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Dubiety (Sana Dati: Movie Review)

Mark Yhasua D. Manalang

Sana Dati (If Only) is a Filipino movie released last July 27, 2013 under Cinemalaya and made public on September 25, 2013. It is a 2013 Filipino romantic movie specifically for failed romantic stories. It is about a woman who wants to thwart her wedding because of a mysterious guy who showed up and bring her back the love she felt some time ago. This movie creates a massive view in what a true love means – are you going to sacrifice your heart and happiness in the name of your family or you will choose to stand and fight for the thing you’d really want to do. This movie was directed and written by Jerrold Tarog a Filipino film director, screenwriter, producer, editor, and composer. It was produced by Jose Mari Abacan, Daphne Chiu and Jerrold Tarog under the production of Cinemalaya with the help of the Metric Films. The film features an ensemble cast led by Paulo avelino as Dennis the videographer, Lovie Poe as Andrea the bride, Benjamin Alves as Andrew – Andrea’s ex-lover and TJ Trinidad as Robert the groom. Jerrold Tarog’s Sana Dati is considered as one of his “camera trilogy” as they used the fundamental device which is the camera. It is believed that it is the final chapter of his trilogy. The said trilogy are the Confessional (2007) which used a substantial video camera in the whole movie; the second one is Mangatyanan (2009) which the story focuses on a photographer and the third one is Sana Dati (2013) wherein the flow of the story was supported by a videographer. Sana Dati competed in the prestigious Cinemalaya Festival and gathered enthusiastic awards such as the Best film and other technical awards.

There was a girl named Andrea (Lovi Poe)  who is ready to take the biggest event of her life which is her wedding ceremony but a mysterious guy named Dennis (Paulo Avelino) came as a videographer and the situation torn out because suddenly Andrea has been reminded of the man she really love. The movie started with a flashback showing how Andrea is very happy with Andrew (Benjamin Alves) inside the newly valued place for Andrea’s dream flower shop, it becomes greater when Andrea found a ring inside a flower vase at the top of the table as a sign of proposal but things changes, the man she’s going to marry is not Andrew but Robert (TJ Trinidad) a failed politician-turned-businessman and came from an authoritative family. The wedding will start at exactly 5:00 in the afternoon but the shoes of Andrea left at their home so her younger sister needs to go back and get the shoes. When Andrea and Dennis met, Andrea felt like she is connected to him at some point. As Dennis is the videographer, he is the one who will conduct the interview of the bride and groom and other people related to them. When Dennis interrogates her he tried to make her confess if she really loves Robert. She answers the question with lies because Andrea doesn’t really love Robert; it is just unrequited love with ambiguity. Along the interview, Andrea discovered that Dennis is the brother of Andrew and that made her lonely as she remembered the time when she experienced the real happiness and abundance of love with Andrew. Dennis saw Andrea holding the camera while crying. They decided to go and talk in the rooftop. When the wedding is about to start in a minute, they can’t find Andrea, they can’t help the situation but to freak out but they didn’t because it is a shame if the guests find out that Andrea may be a run-away bride. While the people are busy searching for Andrea, Dennis tell Andrea the reason why he appeared in her wedding, it’s because he wants to know if his brother died peacefully and happy. Along their conversation, flashbacks are happening in Andrea’s point of view. The time is running out, it’s already 5:00 in the afternoon but there’s no sign of Andrea, they continue to search for her while her sister found out everything about Andrew and Andrea’s secret relationship before. Andrea can’t help herself but to reminisce all the time she had with Andrew before he died. On the other side of the story, Robert is still nervous about what is happening, he’s already in the situation thinking whether the wedding will be canceled or not. But luckily, while Robert is going downstairs he realized that Andrea might be in the rooftop so he goes there and found out that Andrea is really there but of course Dennis hide. The wedding kept on going as Andrea used the doll shoes she was wearing before Robert died. Andrea leaves a message to Dennis saying “After ng reception, takas tayo” but Dennis chose not to follow what’s in the note. Andrea was left crying in the kitchen with no choices but to accept the fact that there’s no escape in reality. In the end, Andrea decided to move on and prior to that, she visited the grave of Andrew and left the box of memories and the ring. Her husband Robert fetches her in the cemetery and she was shocked as Robert knows everything about Andrew. At last, on their way home, Andrea said “I Love You” to Robert as a sign of making their relationship work.

