The noise of Citizen Jake

Before watching Citizen Jake, I told myself I need to see other works of Mike De Leon. Batch ‘81, is one of the best films I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen Sister Stella L. Then I’ve stumbled upon Kisapmata, few hours before watching CJ, and understand why it’s a famous film. Being shown in the 80s, it opened us with new ideas and new concepts that were never tackled in mainstream movies.

Gear with enthusiasm and thirst of watching another great Mike De Leon film, I watched Citizen Jake alone at Glorietta. Well I am not that alone since I saw familiar faces. I saw St. Scho sisters lead by Sister Mary John Mananzan. Sister Mary John is a famous activist nun.

I am quite sad that the theater is not that full. If I am not mistaken, I am one of the youngest inside the cinema and I am like 28 years old. So, it’s not a good start for the film. Another thing is there seems to be a riff between Mike and Atom Araullo. You may check Citizen Jake’s FB account to know more of Mike’s rants.

People should watch this film. This is Mike’s bravest and most political movie. He still has the “shock value”. He lambasted the Marcoses, Duterte, and almost everyone in politics with an iconic line like “election na naman, new set of ass holes”. A rare instance in a movie nowadays.

Though there are things that I don’t quite get. There are too much things happening around Jake Herrera and his family; Corrupt and violent father and brother, the disappearance of his mother and too much family secrets. Plus, his relationship with his girlfriend, Mandy; a murdered prostitute; local election and his career.

Atom’s portrayal of Jake is a hit and miss. His conversation and some argument scenes seems to be too much rehearsed(mostly when he is with his father and brother). It also looks and sounds unnatural. But the very intense and dramatic scenes like (spoilers ahead) when he learned that Jonie (Adrian Alandy), his best friend, is working with his brother by telling some of his secrets, he is deeply enraged and Atom looks really believable. Another scene is when he learned that his caretakers, Jonie’s parents, know about the disappearance of his mother, you can see the emotions in his eyes.

The other cast members are really commendable. I never thought that Max Collins would be great in this film. Well, I’ve known her for her comedic roles in Bubble Gang, you know the usual hot girl belittling the likes of Diego. You get my point. I can say at some point she is overshadowing Atom. Like when Mandy saw Grace, her mentee, dead. She is beside Atom, but you won’t even notice him. Your eyes will go straight to Max and be carried away by her acting. Max brings tears that Atom can’t do when a scene begs for it. Though one of his last scenes, Atom had a tear falling on his left eye.

Gabby Eigenman and Atom’s scenes are hilarious. I can’t help but laugh at scenes where Gabby always mentions the Godfather. He already mastered the art of being an antagonist. I am irritated just seing his face.

Like Gabby, another antagonist to hate, Cherrie Gil, brings her usual Lavinia Arguelles attitude. She plays as the former lover of Ferdinand Marcos. Now, she is a pimp for different politicians.

The supporting actors like Adrian Alandy, Dina Bonnivie, Teroy Gomez, Lou Veloso also give color to the movie.

Like what people normally says, Filipinos tend to forget the past. Citizen Jake reminds us what happened when we had the strong man rule. Well, we are beginning to experience it again. The Marcoses finding ways to be back; Duterte’s dictator like tendencies; the collateral damages due to fight against drugs. You may not agree with everything that the movie tells you but like Teroy said, “it’s dangerous to be outspoken, but it’s more dangerous to stay quiet. Citizen Jake is the noise Mike De Leon and his team are making. Let’s listen. Let’s think. Let’s try to prevent the history from happening again.

Photos grabbed from Citizen Jake facebook account.

The XXperience

I woke up feeling so excited for the day. I will be watching The XX! OH MY GOD. I have been watching local bands since college, but most of thetime at the malls where it is free. I can count in my fingers the times I watched a concert that I bought tickets. 

This is also the first time I’ll be watching an international artist. Maybe not  actually first, I think I’ve seen some international artist in Glorietta or somewhere. But it wasn’t something I really like. Then last 2013, The XX came here. I was really planning to go, it was near my office. But it’s Tuesday, and it’s payroll so I can’t go.

