Margot Tenenbaum, The Royal Tenenbaums

You know your party is legit when the kids who are too cool for this sh*t show up. #YSProm is probably not Margot’s thing but we’ll invite her anyway. We’ll even save her a slice of cake in case she feels like not staying at home to smoke in her bathroom. Why? Because she’s a Tenenbaum, obviously.

Shaggy Rogers, Scooby Doo

We remember Shaggy and Scooby Doo from their many adventures, but even more so for their big appetites. While they’re really fun guests to have around, it’s best to keep them away from the #YSProm food booth. They can see anything edible as a Scooby snack and we all know what happens after that.

Angelica Pickles, Rugrats

She’ll probably just judge us all at #YSProm but she wouldn’t be Angelica Pickles if she didn’t. She’s a bully (and she knows it) but she’s was also a big part of our childhood. Since we’re all grown up anyway, it might finally be time for a quick honest chat with her. She’ll probably just call us all stupid anyway, but that wouldn’t just that make for a good drinking game?

Ese and Joey, Gimik The Reunion

The ‘90s was the golden era of Pinoy loveteams and at one point in our childhood, we wanted what Ese and Joey had. They made us laugh, squeal, and ugly cry in Gimik The Reunion (or any Jolina-Marvin sighting, tbh). While they’re not together anymore, we can’t help but want to see them again for old time’s sake. Who knows, they might even indulge us with a song and dance number. (Chuva choo choo, anyone?)

Twister Rodriguez, Rocket Power

You know what they say, “snap or it didn’t happen.” Besides the occasional drunk clips, we actually enjoy taking videos of our daily activities. But when you’re having too much fun living it up, it’s best to have friends that can record your memories for you. Having Twister Rodriguez in YS Prom would be perfect. He skates around with a video recorder in hand so he’ll definitely catch every snap-worthy moment and still look cool at the same time.

Rory Gilmore, Gilmore Girls

As far as girl crushes go, it couldn’t get any better than Rory Gilmore. First of all, she’s well-read and her witty comebacks are impressive. As she returns to our screens again, we can’t help but want to catch up and hope to get the inside scoop on the Netflix Gilmore Girls special. That, and we just really wanna see our crush again and find out how they’re doing.

Chuck Bass, Gossip Girl

Everyone knows that there ain’t no party like a Chuck Bass party. It’s not like we’ve ever been to one (we can only dream!) but we do know that every spoiled rich kid can throw an epic rager. Since it’s our 20th birthday, one of our wishes is to party it up with Mr. Bass and the many cool kids he’ll roll with. Street cred plus points: check!

Brian Griffin, Family Guy

Well, it’s not like you’ll need another reason to drink at YS Prom. But having Brian Griffin around will definitely have you needing another round of drinks or maybe even five. This Labrador is cultured enough to talk to you about anything from jazz to a novel that he wrote. He can hold his alcohol and keep an interesting conversation at the same time. That should be fun.

Barb, Stranger Things

Every party group needs a designated driver. #YSProm is happening on a school night this year so it’s best to be with a driver who can get you home safe and before curfew. Barb’s Stranger Things stint was also way too short but YS Prom is the perfect occasion to get to know more about everyone’s favorite barkada tita. Who knows, a few drinks in and she might actually show us her wild side.

Sarah ang Munting Princesa

She will give you a run for your #YSProm queen dreams. Our exclusive guest list includes some of the best creatives any publication could dream of. But the buzz of our party really comes from the appearance of the hottest names in town. It’s 2016 but photos of Sarah from 1985 (in the form of memes) are still very popular in our feeds. If that doesn’t scream “influencer” then we don’t know what does.

Ryan and Sharpay Evans, High School Musical

Young STAR loves people who take their costumes seriously like Ryan and Sharpay Evans. A little sparkle never hurt nobody but a lot of creativity in your #YSProm outfit might just get you an award. With this dynamic duo around, everyone will surely step up their #throwback fashion game. Now, wouldn’t that make for a pretty souvenir picture?

