Not Another Manileño-Kids-Trooping-to-a-Party Video

Styling note: put everyone in a blazer and they’ll look instantly cool and slick. Charot.

Turn It Well
Artist: Up Dharma Down
Director: Caloy Soliongco
Cast: Paul Diaz, Dee Jae Paeste, Gino Jose, Martin Antunez, Haizel Fernando
2012

I love Up Dharma Down. I love their music, and in their latest video, “Turn It Well,” I love Armi Millare’s mannish get-up and cropped hair paired with pokpok-red lipstick and nails. Don’t you hesitate. See us, be it, and turn it well. Ganda.

What I don’t love, however, is the video. I mean, it’s not horrible, but it’s so unsurprising and uninspired and, I hate to use the term, hipster. Up Dharma Down’s great music certainly deserves better videos. But then again, it’s just a music video, no use getting an aneurysm over it.

Slumdawg Reformist

Slumdog Millionaire, Manila-style.

Not Giving In
Artist: Rudimental feat. John Newman and Alex Clare
Director: Josh Cole
Cast: Allen Añas, Tugo Cunanan, Ereson Catipon, Arsell Dela Cruz
2012

Rudimental‘s music video, “Not Giving In,” has much in common with Dangerous Minds, Music of the Heart, City of God, even Sister Act and all those other inspirational movies that goad the youth to choose art over drugs and violence, that reaffirm creativity as the path to freedom from one’s sordid political and economic chains. It begins with two brothers in the Manila slums, borne to a degenerate father and an abused mother. The two (happily) subsist on petty thievery, an inseparable tag team of sorts.

The Privileged Teen Fashionista Fantasy

Our young and fashionable protagonist at the PNR. Train passenger? Or train wreck?

12:51
Artist: Krissy and Ericka
Director: Nani Naguit
Cast: Krissy and Ericka Villongco, George Schulze
2012

It was my first time to encounter Krissy and Ericka last night. Apparently they’ve been around for a few years. My first impression was “pangalan pa lang konyita na,” but that’s just plain mean and judgmental, so sinarili ko na lang muna. For a few seconds. Kasi naman, one of them is a freshman pala at Yoopee Dillimahn while the other’s still studying at Saint Pahl Cahllege of Pahsiehg. And one of them’s akshally going to Brrahcay tomorrow. Sakit sa tenga, teh.

History in a Hurry

The Marian Revolution, led by Marian Rivera.

The Philippine National Anthem (Lupang Hinirang)
Director: Paul Ticzon
Cast: Aljur Abrenica, Marvin Agustin, Victor Aliwalas, Alvin Aragon, Bea Binene, Iza Calzado, Bodie Cruz, Dingdong Dantes, Gabby and Geoff Eigenmann, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Carlo Gonzalez, Carl Guevarra, Richard Gutierrez, Dion Ignacio, Paolo Paraiso, Enzo Pineda, Rhian Ramos, Marian Rivera, Arthur Solinap, Mike Tan, JC Tiuseco, Dennis Trillo, TJ Trinidad
2010

How can you fit the history of the Philippines in two and a half minutes? GMA-7 takes on this challenge with its new “Lupang Hinirang” video, produced in collaboration with SM Cinemas.

The video is a tour de force of production design and cinematography, with meticulously designed sets and costumes. The network made the most of its pool of talents, and each actor played their bit part well. (After watching it on HD though, I changed my mind.) The production team, they say, closely consulted the National Historical Commission, though there were still some glaring mistakes (see bottom). Nevertheless, the clear goal was historical accuracy.  This was no easy feat.

Not Another Yellow Solidarity of the Bourgeoisie

Noynoy's new video: Who's da man?!

Hindi Ka Nag-Iisa
Artist: Regine Velasquez
Director: Onat Diaz
Cast: Sharon Cuneta, Kris Aquino, Boy Abunda, Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Bea Alonzo, Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, Ai-Ai delas Alas, Mariel Rodriguez, Bianca Gonzales, Erik Santos, James Yap, Kerby Raymundo, Willie Miller, KC Canaleta, Cyrus Baguio, Enrico Villanueva, LA Tenorio, Larry Fonacier, Paulo Bugia et. al
2009

It all seems so easy. No obstacles, no pain, no sadness, no struggle, not even a drop of sweat. Halaman lang ang sagabal. Whoever thought hope and change would be this effortless—and beautiful?

Noynoy’s latest campaign video, the music video “Hindi Ka Nag-Iisa,” mobilizes a strong troupe of Kapamilya and Kapuso players, all clad in yellow, all bearing torches and candles, marching through the darkness to bring light, blazing and yellow, to the country. The splendor and magnificence of the spectacle, however, brings to mind the age-old aphorism, the standard precaution to consumers: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

The Philippine Imaginary

The sexy and silenced Filipina.

Take U to the Philippines
Artist: Apl.de.Ap
Director: Andrew Lo
2009

Take U to the Philippines is the latest project of the Philippine Department of Tourism, now in collaboration with The Black Eyed Peas’s Filipino member Allan Pineda Lindo aka apl.de.ap. The video is literally an imagined Philippines. Unlike previous government tourism campaigns which make use of spectacular cinematography, the Take U to the Philippines video is completely rendered in computer graphics. Every element is a construction.

The music video rehashes the age-old image of the Philippines as rich in natural—and female—resources. Coconut trees and rural beauty are always at the literal foreground; the city’s skyline relegated to the distant horizon. Development and urbanization are eschewed for a decidedly nativist approach, banking on the imagery of nipa huts, exotic flora, and natural formations.