Tangents on The Year of the Little Rooster That Could

© 2005 Annabelle A. Udo
(version published in "Listen & Be Heard" weekly for end of the year issue 2005)


Photo by Annabelle A. Udo

Chevron Gas Prices o' the Day (19th Avenue)
$2.15
$2.25
$2.35

As I close my eyes and meditate on the year, I find myself sitting alone in a theatre watching a silent movie flickering with my life on-screen. Somewhere in the distance, a train rolls across interstates and its metronomic clack-clack-clack sets a nostalgic cadence in my head—of sounds from childhood—of a time that no longer exists except in memory.

The ancients speak and remind me that “[wo]man cannot step in the same river twice,” and, thus, as the seconds move forward into the annual ceremony of Time, we travel once again into unknown battles with words still yet to be spoken. We are a world populated by the sperm and egg of Father Time and Mother Nature with spells on our breath brought forth by the gathering of past souls, present lives, and future spirits. Perhaps, 2006 will be the Year of the Muse—a converging of literary geniuses, musical legions, and artistic voyages. Perhaps, the war to end all wars will be eradicated by the peace that will just bring—peace.

This year brought on a surge of new works by Pinay authors such as Eileen Tabios (I Take Thee, English, For My Beloved), Janet Stickmon (Crushing Soft Rubies), Leny Mendoza Strobel (A Book of Her Own: Words and Images to Honor the Babaylan), Marianne Villanueva (Mayor of the Roses), Barbara Jane Reyes (poeta en san francisco), Veronica Montes (Bernie Aragon, Jr. Looks for Love) and Penelope Villarica Flores (Good-bye Vientiane:Untold Stories of Filipinos in Laos)—and that is just to name a few (!).

As well, let’s not forget significant contributions by folks such as Oscar Penaranda (Seasons By the Bay; Jokers Playing), Tony Robles (Lakas & the Manilatown Fish; Lakas & the Makibaka Hotel); Amy Tan (Saving Fish From Drowning); Vikram Seth (Two Lives; A Suitable Boy), Andrew Lam (Perfume Dreams), and Said Hyder Akbar (Come Back to Afghanistan).

So, to Tony, Martha, Mom, Cousin Jen, Johnny O’, Kawika, Go, Brudda Kayumanggi, Jean, Dolma, all the aforementioned, all my dedicated blog 'o fans, and all the Asian & Pacific Islander communities who helped make it possible to come alive with their magic, I say, salamat, dios ti agngina, shukriya, mahalo, makasih, thu je che, arigato, xie xie, komapsumnida! THANK YOU!

Film Review: Naked In Ashes

© 2005 Annabelle A. Udo
(published in "Listen & Be Heard" weekly for December 14, 2005)

Chevron Gas Prices o' the Day (19th Avenue)
$2.15 (!)
$2.25
$2.35





(Top: Shiv Raj Giri, covered with ashes, blesses the crowd on the banks of the Ganges; Bottom: Dhuna Giri prays to the river Ganges during the sacred bathing festival. Photos courtesy of Paradise Filmworks)

I have only traveled to India in my mind and through the experiences of those who have been able to make the trek to that part of the world. I embarked on that "journey" the other night as I watched Naked in Ashes, the magnificent work of filmmaker Paula Fouce. Leading the audience through the labyrinth of India's world of sadhus, also known as renunciates, this film provides a glimpse of those who choose to find a deeper meaning in life by taking a vow of chastity, austerity, and utter devotion.

Naked in Ashes follows the story of a spiritual teacher, Shiv Raj Giri, and his 14-year-old initiate, Santosh Giri, who prepares for the rites of passage of a 5,000-year-old tradition. The film beautifully captures a community of ascetics, their pursuit to cleanse the sins of a thousand lifetimes and their journey towards ultimate bliss. Whether it's the practice of dusting their bodies with agni (cremation ashes), or taking a vow to stand for 12 years, their devotion culminates to the highly-revered Khumba Mela, a riverside festival which attracts more than 5 million pilgrims and is held four times every twelve years near the Ganges River. Basically, think exponentially the amount of Burning Man's population and you've got Khumba Mela.

With the increasing popularity of India's Bollywood cinema and all its glitz and glamour, it was interesting to see the stark contrast of these holy men who purposefully leave behind a modern world of all material and sexual attachments. Their nomadic lives in caves, forests, and temples throughout India is a remnant of an ancient lifestyle that dates back to the beginning of man's quest for spiritual truth.

From makeshift tents to the burning funerary pyres, Naked in Ashes allows the viewer to walk naked with these holy men through the Himalayas and with them "arrive at sunrise to drink the nectar of the gods." For more information about the filmmaker and upcoming screenings, visit www.paradisefilmworks.com