The recent pop issue of Janine Tugonon’s break-up has shaped the media. The twitter, a micro blogging hub, infused the issue into mainstream trends for a couple of days. This was the time that I was reading Gayatri Spivak’s “Can the subalterns speak?” while contemplating on definition approaches of the contemporary western philosophy.  As of yesterday, I have noticed a handful of memes depicting the sensational break-up in a comical burlesque manner. The memes takes a big share on the interest of the people for two things.

               

        First, they are idols of the pop culture - Janine Tugonon, Jaypee Santos and Danny O’Donoghue. Their actions, especially for fanatics, are often held newsworthy even if it doesn't concern the betterment of our nation. Their becoming ‘newsworthy’ is more of them ‘being’ sources of entertainment. 

                Second, the events leading to the break-up and the break-up itself are reflections of the reality of the common men. To better describe its emphatic reality, I have decided to divide the reflections in two, sounding more like fraternal twins. The initial reality is the lesser concern. In this, we relate the break up as an image of a past experience or even a present one. I pity you. Kidding. We are entertained to the fact that it happened to us. We have been left alone by our partners. Note that alienation due to break up, is a very serious concern especially when mutual feelings has been grounded concretely over time and experiences. The same goes to those loved ones have already departed or simply a friendship ending with parting ways. The issue therefore plays a cathartic role between and among the general audience.

                Now, the idea of the Tugonon-Santos break-up is established as an abstraction of reality and a cathartic event. Let us better delve into the deep seated psyche on the Filipino. It would be tautologous to recall that our nation has been colonized for a span of years by three various nations of different continents. Now, we are undergoing a period of post-coloniality for the fact that we have formerly been subsumed by Spain, America and Japan. In post colonial criticism there are two main characters the colonizers and the subalterns. These colonizers are imperial in nature; they impose their dominion over  small countries in various methods. Spain conquered us for the pseudo goal of evangelization. America seemingly extended their help, as politically renowned bastion of power, to their little brown brothers. Japan grappled Philippines for the establishment of the ‘Greater East Asia Co Prosperity Sphere.'

                The other characters are the sub-alterns. Technically, sub-alterns are the people of post colonial lands. Spivak noted that through the course of time the notion of sub-alterns has been vague. They have been the receivers of the western produced cultural hegemony basing on Gramsci’s perspective. She simply defined sub-alterns as people who don’t get the just portion of the pie. Therefore the oppressed but not necessarily impoverished. Men who rule the country’s corporate world are also oppressed in a sense that their corporate capacity needs a blessing from the western companies.        

                Janine Tugonon and Jaypee Santos are living a stable mutual love until Danny O’Donoghue came into the picture. Whether Danny lifted a finger or not to have at least a communication with Tugonon, his colonial dominion spurred as he is of Caucasian descent and a cultural idol on a borderless scale. O’Donoghue’s colonial influence breaks not even sub-altern’s relationship but the Filipino courting tradition or simply the male-female communication. In a traditionally acceptable sense, male should primary initiate communication with a female. But in the alleged stories, Tugonon was the one who went to O’Donoghue. The Script vocalist suggested to converse in Twitter. And the events went forth.

                                Inevitably, Jaypee will experience insecurity. He will probably have this inner question, “Who am I compared to a Script vocalist?” This insecurity will therefore give rise to a dilemma of trust versus mistrust. And this dilemma will destabilize the relationship. Janine Tugonon, by force of media, becomes a jargon for leaving behind a loved one and in a deeper sense leaving for a subjectively ‘better one’ due to a post colonial mentality. And the meme trend is propelled by our empathy as subalterns.

                In a parallel idea, Jaypee who worked for build a relationship with Tugonon is conceptually isolated. Danny who simply enjoys the perks of his colonizer descent and his world fame takes Tugonon. This is similar to the wealth distribution of our country - not only unequal but gravely scarce in the part of the workers and immensely overflowing in the part of the elite.

                Certainly, this question will appear to us, “Majajanine Tugonon kaya ako?” No one is an exemption especially to a post colonial nation. But if we defy neocolonial influence, we will obtain a stable relationship. At a larger scale the country will improve as well.

             

             During the past few weeks, I have devoted much of my on digging horror films. I was trapped in a pile of movies to a point where I can’t choose what to watch or what to watch first. Summer makes me a lot shallow indeed. During school days, I am accustomed to choose between having the Occasional Paper before reviewing for Structure of English. It was crap. You’re torn between two major pillars and the question is… where to be scourged first.

