Unintentional Prejudice

Everyone's a Little Bit Racist
Avenue Q

Princeton:
Say, Kate, can I ask you a question?

Kate Monster:
Sure!

Princeton:
Well, you know Trekkie Monster upstairs?

Kate Monster:
Uh huh.

Princeton:
Well, he's Trekkie Monster, and you're Kate Monster.

Kate Monster:
Right.

Princeton:
You're both Monsters.

Kate Monster:
Yeah.

Princeton:
Are you two related?

Kate Monster:
What?! Princeton, I'm surprised at you! I find that racist!

Princeton:
Oh, well, I'm sorry! I was just asking!

Kate Monster:
Well, it's a touchy subject. No, not all Monsters are related. What are you trying say, huh?
That we all look the same to you? Huh, huh, huh?

Princeton:
No, no, no, not at all. I'm sorry, I guess that was a little racist.

Kate Monster:
I should say so. You should be much more careful when you're talking about the sensitive subject of race.

Princeton:
Well, look who's talking!

Kate Monster:
What do you mean?

Princeton:
What about that special Monster School you told me about?

Kate Monster:
What about it?

Princeton:
Could someone like me go there?

Kate Monster:
No, we don't want people like you-

Princeton:
You see?!

You're a little bit racist.

Kate Monster:
Well, you're a little bit too.

Princeton:
I guess we're both a little bit racist.

Kate Monster:
Admitting it is not an easy thing to do...

Princeton:
But I guess it's true.

Kate Monster:
Between me and you, I think

Both:
Everyone's a little bit racist
Sometimes.
Doesn't mean we go
Around committing hate crimes.
Look around and you will find
No one's really color blind.
Maybe it's a fact
We all should face
Everyone makes judgments
Based on race.

Princeton:
Now not big judgments, like who to hire or who to buy a newspaper from -

Kate Monster:
No!

Princeton:
No, just little judgments like thinking that Mexican busboys should learn to speak goddamn English!

Kate Monster:
Right!

Both:
Everyone's a little bit racist
Today.
So, everyone's a little bit racist
Okay!
Ethinic jokes might be uncouth,
But you laugh because
They're based on truth.
Don't take them as
Personal attacks.
Everyone enjoys them -
So relax!

Princeton:
All right, stop me if you've heard this one.

Kate Monster:
Okay!

Princeton:
There's a plan going down and there's only one parachute. And there's a rabbi, a priest...

Kate Monster:
And a black guy!

Gary Coleman:
Whatchoo talkin' 'bout Kate?

Kate Monster:
Uh...

Gary Coleman:
You were telling a black joke!

Princeton:
Well, sure, Gary, but lots of people tell black jokes.

Gary Coleman:
I don't.

Princeton:
Well, of course you don't - you're black! But I bet you tell Polack jokes, right?

Gary Coleman:
Well, sure I do. Those stupid Polacks!

Princeton:
Now, don't you think that's a little racist?

Gary Coleman:
Well, damn, I guess you're right.

Kate Monster:
You're a little bit racist.

Gary Coleman:
Well, you're a little bit too.

Princeton:
We're all a little bit racist.

Gary Coleman:
I think that I would have to agree with you.

Princeton/Kate Monster:
We're glad you do.

Gary Coleman:
It's sad but true!
Everyone's a little bit racist -

All right!

Kate Monster:
All right!

Princeton:
All right!

Gary Coleman:
All right!
Bigotry has never been
Exclusively white.

All:
If we all could just admit
That we are racist a little bit,
Even though we all know
That it's wrong,
Maybe it would help us
Get along.

Princeton:
Oh, Christ do I feel good.

Gary Coleman:
Now there was a fine upstanding black man!

Princeton:
Who?

Gary Coleman:
Jesus Christ.

Kate Monster:
But, Gary, Jesus was white.

Gary Coleman:
No, Jesus was black.

Kate Monster:
No, Jesus was white.

Gary Coleman:
No, I'm pretty sure that Jesus was black-

Princeton:
Guys, guys... Jesus was Jewish!

Brian:
Hey guys, what are you laughing about?

