Image Credit: Video48 |
Pinoy Pop Culture
PINOY POP POTPOURRI ... Snippets of Filipino life from a true-blue Filipino.
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Wednesday, March 13, 2024
A Poem and Songs for Ben Tumbling
Thursday, March 7, 2024
Some Notes on "Mamang Sorbetero"
The onset of the hot weather in the Philippines is slowly but surely felt by everyone. The thoughts of stifling air pushed me to ponder on the things that can help me beat the heat. One of those things is ice cream. I am not referring to the branded sort we buy in groceries by the tub. What I mean is "dirty ice cream," or sorbetes, the kind being sold by ambulant vendors who push a cart and ring a handheld bell. The thoughts of sorbetes remind me of a film and a song, both titled Mamang Sorbetero.
Mamang Sorbetero (Tagalog: Mr. Ice Cream Vendor) is a 1979 Philippine romantic comedy-action film directed by Augusto Buenaventura from a screenplay he co-wrote with Diego Cagahastian. As J.E. Productions' entry to the Metro Manila Festival in that year, Mamang Sorbetero has a stellar cast led by producer Joseph Estrada, Celeste Legaspi, Rod Navarro, Dencio Padilla, Subas Herrero, Vic Sotto and Herbert Bautista. Other members of the cast include Quiel Segovia, Veronica Palileo, Sammy Padilla and Ford Elorde.
Image Courtesy of IMDB |
The film opens with Kanor (portrayed by Joseph Estrada) alighting from a bus in a transport terminal. Being a newcomer to the urban jungle, a gang of children chose Kanor as a target. Some gang members acted as beggars who approached Kanor with the pretext of asking for alms. While being distracted Kanor lost focus of his wallet, which was snatched by the gang members. (A young Herbert Bautista plays the role of Kupal, one of the juvenile lookouts).
At the same terminal, Badong (portrayed by Dencio Padilla) is a bystander who also happens to be a sorbetero. He witnessed the events from a distance and accosted one of the thieves to help Kanor recover the wallet. The chance encounter provided Kanor the opportunity to ask Badong regarding the whereabouts of his Tiyo Miguel (portrayed by Francisco Cruz). The film's universe is so conveniently small; Tiyo Miguel is Badong's housemate. However, the old man turned out to be already sick for a few days and is confined in a hospital.
Back in the province, Tiyo Miguel had promised Kanor to help him find a job in the city. Due to his condition and what he considers as unhealthy elements in the city, Tiyo Miguel stated that he intends to go back to the province for good. With the promised job out of the question, Badong promptly suggested for Kanor to become a sorbetero like him. The film then cuts to the opening credits with vignettes of the sorbetero selling the frozen delight to customers seeking refreshment.
A series of events leads to the hero's meeting with his love interest, Cielo Monzon (portrayed by singer Cielito Legaspi). Her father, the debt-ridden Federico (portrayed by Subas Herrero), intends to marry her off to a rich man as a way to ease his financial woes. The rich man is Ariston Dela Serna (portrayed by Vic Sotto). Cielo is not interested in a mama's boy for a life partner. Even on mundane decisions, Ariston is very dependent on his mother.
At this point in the movie, Cielo is steadily dating Tony Imperial (portrayed by Rod Navarro). Unlike Ariston, Tony has the image of a real man who has a "backbone." It was a ruse; he turned out to be a car salesman who pretends to be rich, hoping to snag wealthy women. Tony's cover was eventually unraveled when Jimmy Imperial (portrayed by Dave Brodett), a genuine member of the Imperial clan from Negros, confronted him in a golf-club cafeteria. Cielo witnessed the confrontation and promptly decided to stop seeing Tony.
Tony is desperate to marry Cielo for her money because a criminal syndicate pressures him to pay off his debts. He hatched a plan to kidnap her as her car was approaching the gate of their house. Kanor happened to take a break from selling ice cream and rested on the lawn. He then stopped the kidnapping attempt. After introducing himself as Nick, our sorbetero undoubtedly became a hero in the eyes of Cielo. Moreover, Nick appears to have amassed more pogi points by taking the delinquent children under his fold and guiding them toward a normal life away from crime. Swept off her feet, Cielo consistently pursued Nick and their roller-coaster love story started.
