Heyheyhey! Eto na naman po tayo sa mahabang post ko. Syempre, mahaba ito kasi magkahalong pagiging fangirl at laman ng puso ko ang content. But whether you finish it, or not, thank you pa din for giving my post a chance to be read.
Actually, hindi ko alam paano magsisimula… This is my way of acknowledging the 4th blockbuster week of #HelloLoveGoodbye. It might be a little late, but never too late for this review. I have read so many reviews already and it all revolved around one thought – MAGANDA YUNG PELIKULA. (period!)
FYI: I have watched the film, technically, five times already (di ko lang na-save yung 2 tickets sa TriNoma kaya 3 lang yung nasa pic) –
1. TriNoma Cinema 1 (July 31)
2. TriNoma Cinema 2 (July 31)
3. SM North Edsa Cinema 4 (July 31)
4. Vista Mall General Trias Cinema 2 (August 8)
5. Venice Grand Canal Mall Cinema 2 (August 15).
Konti pa siguro ito compared to other fans, but I still have plan of watching it in the cinema habang showing pa. Ganun sya kaganda! Hindi nakakasawa panoorin kahit alam mo na ang story! Maybe sa 6th time ko, with a stranger para no judgement! 😜 At iba pa din experience pag sa Cinema ka nanood. Mas maaappreciate at mararamdaman mo. Kaya sana, please stop piracy! 🙏
Well, it’s obvious to most of my friends (if not all) that I am a fan of Kathryn Bernardo. I have posted several reviews about her previous movies. I have said a lot of times “no bias” MAGALING SI KATHRYN. And allow me to say it again in this post, “No bias. MAGALING SI KATHRYN, MALUPET SYA DITO!!!”
Yung galing ni Kath sa pag-embody ng role, samahan pa ng revelation ni Alden, tapos yung amazing (as always!) direction ni Direk Cathy at palpable storytelling ni Ms. Carmi (na lagi tayong dinudurog), pati na din ang sipag at galing ng lahat ng casts, staffs and crews here in the Philippines and abroad – these all sum up the reason kung bakit so far, naka-5 times na akong nakanood sa sinehan, at gusto ko pang ulitin.
So eto, punta na tayo sa movie itself. Bakit maganda at kaulit-ulit panoorin ang HLG? Let me answer it in 5 points like I watched it 5 times (DISCLAIMER: HINDI PO ITO SPOILER AND THESE ARE BASED ON MY OWN OPINION):
1. It depicts the life of ‘modern OFW’. I experienced being an OFW in UAE for quite some time back 2016. I know how it feels to be far away from your loved ones just to save hard-earned money. Though swerte pa ako kasi kasama ko sa UAE yung kapatid ko, pero may sariling buhay din sya, ganun din naman ako, kaya hindi pwedeng lagi lang ako nakabuntot kay Ate. I have learned how to stand independently. Along the journey, I realized na isa na ata sa pinaka-unbearable na sakit ang HOME SICKNESS. Yung physical pain, ipahinga mo lang nawawala na, pero yung pangungulila sa pamilya mo na nasa Pilipinas, pabalik-balik kang dudurugin nyan lalo na pag times na mag-isa ka na lang at iniisip ilang buwan o taon ka pa magtitiis. The modern OFW knows more how to handle difficult times. This movie is not a typical OFW story that we used to watch before. Napakita dito how the OFWs of our generation pursue to achieve their dreams. And take note, they are more of a dreamer nowadays. Mas madami nang kayang gawin para maka-survive. In this fast-paced world, kailangan mabilis ka din kumilos, kung hindi maiiwan ka.