Fast forward to 2018, I bought tickets Patron C at World trade, near at my
home. So everything is falling into place, it’s Wednesday, it’s not my
payroll day. So I went alone, and didn’t eat or brought a drink. I
though they will sell food at the event. But no, only beers were
available. So I was standing near the bleacher.  It should start at
8:00 pm, but due to some reasons, they started 40 minutes late. 

They started with “Dangerous”. Though I am not familiar with it, it’s upbeat, loud and a great way to start the show. Then next is "Islands". At last I know the song. And I really had goosebumps. It’s quite different from their new sound. It was so simple but with unique arrangements. It is about fully committing oneself to that person.  “Say Something Loving”, a song about feeling an infatuation over someone but not really sure if their feeling is something real.   

Then “Crystalised”. This is the first song I learned from them. I was sooooo happy and grooving with them.  The crowd was moving too. Oliver did some short spiels. His voice was so unique. Before playing “Reunion”, he said that “I can tell really this is going to be a very good one. Thank you so much for being here, it means the world to us, so we’ve done something special. This next song, this is the first time we’ve played it in five years.” 

Then “A violent Noise”. A song about a situation where everything seems too much and you can’t help but “silence the noise”.  Then “I Dare you”. It’s one of their single. Milly Bobby Brown was there at their music video. Another catchy and upbeat song. You will just groove with it. Romy said before playing “Performance” , “thank you for singing along with us, that was really beautiful, this next song means a lot to me and I’m gonna be playing it on my own,” It’s a song that’s very special to her, so she sang it by herself. No special effects. Just her enchanting voice and guitar. 

“Replica”, a powerful duet about resisting or repeating their parents mistakes. Then Oliver said “Can you keep a secret Manila? You’ve been my favorite this tour!”. I know he might say it with any country they toured.  But for some reasons, I think he is saying the truth. No BS.  Then “VCR”, it  starts with simple xylophone like sound. It’s one of my favorite songs they performed from their set.

Oliver also said that “This is a place where you can leave anything that is causing you pain at home and just enjoy yourself here.”. I can’t help but let out my emotions for a bit there. I’ve been going through some stuff, and by saying that meant a lot to me. 

Jamie wasn’t left behind, he had his own moment by playing “Loud Places” and “Intro”. “On Hold” is no doubt a crowd favorite. I don’t like dance music that much but with this song, and with how the crowd is grooving with it, I c an’t help but move along with them.

Before playing their last song, “Angels”,  Romy ended it with a lovely speech, “We are very far away from home, but you’ve made us feel welcome and it means a lot to us. I don’t want to repeat myself but thank you so much.” “We always wanted you to know, that every time you see us play, is that we appreciate each and every single one of you for being here.” 

I can see them, but can’t really see their faces. I love the light
effects they were doing. It matches every beat of the songs.
Romy’s voice is so soft but seems so pure. At the end when she is
about to speak, people were just cheering for her.

After the concert, I was blown away and was so hang over with them
that I kept on watching their videos, interviews and anything about
them.

I was able to learn why I gravitated towards them. They are tagged as
the shyest band in UK. They are introvert like me. They are not
that great playing their instruments that is why their sound is simple.

There is no doubt that friendship really matters when being in a band. I can see it when Oliver looks at Romy and vice-versa.  When they sing it also seems they are singing to each other. 

This is no doubt, the best concert I’ve been to. Nice crowd, great venue, awesome light effects and a powerful performance by Oliver Sim, Romy Croft and Jamie XX.

Photos grabbed from When In Manila site.

Sa wakas

I am so glad I am able to watch Sa Wakas Musical, now on its final run. I've been dreading to watch since it opened in 2013. A Sugarfree Rock Musical that will make your heart be torn into many pieces.

Pepe Herrera plays Topper, a photographer entangled with Lexi, a neuro surgeon played by Kyla Rivera Soong and Gabbi, a writer played by Justine Pena.


