Sanga-Sangang Kuwento

Last Monday, I was supposed to watch Raya Martin's Ang Maicling Pelicula Nañg Ysañg Indio Nacional. It was part of the French Festival at the Shangri-la. The film was supposed to be shown at 6:20 PM but was moved to 8:00 PM. It was a good thing because Acy, my companion that night, was still nowhere near the place at 6 PM. Unfortunately, 15 minutes before 8, she hasn't arrived. I finally decided to go upstairs to buy me a ticket. Near the ticket booth was Jessica Zafra and company. There was also another familiar face just a few steps behind her but I couldn't tell who he was exactly. What I know, though, is that he is a film director. 10 minutes to go. Then, 5 minutes. I finally thought of buying a ticket when the sales person told me that it was already sold out! Gawd! I failed to realize that! I didn't think for one second that it might happen because I thought that it was an unknown film to ordinary film goers. Thus, tickets would be in abundance. But, unknown it may be to ordinary people, it wasn't with critics and media people! I felt so stupid for my complacency back then. I almost wanted to cry because of my disappointment! Two hours were wasted for nothing! Then, Acy and her bf arrived a few minutes before screening. Guess what?! They already have tickets!

Anyway, I just went home with a heavy heart. The weekend already was not good for me (problems with FTP grouping which I wouldn't discuss here at the moment) and that situation just alleviated the bad feeling. The film just had one screening all throughout the festival and I don't know if I'd still get the chance to see it.

The next day, I went to visit Jessica's blog to see if she already made a review for the film. What I read, though, was her post entitled "Free Movie!". I read it at around 10:30 AM when there was not yet a post on the people who got free invites. When I was about to send her an e-mail, lo and behold! She posted the winners! It was, of course, another disappointment since Jeffrey Jeturian is one of my favorite directors these days. I enjoyed every film that he made - from Sana Pag-ibig Na to Bikini Open, except Pila Balde which I haven't seen. The last film of his that I saw was Minsan Pa which I found so unconventional and spectacular! It has a contemporary linear story telling yet the ending was not typical. It has the most number of dialects/languages used that I have seen in movies - Cebuano, Tagalog, Japanese, Spanish, English, Korean. Armando Lao had truly written one of his masterpieces!

The story is simple, really. It is about Jerry Toledo Jr. (Jomari Yllana), a Cebuano tourist guide, who has a lot going on his life - an old affair, family burdens, work problems, etc. Aside from his family, he is looking for a meaning in his life. Then he meets Luna (Ara Mina), a woman who is about to get married. When Luna's fiance backed out on their wedding, Jerry felt the urge to pursue his feeling for her. But Luna is not about to give up on her fiance. She tries her best to win him back. Jerry also tries his darnest to prove to her that they belong together. However, in the end, they would realize that love isn't all that matters - it is the committment you give to one another no matter what happens.

Minsan Pa may be a love story but it is only one-third of its story. It has a lot to tell regarding familial love, self-denial, unconditional love, work dedication, etc. Don't be fooled by the fact that it is Jomari-Ara starrer. This movie is really about Jerry's life journey. Further, it was the first time that I cried during a wedding scene! How good is that?! To top it all, there are a lot of breathtaking underwater scenes and a great scoring to boot! Just listening to the songs would already melt your hearts! My oh my! "Usahay" is one of the loneliest songs ever written!

Because I love his works, you can already tell that missing Kubrador's press preview would be a huge disappointment for me, yet again! Imagine, I would get to see it before the rest of the Pinoys do! So I decided to find ways. I asked Direk Ellen if she have invites to the film's preview. She answered affirmatively and asked if I wanted to come. Of course, I said yes! I told her how much I like Jeffrey's works etc. etc. etc. just so she'd be convinced to bring me along. She told me that she'd see what she could do. I'd turn to Sir Vince in case direk was not invited. Ganun ako ka-determined!

Then, a light bulb moment hits! The director whom I saw at the Shangri-la ticket booth who was a few steps behind Jessica was no other than Jeffrey himself! No wonder that instead of writing about Indio Nacional, Jessica had written about Kubrador's upcoming preview.

Today, I received a message from direk that she already put my name and Biboy's (who is one of Jessica's avid fans!) at the list. However, we wouldn't be included at the cocktails anymore. "Medyo namumroblema na 'yung producer," she added. (The producer is Atty. Joji Alonso of MLR Films who funded the film transfer of Mga Pusang Gala. I met her during my interview with direk. She is the host of a legal/law show in RPN 9 during morning.) It was not a problem for me, anyway. Just to see the film is more than enough for me! I'm already grateful! I hope that I get Jeffrey to sign my Minsan Pa DVD, though...