2. It gives you sense of reality about life’s uncertainties. Sabi sa trailer, “May mga lugar na pangmatagalan, may mga lugar na dinadaanan lang, parang Hong Kong, kaya dapat sulitin mo, kasi walang nagtatagal dito.” Ang dami kong feels sa linyang ‘to! So many questions that you either: a) know the answer but you don’t know how to accept it; or b) doesn’t really know the answer at all, at syempre mata-touch sa movie yun. Sa totoong buhay, may mga bagay na posible at imposible. Yes, libreng mangarap, walang pumipigil na gawin mo lahat ng makakaya mo para ma-achieve yung dream mo. Pero paano mo ba malalaman na para sa’yo yun? I guess, you wouldn’t know unless you tried. If it is for you, then good! But, what if it’s not? And what does it take to carry on kahit nalaman mong hindi para sa’yo ang isang bagay? ACCEPTANCE – for me, it’s a way of freeing yourself from the disappointments of not getting what you want, while still looking at the beauty of everything.
3. It tells you that there’s nothing wrong about being selfless for your loved ones, but it’s also okay to be selfish sometimes for the sake of your own happiness. Ang love hindi lang naman naipapakita thru sacrifice. Love can be defined and shown in so many ways. Hindi ibig sabihin na hindi mo na mahal porket at one point of your life mas pinili mo yung sarili mo kesa sa taong mahal mo. In fact, bago ka makapagbigay ng love sa ibang tao, first thing you should learn is self-love. In a spiritual point-of-view, God sacrificed His life to save all of us. But you’re not a God. You’re just a human being saved by Him so love yourself, for in that way you will give justice for God’s sacrifices.
4. It opens up (in a good way) a battle between LOVE vs DREAMS. Kailangan ba talagang isa lang? Sobrang swerte ng mga taong hindi kailangan mamili between these two. At isa si Kathryn dun! May magandang career na dream nya, may Daniel pa na love nya at love sya. But for some people nowadays, there comes a battle between love and dreams. Mahirap na daw makahanap ng true love, same as opportunity for your dreams knocks once in a lifetime. Going back to #2, life has so many uncertainties. You wouldn’t know if it is worth it unless you tried. And if time comes that you have to choose, setting your priorities can help you decide between love and dreams.
5. Finally, it helps you realize that not all SAD GOODBYES are BAD GOODBYES. May mga taong hindi itinadhanang mag-stay sa buhay mo. Dadaan lang sila for weeks, months or years, pero aalis din at tanging ala-ala na lang ang maiiwan. Sa mga ganitong situation, tanging solusyon naman ay acceptance. Free yourself from the disappointments of not getting what you want and look for the beauty of this situation. Baka nawala sila sa atin para magbigay-daan sa mas magandang opportunities. It might also take weeks, months or years for you to accept. Pero dadating ka din sa point na yun, tiwala lang! Nevertheless, goodbyes are not always forever, kasi may mga taong nakatadhanang bumalik sa buhay mo. Sila yung mga taong meron pang purpose sa’yo. Some of them are meant to come back and who knows, stay forever.
And there you go, for me, those are just 5 of so many reasons why you should watch Hello, Love, Goodbye. Relate ka siguro kung nagstay ka sa cinema hanggang matapos ang credits kasi akala mo hindi pa tapos. Believe me, sa ilang beses ko na napanood yung movie, hindi ako umalis agad sa cinema hanggang sa matapos ang credits. For an idealistic person, siguro sasabihin mo, “hala tapos na!”. But for a realistic person, sasabihin mo “MAY TAPOS, PERO WALANG TAPON”. And that’s what the film turned me into – a realistic person. Someone who became more open to all realities of life.
To Kathryn, you inspired me again. Your journey for the portrayal of Joy is never easy but life changing. You are so amazing and I love you even more because of this.
To Joy and Ethan, thank you for being so real to us.
To Direk Cathy, thank you for interpreting the love story of Joy and Ethan.
To Ms. Carmi, we all awe it to you! Naniniwala ako na ginamit ni Lord yung mga kamay mo para makapaghandog sa aming lahat ng story na babago sa pagtingin namin sa life. Honestly, this story makes me wanna crave for more in life. Thank you for giving life to Joy and Ethan! Sobrang bilib ako sa story telling mo. Mahilig din akong mag-sulat ng stories. I actually dreamt of being as brilliant as you in writing. And yes, now I really know that I can coz this movie made me realize that I CAN BE MORE. 😍
“Live your life to the fullest…” – assenaj22
Love, JG 