Armand Van Helden - U Don't Know Me (Official Video)

Paul Johnson - Get Get Down (Original Extended Mix)

Maid in Malacañang - Movie Review

As "luck" would have it, I got a hold of a ticket to the red carpet screening of Maid in Malacañang, the hot new movie people on Twitter can't shut up about.  If you want the short story, I didn't like this movie. If you want the longer story, read on.

Unrealistic Expectations

The movie is the "untold story" of the last days of the Marcos Presidency inside Malacañang Palace before they were brought to Hawaii during the EDSA revolution.

I didn't know what kind of movie to expect at first since I had no interest in it and never expected to receive free tickets to the premiere screening to fall on my lap. To be honest, I thought that this movie would turn out to be like a Forrest Gump situation - a story about an average person, in this case a maid, caught up in the middle of historic events. It would be hit-or-miss parade of in-jokes and references from the time period. It would be all tongue-in-cheek. 

How naïve and ignorant I was.

Imee Marcos had a hand in the making of this movie. In fact, she was there during the screening along with the stars of the show. Each of them had a little mic time before the movie to thank the audience for attending the screening and all that. Imee, however, told us that this movie would finally show to us the truth of the events of those 72 hours after being buried all these years. It would finally show her family's side of the story. She publicly maintains that this movie is the capital "T" truth. 

Uh, huh. I was in for quite a ride.

We were given free popcorn and a "nutribun" to snack on while watching. I however, am upright of character and cannot be bribed by cheap snack foods. No sir. 

Truth is a Bludgeon

People throw the word "propaganda" around as if to show they're too smart to be fooled by media. But there's no other way to describe this movie. Imee herself said that this is "their side" of the story so by definition, it's biased. Rather than tipping the scales of history into equilibrium however, I'm presented with a story wherein President Ferdinand Marcos was a completely benevolent leader beset on all sides by "ahas" or traitors; a benign, Christ-like figure who would rather suffer betrayal (and lupus) in dignified silence than lash out and plunge the country in further peril. His family? Oh, they loved him. They loved him too much in fact, and agreed to suffer along with him. 

How their situation came about isn't addressed any further than people being selfish opportunists. The movie portrays the Marcoses as completely blameless.

And that's my problem with the movie - it lays it on too thick. This movie is as subtle as an oncoming semi-truck. Even when I already knew to expect that the movie would be biased, I didn't expect it to be as audacious as it was. If you weren't already a political supporter or ally of the Marcoses, this movie is practically insulting to your intelligence.

Chewing the Scenery

Let's put aside the politics for a moment. The movie is structured into ten (if I remember correctly) scenes. There's no single story or theme uniting these scenes together other than it being the final days of the Marcos Regime. Think of it as a collection of recollections. Each scene presents a scenario. For example, there's one scene wherein the elder Marcos has a talk with his son who is now our current President, Bongbong. There's a scene where Imee confronts her father about his passivity in the face of the dangers to his life. There's a scene where Imelda has a heart-to-heart with Bongbong, etc.

The problem I have with these scenes is that each scene is designed not just to present the Marcoses in a sympathetic light but to showcase the acting chops of its stars. It was tiring. It seemed that in each scene, every actor was trying to outdo the others in how hammy he can deliver his or her lines. There was screaming. There was yelling. Many tears were shed. It was all so melodramatic but that is to be expected in Philippine cinema. No, what really made this bad was that it was many scenes of overacting instead of just one in the end. One after the other, the movie would just come at you and demand that you share in its emotions. What made it even more obnoxious was that the cinema turned up the volume too high, so much so that the actress playing Imee was like screaming directly into my ear. By the middle of the movie, I was praying they would get in the chopper already.

Was there a "maid" in Malacanang? Yes, there were three, in fact. And they were easily the best, most relatable characters in the movie, which is why they were portrayed as staunch Marcos supporters. All the household help and staff in Malacanang, all simple everyday folk, loved the Marcoses, it seems, for reasons other than them being the ones paying their salaries. How could you not love the Marcoses? There was a scene where all the honest, hardworking staff and maids cried about how unfair it was, what the world was doing to their masters. Please sympathize and try not to roll your eyes.

