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Ang Babae sa Septic Tank and its observations on indie filmmaking

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank and its observations on indie filmmaking


By CYRIL ANNE DAYAO
Bulatlat.com
In recent years, a lot of Filipino films have been representing our country in various international festivals, and these indie films seem to fall into a certain type. Together with the recognitions abroad, indie filmmakers are being criticized for indulging in, as local critics put it, “poverty porn.”

Directed by Marlon Rivera and written by Chris Martinez, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank tells a story of aspiring filmmakers set to create a film worthy of an Oscar. Armed with a screenplay which depicts poverty in the country, they believe that their film will make it big internationally.

A pre-production meeting ensues as director Rainier (played by Kean Cipriano), producer Bingbong (played by JM de Guzman), and production assistant Jocelyn (played by Cai Cortez) brainstorm on how to go about their indie film entitled “Walang-Wala.” Set in an urban poor community, their film is about a mother named Mila who sells one of her many children to a pedophile to survive. They later get to meet the star, Ms. Eugene Domingo (as herself), who expressed her excitement in playing a lead role in an indie project.


Different approaches regarding the execution of the script come up throughout the movie, as these were vividly presented from Jocelyn’s imagination. Turning it into a documentary drama was suggested, where the people who have actually experienced the story are intended to be characters. The story was also visualized as a musical, complete with the production numbers, and the slum community had a participation in singing about their lives’ desperation. A version of it in commercialized melodrama also appeared; aside from the over acting projected by the lead actress, the manifestations of product endorsements in every scene was also unmistakable.

But what Direk Rainier had in mind was a neo-realist film, and concepts such as images of squalor and shaky camera shots were mentioned. He believed his vision was clear as he strongly emphasized how he wanted the film to be realistic..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/08/21/ang-babae-sa-septic-tank-and-its-observations-on-indie-filmmaking/

Tucay and his brand of journalism

 Tucay and his brand of journalism

By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com

MANILA — Marjohara Tucay reminded me of Muntadhar al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at then US President George W. Bush.

Although Tucay did not throw his shoes at US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a forum in Manila, he, like al-Zaidi, expressed his disgust over US armed intervention in the Philippines. Tucay, editor in chief of the Philippine Collegian, the student publication of the University of the Philippines-Diliman, chanted slogans and unfurled a banner demanding that the Philippine government junks the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).

After the incident, GMA 7 decided to invite Tucay to be a guest in one of its programs. The decision to interview the young man would have been considered a good move — if only Howie Severino asked the right questions. Instead, Severino gave the campus journalist a lecture on “ethical journalism.” At the beginning of the “interview,” Severino said Tucay was expected to cover the event and not to protest. He did not even ask why Tucay is against the VFA and the MDT..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/11/22/tucay-and-his-brand-of-journalism/

Fed secretly handed out $8 trillion

 Fed secretly handed out $8 trillion

We knew the last bailout from the Federal Reserve was pretty big, but not until now did we have statistics on the actually tally. If you thought that the $700 billion bailout for TARP was big, get a load of this.

Just exactly how big was the Federal Reserve’s bailout of the banks between the years of 2008 and 2010? Thanks to a Federal Request of Information Act gone fulfilled, America now knows the truth behind a colossal cover-up: almost $8 trillion.

Ever since the Fed stepped in to bail out the biggest banks in the country, Ben Bernanke and company have gone to great lengths to keep the exact details of the transactions a secret, citing that the truth would cause concern for the world financial crisis far greater than what was already at hand, saying in particular that investors would step away from the “too big to fail” banks that were benefiting from the bailout. And while Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke went on the record to call the bailouts to even the most “sound institutions” only “marginal,” details of the FOIA request obtained by Bloomberg News now reveals that the Federal Reserve spent nearly half of the entire production output of the US during that span of less than two years — the biggest bailout in the country’s history — while going to great lengths to keep Congress and the American people in the dark.... MORE
SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/fed-trillion-reserve-bailout-401/

Russia launches new missile defense to cover Atlantic (w/ Video)



  
Russia launches new missile defense to cover Atlantic

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered operational the newest Russian radar system that protects from missile attacks and covers all Europe and Atlantic.

Medvedev personally arrived in Russia’s westernmost exclave of Kaliningrad and received a report from the Space Defense Troops commander that the radar station was fully ready for the launch. After this, the president gave the order to put the radar on combat duty.

At the ceremony Medvedev said that the radar launch was a sign to the Western partners that Russia was ready to promptly respond to threats that arise with the start of the European missile defense. "I expect that this step will be regarded by Western partners as the first signal of our country's readiness to appropriately respond to the threats posed by the missile defense system to our strategic nuclear forces," the Russian President said..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/politics/opens-kaliningrad-radar-station-459/

Other things NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 11/29/2011

Other things

NO HOLDS BARRED
Armida Siguion-Reyna
11/29/2011
And so I’m told about that even this true-blue activist on Facebook wanted to talk about the KC-Piolo break up, for a change, “nauuyam na ako kay GMA at Ram.” He might as well have added “…at kung sino ba talaga ang nanalo, si Pacquiao, o si Marquez?