                This intense dilemma is to be taken with full consideration and mediation, as if I am in a Conclave voting for the right Shepherd. Mediation is a time termite that tends to consume my working hour for both the Occasional Paper and Structure of English.  But in summer, dilemmas are off to the usual weight of school days yet it still takes an entire span of attention. Questions meddle from going to bath what time which ends to showering at midnight. Sometimes I vow to read one book on inspiration for a tougher spirituality. The feeling becomes elevated, I begin perspiring. I stop in the fear of an emotional breakdown. As my eyes scroll deeper and deeper into the bottom of the page, the fear exacerbates. My grip on the book was like a snapping alligator. I force myself to stop reading the book. Then I arrive at an internal monologue, “Stop, Ian… stop it!” I induce the idea that my mind, emotion and the whole of my being cannot handle the ideas or scenes in the book. As I close the book and leave the chapters that almost changed the course of my life, I suddenly realize I am reading a novel with a handful of murder scenes not quite inspirational. 

                As the summer approaches, I have with me this distinct grin. The grin that promises that I can do what I want – Writing. I picture summer as the ultimate liberation as if I were an Israelite freed from making Egyptian pyramids and other queer statues. Liberation from the school related works on the risk of burning brow and even money. This imagery of a writing spree vacation becomes fantasy staying on mind. The fantasy becomes too beneficial instead of being a waste of time. It serves as my daily motivation to work at the last drop of my blood for the school year. When you’re at this age the highest award you want is not an academic distinction or money. It’s the vacation that matters (at least for me). It’s the carrot that the dumb donkey is wandering for.

                When summer shocks you, it overwhelms! Too overwhelming I stick against the fantasy. I resort to sleeping. As a result I change my body clock’s landscape. I become nocturnal. Then, I question the existence of a body clock. Personally, the summer shock ruins every plan I have in mind, the longed fantasy. Instead of writing, I shut myself to darkness. And the bad thing of sleeping for a lengthy duration is waking up catatonic. I’m like the Walking Dead extra. I don’t care of the people around me. My brain seems to be shaken… it has a different weight. I assert for an earth of myself. My mood is like expired juice (taste one!) My mind bulb enlightens me. The light leads me to Facebook and Twitter. My day is wasted, to a point of refreshing twitter for interactions or Facebook for notifications. When there’s nothing, I refresh the computer hoping there’s one new feed. Zero! I start to blame the sluggish net.

                School days deprives us of the fitness and the shape we owe to the beauty of nature. It hurts but yes we owe it to nature. My body is too stuck to paper works and studying so begins to bulge. Do I have cancer? I don’t know. One thing in mind, I need to exercise. I take the mindset of waking up early for a jog the following day. This tomorrow turns to be stationary till the school days break its silence. The fitness summer fails and I gain more weight.  

                I have also this agitation that I want to meet my classmates urgently to share my shameful summer shocks. Tell them I saw a long list of horror films and I wasn’t able to watch even one. I really miss  all classmates of different levels of profundity: stupid, more stupid and most stupid. You just want to talk with them, hoping they have silly stories too.  

                Summer is not still consumed by time. I hope to get more fun with it. Have a life. 

I still don’t know why I arrived at this eleven people. I don’t even know how this will appear to them. Surely, this could be the cheapest graduation gift to these awesome people. For two years of knowing them, I believe this is too late to express how I picture them and too early to serve as a eulogy or any other necrological memento. Kidding. Before I ruin or deify their reputation, thanks for everything and good luck. Be the Teachers the country needs!

Eman Barrameda

                He’s not stupid, he just looks like one. Let’s start with his name. ‘Emmanuel’ which means God is with us. Too ironic because when you talk with him, there’s no slight godly with his words – purely sarcasm. Kuya Emman is sarcastic enough that you can’t distinguish his truth and lies. I was shocked to arrange the names alphabetically; I found out that his biblical name came first. This shouldn’t have happened; I intended to make him last.

                Kuya Emman is the most creative person I’ve ever met - too creative that his teacher axed him in math. He draws very well than a fifth grader, I mean a fifth year architecture student. Of course this is a joke. Writing is his passion; prove me wrong and look at his penmanship. He dreams that paragraphs may be toggle cased and centered.  Kidding aside, he is an awarded creative writer. He blogs his works at emanumulat.blogspot.com.  