Karen Smith, Mean Girls

Everyone loves a low-key bitch like Karen. Living it up as a member of the “Plastics,” she’s funny and friendly but can be such a bully too. Did we mention she can predict the weather with her boobs? We’ll never really know when that might come in handy. (P.S. It will be very helpful for this year’s #YSProm.)

Peyton Sawyer, One Tree Hill

#YSProm is a night of celebrating Young STAR and the many contributors that give it meaning. In a crowd full of artists, we think Peyton Sawyer would fit just right in. Besides having great taste in art and music, she also established her own music label. Young STAR always recognizes the passion of our youth, and these are the kinds of creative pioneers we’ll always support.

Kenan and Kel

What’s a birthday party without a clown? By that, we mean the funny guys, not the creepy dudes on our newsfeeds. Despite all their shenanigans, this dynamic duo actually taught us a valuable lesson: it’s okay to fail, just keep on dreaming anyway. But then again, we really wanna see them at #YSProm for their jokes and the endless prank attempts. That, and to finally find out what’s in their orange soda.

Ugat-Puno, Sineskwela

So much has changed since our legit kiddie birthday. But we gotta give credit to the OGs who got us to where we are now. Remember Ugat-Puno, the talking tree from Sineskwela? We haven’t seen him in awhile but we still want to invite him to YS Prom. We found comfort knowing that we’re not the only ones who are sabaw early in the morning. (Ugat-Puno was very confused for most of the show.) But besides that, he kinda helped us pass our Science subjects too. That’s, like, a lot.

F4, Meteor Garden

They were probably not your first crush but that doesn’t mean your attraction to them will ever die. You probably even lost a few friends fighting over them. But that’s the kind of grade school drama that made the good old days so memorable. We’re pretty sure having the F4 boys in YS Prom will trigger even more nostalgic moments that’ll start some great conversations.

Raven Baxter, That’s So Raven

There’s always that one person who brings the party wherever they go. While we find her psychic powers super cool, we also love Raven Baxter for her contagious energy. She can break it down on the dance floor, belt it on the karaoke, and keep up an engaging conversation. Who wouldn’t want her at a party?

Fred and George Weasley, Harry Potter

Made more exciting is the fact that 24-year-old Petersen is a young filmmaker to watch out for, having made his mark in so many ways since his years studying film at the University of the Philippines. Back in 2015, his 20-minute thesis film Lisyun qng Geografia traveled the world, going to film festivals in Mindanao, Pampanga, Thailand and Mumbai. When it arrived at last year’s Cinemalaya Film Festival (which put focus on short films), it earned Petersen the Best Director Award. Petersen has been nominated for the Gawad Urian Awards and the Cinemanila International Film Festival and won Best Short Film at the 26th Gawad CCP for Short Narrative.

And so we unspool Petersen’s latest intriguing creation, a gritty slice of life in Pampanga, written by his co-Kapampangan Jason Paul Laxamana. (Laxamana recently directed the dark comedy Mercury is Mine, which competed at this year’s Cinemalaya Film Festival.) Just before the film’s premiere, we talked to Petersen about the wealth found in exploring one’s roots, the appeal of adolescence as storytelling device, and why love fades but friendship is, well, forever.

YOUNG STAR: Can you tell us a few things about the film? What inspired you to write it?

PETERSEN VARGAS: The film is called 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten and it’s written by Jason Paul Laxamana and directed by me. It’s an entry to this year’s Cinema One Originals fest. The nature of the project — it didn’t start as a collaboration, actually. Jason Paul wrote it first, thinking that he’d direct it.

