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No to gloria’s cha-cha!
Bye, cam
May 8, 2009, 6:10 am
Filed under: Film, art, personal, politics | Tags: camera, canon, photography, Raymund Villanueva, stolen
Filed under: Film, art, personal, politics | Tags: camera, canon, photography, Raymund Villanueva, stolen
Our dear camera was stolen from Pom in Mindanao recently. Yes, the camera we have saved up for in years; the camera I dreamed of while feeling envious of the other photographers in rallies; the camera that gave us much joy; the camera that I wiped clean after every coverage; the camera that took many good pictures and affirmed my uncle’s suspicion I could be a photographer when he gave me an old Petri decades back.
My family, friends and comrades know how much I loved that camera. Aside from its kit lens, it had three other lenses from my old film cameras and another lent one from Onin Tagaro. When my friend Leighton Wood gave us money to buy a top-of-the-line flash, a proper tripod and a wicked battery grip, I still bought more accessories for it. I bought rechargeable batteries for the flash. I bought Onin’s Tamrac camera-laptop bag for it on top of two others I bought from Ron Papag and Henry Sy. I bought lens polarizers, hoods and caps. I bought a wrist strap for it in Hong Kong.
I taught photography workshops with it. I earned another media card with it. I never earned from it but I got praises for some of the pictures I took with it. It was more than just a toy; it helped me a lot in my chosen political work.
This is depressing as hell. I miss that camera so much.
Despite efforts to find out who stole it from my in-laws’ house, I am no longer hopeful we’d get it back. Even if we can get it back, in what condition would it be? Did the bastard make sure it was dry where he keeps it? If already fenced, didn’t the asshole buyer play with it too much already? I don’t think many people where it was stolen know how to figure it out quickly without its manual.
So we are left with four lenses, a flash and the other peripherals, in addition to one film and one APS SLR cam bodies. I don’t know when and how we can get a DSLR replacement but I will do my best. It might take months, even years. But remembering how much fun I had taking pictures, I will do my best, for sure. I am thinking of asking donations from friends and family but am a bit shy about doing it. (But if my friends and family are not shy about commiserating by donating, that’s okay by me. All they have to do is hit me so I can send them my bank account details. Hint! Hint!)
Bahala na. Canon’s new live view feature seems nice. Hosto services, anyone?
2 Comments
Maling Akala
May 17, 2008, 9:47 am
Filed under: Film, Human Rights, politics | Tags: cha-cha, charter change, documentary, Film, hacienda luisita massacre, Human Rights, video
Filed under: Film, Human Rights, politics | Tags: cha-cha, charter change, documentary, Film, hacienda luisita massacre, Human Rights, video
TV convalescense
I’ve been under the weather these past few days. With my workload and worries, I was amazed I hadn’t had the flu as often as I should. But after a particularly tiring rally with the lawyers in Mendiola, I finally had it.
I only wished I was able to make quick side trip to Quiapo after the rally and stocked up on pirated DVDs before flu got me. When I had all the time in the world to watch movies, I had only X-Men 3 to see. (Good thing DVD vendors are present at Commonwealth Market as well.)
One more thing that made my convalescence more difficult was our lack of cable TV. Free TV was it for me. And in our neck of the woods, you know how tortuous that can be.
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On the news this evening, Ruffa Guttierez was interviewed about her reaction to a bit-player’s remark that her gown was “UK” (ukay) or second hand.
Holy cow! The country’s leading network wasting two-minutes of precious broadcast time in its primetime news program on a remark that meant absolutely nothing to the millions of impoverished Filipinos. Even if it was a one-time Ms International runner-up they interviewed, as if she’s capable of some intelligent thought to deserve it.
Grabe!
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More on Ruffa and Ruffa’s friends.
Colagen injections seem to be the fashion statement of the moment among them. Didn’t you notice how Ruffa, Dawn, Gretchen and Donita’s lips all look alike?
And those make-up! Is it November already? Why are these gorgeous ladies trying to look like ghouls? Are the producers of Harry Potter making auditions in the Philippines for someone who would play Voldemort’s wife?
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I just saw Armida Siguion-Reyna being interviewed over ABC Channel 5.
It was the best talk show I saw these past five days. How she slays Manoling Morato on television always cracks me up.
