Trek

It’s all because of that one word. The Department of Tourism had planned a most interesting trip to Mindanao, to some of the most fascinating and beautiful places in the country and, I dare say, the world. On the itinerary was the magical Lake Sebu, and visits to T’boli villages and the weaving center of Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan Lang Dulay, for whom I have total admiration.

My excitement level was ratcheting up until...there it was – a trek to a village center. And that wasn’t the only trek, it seemed; the areas to be visited were mountainous and not always accessible by four-wheeled vehicles, so two-legged transport was required.

Much as I wanted to make the trip, I knew my (un)fitness level  would not quite make it and, at the very least, slow the group down. STARweek staff writer Ida del Mundo, though a writer and musician rather than an athlete, was certainly more fit, a lot younger and much more adventurous, so she was sent on that assignment.

I was right in begging off, as the treks turned out to be serious climbs, and in inclement weather at that. But we got some beautiful images – STARweek contributor and friend, photographer George Tapan, was part of the group – and stories (see STARweek issues of Sept. 1 and 8, 2013).

What we did not know was that, beyond the stories she wrote for us, Ida found a story so compelling that it took shape as a movie script. Again unknown to us, Ida submitted her script to Cinemalaya, the pioneering independent film festival; it was accepted as one of the ten finalists in the New Breed category, and fortunately Cinemalaya vice chair Laurice Guillen convinced her to direct the movie. And we found all this out only because she had to ask for a two-week leave to shoot the movie in Lake Sebu!

Ida has kept her movie under wraps, and so far we have only seen the 30-second trailer (well, I did get a three-minute or so peek on her computer).

“K’na the Dreamweaver” premieres on Saturday at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center, the first of the New Breed premieres. The STARweek family is pleased – and proud – as punch, and wish Direk Ida great success, many more films – and many more dreams.

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Today is the first day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, marking the start of what is popularly known as the Ghost Month. Today, the king of hell opens the gates and lets all the ghosts out to freely roam the earth.

For this month, hungry ghosts are the uninvited but ever-present guests at the dining table, such that my grandmother used to remind the cook to add an extra pinch of salt to all the dishes, since food loses a bit of taste because the hungry ghosts usually take the first bite or sip. You are supposed to “feed” the hungry ghosts so they don’t harm or play pranks on you.

At mid-month the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts is held with much noise and fanfare. Young people are told not to stay out late, lest they encounter a ghost on the road (maybe this is just a ploy to get them to come home early). On the last night of the month (Aug. 24 this year), the ghosts return to the underworld and the gates of hell are closed for another year.

Okay, so you’re probably wondering what things are swerte or malas (lucky or unlucky) at this time. With the caveat that these are old wives’ tales or kwentong kusinero (my grandma’s old cook Ah-sin regaled us kids with stories when he was not cooking), here goes – don’t take photos at night, especially outdoors (a ghost might join your photo); don’t wear high heels (can’t remember why); don’t pee on a tree (this should be a no-no all the time); don’t talk about ghosts (you might offend them); don’t leave an open umbrella outside (hard to do, with the rains we’re having); don’t look back when someone calls you from behind (psst...); don’t leave your sampayan out at night (ghosts might try on your clothes)... And how can you tell if the one you run into is a ghost, specifically a Chinese ghost? Chinese ghosts supposedly do not have feet, and do not cast shadows.