Raw and wild, Bucas Grande is a paradise

SOCORRO, SURIGAO DEL NORTE—We were warned: the trip going here could take forever. Almost finishing one clock cycle, the journey could mean dozing off inside your vehicle, passing by pot-holed roads and experiencing provincial scenes along the way.

“Are we there yet?,” was asked on an hourly basis, perhaps a reflection of either weariness or excitement.

But as expected, there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Now seven hours on the road on the waning days of blistering summer, we reached the reddish town of Claver, our gateway to one of Mindanao’s best destinations. From there, a 45-minute banca ride took us to paradise.

Welcome to Bucas Grande Islands, where different shades of blue and green serve as an effective killer of exhaustion. It’s the color of sweet escape, too, where all over the place the sweet marriage of blue and green are pleasant for the eyes to see. The truth is, everywhere you look—and I’m talking 360 degrees—the panoramic vistas are just perfect background for a photograph.

APPROACHING PARADISE. Making your way to Bucas Grande is an exciting experience.

Bucas Grande lies in the northern part of Mindanao and shares the famous waters of Siargao. It’s under the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Socorro of the Province of Surigao del Norte—a province known for wide array of sea-based activities.

Here, happiness abounds, thanks to the frolic waves, the awesome coves, the white sand on distant shores, the cliffs, the caves, countless lagoons, lakes and the jellyfish.

Bucas Grande is such a bliss.

Stingless jellyfishes make Bucas Grande as their abode, living calmly and peacefully in a solemn cove with waters the color of a posh swimming pool. One has to pass a narrow passage to enter this cove, which could elicit a feeling that somehow you’re like entering a basilica. It was a fleeting moment, but having the opportunity to touch a jellyfish is bliss.

Beauty that is Lake Holon

Panoramic Shot of the amazing Lake Holon in Tboli, South Cotabato

The mountains persisted in summoning my soul despite the countless times I dreaded it for its treacherous hills and its dangerous ravines. This time, I found myself in the deep jungles of South Cotabato's tribal municipality of T'boli, a land endowed with the gifts of nature and nurtured by the vibrant people that carried its name. In this town, simplicity is king, from its laid-back poblacion to the peaceful sitios. Life is slow here, which makes it all the more enticing. In this town also lies what could be considered as South Cotabato's prized gem—Lake Holon—which, despite its being serene and silent and relatively unknown, trumpets the moniker of the province as a prime destination for tourists possessing an excess appetite for adventure.

Centuries ago, the place where the lake is situated has become a witness to the rumblings of Mt. Parker, a stratovolcano that has last erupted in 1641. The eruption led to the formation of the Crater Lake, that became an abode for different creatures including the highly-celebrated tilapia. For two years in a row, Lake Holon—settled at 1,350 meters above sea level— earned the distinction as the cleanest lake in the Philippines.

The T'bolis protect it with highest regard, considering it as the gift from the Supreme Being. While allowing the public to marvel at the lake's unparalleled beauty, the tribe also sees to it that the lake will not be subject for abuse and destruction. The soft-speaking T'bolis, who undeniably bears the country's warmest smile, commit their life to maintain the sacredness and cleanliness of Holon.

Holon is an image of serenity and peace from afar and at close range.

In the waning days of this year’s blistering summer, I joined a number of travel bloggers from Davao and Manila to discover Lake Holon. From a distance or at close range, enjoying the beauty of the lake is sweet and satisfying. But getting to Holon is not easy as strolling in the park. One has to walk past through a thick canopy of forest trees, in a trail that will offer you different treats taking form of a cold stream, towering trees with really huge trunks, abaca, wild orchids and flowers or better yet, the company you’re with.

Drench and Sunny Tales

One never runs out of superlatives when it comes to Mati, that fabled town 114 kilometers south of Tagum City. To label the place as "amazing" is actually an understatement. With its picturesque seascapes and landscapes, Davao Oriental's prized gem is truly a haven for extroverts and introverts alike. I'm no stranger to this place, having visited it in different occasions, yet I keep coming back. Some would frown on me frequenting the place, but who am I to be blamed?

Last week, I was joined by my officemate Leo and bestfriend Zyzle in yet another weekend escapade to Mati. This time, we took it slow and just let ourselves be taken by our restless feet to anywhere it would lead us. It turned out to be a worry-free trip and we just enjoyed every bit of it without breaking the bank. The good thing about traveling with buddies who perfectly understand the idea of being a "backpacker" more than the idea of being a "tourist" is that you don't worry when one decides to hike rather than commute, eat in a carinderia over a fancy café or sleep in a simple hostel rather than a posh resort.

