Performers during the opening rites of the 7th Cinemalaya Film Festival (Marlo Cueto, NPPA Images)

But what was even all the more interesting was on that same weekend Cinemalaya 7 opened at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and was drawing record crowds.  Despite the juggernaut of diehard fans and cult followers of wizards and special effects, the humble productions of the independent cinema of the country enticed audiences of astounding numbers to flock all the way to Roxas Boulevard, line up for hours and devour the wide array of film offerings the program had on its menu this year.

Of course there will be those who will say that there is a select crowd for indie movies.  There are even those who mistake indies for pink cinema

Yeng Constantino: Hope for OPM? (Jerome Ascano, NPPA Images)

But that's all right.  This is a marked improvement from "Teenage Dream" that was looped in my medulla oblongata for the longest time, playing the same bridge over and over and over again ("Let's go all the way tonight … No regrets, just love …:").  I am happy that I am fixated to a local song … something that has not happened since I kept playing Kamikazee's "Narda" over and over and over again.  And how many years ago was that?

Which brings me to the whole point of this exercise: we are not fixating on local songs because there aren't all that many going around any more. Look, I am not even going to consider cover versions because … uhm,  I personally

The ANC interview that sparked a maelstrom (ANC video grab)

Suddenly the internet was ablaze with expressions of shock and indignation.  How could this upstart be so callous, insensitive and brazen in delivering such condescending statements with his cono boy demeanor?

After all, to say that indie filmmakers preferred actors from the legitimate stage because they could be fed crackers and cat food without complaint while crying on cue --- was not only be demeaning but downright insulting.

How he said it

But wait: the problem was not really with what he said --- but how he said it. After reviewing the clip posted on YouTube and replicated on various pages of Facebook, one could see where he was really coming from and what the young man was trying to do.

Yes, it was a left-handed complement.  What he really wanted to say was that theater actors do not pose the same quirky diva behavior as some mainstream performers whose pag-iinarte

"Honestly, just how do you guys think you can survive this?"

That was the comment given by one of my friends as we stood by the overcrowded lobby of a cineplex in a popular mall in the Metro.  A kilometric queue twists and turns leading to the windows that sell tickets to the movies showing. Out of eight movie houses, only one is relegated to a Filipino commercial film. One of the four cinemas assigned to the biggest blockbuster opening for that week offers the feature on 3D costing P300.00 per ticket.

"Do Filipino producers still believe that they can compete with Hollywood blockbusters considering the audience pays the same amount for a seat? Considering that the Hollywood films do not only look better and bigger but also have state-of-the-art visual effects and sound technology, do you guys still think you stand a chance?"

I said that once in a while we still hit the jackpot.   Chances are high if the movie starred Sarah Geronimo and/or John Lloyd Cruz.   Maybe every December three

Xyriel Manabat in '100 Days to Heaven' (Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN)

After the audience has somewhat become pre-conditioned or resigned to endless updated versions, adaptations and revivals of old shows and Koreanovelas, two shows have proven themselves to be such outstanding surprises.  No, they are not marvels of innovation but still what is important is that they prove to be fresh in the eyes and mind of the television viewer as well as a welcome proof of an effort to improve quality in production.

"100 Days to Heaven" has nothing earthshaking about it.  Right from the start, you already know how this series will end.  The journey of a soul sent back to earth to find redemption has been done a dozen times over.  But that does not mean that it cannot be executed with a sense of newness.  It is the simplicity and predictability of

After years of sparkling as one of the most brilliant lights to illuminate an overcrowded heaven, this star has plunged into depression, cut off everybody around her and gone astray.  Whereas before the mere inclusion of that name brought in the crowds to queue at the box office, now the star has been relegated to pop history, viewed in retrospect with amusement in CinemaOne and other all-Filipino cable channels.

The name is recognizable but no longer marketable.  The movie producers have all shied away (because they prefer the much younger stars in their stable of talents).  The television offers have disappeared.  And even the endorsements are few and far in between.

Life span

But there is nothing neither phenomenal nor extraordinary about that.  Everyone in show business is aware that there is a life span to such a career -- especially if one works in front of the

Justin Bieber (Bernard Testa, NPPA Images)

After an angered fan posted a video on YouTube showing how Wonderkiddo Justin Bieber rudely shoved an airport employee (who just happened to be her father) asking the star to autograph an audio CD, the netizens were quick to react.

Filipinos were appalled, vowing never to have anything to do with the Canadian star. No one, regardless of stature, can be so rude or display such arrogance especially to a fan.

Defending Bieber

But there was an equal number of Pinoys who not only sympathized with Bieber but defended his reputation.

Instead, they turned the tables, pleaded for understanding and berated the over-enthusiastic Daddy for breaking protocol, expecting to be given special privilege just because he works for the airport and stationed himself along the path to the tube that connected the departure terminal to the plane.  Ano ka? Sinusuwerte?

I decided to post