The movie's artifice was too obvious.

Some Weird Scenes

As if the movie wasn't hard enough to go along with, the director, for some reason, decided to put some very bizarre scenes that just yanked me out of the movie.

The first scene was the one I mentioned previously where Imelda had a heart-to-heart with her son. As they laid side by side on the bed talking about how she wondered if they could return to their beloved Philippines, the camera zoomed into one of her shoes which had the label "BBM 2022". To those who don't know, that's a reference to her son's political campaign and if the scene I just described to you sounds utterly ridiculous, that's because it is. I have no idea why the director did this to me and to the audience. 

The second scene which had me scratching my head was during the finale when a loyal soldier played by Robinhood (formerly known as just Robin) Padilla volunteered to escort the President and his family to safety. When they asked this loyal soldier how he was able to sneak into the Palace, he said he pretended to be a "yellowtard" and got through. If you didn't know, "yellowtard' is a modern derogatory epithet to describe the EDSA crowd. The director, for some unexplained reason, just put that there in the subtitles but the spoken dialogue did not use "yellowtard".  Was it a mistake? Maybe the original script was packed full of vitriol. Who knows? All I know is the director seems determined to make me dislike his movie and not take it seriously despite it being the supposed buried truth of the Marcoses' Exodus. 

Also, there was also a scene where Ferdinand Marcos looked at Imee lovingly in the eyes, as a father would his daughter, and told her that it was actually her who was the real maid in Malacañang after all. I threw up a little in my mouth.

Final Thoughts

This movie was clearly not made for the likes of me. If you were a Marcos supporter, you would love this movie and you would probably even cheer when you see the magic time-travelling shoe and laugh when Robinhood made a jab against those dumb yellows. If you're on the fence or apathetic to Philippine politics, then this movie would probably be a disappointment or nothing at all. 

However, if you're an EDSA guy, a Kakampink, or of similar persuasion, this movie will kill you. You'll snap your neck from vigorously shaking your head in shame and disbelief. Consider that a warning.

Do I recommend this movie? I don't believe I have to say anything. You already know if you love it or hate it. Just don't make the mistakes I did and expect any awareness or nuance in this modern political landscape.

If you're still reading this and at this point you're wondering about my personal political leanings so you can hate me for them, then I'm sorry that modern politics has rotted your brain. 

Peace. 

Eric Johnson - Cliffs Of Dover [HQ Studio Version]

Some Bad Shit That Happened Somewhere

While on the road, I passed beneath an overpass and then had an amusing thought: what if this thing suddenly collapsed and crushed me to death? What if it crushed all the homeless people living underneath it too? What if turned into some freak disaster where a thousand people died?

What would probably happen in situations like this, at the very least, is that it would trend on social media. There would be hundreds of cell phone camera footage of the collapse. There would be footage of the dead bodies of course, blurred just enough to be "decent" but gory enough to sate the typical viewer's bloodlust. If it's bad, it will trend nationwide. If it's really bad it'll trend worldwide. People will tweet sad emojis offering their thoughts and prayers and then angry emojis saying that accidents can only happen under a Marcos presidency.

Here comes the funny part.

When some bad shit that happened somewhere trends on social media, the government agencies responsible and the opportunistic politicians rouse from their torpor to make hay of the incident. They'll tell us it's fine. No, even better. They'll tell us that they're working on a solution to make sure tragedies like this will never ever occur again in the history of the Philippines. They will scream to the heavens that from this point forward, overpasses shall be banned in the city and the entire country. The companies responsible for building the overpass will be dragged before the court of Law and will (maybe) be sentenced after an absurdly lengthy trial. Legislators will attempt to pass even more new laws while government agencies also attempt to pass their own rules. Soon there will be new regulations telling construction companies important facts such as how to mix cement and why it's very important that structures don't collapse. There will be rules on the maximum weight limit of cars allowed on overpasses (which are outlawed). We will suffer a month or two of this and then forget the incident happened.

