This morning, my wife and I were at the hospital for a doctor's appointment. We've been on the wait for almost an hour. What I don't like about this place is that there are so many people and the only way to kill time is the TV playing old (80's up to early 00's) Filipino movies. If your phone's battery is nearing its end, you have no other choice but to let yourself be entertained by the decades-old movies.
As I listened their corny lines and unrealistic actions, I can't help but reminisce on some of the old movies I enjoyed as a kid and what they taught me.
(1) Bad guys (goons and hoodlums) are ugly and unshaven
Paquito Diaz
source: http://www.famousfix.com/post/paquito-diaz-17515428/p239807
Dick Israel
Subas Herrero
Image Source: https://kritikongkiko.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/top-10-kontrabida-sa-pelikulang-pilipino/
Some of the most iconic Filipino villains are in their early 50's or 60's, with a private army no ones how he gets them and pays for them, and are downright ugly or scary. Of course there are some few exceptions. This is probably one of the reason why Filipinos think that suspicious-looking guys have beards/mustache, with horrendous face. Hey, handsome guys can be bad too!
(2) The police is not reliable in time of emergencies.
What is the similarity between a rainbow and the police? They both come after the storm. This is another thing that movies taught me. After all the commotion is over, the police, wearing black jackets will arrive. What sets them apart from the bad guys wearing leather jackets as well? They have a towel wrap on their forehead. Funny. This could be another reason why some people think that if you want justice to be served, you have to do it by yourself.
(3) A bullet can be split in half and can kill 2 people at the same time.
You dont believe me? See it for yourself.
Source: https://gfycat.com/gifs/detail/pointedcheapfirebelliedtoad
Seriously??!
(4) Punching or slapping other people in a comedic way doesn't hurt
This was probably what I had in mind when I was a kid. Not a few times did I end up in the principal's office for punching a classmate. Hahaha. Those were the days..
(5) Bullet wounds will not stop the good guy from achieving his goals
I remember a shocking movie I once saw as a kid. The leading actor was Lito Lapid and he was playing the role of a soldier fighting some rebels. He was severely wounded (with guts spilling out of his stomach). What was shocking for my young mind was the fact that he picked a helmet and covered his side wound with another helmet and all the guts with it, as he ran towards the bad guys holding an armalite in one hand and the helmet on the other. Its like an Alanis Morissette song saying 'one hand on my helmet and the other one is pressing the trigger of a gun.' Shocking indeed! (I could not remember the title of the movie)
(6) An armalite (most common weapon in action films) sounds like a machine gun.
In reality, it sounds more like a caliber .45 gun, only a little bit faster.
Of course, there are many good things that I also learned from these movies.
(1) Anyone, regardless of height (yes I'm looking at you Agent Wengweng) can be the good guy
Image source: https://universaldork.com/tag/weng-weng/
(2) There is always a rainbow after the storm. Though in many films, this would mean the song and dance number towards the end of the movie (yes, that's you Kuya Dick)
Image source: http://www.whosdatedwho.com/dating/roderick-paulate
(3) Value of friendship. I still remember trios such as Tito, Vic and Joey; Joey, Rene, and Ungga; thr Apo Hiking Society (were they in the movies?)
(4) How simple life were back then. I could still remember the scenes in the farm when Dolphy was just a thin sidekick adding comedy to the sweet scenes of Gloria Romero and the likes with her then leading man (I forgot who it was)
(5) Filipino traditions and culture that were passed down from the early days. Fiestas, harana (serenade), value for one's family, the optimism, etc.
It is just so sad that we could no longer make as many movies as much as before. I guess the viewers nowadays prefer the more violent and realistic movies offered by Hollywood.
I am grateful to know @surpassinggoogle and to reciprocate his kindness and generosity I am promoting him as a witness by voting him at https://steemit.com/~witnesses and type in"steemgigs" at the first search box.
Kindly visit https://steemit.com/~witnesses again and type in "surpassinggoogle
Also, I would like to thank my steemit family, @ivez, @saskia, @juwel, @atongis, @yadah04 @cutirenskei @jetskie @franbel @jysui @shula14 @sisonengg @joonz @iyann @phantum04 @maaq
@snowhite @shawmeow @dunkman @el-dee-are-es @ivez @dwightjaden @glight @iyanpol12 and @surpassinggoogle. And for those whom I forgot to mention, I apologize, I have not memorized all your names yet.