Revisiting the Future According to Films

This infographic by Tremulant Design has been around since 2011. As I got bored fixing my professional timeline in my resume, I ponder on the future as told by films.

Pinoy TNL Idols

Lapu Lapu 

Andres Bonifacio 

Jose Rizal 

Macario Sakay 

Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar 

Carlos P. Romulo 

Jose "Pepe" Diokno 

Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.

Jun Cruz Reyes

F. Sionil Jose

Vicente Manansala

Mauro "Malang" Santos

Francisco V. Coching

Manuel Conde

Mike De Leon
Kidlat Tahimik

FPJ

Rene Requiestas

Dolphy
Carlos Loyzaga Sr.

Efren "Bata" Reyes
Samboy Lim

Paeng Nepumuceno

Juan De la Cruz Band
Cesar "Saro" Bañares

Heber Bartolome at ang Banyuhay

Apo Hiking Society

Yano

Eraserheads

The country's pioneer issue of Esquire Magazine made a list of real life Filipino heroes to look up to. Choosing one's TNL idol is still, highly subjective and comparing my own list to their list is like comparing apples to oranges. You will never find any businessmen here since my own criteria focuses on politics, sports, and culture. Besides, I don't consider the privileged affluent kids who just continue to develop their inherited fortunes (mana) tough enough without trying to make a name for themselves in a completely different field. That made Jose Rizal and Ninoy Aquino exceptional for doing the opposite by sacrificing their names, their fortunes, and ultimately their lives for the good of the country. 

 Including the Pacman below, the photo collage and list of the other 29 (pictured above) show my choice of Real Life, TNL Pinoy Idols.

Photo Sources:

http://www.sanguinesoul.com/2010/06/episode_62-lapulapu/

http://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9s_Bonifacio

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/6867/6867-h/6867-h.htm

http://www.bibingka.com/phg/sakay/default.htm

http://child-of-earth.blogspot.com/2008/01/general-gregorio-del-pilar-officer-and.html

http://aboutph.com/2011/04/gen-carlos-p-romulo-1899-1985/

http://diokno.org/

http://tinubos.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gingmaganda/3548336445/

http://www.montagemagazine.net/philippine-center-of-international-pen-the-auric-gift-of-the-word

http://top100pinoys.wordpress.com/category/artists/

http://www.galleriaduemila.com/web2003/Collection/smm/smmabout.html

http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Francisco_V._Coching

http://rolandotolentino.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/review-of-the-cinema-of-manuel-conde/

http://www.kvitters.com/search/Kidlat%20Tahimik

http://mubi.com/topics/director-introduction-mike-de-leon

http://fpj-daking.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html

http://video48.blogspot.com/2009/06/rene-requiestas-comic-sensation.html

http://nugglepurl.blogspot.com/2010_12_12_archive.html

http://efrenbatareyes.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.html

http://www.philstar.com/thedeanscorner/articlescontent.aspx?articleid=453435&publicationsubcategoryid=69

http://video48.blogspot.com/2008/05/1965-ue-ust-cage-finals.html

http://www.istorya.net/forums/basketball/182352-80s-90s-pba-stars-2.html

http://ethnycitv.tripod.com/

http://www.last.fm/music/Banyuhay+ni+Heber

http://pinoyclassicfolkrock.blogspot.com/2009/08/cesar-saro-banares-jr-mindanews.html

http://video48.blogspot.com/2009/11/apo-hiking-society-in-blue-jeans-1981.html

http://www.cyjen.com/eraserheads-reunion-concert-cut-short/
http://www.mannypaquiaovs.com/manny-pacquiao-esquire-philippines-1-october-2011-cover/

10 Filipino Books

For an avid reader who loves his/her Filipino origins, I will recommend these 10 memorable and thought-provoking Filipino books. Ever since reading Noli in my history class, I will never forget the story of Elias the renegade. And I love reading (and watching) the story of Ibong Adarna when Prinsipe Amante was able to outfox his greedy brothers especially when Dolphy plays that lead role since I have a soft spot on the Fantasy-Comedy genre. Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere, and Ibong Adarna are just two of the classic books that I believe a Filipino reader should know by heart.

