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For the past 17 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN - the much-talked about film about two young gay Wyoming cowboys who found themselves entangled in a burning love affair hatched in the wrong place and the worst time, proved to be the movie to beat this coming awards season.
Actually, it already bagged most of the top prizes in the recently concluded Golden Globe Awards, including best picture and, of course, best director for its Taiwan-born director Ang Lee.
When the movie opened late last year, there was so much fuzz about its subject matter: Homosexuality. Some theaters in Utah even prohibited the showing of the film and condemned it to hell right away. Other sectors and people tried to be politically correct at first, but later on succumbed to the weirdness of the film and of gay people as a whole, and called it the worst film ever made. Yes, worse than Ocean’s 12 or Shaider the Movie. Even acclaimed writer of the legendary show Seinfeld, Larry David, who now enjoys his own comedic success as an actor/writer in the HBO hit series ‘Curb your Enthusiasm’, wrote a piece in the New York Times explaining why he would not watch “Brokeback Mountain’ even if real cowboys hoop him with a lasso and tied to a theater chair.
But, what’s wrong with this award-winning flick? What’s so unappealing with two hunky cowboys having violent, beast-like sex on a mountainside shrubbery? What’s so unacceptable about these blokes, who have found a long and lasting love with each other? We are in the 21st century, you know, when gay marriage has become a civil right; and gays have risen from the shadows and started winning government posit ions. So, really, what’s the problem with this movie?
The problem is homophobia. We are all homophobic, to tell you the truth.
We are so homophobic, we equate same-sex copulation with devil worship.
People are so homophobic even gays themselves may find themselves scared the hell out of themselves. Everyone is afraid of homosexuals and homosexuality. And that’s what the fuzz is all about.
When I say I am homophobic, it doesn’t mean like I am scared of gays like I am scared of heights – Hypsiphobia, or Alliumphobia, the fear of garlic.
I am scared of gays because of the unknown factor – X factor.
I, like all human beings have an innate fear of the unknown. We always fear what we don’t know, or what we don’t understand and homosexuality falls exactly in that category.
To us it is as unknown as the purpose of the Appendix and as misunderstood as Lennon’s “we are more popular than Jesus’ bit.
Our concept of homosexuality largely depends on medieval church doctrines, and Redneck philosophy. And thanks to thousands of years of repression, we are left with our butts over our heads when it comes to understanding gay people, or homosexuality as a whole. Sadly, we are as clueless as a Brahmin stuck inside a Burger King.
In the Philippines, we are used to seeing homosexuals in drag. In fact, over there, gays and drag queens are the same. Gays must physically look like a woman, dress like a woman, sound like a woman, and think like a woman. It is rare to meet gay Filipinos who are as hunky as Brad Pitt, or the two actors in Brokeback Mountain: Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaall.
The Philippines is a patriarchal society that simply cannot accept tainted masculinity. Can any Pinoy accept a gay Jun Aristorenas or Fernando Poe Jr.? I don’t think so. For most Pinoys, gays are the modern gypsies – in colorful clothes with golden corn hair, 2-inch thick face powder and stuck to the fashion, carnival and entertainment industries.
Here in the States, most gay men look like men. They are in suits, clean cut, and slick. They are doctors, nurses, lawyers, priests and many of them are even in the military. The same is true to most gay women.
In the general American view of homosexuals, drag is nothing but a remote occurrence. Drag queens only appear during the Manhattan Halloween Parade or the Gay Pride Parade in the Village. It is not their daily uniform to prove their identities. It is never part of what or who they are.
That’s how screwed the world’s idea of homosexuality really is. I myself don’t know, that’s why I am scared of it. However, unlike real phobia, which is based on irrational fear, my fear of gays is due to a rational fear brought about by humble ignorance.
The reality is we, the straight people, are in the same journey as the gay people themselves toward a full knowledge of what homosexuality really is.
Moreover, judging gay people based on 13th century sermons and misinformation could not lead us to illumination either.
Therefore, it is best to shut our mouths, when it comes to the merits or demerits of homosexuality because we know less. Actually, t is best to say ‘ I don’t know’ when it comes to the ethics of the gay life, because that is the truth: we don’t’ know.
I must admit, though, that regardless of the big publicity and buzz around Brokeback Mountain, I am not going to see it in the theaters, nor rent, download or buy the DVD. The mountainside brutal sex might be too confusing for me like a 3-hour calculus lecture with a Led Zeppelin album playing in the background.
If ever I get the itch to see great mountainside action, I would probably pop out my Cold Mountain DVD.