Gary Coleman:
Racism!

Brian:
Cool.

Christmas Eve:
BRIAN! Come back here! You take out lecycuraburs!

Princeton:
What's that mean?

Brian:
Um, recyclables. Hey, don't laugh at her! How many languages do you speak?

Kate Monster:
Oh, come off it, Brian!
Everyone's a little bit racist.

Brian:
I'm not!

Princeton:
Oh no?

Brian:
Nope!

How many Oriental wives
Have you got?

Christmas Eve:
What? Brian!

Princeton:
Brian, buddy, where you been?
The term is Asian-American!

Christmas Eve:
I know you are no
Intending to be
But calling me Oriental -
Offensive to me!

Brian:
I'm sorry, honey, I love you.

Christmas Eve:
And I love you.

Brian:
But you're racist, too.

Christmas Eve:
Yes, I know.
The Jews have all
The money
And the whites have all
The power.
And I'm always in taxi-cab
With driver who no shower!

Princeton:
Me too!

Kate Monster:
Me too!

Gary Coleman:
I can't even get a taxi!

All:
Everyone's a little bit racist
It's true.
But everyone is just about
As racist as you!
If we all could just admit
That we are racist a little bit,
And everyone stopped being
So PC
Maybe we could live in -
Harmony!

Christmas Eve:
Evlyone's a ritter bit lacist!

There was a statement made last night that irked me. I really didn't intend to be emotional when I pointed it out to the person who posted it until I realized that I started to feel strongly against it.

It was a birthday greeting for a gay friend from a straight guy followed by the words, "oks lang maging gay ryt? basta napatunayan nyo ung worth nyo at di kayo pabigat sa lipunan at lalong lalo na sa pamilya nyo, oks lng yan! [sic]"

Because I felt that the said statement was kinda off, I immediately raised my points to the person involved. He said that he mean well and I believe him naman. The thing is, he might not be aware of the impact his statement has. Sabi niya baka I'm just being sensitive about it and overreacting a little bit. Nasa tao naman daw na magbabasa 'yun kung makakakita sila ng mali sa sinabi niya.

So I calmed myself down. I find it difficult to express myself rationally when I am overwhelmed with emotions. What I did though was asked a few gay friends about the said statement. Do they find it quite offensive? All of them agreed with me which has proven that I wasn't overreacting.

My point is, bakit kailangang bigyan ng kondisyon ang pagiging bading? Bakit OK lang maging bading kapag na-achieve mo na ang kung anu-anong bagay? Hindi ba dapat OK maging bading, period? (O hindi OK maging bading, period.) No questions asked. No conditions set. With such a statement, it is safe to say, as well, na OK lang maging batugan basta't straight?

When I pointed those things out to him, I felt that he became defensive. Feeling niya 'ata inaatake ko ang pagkatao niya, even saying that he has a lot of gay friends. I wasn't making a personal attack on him but rather only on the statement he made, saying that it is prejudicial whether intentional or not. He may have gay friends but still, he doesn't understand what it is like to be one or be nagged by the constant feeling that we have to prove ourselves to the society. Yes, like he said, that it is a given fact that gays are discriminated in society but does he have to rub it in?

Isa sa napagtungan ko said that he kinda lives by the same belief. Heck, pati nga 'yung binati talaga na may birthday didn't find anything wrong with the post until I pointed it out to him. However, it's one thing to put it upon yourself and another for people to instill it upon us. "Personal conviction 'yan, " as what CV says. It's enough that we are already hard on ourselves, 'wag na nilang dagdagan pa 'yung pressure.

Each of us have our own prejudices. Minsan nga, aminin man natin o hindi, lumalabas 'yun with the things we say or do. Magugulat na lang tayo na ganu'n pala ang pananaw natin sa ilang bagay. Hindi rin naman tayo masisisi ng husto dahil tinatak na ito ng lipunan sa 'tin o maging ng ating sariling pamilya mga bata pa lang tayo. But there is always a chance to correct some of our preconceived notions. Hindi naman sa dahil 'yun ang kinamulatan natin ay dapat nang ipagpatuloy o hayaan na lang.