Associated Word: Balikwas/Escjuly

Donat S.G Belza

                I would have a handful of praises for her, but I have little adjectives in the chart so I’d better ridicule her. Ate Donat (Not doughnut as if asking for one) is the woman that Woolf, Bronte and Stowe would dream for – fierce, audacious, intellectual and critical. She spearheads work with a combo of optimism and hard work. She joggles time efficiently that nothing is missed. She is a complete opposite of Kuya Emman, Ate Donat has an enduring sense of structure, formality and conformity. Her creativity would meddle in conventions- sentence cased and justified.

                But aloof from this formal savvy character is a diehard fan. In my whole life, I have seen such fanaticism (not including my Sharonian mom). Ate Donat would unfailingly strengthen her linkages to other popsters (Sarah Geronimo’s followers) and collaborate to catapult Sarah G to the twitter trends.  She was lately fantasized Niki Minaj for a reason which I still don’t know. Beware she might influence you. The next thing you know you may be a poster or a stupid hoe.

Associated Word: Noteworthy

Conrad Besana

                This long time swimming team member goes with every batch’s craze. He trains depending on his mood. Obviously, I follow this leader. I also train depending on zodiac signs. Kuya Conrad is a good freestyler who accommodates speed and grace since he is a former member of Kislap.   

                He promised to give us doughnuts next SCUAA. Thanks in advance.

Associated Word: Efficascent Oil

Emma Bolasco

                She has a lot of money. I don’t know why. When I see her, she seems to own affluence. Maybe because of her trendy skirts, I still cannot reckon. I got to know Ate Emma when we had our presentation in Prof. Tugbo’s Mythology and Folklore. She willingly arranged our whole play which turned out to be promising. This was pro bono. When Elaine Quinto and I were in a press overnight, she called to ensure that we must rest for tomorrow’s practice. Seldom do I meet people with such care.

                Ate Emma helped us because she was saddened their batch’s parting ways. She takes affection to time ripened closeness.

P.S She is the long lost daughter of James Joyce.   

Associated Word: Thespian

Chris Charlon Buzon

                I have little memories and thoughts of Kuya Chris but most of them are great. Needless to say, he was the ‘Kuya’ of 1-7 (my freshmen block). He trained the class for the Cheer dance competition. Our group was a bundle of good dancers with some estranged synchrony. But he would find a way to concretize order. There were times when the class was in drought of finance, he would still teach us pro bono. But the pro bono has conditions – practice whole heartedly and be on time. When he sets a 7 AM call time, he will arrive at 6AM. Then, I realized on time is before the time. Thank God, we ranked second.

                The second quarter was a lot different. Kuya Chris who used to be our dancing mentor became my teammate in Swimming. Despite being an active member of the PNU PEP Squad, he still commits to this successive water activity. He literally sprints in land, water and air. Kuya Chris without doubt is a kinesthetic genius.

Associated Word: Mushroom      

Geraldine Grace Garcia

                Miss Grace appreciates both the beauty of words and numbers. As a math major she has a strict sense for thrift that utilizes the very cent of every PNUAN. I, for one, would witness her frugal efforts at the littlest detail even if the difference may cost her ten pesos.

                She taught us not to be purely attentive to the academic life and take time to serve others while enjoying of limited stay in the University. Despite her thrift, she owns a long list of stories that cannot be drained. And it’s as if she’s a talking diary of herself.

Associated Word: FR   

April Hermoso

                The girl on fire.  Ate April was the president of the most (so far) promising Circulus Literati batch. I regularly see her as an adamant critic of everything smelly and fishy. I commend her leadership.

Associated Word: CL/U-Shirt

Ethel Jordan

                Dedicated. A friend noted her undying love for service without expecting any benefit or consolation. She’s randomly organized and engaged in fruitful discussions 24/7. Her thought is located beyond, sometimes I think of her as a mystic. She is a mystic who can reconcile both logic and theory. Her vigilance is astounding, a true embodiment of journalism – big nose for big news. Without the luxury of time, she snatches some to speak with us individually. She carries out reason in every advice she offers to a lost soul.

                I could never fathom how she arrives to this level of service. Her work lingers to the benefit of many but doesn’t build a reputation from it. I hope to have (even a bit) her profound humility and dedication.

Associated Word: Triangle                                                                                                    

Cherry Magundayao

                Ate Cherry, the ever brilliant writer who catches the heart of a handful of Literature majors. Her manner of writing possesses clarity and content. I would always, even in my coffin, view her as good mentor. She has a very passionate way of connecting and reaching others. Ms. Palawan has a lot of stories especially on good read books.

                Sometimes she’s like a supermodel. Elegantly gaudy clothes. Somehow sexy body. Changing eye color (cat’s eyes). Cool. She survived a Palawan adventure.

