Best Filipino Films of 2006

Year 2006 is yet a continuum of the glorious independent cinema which proliferated last 2005. The unprecendented success of Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros has kept the dice rolling, with a lot of good movies produced (indepently produced, correction) last year. Sad to say, these independent, low-budget but quality films have still shared a little audience.

As a yearender, I have compiled a list of six best movies of 2006. Indie flicks have dominated my list, but I'm not saying that all mainstream flicks are purely blah. In fact, I have commended a Metro Manila Film Festival entry which surpassed my expectations. By the way, the list is just a product of my opinion so if you have any disagreements, don't be afraid to tell me, but that will not make me change the movies in my list. Enjoy!

***

KUBRADOR
Directed by Jeffrey Jetturian
w/ Gina Pareno
Set in the slums, "Kubrador" follows the life of Amy (Gina Pareno) as she traverses along the labyrinth of houses and narrow pathways, collecting her neighbors' bets for the next draw of jueteng, an illegal numbers game here in the Philippines. The storytelling is fresh, veering us away the usual preachy way of discussing jueteng. It neither romanticizes nor understates the role of jueteng in the Philippine environment but it simply projects to our minds its nature. The camera movements are very notable, dizzyingly metaphorical. The story structure is also one of a kind, though disorienting at first, but actually whimsical at second observation. My best picture for 2006

COMPOUND
Directed by Will Fredo
w/ John Arcilla, Gian Macapagal

Probably one of the most psychotic local films I've ever seen for a long time, "Compound" directs our senses to a location wherein we could magnify the vast society we are interacting with. Brutal and honest, we will find ourselves guessing what will happen next, surmising that it's another cliche, just to get knocked out and discover a totally different story. Note the superb acting of John Arcilla as the almost insane Virgilio, and Jake Macapagal, the homosexual tenant in the compound.

KASAL KASALI KASALO
Directed by Jose Javier Reyes
w/ Judy Ann Santos, Ryan Agoncillo, Gina Pareno
Jose Javier Reyes' redeemed himself this time, treating a simple old story of married life with a different twist. Whatever that twist is, I still can't figure it until this time. Maybe it's the superbly written script (very witty!) , or the magnificent acting spiels of Judy Ann Santos as Angie and Gina Pareno as her mother. I need not look down on other casts because they are all good nonetheless. There's nothing really different about the film, but there is something in it which will made you recall that it's a very good film. Whatever the magic ingredient is, maybe it's magical just for being magical's sake. The only mainstream flick of 2006 which I can recommend, this is also a redeeming product of Star Cinema since its release of Dekada '70 last 2002.

TODO TODO TEROS
Directed by: John Torres
w/ Bughaw, Earl Drilon, Olga Aliseichyk, Regiben Romana
Todo Todo Teros made me utter, "What does it suppose to mean?!?" a couple of times while it is being projected in the screen, but a puzzle solver's perspective would properly connect each single piece to a very well-made story. Perfectly experimental, the whole film was shot even before the script was written. The idea of terrorism reverberates around the film's premise, as the concept connects with family, love, country, self and art.

DONSOL
Directed by: Adolfo Alix Jr.
w/ Angel Aquino, Sid Lucero
Breathtaking. One word for Donsol's cinematography. I even have to question myself a number of times how could a digital camera be able to capture excellently such magical images of blue skies, tourist spots and underwater environments alongside with the swimming butandings (whalesharks). The sceneries incredibly wonderfully juxtapose to a developing love story between Teresa (Angel Aquino), a breast cancer survivor, and Daniel (Sid Lucero) a Butanding Interaction Officer.

SQUATTERPUNK (ISKWATERPANGK)
Directed by: Khavn dela Cruz

Let's travel back to the silent era. Make sure you have your beers and two-hour supply of cigarettes with you as you follow the life of a boy in the urban squatter's area, with The Brockas as the live accompanying music. Yup, it is a silent film and it's a challenge to bring back the style once again. Imagine yourself watching a two-hour music video. But despite the band's enigmatic and loud music drowning the film is a very ironic message which will stab your heart.

Notable Performances:
John Arcilla - Compound
Alchris Galura – Batad
Ping Medina – Tulad ng Dati
Cesar Montano – Ligalig
Rustom Padilla – Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah
Angel Aquino - Donsol
Phoemela Barranda – Ang Pamana
Gina Pareno - Kubrador and Kasal Kasali Kasalo
Judy Ann Santos – Kasal Kasali Kasalo
Maricel Soriano – Numbalikdiwa
Chokoleit – Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah
Johnny Delgado - Ligalig
Polo Ravales – Manay Po
Neil Ryan Sese – Seroks
Jake Macapagal – Compound
Julia Clarete – Sa Ilalim ng Cogon
Eugene Domingo – D Lucky Ones
Cherry Pie Picache – Kaleldo
Celia Rodriguez - Ligalig

Unfolding 2006

I will look at 2006 as one of the most important year of my life as it has given me a number of unique – whether good or bad – and memorable experiences which I have never went through in my early existence. Practically, this is the year for tumultuous adjustments subdued.

