La Visa Loca

La Visa Loca, this is my first time to watch this really funny film by Robin Padilla and Ruffa Mae Quinto and other famous artists. It is a funny movie but it is not all laughs because it displays also some facts of life that can be found in our country the Philippines. First of all, the first scene is that two foreigners are being offered by kids “male” or “female”, at first, I though “male” or “female” people like prostitutes but it was then revealed there that the “male” and or “female” was really crabs! The movie was really really really funny as the story progresses but it had a corresponding “reality” fact! Many facts of typical Filipino life were the beliefs.


Before I enumerate and describe one of those things, I am going to talk about the characters, the main character is Jess Huson who is played by Robin Padilla. I think he is a taxi driver who was then hired by foreigners to help them shoot a documentary film for their T.V. program entitled “planet strange”. Now there was a typical Filipino belief which I think was influenced by foreigners, American to be exact, that we must strive for a greener field and that “greener field” is in America!—The Land of Milk and Honey!


Maybe, that is why many Filipinos go there and seek job opportunities rather than here in our own country. Many job seekers go there like nurses, programmers, doctors, teachers etc go there and apply their talents that is why maybe we are not progressing because, those people were born and raise here but will go there. Jess Huson wants to go in the United States to seek a better life and be with his girlfriend, he is one of those people but he was rejected by the US embassy because of his inability to speak and understand the English language.

As the story progressed, Jess seemed to thrive hard to get out of the country by seeking help from the foreigners. Many things happened which ended on him being crucified at the cross which symbolizes his sacrifice and utmost dedication in going out of the country which makes me think that almost all of the characters in the story can be considered as stereotype. Jess (a typical Filipino who wants to go and work abroad), Mang Sancho (a desperate Father who depends on his son for being alive)”, the guy who cheated the foreigners who is supposed to be crucified and many more.

Now, this comedy film has a message to their viewers. For me, I think the message is that “happiness is not dependent on how much money you can give to your family or how great your job is but rather be happy”. One can be happy even if the salary of the breadwinner is really not that high but it can also be base on your loved ones because what is the use of these luxurious items when you can’t share it with someone. That is why, I thought of a famous saying to match my theory, it is: “No man is an Island”.

In comparison of the characters, I would now compare Jess and Jess’ girlfriend (Sorry, I forgot the name) to the story “The Tale of the Spinster and Peter Pan”. Jess can be considered the opposite or counter part of the “peter pan” because Jess is “maginoo” and or “magalang” in women while Jess’ Girlfriend can be said, for me as kinda like same to her because they are both lovable and can maybe be said as lovable.

About our Philippine Literature class, I can say that this course helped me in knowing myself better. I am a person who has no patience in reading and comprehending but this course taught me that reading is not really boring but a silent entertainment which runs on the imagination of the person. Our teacher did an excellent job handling us. She makes sure that her class is doing their jobs reading and understanding many stories. She just does not discuss the story but she asks for our opinion and relates it with different stuff that is why I can say that she made this reading class not boring but a good one!

Smaller and Smaller Circles

This short story-- No, its more like a novelette for me... lol! Now going back to the story, this is more like a crime fiction kind of story. It started when father Emil discovered a body of a boy. Actually, the kids informed father Emil. At first, I was not really that interested in this kind of story because honestly, I have really no interest in this kind of mystery story because my patience is really not that long when it comes to mysteries and other related stuff but I had no choice but to read then upon reading it, my interest in the story begins to build up because the mysteries in the story is starting to make me ask many questions and craving for answers in the story.

So anyways, going back to the discussion of the story, the story was held somewhere in a dumpsite in Manila, let’s say Payatas to be exact, while the time can be said as most recent because of the logic in detective stuff like CSI. I think this CSI or the logic thinking developed in the early 90’s. The story was about serial killings that were happening in Payatas. There were 8 victims in the story, which were children. The faces of the victims, the heart, and the genitals of the victims were taken out by the serial killer. We now know that it was father emil who first discovered the body of that small boy.

Then he asked for the help of two other priests who is: Father Jerome who is a Psychologist, it can be said that he investigates on maybe why the killer have done the crime like what motivated him/her and the other priest Father Saenz who performs autopsies. While the story moved on, they became closer and closer in finding out who the serial killer is, and at the end they found out who when they saw the hearts and genitals of the children in the refrigerator of the dentist named Alex Carlos.

