng sofa. Mula sa pinto, tatambal ang sala. Puti ang kulay ng sofa at lahat ng kasangkapan ng condominium. May dalawang side table sa magkabilang dulo ng sofa kung saan makikita ang mga litrato nilang dalawa. Sa harap ng sofa ay ang isang mababang center table na may mga nakasinding scented candles. Nakapatong rin dito ang mga fashion magazines kung saan si Sigrid ang nasa Frontpage. Ilang hakbang pa ay makikita na ang Dining Area kung saan may maliit na Dining Table at dalawang silya. May dalawang plato, dalawang wine glass at nakasindi ang isang kandila sa gitna ng mesa. Kalapit nito ang dirty kitchen kung nasaan ang pagkain, ang ref, rice cooker at microwave.
Sa umpisa ng dula, makikitang nakaupo si Sigrid sa Sofa. Tulala at pinakikinggan ang paggalaw ng orasan. Tila ba may inaantay. Hindi siya mapakali at walang magagawa kundi mag-intay na lamang. Bigla, may kakatok. Magugulat si Sigrid. Muling aayusin ang sarili, lalapit sa pinto at bubuksan ito.
Sigrid:
O, ba't ngayon ka lang? What took you so long? I've been waiting for you for more than 2 hours. I can't believe it. You're late. You're always late. All the time we've been together lagi ka nalang late. Late sa mga lakad natin, late sa mga events at pictorials ko. Pati yung mga tawag at text messages mo sa'kin late rin. Oh my God, kaya naman pati oras ng pagtulog ko late na rin. Lumalalim na ang eyebags ko kakaintay sa'yo. Kamusta naman ang pimplea, bukas makalawa di malayong mawalan ako ng trabaho ng dahil sa pagiging late mo. You know my work naman, kailangan lagi kang fresh, pero pano ako magiging fresh e para na akong gulay na nilagyan ng effort na bilhin sa palengke dis oras ng gabi. Hello anong oras na, its past 10 in the evening. You're supposed to be here kanina pang 8. Pero anong nangyari, you're late! So what's your excuse for tonight? Traffic? Late natapos yung pictorials? Ano? Dali, I want to hear your side, I want to know your reason. Baka naman sabihin mo napakaselfish ko. So ano na? Hay naku, im so disappointed in you honey. Tonight is a very special night for both of us. I have something important to tell you. Halika na nga pumasok ka.
(Papasok sa unit sa Ryan. Tutuloy sa sala. May nakasabit na SLR camera sa kanyang leeg habang may bitbit namang gitara sa kanyang kamay.)
Sigrid:
O have a seat. Upo ka muna habang iniinit ko yung food. Kaw kase e, ang tagal mong dumating ayan tuloy lumamig na.
(Uupo si Ryan sa sofa. Titingnan ang interiors ng buong unit. Pagmamasdan ang mga picture frames, papasadahan ang mga magazines. Sisimulang itono ang gitara habang iniinit ni Sigrid ang pagkain sa microwave oven. Ttutugtog)
Sigrid:
Grabe, habang buhay nalang ba tayong ganito? We've been together for 2 years; no make it three hindi mo pala kase ako niligawan, hindi pala uso sa mga katulad natin 'yun. All the time we've been together. Walang nangyayari sa relationship natin. Once a week na nga lang tayo nagkikita, late ka pa. I understand your profession. Like mine, lagi tayong busy. Hindi 'to 8 hour job na magsisimula ng alas-nuebe at matatapos ng ala-singko. Kahit anong oras pwede tayong ipatawag ng agency. Marami rin tayong mga out of town trips, pictorials, dinner meetings, ramp shows at prodworks. The sex is good and I had pleasure and orgasms. I also appreciate your effort calling and texting me everyday. Pinapaalam mo rin naman sakin kung nasan ka, anong plano mo for the day at mga whereabouts mo for tomorrow. But please find time for me naman. Kailangan kita. Iba pa rin yung lagi tayong magkasama, hindi ikaw si lord na nakakasama ko in spirit. Ako kase kahit na haggard-haggardang portion ito, nagagawa ko 'yun. Kase, alam mo na, you're special.
(Mag-aalarm ang microwave oven. Ilalabas ni Sigrid ang pagkain mula dito. Ihahain sa lamesa. Kukuha ng kanin mula sa rice cooker at ihahain rin sa lamesa. Bubukasan ang ref at kukunin ang bote ng red wine.)
Sigrid:
O what are you waiting for? Come on over. Let's eat. Kain na tayo baka lumamig na naman itong pagkain.
(Tatayo si Ryan. Pupunta sa dining area. Uupo.)
