The Pisay Movie
Last July 21, some Pisay teachers watched the film Pisay, a 2007 Cinemalaya entry with Aureus Solito (Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros) at the helm. I looked forward to watching this movie for many reasons. I am a proud Pisay alumnus of Batch 2000 (best batch ever pero secret lang *bias*), and I seem to have gone full circle, returning to Pisay four years later to teach Math and experience Pisay at another level. I am interested as to how the movie will be treated, for there really is a complex Pisay culture, and there is just too many perspectives to consider. Moreover, I know my students will act as extras, and Shayne Fajutagana of Batch 2007 was cast as one of the leads.
Months ago, when Jayson, a Pisay batchmate, sent an e-group message about Solito’s plan to do the Pisay movie, I became really interested. I even told Jasmin Hipons (my first homeroom class) about it and told them jokingly to audition in Nagtahan (at the director’s house). Little did I know that the auditions will be brought to the Diliman campus, and dozens of students excitedly filled up forms and acted with a camera rolling. Hiring actual PSHS students to portray the definitive scholar actually makes sense; they might have to deliver lines that may be deemed too technical for some but is just everyday jargon in Pisay.
Assembly time was 2:00 PM at the front lobby. I went to Pisay from Ateneo, fresh (?) from my Algebraic Structures class. We rode the Pisay bus, along with the English Journalism class. It could be labelled the ultimate Pisay Movie experience: meeting up at the campus, riding the Pisay bus, then travelling towards the CCP Complex to watch the film. The airconditioning of the bus was at most inconsistent. It will stop functioning at seemingly random, but very conspicuous, time intervals, agitating a lot of passengers. But we just had to deal with it, just like Pisay students deal with a motherload of requirements, consecutive long exams side by side with looming deadlines.
At the CCP lobby, the lines were long and almost assuming a smoke diffusion pattern, but this was a non-factor at all. Familiar faces were at every corner: my classmates and batchmates, former students slash fresh alumni, and some notable people (including Jessica Zafra). The gathering could easily be mistaken for an alumni homecoming. It’s nice to see my friends again, and my ‘07 students too. There was something in the atmosphere, a certain Pisay collective, an intangible that makes me want to see the movie more. After minutes of waiting and picture taking, we were ushered in.
Each batch, each scholar has a story to tell, and Aureus opted to give the film a personal touch: the film was set in the 80s (he was from Batch ’86), at a time when the dictatorship is nearing its end. Characters of the movie are based on true accounts of his batchmates, and also of their more memorable teachers. The movie is aptly divided into four parts, from Freshman to Senior year, with 2 of the 8 leads as focus for every chapter. The movie was also interspersed with documentary material, like historic shots of Ninoy Aquino (no pun intended) and martial rule. The Pisay scholar is depicted in a holistic manner: all-encompassing and accurate in Math and the Sciences and its applications, creative and provocative in the humanities and arts, as well as pursuant and proactive in the social relevance aspect.
I wouldn’t know how a non-PSHS student will appreciate the seemingly nonchalant manner in which highly technical lines were delivered by the leads. There might also be the impression that our scholars are intellectually arrogant. But that’s how life is in Pisay: we actually don’t notice but our everyday jargon is very academic by standards even if mixed with humor.
The film has a lot of wonderful shots of the Pisay campus. A personal favorite is the scene where cadets were jogging while orange-red petals adorned the road. The opening aerial shot at the front lobby was also very chilling on my part. Sequences of the Junior year are very powerful, especially when the class report of Andy gives justice to Macliing Dulag’s heroism, while Liway (Shayne) had to flee the country for safety. The tween actors are very impressive, and I’m really glad that the likes of Eugene Domingo and Ama Quiambao (in a very short role) were included in the cast.
Outside the Main Theater, the crowd who lined up earlier were looking for their respective batchmates practically to say in unison “ang ganda!” and every positive remark imaginable. The photo sessions continued, with batchmates and former students. Food was served, and I could have rubbed elbows with the stars, but older people were busy chatting with them. The mood was very light and warm. I think Pisay pride got a notch higher. It was indeed a fun day.
With a brilliant film at hand, the PSHS scholar may now get the mainstream mileage it has always deserved (although I know this is not a concern at all). Every other school has always feared (but they wouldn’t admit publicly) competing with the PSHS delegation. Now, through the movie, the heart of the scholar is exposed. I hope that current Pisay scholars realize that the burden of proof is upon them, not only academically (for this is almost always a given) but socially also when the times call for it.
