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Tuesday 12 April 2011

CALL FOR ENTRIES: 3rd Pandayang Lino Brocka Political Film and New Media Festival




Calling all students, independent and amateur filmmakers and film/media collectives to submit entries for the 3rd PANDAYANG LINO BROCKA Political Film and New Media Festival. Deadline of submission of entries is until May 15, 2011.

Categories for the festival includes documentary, narrative, animation, experimental, PSAs, motion graphics, or any other form of new media. Works produced from 2000 onwards are accepted and more than one entry from one group or individual is allowed.

Entries should be about NATIONALISM or LOVE FOR OUR COUNTRY.

Works from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and NCR will have representation in the screenings.

Film Festival Date: August 10-11, 2011

For queries, contact tudla_productions@yahoo.com or 0922-897-57766 or +632-345-8804




The 3rd Pandayang Lino Brocka Political Film and New Media Festival is brought to us by TUDLA Productions in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the University of the Philippines Film Institute (UPFI).

The Pandayang Lino Brocka Political Film and New Media Festival is a cultural gathering that aims to inspire the creation and popularization of truthful, artistic and relevant audiovisual works to enlighten and cultivate critical consciousness of the mass audience. This maiden launch of this festival in 2009 aims to be an aggregate of efforts in political cinema production and distribution in the first decade of the 21st century, a time of worsening economic crisis aggravating the poor people’s plight.

This affair hails the daring of the late Lino Brocka, whose works earned local and international acclaim for political cinema and whose untimely death saw a decline in political cinema in the mainstream. While critical of the government and the prevailing system, even the government recognized his talent and contribution, as he was given the posthumous distinction of National Artist for Film in 1997.

It is Lino Brocka’s strong conviction that artists are first and foremost citizens, and must address the issues confronting the country. That’s why in his practice, his films "look with sympathy on the common man and the human condition" and were situated in their dwellings and thoughts. Lino Brocka firmly believes that films and politics cannot be dissociated. His desire is to develop what he calls "the Great Filipino Audience" which for him is more important than creating "the Great Filipino Movie."

Films of political and progressive content are deemed to be not widely patronized or are thought to be not commercial successes. But if the audience is the common people and the works speak of their lives, no political film shall ever be unpopular and immaterial. They will always find audience among the millions of poor and oppressed people in society, as the films of Lino Brocka.

There is a battleground in the field of filmmaking and artistic production—the struggle for the hearts and minds of the people. This festival engages itself in this battle, as it campaigns for artists and audience to revert from the dominant practice of local mainstream and Hollywood entertainment production and consumption to film as a platform for social and political commentary.

Truly, film is a powerful tool to shape mind and consciousness. Artists are here challenged to use film as a vehicle for socio-cultural reflection and as an ideological weapon to liberate the minds of the people. For films as art that exposes, identifies and defies the oppressors in society guides the way for the realization of the democratic aspirations of the people.


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TUDLA Productions is also looking for volunteers, members who would like to train and dare fulfill the duties of an alternative media group! Please contact 0922-897-5766 (sun) or 09168248246 (globe)

"We must produce films that will hurt, films that will not let you rest, for the times are bad and given times like these, it is a crime to rest." ~ Lino Brocka

Saturday 26 February 2011

Thursday 6 January 2011

Rosario (2010)

I've been a film enthusiast since time immemorial but an amateur in making reviews so please bear with this review because this is my very first movie review created for a blog. 


Great story, exceptional characters, nice costumes and good cinematography.

(Warning: Post contains spoilers.)

Rosario (2010) is based on the story of businessman Manny V. Pangilinan's grandmother, Rosario (Jennylyn Mercado), as narrated by Pangilinan's long-lost uncle, Hesus (Dolphy). Set in the 1920's in the Philippines, Rosario is a gorgeous temptress, talented and liberal woman who just got back from New York for a vacation at their hacienda in Isabela.

There, she falls in love with Vicente (Yul Servo), their tobacco plantation administrator, and tempted him to go to bed with her. They where caught by Rosario's father, Don Enrique (Philip Salvador), and beat Vicente nearly to death while Rosario was sent to the convent as a punishment. Rosario, already pregnant, escaped the convent and eloped with Vicente to Manila.

In Manila, Vicente was able to find a decent job and they lived happily with three children. Because of smoking, hard work and stress, Vicente acquired tuberculosis which drew him and Rosario apart in an effort not to infect her and their children.