Uyam says it so well, it’s not merely nagsasawa, which means “to get tired of.” Uyam directly translates “ad nauseam,” to refer to “something that has been done or repeated so often that it has become annoying or tiresome,” its Latin meaning, “literally, to sickness.”

Remember the hot pan de sal craze in the late ’70s that had bakeries sprouting like mushrooms in almost all street corners of the city? And then, after that, the lechong manok? That’s so Filipino, the penchant to go whole hog about, well, whatever. Kung ano ang usong kainin, isuot, isulat, pag-usapan, panoorin — that’s it.
Until uyam sets in, and there’s an inherent danger there, I think. I mean, to talk, and read about nothing else but the cause celebre?.... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111129com4.html

Liberian women stalked by rape FEATURE 11/29/2011

Liberian women stalked by rape

FEATURE

11/29/2011
MONROVIA — As a young girl Garmar Murphy was forced into a child soldier’s life, serving as a sexual plaything for Liberian rebels between battles — a tragic norm in the country’s savage conflict.

She was 13 years old, and rape was not criminalized.

A decade later, her country boasts Africa’s first female president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who in October won a Nobel Peace Prize with Liberian activist Leymah Gbowee for their struggle to boost women’s rights and safety.
But if women have taken some steps forward in the eight years since a peace accord ended Liberia’s civil war, they haven’t left behind the threat of rape.

Rape became endemic as a weapon of fear during the 14-year-long conflict and is still rampant, going unpunished more often than not..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111129com3.html

Either to speed up or to go down I.N.S.I.D.E . C.O.N.G.R.E.S.S Charlie Manalo 11/29/2011

Either to speed up or to go down

I.N.S.I.D.E . C.O.N.G.R.E.S.S
Charlie Manalo
11/29/2011
With the World Bank (WB) downgrading the country’s projected growth from 4.5 percent in October to 4.2 percent due to the weakening demand for Philippine exports as the financial crises in the US and Europe continue to worsen, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino has to start spending more especially in infrastructure, to help spur growth, and disregard his administration’s line of budgetary management that the more savings they incur, the better it isfor the country.

About two months ago, an opposition solon exposed that Noynoy still has to spend more than a trillion pesos of the government’s P1.645-trillion budget for 2011. With only a month left in the year, sources say Noynoy has still more than P300 billion left in the government’s coffers to spend.

Noynoy should be made aware that increased investments in infrastructure results into benefits in terms of generating jobs internally, attracting foreign investments and a strong and positive impression for the country despite global economic turmoil and that a lengthy review and delay of infrastructure projects would lead to the stagnation of development particularly in the rural areas..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111129com6.html

Four-corner fight VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 11/29/2011

Four-corner fight

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
11/29/2011
Realistically said, the boxing ring has four corners that keep but two boxers within the reach of one another for only one overall purpose, viz. For them to pound each other, to draw blood from one another and more desirable, to knock down one or the other as a demonstration of fighting acumen, pugilistic tactic and stamina. Figuratively noted however, there is now an ongoing four corner fight-match in full public view with no less than four principal protagonists in the boxing arena. Presenting the gladiators: One, the Office of the President of the Philippines and his kiabigan, kaklase at kabarilan. Two, the Chief of Justice of the Philippines and the justices of the Supreme Court (SC). Three, the past President of the Philippines and her admirers plus protectors. Four, the people of the Philippines, their common good and public welfare.

There is definitely something wrong with, and disturbing, about the latter picture. The Philippines as a whole is no less than four times involved in one and the same four cornered fight. It then becomes a moral impossibility for the Philippines to be the winner in the combat which can become sordid, cruel and ultimately mortal — whichever way the fight goes..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111129com7.html

Disbarment rap vs De Lima filed By Benjamin B. Pulta 11/29/2011

Disbarment rap vs De Lima filed

By Benjamin B. Pulta 11/29/2011

Not only is she under threat of a contempt and jail time charge for defying the high court’s temporary restraining order (TRO), but Justice Chief Leila de Lima now also faces a disbarment case.

A private lawyer filed a disbarment complaint against De Lima for her refusal to obey the temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court (SC).

De Lima has denied that she had defied the high court’s order, using President Auqino appointeed SC associate Justice Lourdes Sereno’s dissenting opion which in gist said that the TRO issued by the majority justices was conditional since one of three conditions imposed was not met by the lawyers of the Arroyo couple.

