#AngNawawala

[cruzee2-blog]

Sometimes the Problem is the Solution

Image Source: Ang Nawawala (What Isn’t There) Cinemalaya Trailer. [Online Image]. Retrieved from URL (https://vimeo.com/45476006). 

Most people who are having a hard time in their life will usually say that life is unfair. However, the problem is not that life is unfair-it is your broken idea of fairness (Emberton, 2014). Problems is the reason why life is challenging. However, problems are not always a bad thing. Sometimes, these problems are the solution people are needing. In fact, this is seen in the 2012 indie film “Ang Nawawala” by Marie Jamora. There are examples of significant problems that benefitted the characters in “Ang Nawawala” instead of being a dilemma to them.

Image Source: Ang Nawawala (Marie Jamora, Cinemalaya 2012 New Breed Finalist) . [Online Image]. Retrieved from URL (http://sinepatrol.blogspot.com /2012/08/ang-nawawala-marie-jamora-cinemalaya.html).

The most notable example of a problem that helped a character in the 2012 indie film is when the main protagonist, Gibson Bonifacio, experienced a heartbreak from the girl that he loves, Enid Del Mundo. This heartbreak helped him realize that he needs to move on from his trauma of losing his brother at a very young age and accept that he cannot do anything anymore to bring him back. Another example of a problem helping a character is when Enid became interested in Gibson, because of Gibson’s problem in speaking. Due to the problem of his trauma, Gibson was unable to speak to cope with what he has experienced but because of his inability to speak, Enid found him attractive making her interested in Gibson. Another problem that helped a character is when the mom is being authoritative to Promise, the little sister of Gibson, in her studies. The strict attitude of the mom was because of the loss of her son, Jaime, the brother of Gibson, thus this made Promise focus on her studies and help her get high grades. One last example of a problem being beneficial is when Gibson’s trauma helped him enhance his skills in filming and editing videos. Video shooting and editing has been a hobby of the Bonifacio family, and Gibson’s skill in this was enhanced when he shoots a video every time he experiences something as an act to forget his problems.

Image Source: Ang Nawawala: A Breath of Awesome Sauce. [Online Image]. Retrieved from URL (http://rheagulin.blogspot.com/2013/04/ang-nawawala-breath-of-awesome-sauce.html).

“Ang Nawawala” is one of the many films that would help people realize that problems can be beneficial for them. Gibson, and his family may have experienced significantly many problems in their lives, but at least they learn from these problems and these problems as something beneficial for them than a disturbance. Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines (Schuller, 1926-2015).

    References:

Jamora, M. (Producer), & Jamora, M. (Director). (2012). Ang Nawawala [Motion Picture]. Philippines: Cinemalaya

Aguila, R. (2012, July 12). Ang Nawawala: a curated glimpse of the local indie music scene. Retrieved November 15, 2017, from URL: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/265173/ang-nawawala-a-curated-glimpse-of-the-local-indie-music-scene/story/

Emberton, O. (2014) The problem isn’t that life is unfair-it’s your broken idea of fairness. Retrieved November 15, 2017, from URL: https://oliveremberton.com/2014/the-problem-isnt-that-life-is-unfair-its-your-broken-idea-of-fairness/

Sarmiento, A. (2015). What isn’t in What isn’t there. Retrieved November 15, 2017, from URL: http://themanilareview.com/issues/view/what-isnt-in-what-isnt-there

[mariejamora]

season's greetings from me and my favorite fictional family to you and you and you. 🎄 . for those who don't know, this was artwork made for my feature film #AngNawawala by the amazingly talented @arncyn. . #throwback #christmas

[mariankristine]

From the movie: Ang Nawawala

(What Isn't There)

[deonioee2-blog]

Why Share Nudes If We Can Share Music

Image Source: [Online Image]. retrieved from URL (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/213076626091139904/)

Music is often over-looked by people who passively listens to it. This way of viewing music misleads it from its true meaning of it being an artwork formed by poetry and instrumentals. As a result, people undervalue music and its capability of bringing people together. However, there are movies that use music as not only an element to synchronize with the scenes, but to prove its ability that it can connect the lives of people. An example of this is “Ang Nawawala”, an indie film directed by Marie Jamora. The film perfectly illustrated the power of music and showed scenes wherein the actors were brought together by music.

