Skip to main content

I-Witness' "Mga Lola ng Gapo"

Olongapo's Grannies

Last Monday, I-Witness (GMA7) featured a few women who used to offer "extra personal services" to the American servicemen who spent long nights at the pre-Subic-base Olongapo's red district. These women, now in their 80's, now work either as sidewalk vendors or beggars. These women recalled how happy their lives were living the American dream with their apple-of-the-eye American soldiers. Unfortunately for them, a law had to close (in the late 80's) the Subic Base and send the American soldiers back to USA leaving these women and their Fil-Am children with foiled American dream. The eruption of Mt. Pinatubo then must have agreed with this law. The red district turned into ash-gray ghost town, drying a river, and burying a few towns. Today, that district has risen from its ashes into a family-oriented chain of fastfoods and restaurants.

I can't help but feel sad for these elderly women. Not because of their chosen lifestyle in the 1940's to 1980's, but because of the frustrations they had felt in reaching for their dreams and building a family.

[I-Witness episode by Kara David, 30 July 2007, GMA-7.]
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Endless Love - A Filipino Adaptation of Autumn in My Heart

Courtesy pinoyhalo.com "Autumn in My Heart" is a Korean TV series. When GMA Network aired it on Philippine TV, it started a trend. Pinoys went gaga over Koreanovelas. GMA renamed the characters as Jenny, Johnny, and Andrew. The three Korean stars became popular in their character names rather than in their Korean screen names. GMA7 also gave it a new title - "Endless Love" - for the reason that there's no autumn in the Philippines. Today premieres once again Autumn in my Heart aka Endless Love but this time as a Filipino adaptation starring Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, and Dennis Trillo. Three superstars in one show! It's surely a hit. If I were to rewrite some scenes in Autumn In My Heart In general, I enjoyed the pilot episode of Autumn In My Heart. I particularly like the scene where young Johnny and Jenny ride their bicycles on a long brick road fenced with bougainvilla bushes. I give praise to whoever found that place. The school location w...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Final 5

Daryl Celis' rendition of "The Promise" was OK. His past two performances were better. In this episoded, Daryl talked to his dad over the phone after 4 years of not seeing him. His mom used to call him "idol" when he was a child. Gretchen Espina is a member of UP Singing Ambassadors. Kid Camaya did a vocally-good version of "Careless Whisper" by George Michael. He has around 25 siblings. Jayann Bautista was shaky at first when she sang "Finally" but recovered during the latter part. Ram Chaves, as expected, rocked again with Francis M's rap "Yugyugan". Ram's performance is the best among the five. As usual, he was confident on stage; he was performing, not competing. He has a character. He has a band called "Sutil". I would rate Ram with 5 stars (best). Kid and Jayann deserves 4.5 stars. Daryl and Gretchen, 4 stars. Indeed, they have improved a lot.
Post a Comment
Read more

"Makapiling Kang Muli" Review

Patalastas-Hikayat (TV Plug) Impressive TV plug. Shot using a wide screen format, the cinematography was cinematic. GMA Network is good in creating TV plugs, not only in the entertainment field but also in its news and public affairs. Kaya naman, sino ang hindi maiinganyong panoorin ang pilot episode ng "Makapiling Kang Muli." Panimulang Kabanata (Pilot Episode) The pilot episode of "Makapiling Kang Muli" (aired 4 June 2012) is not exactly beyond my expectations. I was expecting na wide screen ang picture format nito. So far, maganda ang takbo ng kuwento. The pacing, editing, and cinematography satisfied my creative cravings. Isang napakaliit na bagay lang ang napuna ko - ang pagsabog ng chopper sa malayuan. Medyo hindi realistic ang dating. Sana, the substance of this drama series remain robust till the end. Napupuna ko kasi sa mga drama series, sa umpisa lang maganda. Towards the middle until the end, nawawala na ang substance ng kuwento. Nagiging sab...
Post a Comment
Read more