Why You Need See CULION This MMFF 2019

The weekend was an awesome one (Dec 14th) as we got to finally see the film CULION. We were all where it all was shot and taken, in the island of Culion, Palawan which is an isle off the west side of the Philippines. It was their world premiere, and yes, it was a grand promise to bring it there and have them all watch it. It was almost impossible to do, but they knew (the production) had to do it for the people of Culion. I saw how they intently watched and marveled how their story was unfolding. It felt right, to tell the public of their history, of what transpired during the commonwealth, the world war and how they all survived even under very hard times, not to mention the condition... of which everyone else despised during that time.

Anna, Ditas and Doris (played by Iza Calzado, Meryll Soriano and Jasmine Curtis) each have their own story. In the film, Anna was depicted as a strong woman, one who need no man to support her even though she was loved much by Kanor played by Joem Bascon. You will admire her character for most of the “first half” of the film, but later feel for her and her struggles as she gets distraught over her baby and what would happen to them. Ditas on the other hand would be seen attempting to take her life several times (because of sheer hopelessness in love, and the man in her life) but with all the nice things she’s brought to the lives of her friends and herself in the colony, she would regain hope, and start to appreciate the small things around her. Meryll Soriano is a discovery for me, I have seen her TV stints and didn’t quite expect she’d be doing the things she did in this movie. I almost lost my breath understanding one of the highlights of the film. I am saying right here, that the few minutes with John Lloyd Cruz’ character was one of the reasons everybody balled during the world premiere last weekend, with good reason. If you’re a fan of his work, this would be good reason why you should watch it. I couldn’t believe how he could tell his whole story in one scene, you will go crazy just thinking about it.

Meryll on the other hand held her ground, when John Lloyd did his scene, she reciprocated with her own brand of acting, both of which will make your jaw drop. You will ask yourself “WTFOMGBBQ did I just witness?!” and admit “I am not worthy to witness that!”, and I... am not even joking.

Make sure you also take note, not surprising she’s really good, Iza Calzado had some really hard scenes with Joem Bascon and Suzette Ranillo (who plays Nanay Mameng), as they will have to go through a very traumatic experience as they started to have a family in Culion. I couldn’t say much with Jasmine Curtis’ character but hold your horses as she will be shocking you (my heart dropped in one of the scenes), but she’s the hopeful one, one who dreams, and might liken a lot of people going through the same ordeal. Pretty mental, as her scenes felt like a few of Ricky Lee’s masterpiece put together, and I think they have a connection in some weird way but you have to be a judge of that.

Here’s our short trip to the island, enjoy!

If you were there during the world premiere in Culion, you would see how attentive, hopeful and proud they were seeing this film in the Immaculate Conception Church in Culion. I saw a lot of them cried, laughed a little, and felt this was a good representation of who they are as people. Now, what a proud moment for them to be from Culion.

All in all, this deserves your attention during the Metro Manila Festival. Watch it to learn about history, watch it to see the triumph of generations who have lived and experienced the colony. Watch it for the sole reason of love, for the children, for each other, and see miracles of humanity in it. It will all be seen on theaters nationwide starting December 25, Christmas Day. Go prepare yourself for a rollercoaster of emotions. Take your family into learning the history of Culion, and the love that comes from its people.

Jasmine Curtis, Myke Liwag and Nico Locco for CULION

Spent the morning at Black Maria Pictures for the private screening of Culion. The movie is set to impress audiences this coming December 25 as part of the Metro Manila Film Festival. Before we watched the film, we got to talk to Jasmine Curtis, Mike Liwag and Nico Locco who are also part of the film. These three had their own character conflicts, one that will shock you on cinemas because yes, it is worthy to find out this MMFF season (let's not spoil it for the others). For starters, they're like an unlikely love triangle which I think is going to stir things in the lives of the three women, and their community.

Jasmine says "I am already happpy just to be in the ranks of actors who have done so much great work in the industry. I already felt good making it with top caliber actresses. I am more in indie, not loud on TV, low key, simple and happy that I am working with those who I were all just watching on screen. I wanted to work with Iza and Meryll and it already happened. We got along real good, it was just a dream to do this and I was inspired to share the same work ethics and enjoy it. We had the same mindset at work, and it's good."

Nico Locco, who recently won Best Actor at the Gawad Sining Film Festival adds "The difference between this and my Sabado film is the character, a little similar, but unique as I didn't know anything about it at first. My role in Sabado is interesting but Culion has historical drama, I had to do a different preparation for it."

Mike Liwag says "Physically, mentally it is a challenge, I haven't tackled anything of this magnitude and I am excited to watch it come gala night together with my parents. I hope they would be proud of me."

Here is our short interview with them before the screening.

Direk Alvin Yapan will be entering this to other film festivals but will probably enter a different version than this commercial release. It will run around 2 hours, I'll have a separate article for the review and a short feature on Mike Liwag. Stay tuned! Make sure you make this a part of your MMFF list this Christmas day!

Ruru Madrid and Jasmine Curtis for Cara x Jagger

I have been hearing about Cara x Jagger since early last month and I'm a little excited for my boy Ruru Madrid. I think it's high time the spotlight shines on him and this new play on partnerships with Jasmine Curtis. This is under APT Entertainment and Cignal Entertainment, and is a mainstream movie. One asks, who is Cara and Jagger?

They are lovers, but set in a different situation. It is character centric, not fortelling how love should be, but making it as hurtful as this, may spell that it's numb or being a martyr, but really, how would you stay in a relationship that is bound to fail?

Jasmine says "This is for the ones who choose to love, to those who don't know what to do on moments you're already hurting someone. Who knows, you may end up as close friends, or spark a second chance. Ruru says he got intimidated with me but we both overcame it and there is a level of comfort how he moves now. We have familiarity." 

Ruru says "Sometimes relationships fail, but it doesn't mean you don't have to go through the experience to get over it. You need to love, we understand who Cara and Jagger is, for me, the script is good and Jasmine and I helped each other executing lines, even connecting our personal experiences, our past, the gravity of it. You choose the similar pain even if you haven't gone through it yet. I didn't know in the beginning how I would approach her and did research, we both did. It helped when we did the workshop because she gave me her trust, that I think made it easy."

Here's part of the blogcon on video:

Cara x Jagger is gonna be shown in Cinemas this November 6, so if you're in love or not, go watch it on theaters.