At the start of 2016, I approached Jason Paul with the thought of asking him to co-write this whole other concept that I think was perfect for us to work on together. Instantly, he thought of the more perfect idea: why not read this script that he recently wrote, that he suddenly thought I was fit to direct? At that time, I never imagined that my debut feature was going to be lifted from another person’s material. But the moment I read the screenplay, which was previously entitled Dos Mestizos, I could already see the film playing in my head. I saw myself in the lead character Felix, and how he went through all sorts of awakenings during a very turbulent time in high school. Add the fact that the story had a very Kapampangan characteristic into it, and that it was telling the narrative of post-Pinatubo Angeles City, seen through the eyes of three complicated and conflicted youths.

It wasn’t like I was inspired to write something. It was more of being suddenly inspired to translate something already beautifully written to moving images. It was definitely a new thing for me to do.

You’ve always shown your Kapampangan roots in your work. How did your heritage inform this film? How did you want to portray your hometown this time around?

Yes! Actually, I didn’t experience high school in the late ‘90s. My generation came much later. It was Jason Paul, the writer, who definitely saw all this happen. But what was very interesting for me was that, even if we came in much later, like around more or less a decade after, the situation was almost the same. It almost felt like it was a lived experience, reading his story about Felix and the Fil-Am Snyder brothers. This whole phenomenon seemed like it was entrenched in the Kapampangan life.

Angeles City has always been known for pretty disturbing narratives about its red light districts, its working women, and its fatherless Amerasians. You could almost see a modern noir thriller being born out of its gritty and depressing state. Not to mention that even back in college, I was an intern for this documentary production helmed by a New York-based filmmaker who was out to capture the “essence” of Angeles City’s Fields Avenue. But it shouldn’t always be like that, right?

I felt like Jason Paul Laxamana, in his screenplay, wanted to represent the Kapampangans living against that backdrop in a different light. I mean, I still don’t want to pretend that the film didn’t come out just as dark and twisted in one way or another. The truth is that it might always end up that way, or that it’s already there, staring you right in the face. I guess the way I wanted to portray it was through an honest and sincere lens. It was difficult to get there but I hope we did.

Like your characters in Lisyun qng Geografiya, the kids in 2 Cool are also in high school. What motivates you to explore adolescence as a device to tell stories?

I guess it’s a stubborn way of not wanting to grow up yet? No, I’m kidding. Sort of, haha.

I guess every storyteller always has their own thing, and this is my own thing — telling stories about young people. There’s something about the fragility and vulnerability of youth that really challenges you to go deeper. What’s so beautiful about immaturity? What’s worth telling about indecision, restlessness, and all these unnecessary feelings that we only come to understand a few years later?

Whenever I ask these questions, there’s always a good story or two somewhere in there.

A lot of your work touches on LGBT relationships in a very humanizing way (i.e. not the usual way gay relationships are portrayed in film). How did you explore in this film, if you did?

Thank you for saying that.

I guess part of it is that… I’m gay? Haha, no, it’s true, though. I remember when I was in a Q&A session after a festival screening of this French lesbian film called Summertime, and up came the producer-director tandem onstage, who happened to be a long-time lesbian couple. They were talking about how, a year before principal photography, they were at the Cannes premiere of the Palme D’or-winning — you guessed it right — Blue Is The Warmest Color. When the credits were rolling, the producer of said tandem went, “Oh no, the film we’re just about to make was already made.” But that didn’t stop them from pursuing their dream project. The end product was a much more sensual, and grippingly raw portrayal of a woman’s sexual awakening, upon having met the first woman of her life.

There’s really some merit in actually having lived (through) what the characters in your story might experience. Or at least to have understood at some level. With 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten, the exploration came from the thought that here’s our hero Felix, who’s a very blank person. His very first friend is an attractive half-American boy, who has an equally handsome mischievous young brother. He only comes to understand relationships as informed by his burgeoning friendship with these two boys in his life. What does that make you understand about attraction and affection?

Photo by Karen de la Fuente

Cinema One Originals has always been known for experimental film shooting. Did you take opportunities to explore the kind of filmmaking you haven’t done before?

