A MOVIE WITH DEPTH

ReniMV Valenzuela

During his execution by garrote, Father Jose Burgos, as he was being strangled with an iron collar around his neck, raised his tied hands in great pressure, showing resistance (still) to injustice, oppression and ruthlessness until his last breath.  It was a gripping scene. 

Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora (Gomburza), though defiant of the colonizing Spanish government, were innocent of orchestrating the Cavite mutiny of 1872, of which they were accused and found guilty (by fabrication).  "Even Christ was innocent," mocked his executioner, while Father Burgos sat in a garrote chair. Cruel. 

Now I know why Gomburza garnered the most awards, including the 2nd best picture in the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival. To me what makes the movie great and what sets it apart from the others is that it will bore you in the first half, but it will make you cry in the end and revolt inside, realizing that our contemporary times are no different. 

At first I wondered why the majority of the scenes had to be dark or taken during night time. It was only upon watching the movie (last night) - until the end that I got to know why. And it was for the same reason perhaps that Jose Rizal dedicated his novel, El Filibusterismo, to the three martyred friars. Best Actor Cedric Juan was so natural (near perfect in acting) in his portrayal of Father Burgos. 

Gomburza is a movie with depth. Watching it is like dissecting a poetry, with depths of meaning you will never know until you finish watching it. It's boring segments, I realized in the end, are part and parcel of the movie plot's profundity and directorial job's brilliance. 

There were several themes that I saw in the movie from which the viewers can learn and be challenged to be better human beings and better Filipinos - e.g., betrayal, brutality, dictatorship, deception, selfishness, injustice, dirty politics, religious hypocrisy, cowardice, heroism, sacrifice, gallantry, selflessness, martyrdom, patriotism, fortitude, love of country, piety, hope, faith in God.

Father Burgos cannot be more correct and direct when he said, "Despite the darkness, nobody can snuff out the embers of light." 

The clap of the people before they left the theater was well-deserved. I didn't join the clapping, though, because I was already clapping and applauding inside (teary eyed) ahead of them.

Viva Los Filipinos! 

P.S.

Except for the needless P.I. cursing in some scenes, I could have rated the movie 11.

Rizal’s life in exile

How Dr. José Rizal spent his days in Dapitan City

BY POCH EULALIA

Dec 30, 2023 10:23 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• I rise early in the morning, at five, visit my plants, feed the chickens, awaken my people, and prepare our breakfast. At half past seven, we eat our breakfast, which consists of tea, bread, cheese, sweets, and other things. — Dr. José Rizal

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EXILED TO ISOLATION Hoping to silence Rizal, the Spanish Government had Rizal exiled to the isolated City of Dapitan in 1892

In fear of Dr. José Rizal’s growing influence among the people due to his calls for social reform, the Spanish colonial government hoped to extinguish Rizal’s reach by sending him off to the City of Dapitan in Zamboanga del Norte, Mindanao. He arrived via boat on July 17, 1892. Ever the optimist, rather than lamenting his newfound fate, Rizal put his time in exile to good use by helping improve the isolated city.

Using his share of winnings from a lottery ticket, Rizal bought a plot of land in Talisay, a seaside barangay in Dapitan. There, he lived a simple life, using his time to tend to his farm, treat his patients, teach children, read, and write. He detailed how his morning starts in a letter to his dear friend, Ferdinand Blumentritt, “I rise early in the morning, at five, visit my plants, feed the chickens, awaken my people, and prepare our breakfast. At half past seven, we eat our breakfast, which consists of tea, bread, cheese, sweets, and other things.”

MI CASA, SU CASA Although now only a replica of Casa Redonda, this octagonal hut served as Rizal’s clinic for treating patients and a dormitory for his young pupils

As relaxing as his letter made it out to be, Rizal was a busy man, always on the move to try and improve things for Dapitan. Hoping to pass on his extensive knowledge, Rizal started a school to provide basic education to young children. As most of his students came from further provinces, he took them in as boarders and let them stay in two dormitories on his farmland—Casa Redonda and Casa Cuadrada. In exchange for their schooling, the students assisted Rizal in his chores and farming. 

SHARER OF KNOWLEDGE Rizal’s tools in teaching, a table and blackboard, were used in his makeshift school in Dapitan

Curious as ever, Rizal spent a lot of his time exploring the nature of Dapitan. Collecting various seashells and butterflies, he amassed a wide collection of wildlife during his stay. This curiosity led him to discover four new species—a tree frog, a flying lizard, and two beetles. Using some knowledge of engineering, Rizal also managed to create an irrigation system to bring water from surrounding springs and rivers to the farmlands. 