Sigrid:
O diba ang romantic no? Candle light dinner for two, isn't sweet honey? (lalagyan ng pagkain ang plato ni Ryan at ng wine ang wine glass) Pinaghandaan ko talaga ang gabing ito. I cooked your favorite chicken pork adobo. Naalala ko kaseng you always go for that every time we go out to eat. Siguro nagtataka ka kung marunong ba talaga akong magluto. Sa technically tatlong taon kase nating pagsasama, ngayon mo lang ako nakita magluto. Offcourse I do! But I prefer not to on ordinary days. Occasional lang, kapag importante, kapag inlove. Go ahead try some. Walang lason 'yan at hindi kita balak lasunin. I forgive you for being late, sanayan lang 'yan. O ano tikman mo na. I promise you'll beg for more once you've tried it.(aamuyin ni Sigrid ang adobo, mapapapikit sa sarap) Uhmmm sarap! (kikindat) Maybe this night will change our lives. I have something important to tell you. But first kumain ka muna.
(Kakain si Ryan)
Sigrid:
O what can you say? Medyo napaalat at napaasim lang siguro pero o diba ang sarap. Walang binatbat ang sex natin 'yan. Sabi nga ng mga ex ko, ang luto ko raw ang pinakamasarap. Pero nagtataka ako kung bakit pagkatapos nilang kainin ang luto ko, bigla nalang sila natutulala at biglang nalang aalis, hindi na sila bumabalik. Ewan ko ba, luha ko yata ang ang secret ingredient ng luto ko kaya masarap. E ano pa ba? What else? Wala na. Alangan namang bawang, sibuyas, toyo, suka, chicken at pork. E lahat naman yata nang nagluluto ng adobo, gumagamit 'yon. O ano, magkwento ka naman. Bakit kanina ka pa hindi nagsasalita. Is there something wrong that you want to share? May problema ba o sarap na sarap ka lang sa luto ko? Hmmm, no need to ask. Halata namang sarap na sarap ka e. Anyway kung ayaw mo magkwento, ikaw nalang ang kukwentuhan ko.
Sigrid:
(iinom ng red wine)Kelan kaya tayo ikakasal? O ang tanong ikakasal ba? May balak ba tayong magpakasal? Pathetic no? Unang-una sa lahat, sino ba ang ayaw ng kasal? Tulad nito, habang buhay nalang ba tayong magboyfriend? Mi hindi nga live-in e. Nagkikita lang once a week tapos uwian pa. I guess lahat naman tayo pinangarap 'yun. Kasal.
Sigrid:
Ei is it ok to light a stick? Nalipasan na kase ako ng gutom e (magsisindi ng sigarilyo). So where were we, ayun, pangalawa, uso na ngayon ang same sex marriage. Legal na ito sa ibang bansa, sa America, sa Netherlands at iba pa. Patok na nga rin ito sa mga Christians e. May sarili na tayong santo. Si St. Aelred, patron of the Gays and Lesbians. Pero dito sa Pinas, wanji pa rin. Our ears remain closed to new innovations and cultures. So pano \lquote yun? What if we could go abroad and we get married there. What do you think?
(patuloy sa pagkain ng adobo si Ryan)
Sigrid:
Huy magcomment ka naman d'yan! I'm asking for your opinion. What do you think? Anyway, hey have you heard about the news lately? About dun sa Gay marriage sa NPA. You know about that? Taray nga e, front page sa Inquirer yesterday, may pictures pa. Akalain mo, nangyari yun. At eto pa ang laki ng age gap nila. 21 yung isa na kinasal sa 52 yrs old of the same sex. Amazing! 'Di rin pla sila nagpapahuli sa pag-ibig kahit nasa bundok sila, nakikipagbarilan versus the military. So pano yun? What if, sumali rin tayo dun? What if mag-NPA tayo? Tama! (hihithit ng siragilyo, bubuga ng usok) Ay kaya lang pano na yung mga work natin, yung lifestyle ko, and besides there are certain ideologies that I contradict. Isa pa I could buy everything that I want. Lahat na ng luho nasa akin. I already have this condo unit, my own car, a high paying profession, what more could I ask, true love na lang. I'm not that crazy to risk my life for the country. Imagine us wearing that awful fatigue and that top of a magsasaka. Carrying those heavy backpacks and having those big guns on our hands while climbing seven mountains in 10 seconds, graber!
Sigrid:
(iinom ng red wine, hihithit ng sigarilyo) My gulay bakit naman kasi ang hirap maging bakla e. Isn't may destiny not to get married? Kase alam mo ba sa bagal ko'ng kumain, madalas akong mapagligpitan ng pinggan. You know naman that superstition of ours na tatandang spinster kung sino man ang mapagligpitan ng pinggan. I don't know if that superstition's also applicable to us gays but that superstition's finally hitting me and I kinda believe that. Isa pa may nunal rin ako sa ilalim ng mata, daanan ng luha. Ibig sabihin laging bigo ang lovelife ko.