THREE'S A CROWD. Me, Zyzle and Leo in Dahican in Mati City.

The threat of a looming low pressure area brought an overcast sky on that Saturday morning when we left Tagum bound to Mati. The sky brought fury in the afternoon, with the intermittent rain bringing a heavy downpour and damping mists to the cottage's balcony where we stayed for a night. But this didn't hamper us to enjoy the moment. A traveler's greatest nightmare aside from missing the ride is actually the dark sky, the rain, the fierce wind and everything that goes in between. Those don't make a good setting for a perfect photograph.

The Book Thief: A Movie Review

There are no real winners in war; all are losers.

But behind the pandemonium, as in many disasters, is a champion—not the villain strategists, the soldiers nor the bombers, but the greatness and goodness of the human spirit. Wars may represent all the evils in the world,but the tiny and unnoticed details prove otherwise.

The Book Thief, based on the novel of the same title authored by Markus Zusak, succinctly provides the grim realities of war and the price every soul has to pay. Casualties and bombed buildings in rubble may quantify its damages, but its unspeakable horror goes beyond every poor soul: a child longing for love and affection, families that have to part because of segregation and forced duties.

Set during the aristocratic rule of Adolf Hitler in Germany, the movie follows the story of Liesel, a girl who has all the right to be mad at the world but chose not to. Hers is an admirable story of a soul-searching little girl looking for answers to the questions that haunt her. Life has been grossly unfair to her,and every episode in her life is mimicking that of a bomb's explosion loud enough to tear your heart apart.

The movie starts and ends with a narration by death, who in the finale told that it has constantly overestimated or underestimated the human race. Faced by many misfortunes, death wondered how the same thing could be so ugly and glorious,and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.

What I like about the movie is its love for words, most especially how death narrated his amazement at humans. The discourse between Liesel and Max and his adoptive parents are equally thought-provoking. I just wonder how words both written and spoken can mean so much in time of chaos; how it comforts in time of despair and fear; how it offers hope amidst a helpless situation.

In times of war, these words are much louder than exploding bombs. I have never been so interested in the evil rule of the Nazis under their self-righteous Führer until last night after watching the film, especially after learning for the first time a book-burning ceremony to get rid of"intellectual dirt." This adds up to the kristallnacht during Hitler's time, which calls for a violence and death against the Jews.

Poetically delivered in the movie,the dialogues trigger certain emotions enough for you to connect in each character, most especially to Liesel and her parents. These dialogues and lines blend well with excellent cinematography, which makes it one of my early favorite movies this year. The visual scope of The Book Thief is indeed remarkable. And did I mention that the Academy Award-winning John Williams provided the musical score for the film?

The words written in this movie review doesn't compensate the thrill of watching it in the big screen. It tells of the goodness and the greatness of the human spirit that even death wondered how it is to live:

"In my job, I'm always finding humans at their best and their worst, and you always wonder how the same thing can be both. I've seen many great things, attended the world's worst disasters, worked for a great many villains."

Referring to Liesel, death narrated:I took great pleasure that she had lived her ninety years so wisely. She was one of the few souls that made me wonder what it was like to live.

Despite the grim realities of war, Liesel indeed taught us what it was like to live and embrace every episode with a brave heart and a soul never seeking for revenge.

Louie.

Back to Square One

How do you unlove a person?

The latest blockbuster hit from Star Cinema "Starting Over Again" employs a simple-structured plot that have surely been presented in the silver screen before. Themes of closure, happy endings and moving heavens and earth to win back the love of your life had already been accepted as vital elements of a blockbuster hit, and anything that revolves around these themes will be considered a passé and obsolete.

But Starting Over Again managed to turn things around in presenting the so-called merits of the case. It did so by trying to find an answer to the penultimate question of unloving a person and erasing the memories of the past. Along the process, it showed the difficulties that come with it, especially so that time and destiny seem to be in tandem in rekindling the old flame. Both the lead actors Piolo Pascual and Toni Gonzaga gave justice to their characters. Some films failed on banking on professional pretenders plainly acting as themselves but in the two-hour romantic flick, we don't perceive them as Pascual and Gonzaga, but as Marco and Ginny, respectively.

