Endo (2007, Jade Castro)

Endo: Short for end-of-contract. Slang for last day of temporary workers.

Endo, a cinematic highlight of the illustrious Cinemalaya 2007 film festival, tells the moving story of a habitual contractual worker named Leo (Jason Abalos). He has been accustomed to holding jobs temporarily that he stopped believing in long-term planning and long-distance romance. He lives on a day-to-day basis. His meager take home pay is just enough to take care of his distraught father and shoulder the school expenses of his younger brother.

His relationships with women have been regularly brief. Most of them don’t last longer than five months. He not only endures the pain of losing a girlfriend but also ends up agonizing over the loss of another job. Almost always, his love contract is co-terminus with his employment contract.

The intense pain of losing a job can wreck havoc on a person’s life. The American film Up In the Air has a newly-dismissed person committing suicide. On the other hand, Leo may not be dead but he is nevertheless lifeless. Caught up in a Groundhog Day situation, he gets to experience the pain over and over again with no possible relief in sight. He no longer cares about living life to the fullest. It’s a cul-de-sac for the underskilled lad.

All seems hopeless until he begins to yearn for Tanya (Ina Feleo), a fellow temp worker flitting from job to job. Leo is not entirely immune to pain after all. Losing a job may be a mosquito bite to him but the pain of losing Tanya is akin to enduring a harrowing bout with tooth abscess. The pain gnaws bit by bit until he can no longer ignore the jackhammer pain. The thought of missing her forever wakes him up from his stupor and he resolves to dream and live again.

The proletarian countenance of Endo is vastly different from the middle class sensibilities of Star Cinema romance films. Leo and Tanya go to a cineplex but both decide not to watch a film. ‘Walang maganda,’ says a character. But, in all likelihood, they do not have enough money to buy tickets. All they have is one another and the hope of a brighter future.

The romantic film Endo is notable for its tender moments. The most memorable of them is a cool scene that recalls the refreshing indie spirit of the café dance sequence in Band of Outsiders. The impromptu scene highlights the magical hold of Tanya on Leo (and the audience). The girl improvises an enthralling dance right in the middle of the street. She smiles, charms, and beguiles the guy. Her eyes twinkle brightly like stars in a dark sky. Her hips sway to the beat of the music. The vivacious girl is so full of life and bewitchingly loveable. She then gives him a long, long kiss.

Tanya’s contagious optimism and positive outlook resuscitates the inert Leo. The guy decides to wait for the return of the ship-bound girl. Tanya is no longer treated as a syota or short-time girl but a potential long-term life partner. He has found the girl of his dreams and will not terminate his love contract with her.

amBisyon 2010: Population / Health (Da More Da Meniyer by Erik Matti / Hindi Ako Makatulog ‘Pag Wala Ka Sa Tabi Ko by Jade Castro)

The results of the May 10 automated elections reveal that there is no such thing as a ‘Catholic vote.’ The Catholic Church exhorted its flock to shun candidates who favor the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill. Six bishops supported presidential candidate JC de los Reyes but he ended up with the fewest votes. Another presidential candidate who rejected the controversial bill is Manny Villar. The latter was relegated to a distant third place after being a frontrunner in the early months of 2010.

‘President-in-waiting’ Benigno Aquino III was once a firm supporter of the RH bill. He has since modified his stance to ‘responsible parenthood.’ While Erik Matti’s short film takes a swipe at the Catholic Church’s pro-life stand, the film really zooms in on poor stewardship and irresponsible parenthood.

Matti retells the story of Adam and Eve in a paradisiacal place. The couple ends up being guardians of the Garden of Eden. After Adam’s sexual overture gets rejected by Eve, the horny man takes his case to God. The latter reminds the pair of the commandment to ‘go out and multiply.’ The proliferation of humans takes its toll on food resources.

Whatever your take on the effects of a bloated population on the economy, the well-directed film is a campy, entertaining thing to watch. Part of the fun is seeing Richard Somes as Adam. He is hilarious in the scene showing him ranting against his kids who had devoured leftovers. I also loved the animation scenes incorporated in this low-budget film.

The nation’s health budget is the topic of Jade Castro’s short film. During the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo there was a drop in the budget allotted to health care.

A male call center agent narrates how the lack of health care insurance affects him and his fellow agents. He casually reveals that lots of sex couplings do happen in the call center industry. The stress of working late nights weakens the immune system of employees. A sizable chunk of their salaries goes to purchasing high-priced medicines.

Filmmaker Castro takes a look at possible alternatives to buying expensive medicines at well-known drugstores. There is a growing network of small drugstores offering cheaper medicines. And, if the prices are still too exorbitant for the poor, then Castro subtly suggests people to start growing medicinal plants and herbs at their backyards.

I’m not a big fan of voiceovers but this film does a neat voiceover job. It helps that the voice seems to belong to a friendly male who loved his grandmother.