Sigrid:
(titingin sa malayo)Hay naku? Three years, three years. It's been a long time. Hmmmm pano nga ba tayo ulit nagkakilala? A ok I remember, I was still in college at that time. Lunes n'yon noong una tayong nagkita. Oo Lunes yun, sigurado ako dahil natatandaan ko pang may exam kami n'yon sa PP17 nong araw na'yun. E tuwing Lunes lang naman nagbibigay ng exam yung Prof. namin, pampaganda raw ng linggo. Sa hirap ng exam, parang nadigest lahat ng kinain ko sa kakaisip na kahit open notes naman ay di ko masagot-sagot. Kaya matapos n'yon ay pumunta na lang ako sa isawan upang may maganda namang mangyari sa nakakabuwisit kong araw, paborito ko kase ang isaw. Ang usok sa may isawan, para akong manok na ilalaban sa sabong, tuloy hinika na naman ako. Ano ba'to ang malas ko talaga ngayon. Tapos dumating ka inabutan ako ng panyo at nagpakilala. Sabi ko, ano kaya ang binabalak ng taong ito ng mga oras na iyon? Dali-dali akong sumakay ng kotse pauwi dito sa condo, iniisip pa rin ang mga nangyari nang mga sandaling iyon. Tignan mo nga naman ang pagkakataon, akala ko puro kamalasan na lang ang mangyayari sa araw ko, may maganda pa rin pa lang nangyari sa akin kahit papaano.
Sigrid:
(titingin sa pinto, mukhang may inaantay) Akala ko hindi na kita muling makikita. Masyadong mabilis ang mga pangyayari ngunit totoo ngang maliit lang ang mundo, nagkita ulit tayo kinabukasan. Sa Philo class. Hindi ka lang dumaan sa corridor kundi nag seat-in pa sa klase. Kakilala mo kasi yung isa kong clasmate. Noong una hindi pa nga kita pinapansin, kunwari hindi kita kilala. Hindi ako sigurado kung ikaw nga talaga yun. Hindi ko na kasi matandaan ang mukha mo, hindi ko na rin kase inakala ng magkikita pa tayo. After the class niyaya mo akong magmiryenda. At dun na nagumpisa ang lahat.
Sigrid:
(titingnan ang platong kinakainan ni Ryan)Grabe! Mukha talagang may balak kang ubusin 'yang lahat ng niluto ko a. Mamaya sumuka ka nalang bigla sa kabusugan o kaya maimpatcho sige ka. (iinom ng red wine)
Sigrid:
(magsisindi ng panibagong stick ng sigarilyo, hihithit, bubuga) Anyway I just want to refresh those days na nagsisimula palang tayo. Hindi-hindi ko makakalimutan ang araw nay un, kung saan una tayong nagkita. O ano masarap ba? Basog ka na ba? (iinom ng red wine, hahawakan ang kamay ni Ryan, matitigilan sa pagsubo ng pagkain si Ryan) Siguro kailangan na nating tapusin ang mga naumpisahan natin. Kase ako nasusuka na? Nauuyam na ako sa monotomous nating relasyon. Lagi ka nalang maasim, kadalasan nagiging maalat tayo. Gusto ko naman makatikim ng matamis. Kaya Ryan, It's a very hard decision for me to do. But I guess we're off.
(Matatagilan sa pagnguya si Ryan, napapalunok.)
Sigrid:
Im inlove right now. But sad to say that person is not you. It's about that guy that I met a month ago. His name is Brian. He's a young professional working in Ortigas. Actually he's coming over to see me tonight. Not like you, he is always there for me. He makes it a point to drop by here just to say hello, a thing that you don\rquote t do. Papunta na siya dito. Siguro any minute now andyan na siya kumakatok sa pintuan. Im sorry kanina kung sobrang big deal ang pagiging late mo, ayoko lang kaseng magpang-abot kayo. So Ryan now that you have your supper na, I supposed you could leave already. Goodbye.
(May kakatok sa pinto, bubukas, tatambal si Brian na may dalang pagkain sa Tupperware)
Sigrid:
(nanginginig ang boses) Oh Brian we've been expecting you. Anyway this is Ryan, my ex boyfriend. Ryan I like you to meet my present boyfriend Brian. Ryan this is Brian, Brian this is Ryan. Ryan-Brian, Brian-Ryan. What a coincidence magka-rhyme pa ang mga pangalan n'yo. Anyway, honey, what took you so long? We\rquote ve been waiting for you kanina pa. Ryan wants to know you more but said to say he has to leave na. May pictorials pa kase siya sa Antipolo. Kailangan niya kaseng makuhanan yung meteor shower dun para sa swimsuit collection. Diba Ryan? O sige na baka malate ka pa. Text text nalang ha. Ok, bye.
(Aalis kaagad si Ryan. Maiiwan ang gitara)
Sigrid:
O Brian what's the occasion? 'Bat ka nagdala ng food? Is there something important that you have to say? Tara na let's eat, kainin na natin 'yan, baka lumamig pa yung food.
(Kukunin ni Sigrid ang dala-dalang food ni Brian, bubukasan and Tupperware)
Sigrid:
What! Adobo! (matutulala, kakabahan si Sigrid, maapabuntong hininga)Niluto mo ba ito?
(Tatango si Brian)
TELON
9:51 AM
|