I first weighed on the film's effectiveness loosely on the characters but reflecting the entire Film on my way back home, I think such great film as Starting Over Again credits its success to a good story material that was presented in such a meticulously-planned pacing. It didn't bother its audience with the problem of finding the causes of why things ended up that way. You just sat there and be blown by the turn of events and lo and behold, you just found yourselves the answers to the questions that's been running in your minds since the beginning of the film. It was never a spoon-feeding film nor a formulaic step-by-step build-up, but rather it was able to move on with the flow of the story by offering a trip down memory lane which further nailed the story.

What I find amusing is how they were able to create a fictional love letter-sending website where one letter sent by Marco to Ginny became the latter's springboard to win back the love of her life. Such a tricky move, considering that she's the one that got away in the first place. Such letter pokes her to reality and embarked her on almost false hope. Ah, what love can do!

The film's true-to-the-core narrative was effective maybe because we can connect or relate to each of the characters. We can maybe connect to the fact that we are passionate about pursuing our dreams that we forgot the ones dear to us, or the other way around. We can maybe connect through the fact that along the process of loving somebody too much, we lose ourselves and forget the world won't stop revolving without them. We can also relate because when you miss someone or love someone too much, every little thing reminds you of your love.

But as what the movie tried to answer, how do you really unlove a person?

You can't. You don't. There's always this one person that no matter how hard you try to forget, you fail. It's because this person has become an integral part of your being. You may end up with someone in the future, but there's always this person you wished you could be together in the end. Or that someone you wish could join you in everything you do whether in traveling, dining out, spend weekends with, or better yet, spend forever with.

While there are dreams that really do come true, there also those that remain as such. You can work hard for it to turn into reality, but when things don't go well the way you planned, don't fret. Acceptance holds the key to moving, closures and happy endings as what Starting Over Again tried to impart.

So when Ginny finally decided to hit the delete button and move on, it was truly the greatest gift she had given herself. More than that, it's actually the peace of mind, knowing that she won't sleep with regrets because she had given her all. It's like playing Flappy Bird: you get annoyed, you get depressed, but you have no choice but to dust yourself off and move on. It's definitely tiring to go back to square one, but it's the only practical thing to do.

L.

The Curious Case of Frank Underwood

Kevin Spacey plays the wicked Congressman Frank Underwood in the political drama series "House of Cards" shown in Netflix. 

Congressman Frank Underwood knows how to win you over. With his fierce eyes aimed at the camera, his soliloquy lets you unravel the pitfalls of ambition and thirst for power.

Frank Underwood is the anti-hero in what I believe is the best political drama series to date—House of Cards—that offers a backstage pass to the halls of the United States Congress, its working environs and the portrayal of Washington D.C. as a melting pot of people good and bad.

House of Cards’ fluid storytelling can be credited to both concept and good direction—it’s as if the production team plans to drop a bombshell in every episode, a thing they managed to achieve. Each episode—from the beginning until the very end of its first season—offers a gripping tale of influence, interests, ambition, revenge and one’s thirst for power. The themes tackled by House of Cards can be very vague ideas to an ordinary person, but as the story unfolds, the audience can understand how these fuel the ineffable desire to wield power and influence and stay on the top.

Congressman Underwood, a Democrat, is the complete representation of that. He just doesn’t want to be seen; he wanted to be significant. After being backstabbed by the President who failed his promise to make him Secretary of State, Frank plots revenge to the administration he helped elect. In doing so, he gets the nod and help of his equally ambitious wife Claire, who heads the non-profit organization called Clean Water Initiative.

As the show suggests, politicians like Frank (played by the great Kevin Spacey) can be covered by good imaging and well-thought public relations strategy. Through this, politicians are fashioned as god-like individuals to make them appear clean, fresh and appealing to the public that elects them to public office. How they managed to get on top or how they struggle to stay there remains unblemished and kept away from the public’s keen scrutiny.

This is how Frank Underwood fashions himself, laying his cards one step at a time without tarnishing his unstained reputation. He sits as House Majority Whip—enough reason to explain his insurmountable amount of influence. As he lays down his cards, he utilizes this influence to advance his own interests and personal ambitions.

More often than not, politics can be like that. As writer James Poniewozik puts it, you are either eating flesh, or you are on the menu.

Watching the first season of House of Cards is truly entertaining. Watching it makes you a part of a wicked world, and as Frank Underwood talks to you straight to the camera, you can’t help but be a part of his wicked ways to not just be part of the circle of the powerful but be the most significant of them all. You knew, but hates to admit, that he definitely won you over.

Louie.

The Second Season of House of Cards will be released February 14, 2014.

Thoughts on Siquijor

For some people, the word "escape" brings them to distant shores and strange lands, the extremes in both landscape and culture to be experienced with a ready sense of adventure, an itchy pair of feet and a sturdy stomach.

