Filipino Indie Film: Gusto Kita Too

I managed to watch Rica Arevalo's short film "Gusto Kita Too" the other day with Sweetie. The film is bundled with "Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa". Rica said that it's the first time in Philippine cinema that a short film is featured with a full length film.

Anyway, after watching "Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa" we had to wait awhile to see "Gusto Kita Too", so make sure you stick around after the main film. The film was spunky, cute and straightforward. It successfully managed to fit in a lot of noteworthy messages in less than 10 minutes.

Fil-ams feel disjointed about not knowing how to speak Tagalog.

I have a lot of friends who were born and bred in the US and don't speak Tagalog. It's a wonder that most of them are enrolled in speak-Tagalog classes. There's also a strong feeling of being "incomplete". They are aware of their heritage, but know nothing of it. My niece in the US is bent on learning a lot about her heritage and is a better tinikling dancer than me now.

Parents of Fil-ams want them to hook-up with non-Filipinos.

"Sorsi ikaw ba ito?" Just read her blog and you'll know what I mean. I guess there is that preference among those who toiled hard to be able to migrate to the US. I just noticed though that a lot of my Fil-Am guy friends prefer homegrown Pinays. Mas maalaga daw kasi.

Anyway, the short film shows us a glimpse of what it is to be Filipino born and bred in another country. The fact that they long for home is undeniable and a stark reality. It's sad, but you know we can always bridge the gap by providing them with Filipino culture rich content (that's what I'm trying to do with my blog). O dibah?

Here's the interview I did with "Gusto Kita Too" writer and director, Rica Arevalo -

What inspired you to do this film?

I took a one-month vacation last December in California just to enjoy and explore the entertainment scene there. At the back of my mind, there was this yearning to do a short film. I purchased a Sony HDV camera but I was not yet sure of what story to tell. So I just immersed myself with the "culture" there. I had some cool cousins there who are Fil-Ams and cannot understand Tagalog. One of their angsts was their parents spoke in English while they were growing up (for them to adjust since they are immigrants) and they took their native language for granted. They regret not speaking in Filipino now.

Everyone falls in love so I wanted a story that most people can relate with---light, fun and entertaining. Since we are Pinoys, I wanted to incorporate the old/modern Pinoy style courtship.

How long did it take for you to do this film? What was your thought process in doing it?

I shot my short film, two days before I flew back to Manila. I asked some relatives and friends to be my actors. So all of them are first-time actors! It was labor of love for everyone. I never imagined that our theatrical run at Robinson's Indiesine would be extended!

I wanted to interview Rica on-cam, but she said that I'd never see her in front of a camera. Anyway, if you watch the film you'll get to see a glimpse of her, well not her, but her twin. I also interviewed her for You Got Tech about video blogging, so watch out for that post too.

"Gusto Kita Too" as I said is spunky and straightforward. I am sure a lot of people would be able to relate with it. And for the Pinoys, I'm sure the torpes would be able to pick up some tips on how to make ligaw. It's still showing together with "Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa". Here's the schedule :

June 4-10 IndieSine, Robinson's Galleria
June 11-17 Robinson's Ermita

Dali! Nood na!

Filipino Indie Film: Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa

I've been invited countless of times to watch Filipino-made indie films, but it was only at the invitation of high-school-laboratory-partner-turned-multi-awarded-film-director (Rica Arevalo, Cinemalaya best director for "ICU Bed #7") that I succumbed to watching. I'm not much of a movie-goer so that's the main reason I haven't gone to any of the Cinemalaya festivals.

So for our monthsary, Sweetie graciously agreed to accompany me to watch Rica's short film "Gusto Kita Too" which was bundled with "Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa". He didn't have any idea what he was getting into heh.




I saw AJ's plug-post about "Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa" a few weeks ago so I had an idea what to expect. The film was about the struggle of Carlito Mariposa (Josh Deocares) in finding his true self. Being a physical therapist he becomes the caregiver of the paralyzed Agustin Vergeire (Marcus Madrigal) and that's where the conflict starts. Carlito falls in love with Agustin but struggles in accepting it since he grew up believing that he should stick to the traditional role of men and men do not fall in love with other men!

The storyline was very interesting. It's nothing new to me since I have a lot of friends who went through the same struggle (yup, I'm a fag hag! and proud to be one). Things were going on smoothly with the story, moving back and forth from past to present but this is what unleashes Carlito's angst about his true self. One would be tricked into thinking that after the gripping introduction that the story would end like how the sun sets, slowly and with the same steady beat it had acquired when Carlito showed up as a 25-year old caregiver. BUT! There's a definite twist at the end. I ended up gripping Sweetie's hand in the last few segments because I didn't expect the Carlito to end up like that. All I can say without giving anything away is "Poor, poor Agustin".

The story was very good and interesting. I just felt that they could've paced it faster, an hour and a half just seemed like forever. There was also quite a number of scenes that made me dizzy because the camera kept bobbing up and down. Made me think that whoever was holding a camera was pasmado. I don't know though if it was really presented that way, but it really made me dizzy.

The film also had a lot of songs played in it. They were great songs (Sa Ugoy ng Duyan was sung by Kuh Ledesma), I just hope they didn't need to finish the full length of the songs, it probably contributed to slowing down the pace.

The actors? Let's just say that Carlito scared me real good and I don't want to bump into him anywhere since I can't forget what he did in the last part of the movie. That's means they were effective actors.

Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa is an interesting film, definitely indie but I have a feeling if you put celebrities as the actors it would be something that a lot of people would watch. I just cannot imagine any of the famous actors playing the roles though because it would probably get controversial.

Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa and Gusto Kita Too show schedules

June 4-10 IndieSine, Robinson's Galleria

June 11-17 Robinson's Ermita

Up next: Gusto Kita Too and an interview with it's director Rica Arevalo

Gusto Kita Too

Last week I was ranting on Twitter about being api my high school classmate-turned movie director. She had a hayday mincing my vlogs into scrap (boohuhuhu). I know, I know she's just after improving my videos... well Rica, my dear 4-year high school laboratory partner, I will and when I find the time I'm going to do that storyboard you're making me do =)

So anyway, Rica's twin sent me details about Rica's new indie-film "Gusto Kita Too". Rica Arevalo, Cinemalaya best director has previously done two award winning films, "ICU Bed #7" and "Saan Nagtatago si Happiness?"


"Gusto Kita Too" was shot entirely in the US and is a romantic comedy about how two Fil-Ams pursue true love in a funny Pinoy style courtship.

Cast: Brian Reyes and Casey Pascual
Produced by: Mediarevolution Film Productions
Edited by: Maan dela Cruz
Original Music: Jerrold Tarog

"Gusto Kita Too" is an added attraction, screening back to back with Will Fredo's sensational film, "Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa" at IndieSine Robinson's Galleria starting May 21, 2008.