In the movie “Ang Nawawala”, there were several great scenes that presented the idea of music bringing people together. One scene was when Gibson was listening to music with his mother when he was young. As shown as a flashback in the movie, Gibson listened the same way as how his mother listened to music. This helped Gibson develop his affection to his mother as they bonded.

 Another scene was when Gibson was alone with Enid in his car. As the concept of wind tunnel, basically two people inhaling each other’s smoke from their cigarettes, was introduced, Enid offered Gibson to listen to her music while Gibson also did the same. Both seized the opportunity and got intimate while listening to their songs individually. 

Image Source:  WHAT ISN’T THERE (Ang Nawawala) International Trailer. [Online Image.] Retrieved from URL (https://vimeo.com/55829184)

Lastly, there were scenes that showed how Gibson and his friends bonded through jamming to music. They would arrange meet-ups in bars and appreciate the bands playing. The film emphasized the idea of music bringing people together in these scenes.

Personally, I believe that music, especially today, is belittled by many because of this generation’s so called “artists”. However, there are other artists such as Cigarettes After Sex, The Drums, Johnny Goth, and Salvia Palth, to name a few, that I personally think that prove to people that music is still art. 

Video Source:  Cigarettes After Sex - Sweet (Lyrics). [Online Video]. Rertrieved from URL (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTk6SVYxShA)

Video Source: The Drums - Heart Basel (Live on KEXP). [Online Video]. Retrieved from URL (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIpJrieP-H0)

We hear so much of senseless music about money, sex or any explicit things produced by substandard artists such as Nicki Minaj, 21 Savage, and Migos. Unfortunately, these type of music are trending and are what our generation enjoy listening to.

Image Source: [Online Image]. Retrieved from URL (http://tosexicons.tumblr.com/post/96305831602/anaconda)

 Although it is disheartening to see our generation accepting and considering these songs as music, if it is what makes people bond with other people, such as in parties, then so be it. After all, each has their own distinct style and taste of preferred music.

References:

Jamora, M. (Producer), & Jamora, M. (Director). (2012). Ang Nawawala [Motion Picture]. Philippines: Cinemalaya

[kamoterunner]

never too late to discover a beautiful film with a cool soundtrack! . i am in ❤ with #angnawawala! . #huwagnasanakonggumisingmagisa ❤ #eulabasco #itchyworms ❤ #cinema76fs (at Cinema '76 Film Society)

[kamunheng]

Movie date with Dominic and Felix 🎈 #AngNawawala (at Cinematheque Centre Manila)

[paciolesee2-blog]

These kinds of things do happen.

Image Source: Reduced heart rate variability may indicate greater vulnerability to PTSD [Online Image]. Retrieved from URL (http://www.psypost.org/2015/09/reduced-heart-rate-variability-may-indicate-greater-vulnerability-to-ptsd-37465)

“The problem with having problems is that ‘someone’ always has it worse” (Madison, n.d.). Problems are significant aspects in everyone’s lives, and unfortunately, can be very stressful to the point where it can affect someone’s personality. It is normal for problems to occur, which is only natural that people try to overcome them. However there are times when these problems can’t be overcome easily, resulting to a long-term effect such as PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder). A scenario of PTSD is highlighted in the movie “Ang Nawawala” by director Marie Jamora in 2012.

Image Source: PTSD: Signs, symptoms and support [Online Image]. Retrieved from URL (http://www.discoversmithsfalls.ca/ptsd-signs-symptoms-support/)

So first, what is PTSD? Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a mental health problem that occurs to a person after experiencing a near-death event such as a car crash, seeing a loved one killed, a landslide, or sexual assault. After a person experiences a certain traumatic event, it could possibly affect them temporarily, then return back to normal after a few days or weeks. However, PTSD is different. The trauma may last for years, or worse, forever. The symptoms people with PTSD may develop are; having bad dreams or memories of the event, avoiding situations or people related to the event, development of negative beliefs and feelings, and feeling anxious or scared often. Although PTSD can be treated through therapy and medicine, the person and the traumatic event may affect the time it takes to be ‘healed’.