Yes, may mga bading na pariwara o nagkakalat o kahiya-hiya. Mayro'n din namang straight na ganu'n, di ba? Ang pagkakalat ay hindi exclusive lang sa isang gender. Ang kahiya-hiyang ginagawa ay hindi dapat isisi sa gender ng tao, kundi sa mismong tao, straight man o bading. We shouldn't conclude that because he's of a certain gender, nakakagawa na siya ng kahihiyan. At lalong-lalong mali na isipin ng mga straight na basta bading, papatol kung kani-kanino. May taste naman ang bading, 'no! (Ang iba riyan, akala mo kung sinong gwapo na kung makaiwas sa bading ay akala mo pinagnanasahan na. The nerve!)


(There was also an incident that happened months ago. The story there was that there was someone posting nasty things against someone on a forum. The attacks were quite personal and below the belt. That person seemed to know the other person he was attacking, yet masked himself behind a pseudonym. A friend, protecting the other person, commented, "Bakit ayaw mong iharap ang sarili mo? Bakla ka siguro!" It had raised my eyebrows. Huh?! When does backbiting become synonymous to being gay? Bakit ba ang daming negative words attached sa pagiging gay?)

Like what the song says, everyone is a little bit racist. And it's difficult to be politically correct all the time. But at least let's be sensitive about other people's feelings. Avoid making generalizations. Words can be powerful at times and we should be careful in using them. At kapag feeling mo naaapakan ka na, stand up and protect yourself. Dahil kung di mo 'yun gagawin, sino pa ang gagawa?

(To the person involved, if you're reading this, OK na tayo. I just had to write it to make a statement, as well. This is more of a reference to the general public and not on you alone. Nasabi ko na naman 'yung mga gusto ko sabihin sa 'yo at ganu'n ka rin naman. Tulad ng sinabi ko sa 'yo, I just had to vent out. You're a good friend, and hopefully it'll stay that way.)

Probability of Numbers

Nothing genius.

21 seems to focus itself more on playing/beating Blackjack rather than the stories of the characters playing it. It is the star of the movie rather just playing a part in the characters' lives. With that, there's not much risk at stake for the characters especially with Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) who was forced to join a group of players who "count cards" in Las Vegas in order to put himself through medical school. Other than that, there's not much else to follow about his story. It wasn't even made clear what would happen to them if they get busted by the authorities. And when he got caught and turned his cards around against their mentor (Kevin Spacey), it failed to create tension onscreen. There was even a point that the movie need not show their trick since it isn't a heist movie in the first place. It isn't Ocean's 11.

21 was based on an actual event with an actual Math genius. But the movie is nothing genius. As they say, numbers are predictable. So is this movie!


Disconnected.

Rendition seems contrite with how the characters are tied together. It is about a man who was thought of as terrorist and his wife's attempt to find him played by Reese Witherspoon. (But neither of them is the protagonist. It is the CIA analyst who watches the torture of the suspected terrorist to obtain information played by Jake Gyllenhall.) If the plot was that simple then attention wouldn't get lost along the way. Different characters come in between that weren't fleshed-out. They play major parts in the bombing that took place, but this isn't Babel or Crash or Amores Perros where their lives simply interconnects with an event. They are not hard to follow, yet you plainly do not care about them. Even Meryl Streep's tough role ala Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men seems lacking in depth and stress.

Maybe one problem that the movie was faced with was it tried to be different things all at once. It is about terrorism and how (innocent) lives are affected by it. It is about torture (and torturing innocent people) being used to get information. It is about revenge. It is about standing for your beliefs whether other sees it right or wrong. It is about the family that US government supports and destroys at the same time. With such hefty number of themes, no wonder the priorities got screwed-up . Even one of the film's timelines got off-tracked leaving you confused and cheated.

The movie lacks enough emotions and thrill to keep the audience connected with the characters. Such a powerful cast in a lackluster film.