Associated Word: Flambeaux

Merrose Leynes

                She was the class’ (1-7) partner-in-crime during our 2:30-4:00 Humanities period. Her announcement could make or break our day. She makes our day by saying that the teacher is out and we can evacuate the school early.  She ruins our day when she announces another pile of work. I remember when Ate Mae would encourage our class to thrive over the obstacles. She would share her happy life with her energized classmates.

                Aside from this, she also rules the theatre in many ways – acting, singing and even selling tickets. Her humor is never tarnished. Ate Mae would always make everyone smile.

Associated Word: STA/Humanities/Tickets

Jezelle Joy Pineda

                The Female dancer of the Year. She was the ever radiant swimming teammate. While swimming, she still seems to be dancing. Ate Joy-joy is very petit woman who houses a lot of talents. I don’t even know where she takes her energy needed to sustain every activity she has. Sadly, our bond was cut short when I she focused on her leadership in Kislap Sining Dance Troupe.

Associated Word: Dancer

I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.

–Stephen Grellet 

My friends and I were about to back out from watching the film mainly because it will consume a great portion of our time and considering that its Finals-Hell week. But our indignation to our past plans reaffirmed our willingness. I am not accustomed to telling the whole movie with its whole crap and goodies so please bear with my seemingly crazy thoughts.

                A nunnery would be a concrete image of prim and proper, serene faith, stable conscience. The initial story gave us a peek on a secretive monastic life confined in the silent walls of the convent. It house women who devote themselves to complete and ultimate seclusion from the outside world which embodies all the chaos that the world possesses. Sandoval’s Aparisyon broke the both the stereotype and the archetype. The nunnery then becomes unstable, chaotic and somehow unfaithful. The story would bring an audience to a new paradigm of a cloistered life. Would the story deify nuns? It’s up to you, so watch the film (if you never had the chance).

                In a mythology class, especially to those who are taking Literature, the concept of a mythological center is thoroughly discussed to have a better lens on reading a text. This center is always applicable to every story from Greek dramas to Chick flick films. The center is a place of serene and psychical balance, perfection and Gods reveal themselves in this place. A better image would be the Garden of Eden for the Book of Genesis or Olympus for Greek Mythology. Having this in mind, we also have a concept of the center’s reversibility. The balance and perfection is altered in a more unwanted appearance. For the Garden of Eden, this would be Adam and Eve’s betrayal of God’s trust. While for Greek mythology, this could be the Gods’ invasion of the human realm to solicit aesthetic satisfaction. Aparisyon takes the convent as a center and therefore presenting its reversibility to a more enhanced plot. The convent like the Garden of Eden and Olympus is twisted to an unexpected angle.

                Nuns despite their unshackled faith became uncertainty as to which they should act according to a sound and heavenly judgment. Their serenity was dismantled from their psyche causing them to be like any other person, circumscribe in a society. They were life any other desaparacidos, by their loss is aligned to a loss of faith, reason and wisdom.

                Aparisyon takes very whetting style of foreshadowing. Mylene Dizon’s opened radio speak about a clearer context from the story will revolve. Jodi Sta. Maria’s detection of animals who were actually rapists behaving as nonetheless an animal. The old nun’s changing distinction of the Mother superior paints the difference of our schema towards the mentioned character.

                The film was set in the pre Martial law period where a chaotic Philippines was presented in forms of Radio and newspaper therefore solidifying the fact that nuns indeed cloistered from the outer world sounding like hermitically sealed for purity in God’s name. This period serves as stimuli for reversibility of the notions of the convent. Man’s politics’ therefore has direct effects to a person as whole. It disestablishes even spiritual balance that completes a nun’s vocation. They deviate from the standards that ecclesiastical thumbs ratify. If nuns are susceptible to a diminished faith, how much more are we?

            There are two fundamental types of sin – omission and commission. Sin of omission is incurred when one doesn’t do what he must do. While sin of commission happens when one does what he must not do. The prevalent infraction in the film was omission. The Mother superior Ruth with her companion failed to protect the raped novitiate. While Sister Remy (Mylene Dizon), left Sister Lourdes (Jodi Sta. Maria) to escape from the troubles of being a second rape victim. Ironically, it was Sister Remy who caused Sister Lourdes to return late night and suffer such consequence.

               Mother Ruth’s washing of her blood stained hands signifies her open repentance over her sin of omission. But a bride of Christ she takes it to a different way, unlike Pontius Pilates’ cleansing. She left her hands on the running water as if no manual effort was taken. Her blood stained hands still remains until she retreats to the Adoration chapel. This pictures her unforgiven soul burdened by an unrest conscience.