Yes, and I really admire that about Cinema One Originals. It’s the local festival that really introduces fresh, new concepts and always, each year, an exciting roster of both first-time filmmakers and some household names with rather intriguing and groundbreaking projects.

For this film, I guess there’s also some risk in the techniques we tried to explore in making it. We shot the film with a square ratio (not a perfect square, but more like the Academy ratio of 4:3), for starters. And that, in itself, gave way to several challenges and limitations during production. But it was a risk worth taking! I felt that, even with that very simple decision, I grew as a filmmaker in many ways.

What do you hope the audience will take away from this film?

Staying at the hotel gets you coupons to Cha Cha’s breakfast buffet. But no, this is not your usual crummy tapa, corned beef or tocino kind of buffet. The breakfast selection is pretty expansive but not overwhelming; just enough to ensure that ingredients are fresh and flavors are kept in tip-top shape. And boy, is the food good. There’s not a more accurate description other than it feels like a warm hug — and that’s only slightly exaggerating.

Chef Kalel Chan describes the restaurant as light and breezy, and they incorporated this feeling into the food as well. Better than an aspirin, if I may say so myself. A highlight of the breakfast buffet is the tapa, and no, it ain’t the crummy kind. Cut into thin slices reminiscent of Japanese gyudon, it’s a little bit sweet and not too salty. Best of all, it melts in your mouth. They also serve stone-fired breakfast pizza (because why not?) that’s light and airy, topped with a runny sunny-side up. There’s a whole lot more — breads, salads, noodles, ulam. Chef Kalel says they rotate the menu six times a week, so there’s never a dull moment and umay is not in its vocabulary.

If you find yourself just hanging out at the hotel for the whole day (trust me, if you stay at Coast, you’re never gonna want to leave), the lunch and dinner menu is even more robust. The poke bowl is, for the lack of a better word, amazing, with a punchy-spiced salmon and fresh cucumber, avocado and Japanese pickles. Freshness is emphasized not only in this signature dish, but throughout the menu as well. The chef explains that they try to get as many ingredients sourced locally, so it doesn’t get stale and a feeling of lightness is kept throughout.

But what’s a beach trip without any seafood? There’s a plethora of sea-tasting offerings, but if you’re looking for home comfort on the beach, nothing beats the guava sinigang. Served with a variety of mouthwatering fish and shellfish, it’s enough to challenge your mom’s cooking, topped off with the freshness of Boracay’s breeze and sunshine. If you’re up for something a little bit more sinful, the Ilocos style bagnet will send you right up to nirvana, with the crispiest skin, succulent pork, and just the right amount of fat on each bite-sized piece. You’ll definitely want to order extra rice for this.

Speaking of sinful indulgences, Cha Cha’s bar serves up the perfect drink for any occasion on the beach. You can always get the classic Pale Pilsen while lounging on the famous sandy beach, but their cocktails elevate the experience ‘round the clock: whether it’s dinner and drinks, sipping mai tais by the pool, or even spiking that breakfast shake — they’ve got you covered. The Chotto Matte highball is the perfect all-day drink: light enough to welcome the day, but enough to get you buzzed while working on the night’s pre-game. Their Maui Mai Tai is great for when you’re just lounging by Coast’s dipping pool or by the beach, serving up just the right amount of pineapple and cherry while basking in the sunlight. If you’re feeling a little bit adventurous, the Beach Fuel should fire you right up: it’s a version of Rocket Room’s Rocket Fuel made for the beach, with a spicy kick at the end of each sip. A couple of drinks should be able to get you up and dancing (But hey, if you’re looking to get another hangover, no judgment). They’ve got a pretty wide selection to choose from — classic, safe choices are available too — but you’re on vacation. It’s okay to live a little.

