Thursday, October 02, 2008
CINEMA ESKANDALOSA
The only apparent aspects of this theater are its narrow entrance and the wall with the posters of the current features. Other than that, one can walk along Recto and hardly notice its existence. That is, except for one other thing: the stench that emanates from its interior.
It smells like a cocktail of stale sweat, rancid dish rag, bedraggled ditch digger's overalls, dried infant's puke, and God only knows how else to describe it.
Hence, there's no way this theater would go unnoticed when you pass by it. However, this distinctly foul smell is rather universal, for I've smelled it before in New York's seedy Times Square area before it got Disneyfied -- whenever I passed by any movie house that featured soft porn or adult film. Therefore, this odor is not exclusively indigenous to this movie theater in Manila.
Even If you've never been anywhere near this part of Recto Avenue, you may still have seen this theater in the evening news or read about it in the tabloids -- being raided by the police for the scandalous activities that some of its patrons engaged in while inside the theater. I heard it gets raided at least once a month.
Nonetheless, what I find intriguing about this particular theater are the suggestive titles of its featured films. Truth be told, whenever passing by, it has become a habit to check them out. If I were one of those romance novelists who write in the local vernacular, I might start a list of these titles as reference for some future steamy, salacious scenes.
Besides the suggestive titles you see in these photographs, the following are some I remember seeing, or had heard from friends who are into local films:
- Mainit At Masikip
- Balahibong Pusa
- Diligan Mo Ng Suka Ang Uhaw Na Lumpia
- Dalawang Pisngi Ng Langit
- Malaswang Bulaklak
- Galawgaw Na Birhen
- Halakhak Sa Dilim Ng Gabi
- Palihim Na Kaligayahan
- Byahera
- Mahiwagang Kulambo
- Nagliliyab Na Pagnanasa
- Nahulog At Nadapa At Nasugatan Pa
- Huwag Gisingin Si Pacing
- Gasgas Sa Karanasan
- Sumasagitsit Na Pagmamahal
- Aliw, Kuya?
I won't dare translate these into English. For those who don't speak Tagalog, perhaps, it's time to bond with a Pinoy neighbor or co-worker and discuss these titles among yourselves. For the meantime, I should ask Simon of Video 48 to see if these bold films I was told about truly existed.
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I very much appreciate my articles and photos appearing on fellow bloggers' sites, popular broadsheets, and local broadcast news segments, but I would appreciate even more a request for permission first.
Thank you!
*
Labels: entertainment, life in Manila, Manila movie theater, movies
posted by Señor Enrique at 7:42 AM
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