There were signs and symbols present in the story. At first, when our teacher assigned this story to me: “smaller and smaller circles”, I had a picture in my mind like getting and getting there. It means that as you progress, the mystery gets smaller and smaller, that is what the circle symbolizes for me. Well, on the content of the story, I feel a little disappointed because the story is like a little predictable when it comes to the review of the usual crime fictions story that my classmates and my teacher tells us but the author is good when he made me puzzled that I read the story to satisfy my curiosity.

Getting Better

There are seven chapters in the short story which is: How to Deal with June, How a Xerox Machine Can Break, How to Tell the World You’re So in Love You’re Getting Married, How to Catch a Cheat Without Really Trying, How to Recover from Heartache by Trying Really Hard, How You Might Backslide, and How to Be Nice to Yourself.
The first chapter gives an introduction on the characters, situation and the setting of the story which is the wedding of the girl's friend on june. Basically, the division of the chapters tells the story of the lovers.

I kinda like this short story because while reading in the succeding chapters, there are problem and situations and in those chapters an advice from the author is displayed there. I think, this kind of reading is for matured people because in the story, foul language is present and adult situation is present like there is a scene there which I call "sex in the xerox machine"

This story is tells how to overcome your problems and do something so the same dillema or almost same one won't happen again to you. In this short story, Miko was having an affair with another girl. Karen, who is Miko's girlfriend and the one being cheated to is adviced on how to: know if her boyfriend is really cheating on her and also how to recover if Miko really did cheat on her. The advices are really "user friendly" which means that anyone can easily relate to the situation and for that, I think the author did a great job on giving advices and capturing attention of the readers.

Well, going back to the story, Karen discovered Miko was really cheating on her and naturally, she was really upset. Then, the author adviced many things on how to recover from her dillema. One of the many advices was to go and hang-out with friends at the mall because malling I think is like a girl thing and is usually is one of their many and favorite hobbies. When Karen does that, its as if she will temporary forget her depression and can be said as one of the steps to recovery. I think that will be a very effective thing for Karen.

The story is a “chick lit” reading because situations cited in the story can be said common. For me, I think this story is not most likely a short story but rather like a documentary because it studies and gives out lessons and descriptions etc.. To sum up, "Getting Better" is an article which tells us how to get better despite evrything.

Sweet Summer/The Marriage

For me, the story "sweet summer" is all about a boy and a girl where "puppy love" can be said as to be present. The two main characters there is frederick and sara. The day was cool and sunny where they enjoy each others company and the sweets like cloud9 and halls honey-lemon flavor but eventually their sweetness broke-up when Felix, the older brother of Frederick, came into the scene. For me, I think this short story is not very filipino, because upon reading this short story, I can't imagine filipino kids playing and eating candies, its like the picture of this scene is more like american kids. Also, for me, "puppy love" in us filipinos develop when we're a little older not this young because most kids I observed this days has their mind set on playing but as they move on with their life, I think love is becoming a part of them that they get involve in romantic relationships. I think nowadays, the representation of Felix symbolizes a man who has no commitment in romantic relationships and can also be considered as a "playboy" while his younger brother, frederick symbolizes a kid going to be that way because of his brother while sara can be said to be symbolizing innocent women victimized by these men. The next story "The Marriage" is like the continuation of the story because now, in this short story, we are now talking about marriage and can be said as to the next step of that "puppy love". The story started when the husband had a stroke and doesn't want to be dependent of her wife. Also, in this story, the term "predator" and "prey" can be seened and coined. For me, the lesson to be learned here is that sometimes, when your a predator or in other words, the dominant in your relationship, you have to be also a "prey" which means you must also give in to save your relationship or save your marriage. Marriage is a sacred sacrament which is rooted and composed of love and to have or give love means to also have sacrifice and for me, it is one of the important words to describe love-- Sacrifice because love is sacrifice. The husband is ussually the dominant and the wife is the inferior so sometimes, the husband must give in to the "prey" and let the "prey" become the "predator" to show and express love. In the story, the wife showed her love and compassion by being loyal to her husband despite his handicap instead of leaving him and finding a new spouse. For me, that is one of the most important elements of marriage, loyalty to your husband or wife because you have chosen that person and marriage is a forever commitment not a temporary one.