Depending on how you look at it, going to Boracay is always a paradise or an extra challenge. It’s great that there’s an almost never-ending list of places to eat and drink at, but if you’re just looking to relax and have a good time — which is the whole point of even going — then Cha Cha’s and Coast should have that all covered for you. Light, open spaces? Check. Drinks by the beach (or the pool)? Check. Great food at your fingertips? Check. Headache? Nope, not here.

Nike Training Club (NTC) set out a challenge to get back on the healthy track in time for the holidays. Scrolling through the all-new, relaunched app, I’ve seen some old favorites — Ellie Goulding’s Tighten and Tone is perfect for runners — and a bunch of new workouts. One of the new ones that stood out was the partner workout with Serena Williams and Kevin Hart. You can also invite your friends and keep track of each other’s progress if you really want to get that partnership going.

Another highlight of the new app is the monthly plan that you can start any day (you can’t let that rare workout motivation go to waste, can you?). NTC will customize it according to how active you currently are and how active you want to be. For starters, the app suggests workouts that will focus on mobility, instead of endurance and strength. It really eased us into the lifestyle and helped us build the stamina to endure higher-intensity workouts. And if you miss a week of your program, NTC will customize the program to help you get back on track. It will also sync your runs recorded through Nike Running Club so you don’t have to manually input your data every time you workout.

When I say that dreams come true here, I mean it. Whether you’re coming from the bus station (from Kalibo) or the airport (at Caticlan), Coast already has you covered. We were picked up by the hotel van at the airport then were dropped off at Coast’s own jet boat — complete with complimentary water bottles and ambient music that puts you right into a holiday mood. We were told that this is all part of the Coast package as soon as you book a room with them; ground transportation to and from the hotel are all covered. And in an island that requires multiple transfers just to get you to and from your beachfront hotel, this is actually a huge relief. (Less time worrying about that means more time to work on your tan, basically.)

Coast isn’t a huge hotel — just 71 rooms spanning three floors. But it is an undoubtedly gorgeous building. In fact, the Young STAR team and I made a game of taking a drink whenever we’d see passersby stopping to take a photo in front of the facade. I mean, it’s that pretty. Coast’s hotel front is an airy, all-white dream — the open-air restaurant Cha Cha’s greets you on one side, which features a deck you can have breakfast on (highly recommended) and the front desk has a gorgeous wood panel and a placid pond to greet you as you enter. The brilliant part of this architecture is that from any vantage point at the lobby floor, you get a view. Raintree Hospitality Group president Annabel Wisniewski says that this was deliberate on their part. They wanted guests to have lunch at Cha Cha’s and enjoy the scenery from whenever they were seated. “It’s all blue,” she says. You either faced the beach or looked into the hotel’s swimming pools (a dipping pool, a kiddie pool, and a lap pool.) Coast is one of the few places in town with pools of its own, but I would say that this isn’t even the most notable part of the whole Coast experience.

Something we noticed the minute we landed in Boracay that Coast takes seriously and many hotels do not: branding. A small thing, perhaps, for the traveler used to the usual accoutrements, but it definitely speaks volumes of what a hotel values — especially to a younger clientele. Coast teamed up with Team Manila on various aspects of their hotel branding, including the staff’s really witty shirts. Everyone wore pique shirts with clever designations on the back: the maintenance team’s shirts said “Neat Freaks,” the security team’s shirts said, “Like Men in Black, but in white,” for example. It felt warmer, in so many ways, and it perfectly matched the hotel’s uber-personalized service. This is something Coast’s general manager Randy Salvador takes pride in, and something we saw while we were there. You really feel like you’re being taken care of while you’re there.

In fact, we felt borderline spoiled as soon as we got there. Even while we were just lapping in the pool, a pool butler stood close by to take drink orders and hand us fresh towels even before we needed them. By the time we decided to cap off the day with a quick nap (okay, a three-hour nap) before dinner, turndown service would come knocking with chocolate fondue. We could enjoy cocktails everywhere — personal favorite, the Chotto Matte highball — at the restaurant, by the pool, or by the beach. Seriously, this was our life for three days. And we haven’t even gotten to the rooms yet.

