DO YOU REALLY HAVE JESUS THIS CHRISTMAS?

DO YOU REALLY HAVE JESUS THIS CHRISTMAS? Ang Dalawang Hapag (A Christmas Reflection on the late Joey Velasco’s Two Banquets-Hope and Love)

on: December 26, 2018

by Meanne M. Mijares

HAPAG NG PAG-ASA painted by Mr. Joey Velasco

It will soon be Christmas and we all know that Jesus Christ our Lord is the true reason of the season. Year after year, we are always being reminded of this truth. During the preparations for this much-awaited day, I am being strongly drawn to two, yes two, paintings by the late former Salesian seminarian, businessman-turned-visual “heartist” (an artist who creates art from the heart, since he did not receive formal training as a painter.) and philanthropist Joey Velasco and that for me, sum up what Christmas is about because Christmas is a joyous celebration with so many banquets and celebrations being held all over the world. But I would like to share my two cents’ worth on the two banquets he painted about-hope and love.

His paintings Hapag ng Pag-asa (Banquet of Hope) and Hapag ng Pag-ibig (Banquet of Love) spoke many volumes indeed about the love of God. Hapag ng Pag-asa, most especially called attention to the entire country and it was reprinted into postcards, calendars, and posters for every Filipino household. Indeed, Sir Joey was not only able to change his life but also the other faithful who were moved with his works and were inspired to do something for the poor and marginalized. It looks a simple painting but carries a very powerful message. The Lord used the “heartist” in Sir Joey and the transformative power of art to call people together to put love into action to awaken the message of love, sharing and generosity in our slumbering, parched and weary souls-with of course, the help and grace of our Lord no less.

“Hapag ng Pag-asa” is about twelve street children, representing the Filipino folk instead of His twelve apostles who invited our Lord to share a meal with them. The children many not have enough but they anchored their lives and hopes in Him. What makes the painting so special is because of the loving presence of our Lord who knows all our hurt, sufferings and problems that we face in our lives. We see ourselves in the plight of these twelve children also clinging to Him who knows the desires of our hearts, who has the power to answer our prayers and solves our problems beyond our dreams. Through this painting, Mr. Velasco reminds his children and to all of us as well about the importance of food consumption and avoidance of wastage as hunger is a problem rooted by greed. It also reminds us to put Christ our Lord at the center of our lives, whether it is Christmas season or not.

“Hapag ng Pag-ibig” is the follow-up to the earlier work and represents the children in an innocuous safe place where they are loved and cared for. This was painted during the time when shelters were being put together to take in the children and their families. Mr. Velasco was said to give color to each child’s visual rendering when each unit was being constructed in Hapag Village located in Amparo, North Caloocan. In reflecting on this painting, it says that in eternal life, we enjoy the loving company of our Lord. Where there is no more hurt, pain, hunger or thirst only happiness, joy and peace infusing the beauty and grandeur of Heaven.

In summary, these paintings and other previous works turn out to be more than just a platform of Mr. Velasco’s masterpieces. It is an eye-opener to the plight of the needy, oppressed and troubled. In due course, it is a representation of Jesus Christ-the real Emmanuel, dwelling in our midst.

They say art imitates life. But for Sir Joey, art transforms life. Considering himself a “socio- spiritual realist”, as he made artworks to reveal the realities of life, he reinvented the visual landscape to make known his own tale of hope and healing and by bringing the Lord Jesus closer to the Filipino people.  

His paintings empower us to partake of His banquet of hope on earth so that we may have a generous share of His greatest banquet of love in Heaven. May our hearts be buoyed up with hope and love all year round, all the days of our lives. May we always celebrate a joyful Christmas with Jesus truly alive in and with us!

http://www.filcatholic.org/do-you-really-have-jesus-this-christmas-ang-dalawang-hapag-a-christmas-reflection-on-the-late-joey-velascos-two-banquets-hope-and-love/

Being First Aint't Really Easy A Film Review on "FIRST MAN"

IT’S NOT EASY TO BE FIRST “FIRST MAN”: A FILM REVIEW

on: December 18, 2018

By Meanne M. Mijares

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said,

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Mark 9:35 (NIV)

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Matthew 20:16 King James Version (KJV)