One weekend of July was no ordinary--an escape to a paradise found, all shrouded both in mystery and charm. It was a bit ecstatic to have a glimpse of the mystical island from afar, which is even made more exciting by the group of clouds scattered all over its horizon. From where I stood at the old, rusty and slow-running ship, I drew scenarios that would unfold in my six-hour escape to the mystical island of Siquijor.

The heat was unforgiving when I set foot in the so-called island of fire. As we circled the island, we came up with the thought that this island is truly one of its kind.

Siquijor was barely on my radar then, not being a natural destination for the faint-hearted. For all our madness and flirtation with adventure, I popped out the question to our driver (who also served as our tour guide) the inevitable: Is there really such thing as witchcraft practices in the island? 

There was an awkward silence. Moments later, he affirmatively replied, to the point of enumerating words like mambabarang and even aswang. But these are just a thing of the past, he said. While some still exist, their numbers are few. 

As we traversed the nicely-paved road network, I found out that the quaint in Siquijor mixes easily with modern world. When we made it to the serene and peaceful part of the island—all vouched with the rustic feel of old houses and eerie-looking line of huge trees—I began to associate Siquijor as a paradise perfect for a weekend escape. 

No place in the island gave me a sense of time standing still more than the spot in Salagdoong, a remote, government-owned beach resort in the town of Maria. It’s a 360-degree visual treat, its palette dominated by aqua blue, its sea breeze a massage to the ear—perfect ingredients for a sweet escape. Old churches also dot the island; a 400-year old balete tree stands like a king, a carefree and lonely road leading you to pleasant surprises appearing in a form of a cascading waterfall, an old-fashioned town plaza, paintings on the ceilings of stone churches and most importantly, the people who are flashing the warmest smile one could ever see.

The journey to Siquijor is all worth it. As I am lulled by the waves on my way back, the memories of the island flashed in my mind: the almost glorious isolation in a time that ran slow. What a wonderful escape!

Until next time, beautiful Siquijor!

L.

5 Must-Do's in Lake Sebu

The bucolic town of Lake Sebu in the Province of South Cotabato exudes an enchanting charm. Lodged in the southern central part of Mindanao, this quaint town radiates with rustic bliss which sets it miles apart from other tourism destinations in Mindanao.

From General Santos City, one has to travel for a couple of hours to this amazing town. But this doesn’t mean a boring trip as the rural landscape filled your eyes with endless wonder: from rugged landscapes to the fields of corn and rice and the majestic view of Mt. Matutum. While it can be told that the journey is fun, nothing is more marvelous than stepping into Lake Sebu itself.

The cool and rustic clime of Lake Sebu is a pleasant escape from the tropics. The moment you alight from the bus at Punta Isla Lake Resort, you will feel the same aura felt by the visitors of Tagaytay. T’boli music welcomed us at Punta Isla Lake Resort where we are billeted for a night. From their viewdeck, one couldn’t help but be amazed by the panoramic vista that is uniquely Lake Sebu. From this point, one could affirm this place deserves the distinction as one of Mindanao’s prized tourism gems.

I listed some of the exciting things you can do while you are in Lake Sebu, to wit:

ZIP OVER SOUTHEAST ASIA’S HIGHEST ZIPLINE

This is undeniably Lake Sebu’s main attraction: the gravity-defying Zipline. But it’s definitely not for the faint-hearted. Our initial descent was slow, but it began to pick up great speed in just a few seconds. It was a sensory overload: feeling the cool South Cotabato wind against our faces, watching the thick forest canopy and three waterfalls below us, and enjoying all of these while dangling approximately 200 meters off the ground. The first leg of the Seven Falls Zipline is 740 meters long and the second leg is 420 meters long. At a height of more than 180 meters, the exciting ride is the highest in Southeast Asia.

“FALL” IN LOVE

While some of the waterfalls can be viewed in seconds as you try the zipline, nothing compares to the feeling of watching it up close. It’s truly a great feeling to hear the sound of falling waters and to see the lush greeneries that are abound in the area. e 7 waterfalls have T’boli names that pretty much describe them:

Falls 1 is called Hikong Alu, meaning "passage falls."

Falls 2 is known as Hikong Bente or "immeasurable waterfalls." 