Armida may not remember it now. But in a rally in Makati last year, I was the one who bodily carried her onto the stage to save her from being turned into a bloody pulp. The crush was created when free-loading politicians fell all over their filthy selves to be seen onstage with Susan Roces. We were standing side by side—she was awaiting her turn to speak; I was the rally’s writer feeding spiels to Direk Joel Lamangan. (I wanted to carry Armida’s grandaughter Cris Villonco and former Ms Universe Gloria Diaz and her daughter and niece as well but they did not seem to need my help.)
I really liked Armida when her long-running musical show ‘Aawitan Kita’ featured Levy Celerio’s songs. I liked her even more when she identified Gary Granada in Ariel Ureta’s show as Levy’s most probable successor.
I disagree with her though when she says that Manoling’s moralistic hypocrisy is because of him being gay. I mean, it’s not fair to point out his gayness for his personality problems when he has never admitted to being gay. Mainsulto pa ang mga bakla.
Methinks-that-Manoling-is-just-a-horrid-symptom-of-a-hypocritical-society-that-does-not-puke-when-it-sees-‘president’ arroyo-kissing-the-pope’s-hand-and-giving-him-a-copy-of-a-law-abolishing-death penalty-while-not-speaking-against-the-more-than-700 murders-committed-by-her-military.
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Methinks, as well, that the so-called Holy See is more of a political center now and less of a holy place run by people of holy intentions.
If Benedict is sufficiently informed by his overfed functionaries at the Vatican, I wonder is he still would have patted gma at the back and told her “Good job!” I repeat: there are more 700 murders committed by her military since she became president.
Methinks again that no Catholic, at least those who profess faithful practice, should want to share a room with this murderer. Until she confesses her sins and puts a stop to the killings.
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Lastly, methinks that Philippine television’s main saving grace are the few witty advertisements being aired.
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06-28-2006
Ito ring si Atienza!
Hypocrite!
I can find no word more apt to describe His (Dis)Honor(able) Jose “Lito” Atienza, mayor of Manila.
Last week, he encouraged some religious bigots to burn copies of Dan Brown’s book “Da Vinci Code” and DVDs of the movie with the same title featuring Tom Hanks. Okey, okey, they only burnt two copies of the book and the DVDs were just pirated copies. But this article is not about the miserly matrons but about the guy who looks like an older version of Vandolph. (By the way, Manila is pirated DVD capital of the universe.)
Like SM’s Henry Sy, Atienza bans R-18 movies in Manila. And like Sy, who is Atienza to thumb his nose on these kinds of movies?
You see, Atienza has banned and is banning rallies in Mendiola and Plaza Miranda—the Mecca of political expression in the country. Mendiola and Plaza Miranda have always been thus when this country is such a better place before his poor parents conceived him.
Hundreds of cracked skulls and dozens of arrests and criminal prosecution have resulted from Atienza’s unjust and anti-people policy. He has railroaded the people’s right to freely assemble and speak—rights infinitely more important than himself and the Malacanang witch he is trying to protect.
At least two times have I been unjustly hauled to court by Atienza and his police goons.
The first time, in 10 December 2004, he accused me, along with several others, of instigating the police’s violent dispersal of a human rights rally near Mendiola. Did he ever realize that the real violation there was his refusal to let the people voice their grievances in a historical spot? And I arrived late that time. The dispersal had long been over when I arrived.
The second time, in 12 June 2005, I was not there as a rallyist but as a member of the press. I was wearing my media ID all the time. Still, I was impleaded in the idiotic “illegal assembly” case.
My question is what right this compulsive human rights violator has to tell us what movies we the people want to see?
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05-29-2006
Movies and SM
For the first time in months, my wife and I went out on a date last Sunday night. We needed that; we’ve been extra busy these past months. We went to see a movie.
For the longest time, we’ve been intrigued by the movie “The Vinci Code.” Unlike our know-it-all seatmates who felt they had to loudly comment with every new scene, our interest stems from the fact that we’ve read “Holy Blood, Holy Grail” and Dan Brown’s “Angels and Demons” and “The Vinci Code”. Plus, we are friends with Thaddeus Ifurung who just loves to talk about religion, the occult, the Church and things of this sort. Further, I’ve seen all National Geographic specials on the controversy and I’ve bought a DVD copy of the Opus Dei documentary.