             

   The story employs an arrival-departure technique. The story starts as Sister Lourdes travels by foot to the monastery. I see her like Jesus walking his way to Mt. Calvary where she dies. She rests like Jesus who paused due to exhaustion. Initially, I thought of Sister Remy’s decision to go to Manila, amid the turmoil, as the departure that completes the literary motif. But it was actually Sister Lourdes’ death upon giving birth. She departs from the world to meet the Divine Master face to face.

                For me, Aparisyon gives a misleading catharsis. Sister Remy who defies the amorphati psyche of the whole monastery, is tangled in a web of consequences. It appears to me that it was more of a signaling to go away from unconventionalism and to disengage from political activism. Why? Because one may have to suffer from these wraths. The story then demystifies political engagement and free reason as a risky act.

                As the film rolled it credits, I immediately asked myself what or where the apparition is. For me the apparition was narrated allegorically by nuns’ vulnerability to instability and therefore reversibility. The convent was not isolated but is treated as a part of the Philippine landscape. As a corollary, if something bad happens in the nation, the same goes to the convent or any other institution circumscribed in the nation.

                The film, cinematography wise, is commendable since it rivals the mainstream film. It was a detailed definition of sight while giving ample justice for the story per se. A classmate of mine noted that it deviated from the simple perspectives of the indie film convention. But for me it conveyed a very brilliant story, regardless of cinematic technicalities. The plot of Aparisyon seems to be audience selective, it chooses thinking and patient audiences who are ready to seat and be discombobulated.

                I commend everyone’s artistry from Direk V. Sandoval down the line. Two thumbs up! I wish for more Filipino films that embodies instruction and delight. 

Rate 8/10

When the St. Peter’s Throne is vacant (Sede Vacante)by two means-  by death or by resignation, the College of Cardinals is entrusted an extraordinary task to pick the next man who will occupy the vacant seat. According to Universi Dominici Regis, a governing statue for Papal Election, the election must commence fifteen (15) days after the Petrine office is emptied. But Pope emeritus Benedict XVI made an amendment to this provision. Instead of the fifteen day interval, the date of the Conclave must begin depending on the attendance of the cardinal electors.

Before the set date of the Conclave, the Cardinals meet for general congregation meetings. Their meetings comprise of Ecclesiastical matters and issues such as Year of Faith, New Evangelization, Vatileaks scandals, Women’s role in the Church, Diplomatic relations of the Holy See and even the characteristics of the next leader of 1.2 Billion Catholics. Each cardinal may intervene and insert discussions pertinent to the Church’s existence. At this point, Cardinals are bound to keep the meeting’s topics secret.

On the first day of the Conclave, the College of Cardinals (headed by its Dean, now Angelo Cardinal Sodano )  will hold a mass offered for the Election of a Supreme Pontiff. After this, they now retreat to Casa Santa Martha –the Official residence of Cardinal electors during a Conclave. To start the conclave they conduct a procession from the Pauline chapel of the Apostolic Place to their proper venue – Sistine chapel. As they enter to their election precinct, they recite a Liturgy of Saints. Once inside, they place their palm on the Gospel and take an oath to secrecy. This is done as they face the Michelangelo’s Last Judgment painting.  

When the vespers and other related ceremonies are finished, the Dean then announces the start of the conclave. The Master of Ceremonies then declares extra omnes meaning “Everybody out!” Of course this is not addressed to the College of Cardinals, this are for non-cardinals who have nothing to do with the election but present inside the Sistine.

The first day, by tradition, has only 1 round of election. When the cardinal electors reach a 2/3 vote for the Supreme Pontiff, they will burn the Election papers to create a white smoke. The vote is written in a small paper, alteration of handwriting is encouraged. They then cast their votes in a ballot according to seniority. Usually, the first voting reaches no consensus so the smoke in Sistine’s chimney is black. For succeeding days they will have 4 rounds each day until a Pope is elected. The ash is not a divine miracle. The Vatican uses a mixture of potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulphur for black smoke while potassium chlorate, lactose and rosin.          

The Conclave is a unique election running through centuries. It is much like Monarch elected by his peers, a monarch who is more of a shepherd than a king. How the Cardinals decide on voting depends on their conscience and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.    

