The Boy Who Stutters

“Summer capital of the Philippines,” ganito binansagan ang lugar na Baguio City. Sa aking mga paglalakbay, isa ang Baguio sa aking mga hindi malilimutan. Tatlong beses na akong nakarating dito: ang unang dalawa (Septyembre 2007 at Mayo 2016) ay kasama ang aking pamilya at ang huli ay field trip sa aming paaralan (Oktubre 2016). “Hindi nakakasawa,” sabi ko sa aking isipan nang makarating muli ako.             Malamig ang klima rito, batid naman ito ng nakakarami; ito na siguro ang pangunahing dahilan ng mga turista sa kanilang pagbisita. Subalit bukod sa malamig na klima, tunay na marami pang maipagmamalaki ang Baguio! Isa na rito ang Burnham Park , ang itinuturing puso ng Baguio. Dahil hindi iyon ang aking unang pagbisita, masasabi ko na may mga nagbago. Lalong dumami ang tao, mas pinaganda ang ilang anyo ng istraktura, at higit na kasiya-siya kumpara sa aking huling pagpunta. (Trivia! Ang tanyag na parke na ito ay ipinangalan...

This controversial movie just opened today in the cinemas and if you haven't heard it yet - netizens are calling to boycott the film. Why is that? If you haven't seen it on your social media - It all started when the trailer of the said movie was released just a few weeks ago - reliving the  CHIONG CASE MURDER . It has also remembered a 2011 documentary that was recognized internationally and won numerous awards called  Give Up Tomorrow  (click the link to see the movie while it is still available for public viewing), which was also created for the same celebrated (mis)trial of the century.  If you plan to watch Jacqueline Comes Home, you must watch Give Up Tomorrow first.  That's what I have seen in my social media and quite enough, it bothered me and I know it did to you too. Intriguing, right? Aside from my habit of reviewing local films that I watch, I'm writing this for you to not watch or... to watch the film yourself. I had an impression that it...

© UP FPS "Hi, I'm Ace. I'm from Los Banos, Laguna and I traveled here just to watch the movie since I wasn't able to watch it during the premiere." I introduced and the crowd unexpectedly applauded, so did Sir Rod Marmol (Writer & Director), Aaron Villaflor (Cast), and Carl Adrian Chaves (Producer) who were on stage. There was a Q&A with the cast and crew of the movie and I took the opportunity to ask some questions. “MATA TAPANG”, a finalist in the Cinefilipino Film Festival 2018. Written and directed by Rod Marmol. The film portrays a soldier’s story of healing and how losing an eye in the war forces him to open a third eye that allows him to see the spirits of his fallen comrades, and in the end, the gray areas of life, love, and everything in between. I was very happy to learn that UPFI Film Producers Society would be presenting CineFilipino: Replay! a chance to (re)watch the original and quality movies presented last CineFilipino Film Festiv...

Nasagot ko na noon ang tanong na: Ano ang pinakamahalagang pangyayari sa iyong buhay? Nasagot ko na rin kung ano ang pinakamahirap na naranasan ko. Sa pagdaan ng panahon, sa paglipas ng mga taon, at sa pagdating ng kasalukuyan, hindi pa rin nababago ang aking sagot. Image by Quang Nguyen vinh from Pixabay Ang pagkakaroon ko ng mga kaibigan ang pinakamahalagang nangyari sa aking buhay at ang pag-iwan ko sa kanila ang pinakamahirap. Tila ang kasagutan ko sa dalawang tanong ay iisa – ang pagkakaroon ng kaibigan ang pinakamahalaga at pinakamahirap na pangyayari sa buhay ko. Ang kasaysayan ng aming pagkakaibigan ay hindi inaasahan; magkakaiba ang aming mga hilig, interes, at pananaw sa buhay. Hindi ko kailanman inakala na magiging kaibigan ko sila at hindi rin nila inakala na magiging kaibigan nila ako. Sino ang makapagsasabi? Marami talagang pagkakataon sa buhay ang hindi mo inaasahan.  Ang pagiging bahagi nila sa buhay ko ay naging pinakamahalaga dahil nabago at binago n...

When you started falling in love with her, You’re starting to like the things she likes You’re starting to love the things she loves You’re starting to be –her You’re starting to know –her You’re starting to learn her language You’re starting to understand her moods You’re starting to memorize her favorite songs You’re starting to follow her wants You’re starting to get what she wants You’re starting to have what she wants You’re starting to lose yourself You’re starting to live with her You’re starting to be with her You’re starting to lose control You’re starting to lose your mind You’re starting to lose yourself, in a good way You’re starting to become different You’re starting to become what she needs You’re starting to become what she wants You’re starting to become what she likes You’re starting to become her significant other You’re starting to make changes You’re starting to take changes You’re starting to change You’re start...

The Third Day of the Month You said that twice, or more than that. Though I didn't react even a little bit, I clearly knew what it means. How come I would not know? Today is the third day of the month! But what does it mean really? What does the third day of the month really mean? I  told you I never celebrated with my past. I was never a fan of those conventions, or at least I wasn't always. I still let you anyway for I know that would make you happy, did it? I never thought that today would be, if not the best, one of the best days of my life. You really succeeded in teleporting us through our childhood days - full of fun and carefree days. Dare to be spontaneous. That's where all the fun is.  I never expected such activity today. It sort of reminds me of how happy I was, making me realize that I was unhappy until today. You totally changed that for me. Again, I experienced many firsts  and you really seem to be fully satisfied by that. It flatters your...

            Si [Juan Dela Cruz] ay nagtapos ng BS Architecture sa Ateneo de Manila University ng may mataas na parangal, kasalukuyang miyembro ng Philippine Association of Young Architects na kabilang sa Asia’s Guild of Engineers and Architects. Nakadalo ng ilang prominenteng komperensiya: Futuristic Architecture 2022 sa SMX Convention Center, Pasay City; Beyond Philippine Architecture 2023 Conference sa Baguio City; at Asia’s First Architectural Summit 2024 sa Tokyo, Japan. May isang taong karanasan sa pagtatrabaho sa isang pribadong kompanya. Naghahangad siya na magamit ang mga natutunan, karanasan, kasanayan, at talento na maaaring makatulong sa pag-unlad ng papasuking trabaho. Ang aplikante rin ay may sapat na kakayahan at kaalaman sa sumusunod na mga larangan: exterior designing, residential planning, at contemporary architecture.  Pagsulat sa Filipino sa Piling Larangan, July 2017