Not For Sale

I FEEL SO WEAK...

My eyes are watery; my body is aching; I feel defeated.

I just finished reading a friend's short story. It reminded me a lot of Saw - the brutality of it. But he is just a kid. A lot of things is to learn from the story, I just hope it's not happening in reality.

I like the way it was written. From a third person point of view, a narration is made. Not the usual narration I read that describes the scenario, a narration that seems to tell the character what to do. It's new to me. It's the first that I encountered one, I believe.

Poor Boy's Pain is really painful. As I was in the middle, I cannot continue reading anymore. What pushed me and kept me going on is my determination to see how it will end. I'm glad to say I found hope. I was happy that he was able to come to his senses. No matter what happens, it is your family that's your starting point, and no matter where you are, you can always return to your home base.

Philippines is a country wherein poverty is an issue. I am thankful that my family is not poor, and equally not rich. We're just in the middle, average. In spite of that, it is unavoidable that there are times when I myself experience poverty in this family. Having no money is very difficult, it immobilized me. I cannot move because I cannot go some place else, I can even buy neither what I need nor what I want.

His case, of course, is a lot worse than mine. He's not properly educated so he doesn't have enough knowledge of how other people are capable of using the likes of him. He took the bait because after all of his experiences in that tunnel, he longed to taste a good life. He kept his dignity, I liked it. But it seems that he was inconsistent of being a good child when he decided not to go back to his family and do whatever it takes to stay in that luxurious room. His charge were fingernails, hair, skin, and eyeballs to be able to stay there.

The ending was very smart and turning. The character I knew from the beginning of the story has finally returned, and he realized that despite a lot of hunger and pain, he is not for sale.

We Will Survive

"French films are not commonly recognized."

This is some of Mr. Martin Macalintal's words before the movie was played. He is from the Embassy of France to the Philippines who accompanied Director Stephane Rybojad to promote the film in SM Mall of Asia.

Special Forces is a film about a French journalist who was kidnapped in Afghanistan.*  The word journalist is present, but the story is mainly about the special forces, a military team sent out to rescue Elsa and return her safely to her land.

Some brutality were depicted. There were murders. Those scenes reminded me of Maguindanao Massacre. It was so cruel. That's one reason I felt some tears around my eyes. But, primarily, all was because of those men who gave themselves willingly to distract or hold the enemy off for the safety of the others.

I have friends who are taking AB Journalism. I was with one when I watched the film. We can relate to all that has happened in the movie because we are aware that it is part of life in media. Only two were left on my batch in Lyceum. Unlike in first year, second year, and fourth year college. They are also few. But compared to our batch, it is considered plenty. It may somehow be recognized as the normal count because only a few take Journalism in LPU. I salute those who choose to take and stay in Journalism.

From a viewpoint of someone who watched for appreciation, I always admire how courageous journalists are to pursue the truth. I will never wish, or even think, that the main character will die in the end. The movie was also her story. Moreover, if she died, everything those soldiers did will be for nothing.

From a stand of someone who watched to critique the camera angles and shots and those alike, I'm sorry to disappoint you, I did not care. I did not take mental notes. After learning all those stuff in production classes, my friends and I looked, from that moment on, at how every scene is executed, how the scene was shown, etc. But I believe, they are not always to be applied, most especially when one merely watches for the sake of entertainment. For this film, I was more after what would happen next because of the action and the drama than all the preparation done for the movie.

Those soldiers made a lot of sacrifices, even at the cost of their lives, just to fulfill their duty. They know what they've signed up for when they decided to join.

That's why I, as well, will not shift on any other courses. I know that there are some dangers attached to the career I've chosen to pursue, but this is my choice. This is what I want. This was given to me. I will not back down; I will not quit. I know what I've signed up for.

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*http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1656192/