This argument is being brought by as a defense by De Lima, despite the fact that the dissenting opinion came a day or so after the Justice chief had already ordered the Immigration Bureau to stop former President incumbent Rep. Gloria Arroyo and her husband, Jose Miguel, from leaving the country..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111129hed1.html

GMA counsels oppose doctors’ SC appearance By Benjamin B. Pulta 11/29/2011

GMA counsels oppose doctors’ SC appearance

By Benjamin B. Pulta 11/29/2011

Former president, incumbent Rep. Gloria Arroyo is contesting the government’s call for the appearance of her physicians before the Supreme Court (SC).

In a six-page opposition to the government’s motion for subpoenae ad testificandum and duces tecum, Mrs. Arroyo said the government’s plea to allow the appearance of her physicians should be denied because the SC is not a “trier of facts” and requiring the attendance of her doctors before the SC would “unnecessarily burden them, instead of the doctors just focusing on treating her.”

Arroyo’s counsel stressed that her medical records have already been submitted to the SC and were included in her petition as attachments.

Arroyo also expressed fears that her physicians may start feeling being harassed and thus might affect the treatment being conducted on her medical condition..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111129hed4.html

3 killed, 27 hurt in Zamboanga hotel blast 11/29/2011

3 killed, 27 hurt in Zamboanga hotel blast

11/29/2011
A powerful explosion killed at least three persons and wounded 27 others, including three soldiers, in a pension house in Zamboanga City Sunday night, officials yesterday said.

Police said they had found traces of chemicals used in making improvised bombs in the ruins of the Atilano Pension House, hours after the blast.

The blast occurred around 9:30 p.m., said Zamboanga City Police Director Edwin de Ocampo.

Rescue workers said they had taken out at least two dead bodies and numerous severely injured people..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111129hed3.html

RP back as Asia’s laggard with dismal 3.2% Q3 growth 11/29/2011

RP back as Asia’s laggard with dismal 3.2% Q3 growth

11/29/2011
Growth slowed to a dismal 3.2 percent in the third quarter that returned the Philippines to its familar role as a laggard in Southeast Asia, having one of the worst economic performances in the region for the quarter and all the result of poor management of the budget.

Economists saw the minimal expansion, the third consecutive quarter under Aquino that growth had skidded, as resulting from underspending or tighter controls imposed by the administration on the release of public funds that acted as a drag on the economy.

The economic sector that slowed the most was the construction industry which University of the Philippines (UP) economist Benjamin Diokno said contracted due to the failure of the Aquino administration to implement projects which were authorized and approved by Congress..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111129hed6.html

Cayetano earns ire of Sotto over RH bill deliberations By Angie M. Rosales 11/29/2011

Cayetano earns ire of Sotto over RH bill deliberations

By Angie M. Rosales 11/29/2011

Sen. Pia Cayetano yesterday earned the ire of Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III after she made insinuations on supposed intentional delay in deliberations of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill.

Sotto gave the lady senator a mouthful during the afternoon plenary proceedings after Cayetano made the statement when she attempted to speed up deliberations on the measure which she sponsors as being health committee chairman by moving it to the period of interpellations and period of debates.

Cayetano will be left on her own in defending the bill as her co-sponsor, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago is scheduled to leave again for the United States today, to campaign for her bid in gaining a seat in the International Criminal Court (ICC).

But even before the heated exchanges on the floor, Cayetano and Santiago accused the upper chamber leadership to be engaged in a deliberate effort to delay the passage of the bill..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111129nat1.html

Koko: GMA ‘fit to go to jail’ 11/29/2011

Koko: GMA ‘fit to go to jail’

11/29/2011
Now that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been declared “fit to go home” by her doctors, she is now also “fit to go to jail.”

Thus, declared Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III as he revealed that Arroyo’s recent arrest was the outcome of a case he had filed against her for alleged cheating during the 2007 senatorial elections.

“I am the reason why GMA has been arrested,” Pimentel said in remarks before the Grand General Membership Meeting of JCI Manila.

“This case is but a chapter in our crusade for a better Philippines,” he added..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111129met4.html

Bus drivers to receive basic salary starting January, says MMDA 11/29/2011

Bus drivers to receive basic salary starting January, says MMDA

11/29/2011
Bus drivers will soon start having their own basic salary, in a bid to prevent them from trying to outrace each other to pick up passengers, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said that a plan is being considered to give bus drivers a regular pay starting January next year instead of being on commission basis.

Tolentino said the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) is reviewing a draft department wage order about the issue.

“Hindi na kailangan ng bagong batas, gagawan na lang ng department wage order. Tapos na yan, pinagaaralan ng DoLE sa pangangasiwa ni Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz ang mechanics,” Tolentino said in an interview over dzBB radio..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111129met1.html

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