It was so refreshing that we were given no choice but to see the movie at the Robinson’s Cinema at Novaliches. In case you didn’t know, SM Malls have this policy about not showing movies that are “For Adults Only.”
You see, if it can be helped, we’d rather not go to SM.
Ever since I’ve become an activist, I have always lent support to the embattled union at SM. One of the first strikes that my wife and I went to together was the SM strike in the mid-90s. Every three years or so, the few remaining regular workers are forced to declare a strike in order not to be given the unceremonious boot by the giant mall chain.
For the uninitiated, SM owner Henry Sy (the Billionaires’ Club mainstay) is the worst practitioner of workers’ contractualization on these shores. He only hires workers for three months to avoid paying them regular wages, benefits and separation pays. I am hard-pressed to find a meaner Filipino son-of-a-bastard than this asshole.
I have friends and relatives who worked at SM. None of them were given contracts longer than three months. After three months, they have to wait for another year to be taken in.
I have known union members who died because of deprivation. I saw many strikers bludgeoned to a bloody pulp by Sy’s armed goons.
During the last strike, while the strikers and us, their supporters, were walking away after being beaten out of the picket lines, an SM guard threw a rock at me and hit me squarely on my back. My excess fat notwithstanding, that hurt like hell.
But what really hurt was this: that a rich man is willing to kill just so he can scrimp on what is morally due his workers.
Every now and then, SM harps on the fact that they do not allow sex-themed or controversial movies. They say they are doing this for morality and the Filipino families’ sake.
I wish Dan Brown to write more novels about real evil here on earth. And I invite him to go to the SM Malls.
Evil lurks there.
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05-23-2006
Wong Fei Hung: “Hard as a nail, soft as a thread”
It took a while before electricity reached the barrio where I grew up. When we wanted to see movies, we had to go to Tuguegarao which had several double-feature moviehouses. This was in the late 1970s.
Shortly after, television began gracing the living rooms of some of the houses. In the early afternoons and early evenings, these houses would be packed with both kids and adults who are nakikinood like me. It took my parents several months to finally decide to own one. Perhaps they took pity on us siblings who had to sit on hard floors in cramped spaces along with dozens of other nakikinoods.
Then the betamax came.
I don’t know how but everyone called all films “betamax” ranging from Chinese kung (gung) fu movies to “Triple X” porn. Television and betamax erased our traditional after-supper games like sungka, baril-baril, tagu-taguan, tumbang-preso and the like from our consciousness. I sucked in them but I can’t help but be wistful whenever I remember those moonlit nights when our streets would ring with the laughter of the children while the adults would be in groups talking about the latest tsismis.
(Ang haba ko talagang mag-intro; malayo pa ang take-off.)
I really wanted to write about my favorite kung fu movies. I had this idea while I was buying half-a-kilo of Cebu litson from an ambulant vendor located beside a vendor of pirated DVDs. I blew my budget for the day when I saw this 6-in-1 DVD of Wong Fei Hung movies and I just had to have a copy. Curiously, the DVD’s subtitle is “Jet Li vs. Jackie Chan.” Now, I don’t know how it became Jet Li contra Jackie Chan because I know they did not appear in a movie together. But that’s English by the Chinese pirates, so I just shrugged my shoulders and forked P35.00.
While waiting for my lechon to be chopped, I scanned the jacket and saw to my delight that the disc contained “Once Upon a Time in China 1 to 4” and “Drunken Master 1 and 2.” Now, Once Upon a Time in China was 1990s. But “Drunken Master was 1970 so it instantly brought back memories. Hence the long and off-tangent intro.
(Mahaba pa rin ang paliwanag!)
Anyway, the past three days, I slept later than usual because I insist on finishing a movie before I call it a night. The following are my observations and some pieces of information I researched about the six movies and our real-life hero (naks, movie critic!) :
a. Jackie Chan’s physical slapstick style is more entertaining than Jet Li’s serious portrayal of the legendary kung fu hero;
b. Jet Li’s portrayal is a little bit closer to the real life and times of Wong Fei Hung than Jackie Chan’s juvenile Wong (although not by much);
c. Wong Fei Hung did not have a “Drunken Master” kung fu style as Jackie Chan’s movies portrayed. Pero, it was Wong’s kalaban in “Drunken Master 1” who used the famed “Shadowless Kick” against our hero!; and
d. Wong Fei Hung’s father was his second teacher and not the first.