Pepe entered first on stage with a big grin 😁 on his face, as if saying Hi to the audience. Then in a snap, his face turned sad  since the first song is Kwarto with lines like

 Maglilinis ako ng aking kwarto
Na punong-puno ng galit at damit
Mga bagay na hindi ko na kailangan
Nakaraang hindi na pwedeng pagpaliban

A very sad opening song. When Pepe sang the song, it was so heartbreaking but comforting at the same time. Then Kyla sang the second verse and the pain was just the same.

The story is told backwards. For the first 5 mins. you will know the reason of the break up. Burnout is their break up song. Originally, it's upbeat with a happy tune. But in the musical, they made it sound angrier since in the scene they were fighting and having a break up. I was expecting that the scene and the song will be as painful as Kwarto. Well it wasn't. But it did still had an impact. Then Unang Araw. The saddest Sugarfree song for me. With lines like

Sadya ba talagang ganyan
Palakad-lakad ka't nakatungo
Sa'n patungo?
Ngayong wala ka na
Kailangang masanay na muling nag-iisa
Sa'n ka na kaya?
'Wag mo akong sisihin
Kung minsan ikay hanapin/kung minsan akong iyakin
Ito ang unang araw na wala ka na



They accompanied it with a storyline: they are already 10 in years in a relationship, they are living together but all of a sudden, they break up and they suddenly missed each others quirks. The first day is surely the hardest part.





At first you would think it's Topper's fault, but as the story progresses you will not be so sure anymore. Lexi is thinking Topper's profession is a joke. She doesn't have time for him. But if they do have time, she is the one choosing the things they will do. Of course it's still Topper's choice to cheat. But Lexi has something to do why they beginning to part ways.

The first act finished with the trio singing Bawat Daan, Ikaw Pala and some lines from Prom. 


Bawat Daan is Topper's song singing

maligaw man at mawala
Umikot man sa kawalan
Sa bawat kailan, sino't saan
Ikaw lamang ang kasagutan
Bawat kanan at kaliwa
Kung timog man o hilaga
Ang bawat daan ko ay patungo
Pabalik sa 'yo

Ikaw Pala, Gabbi's song

Nung hindi na nakatingin
At saka ka dumating
Nandiyan ka lamang pala
Di ka lang nagsasalita
Ikaw pala, aking hinahanap
Ang bahaghari ko sa likod ng ulap
Ikaw ang hulog ng langit sa puso kong napunit
Dahil sa dramang paulit-ulit

Prom, Lexi's song

Parang atin ang gabi
Para bang wala tayong katabi
At tayo'y sumayaw
Ng hindi na tayo bibitaw






One of my favorite scene is when Topper and Gabbi is singing Kwentuhan, a defensive song, because it has lines like 

Kwentuhan lang wala namang masama
Puro usap lang ibaon mo na sa limot ang lungkot

Tatawa tayo sabay seryoso unti-unti kang nakikilala
Ang sarap-sarap mo palang kasama
Dati kasi tahimik ka lang palagi ngunit ngayong gabi
Parang kay rami-rami mo nang sinabi

Kwentuhan lang wala namang masama
Puro usap lang dahil gusto kitang makilala...

 It's like implying that you know you are not doing anything wrong but you know that there is something there. With that scene, you will get why Topper and Gabbi fell in each other's arms. They just clicked.

Another favorite scene is the Pinakamagaling ng tao sa balat ng lupa. It's second to the last song I guess. It's a fun and happy song but it also telling something. From the start of the relationship, there is unresolved issues that they just keep with themselves. They are bickering and making fun of each other silently. 

Heto na sya, ang henyo ng henerasyon
Kaya mga kaibigan, magpalakpakan
Lumuhod sa kanyang harapan
Halikan ang kalsadang kanyang dinadaanan
Heto na sya, ang pinakamagaling na tao
Sa balat ng lupa

They finished it with Prom. A very happy and in love song. But of course you know what happened in their story so it's still heartbreaking.





Sa wakas is my first musical. And if you are like me, who grew up listening to Sugarfree songs, then you shouldn't miss this show. You will realized that their songs are so damn sad, but you are a masochist so you will still listen to it anyway. And the people behind the musical are sadist, they know how to hurt us really bad.