For ABLAZE:

Sawi Season Films

The cold and breezy Ber months just began but Sawi season is year-round.

Movies are considered one of the most powerful forms of art. They are what directors or
filmmakers and revered figures of filmland use to entertain and influence people through their ofttimes
relatable theme, dialogue, mind-boggling cinematography and other essential elements.

It was 2016 when the cyberworld got filled with quotations which Filipino millennials call
“Hugot” lines. People compose it in inspiration to what they have experienced; it may be about a happy,
sad, depressed, or broken memories. Since many were hooked with it, Hugot-friendly film became one
of the staples of Philippine cinema.

Here are three of the most talked about local Hugot-Friendly films of the recent past that surely
made you feel broken even if you already are or you’re single and never been into any heartbreaking
occasions.

1. Sid & Aya (Not A Love Story)

“Hindi naman lahat ng may ‘I love you,’ love story na eh.”

“The things that we love will eventually kill us.”

Sid & Aya (Not a Love Story) talks about two people having a distinct
romantic relationship wherein money speaks and so love suffers. The film
revolves around the struggle of Sid and Aya which was about constantly
reminding themselves about the ‘deal’ they got themselves into: a paid-for
companionship.

[vivafilm.com] Sid (Dingdong Dantes) is a not-so-grabby stockbroker who believes that

the world is all about money. Aya (Anne Curtis), a hardworking breadwinner who juggles a lot of jobs,
sought that Sid is the key for her financial constraints. She takes on the unusual proposal of Sid of being
his companion every itty-bitty hours of morning, just to earn extra-income. I guess the main reason why
both of them clicked is because they both understand how the economics of their relationship works.

The natural chemistry of Curtis and Dantes as well as the feels of the film that says ─ even tragic
love stories have the right to be called a ‘love story’ too. ─ made filmgoers hooked with “Sid & Aya
fever” since its release last May 30.
 2. The Day After Valentine’s

-“Anong maganda diyan, tignan mo nga sira-sira?!”

-“I like broken things.”

-“Like me?”

-“‘Di ka broken. May cracks and scratches pero nagfu-function ka pa

naman.”

Nearly one year after starring together in 100 Tula Para kay Stella,
also one of the most successful sawi season films, Bella Padilla and JC
Santos teamed up again for a story about healing through self-love and
forgiveness, called The Day After Valentine’s.

[vivafilm.com] The dominating reasons why many loved this film, especially those
millennial filmgoers, are the relatable dialogues of the characters, breathtaking cinematography of the
film itself and of course, the outstanding acting of the actors.

3. The Hows of Us

-“ Mahal pa rin kita, Jo”

-“Ano na naman ang kapalit? Ilang taon na naman ng buhay ko ang

sasayangin ko?!”

The Hows of Us is another blockbuster film of the most loved Teen

King and Queen, Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo. Since its first showing
last August 29, it was a megahit in filmdoms because of its very timely and
highly relatable theme. THOU talks about the love story of George and Primo,
a young couple who dreams to grow old together, however, challenged by
the sour twists and turns of their individual career and passion and found
separation as the key resolution. In the end, realizations and forgiveness reign so they still ended up in
[starcinema.abs-cbn.com]the arms of each other.

In a way, the film mirrors the typical love story of many for it features how a relationship can go
wrong if it was just the other participant who is selfless and sacrificial while the other partner is
irresponsibly committed.

When watching films like these, I highly recommend the you bring your equally sawi friends and
some snacks so you can eat all your feelings up.

Hugot-Friendly films are also considered as bankable genres of the present. So, there really is a
tendency that some movies would have similar stories or would revolve to tired tropes and formula but
for certain, they will be delivered in different flavors and versions. It is noteworthy, that they give pride
to the modern Filipino culture of Art so the effort of supporting them must never be diminished on us.
For the Newspaper:

Overcoming Agony

“And all those things I didn’t say…”

It’s better to be slapped with the truth than to be with words left unsaid. Not voicing out the
words you want to say and being pressed onto something, they’re one of the reasons why there’s a
word called depression─ it is a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a
despondent lack of activity as stated in the dictionary.

“Wrecking balls inside my brain…”

Lack of competence. Lack of the urge to fight for what is right. Lack of positive attitude. The
things you need to survive in this world surrounded with problems and difficult trials. What’ll you do if
you don’t have them?

Way back 2016, a female student of De La Salle University reportedly fell to her death inside a
building. The LaSallian, DLSU’s official student publication, said a staircase in Brother Andrew Gonzalez
Hall was impassable at around 5:33 PM due to an unidentified incident however, social media reports
said it was due to a female student who jumped off the 20th floor of the University building. Some even
said that the student jumped because of depression due to failed grades.

“I will scream them loud tonight…”

All people are, of course, different from each other. Coping abilities of people with depression
also differ. Many are able to keep a façade of good mental and physical health to protect themselves but
they aren’t suffering any less simply because they can hide what they feel. They tend to keep the
feelings that cause them to be depressed.

Shout! Say what you feel. Just like the thing they always say, shouting is one of the best ways to
loosen up, to decrease the tension, the pressure and depression you feel.

“Can you hear my voice this time…”

Depressed people tend to make decisions that are not right as it is one of the reasons why
people decide to end their lives. The feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, restlessness. This can happen
at any age and those are facts we cannot ignore. As the population of people encountering this kind of
mental disorder, people started to move by making organizations to rehabilitate those who acquired
this wherein they can share everything that causes them to be depressed.

“This is my fight song…”

Do your best and God will do the rest. Fighting this may be hard but hard is not impossible.
Every person encounters a time where they will be broken but the thing is, you should be strong enough
to fight those fears away.
 Always remember, not everything will fall into their right places in your right time. Trust Him,
make your fears your strength, fight depression and everything will fall into their best places in God’s
perfect time.

Beneficial Yet Deadly

As much as people want improvement and easier ways to finish a job, more advanced
technologies were introduced and used. But aside from the benefits we gain from it, harmful effects can
also take place.

Basically, technologies were designed to make difficult things easier, but as overused, can bring
harm and danger. But what harm and danger?

The possibility to have a cancer is carcinogen, and radiation is one of its kinds. Materials like
computers, televisions and cellphones are some examples that give out radiation to its users. Radiation
can also be a factor of cancer especially once inclined with stress and fatigue.

Students are the best example of a ‘modern technology users,’ since they always use advanced
technologies. One of it is televisions. They often use this to be entertained. Researchers stated that
students were affected by overusing televisions through enough hours of sleep, weight, academic
grades, actions they show or portray.

Another example of a tool is cellphones. It is commonly used for communication through ‘cell
site’. Cell site connects signals for two communicators to reach each other. Cellphones use
electromagnetic radiation which is said to have harmful effects if neglected. Males were also said to lose
30% of its semen due to over usage. Putting it in pockets even when sleeping can also cause danger.

Scientists also agreed that another pollution was introduced. It cannot be seen, smell and given
attention but it is surely deadly, it is called electromagnetic frequencies that are from electricities, just
like televisions. These are technically called “radiation.”

These days, our generations are stepping up a new level through advanced technologies, and
can proudly say that it really helped people a lot. But always remember just like what a saying says, “too
much can also be harmful.”