Phlegm School

When I moved here to Singapore two years ago, one of the more important bits of info which my friend Sandy pointed out to me is that the locals actually pronounce the word "film" as "flim." No reason was given other than this was just the way it is. Check it out, Sandy said, create a pretense by which one of them will say "film" or "flim" -- ask them what's that thing which you put into those old school non-digital cameras which come in a roll. For dramatic effect, say "For the life of me I have no idea what those things are called." And then wait for them to say either "film" or "flim."

Well, I can confirm that they actually say "flim." You know how? I told my boss that I was quitting work because I was going to film school. "You're going to study how to make 'flims?' " he asked. Booyah. I said yes.

So, I'm going to film school. I'm going back home to study filmmaking there. So this means I'll be leaving Singapore and going back to the Philippines. More than this, I'll be leaving the line of work I have been engaged in since I graduated from college, oh, 64 years ago. And even more than this, I'm going to pursue a field which I have no experience in.

You can just imagine that I've been asked why I'm doing this. Well, the short answer is because I'm quite lucky enough to be able to do it. The decision rested with me and me alone. There was no one else who would be "inconvenienced" by my taking this course of action. Next question. Why filmmaking? Like I wrote in my essay which I submitted to the film school as part of the requirements to enter, being a filmmaker is a natural progression which was inevitable owing to my love of and passion for movies. This is a love and passion so deep that it breaks down the Chinese wall separating a filmgoer from a filmmaker like it was just a thin slice of cheese. Hmmm. Not a very cinematic metaphor, eh? Okay. Take two! This is a love and passion so deep that it breaks down the Chinese wall separating a filmgoer from a filmmaker like it was just a thin plotline in a M. Night Shyamalan movie. Cut! Print!

So, I'm currently unemployed. The plan is to stay in Singapore the whole of month of April slowly dismantling my life here. Then I fly back to the Philippines and start school in June. I hope to keep up with updating my blog now I have all this free time. In the meantime, I would advise everyone to take it easy. Stop and smell the roses. Life is too short to be spending it stressed out all the time. Do something wild and crazy. Then, tell me all about it. I need the material for flim school.