Thoughts on Bonifacio & O’Hara

When Mario O’Hara passed on with his last opus Stageshow, a grand musical tribute to the era of the bodabil and komedya, and his last mini-serye with his favorite actress Nora Aunor in Sa Ngalan ng Ina, the artistic community was one in paying homage to his many talents — from acting, writing to directing.

On the occasion of Bonifacio Day today, our thoughts travel to his film Ang Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio, since it was where we had spent some time with him at the location of his shoot in Pasay. The film was submitted to the 2010 Cinemalaya Director’s Showcase which also featured Donor by Mark Meily, Pink Halo Halo by Joselito Altarejos, Sigwa by Joel Lamangan, and Two Funerals by Gil Portes. The big winner was Donor and every film won something, except for Mario’s Ang Paglilitis. But he was not surprised. Nor was he angry or hurt. What was important was that he achieved what he had set out to do.  

Ang Paglilitis is a new version of the trial of Andres Bonifacio showing that even heroes are prone to ambitions and the politicking that is in our blood. Andres was an actor in the komedya, and Mario utilized that information by introducing as narrator, a character with shaved head and white eyebrows.

We are back in real time when the faction of Andres as head of the Katipunan and that of Emilio Aguinaldo as president of a new revolutionary government clash. Both believe they are right. There is a trial and Andres and his brother Procopio are found guilty of treason with the war council ordering their execution on a mountain. Interestingly, there are no good and bad guys as far as Mario O is concerned. The audience has to make up its mind for that. 

Celebrating the legacy of St. John’s Academy

Yearly, every November, the spirit of St. John’s Academy founders, the Marquez sisters, is recalled however fleetingly in the Loyalty Day observance of 82 years of excellence. As graduating student Danielle Montayre puts it, they celebrate “a legacy of bequeathing wisdom to generations of countless young minds.”

The main event, the Dance Festival on the theme Intensifying Environmental Awareness for a Better and Safer World, was conveyed through the nature-inspired international folk dances: Bhanggra Giddha from India from years third and fourth; Sumazau from Malaysia performed by grades five and six; Yakan Dance of Mindanao by grades three and four; the Hawaiian Hula from pre-schoolers; the Israeli dance Hinneh Mah Too by first and second year students; and Peacock Dance of China from grades one and two.

Noel Cabangon repeat

After the sold-out solo concert last September at the Music Museum, Noel Cabangon’s Tuloy ang Byahe will have two repeat performances at The PETA Theater Center, New Manila Quezon City on Dec. 13 to 14 at 8 p.m. The repertoire will include several songs from Noel’s Byahe albums and a look-back on Noel’s musical journey from being a humble folk singer to top-selling recording artist today. 

Quezon City joins film festival fever

With the criteria for QCinema including overall excellence in concept, three production grant winners of Quezon City’s screenwriting competition uphold the diversity of local  filmmaking after rigorous screening of more than 70 entries. Selected by the Quezon City Film Development Commission (QCFDC), the grant winners are as follows:

Gaydar by Alvin Yapan is about a lovelorn heroine with the misfortune of always falling for guys who happen to like other guys. His last film was Cinemalaya’s Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa with Alemberg Ang. Newbie filmmaker Joel Ferrer a graduate of the Asia Pacific Film Institute, directs Hello World, a coming-of-age dramedy focusing on the misadventures of two boys as they go through the throes of adulthood. Lukas Niño by experimental filmmaker John Torres delivers an enigmatic tale of haunting memories and conflicting identities. 

The three films premiere in the first quarter of next year even as QCinema 2013 will be launched with a full-scale festival competition with more and bigger production grants. Members of the screening committee are Soxie Topacio, Milo Sogueco, Dr. Mary Ruby Palma, Dr. Isabel Sebullen, Marichu Maceda and QCFDC executive director, Ed Lejano. Screenplay readers are Oggs Cruz, Elizabeth Nakpil, Teddy Co, Jade Castro and Mel Chionglo.

 (E-mail the author at [email protected].)