my top 100 favorite films (top 90-81)

90. oro plata mata 1982

the movie depicts the story of a rich filipino family during the World War2. how they struggle together with the people around them against death and violence.

i say: one of philippines pride and finest

89. spanish apartment 2002

it is a story about a group of exchange student all over western europe that found each other in one apartment. it tells about friendship, culture and life.

i say: aesthetically wonderful. best viewed with housemates! hehehe.

88. yossi and jagger 2002

the story is about two soldiers who guard the israel-lebanon border who try to find some peace and serenity. but eventually found each other.

i say: this made me realize the question, how come it is more accpeted to see two men holding guns than two men holding hands?

87. land before time 1-4 1988

An animated film that narrates the story of littlefoot, a small apatasaurus and his friend as they ventured in a number of journeys.

i say: the film explored so many social issues such as prejudices due to differences and conflicts that are well discusses through a child's perspective.

86. august rush

a story of a boy who was raised in an orphanage and how he was reunited with his parents through music.

i say: the only movie which has been wonderful in my ears..

85. sarong banggi
it tells the story of a young man who is trying to find himself and a prostitute who is looking for her son, just to find out the bitter truth of life.

i say: a very slow paced movie though the twist makes everything worth it.

84. dancer in the dark
a woman who never lose hope in darkness, a mother who wanted more than she has for her son and the world she have lived within the music she hears.

i say: a must watch!

83. madrasta 1996

how can a woman fit herself in a home that isn't hers?how can she win someone elses' heart, if she knows that someone already own them? and how can she exert her right, in a position and place that doesn't provide her one?this is a story of the life of a stepmother in filipino home and how it go outside the typical impression about them.

i say: the only sharon cuneta movie i liked... impressive

82. pusong mamon.

probably one of the earliest gay themed movie in philippine cinema that tackled outside the concept of prostitution. it is a story about two gay couples and how there life has been changed when a woman entered their bond.

i say: sana quizon na lang din ang apelido ko....hahaha.

the only feel good movie that i love... funny, and very refreshing! and the only pinoy-inspired movie na may production number na talagang naenjoy ko... bongga ka day! bongga ka day!

81. blood diamond 2006


A story of a journalkist who is following the illegal diamond trading in africa that ignited the civil war in the same continent. how he managed to infiltrate the business, how he witnessed the world he never thought possible and how he became a part of how the world knew what is inside the diamonds they are wearing.

i say: two thumbs up!

the service crew

my dad taught us to be polite to people especially those who provides customer service. he told us he was once one and he knows the shit they have been going through. fortunately, my dad became successful when he shifted to the maritime industry and later on to politics. but he will never forget his first job as a service crew in a fast food chain when he went to manila.

i can say that i have carried over that attitude up to now. regardless, how poor the service crew is with his/her job, i never fail to give them a smile and a heart felt "thank you."

admit it or not, there job is not easy as it looks. most of the time, they are even required to do multiple tasks for a very minimal pay. not to mention that most of them are even contractual for crying out loud. but still they force themselves to give out a warm smile.

if they mistakenly called you mam or sir, just smile back and greet them with their name. most of the time, hearing your voice call their attention and they would apologize and smile back. you really don't need to give them the frown, tone or the litany because their service don't really change regardless if you are a mam or a sir.

if they served you with the wrong order, just calmly inform them about the mistake. believe me, they will never take it against you. sometimes, they will even give you compliments for the unintended mistake.

for me, the least thing that i will do inside a food establishment is to mess around with its crew. no one knows what a crew can do to the food that they will serve you. they can spit on it, wipe it on the floor and even prepare it with spoiled hands.


i actually feel bad whenever a customer shouts at a service crew and what is more aggravating is that when a customer begins to transgress her frustration from the quality of service to the personal ones. i witnessed one before and the sad part was, the customer was even a close friend. i tried convincing her that she shouldn't do that. but she didn't accept my advise. she kept on ranting me that its the only thing that they do, why can't they perfect it?
i asked her, if she have ever tried being a crew once in her life. but she just kept quiet. then couple of months ago, i received a message from the same friend and informed me that she is currenlty working as a bartender in las vegas. i thought, probably by now, she already understands what i am pointing at before.

i never believe that a customer is always right. a customer only gets what she pays for. nothing less and nothing more. what she is paying for doesn't buy him/her any person, life or even something that is impossible. the tender or exchange is anchored upon certain rules and limitations. thus, it doesn't mean that since you are paying, you can expect everything from that establishment especially to the crew working for it.

