Invincible

I heard the news today, oh boy. People woke up to a deluge of water and wind spilled upon them. When everything was said and done, lives were lost and dreams shattered. Children cried for their mothers, fathers mourned their loss, families were never even given a chance to say their goodbyes. The waters may slowly subside, but there are things that words won’t be able to convey. While some of us had a perfect getaway, our people clung to trees for dear life, saving what little they had for a future that’s been left uncertain.

This past weekend, I was in a resort island. True, the trip their might have been hellish, as there were times when waves could have easily capsized the ferry carrying us. I thought we had a hard time. I thought that I would’ve drowned anytime a massive wave struck our cardboard ferry. I actually had it easy.

Typhoon Ketsana (named “Ondoy” locally) struck the capital and the neighboring provinces like a vengeful entity bent on cutting a swath on anything unfortunate to come to its path. The damage has in unimaginable, and the victims’ future even bleaker. While this tragedy may have beaten us to a pulp, it sheds a tear to my eye to see people go out and help each other even in the blackest of nights. The tragedy damaged lives and dreams but hope still lingers on. As a people, the Filipino never ceases to amaze me. The Filipino spirit lives on, proof that we as a people don’t break due to adversity.

To those who’ve tirelessly helped during this difficult time, may you have more strength to help those who have lost hope. To those who’ve lost their lives so that others may live, may your sacrifice live on and reflect on our countrymen. You are an inspiration; the stars burn brighter because of you.

To the Filipino people, keep that fire burning. Stay invincible. I’m proud be one.

Marc Recommends “Miss March”

…provided that you are either deaf, blind, and dumb or plainly suicidal. Seriously, I wouldn’t want my enemies watching this movie, even if it meant they’d gouge out their eyes out of sheer terror. This movie brings a whole new meaning to the term “excruciatingly unfunny”.

And for those of you looking for tons of gratuitous nudity as a saving grace for this movie, you have better chances on betting on the Grizzlies winning the NBA championship this year. Just don’t. Please. Just don’t.

Censorship Shmensorship

I just got robbed. OK, I admit, I wasn’t mugged or held at gunpoint but I do feel like somebody stole from me. Recently, I was able to catch two movies in the theaters: the magnificent “District 9” and the riotous “Bruno”. Both have been in my must-see list and while the movies didn’t disappoint (District 9 was insanely awesome), I should’ve just watched both on DVD.

Unfortunately, MTRCB (Movie and Television Rape and Censure Bastards) didn’t do justice to the art. Instead, both films were mired with cuts that were essential to the film. You’d be disappointed to know that the climax scene in “District 9” was shortened due to violent exploding bodies. WTF? The film wasn’t intended for kids anyway and it sure wasn’t advertised as such so what the heck are the cuts for?

“Bruno”, on the other hand, suffered a worse fate. I was laughing out loud in the cinemas when suddenly, all these cuts would destroy the experience. I know "Bruno” was offensive, but it’s meant to be that way to bring out the unexpected out of his “victims”. They didn’t even spare the scene where Bruno goes to a refugee camp will all intentions of being kidnapped, so he could be famous. Where is it? Most likely snipped away by the scissorhands we have at MTRCB. C’mon guys, we’re not idiots. The movie was R-18 anyway, so what gives?

If the movie industry needs to fight back from pirates, then let the moviegoers see what they paid for and not some mutilated form you call a “movie”. If we buy the DVD, then we’d see the movie in it’s entirety. In this digital age where many forms of entertainment is just a click away, it’s hard not to resort to such. If what we see in the cinemas are entire crap due to our censorship boards, then there are always other avenues.

MTRCB. Sucks. Balls. Big. Time.