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Ted Reyes is a musician, composer, record producer and journalist based in NYC. If you have any comments you can visit his website at www.tedreyes.com or email him at tedreyes@mac.com
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MANILA --- Looks like sexy star Diana Zubiri has found a new flame in Alfred Vargas after her aborted romance with Vhong Navarro who canít really offer her anything since he’s still legally married to Bianca Lapuz.
Diana became close to Alfred while they were taping “Encantadia” and when they were paired in the movie “Bikini Open.”
Showbiz observers say Diana is very lucky with Alfred as he comes from a “buena familia” (mostly lawyers) from Sta. Maria, Bulacan, and he’s an Ateneo college graduate at that. But does Alfred’s family approve of Diana considering that she has no college education at all?
“Hindi naman nakikialam ang family ko sa lovelife ko,” says Alfred.
Alfred and Diana are also practically neighbors since they both live in Xavierville in Quezon City. Alfred’s career continues to be on a roll as he is also in “Etheria” playing Amaro and in “Love to Love” where he’s paired with Isabel Oli. (MNS)
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MANILA --- Judy Ann Santos won two best actress awards (the Golden Screen and the Urian) for her bravura performance as the disturbed heroine in “Sabel” last year.
Strangely, though, she didn’t do any single film in 2005. How come? Is it true it’s because she decided to concentrate on her lovelife with Ryan Agoncillo?
“No. After ‘Krystala,’ which was very tiring to do, I told my manager, Tito Alfie Lorenzo, that I wanted to rest muna,” she says. “So choice ko talagang huwag muna magpelikula kahit may offers. But even before 2005 was over, I’ve started shooting don’t Give Up On Us’ with Piolo Pascual and now it’s Star Cinema’s initial offering for the new year.”
The film is an answered prayer for the fans of their love team who have long been asking for a new vehicle since they were last seen together in “Till There Was You” almost three years ago. “My role here as Abby is very different from the past ones I did na poor ako at laging inaapi. This time, I’m a rich, strong-willed and very organized career girl from the city who goes to Sagada and meets this free-wheeling guy na kuntento na sa buhay niya roon as a folk singer earning P3,000 a month. Initially, turned off ako sa kanya but as we get to know each other deeper, we fall in love in spite of the differences in our station in life. The conflict is: would he be willing to give up his life in the mountains and join me in the city, or would I give up my lucrative career in the city to live with him in the mountains? Bagay na bagay nga ang title na ‘Don’t Give Up On Us’ kasi no one would like to sacrifice and give up his or her own current life for the sake of the other. How our love story is eventually resolved makes this a film that will give viewers a reason to rediscover the ecstasy of being in love and to feel very romantic again in the new year.”
Giving Juday and Piolo great support in the film directed by Joyce Bernal are Hilda Koronel as Juday’s mom, Rio Locsin as Piolo’s mom, and John Wayne Sace, Marco Alcaraz and JC Cuadrado. (MNS)
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MANILA --- It’s unlikely, according to Luis Alandy himself, that he will win back Desiree del Valle. He revealed that she had frankly told him she’s not keen on reconciling with him.
“Kung may iba na siyang mahal,” said Luis, “I wish her happiness.”
He said Desiree is currently in the US for a vacation. She is with her family, who are permanent residents there.
It will be recalled that Desiree did consider staying put in the US, but she changed her mind and went back to the country to resume her career.
Luis is currently in the cast of returning Filipino classic “Gulong ng Palad,” which premieres this January 9. He is in a love triangle with Kristine Hermosa and TJ Trinidad, who play childhood sweethearts.
“Most of my scenes are either with Kristine or TJ kaya maganda talaga ang exposure ko sa teleseryeng ito,” said Luis.
In the old “Gulong ng Palad,” Kristine and TJ’s characters were played by Marianne de la Riva and Ronald Corveau, who eventually became husband and wife. But Marianne and Ronald are now separated.
“Ako, I have no idea kung sino ang artistang dating nag-play ng role ko sa ‘Gulong ng Palad’,” Luis said.
“Gulong ng Palad” started as a 1949 radio serial penned by the late radio fictionist, Lina Flor. Now it’s the late Lina Flor’s younger sister, Loida Virina, who is the story-writer and consultant of the 2006 version.
Virina played the role of Luisa (which Kristine now plays) in the radio serial of “Gulong ng Palad,” which was on air for seven years.
It was TV executive Marcial Sanson who thought of turning “Gulong ng Palad” into a daytime soap at BBC 2.“I was assigned to be the writer,” said Virina. “I must say that the story I wrote for the TV series had many similarities to my life.
“Pero, ngayon, natural na magiging iba na ang takbo ng istorya ng ‘Gulong ng Palad,’ bagamat its old plot is retained. It is still a love story kaya I’m hopeful that it will equal the popularity of the old ‘Gulong ng Palad,’ which also aired for seven years on television.”
