Under a Piaya Moon

In an Oscar winner like Ronnie Del Carmen, we are told that ‘to go international is to go hyper-local’. In twenty or more years, Kurt Soberano gives us A Filipino Story for the World – Under a Piaya Moon. It is great by itself with certain technical shortcomings; on top of these self-imposed restrictions, the film is also forced to work within the constraints of time. The film however manages to rise above this and delivers a completely satisfying film that can even be called godsend.

Under A Piaya Moon’s central love story centers on Stephen (Jeff Moses) a young man with aspirations of becoming a professional baker and the only heir to his family’s adored bakeshop in Bacolod City. As the reshaping of the branding of his company requires great publicity, he also undertakes perhaps the most formidable task of all, entering the biggest baking competition in their area. After all, if all else fails, the charming granny Fina (Chart Motus) can always be enlisted to help out. And, with her assistance, he remembers the Negrense more.

This is where Piaya Moon finds its soul, in the roots, yet the roots are being displayed with pride. It is set in the year 1988, a period that defined a struggle for the Filipino national identity as the case has been particularly in Negros, which has yet to completely recover from the most devastating famine it has experienced. At that time many Filipinos including Stephen thought it would be better to project an international image for his bakery, hence the influx of Parisian cakes instead of the local Negros.

Now In terms of the supposed appeals, or even temptations, from the Negrense ties/unification of them using all sorts of arguments including “Negros sugar is the sweetest thing ever” and others that are simply urging all in this separation process to remain and/or in about it – and/or self preservation of other cuisines will completely white wash this bakery of all traces of Negrense culture heritage… . Imagine living in an area where all farming activity, except the production of a single crop for world demand ovens, is clearly illegal. Do this really warrant deep-frying in hot oil in the land of eclairs?

At what cost are success and achievement acquired, what are looted for so and why.

The film begins by lightly referencing the sugar crisis, in familiar cheeky Filipino fashion, which serves to foreshadow the crowd pleasing aim of Stephen’s baking competition: it is not really a case of who makes better cakes, cupcakes, frostings and pastries. Rather, it is more of a psychological weapon to revive the downtrodden.

It is the author’s thesis itself that helps one know at what side of the Stephen’s dilemma this particular movie stands – nevertheless, it feels somehow disconcerting as it appears that such a lovingly-crafted cinematographically AndrewSeanferences Piaya Moon, which allows viewing potential audiences rather broad than only Filipino and heranisporas…… This does not dwell too much upon histories behind storylines; what instead does is incorporate everything else what is inengles So cal for cultures. This here is Negrenstein culture which emanates love languages and food, food mostly – very Pinoy!

Every dessert that appears on screen is beautiful; every place that was shot during the 80s Bacolod was portrayed quite creatively; even the nostalgic essence can be felt through the intricacies … it is so nostalgic that one can almost imagine how it must use to be!

Broadcasting takes place during the happenings and even before in the form of fiestas which tells the history in bits and pieces while traditional radio constantly broadcasts the jamboree how pervasively performs the overflow with (rather Jeff) quite physically played wooden clogs that one would even understand just after hearing about Hiligaynon as it becomes evidential rather fast even for one who does not speak it.

Yes, I am the one, who is taking one of the most rude and action-oriented genres of culture and trying to imbue it with feeling and emotions,” says Kristina Tsimbalyuk, editor of Source 9 magazine, on channeling at least partial journalism into the creation of Si Advones Cuban Memoirs.

But as Oinsuh focused on, especially for a local indie film, Under a Piaya Moon has it’s bugs to be taken care of. The audio was poorly and carelessly edited to some extent, at times the sound switches from audio tracks and lines to boom and lapel mics and vice versa without ever going through dub. There are also slight inconsistencies between the voice over and subtitles synchronization — just a couple of minutes worth but it is just enough to throw you off if you happen to encounter these glitches at any of the multiple occasions.

Yet those are all things that could just be attended to in the future – glitches that probably existed in the test-screening of the movie because they had to beat the clock due to budgetary constrains. The bones of it – the story, performance, the shots, and the love for this part of the world are arguably some of the best scenes people have watched over the year in this region. Under a Piaya Moon premiered at the Puregold Cinepanalo Film Festival and won six major awards including Best Picture.

Under a Piaya Moon is also the kind of film that I hope is more frequent in the local film industry: a little step away from the usual Manila stories. It has always been a reprehensible habit, so to speak, for most of our stories, especially the movie ones that the Kagay-anons and other Filipinos possess, are Manila-centric when the Philippines boasts thousands of islands worth of stories waiting to be told.Everyone loves it when a non-Manila story is developed and more so when it is authentic, a privilege one does not get easy anywhere else.

What I love most about Under A Piaya Moon is the fact that it is very local in its appeal; this is one narrative o. In all honesty, intertwining and encompasses its people geographically/ demographically, this movie nevertheless manages to capture and hold its audience’s interest.

It brings Lacabac and La Viacarlota and Silay to life in such detail that it helps one understand why so many people want to call these spots home, and there are not enough of such films made today even if the places and the people in these movies would be this glorious.

Filipino culture is telling this, as a hit from Piaya Moon’s time would say “Here you have a present”.

Watch free movies like on Fmovies