Okay, maybe it wasn't that funny.

Plaid - Do Matter (Official Video)

Tears For Fears - Mad World (Official Music Video)

Wire Train - Chamber Of Hellos

Guild Wars 2 OST - Lornar's Pass

Election Ramble II

The Philippine presidential election is decided by plurality vote. Some may know our system as "first past the post"  voting. Simply put, whichever of the candidates gets the most votes wins. The problem of this system is apparent. A situation may arise where the winner of the election may receive the most votes out of all the candidates but does not receive the majority of the total votes of the electorate. For example, in a five-way race where candidates A, B, and C each receive 25% of the vote, candidate D only needs 40% to win. Can it really be said that D's victory was by the will of the people? Depending on the number of candidates and the way the votes are split, D's margin can be lower.

In contrast, some countries practice a runoff system or two-round voting. In this system, the top two candidates, or in some cases the candidates who reach a certain threshold, from the first round of voting will run again in the second round. There are two major advantages to this. Firstly, the will of the electorate is more clearly expressed and determined since the winning candidate will require a majority vote of the entire electorate. Secondly, the losers of the first round have the opportunity to make deals with the frontrunners to lend their support (voters) in exchange for concessions, making sure that even minority interests still have a say. Such dealings are apparent in countries with a strong political party system.

But I digress in mentioning two-round voting. 

It would be reasonable to predict that a plurality voting system would eventually produce a two-party system. In a winner-takes-all scenario, there will come a point where the small fish just don't stand a chance. Political parties that are too small will wither away. Eventually, the race will always boil down to two or maybe three people who have a serious chance of winning. In the Philippines, that hasn't happened.

In the Philippine elections, both past and present, the polls will eventually show the top two candidates who are most likely to win, and an assorted bunch of future losers. The candidates at the bottom tend to stay in the race despite all odds. Making deals and concessions with the frontrunners is out of the question since our party system is woefully unsophisticated. There's nothing to be gained by dropping out of the race. It seems people are content to just stay on like a boil that refuses to pop.

I thought about this the other day and I wondered why hopeless candidates won't just quit. The cynic in me proposed a crude answer. What if it's about receiving campaign donations? What if running for president is not something to spend money on but an opportunity to make money?

It's a ridiculous thought. It's probably incorrect but I am ashamed to admit that I don't know what happens to unspent campaign money after the elections are over. Is it possible to run a pro forma campaign where you just go through the motions of giving speeches and waving, all the while receiving more money than what your efforts warrant? It would then be an indirect form of bribery, assuming you get to keep the change. Keep in mind that candidates who occupy office don't have to give it up until they actually win.

It can't be this simple. 

Bar Exam 2020-2021

Last month, I took the bar exam. Again. 

It really says something about the uncertainty of the times when the 2020 and 2021 bar exams were held on the February of 2022. It was originally supposed to be held on November of 2021 but was postponed to January 2022, and then again to February 2022. Frankly, I just wanted the damn thing to be over with. 

The exam was especially stressful for reasons other than the actual exam itself. Aside from the "will they, won't they" postponements, if you tested positive for the China virus, you wouldn't be allowed to enter into the testing centers. Examinees were therefore forced to self-isolate for a long period of time. As you can imagine, this was a terrible pain in the ass, especially for people with jobs and other commitments. People plan their lives around this particular exam, you know. Imagine having the exam postponed three times and then having to arrange for leave just so you won't get the wu-flu. 

A Historic Exam

The 2020-2021 Bar Exam was "historic" for three reasons: it was the first time the exam was held in places outside Manila, it was the first digital exam, and the exam subjects were compressed to two Sundays instead of four. 

