The good side, the bad side of being Pinoy

It’s around this time of the year when anyone who has anything to do with the Metro Manila Film Festival is at his busiest. Actually it is the screening of entries that is most laborious.

In the ‘90s, I was part of the board of jurors and the biggest sacrifice I had to make was traveling to the screening venue — in that tiny private screening room in the old, old Greenbelt. Well, you know Makati — Christmas or no Christmas, traffic is always bad there and I remember how I always had to abandon my vehicle somewhere in Makati Avenue and run across Greenbelt Park just to be able to make it to the screening of the first movie for the day (we would take in three a day).

Since my life is always put on hold during the filmfest season, I’ve learned how to start my Christmas shopping only on Dec. 23 (last day of screening) and finish the chore in one evening. On years I had to host the Parade of Stars on Dec. 24, I don’t get to feel the Christmas spirit until the day of Christmas itself.

Eventually, I decided to give up my seat in the board of jurors and finally learned to appreciate the holidays — until the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB), came along and I was back to the same old grind.

The CEB screenings are now held at the very comfy private screening room of My Cinema of Greenbelt 3. With all the filmfest entries being submitted to the board, we practically live in Makati starting second week of December and bear with traffic every day. Most unforgettable was the time when traffic got so bad, I jumped out of the car at the corner of EDSA and Ayala Avenue and jogged from the Hotel Intercontinental all the way to Greenbelt.

The CEB screenings of the filmfest entries have already started and first to go was Katas ng Saudi and as we say it in the vernacular, “magandang buena mano” because it was graded A.

As you all know by now, Katas ng Saudi is a film by Jose Javier Reyes about how an OFW (played by Jinggoy Estrada) has difficulty adjusting to his family after years of being separated from them. I’m sharing with you some of the comments of the CEB members (with Christine Dayrit as chairperson) and why the film got an A.

First of all, Katas ng Saudi is technically well-crafted, which is a big plus point. More important, it has “an excellent script — with the dialogues so real.” The screenplay (also by Jose Javier Reyes) — one CEB member writes — “is an accurate reflection of the present situation of most overseas Filipino workers.”

Here are the other comments about the film:

“A revealing slice of life told with simplicity and truth.”

“A realistic portrayal of Filipino familial relationships.”

“It truthfully shows what is good and what is bad about the Pinoy.”

As to the performances, of course, nobody was surprised anymore that drama queen Lorna Tolentino (as Jinggoy’s wife) is again brilliant. One CEB member, in fact, comments: “Lorna’s performance is admirably sensitive.”

The CEB members, however, note that Jinggoy Estrada is at his best.” For one, he fits the role and is right for the part.

Other comments regarding Jinggoy:

“Jinggoy is very effective in his role as an OFW and father who tries to please his family. He has great rapport with Lorna Tolentino.”

“Jinggoy is not only competent, but also very convincinng in his role as an OFW.”

“Jinggoy’s performance is engaging.”

Jinggoy as Metro Manila Film Festival best actor? If he wins, this isn’t exactly his first acting award. He already won a FAMAS Best Supporting Actor for one of his films in the past (I just don’t remember the title anymore). However, it’s too early to do a forecast because there’s still Christopher de Leon’s performance to consider in Banal. And who know if Ryan Agoncillo would pull a surprise in Sakal, Sakali Saklolo? After all, there’s nothing like a daily soap opera (in Ryan’s case — Ysabella) to hone one’s acting skills.

Besides, it’s not the CEB members who will select the filmfest winners (what a relief!), but a separate body appointed by the Metro Manila Film Festival committee (although some CEB members I understand are crossing over).

At this point, the CEB members are just too happy that we’re off to a good start — with the first film for review meriting an A grade no less. This year won’t be insufferable after all. Just keep the good films comin’.