Warning: Modus-Operandi ng Taxi sa Ortigas/Mandaluyong Area

Panahon ng dukutan at hold-up sa ngayon kaya mag-ingat! Just recently, nadukutan kami ng kapatid ko sa mismong SM malls. My iPod was stolen while Ginger's wallet and phone was pickpocketed in two succeeding days. Kaya if you think you're in a safe place or feeling safe, think again. Sa mga off-guarded moments sumasalakay ang mga hinayupak. Eto naman ay modus-operandi ng isang taxi driver along Ortigas/Mandaluyong area.

Be careful!

Read on. . .


***
Subject: FW: taxi hold-up modus operandi

From:mary ruth causing [mailto:causingmaryruth@ ...]
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 10:59 PM
To: mary ruth causing
Subject: Warning of a Modus Operandi

Dear friends,

I'd like to share a story of what happened to me last Monday, October 6, which appears to be a modus operandi done by people with criminal intentions. My purpose for sharing this with you is to forewarn you of such incidents so that you may keep yourselves safe.

At about a quarter to 7 in the evening, last Monday, I left the office and walked out of Tektite building towards San Miguel Avenue , Ortigas, to ride a cab. It was just right after a brief drizzle, so the roads were almost empty of cars and people, although it was still a bit early. I'm accustomed to going home by myself if I feel like it, and riding cabs without any problems for the longest time.

I was walking along Exchange Road in front of our building, and have already crossed Pearl Drive , when I saw a cab slowly cruising along Exchange Road from San Miguel Avenue . It was an old, a bit dilapidated, white (seemingly) Toyota Corolla, with a yellow-lighted "taxi" on the roof, with black scrawl of the taxi's "name" on the side (I didn't notice the name written there). It didn't have any passengers on board and I thought it a bit odd that a passenger-less cab would be coming from San Miguel Avenue towards Tektite at a time when taxis are supposedly full. I was more accustomed to seeing taxis with no passengers coming from Pearl Drive towards Tektite on its way out back towards EDSA or in the opposite direction of C-5. But it didn't quite get to me. I was tired and needed to go home to rest. I just thought that the driver was trying to get passengers.

I flagged down the slow moving taxi and got in. I said I was going towards EDSA, so the cab went its usual familiar route of rounding the one-way Exchange Road , out to San Miguel Avenue , left to Megamall, and right towards EDSA. I normally would text Tony of the plate number of the taxi, but at that time, I didn't. I normally would check the locks of the car doors, but this time, I only locked the ones on the front and back passenger seats (right side, because I saw that the left side door was locked). Everything was normal, except that
it was still going its slow pace. The driver was a slim-built, middle-aged man, with balding head (some hairs on the side), wore a baseball cap and a worn-out but decent white polo jacket.

Near the foot of the flyover towards Ortigas Avenue and EDSA, he requested me in a kindly manner to please move to the other end of the passenger seat because "ma-fla-flat na po yung gulong ko. Spare lang yan e." where I was sitting. I was sitting at the right side of the passenger seat at the back, and promptly moved to the left side. I was even able to converse with him, saying "a ganun ba? Hindi ba delikado yun na tumatakbo tayo sa EDSA na pa-flat na gulong n'yo?" "Hindi po, malapit lang naman po kayo, di ba? Kaya pa po yun," he smilingly said. And, all along, we were slowly moving across the flyover at EDSA. After the flyover, he slowly veered towards the inner side of the yellow lane, but I
thought it was because "inaalalayan niya yung sasakyan."

When the taxi crossed the gate of Corinthian Gardens , it further slowed down, and I saw from afar two men seemingly waiting for a bus. When the taxi neared the two men, they gestured towards the taxi, and it suddenly dawned on me that this could be a hold-up. I initially tried getting the lock of the door to my side open, and was stricken by horror that it didn't budge. It seemed to be jammed (or perhaps child-locked, on hindsight). And the horror of horrors happened. The taxi stopped by the two men, and the driver announced, "'wag ka gagawa ng iskandalo, hold-up 'to," and promptly opened the locked doors on the right side doors of the front and back passenger seats. Everything went fast.