***
last night, i went to a nearby convinient store near our office. i noticed that the crews here in makati are more socially interactive with their customers and relatively lively than the ones in cubao, katipunan or elsewhere.

one of the crews' popular protocols is suggesting additional product/s like the ones crews among fast food chains in mcdonalds, jollibee etc. do. but sometimes there are some crews, especially those who work near our place, that give out outrageously funny suggestions. i guess, they are just too sleepy to notice that they are already giving out canned suggestions, that are really out of this world.

for example, if you buy a sandwich, they'll ask if you want to buy a lighter. if you buy a slurpy, they'll ask you for gum, if you buy coke, they'll ask you for juice. there are just so many weird combinations that i could no longer remember becuase of my almost every night encounter with this certain crew.

but there is one incident that really left me rolling on the floor. one night a man infront of me, asked for a box of condom. the crew took one from the cabinet, gunned the condom, then asked, "banana, sir?" the man was left aghast and said a hard, NO!


the response caught the crew's attention, that made him figured out, he just pulled off a worng question. i already felt my stomach turning as i forced myself from not busting out to laughter. when the man reached the door, i almost spilled half of the laugh i was keeping inside. it took me almost 4 minutes before i could step off from the establishment and laughed my guts out. while walking i was still laughing smiling, thinking that the crew really made my day.

my top 100 favorite films (100-91)

i was in college when i first discovered my interest with movies: and up to this very moment, that same movie still marks a lot of things in me. i remember after that screening, i found myself, digging among video shop boxes, stall along streets and even in what i deemed to be as my fantasy land---quiapo. eventually, i developed the eye for a good movie (ehem!), atleast for my taste.
for years, i have been diligently collecting movies, most of which are foreign ones that have either an alternative or art genre. probably, if i haven't been that kind of lending these to friends(?), i already have a whole closet of vcds and dvds that you may mistake me for a pirated dvd seller.
just recently, as i was browsing some blog sites, i found this interesting blog. in one of yoshke's post, he posted his 50 all time favorite films which i really enjoyed. thus, being the gaya-gaya and competitive me, i have decide to list down my top 100 favorite films.

100. perfumed nightmares (1977)

it stars the same writer and director eric de guia or popularly known in the artist circle as kidlat tahimik. it tells the story of a young lad who wandered life from stowing away from his rural village in the cordillera mountains and went to manila and paris. then went back to his home after realizing how lonely his dreams were.

i say:if you have atleast three hours and a good attention span to spare, you might want to check this film. this is one of the earliest "indie" film, we have in the country, that will definitely challenge and escalate your imagination and indie point level to the sky.

99. jeux d'enfant (child's play: love me if you dare, 2003)
(romance, drama)
a story of two misunderstood kids who found themselves at each other's side through a "simple" game of dare until they grew up. eventually, they have realized the things they were betting were already their hearts.


i say:twistedly insane! probably, if i have a friend like this, i would just keep our friendship as a long distance one. in addition, no more carousel for me.

98. sleeping dictionary (2003)
(romance)
a story of an englishman, who took over his father's work and rendered the service of sarawak native, who sleeps with him and teach him the native language. until the two eventually began defining what a forbidden love is.

i say:one of the sexiest and informative films i have seen. never saw jessica alba this appealing and sexy. it was so effortless.

97. lost in translation (2003)
(comedy, drama)
a man struggling loneliness, alienation and complete culture change in a busy city of japan.i say:despite, its good story and portrayals, i will still not recommend this to someone who is living alone in the metro, during a gloomy and idle sunday afternoon.

96. beyond borders (2003)
(action, drama, romance)
the movie depicts the life of an international aid worker and how she struggle helping other peoples' lives and her own.

i say:inspiring! my breath just stopped for a full 30 seconds, while watching a toddler innocently playing a thrown grenade.


95. invisible circus (2001)
a struggle of a woman in understanding her sister's mysterious death.


i say: the first film that made me love the versatility of the hollywood actress and supermodel, cameron diaz.


94. ikiru (1952)
(drama)
it tells the monotonous and unfulfilling life of a bureaucrat and how it changed after learning he has stomach cancer.

i say: if you feel that you have already living the time of your life, try watching this film and tell me that again.

93. the laramie project (2002)
(documentary, drama)

The film narrates the story of the aftermath of the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming, who was brutally murdered by two men who mistakenly perceived the victim as sexually seducing them.


i say:one of the most monumental event in human history that gave way to the issues of gender awareness and equity around the world.before mounting the event to a film, it was first seen as plays, books and even gave inspiration for the hbo tv hit, angels in america.


92. tortilla soup (2001)
depicts the story of a mexican american chef and his three daughters. despite the chef's loss to taste, he still continued to cook lavishing meals for his family. while her daughters search for something that will fill their losing sense of fulfillment.

i say:you'll forget the word diet after watching this. but definitely you'll love the word family more.

91. iron ladies (2000)
a true story of a successful volleyball players in thailand, which was all composed of homosexuals. how they strived to dominate the sport, despite the discrimination and ridicule being thrown to them.
i say: funny, witty and inspiring.