Falls 3 is Hikong B’lebed meaning "coil or zigzag falls"

Falls 4 earned the name Hikong Lowig meaning "booth"

Falls 5 is Hikong Kefo-i or "the wild flower"

Falls 6 is Hikong Ukol or "short falls"

Falls 7 was given the name Hikong Tonok, meaning "soil"

GO ON A BOAT TOUR

The lake, considered as the ancestral domain of the T’boli is composed of three magnificent mountain lakes – Lake Sebu, the largest; Lake Siluton, the deepest; and Lake Lahit, the smallest. The local tribesmen rely on the lake for their food, as evidenced by the many fish pensused to grow tilapia, hito and freshwater shrimps. As you take the tour for a minimal fee of 500 pesos/boat (maximum of 15 persons), you could see up close the activities around the lake.

Sir Edwin on the edge

Rustic Landscapes can be viewed as you go on a tour around the lake.

INDULGE ON A FOOD TRIP

Lake Sebu’s main product is the tilapia fish. In Punta Isla Lake Resort, one can choose from the more than 50 tilapia dishes on their menu. One could vouch to the freshness of the tilapia that is being cooked because you can see the resort’s staff getting them from the lake itself. You could indulge on a food trip in their respective cottages overlooking the lake. Better yet, try eating in their floating restaurant.

You could go on a feast and try the local delicacies in Punta Isla's famous floating restaurant which offers a nice view of the lake.

READ. WRITE. EMOTE.

Lake Sebu is definitely a pleasant escape from the tropics; a stark contrast to the busy atmosphere back in the city. The place offers a relaxing and a laid-back feel which is a perfect spot for reading a good book in one sitting, writing a note, to reminisce the good old times. Or better yet, to wander in your respective dreamlands. The next morning when you wake up, watch the beautiful sunrise over the lake and the activities abound in the area.

HOW TO GET TO LAKE SEBU

If you’re coming from Davao, Bukidnon or Cagayan de Oro, take a bus bound to General Santos City. From General Santos, ride a bus bound to Koronadal. From Koronadal bus station, take another bus bound to Surrallah. From Surrallah, there are jeeps or vans going to Lake Sebu. Once there, you'll find an abundance of resorts and hotels that cater to tourists.

WHERE TO STAY IN LAKE SEBU

There are many resorts in Lake Sebu but one resort that stood out is the Punta Isla Lake Resort. The resort’s tagline sums it all: this place is “where life blends with nature.” You can have your reservation or inquiries through the following contact details:

Email Address: reservations.puntaisla@gmail.com
Mobile Number: 09194515015 or 09052895134

Punta Isla Lake Resort

Weird

First, there was the joint force of Mike Enriquez and Mel Tiangco on the set of GMA-7’s primetime newscast 24 Oras—the power duo confronting Pia Guanio after the latter walked out on the studio on live television. It was a well-staged confrontation made even more wonderful by the glare of studio lights and perfect camera angles.

The second was that aboard an airplane, with all people close to me having such a quiet time en route to Hong Kong. It was very silent, until I heard my name of the plane’s address system. The captain wanted me out of the plane without giving a valid reason. Without batting an eyelash, I was already on a free fall, after flight attendants literally dropped me on the air. The people inside roared in laughter, wishing me their cheerful adieus and good luck.

I was alone, briskly walking on a straight and narrow path on the third. I could not distinguish whether the trees alongside this road. At some point, it looked like the beautiful cherry blossoms of Japan, but most of the time it closely resembles that of a kalachuchi tree, like those I see growing in memorial parks.

The fourth is both puzzling and terrifying. I was standing on an edge, arms akimbo; enjoying the panoramic view of what I believe is the pacific sea. I could see the people from below—looking tiny from where I am (probably because of heights)—enjoying the sun. All of a sudden, the water is gone. Waves came moments after. Thinking it’s just pretty little waves, I enjoyed this rare phenomenon until I saw the people running from the shore.

It was a tsunami at its grandest.

I ran for my life, in bare feet through the floor made from coconut lumber. But it was too late. I was swept by the angry waters; its strong current bringing me up and below, sometimes punching my head in metal, concrete walls and trees. After quite some time, I was buried in deep rubble, alive and still kicking. I struggled to get myself out from this mess. I did. I already began to see the clear blue sky. To my surprise, I ended up in Apokon Road, in front of this bakeshoppe called Barangay Pan de Sal, right across the Central Warehouse Club Building.

I really have weird dreams these past days. Really weird.

Louie.

