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.