The many hours spent staring wide-eyed at the television screen made me wonder about the real Wong Fei Hung. Following is what I have googled about the guy:
Wong Fei-Hung: The True Story
Wong Fei-Hung was born in 1847, and passed away in 1924. (Some say 1925.) He was a martial arts master, teacher, healer, and revolutionary. He would protect and help those who were weak and defenseless. Wong Kay-Ying was his father, and he was a physician and great martial arts master also, and part of a group known as the “Ten Tigers of Kwantung,” and he and his son lived in the city of Canton.
Wong Kay-Ying’s famous medical clinic was Po Chi Lam, and Wong Fei-Hung was there assisting his father. He learned traditional Chinese medicine, and also learned many important values such as generosity and compassion. Wong Kay-Ying always treated a patient, even if he or she was a complete jerk or was poor. He would also secretly treat revolutionaries who were the resistance against the corrupt Ch’ing Dynasty. The Ch’ing Dynasty consisted of Manchu emperors, who had conquered China from there home in Manchuria. They were foreign invaders to the southern Chinese. The southern Shaolin Temple in Fukien was a place where revolutionaries would go to train to fight against the Manchus. The temple was destroyed in 1734, but the few monks and students who escaped traveled throughout China to teach their skills. Some styles such as Wing Chun (Bruce Lee’s original style) and Hung Gar Kung Fu (Wong Fei-Hung’s style) emerged. The creator of Hung Gar was Hung Hei-Kwun (another martial arts master that was portrayed by Jet Li in New Legend of Shaolin). He was a Fukien tea merchant.
Wong Fei-Hung’s martial arts training began when he met with his father’s teacher, Luk Ah Choi. Luk Ah Choi taught Wong Fei-Hung the basics of Hung Gar. After, Wong Kay-Ying took over his son’s training. By his early 20’s, Wong Fei-Hung had made a name for himself as a dedicated physician and a martial arts prodigy. In addition to becoming a master of hung gar, he created the tiger-crane form and added fighting combinations now known as the “nine special fists.” Wong Fei-Hung was also skilled with many weapons, especially the long wooden staff and the southern tiger fork. One occasion where he utilised his skill with the staff was when he defeated a thirty-man gang on the docks of Canton. He also protected the weak and poor from both criminal gangs and government forces.
However, his life was not all great joy and triumphs. Wong Fei-Hung’s son, Wong Hawn-Sum, followed his father’s foot steps by protecting the weak and poor of Canton. Unfortunately, he was killed in the 1890’s after being gunned down by the drug gang Dai Fin Yee. After this tragedy, Wong Fei-Hung vowed never to teach his remaining 9 sons martial arts, unless they were targets themselves.
Also, Wong Fei-Hung’s first three wives died young, and after, decided to live the rest of his life alone. But in 1903, during an outdoor martial arts demonstration, he met a 16 year old girl named Mok Gwai Lan, and asked for her hand in marriage. She was also a skilled martial artist who taught all of the women’s classes, and even taught some of the men’s classes, which was rare since hardly any women mastered kung fu at the time. In 1924, Wong Fei-Hung died peacefully, a happy and humble man.
Wong Fei-Hung is truly a hero of China. A hero is somebody noted for feats of courage. A hero does righteous things not for money, not for any other venal motivations except, for the benefit of everybody else.
And I learned that Bruce Lee’s original martial arts style before he developed his own Jeet Kun Do can be traced back to Wong Fei Hung’s “Hung 
Gar” style. Also, Wong Fei Hung was the most famous dancer of the Chinese Lion Dance and was referred to as the “King Of Lions.” He was also the head instructor of the Kwuntung army and leader of the Civilian Militia as depicted in the Jet Li movies.
Finally, it is not mentioned in this incomplete article but Wong Fei Hung also struggled against the Manchurian invasion of his country, the corruption of the Manchurian government and the British and American colonialism in China. (This much could be gleaned from the “Once Upon a Time in China” series.)
Indeed, before there was a Mao Tse Tung, there was a Wong Fei Hung. Now that China is being gripped by capitalist railroaders once more, I hope for another Mao and Wong to lead the great Chinese people.
