Art Imitating Life, Life Imitating Art

CEBU, Philippines -  There's no question about how the movies captivate the hearts and minds of people, even of an entire nation. Thus, movies can shape the national character. In the same way, movies can also be the reflection of the nation's character.

The cinematic art form is one instrument for art to imitate life, and for life to imitate art. As such, movies have the power to make people keep in touch with their own selves and realities - or make them lose it.

When you watch Filipino movies today, what do you see? If not for the language used and the familiar faces of the actors, you get the funny feeling that they're products of some foreign countries. There's no hint of the genuine Filipino character in most of them.

Many of our films are neither American nor French nor Chinese, and yet they don't seem to be Filipino either. The major movie award-giving bodies in the Philippines even have to go out of their way to give a special "Award for the [Filipino] Movie that Reflects the Filipino Way of Life!" Funny, but unfortunately true.

The Filipino image reflected in most of our movies is so distorted to be identifiable as our own. But, in the first place, what's the genuine Filipino character? - See? We don't even know anymore!

For quite a time many years ago, according to a film historian, Filipino movies were mainly "action" movies; whether the action takes place out in some crime-laden slum district or on a bed that's cushioned accordingly for the torrid sexual calisthenics. Seldom were there films that carried in them positive Filipino values. During that period, the only Filipino movies to see were either pornographic, violent, or cheaply slapstick. They all looked and felt offensive to Filipino sensibilities.

What's proudly Filipino in hot lovemaking from the kitchen all the way to the rooftop? Or about a hoodlum that shouted, "Mga anak ng titing kayo!" then rolled over seven times while simultaneously exchanging gun fires with the police, before he finally came to what seemed like an epileptic seizure and then dropped dead? Or about a comedian baring his butt to show off a tattoo depicting what looks like the parting of the Red Sea?

Even the titles were crappy - "Kangkong," "Pinya," "Talong," "Petsay," "Mani." You would think those were films intended to promote the former government's Green Revolution program. There had also been good ones that came out, of course, but only once in quite a long while. For instance, "Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?", "Oro, Plata, Mata," "Ang Bagong Buwan," and "Magnifico" were some of the films from that period which made every Filipino proud.

In recent years, our film industry has become more of a blind follower of the Hollywood cult. It's easy to guess why. When most of the new box-office hits are Hollywood films, our filmmakers are tempted to think that Hollywood must be doing it all right, and begin to embrace the Hollywood way as the ultimate standard not only for our films but for our culture, as well.

We must understand that the Hollywood style is primarily a reflection of the American experience. American films are the way they are because that's what Americans know life to be. Besides, with the whole world for their market, they have huge production budgets that allow for expensive visual effects and other technical frills, which they flaunt in order to show what technologies they have or can afford to do.

We are Filipinos not Americans - we must take pride in who we are. We have our own unique character. We don't need to be copycats of other people.

Korean airline helps Yolanda victims

In partnership with Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP), Korean Air distributed shelter repair kits to typhoon Yolanda victims in Daanbantayan, Cebu.

The kits - each consisting of corrugated roofing sheets, galvanized iron sheets, plywood, lumber and construction tools - were distributed on March 15 by Korean Air employees and outsourced staff members volunteering with HFHP.

"We truly hope that by distributing the shelter repair kits, more of the affected families will be able to rebuild their own homes instead of living in tents or makeshift shelters, bringing back hope and quick recovery for the people suffering from this severe disaster," Hyung Soo Kim, Cebu Regional Manager of Korean Air, said.

Korean Air is South Korea's largest airline and flag carrier.