This is why I was hardly bothered by the fact that I basically hibernated for three days. Coast Boracay offers a host of room types: from the practical deluxe, the elevated premier room, the spacious one bedroom (where we stayed; perfect for a barkada getaway), and a loft for those who want to live it up. Each room also has a Smart TV and hi-speed WiFi; so you can actually spend a whole day watching Netflix without realizing that it’s time for dinner. Another common denominator is that all rooms offer the most amazing — and I mean, amazing — beds you’ll ever lie on. Ms. Winniewski says it’s a mix of spring and foam that makes them so comfortable, but I’m willing to bet that angels were involved in their creation. I mean, that’s the only thing that makes sense to me.

Everything else in the rooms is a visual treat. The design sensibilities of Coast put a lot of emphasis on Filipino craftsmanship. All the furniture you’ll find in the hotel was made in Cebu, while some of the pillows feature the famed Yakan weave. On the walls are murals by local artists, and while we were there, they were mounting gorgeous beach photos by photographer Pilar Bonnin. According to designer Erik Lopez of Erik Richard Design, it was all about putting the guests in the mindset of the perfect holiday. “We want our guests to feel like they’re really here,” says Erik.

And that sense of presence, of being aware that you are enjoying a slice of paradise, permeates every part of Coast. While we were there, Halloween celebrations were in full swing on the island. Coast had nice sunset sessions by the beach, inviting beatmakers both from Manila and Boracay to play music that was far removed from the usual EDM fare. Honestly, what else is there to ask for?

Despite all that it offers, Coast is far from finished. According to the Raintree Hospitality Group, Coast will soon add a gym, a kids’ playroom, and a dining area for private functions. There will also be a small pseudo-spa/massage room by the pool area. Best of all, there will soon be a rooftop bar that will offer amazing views of the island. Coupled with Coast’s signature cocktails, this will definitely be one you shouldn’t miss.

On our last day in Boracay, the wonderful staff of Coast gave me a cute door hanger that says “Pet Inside.” They’re a dog-friendly hotel, they tell me, and I rejoice at the thought of finding the perfect hotel. (What is wrong with this place? I wanted to ask. Nothing, absolutely nothing.)

And so there’s the rub of finding the perfect hotel in the most beautiful island in the world: how in the world do you leave? It was raining intermittently while we were there, so I quietly prayed for some rain showers to delay our exit for a bit. But like a mean joke, the sun came blazing back when we were told that the car to take us to the jetty port was ready. I may have seen it all in Boracay, but at Coast, I’ll be back for sure.

KEEP THE YOUTH WOKE.  Judging from the public outcry from the #MarcosNotAHero to the “boy talk” issue, it’s clear that the youth have no problem voicing out their opinions. The youth are next generation’s leaders, after all. We’re the ones who will create solutions for future problems, and we wish that we stay “woke,” to keep fighting battles that must be fought. Fight for education, fight for dismissal of ignorance, fight for equality.

VITALITY INSTEAD OF VIRALITY People should stop having to resort to public shaming via social media posts just for others to wake up and take notice of important issues. 



EQUALITY FOR EVERYONE The gender spectrum has never been just black and white. Instead, it’s a spectrum of colors. We wish for everyone to finally feel included. Equal rights for everyone. Every class, race, gender and sexuality.



CARLY RAE FOR POP QUEEN 
We wish that more people would appreciate Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Emotion and Emotion: Side B” for the masterpiece that it is. No more questions — just go and purchase her album.



SHUT UP AND LISTEN A lot of Twitter and Facebook comment wars start from peoples’ unwillingness to listen and understand others. We wish that people kept an open mind before making judgments and accusations.