TROPES AND THEMES
Although not meant to be an arthouse movie, Mamang Sorbetero deals with some real-life topics. For instance, the change in the nickname as someone goes from the province in the city. Our hero is named Kanor in the province; he is Nick in the city.
Nick seems to harbor feelings of inferiority complex because of his social status. Meanwhile, Cielo envies his freedom. During a date with Nick in the zoo, she compared herself to a caged animal - bound by rules and norms imposed by society.
There is also self-poking humor. There is a scene in which policemen questioned Kanor for "parking" his cart in front of a public building. Kanor told the policemen that he knows the mayor and will report them to the city official. Joseph Estrada was mayor of San Juan at that time.
In one scene, Badong says that he has only 75 pesos in his possession. According to the Philippine Inflation Calculator, the goods that can be bought in 1979 for 75 pesos would roughly cost 2,039 pesos and 62 centavos at the end of 2022.
MUSIC:
The theme song is one of Celeste Legaspi's hit songs. Its melody is derived from composer Jose Mari Chan's "Mr. Songwriter," while the Tagalog lyrics was written by Gryk Ortaleza. Seemingly in accompaniment with the lyrics of the song, the opening credits feature ice cream vendors ringing their bells to alert the customers who try to beat the hot weather.
(Fun Fact: Two famous Joses in Philippine entertainment, Joseph Estrada and Jose Mari Chan, share a connection with each other in this film. Estrada's birth name is Jose Marcelo Ejercito Sr., while Chan's birth name is Jose Mari Lim Chan).
LYRICS
Tinda mong ice cream gustong-gusto ko
Init ng buhay pinapawi mo
Sama ng loob nalilimutan ko
Kalembang mong hawak muling ikaway
Batang munti sayo'y naghihintay
Bigyang ligaya ngayong tag-araw
Korteng sorbetes sa pisngi ng langit
Mata ng dalaga'y nananaginip
Mayro'ng sikretong nasasaisip
Kalembang mong hawak muling ikaway
Batang munti sayo'y naghihintay
Bigyang ligaya ngayong tag-araw
Sunog na pag-ibig parang-awa mo na
Init ng buhay pawiin mo na
Mamang sorbetero tayo'y sumayaw
Kalembang mong hawak muling ikaway
Batang munti sayo'y naghihintay
Bigyang ligaya ngayong tag-araw
Kalembang mong hawak muling ikaway
Batang munti sayo'y naghihintay
Bigyang ligaya ngayong tag-araw
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Mr. Ice Cream Vendor, what is your name?
Making me forget my ill feelings
Mr. Ice Cream Vendor, let's dance
The bell you are holding, sway it again
Give us happiness this summer
Shaped like ice cream on the cheek of heaven
The girl's eyes are dreaming
There is a secret in mind
The bell you are holding, sway it again
Burning love, take pity on us
Mr. Ice Cream Vendor, where are you?
Put out that heat of life
The bell you are holding, sway it again
The bell you are holding, sway it again
Monday, March 4, 2024
Jaclyn Jose, 60
Multi-awarded actress Mary Jane Santa Ana Guck, better known as Jaclyn Jose, passed away on March 2, 2024, at the age of 60. Among her numerous accolades, the most notable is the 2016 Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress.
Image Courtesy of PEP.ph |
For her role in the film Ma' Rosa, she became the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to win the globally prestigious award. In honor of her memory, following is a summary of the major achievements of hers that were recognized by Philippine film-oriented institutions:
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Robert Grace Hit "A Dream" in TVJ's Shoot That Ball
Image Courtesy of Video48 |
Thursday, February 22, 2024
Movies That Mark 30th Year in February 2024
The Filipino movie industry was much more prolific in 1994. At least 10 movies were released in February of that year. Many of these movies can be viewed on YouTube, while others are occasionally aired on free television.