Labor Day, 3:45 AM

Iron Man 3: Worth the Pay

The moment you happen to read this, you probably have been bombarded already with praises on Marvel’s latest film. If you have not watched the film yet, this would be a cliff-hanger: Why is this making such noise online or even in the real world? Truth be told, Iron Man 3—directed by Shane Black and top-bills the equally impressive as the man-in-metal suit himself, Robert Downey, Jr.—surely deserves all the recognition it gets. This recognition can also be easily translated to a nerve-wracking box office returns, amassing a whooping 60 million pesos on its opening day in the Philippines last week.

Never in the past months after the release of The Avengers that movie-goers have been treated to such an immersive movie experience until Iron Man hit the silver screen. While it can’t be denied that we’ve been enchanted with the highs and lows of The Hobbit or gripped with the gory scenes in Olympus Has Fallen or Zero Dark Thirty, Iron Man 3 undeniably deserves a sweet spot in the pantheon of interesting films this year.

It's not the suit. It's the man.

Part of the reason perhaps is its element of twists and surprises, notwithstanding its vivid, superbly-rendered and stunning visuals. The 130-minute film follows a very American formula, packed with elements of action thriller enough to send the audience wondering what would happen next. The intertwining elements of adrenaline rush-filled action sequences, twists, action and humor encapsulated in effective punch lines contributed to the film’s over-all impact.

But one of the film’s greatest ingredients is perhaps the villain itself, which is interestingly good as the protagonist itself. Pinoy film fanatics certainly know this: you can only bring out the luster of your superhero if you employ such a dark, if not diabolic, scalawag to make the protagonist-antagonist clash more appealing and grand. In this case, the twist of the fake Mandarin and the emergence of Killian—whose collaboration with Dr. Maya Hansen led to the the rise of Extremis virus—left us either amused or amazed. In its entire “heavy metal” splendor, Iron Man 3 also gives interesting sides of—and fragility—of the human spirit, which makes it more humane.

The destruction of the remaining Iron Man’s suits towards the end of the film, resembling that of a lackluster fireworks display, can be translated as such: it’s not the suit, it’s the man. While it may be true that he threw his obsolete chest arc reactor into the sea, he will always be Iron Man, even without his armor.

I’ve never been such satisfied when I stepped outside the IMAX Theater where I first watched it last Saturday and on Sunday, in a 3D Cinema here in Tagum. Yes, I’ve seen it twice as what I did with Les Miserables and Wreck it Ralph, and this I have to tell: It’s definitely worth the pay.

Hijo's 'Monkey Business'

This is homecoming!

This is how one fellow guest described the feeling as we slowly made our way to the secluded part of the second-growth forest inside the Hijo Estate Resorts in Madaum, Tagum City. From a distance, we already saw a barrel of Philippine Macaque Monkeys that are abound in the area, along with other wildlife animals such as wild boars, snakes, monitor lizards, among others.

The sighting of monkeys is the first exciting part of the Forest Tour offered by the Tuason-owned resort inside a 700-hectare coconut plantation. The same tour will take you swinging and walking mid-air through an elevated canopy walk, passing through anahaw forest and towering Dao trees.

So if you feel like doing nothing this weekend, why not settle for a "monkey business" in Tagum?

Louie.

Fore more info about this tour and Hijo Estate Resorts, visit their website here.

We Just Have to Believe

This I have to admit: I find it hard to provide more than 10 Pinoy films which I assumed to have gone beyond cinematic excellence and thought-provoking storyline. In this age where movie outfits care for box office returns more than the challenge of producing quality films, the list of Philippine-made films that we can proudly call as our “jewel” is not that very long.

Movie outfits that make millions of money out from a single movie release should not be entirely blamed for the current state of Philippine Cinema. The lion’s share of this blame should go to us—the movie goers—who fell short in making our country’s top production outfits realize their full potential to produce an excellent film. When we continue to patronize spur-of-the-moment movies whose primary aim is just to raise money for the sake of raising money per se, these outfits continue to provide the silver screen with outputs with such cinematic mediocrity.

As of late, though, one film seems to be an exemption which broke my perception on how I view Philippine movies nowadays. Though not that very great, It Takes a Man and a Woman—which top-billed Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz—is a surprising treat. Upon the insistence of a friend, my barkada happened to watch it last Saturday night, and I never had any regrets in spending (because wasting seems not to be the appropriate word) nearly two hours inside the cinema. Filipinos has this penchant for anything that revolves around the topic of love. Across generation, scores of songs, poems and movies has been devoted to love. All of those are sure hits.