Cast

Ryan Gosling              …         Neil Armstrong

Claire Foy                   …         Janet Armstrong

Jason Clarke                …         Ed White

Kyle Chandler             …         Deke Slayton

Corey Stoll                  …         Buzz Aldrin

Patrick Fugit               …         Elliot See

Christopher Abbott    …         Dave Scott

Ciarán Hinds               …         Bob Gilruth

Olivia Hamilton          …         Pat White

Pablo Schreiber           …         Jim Lovell

Shea Whigham …         Gus Grissom

Lukas Haas                 …         Mike Collins

Ethan Embry               …         Pete Conrad

Brian d’Arcy James     …         Joe Walker

Cory Michael Smith   …         Roger Chaffee

Kris Swanberg             …         Marilyn See

Directed by Damien Chazelle

Screenplay by Josh Singer

Based on the book by James R. Hansen

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

Genre: Drama

Rating: PG-13

First Man is Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle’s (La La Land) serious, fact-based movie about distinguished astronaut Neil Armstrong. It’s set during the stormy decade leading up to his significant Apollo 11 moon mission. Ryan Gosling stars as Armstrong, the smart, brave, strong-minded, extremely enduring engineer-pilot-astronaut who endured to eventually become the first person to walk on the moon. Along the way, he and NASA must get through life-threatening circumstances including mission fiascos, hazardous test flights, and even the demise of esteemed team members — but this is more of an crafty character study than an Apollo 13-style page-turner. Expect social drinking, chain smoking, infrequent but memorable swearing (including “s–t,” “damn,” and one “f—ing”), and several tense, sad scenes of characters in danger. A child’s passing isn’t presented, but the impression is clear. Claire Foy co-stars as Armstrong’s wife, Janet, who has a bigger role here than many “NASA wives” in relatedly themed films. Some scenes were shot with a handheld camera in a way that can be quaking.

THE STORY

FIRST MAN is Academy Award-winning Damien Chazelle’s film bio about Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling). It took place between the years 1961 and 1969, those years that took Armstrong from being a test pilot in California to a groundbreaking NASA astronaut in Houston to the first person to walk on the moon. While he’s still flying planes in the Mojave desert, Neil and his wife, Janet (Claire Foy), suffer the loss of their daughter, Karen, who dies from brain cancer. Neil is then employed to officially join NASA’s space program in Houston. There, he and Janet make friends with the other astronauts, like Ed White (Jason Clarke), Elliott See (Patrick Fugit), and Jim Lovell (Pablo Schreiber), and their families as the men go on board on often precarious missions be in charge of up to the race to the moon.

Positive Messages

The film celebrates traditionally American values such as competition, pioneering spirit, courage, teamwork, hard work — all of which came into play to win space race to moon. It depicted how Armstrong’s humility, quiet strength, determination helped make Apollo 11 a fruitful mission.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Armstrong is a keen, brave, strong-minded engineer, pilot, and astronaut. He loves his wife and children but is also focused on his NASA mission. The astronauts are kind, reassuring, even though they’re also vying for slots on the moon mission. Janet is a caring, enduring, loving wife and mother.

Violence

More than a few deaths occur due to mission/equipment failures – and they take place off camera. In one case, lead-up to the deaths is shown, with astronauts worrying, yelling for help as fire breaks out. There were edgy scenes in which astronauts in space have to prevail over troubles that could have life-threatening results. Karen’s death is veiled; her petite casket is shown during a wake.

It is natural that a married couple dances, embraces, kisses but done in good taste. I have observed occasional strong language includes “holy s–t,” “damn,” “screw,” “jackass,” “hell,” “Jesus Christ!,” and one “f—ing.” I have also seen adults drink beer at a couple of get-togethers/dinners while some adults do chain-smoke.

CONCLUSION

Gosling gives an excellent feat as the thoughtful, intelligent space pioneer in this warm, primordial but thoughtful biopic. Chazelle’s adaptation of James R. Hansen’s novel of the same title First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong is a very personal discovery of Armstrong’s life in the 1960s. The movie opens with a uncomfortable, terrifying, dizzying test flight on the rocket-powered X-15 — a scene that’s contrasted with a upsetting sequence in which it’s clear that Neil’s little girl is ill. After her death, Neil hardly lets anyone see him break down, and that impassiveness about loss lasts throughout the years as he endures the death of his fellow pilots and astronauts who weren’t only colleagues but good friends. Gosling is a masterful thespian: one who never overacts and seems to truly comprehend the art of restraint. It helps that Armstrong isn’t an alpha male space herdsman or an go-getting and outgoing like Buzz Aldrin (Corey Stoll); he’s humble, hardworking, and at times emotionally aloof.

Although the movie offers plenty of nail-biting moments and picturesque cinematography (especially in the space/rocket scenes), this character study isn’t as similar to Apolllo 13, Gravity, or The Right Stuff as moviegoers might expect. Chazelle keeps the film focused only on the two Armstrongs, without trying to pick up every major event or figure involved in the space race. Unlike many other fact-based films about that time, which only cursorily include the astronauts’ wives, Chazelle gives Foy’s Janet plenty of screen time as the wife left behind to keep the house spic and span, calm down her frazzled nerves, and hope that her husband doesn’t become another NASA fatality. The film is buoyed by an excellent supporting cast and production and creative teams — First Man attests that Neil Armstrong is a uniquely self-effacing and modest celebrity and that Chazelle is one of the most multitalented filmmakers.