STOP AND WALK 
One of the major causes of stress, traffic and accidents is the country’s lack of reinforcement of proper jeepney and bus stops. We wish for brighter and better days for commuters. Gone are the days that a jeepney or a bus stops on any part of the road. We live for the day when we’ll see people walking, following rules and getting down at the correct stop.



TRAFFIC BE GONE! 
Need we say more?



WE’RE ALL BAND AIDS Remember Almost Famous? Before dancing in the pit, Penny Lane described the difference between a groupie and a “band aid.” A band aid inspires the music. These are the people who are there because of the music. We wish the same for everyone attending every music festival. We wish that more music festivals be executed properly, with a good mix of local and foreign acts — and that everyone dances like Penny, and enjoys the music the way it must be enjoyed.




DOGE APP
 Wishing for animals to finally talk is a long shot. But we wish for an app that assists people in deciphering what animals mean when they whimper, bark, howl or meow. Wouldn’t you want to know what your furry ‘lil friends are saying?

LONG LIVE THE PRINTED WORD Some major titles may have folded this year, but we still wish for the printed word to stay alive. At the same time, we wish that people keep reading — not just listicles but long forms like novels, essays, newsletters, etc.

PATRONIZE THE ARTS 
Culture and the arts are fundamental for a civilization to thrive, and we wish for more people to patronize them. We wish for more people to enjoy local music, literature, art and craftsmanship in order for those industries to churn out more quality work. Give them attention and give proper credit to those who keep culture and the arts alive.



KEEP CREATING 
Borrowing from master creative and #YSGirlGang member Abbey Sy, we wish that everyone keeps creating, whether in the field of art or whatever else.

DON’T HATE, APPRECIATE
 We wish for everyone to learn how to appreciate, and be thankful. Most of the time, showing appreciation for one another and/or the universe can make a big difference.



KEEP THE MAGIC ALIVE 
We wish for the next generation to have their very own version of Harry Potter, or have something reminiscent of it. Magic should live forever and ever and ever, in whatever manifestation.



NO MORE MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA
 Gone are the days that people are afraid to accept and discuss mental illness. Help is on its way, always.

SELFLESS LEADERS
 We wish that our leaders could magically come together to actually work for the good of the Filipino people. Selfishness and corruption has turned us all against each other. We need to unite to bring back the glory of our motherland.



ACTION REACTION
 Doing charitable work should go beyond Christmas, birthdays, and special holidays. We dream and hope of a time when more and more people will realize that there is more to the world than the bubble that they live in. 



PEACE
 We wish for the end of armed conflict in Mindanao, for peace in the Middle East, and for harmony between countries. The world needs less of the reds.

TAKE CLIMATE CHANGE SERIOUSLY 
This is not a hoax, and it is definitely not an “Obama-created-climate-change” plea. But we wish that the youth continues to take a stand against this important issue, and that within the next 20 years, everyone does one something to change it.



JASMINE CURTIS-SMITH: How long did it take for you to write the script for Baka Bukas?  SAMANTHA LEE: It took me around 10 days to do the first pass I think. I remember I had to get it done before flying out to Melbourne so I was in a coffee shop every day just writing.

Other than giving a different perspective of the LGBT community, what else would you hope the viewers could take away from the movie? A lesson you may have learned or a pain unknown to some? (Ouch.) Ikaw, Jasmine, did you learn any lessons?

Listen to your director. It's funny because doing this film helped me process a lot of things that happened to me three or so years ago. Like everyone's pain is valid, even if it's not on the same level as yours. And sacrifice comes with resentment, even if it was your choice in the first place. Did you find it weird that you could relate to my pain?

It’s more comforting rather than weird. True. You were the one thing I didn't have to worry about (much).