I recommend these books below hoping that the public will be able to notice the value of book reading in this postmodern, digital age.

NON FICTION

100 Love Poems - Dalisay & Yuson, ed.

Revisiting Usog, Pasma, Kulam - Michael Tan

Tikman ang Langit: An Anthology on the Eraserheads - Calimag, Garcia, and Rodriguez, ed.

To Suffer Thy Comrades - Robert Francis Garcia

Food Wars - Walden Bello

FICTION

Barriotic Punk - Mes De Guzman

Tutubi, Tutubi 'Wag Kang Magpahuli, Sa Mamang Salbahe - Jun Cruz Reyes

After Eden* - Arnold Arre 

El Indio* - Francisco V. Coching

Smaller and Smaller Circles - Felisa H. Batacan

*---graphic novels

I Support

KOMIKS TOP 10

WASTED poster by LEINIL YU

Comics: since its inception in my younger life at 5 years old (even if I can't read or write yet), flipping the pages one by one allowed me to sense the story by just looking at the pictures in sequence. That experience taught me to trust my intuition in conveying what the author wanted to tell, and basically that became what comics really meant for us readers of this sequential form of art.

I was lucky to read some and even at this age, I still consider reading a comic book or a graphic novel in this country a worthwhile pastime. Here's the list of my All Time Favorite Filipino Comics (Komiks) from a wide range of  format. I included the series, the funnies, the solo release, the one shots, and the indies in my criteria. I'm sure you're not familiar with majority of them and maybe it's time for you to try reading them. Let me know what you think. By the way, this list is very subjective but you get the point. I'm going to present them in a countdown manner.

10 

This is surely, the most popular Urban Horror and Fantasy graphic novel series available in any bookshop in the country. The art by KaJo Baldisimo is superb, and the stories by Budjette Tan is one of the country's best. And yeah, it's an ongoing saga for us fans.

9

Homophobics need not be afraid to touch and read this graphic novel by artist/writer Carlo Vergara. It's a fun read, I assure you.

8

An indie comic by Louie Cordero (disguised as Abang Guard Production Inc) made its way into my list. A very ugly art (it's about shit, what else?) but a very funny story about a man accidentally obtaining the power of an alien excretion and literally struggling how to capitalize on the current misfortune from his native farm, to the flooded outskirts of Navotas. 

7

Manix Abrera's initial collection of college and post-college life in Peyups with the gang of mental bandits and activists scored highly as very relevant to any alumnus reader. No one can forget those days of cramming for the report, cramming for the exams, cramming for org activities, cramming for rock concerts, and last but not the least, cramming for love life (or zero love life). Hwoooh!

6

This is so far, the most memorable graphic novel on Philippine Mythology written and drawn by Arnold Arre. It's an adventure roller-coaster ride into the realms of lower and higher mythology complete with twists and turns throughout the Pinoy culture and history.  

5

Three words: Love and Destiny. Arnold Arre once again crafted a beautiful story revolving around two friends in a world heavily influenced by angels and devils ever since man's first fall to the temptation of knowledge in the Garden of Eden. 

4

Pol Medina Jr is for me the most consistent comic book artist and author. His trademark wit, humor, and deep sense of Pinoy culture is so far, the best among the living Pinoy cartoonists today. His books became required reads for Japanese students studying the Philippine Culture and Politics. And this is not a joke at all. This 5th collection of his series is a personal favorite because of his local parody of Star Wars. And I love the fight scenes and his cool usage of time paradoxes--ala Star Trek. This book made Polgas (aka Wisedog, Dobermaxx) a household name.

3

Gerry Alanguilan's ultra-violent story of a killing spree along EDSA is actually an allusion of his heartbroken days after his girlfriend migrated to the US. It's a classic story of coping the loss of someone you deeply loved. Love, or Die.

2

  

This book by the legendary Francisco Coching is five stars for me. It's classically drawn and classically written by a leading National Artist contender. Being a classic book, I  didn't mean that it doesn't have a twist. The twist is actually the main story and the reader will be rewarded with a perfect ending.