When Rosario met her closest cousin Carmen (Isabel Oli), who was already a Manager in an Insurance Company,  Rosario worked as a secretary for her cousin to help with the finances of her ill husband. Rosario met Carmen's boyfriend, Alberto (Dennis Trillo), he immediately lusted for her. When Carmen left for Cebu, Alberto got the chance to tempt Rosario to go to bed with him. Because Rosario has been sleeping in her children's room for months, she eventually gave in to her urges.

Vicente found out about the affair and filed an adultery case against Rosario and Alberto and was exiled to Hong Kong where they stayed there for several years and raised their child, Hesus. When they went back to Manila, Alberto left Rosario and Hesus on their own without money for rent and food. Rosario did laundry for 10 cents to pay for their food but their rent was always behind.

Their landlord's (Ricky Davao) nephew, Carding (Sid Lucero), immediately fell in love with Rosario upon their arrival and befriended her and Hesus. He also helped them in any way when Alberto left. When Rosario was 4 months behind their rent, her landlord offered to give her a solution: to go to bed with him and all of her debts would be erased and she don't have to pay rent anymore. Without any other options, she gave in.

Carding caught them and lost his wits and beat his uncle. He escaped and urged Rosario and Hesus to go with him. Rosario also left the house but this time didn't go with Carding. She died not having her parents', husband's and children's forgiveness for the sins she committed.

Rosario's character is full of conflict and emotion. Although Jennylyn's acting was, well, good, she did not give justice to the character, she could have exerted more effort to get in the character. I found the plot of the story very interesting but Dolphy's character, Hesus, narrating the story at the start of the film did not work for me.

I particularly find the scenes where Jennylyn smokes very disturbing (especially there are so many of those scenes) because it was quite obvious that she didn't know how to smoke.

Other than that, the costumes, hair and make-up and props were really elaborate (for a Filipino film). The cinematography (Carlo Mendoza) was superb because of the angles, focuses and colors of the shots taken for the film (I don't know the technical terms for this).

Although Rosario is a commercial flop compared to the other official entries for the 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), it is a movie worth watching. I wasn't that disappointed compared to Kris Aquino's Dalaw where I felt that our money went to waste.

Oh and I almost forgot, Director Alberto Martinez also did a great job with this film.

Rosario (2010) won 2nd Best Picture, the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award, Best Supporting Actor (Dolphy), Best Production Design (Joey Luna and Miki Hahn), Best Cinematography (Carlo Mendoza), Best Editing (John Wong), and Best Float during the MMFF 2010 Awards Night.

Wednesday 29 December 2010

Malaysia wins AFF Suzuki Cup 2010

I wasn't able to watch the game again last night because I was too busy drinking with my cousins. Here's the highlights of the 2nd Leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 Finals played between Malaysia and Indonesia. Malaysia wins the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 by 2 goals against Indonesia, where they scored 3 goals during the 1st leg and 1 goal during the 2nd leg while Indonesia only scored 2 goals during the 2nd leg.

Monday 20 December 2010

AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 2nd Leg Semi-Finals Indonesia vs Philippines

I missed the 2nd Leg of the Indonesia vs Philippines Semi-Finals game of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 and failed to scream and jump for the Philippine Team (Azkals). Too bad they didn't win. The good thing is, the team's defense is really good avoiding another horrendous 13-1 defeat against Indonesia during the AFF Cup in 2002. Everybody was impressed with the Azkal's improvement. Although, they're still a bit sloppy in maintaining ball possession to make good shots. Well anyway, the Azkals has nothing to lose but everything to win even with just playing in the semi-finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup.

Here's the highlights from the game last December 19, 2010 played at the Istora Senayan Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia:


I just hope that the Azkals gained a lot of attention from the Philippine Government to support football and build an internationally-approved football stadium. Go Team Philippines!

The AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 Malaysia vs Indonesia First Leg Finals will be on December 26, 2010 while the 2nd leg will be on December 29, 2010 to be played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Jakarta, Indonesia respectively.

Friday 17 December 2010

Watch The Big Bang Theory Season 4 Episode 11 (The Justice League Recombination) Online

THere's the new episode of The Big Bang Theory.


The gang is attending a New Year's Eve costume party at the comic book store and they're aiming to win the group costume competition as the Justice League. Guess who they included in the group.

Another hearty laugh from The Big Bang Theory.

Thursday 16 December 2010

Watch The Big Bang Theory Season 4 Episode 10 (The Alien Parasite Theory) Online

I know this is a week late, but nevertheless, I'd like to share The Big Bang Theory's Season 4 Episode 10 The Alien Parasite Theory.



Looks like Amy Farrah Fowler is feeling something, well, not logical. Find out what's the Alien Parasite Theory is all about.