I am NOT a critic. I'm merely an observer. (Books, movies, plays, musicals etc.)

Bambanti means scarecrow in Ilocano Although very different, scenes of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables played in my mind while watching this film.  I couldn't help but feel miserable for the plight of the poor relatives being accused of stealing a watch, just because of their status in life.  Every scene was so vivid and very, very real. The town of Luna, Isabela...a place unfamiliar to me(I've been to Isabela, but not there), became very familiar, indeed.  I never knew of the Bambanti Festival and it was great to know that such a festival exists.  Who knows, I might go and experience the festival one day. Alessandra de Rossi , as Belyn, became the pilot of my journey to this quaint and mysterious town.  At least, that's what the movie conveyed to me.  The town was a bit mystical, but their problems were real as real could be. Ms. de Rossi is really a very beautiful and talented person.  The expressions of her eyes and her every movement b...

Sinag Maynila's Balut Country Where a tragedy becomes a blessing in disguise BALUT COUNTRY is a movie about family, relationships, decisions and realizations revolving around the Duck/Goose industry and the lives of Jun and Dado. I learned a lot of things while watching this film...things that I probably took for granted while growing up. I know I was fond of mallards and geese(I played with them without hurting them) when I was in my formative years in the US of A and I guess I was one of the few who came from there  that love to eat balut  the moment I tasted it(not knowing it was the embryo of the duck).  I was not scared to eat it and I loved to sip the soup from the shell. I didn't realize that for me to enjoy balut , lots of people are involved and the process is long and hard...probably even tedious.  One of the things among many that I've learned via this movie is that ducks and geese eat snails  and for me, that is a very interesting ...