#mini-task

𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬  ─  arms  crossed  on  chest  /  crossing  legs  /  fist - like  gestures  /  pointing  index  finger  /  karate  chops  /  stiffening  of  shoulders  /  tense  posture  /  curling  of  lip  /  baring  of  teeth.

𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞  ─  hand - to - face  gestures  /  head  tilted  /  stroking  chin  /  peering  over  glasses  /  taking  glasses  off  (  cleaning  )  /  putting  earpiece  of  glasses  in  mouth  /  putting  the  top  of  a  writing  utensil  in  mouth  /  putting  hand  to  bridge  of  nose  /  pursed  lips  /  knitted  brows.

𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐧  ─  arms  crossed  /  sideways  glance  /  touching  or  rubbing  nose  /  rubbing  eyes  /  hands  resting  on  weapon  /  brows  raising  /  lips  pressing  into  a  thin  line  /  strict,  unwavering  eye  contact  /  wrinkling  of  nose  /  narrowed  eyes.

𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞  ─  hands  behind  back  /  hands  on  lapels  of  coat  /  steepled  hands  /  baring  teeth  in  a  grin  /  rolling  shoulders  /  tipping  head  back  but  maintaining  eye  contact  /  chest  puffed  up  /  shoulders  back  /  arms  folded  just  above  navel  /  wide  eyes  /  standing  akimbo.

𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲  &  𝐚𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲  ─  chewing  at  the  top  of  a  writing  utensil  /  rubbing  thumb  over  opposite  thumb  /  biting  fingernails  /  biting  lips  /  hands  in  pocket  /  elbow  bent  /  closed  gestures  /  clearing  throat  /  “whew”  sound  /  picking  or  pinching  flesh  /  fidgeting  in  chair  /  hand  covering  mouth  whilst  speaking  /  poor  eye  contact  /  perspiring  hands  /  playing  with  hair  /  swaying  /  playing  with  cane  /  smacking  lips  /  sighing  /  rocking  on  the  balls  of  feet  /  flexing  of  cracking  fingers  sporadically.

𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬  ─  arms  crossed  on  chest  /  crossing  legs  /  fist - like  gestures  /  pointing  index  finger  /  karate  chops  /  stiffening  of  shoulders  /  tense  posture  /  curling  of  lip  /  baring  of  teeth.

𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞  ─  hand - to - face  gestures  /  head  tilted  /  stroking  chin  /  peering  over  glasses  /  taking  glasses  off  (  cleaning  )  /  putting  earpiece  of  glasses  in  mouth  /  putting  the  top  of  a  writing  utensil  in  mouth  /  putting  hand  to  bridge  of  nose  /  pursed  lips  /  knitted  brows.

𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐧  ─  arms  crossed  /  sideways  glance  /  touching  or  rubbing  nose  /  rubbing  eyes  /  hands  resting  on  weapon  /  brows  raising  /  lips  pressing  into  a  thin  line  /  strict,  unwavering  eye  contact  /  wrinkling  of  nose  /  narrowed  eyes.

𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞  ─  hands  behind  back  /  hands  on  lapels  of  coat  /  steepled  hands  /  baring  teeth  in  a  grin  /  rolling  shoulders  /  tipping  head  back  but  maintaining  eye  contact  /  chest  puffed  up  /  shoulders  back  /  arms  folded  just  above  navel  /  wide  eyes  /  standing  akimbo.

𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲  &  𝐚𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲  ─  chewing  at  the  top  of  a  writing  utensil  /  rubbing  thumb  over  opposite  thumb  /  biting  fingernails  /  biting  lips  /  hands  in  pocket  /  elbow  bent  /  closed  gestures  /  clearing  throat  /  “whew”  sound  /  picking  or  pinching  flesh  /  fidgeting  in  chair  /  hand  covering  mouth  whilst  speaking  /  poor  eye  contact  /  perspiring  hands  /  playing  with  hair  /  swaying  /  playing  with  cane  /  smacking  lips  /  sighing  /  rocking  on  the  balls  of  feet  /  flexing  of  cracking  fingers  sporadically.

𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬  ─  arms  crossed  on  chest  /  crossing  legs  /  fist - like  gestures  /  pointing  index  finger  /  karate  chops  /  stiffening  of  shoulders  /  tense posture  /  curling  of  lip  /  baring  of  teeth.

𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞  ─  hand - to - face  gestures  /  head  tilted  /  stroking  chin  /  peering  over  glasses  /  taking  glasses  off  (  cleaning  )  /  putting  earpiece  of  glasses  in  mouth  /  putting  the  top  of  a  writing  utensil  in mouth  /  putting  hand  to  bridge  of  nose  /  pursed  lips  /  knitted  brows.

𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐧  ─  arms  crossed  /  sideways  glance  /  touching  or  rubbing  nose  /  rubbing  eyes  /  hands  resting  on  weapon  /  brows  raising  /  lips  pressing  into  a  thin  line  /  strict,  unwavering  eye  contact  /  wrinkling  of  nose  /  narrowed  eyes.

𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞  ─  hands  behind  back  /  hands  on  lapels  of  coat  /  steepled  hands  /  baring  teeth  in  a  grin  /  rolling  shoulders  /  tipping  head  back  but  maintaining  eye  contact  /  chest  puffed  up  /  shoulders  back  /  arms  folded  just  above  navel  /  wide  eyes  /  standing  akimbo.

𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲  &  𝐚𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲  ─  chewing  at  the  top  of  a  writing  utensil  /  rubbing  thumb  over  opposite  thumb  /  biting  fingernails  /  biting  lips  /  hands  in  pocket  /  elbow  bent  /  closed  gestures  /  clearing  throat  /  “whew”  sound  /  picking  or  pinching  flesh  /  fidgeting  in  chair  /  hand  covering  mouth  whilst  speaking  /  poor  eye  contact  /  perspiring  hands  /  playing  with  hair  /  swaying  /  playing  with  cane  /  smacking  lips  /  sighing  /  rocking  on  the  balls  of  feet  /  flexing  of  cracking  fingers  sporadically.

𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬  ─  arms  crossed  on  chest  /  crossing  legs  /  fist - like gestures  /  pointing  index  finger  /  karate  chops  /  stiffening  of  shoulders  /  tense  posture  /  curling  of  lip  /  baring  of  teeth.

𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞  ─  hand - to - face  gestures  /  head  tilted  /  stroking  chin  /  peering  over  glasses  /  taking  glasses  off  (  cleaning  )  /  putting  earpiece  of  glasses  in  mouth  /  putting  the  top  of  a  writing  utensil  in  mouth  /  putting  hand  to  bridge  of  nose  /  pursed  lips  /  knitted  brows.

𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐧  ─  arms  crossed  /  sideways  glance  /  touching  or  rubbing  nose  /  rubbing  eyes  /  hands  resting  on  weapon  /  brows  raising  /  lips  pressing  into  a  thin  line  /  strict,  unwavering  eye  contact  /  wrinkling  of  nose  /  narrowed  eyes.

𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞  ─  hands  behind  back  /  hands  on  lapels  of  coat  /  steepled  hands  /  baring  teeth  in  a  grin  /  rolling  shoulders  /  tipping  head  back  but  maintaining  eye  contact  /  chest  puffed  up  /  shoulders  back  /  arms  folded  just  above  navel  /  wide  eyes  /  standing  akimbo.

𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲  &  𝐚𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲  ─  chewing  at  the  top  of  a  writing  utensil  /  rubbing  thumb  over  opposite  thumb  /  biting  fingernails  /  biting  lips  /  hands  in  pocket  /  elbow  bent  /  closed  gestures  /  clearing  throat  /  “whew”  sound  /  picking  or  pinching  flesh  /  fidgeting  in  chair  /  hand  covering  mouth  whilst  speaking  /  poor  eye  contact  /  perspiring  hands  /  playing  with  hair  /  swaying  /  playing  with  cane  /  smacking  lips  /  sighing  /  rocking  on  the  balls  of  feet  /  flexing  of  cracking  fingers  sporadically.