What's the biggest hurdle you encountered in your first narrative full-length film shooting? How did you overcome it? I’m usually very controlling. I’m usually very guarded with my feelings, and this time I couldn’t do that. I had to be accessible to my actors, to put myself on the same emotional level as them so that they trust me more. And I had to learn how to trust. I mean, in essence, I gave my heart and said, “Here, do with it as you wish.” But not in a romantic way. If you think about it, you’re the veteran and I’m the rookie in this situation. A lot of times I wanted to ask: “Am I doing this right?” “Am I f**king this up?” You only started calling me direk in on the fourth or fifth day of shooting and I’ve always wondered if that was when I grew into the role.

If you could score the movie with international artists, would you? And what songs would you use? I know you can help me out with this one! M83, Wet, Death Cab for Cutie, New Order. Who else? I wrote the entire first draft of the film listening to Weak by Wet over and over because I wanted the film to encapsulate that song: a joyous insecurity. And Third Eye Blind’s Deep Inside of You. I think there's a secret language that exists between people who love the same music. “Your pain is my pain,” I think.

Yes! Definitely! Hence, the "F.U. Sam!" during that one scene. Where did you get your inspiration for the aesthetic and feel of the film? What’s good about working with a team I grew up with is that they know my aesthetic. Do you remember when we were on the way to shoot that scene in the field and I was describing to Sasha what was going to happen? She said, “Oh, that’s very Sam!” Alex’s bedroom is the most me. The weekend before the shoot, Whammy came over and just got random stuff from my bedroom. I told him I wanted the paint color to look like something I picked as a child and eventually had to live with as an adult. There were photos of one of the girls I dated on the walls! There was a lot of Kanye paraphernalia. He even threw in references to my old films. Did you find that a lot of the physical aspects of the role helped you become Alex?

I loved that the room was so personalized. Not sure if you noticed but I looked at ALL the photos on the wall. I was trying to find and figure out if your ex would be on it. (Laughs) Hahaha, OMG. Let’s not.

Is there anything you would hope to have done differently in the filmmaking process or was it everything you hoped it could be? A LOT! DO WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS? THIS IS GOING TO GIVE ME ANXIETY. Hahaha, joke. Honestly this whole time I’ve just been praying to get the best possible iteration of this film possible so what gets me through is just the belief that all the heartbreaks were for a reason. Ikaw? Were there parts of Alex you would have played differently?

The room aided me with kicking off the first day. It was sort of a base I used for my character for the rest of the shooting days. I saw the posters on the wall of the artists that Alex listens to, and so I listened to them. The majority were also bands or artists I loved too, so I guess — and like you said — there's that kinda "secret" language that made me “feel” Alex. I think in terms of the physicality of the role it helped me a lot that we have the same piercings. It grounded me in weird ways like there would be moments where I would be watching you on-screen and just have this out-of-body moment of me being there.

Like Doctor Strange! Yeah, I haven’t seen that movie. Most of the time, I'm so far from you guys. There's a certain distance so I'm detached from this character who is supposed to be kind of me. Then when I see that piercing, it's like a Taser to the heart.

“Yes” to piercings! I was so happy when you didn't ask me to take them off. I usually get told to do so because it doesn't fit the “pretty damsel in distress” character. What can you say about the press interpretations of certain themed films like this? The questions usually asked, the reviews of the audience, the ideas formed of the film, etc.? So far we’ve only dealt with press. And that has been mostly disheartening but expected. It shows just how far we have to go in terms of being able to represent the LGBT community properly. I always say that I’m in this little gay bubble and I think that the things discussed in this film are non-issues. But they are issues to a lot of people. Two girls kissing is still an issue. Jasmine, you had to bear the brunt of a lot of the politically incorrect press stuff. I put a certain amount of pressure on you in terms of being able to deliver the message well. And for the record I just want to say I’m super proud of you.

The pressure was warmly and gladly welcomed, direk! I always love being able to make a stand for what people refuse to understand or make room for. Rather than allowing them to always make jokes in order to avoid the real topic matter, I've found this amazing empowerment when I can make them listen. I think they're listening. Fingers crossed.