City of God
I didn’t really want to rent City of God. But because I read good reviews, I thought I should check it out. I wasn’t disappointed. It’s a brilliant film. And it didn’t need a Hollywood budget behind it. The story of those who lived in the slums of Rio de Janeiro only made the pseudo-gangsta lifestyle shown on MTV all that more hilarious (du’oh). As the movie showed, drugs are a way of life for these young South Americans. It wasn’t even about having a lot of money but having some money to survive. The characters were so engaging - Rocket, Lil Ze, Knockout Ned, Carrot and Benny. The story about the trio - Shaggy, Goose and Clipper (???) was a powerful springboard to Rocket’s tale.
I don’t know why but the film prompted me to write the par below:
I live in an island borne out of my uniqueness and dreams. A place where I am both powerful and weak, master and slave, sanguine and hopeless. Everyday, I try to find ways to free myself from this self-imposed bondage. And one fine day my salvation came. His name was Manuel.
Australia Day
Today was a very special day. After twelve years of waiting, my grandma has finally become an Australian citizen. To become an Australian citizen at her age, she needed to pass the medical test. But my grandma was struck with throat cancer many years ago and even after surgery and chemical therapy, her cancer came back twice. In 2002, the doctor gave her the all clear. And so did the government.
And so in an ugly building called Bowman Hall, my grandma and nearly 500 other Australian residents became citizens. Their foremost duty is to vote. That’s it. That’s all the government wants.
As I scanned the many faces in the hall, I observed that out of 500 people or so, only a handful registered that look of happiness at receiving their citizenship. One who stood out, and was interviewed by the local newspaper, was this man from Ghana. He had his traditional garb on but wore a hat with the Aussie flag on it. Meanwhile, the Egyptian lady sitting next to my grandma was near to tears. She clearly didn’t want to be here..
As for myself, everyday I thank God that I am Australian. That little piece of paper with the Kangaroo emblem on it gave me access to a good education, a better standard of living and the opportunity to make something of myself. Twenty five years ago or so, there was a huge wave of migration to Australia of those from South East Asia - Vietnamese, Chinese, Malaysian, Cambodian and Filipinos. Go back another twenty years or so before that and the migrants came from Hungary, Poland, Germany and other European countries. Stretch that back to about 100 years ago and you’d be looking at the wave of Scottish, Irish and British people who decided to build their fortunes in this country.
The fresh wave of migrants today are streaming from the war-torn and politically unstable countries of Africa. And it would be quite interesting to see how they will change the social dynamics from hereon. But I digress. While Philippines will always be in my heart, I am proud to call this country my home.
I don’t know why but the film prompted me to write the par below:
I live in an island borne out of my uniqueness and dreams. A place where I am both powerful and weak, master and slave, sanguine and hopeless. Everyday, I try to find ways to free myself from this self-imposed bondage. And one fine day my salvation came. His name was Manuel.
Australia Day
Today was a very special day. After twelve years of waiting, my grandma has finally become an Australian citizen. To become an Australian citizen at her age, she needed to pass the medical test. But my grandma was struck with throat cancer many years ago and even after surgery and chemical therapy, her cancer came back twice. In 2002, the doctor gave her the all clear. And so did the government.
And so in an ugly building called Bowman Hall, my grandma and nearly 500 other Australian residents became citizens. Their foremost duty is to vote. That’s it. That’s all the government wants.
As I scanned the many faces in the hall, I observed that out of 500 people or so, only a handful registered that look of happiness at receiving their citizenship. One who stood out, and was interviewed by the local newspaper, was this man from Ghana. He had his traditional garb on but wore a hat with the Aussie flag on it. Meanwhile, the Egyptian lady sitting next to my grandma was near to tears. She clearly didn’t want to be here..
As for myself, everyday I thank God that I am Australian. That little piece of paper with the Kangaroo emblem on it gave me access to a good education, a better standard of living and the opportunity to make something of myself. Twenty five years ago or so, there was a huge wave of migration to Australia of those from South East Asia - Vietnamese, Chinese, Malaysian, Cambodian and Filipinos. Go back another twenty years or so before that and the migrants came from Hungary, Poland, Germany and other European countries. Stretch that back to about 100 years ago and you’d be looking at the wave of Scottish, Irish and British people who decided to build their fortunes in this country.
The fresh wave of migrants today are streaming from the war-torn and politically unstable countries of Africa. And it would be quite interesting to see how they will change the social dynamics from hereon. But I digress. While Philippines will always be in my heart, I am proud to call this country my home.