Nagshare si Bebang Siy na taga-UP ng kanyang experience with ABS-CBN pero hindi ito yung workshop registration ni Ricky. Pero kung ganito na ang kanyang na-experience, paano na kayo ang dalawang libong nag-apply noong Linggo at yung dalawang libo pa uli sa susunod sa Linggo.

Gusto ko lang pong ikuwento ang kaaya-aya kong karanasan nang mag-apply akong writer sa kapita-pitagang TV network na ABS-CBN.

Last year, may umikot na text na nangangailangan ng writers ang ABS-CBN. pagdating ko sa venue,mga 10am, may mga 30 applicants ang naabutan ko. Marami na raw ang nainterview at nasabihang, "tatawagan na lang." Ibig sabihin, sowi, u didn't make it! may nakita pa akong kaklase ko na isang magaling na fictionist.
habang naghihintay kaming ma-interview, nagkakuwentuhan ang mga aplikante. Nakakatawa dahil may mga 1st year college students na nag-aapply din. mga taga-UP Diliman. Iba-iba ang background ng mga aplikante pero iisa lang ang hanap: trabaho.

na-interview kami bago maglunch time. Ang tanong sa akin, "familiar ka ba sa mga soap opera namin?" Ang sagot ko, "medyo lang," dahil wala kaming TV noon sa
bahay pero may nabasa akong undergrad thesis tungkol sa isang soap opera ng ABS CBN at binanggit ko ito. Dinagdag ko ring nakapagsulat na ako ng isang script
na pampelikula. Nagname drop pa ako. Sabi ko, si ganito po ang prof ko sa scriptwriting. pinakuwento ito sa akin. Sa awa siguro ni Mother Ignacia,
pinabalik ako ng 2pm. Mga sampu din kaming pinabalik (yes, nakapasok ang dalawang 1st year college student dahil ikinuwento raw nila ang paborito nilang soap
opera sa nag-iinterview). At pinakilala kami sa dati nang nagc-CDG sa kanila. Anong CDG? Concept Development Group. Hinati kami sa 3 grupo at pinagawa ng storyline ng soap opera para sa tambalang Kristine Hermosa at Jericho Rosales. Mula 2pm hanggang 630pm, nagkuwentuhan, nag-isip, nag-away, nagkaisa ang bawat
miyembro ng grupo. Masaya ako dahil buo ang storyline namin. May opening scene pa nga na napaka-cinematic. tinawag na kami nung taga-ABS CBN at ikinulong kaming
lahat sa isang kuwarto para ikuwento ang storyline ng bawat grupo. Walang naaprubahan. lahat, may butas, hindi maganda etc. Pero inutusan pa rin ang bawat
grupo na magproduce ng hard copy ng storyline. At ok na raw. Maghintay na lang daw kami ng text nila. Awang awa ako sa sarili ko dahil kinain na ng malalaki kong
bituka ang maliliit kong bituka paglabas ko ng ABS-CBN mag-aalas nuwebe ng gabi. Ni hindi man lang sila nagserve ng tubig. Noong nagmeet ang tatlong grupo,
may naglabas ng iisang piraso ng chichirya. Sorry daw at yun lang ang naibigay nila. Sa isip ko, ok lang. ganito talaga ang naghahanap ng trabaho.

Kinabukasan, nakatanggap naman ako ng text at pinababalik nga ako. Nagbaon na ako ng biskwit at kendi at tubig. Pagdating doon, mas konti na lang kaming mga aplikante at yung mga dati nang nagc-CDG. Hinati ulit kami sa dalawang grupo at pinagawa ng storyline para sa soap opera nina Robin Padilla at Judy Ann Santos. Nagkanya-kanya ang bawat grupo nang ilang oras pagkatapos ay nagkita-kita ulit para ikuwento ang nabuong storyline.Inutusan din kaming magbigay ng hard copy. Ba-bye na ulit! Awang awa ako sa mga hindi nagdala ng biskwit at kendi at tubig
dahil maghapong wala na namang laman ang tiyan nila. Sabi nung taga-ABS CBN, "ite-text ko na lang kayo." I thank you. After a few days, nakakuha ulit ako ang text message, ang sabi ay kailangan daw nila ng writer para sa show ni Ms. Tessie Tomas. Ha? E, anong nangyari sa mga storyline ng soap opera? nabayaran ba
yung mga nagCDG? kami kayang mga aplikante, baka may nabayaran kahit isa sa amin?

