Why we should be grateful (even if we're not part of Obama's America)

If anything, the year that looms as 2009 is proving to be awful. Worse, it’s looking to be quite dull. But let’s not be too cynical lest we be drafted into the Landmark Forum. Let’s take stock and find things we’re grateful for — hell, why don’t we make a list. That’s always fun, isn’t it?

The following is a hodge-podge of what we’re grateful for. There seemed no point in trying to segregate people, music, films or just things that made living today an easier pill to swallow. (Still, it was really bitter one at that.) It’s all here, listed in no particular order and no special reason but for the fact that we like ‘em. (If you disagree, get your own column.)

1. The Fabulous Bembol Rockers. Rockbilly, Jump Blues, Swing… but with Pinoy flair! This four-piece combo plays not merely to nostalgia but offers a jive alternative to our ears. Their debut album cannot be recommended highly enough. The tracks sung in Tagalog are already well worth the price tag.

2. Ramon Bautista. This column’s Man of the Year for 2008. If anything the only celebrity that was worth anything. We’d rather see his face or his half-naked torso on a billboard than KC Concepcion or any stud anytime. 

3. Yanggaw. In our opinion, the best movie we’ve seen this year. Director Richard Somes is capable of telling a story well but at the same time displays an artistry that’s been lacking in even the most acclaimed art-house fare. Terrifying, intelligent, entertaining cinema.

4. Para Kay B (O Kung Paano Dinevestate Ng Pag-Ibig Ang 4 Out Of 5 Sa Atin) by Ricky Lee. The author has said in interviews that before he starts writing he commits a form of “suicide,” meaning that he kills his ego and gives it all to his characters, his story. This, his first novel, demonstrates what he means. Lee doesn’t hold back and literally disappears into the personas that people his book, no matter how petty or schmaltzy they want to be. An enjoyable read that demonstrates the intelligent novel is still capable of being a popular medium.

5. TV shows like Rakista and Project Runway Philippines. Okay, this writer was involved with both. (Believe me, there’s more I was involved with I wouldn’t care to mention.) But the success of both shows can be attributed to the creative minds behind both shows, i.e. Quark Henares and Marie Jamora, respectively. (All of the failures can be blamed on everybody else — including me.) The two directors showed that with enough creative vision and just enough stomach to push on through, local TV doesn’t have to be so dreary. Kudos as well to the cast and stars of both shows, namely Wincy Ong, Pontri, the Cubao X art zombies of Rakista and Jojie Lloren, Apples Aberin-Sadhwani, Rajo Laurel and the lovely Teresa Herrera for Project Runway.

6. Soledad’s Sister by Butch Dalisay. In our opinion, one of the best Filipino novels to have come out in the last decade and certainly one of the few works of local fiction that will still be read in the future. Why? It relies not on literary trends or anything too clever (or postmodern), rather just on the pure brilliance of Dalisay’s writing. Short-listed for the Man Asian Literary Prize two years ago, it needs no accolades from anywhere to convince local readers of its worth. In fact, all you need to do is read the first page…

7. Storyline. Probably the best program on TV now, this documentary-series by Patricia Evangelista and Paolo Villaluna is welcome for its sober approach to its filmmaking and presentation. It allows its characters to tell their stories without having to extraneously graft on the “woo-woo, har-har, bang-bang” of most local television. Storyline is entertaining, but with bite. Intelligent without being pedantic. It’s surely not to be missed.

8. TrashRadio Manila. Never mind what we say; just tune in to http://trashradiomanila.blogspot.com. For true music lovers only.

9. Certain songs such as… Line Drawings by Sandwich, Wow Kalabaw by Markus Highway, Bloodletting by Drip, Solitary North Star by The Camerawalls, Throw Them All Away by Throw, Blunt Force Trauma by Intolerant, Monobloc by Pupil, Condemning Deliverance by L.O.C., Bench Talk by Skarm, My Emptiness by Ciudad, Gunita ni David Lynch by The Late Great Wincy Ong (or Sven)…

10. Martial Law Babies by Arnold Arre. Heartbreaking, virtuosic stuff. If there was any question about the state of local comics this answers it with not so much a punch but an embrace. Arre is certainly one of the country’s foremost storytellers, capable of stirring the intellect as much as the emotions.