Overall, I rate the film 4 out of 5 stars.

http://www.filcatholic.org/its-not-easy-to-be-first-first-man-a-film-review/

MY FIRST SIMBANG GABI EXPERIENCE

on: December 16, 2018

Meanne M. Mijares

We Filipinos have been used and accustomed to many important traditions during Christmas time. For me, the most special one is attending the Simbang Gabi, Misa de Gallo or Misa Aguinaldo. What is it, really?

The Simbang Gabi is a series of novena masses which starts on December 15 up to December 23 leading to Christmas Eve which annually takes place. Attending these masses for nine (9) consecutive days expresses deep devotion and faith in God and preparing for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This comes with the belief that holds dear to many of us that God will grant your requests and answer your prayers when you have completed all the nine day novena masses.

Simbang Gabi starts at three (3) a.m. while in other churches or parishes, it starts at 8 am or 7:30 am. After the Mass, all the faithful buy bibingka and puto bumbong in the stalls and happily munch on them in one corner or when they get home. It goes well with piping hot ginger brew or chocolate.

Looking back, I remember the time when I was a teenager waking up so early to attend the 9 Simbang Gabi masses in our parish before going to school. There were so many people carrying their various special intentions in their hearts. At that time, I just prayed hard to God that I may be able to graduate from high school and land a slot in my dream university. It did not take long for it to come true. Gratitude and joy filled only my heart. And from that time on and to this day, it has already become second nature to me. In return, I studied and worked hard while doing acts of kindness all throughout.

Simbang Gabi only happens once a year so there is nothing to lose if we sacrifice our time to rise from our sleep and go to mass. Many answered prayers were granted and dreams have been fulfilled one after the other since that first Simbang Gabi experience I had and through writing this article for this Christmas season for FilCatholic readers, I encourage you to do the same and make it a part of your Christmas activities.

Remember that in making your dreams and aspirations in life come to fruition, prayer is the key and best investment you will ever make. Through it, your faith in Him will be bolstered. This is one essential ingredient to make all our dreams happen most especially if you are losing hope and spiritually undernourished.

More than that, for me Simbang Gabi is an encounter with our Lord. Here is a poem that I have discovered through the internet and I would like to share it with you all.

May this poem guide you through in preparing for the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ:

If You Look For Me At Christmas

…you won’t need a special star –

I’m no longer just in Bethelehem,

I’m right there where you are.

You may not be aware of me

amid the celebrations –

You’ll have to look beyond the stores

and all the decorations.

But if you take a moment

from your list of things to do

And listen to your heart, you’ll find

I’m waiting there for you.

You’re the one I want to be with,

you’re the reason that I came,

And you’ll find me in the stillness

As I’m whispering your name.

Love,

Jesus

Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus Christ!

We are grateful for the gift of Your Presence, love and salvation!

Have a blessed and joyous Christmas season, dear FilCatholic readers!

http://www.filcatholic.org/my-first-simbang-gabi-experience/

WHAT ARE THE “THREE WORDS TO FOREVER”?: 

A FILM REVIEW

on: December 10, 2018

(credit to Star Cinema)

By Meanne M. Mijares

I have loved you with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3) KJV

A new commandment I give you: Love another as I have loved you. (John 13:34) KJV

CAST

Richard Gomez as Rick

Sharon Cuneta as Cristy

Kathryn Bernardo as Tin

Tommy Esguerra as Kyle

Liza Lorena as Tinay

Freddie Webb as Cito

Joross Gamboa as Paeng

Directed by Cathy Garcia Molina

Distribution by Star Cinema

Rating PG-13

THE STORY

In the movie, Three Words to Forever, three generations of couples are challenged with a tough question: what do they need to say to each other every day to forge a long-lasting relationship? Will the words “I love you” be enough to get them through?

The most recent flick from Star Cinema sees Tin, a sprightly young woman working in New York City packs her stuff to return to the country, so she can attend the emerald wedding anniversary cum renewal of vows of her maternal grandparents Cito and Tinay. Tin who believes in forever after is stirred by her grandparents’ enduring vow, resolves to bring her boyfriend Kyle with her.

However, she is unaware that her parents’ marriage is on the brink of collapse as Rick has declared his choice to leave Cristy for good after the course of their 25-year marriage.