The two men briskly went in, one at the front passenger seat, the other beside me on my right. I thought in horror "this can't be happening to me!" All I can scream was "ay! ay! Diyos ko! Diyos ko!" The driver said to the two men, "wag n'yong sasaktan 'yan, mabait si ma'am." And, to me, "pera lang ang kailangan namin. Hindi ka masasaktan kung susundin mo kami." One of the two men was also middle-aged, slim-built, with balding hair. The other was younger, about in his mid- to late-twenties, gaunt-looking, with high cheek bones, with a thick head of hair. He struck me as someone who was taking drugs.

The next two hours were a gruelling ordeal. They rummaged through my bag and got my money, ATM and credit cards, cellphones, and my jewelry, including my wedding ring. They gave back my bag and wallet, though, but without the money and the cards. We spent the hours going around EDSA from Kamuning to Quezon Avenue , stopping at banks where one of the men went to the ATM machines to try and get cash from my savings ATM and credit cards. They didn't let me out of the taxi to do the transactions. While one man did the transactions at the ATMs, the taxi kept going round and round the Kamuning and Quezon Avenue u-turns. They took away my glasses so that I can't see where we're going. But I was familiar with the places we passed - Timog Avenue , Agham Road , near the Napocor area, and back again to EDSA to go to the ATMs for transactions. They pressed me for the PIN of the credit cards, but I didn't memorize them, but gave them some numbers that I'm not even sure of.

Towards the end, they were pissed off because they couldn't get through the credit cards, and I was afraid that they'd do me in. But, in the end, they let me go, the driver warning me sternly, "wag kang lilingon sa kaliwa o kanan. Dire-direcho lang, kung hindi, babarilin talaga kita." They gave a 100 peso bill "pamasahe para makauwi." They dropped me off at Agham Road , near the Philippine Children's Medical Center (formerly Lungsod ng Kabataan) at about 9:30 p.m. There was no one in sight, another light drizzle has already passed.
One of the men accompanied me out of the taxi, pushed me forward, and ran back to the taxi. That's when I ran and ran towards Quezon Avenue until I boarded a jeepney at a stop light. The kindly jeepney driver motioned me to a mobile police patrol when we passed by one, and I finally came to the police precinct at Kamuning EDSA to tell my tale. I didn't even get to see the taxi's plate number.

They informed me there that that has been a modus operandi of these criminal elements, plying the route of Quezon Avenue , Timog, Agham, even Kamuning areas. They also would give some money for "pamasahe." They would say it's for a sick wife, etc.

I have talked to some employees of a company in the Ortigas area who fell victim to the same modus operandi. Same taxi, same description of the driver, same alibi about a flat tire, requesting the passenger to move to the left side of the passenger seat, where the door's lock is jammed. Same giving of the 100 peso bill at the end of the hold-up. Last December, an employee rode the dubious taxi at SM Megamall at about 9 p.m. and the hold-up was announced when some men boarded the taxi at Star Mall. The person was held-up until 11 p.m. The other, with the person's 6-year old child, boarded the taxi at the Robinson's Galleria and was also held-up by men who went inside the taxi. I myself, boarded the taxi near where I work, imagine that. And, the security guards were just a few meters away.

Please be forewarned of this modus operandi. We're facing harder times, and December is nearing. Take extra care, friends. As for me, I believe it was the prayers that helped me. All throughout the ordeal, my Savior was there, guiding me in what to say or do so as not to aggravate the situation until freedom came. They didn't touch or harm me. Praise God!

God bless us,
Ruth

Next Attraction Mah A**!

Before I could actually write a decent review for Next Attraction, I had to calm down and relax myself. I already wrote a first draft and I didn't like it just because it was getting long and my thoughts (or rather rants) were here and there. Naisip ko na hindi ko man nagustuhan 'yung pelikula, at least it deserves a fair write-up (kahit papa'no).

Next Attraction is my first Raya Martin experience. I had heard so many great things about him and I feel that it's high time to know what the fuss over him was about.

Ay! The experience was a huge disappointment for me and for Nori whom I dragged along to see the film. Not only that we left the theater wondering what transpired within the hours we spent there, we were dumbfounded. Kulang na lang ay sabihin namin, "P*tangna! Ano ang nangyari?!" (Sorry, di ko talaga mapigilan ang expletives.)