HIS FINAL LOVE Josephine Bracken, an Irish national, won the heart of Rizal and went on to be his wife

Dapitan also served as a place where Rizal found true love. It was here that he met Josephine Bracken, an Irish woman born in Hong Kong. Their paths crossed due to many speaking highly of Rizal’s skills as an ophthalmologist in Hong Kong. Hoping to have George Taufer, her adoptive father, undergo treatment for his double cataracts, they headed for Dapitan. While Rizal realized there was nothing he could do for Taufer, he found that he had fallen for Bracken. The two were said to spend their days sitting with a view of the sea on a heart-shaped rock, referred to as Mi Retiro Rock, after the series of poems Rizal supposedly wrote on the rock. After only a few months, Rizal hoped to make it official by marrying Bracken.

ROCK HARD LOVE Bracken and Rizal supposedly shared many romantic moments on the heart-shaped rock referred to as Mi Retiro Rock

Unfortunately, with Rizal being excommunicated from the Catholic Church for joining the Masons, he was unable to marry Bracken in a traditional sense. Instead, they would exchange their vows in a common-law marriage. It’s later claimed that the two would get a proper marriage before his execution, but much of its validity is still debated among historians. Perhaps the most tragic part of their romance is the death of Rizal and Bracken’s would-be son after a premature birth. 

Rizal’s four years in Dapitan would come to an end after the hero hoped to embark on a journey to Cuba to serve as a voluntary military doctor in Cuba. Sadly, he would never make it to Cuba after the Spanish government had him arrested mid-travel and sent back home for sentencing. His properties in Dapitan were confiscated by the government. 

Today, Rizal’s life lives on as we dedicate Dec. 30, the date of his execution at Bagumbayan, to commemorate his lifelong achievements.

On this special day, may we learn to live by his example, serving as a man for others and always hoping to improve the lives of our countrymen. 

Filipinos as default basketball and volleyball fans: 2023 in record crowd

BY NIKOLE JAVIER

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Philippine sport saw fans come in droves whether it was in Metro Manila or outside of it to shatter record attendance in the country’s historic and busy sports year.

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Basketball and volleyball never lacked support from Filipinos in 2023.

Basketball and volleyball tournaments set record attendance in 2023. 

Year 2024 should only continue to get more of it. 

Philippine sports saw fans come in droves whether it was in Metro Manila or outside of it to shatter record attendance in the country’s historic and busy year. 

It started off strong as PBA fans greeted the new year braving traffic and the long drive to witness the Game 7 finals showdown between the Ginebra Kings and the foreign guest team Bay Area Dragons in the Commissioner’s Cup on Jan. 15. 

The game drew a PBA all-time attendance of 54,589 fans inside the Philippine Arena with Ginebra emerging triumphant over Bay Area to clinch its 15th franchise title, keeping the trophy on local shores. 

The Tim Cone-coached Kings shattered the six-year-old record 54,086 it previously shared with the Meralco Bolts in the largest indoor arena during their Game 7 duel in the 2017 Governors’ Cup. 

When the FIBA World Cup rolled all the way to August, Filipino basketball loyalists also did not disappoint and showed up for the Gilas Pilipinas and filled the same venue. 

Tournament co-host Philippines set the record for most attended FIBA game with 38,115-strong crowd as the Nationals kicked off the quadrennial meet in historic fashion against the visiting Dominican Republic. 

Although the Karl-Anthony Towns-led Dominicans overcame the basketball-crazed Pinoys, 87-81, it proved the undying love of the country for the game and its national team which was spearheaded by another NBA star in Jordan Clarkson. 

A huge chunk of the FIBA local organizing committee’s preparations was directed towards setting the said record among other things, the attendance eventually reached 700,665 during the course of the tournament which was simultaneously held at the Mall of Asia Arena and the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Ultimately, the Philippines broke a 29-year record held by Team USA and Russia in the 1994 title contention. 

Before the year ended, basketball scored another one, this time from the collegiate scene. 

De La Salle ended its seven-year title drought against University of the Philippines in their historic UAAP Season 86 championship battle before the massive 25,192 new tournament crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Dec. 6. 

In a closely-contested Game 3 affair, the Green Archers turned back the Fighting Maroons with a hard-fought 73-69 win that saw MVP Kevin Quiambao explode with 24 points to make their 10th title dream come true.  

Both squads definitely saved the best for last as their series-tying games both ended in decisive wins before the decider. 

La Salle and UP’s first-ever finals showdown in league history edged out the 25,138 record then shared between National University Bulldogs and Far Eastern University Tamaraws in Season 77. 

More than a week shy of Christmas, Creamline and Choco Mucho took their sister act to the finale of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Second All-Filipino Conference. 

The screaming colors of pink and purple erupted for a new PVL gate attendance 24,459 in Cubao, Quezon, City as the Cool Smashers held off finals debutants Flying Titans in Game 2 of the season-ending conference to claim their seventh overall franchise title on Dec. 16. 

The mammoth crowd, though, was expected as both squads have respective legion of fans who would flock the venues even on regular games. 

Creamline ultimately went all the way through its third All-Filipino title undefeated as volleyball received its fair share of local support this year.