A Mental Pervert’s Trip To…

Hell.

Two weeks ago I was in Manila and it was so oven hot I could have turned into a burnt cookie! Good thing the general assembly of union reps was held at PTA resort in San Fabian, Pangasinan where I only had to contend with flies so plenty I mistook them for finger food, and a roommate who snored like he had in his throat 38 jets on simultaneous take off!

Some pluses: I got to eat original tupig (what we have back home is pirated); I got to visit the Manaoag Church and genuflect in a way so clumsy only a Catholic-schooled but Protestant-raised kid knew how!

Some minuses: I had to enjoy nothing but miniature bangus every single meal (at home I don’t eat this bone-filled fare unless it’s at least a foot long) and videoke every single night; I was a no-show, as usual, because my social disease was at its acutest!

After three days in far Pangasinan, I was back in Manila on Friday the 13th. We were billeted at a house-hotel somewhere at the back of Barrio Fiesta in Makati Av, and later at a hostel somewhere down the road next to Airport Road.

The day after, I had to justify my trip so I checked on our producers who attended the International Food Exhibition at the World Trade Center before hitting Glorietta. After ransacking the bookstores, I spotted “Head in the Clouds” but I had problems with its screening schedule. And so I huffed and puffed to Greenbelt to catch “Nagising Sa Kamulatan;” I was told it was not showing anymore.

The next day I went to Megamall. Same route---from bookstores to moviehouses. The Siths had yet to have their Revenge and so instead I watched “Lagusan” (The Tunnel) by Gina Marissa Tagasa. I never knew this film existed until I saw its rather quite interesting black and white tarpaulin near the escalator. I am not sure now whether the blurb that the film had won this and that international awards referred to “Lagusan” or “Sa Kandungan Ng Langit” (Heaven’s Cradle), Tagasa’s earlier film.

Despite the teaser, I had my expectations kept to a bare minimum. After all I know Tagasa only as a scriptwriter and not as a filmmaker. Besides, it had Richard Reynoso in it! I need not say more about the latter except that his PAL stewardess wife is my townmate.

Now brace for a pseudo-mini review from a mental pervert. “Lagusan” was not earthshaking, but it was not bad either. In fact it had shining moments. Chris Villanueva, as usual, was good. Even Alex Vargas was more than passable. Also, the bit players held their own against veteran Gina Pareno. There was nothing strange though with Richard Reynoso as “The Stranger.” And he should have been allowed to sing his lines especially toward the end of the film when it became too “talky” and “preachy” for comfort because at least when he sings, one can see a hint of expression.

If only I knew the meaning of the word philosophical, then I would say “Lagusan” was a philosophical film. But since I don’t, I say it was “Somewhere in Time-meets-Ghost-meets-Itim- meets-Sixth Sense,” though not in a derogatory sense because it was actually a good pastiche/appropriation. I liked Tagasa’s script and direction, but not necessarily her story of redemption and reborn. No, not because of its “born again bent” but because of some gray areas which I will just keep to myself.

On my way out, I realized we were all of 15 inside the theater. Long live Philippine Cinema!

On the 17th, I flew home, home being the boondocks of Mindanao. When we deplaned, it started to rain. That was when I knew I was back in…

Heaven.