Paglipas ng ilang araw,sa Philcoa, nakasalubong ko ang isang lalaki na nakilala ko sa CDG ng ABS-CBN. Tanong ko, binabayaran ba kayo? Madalas daw ay hindi. Kung
tuloy-tuloy lang daw ang attend ng CDG at nagkataong magustuhan ng headwriter ang isa sa mga ideya mo, saka ka lang bibigyan ng pagkakataon na makapagsulat. Pero kung palpak, sorry na lang. Grabe pala ang puhunan doon ano? Pawis at utak at katakot-takot na panahon.

Magugutom ka talaga kung yun lang ang aasahan mo. Isa ring fellow applicant ang nakita ko sa campus. kamusta, kako. Sagot niya, "di na ako bumalik kahit pa tinext nila ako. sayang lang ang oras ko doon. Niloloko lang nila tayo. kinuha lang nila ang idea natin tapos itinaboy na parang askal."

Hindi ko napanood ang unang episode ng bagong soap opera nina Kristine at Jericho. Nainis kasi ako sa channel 2. parang walang respeto sa mga manunulat. Sabi ng kaibigan kong fictionist na isa sa mga nakarinig ng storyline ng aming grupo, kahawig daw ng opening scene namin, ang opening scene ng bagong soap opera. Hay, buhay.

Interesting. May pumapansin pala sa ating munting blog. Hmmm. Patulan ba natin?

Back from Bohol

Kung hindi ninyo ako na-miss, ok lang. Pero check out ninyo ang sobra kong labs na photoblog for a visual experience ng aking mga recent adventures. Pumunta ako kasama ni Jessel sa registration ng Ricky Lee workshop at nakita ko kung gaano kadaming tao ang gustong magsulat. Ang totoo hindi naman lahat sila handa o gusto talagang magsulat. Marami akong nakausap, gusto experience lang. Meron rin akong nakausap na mga senior citizens na kasamaan loob sa akin na punta. Aaminin ko me prejudice ako against sa kanila. Ang totoo naman kasi kung ihi-hire ng ABS ang mga senior citizens na ito, ilang taon lang nila mapagkakwartahan sila bago sila atakehin ng kanilang mga rayuma at alta presyon? Sayang lang ang kanilang investment. Isa pa, syempre, blow din sa mga ego nila na ang kanilang mga bosing ay kasing edad ng mga apo nila. Patay tayo sa brainstorming niyan!

Anyway, isusumbong ko lang sa inyo itong Fil-Am na ito. Medyo nainis lang ako sa kanya dahil i1.) sa tingin niya circus monkey si Rio. 2.) sa tingin niya 2 years ang kailangan para matutong mag-Tagalog. Basahin ninyo na lang at pag-usapan natin.

Granted that I haven't surfed the net nor have I watched the tv news or the radio in the last two or three days, I haven't anticipated that something was brewing again in the politics area. Davide impeached? The Inquirer was asking the very same thing: Since when and why?

Why would 96 congress representatives who supposedly stand for the rights of the citizens in their little fiefdoms want to impeach the man who made "your honor" a household word? A man who became Pinoy of the Year for his dignity and wisdom during Erap's own impeachment procedures.

I started getting those text messages early this morning: Pls wear black as a sign of protest on Monday; that the representatives who signed the petition were given php5 million each. That what's at stake is somebody is afraid that his booty is going to be taken away from him. So money talks. We all know that. I just hope not everyone would listen to it and take it too seriously.

From Jo-Ann Maglipon's "Writing and Ricky Lee:"

As writer, he was big time, and so could've left well enough alone. Instead, he plunged in. Taught everywhere he was invited, and then gave his welter of activities form with his Writers Studio, which from 1982 till the present counts 800 workshoppers through 14 batches.

Those workshoppers took over Ricky's life.

They picked his brains.

Ate his food and copied his CDs.

Borrowed his films and books and sometimes forgot to return them.

Owned his house every Sunday for two to three months.

And they got it all for free.

After every workshop, Ricky was wiped out.

