When I was but a toddler, my mother told me that I was a good kid. Although it is not advisable today, she told me that she would leave me in a room and I would just happily watch my cartoons on the television while munching on my favorite chocolate chip cookies. Good thing watching too much t.v. did not kill most of my brain cells and while I was a (cough) cute chubby little girl, I did not succumb into obesity. And I still love watching television and I am still a couch potato. But now that I’m all grown up and I’ve added reading to list of my hobbies. Thanks to the gods of modern technology, I am able to read anywhere because of the ebook platform. When I’m bored with the same playlist I listen to almost every day while on commute going to and from school, and now work, I would just open an ebook file and read. That is how I saved myself from the boredom of Metro Manila traffic. Then came the day that I noticed my vision getting a little blurry. I knew reading while on a moving vehicle is bad for the eyes so I got back to just listening to music and lay low on reading. I love music but the routine can get pretty old sometimes.

Good thing I discovered iFlix! Their ads were everywhere—on Facebook and pretty much all the blog sites I’ve visited. They were offering a FREE 30 day full access. I tried it and boy it got me hooked! But for more information about iflix, just click here.

But love is not blind, though because here are the things I think iflix can change or fix:

Just a disclaimer, I am not at all paid to write about this and I'm not about to compare iflix to other apps. Iflix gave me something unexpected and great for my binge-watching needs though, but I will leave that post for next time because I'd like to keep you guessing *wink wink*. Now its just that when I love something, I just really get out of my limb to promote it. So good, quality selection of films, affordability and a customer service that goes out of the way for you? Check, check and check! Iflix just got themselves a loyal user in me. 

I have always loved watching movies but looking back, my love affair with Philippine Cinema really began when I attended my first Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival back in 2009. Cinemalaya was just 5 years old. I was only able to watch one film—Last Supper No. 3. That one film changed my views about movies and I've never missed a year of Cinemalaya since then. The Philippine film industry is almost monopolized by few film production companies. I don’t want to drop any names (but I know you’ll figure it out), but these film outfits make films that are very formulaic and rely heavily on musical score to drag emotions out of its viewers. Don’t get me wrong, scoring is a big deal when it comes to movies. Anyway back to my point. It was then that I started patronizing independent films or my beloved indie. It doesn’t conform, it’s not heavily populated with product placements and they’re almost always scored wonderfully.

I love art. All kinds—music, visual, performance art… everything. Can I just say that I’m not pointing that out to sound pa-cultured? LOL. I love art because it’s tied to history. Unfortunately, Philippine History is full of blood and betrayal that so many Filipinos tend to forgive and forget. Add that to our colonial mentality tendencies and we’re sure to take history for granted. That being said, I know the importance of preserving historical artifacts and that includes films.

I’m no film student but I’ve educated myself to know the importance of film in history which is why when I saw an announcement on Facebook that the Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA) is looking for new members, I knew I had to join. I was really hesitant though, because I am not a film major so I sent their FB group a private message asking if they accept such members. I don’t even have a background on archiving. So I told them if they don’t, I still would like to extend my assistance in any way I can because I really believe in what they are trying to achieve. So I came to their general assembly. I was worried about so many things, first, I thought I was late and second, because I don’t know anyone. Seeing the fellow members, I got nervous because they all looked like they’re all from the film industry. I wanted to leave. Fortunately, I decided to stay.  The first part of the program is a film viewing. I read there was a special surprise guest and boy was I surprised! After filling out the registration form, I asked the CCP usherette if the event started yet. She said, “No, ma’am. Hinihintay pa daw po nila si (dramatic pause—oh yes she did!) Ms. Jaclyn Jose.” I said okay. That took a while to register. I think I did a double take when it finally did. THE Ms. Jaclyn Jose. THE first Southeast Asian to take home Cannes Best Actress award is gracing this event. And I’m going to see her. WOW. But this post is not (only) about her so I didn’t ask to take pictures with her. Haha. I was starstruck though, but I was there for SOFIA.

She came with her daughter Andi. I’ve met actors before pero iba yata talaga ang aura pag nanalo ka na ng Best Actress award. In Cannes. SOFIA did a film showing of her movie Itanong Mo Sa Buwan directed by Chito Roño. Her leading man here is the late Mark Gil, Andi Eigenmann’s father. It was a great film restored through the efforts of SOFIA. It has that Gone Girl vibe. Watching the film, you will notice remnants of a film negatives from the original movie. Itanong mo sa Buwan is one of the films lucky enough to be restored but how about those in black and whites? Filipino silent films? 

In an article written by a SOFIA member for Inquirer, Ramon Nocon states, “Philippine Cinema can lay claim to having produced some 8,000 or so films since its birth in 1919. But of that figure, the painful truth is that only 3,000 of those titles can be considered extant while the rest, regrettably, are irretrievably lost—never to be seen by current and future generations of moviegoers.”

What a waste. Wouldn’t you want your children or grandchildren to see the old grandeur of Philippine Cinema? Long story short, I am now official member of SOFIA. And if like me, you love movies and believe in the magic of film restoration and would like to learn more about it, you can join SOFIA too. You don't have to be a film major or mass communication graduate to join. In fact, I studied Pharmacy before. Some of the movies they helped restore include Mar S. Torres's Maalaala Mo Kaya (1954), Gerry de Leon's Noli Me Tangere (1961) and Lino Brocka's White Slavery (1977). For list of films they helped restore, you can check out their site here.