Hatay Tataw Hataw
Kapantay ay Langit
Geron Olivar
Pinagbiyak Na Bunga: Lookalayk
Bawal Na Gamot
Matinik Na Kalaban
Ultimatum
Multo in the City
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
It's Juan Ponce Enrile's 100th Birthday Today
In my opinion, today is a historic Valentine's Day (and Ash Wednesday) because a colorful figure in Philippine politics is celebrating his 100th birthday. Juan Ponce Enrile is the name of the man. Currently serving as the Presidential Legal Counsel, Enrile is the oldest incumbent public official in the Philippines. He is also entitled to a 100,000 peso cash gift from the government. (An infinitesimal sum compared with his net worth). Also known by the nickname Johnny, he has become a staple in pop culture in the past few years because of the memes that poke fun on his longevity.
Many people are in awe with his ability to stay alive that long while supposedly possessing mental clarity. (I am one of those who wish to achieve that feat in the decades to come.) My interest in Enrile's longevity started in 2012, when ABS-CBN Publishing released his memoir. Enrile was already 88 years old then, so many observers thought that the book was meant to be some sort of a "swan song." The following passage is even found in the back cover: "I have been judged and condemned many times. But I fear only the ultimate judgment of God and of history."
If I am not mistaken, the book had a price tag of about 1,200 pesos at the time of its release. Although I wanted to get hold of a copy, I ruled against shelling out the amount. I would have to work for a few days to earn the amount needed. Furthermore, there were voices saying the book was too expensive for what some reviewers labeled as "fiction." (To be fair, I would also embellish my own memoir if I would write mine.)
The publishing house is part of ABS-CBN, a multimedia giant in the country. As part of the book's promotion, the then-active TV station of the company aired Enrile's story as a two-part episode of the drama anthology "MMK." Bugoy Cariño and Enrique Gil portrayed Enrile in his years as a child and adult, respectively. (Side Trivia: Enrique Gil's movie "I am Not Big Bird" is going to open in movie theaters today.)
I forgot about the book until it came to my consciousness six years later. Let me tell you a background story. Before the work-from-home era, I used to commute from the province to my office in Quezon City. There was a policy that anyone logging in beyond 10 a.m. was considered late. One day in July 2018, it was already 10 a.m. and the UV Express van I was aboard was just approaching SM North EDSA. In instances like that one, I would alight the van and proceed to the mall. I would have early lunch and do some window shopping. I would do bulakbol first before working.
On that day, I decided to eat bulalo at the Food Court and make a pilgrimage to National Bookstore. In the latter establishment, I saw shopping carts holding copies of Enrile's memoir I was planning to buy about six years ago. I was amazed that it was on sale for only 125 pesos. Of course, I promptly bought a copy, along with Asuncion David Maramba's "Seven in the Eye of History." The book eventually disappeared from the store's bookshelves and became some sort of a collector's item. In 2021 or 2022, I saw a Facebook post of a media personality saying that she bought a second-hand copy for 3,000 pesos. 😅 For now, I have no plans to sell my copy.
Due to work-related and personal obligations, as well as the challenges of commuting, it took me another two years to finally read Enrile's memoir. (My thoughts about the book will be the subject of a future post.) As my reading intensified during the pandemic, I sought more online articles to supplement my book list. One of those articles is about him attributing his long life to a vegetable called saluyot. In an effort to boost my immunity, I also started to include this vegetable in my diet most days of the week. It can then be safely asserted that Enrile is not just a pop culture figure but also a health influencer.
Monday, April 1, 2019
Philippine School Graduation Ceremonies and Wrestler Randy Savage
Photo Credit: Wikipedia |
The tune might also evoke memories for those who grew up watching World Wrestling Federation matches on IBC-13 during the 1980s. Randall Mario Poffo, better known by his ring name Randy "Macho Man" Savage, often used the tune as his entrance music. The following video is a slide show of Savage's entrances, with the said tune playing on the background: