’Tis the season of drama and victors

There is drama of Biblical proportions, with Mother Nature unleashing her dismay and wrath in the form of earthquakes, cyclones, typhoons, tsunami warnings and volcanic eruptions — both dormant and active.

As to why these are happening now, and in such succession, no one has the answer. Yes, most of us know the Philippine archipelago is within the Pacific Ring of Fire, not to mention the realities of climate change and global warming — exacerbated by the desecration and degradation of the environment. The blame is all ours.

My theory is that our collective anger and hatred, festering in our guts, release such devastating energy into the universe that natural calamities are the inevitable consequence. No amount of Oratio Imperata will make God listen to a nation of repeated offenders and violators. Hell is not just other people anymore — it is where we all exist, live and survive.

Then there is the artistic and cinematic drama courtesy of the recently concluded 20-year-old Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival and the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, who handed out the annual Gawad Urian — now just two years shy of becoming a golden-aged award-giving body.

Currently showing in movie houses is the third installment of Jerrold Tarog’s Bayani-verse: Quezon, with Jericho Rosales portraying the president during the Commonwealth era, Manuel L. Quezon.

And of course, the drama sa labas ng bahay ni Kuya (Outside Big Brother’s house): all the political hearings and investigations supposedly in aid of legislation, the political coups and maneuverings, and the jesters, hypocrites and monsters of the political sphere — who, believe it or not, have become the nation’s top source of entertainment and embarrassment.

Thus, I cannot help but wonder: where do we all go from here?

Victors

Among the acting winners at Cinemalaya, the most talked about was Rochelle Pangilinan — the “OG” SexBomb girl (get, get, aww!) — who took home her first Balanghai Best Supporting Actress trophy for Child Number 82: Son of Boy Kana. Pangilinan is living proof that dreams do come true. And what a journey it has been — from spaghetting pababa at spaghetting pataas to award-winning actress and at Cinemalaya no less!

Nanding Josef, the dearest Tata Nanding of Philippine Theater, won Best Supporting Actor for Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan. Jojit Lorenzo, another theater stalwart, brought home the Best Actor award for the same film. Mylene Dizon, as the daughter of a retired general implicated in the film’s portrayal of martial law atrocities, was a truly deserving winner of the Balanghai Best Actress trophy.

This Hydra film must become required viewing for all senior high students. It should be part of HEKASI lessons, go on a campus tour with talkbacks, and be shown in cinemas — pronto.

Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan and this year’s Best Picture, Bloom Where You Are Planted, are powerful motion pictures that may just ignite the cultural revolution this country so desperately needs.

The CCP, Cinemalaya Foundation, Film Development Council of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts must bring these films to barangay halls, covered courts, plazas and arenas. They must ensure that the descamisados, hoi polloi, informal settlers, economically disadvantaged sectors — the vote-rich squatter republics — experience these cinematic treasures.

No need to explain further why these groups must be the primary audience for Hydra and Bloom.

As for the winners of the Urian, their Best Picture Alipato at Muog, described by the Manunuris as a powerful act of advocacy, must follow the same fate and trajectory as Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan and Bloom Where You Are Planted.

Where are the clowns?

There are so many clowns in the political sphere — hogging headlines, becoming meme fodder, discussed exhaustively in both traditional and new media.

They, or them who shall not be named, are how I brand these status-seeking, power-lusting personalities.

All of you will reap what you are sowing right now. History will be your ultimate judge. My prayer is that we end your reign of greed and perfidy.

As Vilma Santos said in Mike de Leon’s Sister Stella L.: “Kung hindi tayo kikilos, sino ang kikilos? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa (If we don’t act, who will? If not now, when?).”