TALE OF THE SPINSTER AND THE PETER PAN

At first, when I read the story “TALE OF THE SPINSTER AND THE PETER PAN”, I was a bit confused because what would a spinster be doing with a peter pan character? At first also, I didn’t know what a spinster means so I consulted a dictionary then I knew that spinster mean the female counterpart of a bachelor. When I read and learned the life of the woman there, I was somehow, sorry for her life because it’s as if she was pushed through with her life, she’s like doing things which she is really not that happy about. It was mentioned there in her job, but then she decided to retire because she is already in her late forties. For me, its like her life is still colorless even after she retired in her job because she has this routine that she does over and over again. This includes going to this bar on Thursday’s during her vacant time and listening to soft music like “Smoke Gets in Your eyes” etc...

After only a few weeks, she was somehow startled because the usual music was now replaced by loud music that performs in the stage. At first, she was not into these kinds of music that she got and paid her bill and left the restaurant. Meanwhile, as she was more exposed every Thursdays into these kinds of music, she was starting to like it. Then she began to go every Thursday to listen and even have some favorites among their songs and she even admires one member of this band and finds him somewhat attractive. Every Thursday passed and she was there in that restaurant and even daydreams about that guy, that she even daydreams that she was with this guy, accompanying her, that serving her tea, no—coffee, she was happy that she still has that coffee. Now, for me, that was like an illusion and was a little funny for me because, when I imagine her imagining that imagination, she would somehow look “tulala” and I remember a former classmate of mine because he is “tulala” all the time and for me, he really looks silly..

Okay, going back to the short story, the woman was startled or a little surprised when that particular guy with whom she had an admiration on came up to her and confronted her as in talked to her like he said at first “hello” then he began to talk like “well, here I am” which in my point of view is very ‘mayabang’ to me because when he said that, its as if he was saying: “Baby, I know you like me so here I am and yours for the taking!”. It’s as if he was like too good! I can imagine the disappointment that woman felt when she heard that, she was really disappointed because all the admiration she had for that guy for the many Thursdays that had passed was suddenly gone for that particular Thursday.

The Corral/Magnificence

The story “The Corral” is about this girl who had two boys in, one was an ugly and insisted on courting her even if she didn’t like him and said she will eat her words, and the other guy whom she liked but did not end up with. I think the story is entitled “The Corral” because she is somewhat trapped in a world like the Corral literally. The corral is a structure that entraps fishes and other sea creatures in rivers, lakes and oceans. I think that the corral can be applies in real life because sometimes in your life, you are trapped with only a few choices to make and to pursue. But we also believe in the saying: “when there’s a will, there’s a way!” It teaches us that we should not give up on life. Life is full of challenges and we must use those challenges to get ahead of ourselves and to our own advantage! The second story which is entitled “Magnificence” by Estrella Alfon,

Love in the Cornhusks/The Virgin

The story “Love in the Cornhusks”, is another Filipino story for me because of the mentions of barrios and senyora.

The story’s setting was like in a barrio. There was a girl named Tinang who worked for a Señora. Tinang had a son with a bagobo which was described to have big ears because maybe because of the description native and ‘natives’ usually as we imagine it have big ears because its part of their genes. There were two people mentioned. Tinang’s past and first love Amado and Tinang’s present Inggo. Tinang and Amado were separated. Now, the reason why Tinang and Amado were separated was because Amado’s mother was sick and he had to go home to his place and take care of her. After that Tinang again was said again to be pregnant. After a while, Tinang was spwending her life with Inggo, she got a letter from the post office from Amado which was about Amado’s concern about his relationship with Tinang. While she was reading the letter, I was sick of the girl because Amado is her loved one but yet she left him for another guy and the baby she could be holding can be Inggo’s. For me, I believe that if you love a person, you can wait for him provided the time is not forever and communication is still possible. Love is a sacred word for me that I only say “I Love You” to a person I really love because nowadays from my own experience, that “I love you” is a common term and laughed or even joked about and it makes me sick reading the story of this character tinang.I notice in the story that maybe the author was trying to point out how girls think, very unpredictable and constantly changing, like when Tinang was reading Amado’s letter to her, it seemed like she wanted to go back to him.
Next story,”The Virgin” by Kerima Polotan. For me the story was Filipino in a way as stated in the story that Ms Mijares takes care of her mother which usually happens here in the Philippines and not like in other countries like USA where people just leave their parents in Nursing homes like “Home for the aged”. The story is quite long and for me, it’s just like another day in a person’s life which makes me yawn and wish to our professor that please ma’am give as another story rather than this. This is so ordinary that it’s quite dull.