But he did it anyway because, he says, a long time ago other writers did the same for him.

"At hanggang ngayon, the writer needs to know na hindi siya nag-iisa. A writer is always rejected, demeaned, discredited. His parents think he's a bum. His employers don't pay him in full. His name is misspelled. O kaya nakakalimutan o di nabubuo sa credits. Totoo 'yan, ilang beses na. Di 'yan nangyayari sa artista o direktor. Kahit ngayon, tingnan mo pag may gathering of more than three scriptwriters. Panay gripes maririnig mo. Kumpara mo sa gathering ng mga direktor. Sila nagkukuwentuhan; mga writer, namomroblema."

Because this is where Astrid and I came from, and true, it's sort of a refuge to be with other people who have the urge to write. The only difference is, this workshop is going to be bigger than any of the other batches before it. It's going to be a tie-up with ABS-CBN, which is footing the bill to the tune of a speculated one million pesos. Yes, they're investing in their writers now. And I that's always a good thing, supporting beginning writers. Saving grace indeed.

I don't know if they'll still get to hang out in Ricky's library, which was the best thing about that workshop for me, aside from the people I met and became friends with, of course.

Blue Eagle-ing

Ang drama ni Pareng Dennis kasi kasama siya sa Ateneo Writers Workshop. (At dahil tamad akong magrevise di na naman ako nakapagsubmit. Kailangan ko ng agent at personal manager na sisigaw sa akin para tapusin lahat ng susulatin. Hay.) Siyempre happy kami for Dennis. Kasama rin niya si porn star Faye na office mate ni Arlyn ngayon. Mamaya magkakape kami sa may Katipunan, dahil nga Atenista muna sila this week. Pero mas magiging happy kami pag sumama si Jol, dahil malapit na ang birthday niya. Hehehe.

Para sa mga utaw na naghahanap ng gimik

Kinat at paste ko na mula sa site nila para sa inyong handy dandy viewing.

At hoy Jol! Kelan ba talaga ang birthday mo? Pabuksan n'yo naman yung baul ni Nathan at Monica at hatakin natin sila dito, o kung di man, dun sa giant paella thingie sa Saturday sa Intramuros. Wala lang. Gusto maglagalag.

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Pelikula: Spanish Film Festival

From October 16 to 26, Manila movie-goers will have the chance to enjoy ten days of Spanish quality movies to be screened in Ayala Greenbelt 1. All the films are with English subtitles.

It’s for You (2002)
Don´t miss its director, Bruno Lazaro, presenting the movie himself on its premiere in Manila.

El Bola “The Ball” (2000)
It was a beautiful surprise for everyone and for director Achero Madras himself when it garnered 4 major Goya Awards, among them Best Picture.

En construccion “Work in Progress” (2002)
Goya Award for Best Documentary Film in 02002. A fascinating lesson on film filled with poetry.

El Ultimo viaje de Robert Rylands (1996)
A nostalgic story with a surprising ending for you to enjoy.

Martin Hache “Martin J” (1997)
No less than the Best Film winner in the prestigious San Sebastian Film Festival.

La comunidad “The Community” (2000)
Is anybody capable of killing for 3 million dollars? This suspense movie full of black humor can give you the answer. Winner of 3 Goya Awards.

Silvia Prieto (1999)
Lately, Argentina has been producing some of the best films in the world. See for yourself this fresh and young Argentinean comedy.

Sin vergüenza* (2002)
Are love and passion in theater as intense as in the actors´ lives behind the stage? For comedy buffs, this very recent movie is a not-to-miss date.

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*Di ba ito yung lagi kong naririnig na mura mula kay Armida Siguion-Reyna sa mga pelikula niya? Or if not from her, mula sa mga hispanyolang abuelita sa tv at pelikula. Ang lutong di ba? Parang "Hijo de p**a madre!" na lagi kong naririnig ngayon kasi Amores Perros yung screensaver ko na lagi akong minumura.

Team Angas, Urban Tribe?

Hey guys, do you think qualified tayo as an "urban tribe?" Ayon kasi sa obserbasyon ni Ethan Watters at ng iba pang sociologist, mayroong trend na ipinagpapaliban ng mga kabataan ngayon ang pagpapakasal at pagkakaroon ng pamilya hanggang sa kanilang pinaka-late twenties or early to mid thirties. At sa halip na responsibilidad ng pagtatayo ng sariling pamilya, ang nandoon ay isang tight knit group of friends “struggling to do something creative and support each other as they lived life between the families they grew up in and the families they might someday start for themselves.”