I graduated last May 19, remained so attached to my college Alma Mater, Don Bosco. It’s a small community, I tell you, but I’m very much happy with my four years of stay there. I can’t help but keep my sentimentality on the very last day as a student, when I stepped my foot up the stage to receive my very hard-earned diploma, and when my mom wore my medal around my neck; every single memory just rushed back: my first day as a freshman, my days as a research assistant for Samsung at DB-CRT, the annual three-day retreats, my editorship at the Bosconian Forum, gimmicks and hangouts with classmates who eventually became my good friends (or enemies) whom I will never ever forget. That night wrapped it all. I’m happy not because my four years of college has finally ended but because everything has happened. Thank you to Vanni, JB, King, Joboy, Maurice, Cliff, Tiu, David G, Rjam, Power, Jid, Denson, F, Boki, Vince, Grim, Rej, Mark, Jonas, Jasper, Sal. Sir Rodrigo, my beloved thesis adviser. Atty. Jane, my adviser in the Bosconian Forum, who also is the one who inspired me to write. I love you all.

Well, despite my four years of IT education I’m not sure if that’s what I really want to do in my life. A month before graduation, I was hired as a programmer trainee in Sykes Asia. Frankly, I love the people whom I have mingled there (Pakner Makre, I miss you! I long for our constant coffee sessions together. Ate Mylene, Kuya Jason, Sir Manolet … miss ko na rin kayo) but I really feel that there’s no way I could become a programmer. I resigned after a month.

Just what the saying continually tells us, every time God closes a door, he will open a window. After I have resigned my work in Sykes (and after we ultimately passed our thesis), I received a call from iWebmasters for a job offer… as a creative writer. Way back college days, I can’t imagine myself working as an IT practitioner which explains why most of the positions that I have applied was for writing, which is my real love. I accepted the offer and it’s going to be my eighth month in the company next month. Iweb has been a training ground for people who became my second family. I’ll be going to name a few of you: Angel, Anne, Chris, Stephen, Richard, Mike, Art, Carlo, Jomar, Ernest, Franjo… thank you very much.

As an additional thanks to iWeb, it has given me the chance to let me continue with my schooling. Eventually, I decided to study again. This time, I’ve followed what my heart really wants. I applied and get accepted for the MA Film program of the University of the Philippines-Diliman. I’m happy that my company has supported me with my endeavors through sheer understanding. And by the way, I’m spending for my education now.

UP life is very different, as its environment is thoroughly absorbed in my system since I’ve decided to live in one of its dormitory – the Ipil. This is my first take as a dormer, and I need to tell that it is not bad after all. Well, I definitely missed my room but dorm living is something that I can put in my worthy-experience list.

My taste of UP education is something which I will not trade for anything. Yes, it’s much difficult than what I have experienced at Don Bosco, but this is what I want, I want to be totally challenged, squeeze my brain juices out of my skull. I love the knock-out projects, the seven-chapter reading requirements, the oral reports. I know those are difficult, especially for a working man like me who has been squeezing my tight schedule, but surpassing each one of them is nirvana.

Just months ago, I’ve been dreaming of becoming a director and who would ever believe that my dream will easily become a reality months from now? I am scheduled to shoot Color it Red’s music video for their ballad “Stay” come January. Thanks for Sir Lyle Sacris’ project requirement.

And what’s the most abrupt adjustment that I have ever accomplished? I am now living all by myself. I am totally responsible for myself now: I pay for my rent, my fare, my breakfast, lunch and dinner, my gimmicks, my tuition. And it’s a very nice feeling to be the giver than the receiver.

I wish that 2007 will be a good year for me. I will never ever give a resolution which I would possibly not keep. But I’m really praying for a happy life for my family, for the uprising of my career, for the realization and actualization of my dream of becoming a director. I wish that problems won’t arise and in case they’ll haunt us, I am hoping that we could easily surpass them. I’m happy yet sad for the year 2006. It has opened my eyes to a lot of things, which I ultimately treasure, but I felt that something, or someone, is missing who will complete me. I wish that that someone will come, will visit and stay with me for 2007.


David R. Corpuz
11:44 PM
December 31, 2006