Bread of Salt/May day Eve

The short story “Bread of Salt” is indeed very Filipino. For us, Filipinos we, people start our day really early, like in the short story the boy wakes up early to buy bread specifically “pandsesal” from the bakery. There are two types of family, one is a family living with a lolo and lola and the other one is that lolos and lolas live in the “Home for the aged”, a typical Filipino home would be composed of grandparents because fathers and mothers trust them to take care of their children and give them advice if ever something goes wrong and that situation as present in the story which makes me really conclude that this is indeed a Filipino story. I can’t imagine that in other countries, people would send their fathers and mothers in a place called “Home for the aged” when they are old ands break stuff like plates, vases, etc... I mean, haven’t they got a gratitude for these olds people who raised them up when they were young?! Honestly, I was really confused why the story was entitled “Bread of Salt”, I mean, the bread there wasn’t really that significant. There was a part there in the story that I can considered funny for me, it is the part when every morning, the boy would follow his crush in the same path when he would go to school. It’s funny for me because when you’re talking those kinds of story for me, I’m imagining a little stalker, stalking a girl. Ha-ha! The ending for me was like there is no life, it’s like, okay, its the ending, no funny noises, no fireworks, no kiss for the main character from the girl, no fancy ending, juts a small mystery or blank space that you can imagine what would probably happen next or an ending of your own to imagine.


The next story “May day Eve” wasn’t like pretty boring for me. The story was complicated and had a deeper meaning of you look more into it. I only know that the “devil” that was reffered in the mirror that Ageda was talking about was actually not really a devil but Badoy and the witch that Badoy. The grandson is actually the grandson of Badoy and Ageda. I think that the story wants to show internal conflicts in the family. I really didn’t like the story May day Eve

The Mats/Divide By Two

The Mats by Francisco Arcellana, for me, was at first a Filipino story because of the “pasalubong”, in the first part, it was stated there “For the Angeles family, Mr. Angeles'; homecoming from his periodic inspection trips was always an occasion for celebration. But his homecoming--from a trip to the South--was fated to be more memorable than, say, of the others.

He had written from Mariveles: "I have just met a marvelous matweaver--a real artist--and I shall have a surprise for you. I asked him to weave a sleeping-mat for every one of the family. He is using many different colors and for each mat the dominant color is that of our respective birthstones. I am sure that the children will be very pleased. I know you will be. I can hardly wait to show them to you."”, Now this line in “The Mats” kinda reminds me of my own father because my dad would often bring home a pasalubong almost every night back when I was still a kid. In the story, the “pasalubong” was obviously the mats and bringing home a “pasalubong” was a Filipino attribute which henceforth gives me to my opinion that this story indeed is a Filipino one.

Now in this line: “Yes, Emilia," said Mr. Angeles, "There are three more mats to unfold. The others who aren't here..."

Nana Emilia caught her breath; there was a swift constriction in her throat; her face paled and she could not say anything.

The self-centered talk of the children also died. There was a silence as Mr. Angeles picked up the first of the remaining mats and began slowly unfolding it.

The mat was almost as austere in design as Mr. Angeles' own, and it had a name. There was no symbol or device above the name; only a blank space, emptiness.” I wasn’t first sure of why there were three more mats but then I saw in the ending in this line: ” "Do you think I'd forgotten? Do you think I had forgotten them? Do you think I could forget them?

"This is for you, Josefina!

"And this is for you, Victoria!

"And this is for you, Concepcion."

Mr. Angeles called the names rather than uttered them.

"Don't, Jaime, please don't," was all that Nana Emilia managed to say.