Here’s the thing: Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo is a great movie to watch if you want a movie version of your old History textbooks, but I wouldn’t recommend this film if you’re looking for another way to get to know the Supremo.

The past is linked to the future through three students trying to make sense of Bonifacio’s life—Joaquin, Andrea, and Gary—who all decided to pay the Katipunan museum a visit for a project. Thus, their little adventure takes us through flashbacks, all comprised of important moments in the adult life of Andres Bonifacio; as well as important dates in Katipunan history.

The movie feeds us information we already know—kind of like a history book brought to life. It paints Andres in all his glory; highlighting his patriotism, showing us the pain he experienced, and the hardships and suffering he experienced during the Spanish regime. This movie scrubbed and buffed Bonifacio’s tarnished name, stripping off his ‘traitor’ image, replacing it with a glorified version of his life and name. I have no qualms about the storytelling—it was easy enough to follow and there were no historical inaccuracies; however, it didn’t seem to show us every side of Bonifacio. The movie just made him look like a helpless victim, like an angel beaten to death by the harshness of his time, and not a human, with mistakes and flaws. It put him up on a pedestal for us to praise and admire, not because of his true being, but because of the pretentious perfection this movie showed us.  

For me, this movie just raised more questions than answers, due to the fact that the movie only brought to life the basic things everyone already knows about him. Maybe it is because of this familiarity that a few important details have been glossed over—like the names of the people who were with him when the Katipunan was established (they only showed who they were through their signatures, but not by their actors-how are we supposed to know who is who?), like the name of the traitor who spilled the existence of the Katipunan to the Spanish authorities, like the mock trial that spelled out his death. Maybe it is because of this textbook familiarity that the whole thing felt achingly boring when it really shouldn’t be, for it doesn’t really shed a new light on who the hero actually was.

In addition to that, the characters in the present seemed to have no purpose, apart from being the link to the past. Why were they there? To serve as the classic example of children empowered by their heroes, only to have their views destroyed when they find out that the man they looked up to actually isn’t who they thought he was?

They should’ve just entitled this movie after the Katipunan—after all, this movie seemed to focus more on the secret organization rather than the life of its founder.

The basic grade school history lesson aside, this is another eye-opener for us Filipinos. The sacrifices our heroes made for us are no joke, they gave up everything they had for our motherland, and their lives are the price they paid for the freedom we are experiencing now. This movie will awaken the Filipino curiosity, possibly link someone to knowing who Andres actually was (it actually compelled me to go on an Andres Bonifacio research binge);  possibly opening eyes to what true love for the motherland means, what it actually means to fight for what is right.

Acting on that information, however, is up to the viewer entirely.

Bottom line is: if you’re looking for basic facts about the most miserable Filipino hero yet, watch this. However, if you wish to dig deeper, consult the internet instead. This movie isn’t that much help.

- Hayden Smith

The proof of my birth is in the flatlands that stretch out to the edge of my memory. It’s quarter to seven in the evening, as far as I can remember.

It’s a barren place that bears little fruit in the passing of the weeks. It’s a hybrid of day and night where time is suspended. The ground is scorched, and cracks emerge slowly. Year on year the red sand melts into itself. I feel myself getting sucked in too, sometimes. The battle is on my hands, the fight is in my name. Time rattles through the wind that whips through trees that ache for water and ache to grow, ache to emulate and ache to know. Where did you come from?

I can’t remember but I believe you; that it was my arrival that brought the sun and the stars together. Stitched up the hole in your heart and let the moon course through your veins and bleed through to my lips.

Today I use them to speak to you over this desert, to howl my gratitude and love. My hands grasp heavy trunks, dust and bark cut my palms; they’re open to you.

The deep cavern of the sky breaks ink into my soul, weighs it down and makes it safe. The edging of the sun on the horizon spikes it with fear. I am night’s child.