No such thing as a free lunch?

Salakab (Fish Trap, Tagalog; 2023)
Director: Roman Perez Jr.

Do we help others because it is just the most human thing to do? Or do we do it because we may need their help someday? Just because somebody had helped us at one point in time, are we duty-bound to return the favour as and when our help is needed? Should this be done even if it means it would crush our plans to succeed? When we are in a slightly comfortable zone, are we considered ungrateful when we do not reciprocate their request? Do we deserve all the curses hurled at us for being an unappreciative dog? Society has many names for these types of 'traitors'.

On the side of the one who helps others, do all the great deeds performed become a fixed deposit that can be broken on a rainy day? Do parents care for their young in anticipation of care in their twilight years? Is the spouse (partner) duty-bound to pay back for services?

The film asks the same question in a graphically explicit, eye-pleasing presentation that leaves nothing to the imagination. The answer is, of course, more complex. 

Set in a fishing village on one of many of the Philippines' tiny islands, it tells the tale of a vivacious young girl who got admission into Manila University with a scholarship. With a heavy heart, she leaves her dear boyfriend behind to the glitz of the city lights. She promised to keep in touch, while her boyfriend assured her he would cover her expenses as the scholarship funds were small. The plan is for the boyfriend to do his studies after the girlfriend completes hers.

She loses her scholarship as her performances are not up to mark, but the boyfriend pledges more money for her. Besides his fishing job, he moonshines as a guide and even as a gigolo to make ends meet.

So, the boyfriend is devastated when the girlfriend rejects his marriage proposal upon her return after graduation. To rub salt in his wound, a stranger appears on the island, claiming to be her fiance, informing everyone that the girl has gone missing.

This production, by no means, will receive any standing ovation anywhere or be nominated to be screened in any film festival; it serves its purpose - mere spinal-level entertainment bypassing the cerebral cortex unless you are like me. 

Do we need to balance all life dealings? A tit for tat, an eye for eye and blood for blood. Like what a bookkeeper would do, do all transactions need to be balanced, one entry to a credit account and another in debit so that it evens out at the end? Do we have to take it upon ourselves to tip the balance, or should we leave it to Nature to take its course? When something terrible happens to someone else, we call it karma. When it is our turn to receive something bad, we call it bad luck. 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Politics is strange...

The Kingmaker (2019)
Director: Lauren Greenfield

An eerie resemblance exists between the Marcuses' story and that of Najib Razak's. Ferdinand Marcos was democratically elected as the President of the Philippines in 1965. The beginning of his tenure saw massive development and prosperity aided by foreign funds. By his second term, the economy was in the doldrums, prompting citizen uprising. In 1972, martial law was introduced. The opposition and media were silenced.

True, in the early stage, progress was apparent, and everyone was happy. Slowly, sycophants and rent-seekers moved in. The Marcoses soon became megalomaniacs. Beyond their collection of handbags, shoes and paintings, the symbol of their opulence is the Safari Park in Calauit Island. Imelda Marcus had had exotic animals uprooted from their natural habitats in Kenya to create a wildlife sanctuary in their own backyard. To make place for these wild animals from the other side of the world, the Government had to displace the island's indigenous people who lived there for generations.

Like that Najib won the 2018 elections, albeit with accusations of gerrymandering and money politics, he reinforced his position as PM. That is when the putrefying scandals of corporate foolhardy came to light. People rose to the occasion to oust what they thought was the ruling party in GE14.

Like that, after witnessing their opposition leader, Aguino, gunned down in the cold upon return from the USA, the Filipina People Power rose to the occasion to send the First Family reeling off to Hawaii from Malacanang Palace.

The long arm of the law then dragged itself to retrieve the vast people's wealth parked the world over. Slowly the dust settled. Ferdinand Marcos died in exile.

Calauit Safari Park

The initial euphoria of the People Power dwindled as the economy slowed down, and the divide between the haves and have-nots widened. Crime and drugs menaced the country. Half of the nation had to find employment overseas. The people now reminisce the good old times of the Marcoses when life was better. The public heart mellowed. The Marcoses' plea to return was granted. The former President's body was allowed to be buried in Filipina soil.

They saw hope in Duterte as their next President to put things in order. Imelda slowly shows her mettle. Her son Bongbong Marcus also appears in the scene to stand for the post of Vice President. The people then realise that Duterte had his election campaign financed by none other than Marcos' daughter, Imee. It all fell into place. The Marcoses are back, and the system is twigged for their purpose. Rodrigo Duterte drops another bombshell. His father was a cabinet minister in Ferdinand Marcos' first Government. There we see the connection - Duterte's link to the Marcoses!

The same thing happened in Malaysia. After the initial thrill of changing the Government without bloodshed, Malaysians soon discovered that change was not easy. The nonagenarian, whom they thought had turned over a new leaf, had all the while plotted a twisted Machiavellian move to sabotage his own Government.

Fast forward to the year 2022, like a scene from Mission Impossible where Nathan Hunt removes his disguise over disguise, we see the same clowns that we abhorred re-appearing stronger than before in identical ridiculous suits.

They say love is strange, politics is stranger!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.