I accidentally (should I say by luck) watched ABS-CBN’s Bandila covering an interview of Peque Gallaga regarding the restoration of Oro, Plata, Mata (one which I recently reviewed).  Though I started the interview in the middle part, I believe I got the gist of a Gallaga prowess. He urged the youth of today to set a critical glance on our national identity. Our world must not be caged in the social media. The computer should not own us. The youth must venture into a more realistic and natural link with patrimony.  Philippine films are good avenues for the expansion of a cultural appreciative attitude. Unlike contemporary movies that favors fancy over quality, movies of our cinema’s Golden Age provides a better outlook and a deeper sense and consciousness. They offer a vivid depiction of a deeper national conflict, one that is more enlightening.

The director of Oro, Plata, Mata praised the high definition restoration of the film.

Gallaga further encourages us to take effort in patronizing Philippine cinema (one which would be in an ‘A’ standard). He also requested to support his newly directed film entitled “sonata.” I fervently wish that this is another Peque magnum opus. 

How would life be like when a man is tossed in the Pacific? Or better say – how can a man, tossed in the Pacific, survive with an adult Bengal Tiger?

Either ways, life with such damage provides no chance of survival.  I, for one, would call it ‘quit’.

The story starts in extremas res where, Piscine Molitor, the protagonist reminisces his past experience to a novelist. As kid he undergoes mockery from his name as others associate it with piss rather than the elite swimming pool in France where it is derived. In his youth, he faces a labyrinth of belief with plenty of rooms such as Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and doubt. But his bigger challenge when Piscine is stranded in the ocean with a stripped beast.

Life of Pi gives us a spectrum of man’s survival that results into a web of conflicts. Initially, the protagonist is faced with a name dilemma. His finds a way out by changing his nickname Pi with a mathematical association from π. Pi also anchored faith in different angles which is unrealistically probable. But, as human as possible, he finds a way to reconcile these beliefs even with repeating disapproval from an extensively rational father. His father believes that faith has no stall in a modern enterprise; one that they are currently facing even resembled it to darkness and uncertainty unlike rationalism and western science.

Pi’s childhood is tangled, like most of us, with curiosity. His inquisitiveness makes him trust a tiger named Richard Parker. His father adamantly disapproved this act. In effect, he lets Pi witness a goat’s fate in a Parker’s paws. The scene aligns with Ricky Lee’s “maliit na tao concept” (small person). This suggest that our childish imagination has unlimited spaces but is eventually caged in conventions as parents debunk our manner of thought. The conflict of realism and unconventionalism therefore rises. What is perceived by the intellectual society becomes the convention by which we are subjected to conform with.

As India changes its landscape, Pi’s family zoo is threatened to be shut down. His father resorts to selling the animals in Canada and venture in the same place. Pi waves is disagreement but ends to nothing as he is a son to father. In a ship bound to their ‘soon to be’ new home, the ship is knocked down by a sea storm. The protagonist manages to escape with a life boat.

The story appears to be a story of placements and changes. It baits you to an expecation that in the end is not right much like Pi’s selection of faith that constantly changes through time, experience and circumstance. To wrap it all up the author takes a lot of U-Turns like any others life that branches unexpectedly.

We expect that they find refuge in Canada.

No, his family perished in the ocean only Pi survives.

We expect he lives with a Zebra.

No, an Orangutan sails to accompany him. The Orangutan and he Zebra are murdered by a laughing Hyena.

Pi is accompanied by a Hyena.

No, the Hyena is killed by a Tiger.

Like any other National Geographic coverage, Pi will be eaten by a blood thirsty Parker.

No, they will be friends. And believe me, they will be best friends.

They find refuge on an island.

No, Pi found out the island was a nature trap. Even plants eat human. They leave and end up in a Mexican coast.

Martel brings us to a lot of broken expectation not as twists but as literary twirls – minute surprises that reverses expectation.

But with the story wrapped in twirls, we find a Pi greater that a number and a man not lesser than us. He is a man who has an expansive imagination that transcends rationality. He reconciles water and oil. He has a life that serves as an exemplar to everyman. Despite the heavy conflict, he finds hope to survive, even against natural order and convention.

I am an avid critic of senseless and effortless titles. For example, heading “About Eve” for Eve’s short biography. Or Tale of Adam the Brain crusher as simply Adam and Brain crushing. Life of Pi was not exempted to this. I was partly dismayed by the seemingly effortless title. Yeah, I know. It comes from a story of a man named Pi. But indeed, Life of Pi is a story of twirls that breaks expectations. The title builds its gravity from the story itself unlike films who feed us only from the title or trailer.

Rate: 8/10