Characters play the biggest role in a movie, without them a movie will be tedious – it will be worthless. Jerrold Tarog developed an ensemble cast to portray the different role in his movie which is Sana Dati. The suitable chosen characters have different acting style and superb skills that gives a captivating performance. Lovi Poe as Andrea Gonzaga delivers excellent acting skills as she can mix her emotions effectively. Paulo Avelino portrays the role of Dennis Cesario with undying skills as he shows his tremendous love for his deceased brother. Benjamin Alves as Andrew Cesario, delivers naturally the emotions and dialogues of his character and show perfectly how she is inlove with Andrea – the way he look at her, his genuine smile and his truthfulness gives a major impact.  TJ Trinidad as Robert Naval shows sincerity in portraying the given role, he succeeded in executing how devastated and confound he is when they can’t find Andrea.

Sana Dati is very different to other movies as it depicts the essence of true love which mesmerizes the viewers and fall in love with the movie. Unlike other movies which talk about regrets, mistresses, cliché love stories, and such – this movie is simple yet meaningful and heartwarming. The thing that I don’t like in the movie is the timeline, there are some circumstances that I get confused whether it’s flashback or not.

The lesson that I learned from the movie is that life is full of options, but we are the beholder of our own choices. Thus, the more we are uncertain about such decisions, the more we are prone to complications.

Nowadays, some Filipino movies are unnoticed because some people think that it’s some kind of cheesy movie. But at some point, Sana Dati is a highly recommended movie of all time. The group of people who would watch this movie is the ones with an open minded personality. Out of 10 and 10 is being the highest I would rate it perfect score as it gives me convenience and gratifying feeling.

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Beauty Behind Death

by Mark Yhasua Manalang

There are times that you knew you're falling,

When you choose dying rather than staying.

But one day you'll pass away;

And have nothing to say -

You'll be stuck in a dark place

Because you already finished playing your ace.

Every person is meant to die;

It's the truth and not a lie.

Saying goodbye to all the kisses,

While your vision is falling into pieces.

There will be fingers engulfed to your neck -

Like a rope pulling your life out of the deck.

When your breathing has ended,

You'll find another thing to mend.

You won't feel the heaviness of your hands

Because the pain will going to end.

Problems will no longer exist

As we go and rest in peace.

Death is just the beginning -

The beginning of everything.

Afraid not to die;

Because its really not a goodbye.

Just close your eyes

And your soul will freely fly up above the sky.

We're all blessed because we're given a life to spend;

So let's just enjoy our life until the end.

But when the reality calls,

Just let yourself be fall.

Experience the everlasting beauty of life;

While walking in what they called PARADISE.

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Fake News: Disturbing the World

Through the years, many people spread news: legitimately or illegitimately. Fake news contains fake information or hoaxes that emerge through the new media, printed materials, and broadcast or in a media convergence. Fake news is made intentionally to damage a person or a thing to make them either good or bad in others mind. Sometimes it is used for the own sake of the writer to gain attention, fame and money. Fake news is a dishonest course, fraudulent action and fabrication of files or story. It is a crime.

In the Philippines, a law was made to penalize the one who make and spread fake news. It is called the Anti-Fake News Act of 2017. According to SB no. 1492 of 2017 this bill seeks to penalize any person who maliciously offer, publish, distribute, circulate and spread false news or information and cause the publication, distribution or spreading of the fake news in print, broadcast or online. Even there’s a law, people are still spreading fake news especially today – Information Age; with just a click news will spread rapidly. The hands of the future lays on our hand but people still tolerate this kind of act; they let themselves destroy the world. What is the use of a law if it will not be followed?

The world is a small place that runs by the humane society; we should all know the limitations of everything because it disturbs all of us if something is wrong in our society. It gives a big impact in our society from the smallest thing to the biggest one if a person will spread hoax news and believe by many people. Behind all of this we should be a critical thinker in order not to be cheated or look naive in everything. We should investigate and seek for more information because how can we even judge an article if we do not go and search for more information to check if an article is legitimate or not. Be wise enough and expound your wisdom.

Source:

ASEANLIP (2017) Bill of the Anti-Fake News Act 2017 retrieve from https://www.aseanlip.com/philippines/ip/legislation/bill-of-the-antifake-news-act-of-2017/AL18286

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John 3:16 (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.