Image Source:  Ang Nawawala Movie [Online Image]. Retrieved from URL (http://www.ajdimarucot.com/ang-nawawala-movie#)

In the movie “Ang Nawawala” PTSD is clearly shown through the problem the main character Gibson by his inability to speak. Gibson could not speak because of the traumatic event he experienced when he was a child. When he was younger his twin brother, Jamie, died in front of his own eyes. Jamie being the more favorite out of the two, threw the family into chaos. Gibson’s PTSD also affected the family making it harder for them to keep it together. When Gibson is alone, he visualizes Jamie as how he thinks he would look like if he were still alive. In the movie his voice is only heard when he talks to Jamie but this only happens when he’s alone. Gibson talking to his dead twin brother is another symptom of PTSD. Despite him taking treatments abroad for his PTSD, he realized and decided to move on thanks to experiencing heart break. After this, he decided to once again talk to his family and move on from the tragic event.

Image Source:  30 Interesting Facts About PTSD [Online Image]. Retrieved from URL (http://www.kickassfacts.com/30-interesting-ptsd-facts/)

Ang Nawawala is just one of the movies that has PTSD in it. Other examples are, Forrest Gump, Iron Man 3, Saving Private Ryan, and The Bourne Supremacy. These films portray different kinds of scenarios of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD in fact does happen to a number of people. An estimated 7.8% of Americans will experience PTSD at some point in their live, with women (10.4%) twice as likely as men(5%) to develop PTSD.

References

PTSD: National Center for PTSD (September 15,2017) What Is PTSD?. Retrieved on November 17, 2017, from URL (https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/basics/what-is-ptsd.asp)

Madison T. (n.d.)The problem with having problems is that ‘someone’ always has it worse. Retrieved on November 17, 2017, from URL (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3398537.Tiffany_Madison)

[zinezoned]

Hanna+Gabi

Selena Salang of Ang Bandang Shirley

Diego Mapa of Tarsius

Mariah Reodica of Blast Ople

Quark Henares of Blast Ople

Diego Mapa of Pedicab

Maria Jamora, Director of “Ang Nawawala”

[photo] 07.21.2016 - Ang Nawawala 4th Anniversary at Route 196

[hydrogen29]

Good Place. Good Memories. #Route196 #AngNawawala #Whatisntthere

[regiebariuan]

Got to meet @arncyn amd @marie_jamora during @indiemanilalive's Ang Nawawala Night at @route196rocks. Thanks @jeremycaisip for the photo. 😊 #AngNawawala #HighFiveMOFO (at Route 196 Bar)

[mariejamora]

#throwback to that day when I gave Tony Gilroy the gift of 3 different pirated DVDs of Michael Clayton while on the set of #TheBourneLegacy in Manila. . Mr. Gilroy loved that one of the DVDs had the image of SAW on it, but was still Michael Clayton nonetheless. When I told him I was a director and that I left my own Cinemalaya #AngNawawala auditions early to visit his set, he invited me to watch him shoot by his monitor and explained his shots for the day. He even introduced me to Robert Elswit, and we chatted about his color correction process with his brother. That was one of the chilliest (and coolest) crews I've ever encountered. . i would like to give a major shoutout to @louisozawa for giving me this experience and getting us front row seats to the shooting of the overpass scenes. thanks also to my sister @j2jamora who posted this pic today because it's @jaimebarcelon's beeday! Happy birthday Jaime 🎂🍾🎁

[jugsjugueta]

The @itchyworms at @route196rocks! Thank you #AngNawawala, @marie_jamora & @indiemanilalive. Thank you @nicole_thea for the photo. 😊👍🏼 #itchyworms #itchywormsLIVE #itchywormsXX #itchywormsUnderground (at Route 196, Katips)

[whatjillwants]

Movie trip! #AngNawawala #AngKwentoNatingDalawa (at Artikulo Uno Production)

[indiescafe]

Have you ever felt to be so attached with someone thinking that he/she’s already the one you’re gonna spend the rest of your lifetime with? And then one day, *poof*, you realized that you were only euphoric in the past.

One might have given everything, but it’s not always enough to prove one’s worth. Life, at its harsh condition, does not recognize satisfaction until things become reciprocal favoring one’s desire.

Film: Ang Nawawala

[stillgrabs]

Ang Nawawala (What Isn't There) (2012)

[tangble]

Something under the ocean

is coming up to shore

under the old sun.

Come here into my arms,

measure my breathing.

Send me to sleep, dear.