The so-called movie is a behind-the-scenes look on the making of a short film. Those very words sum-up exactly what the so-called film is all about. It's only a supposedly DVD special feature turned into a main film! O, sa'n ka pa! (So 'pag naglabas ng special edition DVD, 'yung behind-the-scenes look ay mayro'n pang behind-the-scenes uli. Kung may tipo ng pelikula na movie within a movie, ang magiging special feature ay behind-the-scenes within a behind-the-scenes!)

I didn't have a problem with the concept though. What's troubling is what the film offers after seeing it -- nothing! Did we learn something new? Wala. Is there a scene that excited us? Wala. Ni walang isang eksenang masasabi naming may ingenuity or brilliance. It was even a badly done behind-the-scenes featurette. Mas mukha pa ngang raw footages ang mga eksena na pinutol-putol upang tawaging isang pelikula. Bukod pa r'un, pagkadilim-dilim niya!

The crowd was awfully quiet during the screening. Kami nga lang 'ata ni Nori ang nagkukwentuhan just to pass the time while waiting for the film's redeeming value. Baka nga naman isalba niya ang sarili niya sa huli. Pero naipakita na ang short film na kinunan at lumabas na ang closing credits, wala pa rin kaming nahita! Wala kaming napulot na kahit na katiting na insight man lang.

Even the supposedly short film that they were shooting wasn't so great to begin with. Luma na ang kwento. Luma na ang execution. (It's about a young man who, after an argument with his mother, goes to the city and had sexual relations, only to return with an apologetic mother.) Naisip ko nga, tahimik ba ang audience dahil mangha-mangha sila sa kanilang pinanonood o dahil iniiwasan lang nilang mapamura once they open their mouths? Mayro'n ngang hindi na nakatiis at talagang go na sa exit an hour or so later! Pero nang matapos ang pelikula, mayro'n pang nakuhang pumalakpak! Huh? Bakit?! Not because it won the "Digital Grand Jury Prize" (in Cinemanila 2008) means it was that great. Hindi naman lahat ng nananalo ay deserving manalo. (Case in point: Rafael Rossell sa Urian! Hello?!) Isipin mo rin, kung 'yun na ang best sa lahat ng entries, so basura nang maituturing ang iba? (Although I haven't seen the rest except Confessional which I saw last year in UP. Ayun pa! Deserving talaga ng award na nakuha niya. No questions asked. No eyebrows raised.)

Pasensya na sa mga gumawa ng pelikula pero naman! Naaksaya ang PhP150 namin, maging ang aming oras. There's so much that you can do with such a concept at nasayang lang. Kung sana man lang mayro'n siyang contrast. Tahimik man at naging maayos ang paggawa ng pelikula, masalimuot naman ang naging takbo ng short film. O hindi man kabigatan ang kwento ng short film pero mas di hamak na mas madrama naman ang nangyayari sa likod ng camera. But no. You just let your cameras roll and film whatever is there and showed it to us. Para saan? Para kanino?

Para que pa na gumawa ka ng isang pelikulang hindi naman kapupulutan ng kung ano ng iyong audience lalo pa't documentary ang genre na ginamit n'yo? Docus are supposed to be insightful and eye-opener.

Para que pa na gumawa ka ng pelikula na para sa iyong self-satisfaction lamang? Movies are meant to be shared and enjoyed by the public and not just its makers. Kung ganu'n din lang ay mabuti pang 'wag mo nang ipakita sa 'min at sarilinin mo na lang. Or at least, show it for free! (Oras nga lang ang lugi sa audience [saka snacks]. Pero at least libre pa rin!)

Isa pang hindi na-utilized ng husto ay ang paggamit sa dalawang lead stars n'yo, sina Coco Martin at Paolo Rivero. I believe that you have banked on their team-up because of their success via Daybreak. Icon nang maituturing ang tambalang 'yan pagdating sa Philippine gay film community and I felt that you use it as bait to lure gays in and have abused it. Wala rin naman palang kahahantungan ang kanilang excitement. (I must admit that I am one of them. Sila ang dahilan kung bakit ako na-excite panoorin ang pelikula.)