It was the digital format of the exam that facilitated the move to alternative venues, really. All we needed were the software and the internet connection. For the most part, the testing centers were necessary only to keep an eye on us. It's amazing that it only took a global pandemic to force the Supreme Court to do what ought to have been done decades ago. The bar exams of yesteryear look antiquated at best and callous at worst. The inconvenience and cost of travelling to Manila to take the exams for four Sundays of a month is clearly no longer reasonable to ask of examinees.

Personally, the move to a digital format made things much easier on the wrist and there was no more fumbling with booklets and little envelopes. All you had to do was to download the exam in the morning or at the testing center and then the password to open the exam file would be given at the testing center once the exam began. The software was easy enough to use. The best part of course, was the ability to easily edit ones answers - no more inky messes from crossing out of errors. 

On the matter of the questions itself, I found them tricky. They were tricky in a sense that if you tended to overthink things, you'd probably make a mistake. Some subjects were cut while others were combined into one. It was very unusual. For example, Taxation Law, the bane of my existence, was cut down to only two questions and combined in one exam to be taken together with Commercial Law and Civil Law. The result of the compression of subjects meant that the pool to draw potential questions was very wide. Therefore, I had to stick to the syllabus diligently and pray there were no curve balls. 

One other thing that I observed in the exam was that there weren't any questions regarding recent landmark jurisprudence of the Supreme Court. For example, I was very confident that KMU vs. Aquino would be asked in Political Law, but it wasn't. But I suppose that would be too predictable. 

The questions were either about the practical application of the laws or indirect problems that required the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of new additions or quirks to the law. As another example, there was a curious question about whether a single proprietor can start a corporation with only himself as the sole officer and shareholder. The concept of single-person corporations is a relatively new addition to our Corporate Law. If you were confronted with that question, your mind would naturally go through the checklist on the requirements to form a single-person corporation, that is, if you remembered the law.

In Conclusion

As if to show that the exams were hip to the times, announcements regarding the exam were tweeted with the hashtag #bestbarever. Best bar ever? Well, I suppose I'm in a better position to judge if it's the best bar exam ever, seeing as how this is the second time I've taken the damn thing. I can say, out of all the bar exams I've taken, this was the best bar exam ever. There, happy?

Would it be odd to say that I enjoyed the bar exams? I guess that's only because the first one was hell. This time, it was in my home court so to speak. I actually got to rest on my own bed beforehand and go to the testing center with a home-cooked meal instead of a crushed burger from some fast food place. These little comforts are advantages that cannot be ignored. The battle is not just about knowledge but of mindset after all. I was in a better "space" and that counts for a lot.

I can't say with confidence that I passed the exam. You never really know with these things. 

All I can do now is just wait.

FFXIV OST Dravanian Forelands Night Theme ( Painted Skies )

1/3 No Junjo Na Kanjo

Election Ramble

 With all the other things going on, I forgot that this is an election year. Hooray. 

I remember reading a Social Studies textbook in grade school wherein democracy was described as "the greatest gift" the Americans gave us. Nowadays, the whole system has lost its lustre and the idea that it was a gift bestowed upon us by Uncle Sam will probably draw vitriol from the anti-colonial chic. 

I learned more from my teacher than from an obviously slanted book. He said something to me which I thought was profound and has stuck with me ever since. To paraphrase, he taught me that it is not the system of government itself that was important but that the ends of the state are achieved. It was an odd statement to tell a grade schooler and certainly runs contrary to prevailing idea that democracy is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Thinking about the "ends" of the state really gets the mind going. To what end is the Philippine ship of state careening toward, I wonder. What's the point of it all? For what reason do we hold this bodabil every four and six years? 

Ask any man on the street what the purpose of the government is and you'll be told it is to provide "services". Ours is a transactional arrangement as befits the history and culture. Forget ideology and principle, Philippine politics is a clash of clans and a clash of interests. The common folk just want the best deal they can carve out for themselves. Nobody talks about what the candidates stand for and nobody cares really. The truth is that they're all interchangeable and all promise fundamentally the same things, if they even deign to promise something specific at all. It's usually motherhood statements about livelihood and more social programs. Say what you will about Duterte but his spiel on crime was at least about an actual specific issue. 

