Team Chinoy or Team Tisoy?
Being a certified adik, of course I would always go for the chinky-eyed RY. I guess, there’s no getting over the Sir Chief syndrome long after the BCWMH serye ended. And now after 2 years, my all-time favorite couple has finally appeared on the big screen and I surely wouldn’t miss it for the world!
Yesterday, I had a great girl bonding with my fellow adiks (Grace and Hanahrainy – yes, THE Hanahrainy who gave us FLLL, CIL, Bittersweet and other equally wonderful ffs in the whole jochard ffdom) during the block screening of The Achy Breaky Hearts at Dolphy Theater. The night literally and figuratively rained with kilig, tears and nostalgia because of the movie’s unforgettable lines/scenes. Allow me to share some of them (the lines are not verbatim, but they run through the same thought)….
(Scene): The mother and daughter convo of Chingay…
(Lines/Mom): Hindi porket mahal mo at mahal ka, pwede na…
Reflection: This is so, so true. There are far more important things to consider than what you feel towards each other – his/her family, responsibilities, priorities and most importantly T-I-M-E. I can very well relate to this being a single parent, separated and finally meeting someone at an unfortunate time. <Relate much talaga!>
(Scene): The mother and daughter convo of Chingay…
(Lines/Mom): Naging masaya ka for 7 years without them… Hindi mo sila kailangan para sumaya ka, para maging kumpleto ka…
Reflection: This is the mind speaking. 100% true, but easier said than done. My corporate journey gave me so much prestige and fulfillment (I couldn’t ask for more), but at the end of the day – when I lay down to sleep, a comfy bed with a gazillion pillows cannot and will not compensate for human warmth <sigh>.
(Scene): The sisters confrontation about Jenny’s pregnancy and early marriage
(Lines/Jenny): Ate, pag nahanap mo na ang taong para sa ‘yo – dapat ipaglaban mo. Huwag mo nang pakakawalan… Kahit bata pa ako, alam ko ito na yun…
Reflection: Love encompasses age and reason. This is a universal truth. But what makes this line so ironic is the fact that Jenny, being the younger sibling, was the first to find his one true love.
(Scene): Ryan reenacting “Paris” moment with Chingay at the back of his pick-up…
(Lines/Ryan): Hindi man kita madala sa Paris, dadalhin ko na lang ang Paris sa yo…
Reflection: I really admire men who give extra effort for their women. Sometimes, its not the content of the box/gift but on how it was wrapped/given to you. This is the point where I too, fell for Ryan (the character). No offense for the actor ha (disclaimer lang), but I’m guilty of being biased to RY. In fact, I can’t help but push elbows with Hanahrainy who is sitting beside me because I cannot contain my kilig. To add to your viewing pleasures, hope you can watch the episode of TWA where it featured Boy Abunda’s recent interview with IV, JSM and RY.
(Scene): Chingay reciting a mantra to herself after the confrontation with Ryan’s ex
(Lines/Chingay): Wag kang iiyak, wag kang iiyak… (then plays a hilarious song to prevent herself from crying but eventually broke down to tears)
Reflection: We all have ways of coping up with stressful/hurtful events in our lives. In Psychology, they call it defense mechanism. It layman’s term, it is simply our way of protecting ourselves. Surely, we can build a powerful façade to mask our true feelings, but nothing beats a good cry. Kudos to JSM for making a seemingly simple crying scene impactful.
(Scene): Frank bidding goodbye to Chinggay
(Lines/Frank): Ako ba talaga ang mahal mo, or are you just settling for me? …
(Lines/Chingay) : Akala ko ba pag mahal mo, dapat piliin mo… dapat ipaglaban mo?
(Lines/Frank): I love you, that’s why I’m letting you choose … I know na hindi ako ang pipiliin mo… I’m leaving because I want you to find/fight for your happiness….
(Spoiler Alert? Na-ah, it’s best to watch the movie.)
Reflection: This is the part where I really cried my heart out. I was not able to contain my sniff so I really had to blow my nose off. But wait – is it Frank (the character) talking? Or did I sense a personal hugot in the parallel universe? Was it just me and my paranoia? Am I just assuming/imaging things? <wink/sigh>
For me, this is indeed true love – to be able to let go of someone so dear to you and to choose others’ happiness above your own. As the old saying goes: he who sacrifices the most love the most.
And, the most kilig of them all.. the KISSING part of which both leading men had their equal share. What’s the difference?
Chingay and Ryan: For me, it’s a bit aggressive but real – with titling heads, nape grabbing, facial touches and frontal shots (which gave an impression that it was shot spontaneously in one camera angle. (Thanks to my brief cinematography lesson on an actual movie set way back in the 1990’s)
Chingay and Frank: (Again) For me, it’s more passionate – with eyes locked on each other, forehead-to-forehead and sealed with a hug (which I find genuinely romantic). No frontal shots, just featherlike kisses (mostly at the side lip) with semi-fish eye camera pan which gave an impression that it was shot in multiple angles or probably some re-takes sewn together during editing. (I’m watching with a mischievous grin having all of these thoughts during this scene.)
The movie is rated PG so I admit to be slightly disappointed not to see an open mouthed kiss. Maybe it could have been possible if it was done by different actors reunited onscreen despite having different partners in real life. But then again, nobody could have portrayed Chingay better than JSM because it fits her to a T.
One major technical faux pas in the film though, which did not escape my OCness is the Chingay and Frank scene where they were house-hunting with the white bed in the background. To those who have watched the film, I know that you know what I’m taking about. Another one would be the hospital scene of Chingay wherein her younger sister, Jenny (Hope I got her name right, because my main focus were on the trio – Ryan, Chingay and Frank.) was seen pregnant, and yet during the wedding scene, the obvious baby bump was gone. Was it implied that she already gave birth? If so, where was the baby during the wedding?
My sissies and I were just rationalizing about it during dinner (courtesy of Hanahrainy ) – maybe because it was rushed, maybe because they did not have enough time for a reshot, or maybe it was just an editing glitch. In all honestly, any excuse would do. I can and will overlook anything all because of my love for JSM and RY.
Overall, although the movie may have a light rom-com themed story, it will draw powerful insights from the viewers primarily because of the dialogues/hugot lines carefully written and thought of by the writers. As a certified bookworm, I prefer a reading a book than watching a movie. But then again, since its a jochard movie, I can always make an exception. The unconventional ending being a cliffhanger and open for interpretation gives us something to look forward to – probably a sequel, which I’m definitely hopeful of.
For the meantime, I will let the youth in me savor fangirling!
(Just an after thought, I think this is my longest post with over a thousand words… alam na!)
words and letters 