In the words of an utterly disgruntled filmgoer outside the theater, the film is "kasumpa-sumpa!" Although I wouldn't use such words to describe the film, I wouldn't disagree on that either.

The Loves of Siam

The Love of Siam might've entitled itself as Love and you'll never know the difference. Just because the movie speaks of such a universal feeling that it won't matter where you are. It's a feeling that exists across time and space, and knows no boundaries. But in reality, Siam refers to Siam Square where most teens hang-out in Thailand. It plays a major role in the lives of the lead characters by reconnecting and reuniting them then eventually setting them apart - all grown and more knowing of the loves that should be and could be.

The Love of Siam is about a mother's love who, after a tragic loss in the family, tries to hold the family together, yet feels at a loss herself from doing what she thinks is right.

The Love of Siam is about a father who is consumed with so much guilt that he focused himself more on what was lost rather than what was left.

The Love of Siam is about a young son who was hit most by the family's loss and longs for attention from his family. When he finds someone who finally gives him the care and support he wants, he is made to choose between that and his family.

The Love of Siam is about a young man who feels abandoned by the people he loves. He desperately yearns for affection from the people around him that when he finds it, he is made to feel guilty about it.

The Love of Siam is about a young lady who tries outrageous measures to get the love she seeks only to realize that such love is the kind that could never be hers.

The Love of Siam is about a woman who struggles to find her place in the world and discovers the unselfish love within her.

These characters can easily be you and me or anyone you know.

The Love of Siam has many things going for it. It is a mixture of emotions all at once and is very much relatable. It is about loving and losing; caring and hurting; hoping and missing; giving and finding.

The movie is filled with subtleness of emotions. Despite its heavy theme, it isn't screaming with tears. It isn't melodramatic yet the pain transcends throughout the film. It doesn't bombard you with lengthy dialogues but when it does say something, it makes sure that it says what its supposed to mean. (Although it could be cheesy at times.) Every look and stare has a purpose. Every touch has its meaning. Every move symbolizes a transition, a development. Even a simple letting go of a hand provides a marked importance to the character's growth. Or a simple completion of a toy tells you that it isn't about a toy anymore but rather a completion of one's being.

One of the most significant part of the film is music. Like what the grandmother in the film says, if you can't say it, express it through music. Through its music, whether it'd be by lyrics or just a melody, emotions are articulated. Be it happy or sad, exciting or painful. And music mostly provided the kilig moments. It'd be hard not to at least smile, if not totally get thrilled, once you get to know what the song meant for its characters.

Of course, The Love of Siam is not without its fault. There are some parts of the story that seemed missing yet, like its characters, we are left unaware of the truth behind it. I am not sure if it was intentional on the filmmaker's part but, nevertheless, they don't take so much out of the audience's viewing pleasure. The film would've given enough that one could easily overlook such flaw.

What is praiseworthy about The Love of Siam is that it doesn't succumb to the traditional happy endings that most audience expects for our romantic leads. They don't end up together as one hoped they would. After making you feel that their love is one that should be, it drops a big bomb on you: it could never be, at least not for awhile. 'Cause how could such a young age make bold choices without hurting badly? How could they ever fought against the family and the society when they themselves need to feel the warmth and acceptance of them? How can they ever love so truly when the love that was given to them was not enough?

In actuality, the film is brimming with too much grief and loneliness from beginning to end masks by the teenage kilig love it portrays, yet it sheds us some hope. A hope that one day we will find the love that we truly deserve. A hope that some day we will be like teenagers once more, inspired by love rather than be burdened by it. A hope that one day, our beloved characters would cross paths again and be strong enough to fight for the love they have for each other. Perhaps in Siam Square once more? A hope that some day, the family will be able to walk together without the shadow of the loss haunting them. As one of the songs says, "If there is love, there is hope."

It is maybe unselfish of us to desire to be loved and cared for by others, but in reality, it is just human nature to want such. In summation, The Love of Siam is mostly about a love that was once lost and now is found.

The Love of Siam is on competition at the Cinemanila 2008.