Wala Nga Bang Forever?

                       Let me give my few cents about this very heart-warming film, "Walang Forever".   You see, with the Metro Manila Film Fest (MMFF) ruling over the cinemas for the entire holidays, patronizing local films and critiquing them is now an enjoyable past-time. 

                     "Walang Forever", which bagged the  "Best Picture Award", stars Jericho Rosales and Jennylyn Mercado.  Among the movies I watched, this one struck me, so far,  because the concept that got the movie rolling is about the life of a script writer (a famed writer of popular rom-com movies) ... a profession I fantasize about, yes, honestly!  There are lazy days, even now, when I simply day dream about my "what ifs" and picture what could have been in the other roads I abandoned.  Writing, broadcasting, TV hosting and singing (nawwh, just a joke!) are among the wild dreams I draw around stories of "what could have been".  As they often say so, it is with the unknown when the imagination of a hopeless romantic runs the wildest to inspire  #kilig and #iyakpamore stories.  Laughters, tears, joys, trials, love and losses ... are always the main characters of the "movies in my mind".

                And so, this movie is relatable to me, not because of the “forever theme” (seriously?!) but more for the twist that the “writer writes about her life” while she earns her living & fame from it and, then, in the process, achieves her sense of security & survival.  If I am not who I am now, then, yes, that!  could have been… almost … possibly … the kind of life I would be writing about, too.

             Oftenly, as a frustrated writer, I wondered what runs true in the mind of my co-writers.  When they write fiction, is it really fiction?  When they write about themselves, are their stories authentically theirs or a figment of their subconscious? And when they go through the so-called "writer's block" (which I am experiencing now), are they truly losing the muse of their passion or are they simply unlearning things about themselves?

             But, this is what I tell you, my friends, in a writer’s mind, the answer to the question about “forever” is infinite!  In this particular award-winning film about Mia (Jennylyn Mercado) and Ethan (Jericho Rosales), “wala daw forever” (oh my, am I a big spoiler here?). 

             But, let me tell you more.  Any other writer can put a continuity to it and prove “forever is forever and it may be true”.  It just depends on how one’s fingers would tap the keyboard longer and dance the story around more. 

            But for me, I still like to believe “meron ngang forever” … and I challenge myself to write my own story down soon…

           But , for now, do watch the movie, folks! It's a tear-jerking one that will bring lightness and joy.  I'm glad it won the highest award among all the MMFF films.  Kudos to "Walang Forever" film-writers!

 

           I bet you, if you take time and buy your tickets now,  you'll certainly fall in love with Ethan, the romantic.  And you'll definitely be proud with Mia, the writer, the lover, the fighter. 

            And, at the end, like me, “you’ll wish there is forever ….”   

 

Frustrated Writer,

Rox

On "Second Chance"

           

          Today, I had a wonderful “Me” time.  For the very first time, I did something different!  Sshhhh, I watched a movie all ALONE!!!  Never in my entire life have I done this!  But I laughed, sobbed, romantically got thrilled, and allowed all emotions to run free.  Simply because I know I was just with ME ;-).

"A Second Chance", starred by John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo, better know as "Popoy & Basya" in the said movie,  is about the 7-year itch of a couple.  It depicts the tiring predictabilities of a supposedly settled life.  It speaks of the day-to-day challenges of sharing a life with someone.  The difficulties of pursuing a common dream when you have different ways of doing,  of showing emotions or care, of deciding for two of you, of understanding, of giving-in, of forgiving.  It talks of the usual dutiful routine which breeds a boring familiarity.  The complacency that robs off romance, laughter, and lightness in a relationship.  Then, there’s the issue of dwindling trust about finances, parenting, third parties and endless confusing behavior of exhaustion.  But there’s about friendship as well that promises comfort.  Then, of all the what ifs which suddenly resurface when cowardice begins to creep in and one concocts a fairytale ending to escape.  At the end, there’s just the reality that it takes only one to break the ties.  And the oftenly disregarded truth, after the “I do”, that  “loving” is really not an emotion.  But a daily courage to embrace “what is” … with all the good and with all the bad. 

Circumstances in the story are entirely different but I related well with each of them.  I smiled and cried with the characters.  I agreed a lot of times.  I believed them … And as I understood their predicaments, I also got thankful more and more with my own LOVESTORY.

It is a good film.  And because I was alone, I allowed emotions freely and it was a liberating experience.  All women should try a moment like this ;-)!

Then, I hurried off to pick up my son in school.  And after which, my Mom & daughter who enjoyed an afternoon  shopping spree.  We all had a great snacks together.  Of course, as one of those so-called regular things, or would I say hubby duty (?), Dad called to check on our day, too.  Again, it wasn’t just me once more.

I breathed and smiled…

Tomorrow, I face my realities again.  Oh well, as the movie reinforced, this is what “loving” is all about … an everyday will to embrace “what is”… all its good … and all its bad.