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| Wong Fei-hung Filmography |
1997 – Once Upon a Time in China & America
1994 – Drunken Master II
1994 – Once Upon a Time in China 5
1993 – Iron Monkey
1993 – Last Hero in China
1993 – Once Upon a Time in China 4
1993 – Once Upon a Time in China 3
1992 – Once Upon a Time in China 2
1991 – Once Upon a Time in China
1986 – Millionaire’s Express
1981 – Dreadnought
1981 – Martial Club
1980 – Magnificent Kick
1979 – Butcher Wing
1979 – Magnificent Butcher
1978 – Drunken Master
1976 – Challenge of the Masters
1974 – The Skyhawk
1970 – Wong Fei Hung: Bravely Crushing the Fire Formation
1969 – Wong Fei Hung in Sulphur Valley
1969 – Wong Fei Hung’s Combat with the Five Wolves
1969 – Wong Fei Hung: The Conquerer of the ‘Sam-hong Gang’
1969 – Wong Fei Hung: The Duel foe the ‘Sha-yu-qing’
1968 – Wong Fei Hung: Duel for the Championship
1968 – Wong Fei Hung: The Duel Against the Black Rascal
1968 – Wong Fei Hung: The Eight Bandits
1968 – Wong Fei Hung: The Invincible ‘Lion Dancer’
1968 – Wong Fei Hung: The Incredible Success in Canton
1967 – Wong Fei Hung Meeting the Heroes with the Tiger Paw
1961 – How Wong Fei Hung Smashed the Five Tigers
1960 – Wong Fei Hung’s Battle with the Gorilla
1960 – Wong Fei Hung’s Combat in the Boxing Ring
1959 – How Wong Fei Hung Defeated the Tiger on the Opera Stage
1959 – Wong Fei Hung Trapped in the Hell
1959 – The White Lady’s Reincarnation
1959 – Wong Fei Hung on Rainbow Bridge
1958 – Wong Fei Hung Saves the Kidnapped Liang Kuan
1958 – How Wong Fei Hung Used an Iron-Fowl Against the Eagle
1958 – Wong Fei Hung Gets Rid of the Three Rascals
1958 – Wong Fei Hung’s Victory at Ma Village
1958 – Wong Fei Hung’s Battle with the Bullies in the Boxing Ring
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1956 – Wong Fei-hung Goes to a Birthday Party at Guanshan
1956 – Wong Fei-hung’s Battle at Mount Goddess of Mercy
1956 – Wong Fei-hung’s Pilgrimage to Goddess of Sea Temple
1956 – Wong Fei-hung Rescues the Fishmonger
1956 – How Wong Fei-hung Vanquished the Bully at the Red Opera Float
1956 – Wong Fei-hung’s Victory at Xiao Beijiang
1956 – How Wong Fei-hung Vanquished the Ferocious Dog in Shamian
1956 – How Wong Fei-hung Thrice Captured Sp Shu-lim in the Water
1956 – Wong Fei-hung Wins the Dragon Boat Race
1956 – Wong Fei-hung’s Story: Iron Cock against Centipede
1956 – How Wong Fei-hung Pitted a Lion against the Unicorn
1956 – How Wong Fei-hung Subdued the Two Tigers
1956 – How Wong Fei-hung Vanquished Twelve Lions
1956 – Wong Fei-hung’s Seven Battles with Fiery Unicorn
1956 – How Wong Fei-hung Saved the Dragon’s Mother
1956 – How Wong Fei-hung Thrice Tricked the Lady Security Escort
1956 – How Wong Fei-hung Fought Five Dragons Single-Handedly
1956 – How Wong Fei-hung Pitted Seven Lions against the Gold Dragon
1956 – Wong Fei-hung and the Lantern Festival Disturbance
1956 – Wong Fei-hung’s Battle at Shuangmendi
1956 – Wong Fei-hung and the Courtesan’s Boat Argument
1956 – How Wong Fei-hung Set Fire to Dashatou
1956 – Wong Fei-hung’s Fight in Foshan
1956 – Wong Fei-hung at a Boxing Match
1955 – How Wong Fei-hung Vanquished the Bully at a Long Dyke
1955 – Wong Fei-hung’s Victory at the Sipai Lou
1955 – Wong Fei-hung’s Rival for the Fireworks
1955 – The True Story of Wong Fei-hung
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2-18-2006