True Love

I was waiting for guests the Old City Hall grounds this morning when I noticed this old couple enjoying some quality time together. It was 30 minutes past nine, which to many teenagers today, is not an ideal time for a date. I probably sat there for about 15 minutes, just observing them. I could tell the woman have a hard time moving, say incapacitated by age-related illness, that is why she lies across the concrete bench. This old man is her knight in shining armor: buying her banana cue and buko juice. I am posting this photo as an ode to true love. This photo also salutes those couple—who, despite the many challenges in life—remained true to their vows. I sat there wondering when will I meet the woman I’ll share my lifetime with.

Happy weekend guys,

Louie.

The Raging Waters of Panas

What I like about unplanned adventures is that it offers spontaneity and extraordinary thrill. You’ll never know what’s in store for you as you traverse the path to your destination. This is exactly what I experienced during my recent weekend getaway in the bizarre town of New Corella in Davao del Norte, some 18 kilometers from my hometown Tagum.

This quaint town, as I was previously told, offers a diverse option for eco-tourism adventures. This includes natural water terraces and wading pools, exotic caves and nature trails.

The fact that it’s just near ignites my wanderlust radar. Since two friends decided to drop a planned hiatus in Davao Oriental, I found myself waking up on a Saturday morning thinking where to go. Out of nowhere, New Corella came to mind.

Panas Waterfalls in Barangay Carcor, New Corella, Davao del Norte

A big commuter jeepney took me from Tagum Overland and Transport Terminal to this town, with weary-looking people facing each other from the parallel seats where we are seated. The 30-minute ride is mostly punctuated with commuters moving in and out of the jeep. The provincial government should be credited for the nicely-paved concrete roads which make the travel bearable.

Tuwing Umuulan

Kaysayang tingnan ng mga batang

Naliligo sa malakas na ulan

Tila nagpapaalalang buhay kaysaya

sa daigdig ng mga bata

Ang lamig ng tubig-ulan 

Pumapawi sa pagod dala ng nakakalokang init

Ang lakas ng hangin nama'y Sumasabay sa talon, kaway at habulan

Ng mga batang naglalaro sa buhos ng ulan

The Majestic Mt. Apo Experience

It all began with hesitation, but as soon as we started our journey on a broad daylight, I know there’s no coming back. This is no ordinary journey and certainly not for the faint-hearted.  We’re heading to Mt. Apo, the grandfather of Philippine mountains and the crown jewel of Philippine mountain climbing experience.

Last Holy Week, I felt like Bilbo Baggins of Shire—plucked from his comfort zone to take a part in a journey that could only be described as an ultimate adventure of a lifetime.  I certainly know how this journey would take its toll on us, especially on me—an obvious heavyweight and an inexperienced mountaineer. One would certainly wonder why I decided to join and the fact that we are aiming to reach the summit of the highest mountain in the Philippines for my first major climb is totally a crazy idea. As what we always say along the trail, kiat ray agi. Climbing Apo is not really included in my bucket list because I know that mountain climbing is not my cup of tea. Originally, I already planned to do a documentary about the holy week activities in Tagum last week but when I realized that majority of my officemates are joining the trip, I hastily agreed to take part and might as well give it a try. The journey to Apo started in Tagum two weeks before March 28, in early mornings at Energy Park where I did my exercise regimen.With just a little bit of jogging and more on walking and just few days to do it, I know this wouldn’t be enough. But still I pushed through with the plan, this time inspired by the idea of standing in the spot that every true-blooded mountaineer dreamed of reaching.

Mt. Apo's reflection is seen in a portion of Lake Venado. The country's highest lake sprawls at the foot of the country's highest mountain. According to local tribesmen, the lake is believed to be enchanted, killing countless mountaineers in the past.

The Long Walk to Mount Apo

Sprinkles for Friday, March 22, 2013

For quite some time now, I have always believed that the mountain is not really made for me. While I always marvel at the beauty of the mountain from afar, I have never thought of conquering one—climbing it and wandering through its mossy forests and treacherous hills.

Apo's Peak as viewed from Toril in Davao City.

The first time I acted like Jack who went up the hill was a year ago, in Sigaboy Island in Davao Oriental. It was particularly memorable because I consider this as my first climb, never mind how short the distant was. Standing proud on top of that cone-shaped island is a modern lighthouse which I made as an inspiration to negotiate the steep hills, never mind if I was just wearing ordinary slippers then. I made it on top after dismissing thoughts of giving up mid-way. The view on top—how fishing boats became so tiny, how the San Isidro mountain range looked grand in the mainland and the how calm the deep blue sea was—is just so breath-taking. And then there’s the Calvary Hills, also in the quaint town of Governor Generoso, which I managed to climb despite the sweltering noontime heat.