Though, they agreed to keep mum about it and end it after their trip to Ormoc to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Cristy’s parents. While in Ormoc, Tin tells them that she has resolved to tie the knot with her boyfriend Kyle.

STRONG POINTS

“Three Words to Forever” thrives because of its stellar cast and notable character portrayals. With director Cathy Garcia-Molina at the helm, she made sure that film’s characters have harmony as a family, so viewers can readily empathize and relate to the story. Kathryn absorbed her character with gusto that is delightful but not gruff. Our Megastar was able to personify desolation hidden by strength, while Richard Gomez connected heavily, through his calm demeanor.

Former PBB housemate and model Tommy Esguerra did quite well in his portrayal as Kathyrn’s devoted boyfriend. Because the actors’ performances are so strong, it is easy to empathize with their pain. The emotional climax of the movie just might bring viewers to tears. Joross Gamboa was awesome in providing comic relief to the film and leaving the viewers in stitches!

Sharon fares a little better, yet she, like Richard, doesn’t really commit to the requirements of her character. She never satisfies the look of a wife who is trapped in an ill-fated marriage. Fortunately, when she is compelled to dish out a gamut of painful emotions, she does so credibly. It is just in the lighter moments that her character reveals a definite lack of complexity or pragmatism. Kathryn and Liza Lorena are exceptional given that their roles are not that tough and challenging enough.

WEAK POINTS

The result is a film that is more of the same narrative formula of a seemingly ordinary family bursting at the seams with secrets that threaten to ruin their fragile harmony. I noticed that they relied on the same methodology or formulaic structure to make it thrive at the tills where they could do so much more to tweak it to fare even better. What exactly went wrong if Three Words to Forever is bound to formula that more or less would arrive at something stirring? Unfortunately, it seems that the problem to “Three Words to Forever’s fustiness is the quality of performances.

“Three Words to Forever” isn’t picture-perfect, despite its depth in the acting prowess and storytelling dexterity not to mention that its visuals are quite defective.

The film is largely shot in the scenic hills and valleys of Ormoc, Leyte, but these scenes were only presented as launching shots. Many goings on take place outdoors, and it is quite confounding why the chosen shots are done at close range. Worse, the background looks somewhat hazy and simulated in these close ups. The climax, despite all the tears, moans and snuffles, fails to deliver.

It is crucial to the character of Rick that he be helpless by Cristy’s incessant nagging. However, Richard Gomez never really embodies any flake of emasculation. He, unfortunately, never seems to let go of his drive and celebrity status, wavering to comprehend a character who has become so outshined by his wife’s domination that his only way out to regain his “machismo ” is to dodge his marriage.

I find Freddie Webb portrayal, on the other hand, lackluster and unremarkable.

Making matters worse, the most poignant scenes or highlights of Three Words to Forever hardly involve Rick, Cristy, or any of their family member’s marital woes.

The film’s most moving and even wittiest and amusing portions consist of a variety of married couples who are questioned about their marital proficiencies and encounters. The interviews are actually quite plain, sans the gloss and maneuvering that permeate the story. However, without much pomp or cock-and-bull story, the narratives of real couples have all the genuineness and candor that is totally wanting in this film.

CONCLUSION

The message of the film is that what truly matters more in a relationship are the words that are often left unsaid and unexpressed. Saying “I love you'” every day hardly suffice, especially if you hold back from coming to terms about how you truly feel.

For a relationship to thrive, honesty is important while deceit could kill it. You need to convey your inner thoughts so that they won’t grow into bitterness or umbrage. Go ahead, tell the other person how much they mean to you, but do you also out rightly say how hurt you feel by the things they say or do? This is something worth pondering on.

On a spiritual level, perhaps saying “I am sorry” is a more necessary and principal statement that can direct to forever than saying “I love you.” It has to be proven time and again. Because we are not perfect people but broken people needing to learn and relearn over and over again until we get and do it right with a changed attitude and best efforts. Saying “I am sorry” makes us humble and build bridges until we can finally say with all sincerity “I love you”.

All the characters in the film look well. The locations are attractive. When everybody isn’t complaining about their trials and adversities, everything just feels pleasant and superb. The film never really works hard enough to represent issues and its struggles, making its emotional commotions feel underwhelming and meaningless and its happy ending so monotonous. “Three Words to Forever” is such an unexciting foray.

I guess, perhaps “Three Words to Forever” is far too engaged with luster that none of the emotions it aims to induce actually resonate properly.

Don’t get me wrong. “Three Words to Forever” isn’t an awful film. It’s only your colossally basic family drama with more integral problems than the marriages it portrays.

Overall, I rate the film 3 out of 5 stars.

http://www.filcatholic.org/what-are-the-three-words-to-forever-a-film-review/