Creative ba tayo? Puwede, kunyari. Hindi tayo ganun kadalas magkita, or nagse-share ng tirahan tulad ng friends. Pero sa anu't ano pa, I think we qualify as a community of sorts. Parang Friendster? Hehehe.

Pero hindi tuluyang layo ang Friendster sa teorya ng urban tribes dahil sabi sa artikulo, makikita ang blueprint ng pakikipagrelasyon sa networking na siyang basehan ng Friendster, na ginawa bilang isang civilization building game at date site.

The article also talks about sexual tension as a basic part of the tribe at ang pangangailangan ng approval ng tribo para sa bagong partner ng katribo. Meron ba nun dito? Well if we think of the baul people natin, puwede. Check out the article na lang, dito.

Honga, I forgot to post about Manong Dennis's triumph! O ayan, panalo pa rin ang aking "who's your big, black penamora?" comments. hehehe.

Astrid, awww. Hindi tayo updated sa mga pangyayaring Lav at Wei. Sana naging mas naging successful ang team up nila kesa kina Bennifer.

For your viewing pleasure na ang mga baguio photos natin dito. By the way, congrats ke dennis na natanggap sa Ateneo Workshop. Wohoooo!

Jessel, kaya hindi natin pinanood kasi tapos na? Hahahaha. Loko lang. I had no idea it was showing.

oist, astrid! bakit di natin ito pinanood?

Sabi sa article ni A.O. Scott sa new york times, nagiging retro new york, back to the 70s ang drama. People started noticing it after the great blackout, a throwback to the summer of sam, sa looting, sa disco era. The 70s era New York was immortalized in film as the golden decade, with both ends of the spectrum well represented: Scorsese et al’s nihilistic sewer view in films like Taxi Driver, Mean Streets. Woody Allen and his jazz scores in Manhattan, Annie Hall.

Ano ba ang Manila ng 1970s? Golden Age din yun ng Pinoy cinema. You had Brocka and Bernal and the grimy city after dark, Maynila sa kuko ng Liwanag. We were under martial Law. Underbelly din ang focus ng mga pelikula.

Let’s say that New York=Manila, does that mean that we should also be having our own golden age right about now? Hindi lang tungkol sa pelikula, kundi sa buhay as well. Maynila is grimy, but it has its attempt at “beautifying” itself. Pero garish ang dating, those disco lights are not remotely close to being elegant.

People are starting to yearn for the past. But the thing is, NYC had this period of relative affluence. Meron ba ang Maynila nun? We recently had a coup, and we had Kris Aquino declaring to the whole wide world that she was a victim of domestic violence, blah blah. The ensuing melee with Mayor Joey hardly parallels her father’s stance against Martial Law.

If recycling is good for the environment, is it the same thing as far as art* goes? (*uuy, art daw. Hehe) Or is it just a natural condition, ie, something expected because we live in postmodern times? Is this whole cultural revisionism thing a good thing?

To some extent, of course, all of this is a local manifestation of the endless cultural recycling project that has been going since, well, the 1970's -- the postmodern habit of pillaging yesterday's junk for today's treasure. In the popular culture at large, the 70's revival has by now lasted at least as long as the decade itself. And the rose-colored reinterpretation of 70's New York as a place of lost innocence dates back at least to Spike Lee's ''Crooklyn,'' set in Bedford-Stuyvesant in the early 70's and released a decade ago. But if the childhood perception registered in that movie is necessarily partial, it is not for that reason false. And if the appropriation, ironic or affectionate, of discarded styles and obsolete consumer goods can be glib and superficial, it also expresses a desire to locate a spirit, an attitude, a set of possibilities that seem otherwise unavailable, and to drag them into the present.

Hay naku, pag-uusapan pa ba ulit natin yan? Eh Kris dropped the pants, er, her charges against Joey na. Ginulo lang nila ang buong Pilipinas with their overblown LQ. So anong point? Public awareness that even celebrities with flawless skin get stds? panget.