Reinventing, Revolutionizing

Sprinkles for Tuesday, March 12, 2013

IT'S BEEN a while. For quite some time, I haven't found myself sitting in a coffeeshop with nothing to worry and nothing to lose. The last time seems like ages past I could not even remember the last time I was here. Not until now—all basked in soft yellow lights, enjoying the smell of latte. Having been battered with such erratic schedule in the past month, moments like this is a privilege I rarely enjoy these days. There’s something in coffeeshops that relax my mind, inasmuch as other people think of a swimming pool to get rid of stress. Maybe the best thing about coffeeshops is that it encourages you to think deep, filter thoughts, think of something new, connect to the world or even make up some lost time with a friend and engage on a hearty conversation.

Now this new paragraph is no more written in a coffeeshop but on table just inches away from my bed. I write this paragraph fifteen minutes to twelve with the noise of an electric fan on number three as a companion. And some Michael Buble’s songs, too. One would think this is crazy when I could just go to bed and go to Dreamland at this time of the night. I all have the freedom to do that. But not tonight.

Maybe part of that stems from my penchant to over-react, or in this case, to be “over-inspired” over a revolutionary idea. Just a couple of hours ago, I went to Blugre with fellow blogger and CIO Chief Photographer LeoTimogan (a new coffeeshop in Tagum which is a franchise of a proudly Davao-based brand, replacing the short-lived Café Wissie which has become a favorite among friends and officemates) with the aim of researching and deciding whether to join the climb to the roof of the Philippines this coming Holy Week—Mount Apo. I wasn’t able to accomplish this goal as it was overshadowed with our views on how the Catholic Church would transform itself after a new Supreme Pontiff will be chosen in a historic conclave. There was a slight silence in the minutes that was consumed, and then Leo dropped the question that inspired me to write this piece: What kind of writer are you?

Blugre, March 12, 2013.

It was the kind of question that made my world stop for a bit. Scores of question marks seem to storm my mind asking “Am I one?” “A News Writer,” I jokingly quipped, “or maybe a ghost writer.” Perhaps this could very well explain my hesitation to say that I am a writer, judging by the outputs I produced in the past years.  It seems to me I’ve been a formulaic writer—imprisoned by the old rules of writing and, well, just for the sake of finishing a news report or a speech which most of the time are not eventually read in the rostrum.  The line of questioning Leo popped out somewhat opened the doors for me to seek for improvement and to engage in a journey which he calls as a “prelude to discovering yourself as a writer.” It’s a sort of making a mark. My hesitation could be explained perhaps in part by my working environment that thinks (and advocates) that less is more. This could be the reason why I think I did not allot a room for improvement—a thing which I did not ponder until now.

Not so great, Not so Powerful

IT ALL STARTED in Kansas. The year was 1905.

Framed in an awkward black-and-white square format, the opening scenes of the Oz the Great and Powerful show the life in a day of Kansas-based amateur magician named Oscar Diggs, who later found himself in an ultimate adventure in the mystifying Land of Oz.

The decision to exploit the BW square format in the fist ten minutes of the film is weird but it was overshadowed by the film’s visual dazzle: from its cascading waterfalls, to breath-taking vistas of different hues, stunning silhouettes and unique fauna. The set and costume should also be recognized, as well as the perfect 3D rendering. The film, directed by Sam Raimi, is oozing with vibrant colors and intelligent use of computer-generated images (CGI) that looked amazing on the big silver screen.

Computer-generated, cute-looking creatures like this are among the film's visual treat. 

Major Disappointment

Director Bryan Singer crafts the Jack the Giant Slayer as an attempt to ignite the imagination of its audience. But instead of achieving its purpose, the movie is close to becoming a major disappointment due to its poor reinvention and reimagination of the highly-revered fairytale.

Inspired by the English folk tale about a boy named Jack who discovers a magic beanstalk that leads to the dominion of evil giants, the film includes scenes of a duel that resemble outtakes from one of the “Lord of the Rings” films, but not as exciting as the latter. There’s the usual fairytale element of love, of betrayal, of revenge and triumph—formulas that if not properly put in place leads to disenchantment.

I walked out in the cinema thinking that the movie could have been better.  In general, the film lacks the thrill and excitement expected of an adventure film. There are few scenes that kept the barometer of excitement on a free swing, but were only short-lived. Jack and the Giant Slayer is another formulaic movie that failed to awaken among its audience the illusory pleasures of fictional lives unraveling like a memory. The nature of its narrative is truly a disjointed projection of a man’s dreamscape in all its nutty and confounding glory.