Mano Po 5 (Gua Ai Di) & Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo
For the last 5 years, during Christmas, my sister and I would watch at least 1 tagalog film being featured in the Manila Filmfest. There are no other options to watch during Christmas except tagalog films but of course I don’t mind watching tagalog films with my sister. In fact, it was only this kind of movie date that my sister and I have the chance to spend quality time with one another and talk about anything as how you would talk with your closest friends.
This year, we watched 2 films — Mano Po 5 (Gua Ai Di) and Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo. And given these 2 movies, my personal choice is (with regards to actors/actresses and the story), is Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo.
Here’s the synopsis of Mano Po 5 (Gua Ai Di) taken from clickthecity.com: Charity is pure Chinese while Nathan has no drop of Chinese blood in him. This is not a problem between them, but it is for Charity’s mother Yolanda, who is strongly against the relationship. When her childhood friend Timothy–who’s now big in Asia as the singer Felix Yan–comes home to visit, Charity’s world gets especially hard. Charity must prove to everyone, from Nathan to her family, where her loyalties lie even as her mother does everything in her power to tear the two young lovers apart. How strong is their love against years-old tradition?
My thoughts about the movie: I will not deny the fact that Chinese families prefer (in some sense: a requirement, a must) their children to get betrothed to a fellow Chinese – maintain the tradition and customs being followed, and it will not be seen as a disgrace in the family especially if the relationship is involving a Chinese woman and a non-Chinese man (but then again I don’t know why here in the Philippines, if a Chinese woman marries a non-Chinese specifically not a Filipino, it would be acceptable …hmmm). The unrealistic part in the movie is that Charity’s relationship with Nathan is acceptable by Charity’s grandmother (mother’s side)! It was Charity’s grandmother insistence to Charity to follow her heart. Well, of course, I could be wrong, na posibleng mangyari din ito sa totoong buhay but I find that uncommon :p The moment a relationship is not approved by the parents, the entire clan (grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunties etc) will not approve as well. Sympre, I would love to be in Charity’s shoes when it comes to the ending part of the movie – Charity’s mom was the one who fetch Nathan for their family activity and accepted Nathan’s relationship with Charity.
Few people I know (or at least heard about their adventures in their lovelife) would do what Charity did – despite of her mom’s disapproval for Nathan, she still let Nathan join their family activities, and fights her love for Nathan to her mom and would do things to let Nathan know of her love for him. It would take a lot of courage on the woman’s part to fight for her love and at the same time not lose her respect towards her parents. Also, to find a guy like Nathan who would do anything just to get the approval of Charity’s mom (i.e. learning Chinese/fookien language; willing to adjust himself for Charity’s family, knowing the traditions and customs and etc).. Naku, kung may makilala akong ganoon, hay that person is “too good to be true” :p
Their Fookien? Requires more practice. Peke ang dating.. but of course, in fairness naman e hindi sila talagang Chinese sa totoong buhay. But I guess with the assumptions that actors will do a lot of practice to make themselves realistic in any movies they will make. For this film, they failed. Slang ang kanilang fookien :p
For the movie Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo, here’s the synopsis from clickthecity.com: When they meet, Angie and Jed are immediately drawn to each other. But his mother is urging him to join the family in the States, and she is frustrated that he still can’t make his own decisions. So he does-and it leads them both to the altar. Things are only about to get more interesting as they start a life together and try to build a family, all while dealing with his elitist mother and her own more humble, if not less tactless, mother. It is a funny movie but with a story and lessons to learn from. Actually no new things can be learned from this movie, but more on reminding us on some realities in life. For instance, in Angie’s talk with her dad, her dad mentioned something like (not in actual words but same thought) “kilalanin mo muna bago pakasalan” and also after Jed’s and Angie’s wedding, jed’s commented na (something to that effect) “you will get to know the person once you are married to him/her” – I guess even we are sure of our emotions to the person we love, we cant really tell if we know the person very well. Kahit may mga ups and downs sa relationships, still may not be enough. It will always be an exploration of knowing more of the person we love in or not-yet in the marriage. Sympre nanduon din ang constant adjustments as we are “getting to know one another” in fact sa friendship pa lang, we do a lot of adjustments na, what more if we are committed? What struck me also in the movie was “pakakasalan ang isang tao dahil sya, at hindi para baguhin”. Very well said.
….love a person, marry a person because of who he/she is, how he/she was packaged.. loving him/her despite of weaknesses, indifference and faults.. but simply you love the person. 
Hay, what a life :p