Viewers of the original “Gulong ng Palad” will remember Romnick Sarmenta as the five-year-old boy who played the role of Peping, now being essayed by child actor Nash Aguas.
It was also Sanson who penned the Tagalog lyrics of the “Gulong ng Palad” theme song, which was based on a French song called “Emmanuel.” (MNS)
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MANILA --- Clearly there’s an anomaly in the process!”
This was the angry voice of awarded filmmaker Joel Lamangan during a press conference held at the Imperial Cafe of the Imperial Suites in Tomas Morato Quezon City.
The press conference was held because Regal Films’ matriach Mother Lily Monteverde was very disappointed with the result of the 31st Metro Manila Film Festival Awards Night held last Friday at the Aliw Theater. Mother Lily was saddened because she felt the giving of awards was manipulated by an influential entity in the MMFF.
“I’m not questioning how good Joey Reyes is as a director but more on the process of the selection of the awardees. I’m against their process. If they have chosen ‘Kutob,’ they should have backed it up na dapat Best Picture, Best Story, Best Screenplay awardee din. They should back it up para hindi naman question yung director kung bakit. This is the first thing I’m protesting about, not Joey or the movie ‘Kutob,’” Lamangan said.
Joel added that he pities the film because the film should speak for itself. He stressed that the process was questionable and was the root cause of the annomalies.
“Mali ang proseso, mali ang pamantayan. Open sa manipulation. Open sa dishonesty. Open sa pandaraya!”
When asked if Joel Lamangan believes that the Best Director must come from the Best Picture winner, he replied, “Dapat supported ka pa ng major awards like Best Screenplay, Best Story and Best Picture. Kung hindi ka maging Best Director, paano ka naging Best Picture?”
The press statement of Regal Entertainment questions how and why the Best Director was given to “Kutob” director Joey Reyes. They stated that “On the Best Director Category; the quality and excellence of a motion picture largely depends on the skill and performance of its director. ‘Blue Moon’ exemplified excellence and technical superiority as shown by the fact that it was awarded Best Picture, Best Story, Best Screenplay, Most Gender Sensitive Picture and texters’ vote awards for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress. Considering the numerous awards of ‘Blue Moon,’ it was unusual that it did not bag the Best Director. What were the standards considered by the jurors for this category?”
“Kutob’s” winning the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award was also questioned in the said press statement because of the criteria for the award. Because “Kutob” is a film about a psychotic young man, they are questioning what Filipino values are depicted in “Kutob.”The criteria for the selection of the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award is as follows: It is given to a film that best depicts Filipino historical and cultural values. While the criteria for Best Festival Picture are: Artistry, creativity, technical excellence, innovativeness and thematic values; commercial viability and global appeal; and Filipino historical and/or cultural values.
“In principle, if I will be the one to say, I’m returning it (the award). Maybe it’s in the abstract but I’m returning the idea of me getting the Best Picture for ‘Blue Moon,’” Joel Lamangan declared if he felt that his film didn’t deserve the said award.
The other things Regal Entertainment were questioning were “Mulawin,” despite being the only film graded A by the Cinema Evaluation Board never won a single award, giving color to the standards used by the MMFF jurors in contrasts to the standards of Cinema Evaluation Board.
Regal Entertainment was also disturbed by the comments made by a juror, published in a daily newspaper that praised “Kutob.” This juror’s neutrality was being questioned because jurors shouldn’t be biased.
“It is because of these people na matagal na sa MMFF ang dahilan kung bakit wala ng nanunuod ng mga pelikulang Pilipino dahil niloloko nila ang mga tao. Ang pagsisinungaling ay isang panloloko,” Joel Lamangan interjected.
In closing the press conference, Mother Lily stated that she wanted to return the awards they won last night. She felt “they deprived me and my colleagues involved in the creation of the motion pictures ‘Mulawin’ and ‘Blue Moon’ of recognition due us,” she said.
Though Mother Lily was advised by their legal counsel to uphold the decision of the Awards Committee, they reiterated that their concerns are critical and serious that should merit discussion, debate and consideration.
Despite the surprising turn of events last Friday night during the MMFF Awards Night, it seems Mother Lily Monteverde still stands to win in end with all her movies making money at the box office. But whether it would be a good consolation over what they believe as awards annomalies they experienced, is still to be seen!
Mother also declared that she is not joining the Metro Manila Film Festival anymore unless justice is served them.
As for “Kutob,” producer Orly Ilacad has this to say: “I just hope we focus on the positive result of the festival. We should just be happy with the results because the festival generated a large gross in the box office. We should work on the upliftment of the Filipino movies...we have nothing to do with that (referring to the anomalous process that Regal is alleging). We were just the recipients (of the awards).” (MNS)
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