The bus ride to Pisay could have been labelled uncomfortable, but in this sea of life that flows, and after the CCP experience, it could easily be brushed aside.
Months ago, when Jayson, a Pisay batchmate, sent an e-group message about Solito’s plan to do the Pisay movie, I became really interested. I even told Jasmin Hipons (my first homeroom class) about it and told them jokingly to audition in Nagtahan (at the director’s house). Little did I know that the auditions will be brought to the Diliman campus, and dozens of students excitedly filled up forms and acted with a camera rolling. Hiring actual PSHS students to portray the definitive scholar actually makes sense; they might have to deliver lines that may be deemed too technical for some but is just everyday jargon in Pisay.
Assembly time was 2:00 PM at the front lobby. I went to Pisay from Ateneo, fresh (?) from my Algebraic Structures class. We rode the Pisay bus, along with the English Journalism class. It could be labelled the ultimate Pisay Movie experience: meeting up at the campus, riding the Pisay bus, then travelling towards the CCP Complex to watch the film. The airconditioning of the bus was at most inconsistent. It will stop functioning at seemingly random, but very conspicuous, time intervals, agitating a lot of passengers. But we just had to deal with it, just like Pisay students deal with a motherload of requirements, consecutive long exams side by side with looming deadlines.
At the CCP lobby, the lines were long and almost assuming a smoke diffusion pattern, but this was a non-factor at all. Familiar faces were at every corner: my classmates and batchmates, former students slash fresh alumni, and some notable people (including Jessica Zafra). The gathering could easily be mistaken for an alumni homecoming. It’s nice to see my friends again, and my ‘07 students too. There was something in the atmosphere, a certain Pisay collective, an intangible that makes me want to see the movie more. After minutes of waiting and picture taking, we were ushered in.
Each batch, each scholar has a story to tell, and Aureus opted to give the film a personal touch: the film was set in the 80s (he was from Batch ’86), at a time when the dictatorship is nearing its end. Characters of the movie are based on true accounts of his batchmates, and also of their more memorable teachers. The movie is aptly divided into four parts, from Freshman to Senior year, with 2 of the 8 leads as focus for every chapter. The movie was also interspersed with documentary material, like historic shots of Ninoy Aquino (no pun intended) and martial rule. The Pisay scholar is depicted in a holistic manner: all-encompassing and accurate in Math and the Sciences and its applications, creative and provocative in the humanities and arts, as well as pursuant and proactive in the social relevance aspect.
I wouldn’t know how a non-PSHS student will appreciate the seemingly nonchalant manner in which highly technical lines were delivered by the leads. There might also be the impression that our scholars are intellectually arrogant. But that’s how life is in Pisay: we actually don’t notice but our everyday jargon is very academic by standards even if mixed with humor.
The film has a lot of wonderful shots of the Pisay campus. A personal favorite is the scene where cadets were jogging while orange-red petals adorned the road. The opening aerial shot at the front lobby was also very chilling on my part. Sequences of the Junior year are very powerful, especially when the class report of Andy gives justice to Macliing Dulag’s heroism, while Liway (Shayne) had to flee the country for safety. The tween actors are very impressive, and I’m really glad that the likes of Eugene Domingo and Ama Quiambao (in a very short role) were included in the cast.
Outside the Main Theater, the crowd who lined up earlier were looking for their respective batchmates practically to say in unison “ang ganda!” and every positive remark imaginable. The photo sessions continued, with batchmates and former students. Food was served, and I could have rubbed elbows with the stars, but older people were busy chatting with them. The mood was very light and warm. I think Pisay pride got a notch higher. It was indeed a fun day.
With a brilliant film at hand, the PSHS scholar may now get the mainstream mileage it has always deserved (although I know this is not a concern at all). Every other school has always feared (but they wouldn’t admit publicly) competing with the PSHS delegation. Now, through the movie, the heart of the scholar is exposed. I hope that current Pisay scholars realize that the burden of proof is upon them, not only academically (for this is almost always a given) but socially also when the times call for it.
The bus ride to Pisay could have been labelled uncomfortable, but in this sea of life that flows, and after the CCP experience, it could easily be brushed aside.
Labels: Pisay
posted by mardan at 9:32 PM
2 comments