"Is it fair to forget them? Would it be just to disregard them?" Mr. Angeles demanded rather than asked.

His voice had risen shrill, almost hysterical; it was also stern and sad, and somehow vindictive. Mr. Angeles had spoken almost as if he were a stranger.

Also, he had spoken as if from a deep, grudgingly-silent, long-bewildered sorrow.” That the extra mats were for their dead children and the mother and the father were really sad in losing their children.



The second story, before was entitled “Divide by Two” which is quite confusing for me maybe because of its title: “Divide by Two”. Now this is a weird story because for mew, I think this story is like a normal story which happens in everyone’s life. “Panloloko” usually happens in anyone. In this story, a neighbor fools someone in dividing the property. I don’t like the story because it’s like more of a documentary than a story.

The Two Filipino Stories

First of all, I think that this story by carlos bulosan's which is entitled "My Father Goes to Court" is pretty much plain and simple. Its composition and choice of words can be comprehensible by almost anyone that's why I would say I'm thankful that it's really not that hard. His story by the way shows about filipino people, their culture, traits.. Example in the story is that the filipinos there can laugh about their problems, the father in the story their is faced in the trial in the court but still can show a sense of humour. For me, I think that's good because when you have a problem, the tendency is for you to get depressed and feel really upset but if you just feel good about yourself like laugh or do something comfortable, the tendency is for you to be able to think of a solution to your current problem or problems. Our current proffessor also tells us of this filipino trait that we can laugh at our problems and that among the other nationalities like americans, japanese, germans; we alone can do that of possessing that sense of humor. For me, I think that carlos bulosan did a good job in describing and telling a story in his short story.

Moving on, there is also a second story which is entitled "How my Brother Leon brought home a wife" by Manuel Arguilla. I think this story is a good one and can be said also a Filipino. Now this story also can be said as describing filipino cultures like traditions and filipino women. This story takes place in a bukid whre people would usually ride in carabaos and stuffs like that but that was a long time ago and today only a few people can be seen in an area like that. In this story, this woman who will be Leon's wife was given a description physically and also her attitude as a "mahinhin" and conservative which would probably describe filipinas a long time ago. I would agree with that because from what I am seeing right now, that is true and it would be rare to see conservative women that was described in the story. Overall, For me, amobng the two stories, I would prefer "My Father Goes to Court because it is quite funny and would probably describe my character. That would be all, thank you for reading my blog.

All about Me

I am Mark Anthony Rocafort. I am 18 years old and I live in Laguna BelAir1, Sta. Rosa, Laguna. I am currently taking up BS-Information Management at De Lasalle-Canlubang in my second year at third term. When I graduate, I wanna work abroad and setup my own business there. My name 'Mark' came from the month I was born which is March and 'Anthony' came from 'Antonio' which is the name of my father. My mother is Jocelyn Rocafort. My religion is Roman Catholic. My hobbies are playing computer games such as on-line and LAN games, going out with my barkada, texting, surfing the net, watching tv and movies and I also like reading Greek Mythology books. Sometimes, people would tend to say that I am 'suplado' because I'm not very friendly and I dont usually socialize. The reason behind that is I am just shy, I get nervous on the reaction on what other people would think and say about me. Basically, I am just a simple type of person and a transparent one because what you see is what you get on me. I am a filipino, and for me, I am glad and proud to be who I am. I belive we filipinos are smart, innovative and hospitable. We have the blood of heroes in our blood. We the filipinos live in the Philippines who is rich in natural resources but I doubt that still applies today because many filipinos are being greedy, they want and they want and they want more and more. It would be possible in the near future that in a few year's time, all of our resources will be depleted. Maybe, that is one of the many reasons that most people would reather seek greener fields in other countries than invest their money, talent and time in our own country that's why we lack many things in our country. Some of the problems in our country include our current political crisis which include the wire tape conversation of our President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Comelec commissioner Virgillo Garcillano which resulted in a very big loss of trust from the filipino people. Another problem is the implimentation of that E-VAT law which resulted in a boost of the national prices of foods, gasoline, transportation and many more which really contributes a big poverty to our country. The Last example that I can give is the poor performance of the Peso versus Dollar which now is making doubts on foreign investors from investing in our country.