So now we have Leni Robredo and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the choices the hidden hands have decided for us. I refuse to refer to the later as "Bong Bong" as I find that moniker intolerably puerile, even by Philippine standards. I'll just call him Fred. I don't like either of them and these people, along with the other jokers like Pacquiao running around, only reassure me that I'm right in not even participating in the process.

When looking at Leni and Fred, the thought of the People Power revolution comes to mind. Leni is with the "yellow" crowd, for lack of a better classification. The events in EDSA nearly half a century ago casts a long shadow over us from which we may never escape. Playing the part of Cory as humble woman/housewife is Leni. Playing the part of the devil is Freddy, who also cannot escape from his father's shadow.

By the way, calling her supporters the "yellows" is not a lazy term in my opinion. It's not like Philippine musical chair political parties are based on policy platforms. You might as well just use a primary colour to describe them like a kindergartener would. Why not? That's the level of the political discourse.

I don't care much for Leni so I don't have much to say about her.

Fred on the other hand, I find interesting. I find him interesting in the same way I find lead poisoning interesting. After EDSA, the Marcos line and all their cronies should have been lined up and shot like a right and proper revolution should have done. Yet, they stuck around like a lingering poison. Of course Freddy would be in the running for the presidency. It seems destined almost.

So what do I think about Fred? I've already concluded that it's practically impossible to form an opinion about him. It's bad enough that he's ultimately unknowable as is the nature of a politician but there's so much emotional energy swirling about him. He's either Jesus or the devil to people. That people hate him I can understand but why people love him I can't quite.

 I think people like Fred in the same way that people liked Duterte, more as a "fuck you" to the establishment, never mind of course that Freddy is himself the establishment. Really, the problem with the Philippines is all these elite cliques in the upper strata setting the terms for the rest of us. That's Philippine history in a nutshell. Our precious democracy is not one at all. It's top down, not bottom up. What's the point in choosing our leaders when the choice itself is from a small pool of the rich and connected? Politics on the local level are a disappointment but that's a whole other topic.

Freddy is no different from Pnoy. They're privileged scions, cut from the same cloth. Think about it. You know it's true.

Whoever wins, we lose.

The Lotus Eaters - The First Picture Of You

It's a Start

 It's been a while and I suppose I owe the three people who read this blog an explanation.

When I look back to all the things I've written in this blog, I find that a lot of it is gibberish. These past few years have been strange for me. No, it's not politics or the pandemic. At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, my view of the world and of life in general has changed. I realized that nothing is what it seems and I don't really know anything.

Nothing is what is seems. The world is full of lies. Even those things which aren't purposely misleading could just be illusions. I am a human being of limited faculties. I only have five senses and they're not even that great. Things I see or hear may not be accurate and even then, it's filtered into a brain with limited intelligence and inherent biases. 

It grieves me to say that people are not who they seem either. As if my trust issues weren't bad enough, I've observed that people are so inconstant. Given the right circumstances, people who you think are above misbehavior will happily do so and justify themselves after the fact. Worse still, this is perfectly normal, I do it myself. People are not who they say they are and virtue-signaling peacocks on social media are fools. Very few people have ever been put to the test.

So what's all this have to do with this blog? To put it simply, I felt discouraged and lost confidence...for the past two to three years apparently. I no longer believed in what I was writing.

But I've decided to try again. Why now? Good question. Why now, especially after a super typhoon wrecked my hometown and I can only get electricity and internet connection three times a day? Why not?

As strange as it sounds, knowing that everything is so unclear brings a certain clarity in one's perspective. Everything seems so light now. I can't describe it very well but it's like not caring so much anymore, you know? And so I am resolved to just write about whatever now, to hell with everything. Even if it's not the absolute truth or some mind-blowing piece of wisdom, you shouldn't be reading this blog for that anyway. I write partly for myself. It's an exorcism.

More to come, hopefully.