1

Once again, Pol Medina Jr's deep knowledge on the popular and less popular culture of the Filipino catapulted his name as the country's leading comic book author and artist. If you don't know yet where to test your anting-anting or agimat (with a hearty laugh), better read this book. Laughter is still, the best medicine for the Filipinos and the comedy-horror story arc is the best that exists in my opinion and still, unmatched. 

Reading Habits Meme

COOL MONK!

This is my answer for the meme from Filipino Book Bloggers for this week's Friday Discussion.

1. Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?

It doesn't horrify me at all as long as the writing is relevant and doesn't distract your eyes in reading a line or two. If I want to display them on the shelf, I don't mind if I scribbled some pointers on some pages. For the first place I bought them not to be displayed as trophies or eye candies to be admired from a distance but as mind and soul foods to be shared and touched by those who deserved it. And I can do whatever I want to do with my book archive and I'm planning to donate some of them in the future. Returning to our topic, I like to highlight my books 'coz it's a sign that I finished reading them. I write personal footnotes as impromptu reaction but I do it minimally and marginally using a pencil or a ballpen if I dislike the book. I usually do it with non-fiction books. Imagine Jose Rizal or Hitler, or just plain old Joe Shadow like me writing their personal footnotes on a specific book that they love to study or dispute. Historically, it will become relevant if you put your thoughts in those vacant areas. It's a proof that your thought existed and you're not just a blank reader.

The latest book that I was able to provide footnotes on its pages was a non fiction copy by Jeannie Javelosa. That was an exception to my rule in writing footnotes only for books I own because a friend wanted me to borrow and read her copy, and she actually gave me the green light that it's okay to highlight passages and write my thoughts on it and I, just fired away. I loved the book and in return, I wrote a review for her.

2. How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?

Nothing fancy for my reading place because I don't use bookmarks anymore and I just dog-ear the current page. Somebody always find a way to steal my bookmarks before. It's weird.

3. Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?

I can stop anywhere. But I love to stop at cliffhangers to suspend my hunger and anticipation for the next revelation, or momentary cul-de-sac or dead ends.

4. Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?

I can read more than one book. There's always a scenario when you encounter a difficult book and you don't want to throw it away by giving it a second chance and the only thing to do that is to read other easy books or a favorite book before returning to that difficult read. It works for me all the time.



Happy Friday Pay-out Day people!
You can drink. But reading a book is better.

Top 15 Espionage Novels by Publisher's Weekly (2006)

Deciphering code

img source

Nearly three years ago, Publisher's Weekly released their list of Top 15 Spy Novels compiled by Peter Cannon:

1. THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD by John le Carre (1963)

2. THE BOURNE IDENTITY by Robert Ludlum (1980)

3. THE DAY OF THE JACKAL by Frederick Forsyth (1971)

4. THE SPY WHO LOVED ME by Ian Fleming (1962)

5. THE QUIET AMERICAN by Graham Greene (1955)

6. THE IPCRESS FILE by Len Deighton (1962)

7. THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE by Ken Follett (1978)

8. MASQUERADE by Gayle Lynds (1996)

9. THE MOSCOW CLUB by Joseph Finder (1991)

10. ABOVE SUSPICION by Helen MacInnes (1939)

11. THE 39 STEPS by John Buchan (1915)

12. HARLOT'S GHOST by Norman Mailer (1991)

13. THE UNLIKELY SPY by Daniel Silva (1996)

14. THE RIDDLE OF THE SANDS by Erskine Childers (1903)

15. MORNING SPY, EVENING SPY by Colin MacKinnon (2006)

Reactions in favor and against the listing circulated after its release but for me, the list is substantial enough for any curious collector of Best Espionage Fiction. But I would like to add Rudyard Kipling's Kim (1901), Tom Clancy's The Hunt for Red October (1984) and more importantly, Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent (1907). GK Chesterton's The Man Who Was Thursday (1908) is another good book to add to the list, but I think it's more of a metaphysical thriller and cross genre literature about saboteurs, just like Tim Powers' sci-fi and modern fantasy spy thriller Declare (2001).

Let me know what you think about this list, or any suggestions of your own.

All images belong to their respective authors and owners.