Photos from SOFIA Phils.

For everyone’s information, you can apply for regular, associate or institutional membership. Regular membership are for those people whose line of work is directly related to film. You can be an associate member if, like me, you’re a film enthusiast whose line of work isn’t related to film while institutional membership is as it says, for companies who wish to be part of SOFIA and is willing to help by giving funds to support film restoration. Annual fee is for Php 400 for regular and associate members and Php 1000 for institutional members (which covers up to 2 representatives from the company). 

SOFIA is a non-stock, non-profit and non-governmental association so help from volunteers are needed especially in times of fund-raisers and other events. They also do workshops and seminars educating people about the process of film restoration. If you wish to join, you can visit their Facebook account here or their website here.

Let me begin by saying that I am not for the Aquino's nor the Liberal Party. Generally, people think when you're Anti-Marcos, you're automatically pro-Aquinos. I've read too many books and articles to know that there's a possibility that the Aquinos are just as guilty as the Marcos's during that time. This post is not in defense of the Aquinos. And the "victory" of EDSA People Power should not solely be attributed to them. It is not just about the Aquinos. In years I've had this blog, I have never written anything political. But I care too much about this issue just to "shut up".

What the Marcos apologists need to understand is that Martial Law is NOT the problem. It is NOT about Marcos vs. Aquino per se. Duterte can declare Martial Law if necessary. It's much bigger than that. I'm talking about the human rights violations during that era. The violence that Ferdinand Marcos, being the Commander-in-Chief during that time, allowed to perpetuate. Being electrocuted, raped (worse, gang raped), have things inserted inside your genitals, gauge your eyes out, your fingernails pulled out--this event in history is not just #MartialLawThingy.

Do they deserve to die because they chose to say something? Some are just students barely out of puberty, some are even innocent and are just suspected of being one (the government suspended the privilege of writ of habeas corpus, remember?).

What do you say to their families? What do you say to the man whose brother was found tortured to the point that his face almost unrecognizable? How do you console a father whose daughter was found bruised, raped and dead? What do you say to a family whose family member was never found? And in comparison, do you tell the Lolas who've become sex slaves during the Japanese occupation, "Matagal na po 'yon, Lola. Move on na kayo."? How? And more importantly, can you--in person, not while cowardly posting comments and reposting memes? 

I acknowledge everything Marcos did for the country, the Lung Center, Heart Center, PICC... Cultural Center of the Philippines is one of my favorite places ever. I'm even thankful to Imelda because arts flourished during that time. Pero naman kasi,hindi ba dapat naman, he was in office for 2 decades ano. Alangan namang mangungutang lang siya sa World Bank for nothing. Okay lang nakawan basta nakikitang may pinupuntahan gano'n? What a sad logic. My point is it's not about all the things Marcos did, it's about all the things that he DID NOT do.

Now that I've covered that, back to the real and current issue. I support Leni Robredo. What I want people to understand is that I voted for her NOT because she's from LP but because I have faith in her and and her brand of leadership. She’s quite fit for the position. In fact, she is one of the champions of the Freedom of Information act, supporter of Bangsamoro Basic Law and Tax Incentives Transparency bill—all the things President Duterte also supports. (Read more about Leni Robredo’s background here and here) All I am asking of her is she is proclaimed as the nation’s VP is to prove everyone wrong, that she is not a puppet of her party.

Ang mga Pilipino, watak-watak. Walang identity. Nakakalimutan mo na bago ka maging Kapampangan, Bicolano, Manilenyo, Bisaya o Ilokano, Pilipino ka muna. We are so regionalistic. Kanya-kanyang version ng adobo, kanya-kanyang manok sa pulitika.

Now let me tell you, I am not a fanatic. I can't accept her Vice Presidency if her victory is brought about by cheating simply because two wrongs will never make a right. The end will not justify the means. And if Marcos won fair and square, I'm willing to live with the choice of the majority. 

But again, I still have hope for the Duterte-Robredo tandem. They will be like yin and yang. There will be balance. Pareho silang #TsinelasLeadership. As former Enery Secretary described Jessie Robredo's style (which I'm hoping Leni will carry on), "Tsinelas leadership is the willingness to wade in the flood, willing to go where you normally do not go, to the most remote areas, just to be with the most disadvantaged people." 

I envision Duterte's "tsinelas" like a father's, matitikman mo ang hinahanap mo kung wala kang disiplina. Papaluin ka ng "tsinelas" niya. Not because he's angry, but kid, believe it or not, it's because he loves you. I can feel it too. That finally, we have a leader who truly loves the Filipinos. For once after an election I relished on the thought, and the hope, that the future is truly bright. Granted, change must start within ourselves but here's a guy who actually inspires it out of you. Change is coming. No, it's already here. 

Nevertheless, it’s still a good time to update my blog because today, February 4 is World Cancer Day. This year’s theme is “We Can. I can.” “to show the world that we can, I can.. get involved against the fight against cancer.

Here are some key facts about cancer from UN.org:

I know most of you (me included) knows someone who is suffering or someone who died from cancer. It can be someone’s family or friend. So let’s raise awareness about the importance of cancer prevention and early detection by joining WorldCancerDay.org in their initiative against cancer control.

Get involved by writing a supportive message in your hand in line with the “We can. I can.” theme. Take a picture of  your hand featuring the message and share the picture on your social media accounts together with the hashtags #WorldCancerDay and #WeCanICan. Let's all help in spreading cancer awareness.