I was physically unprepared for this MMK’s episode since I only had a few hours of sleep because of my thesis proposal, but I had to step up my game and push myself further.

Today, October 23, marks my second taping experience for Maalaala Mo Kaya. It was around 6 in the morning when we arrived in the outskirts of Bulacan for the first day of taping of this episode. The story revolves around Fatima, a nurse at East Avenue Medical Center, who went through several work-related issues with the oppression of nurse interns because of the administration of the hospital. But behind all of this, she still pushed herself to work for the welfare of her patients and rap her worries away. She also served as an inspiration to other nurses and employees in their work, and above all else, a great artist in the Metro Manila rapping scene. The beautiful Maxene Magalona played the role with Bembol Roco and Shamaine Buencamino as her parents.

The Nurse Rapper herself, Ms. Fatima Palma!

During the taping, I had a more hands-on experience with the help of Direk Raz and Direk Karla Pambid. Direk Karla Pambid had a lot of AD experience in both television and films. Her background in theater (through PETA) also helped her style of directing.

The first sequence to be shot required me to cue Mr. Bembol to drive from the far end of the hospital. I only had a copy of my script to signal him. I thought it would be nearly impossible for Mr. Bembol to hear the AD’s voice from inside the hospital, but no. Her voice was strong enough to cue Mr. Bembol without my cueing. During the break, I asked Direk Karla how she managed to shout so strong and clearly. She told me it took years of experience, and PETA (under Direk Soxy Topacio) helped her in doing so.

Several sequences passed and several setups were taken down. What made this hospital shoot different from our Little Infinity episode is that we maximized all parts of the location for each sequence. Despite all of this, Direk Karla managed to keep her voice in tact, even though she consumed quite a number of cigarettes. She followed every single bit of Direk Raz’s instructions from the control room and her voice never ceased to break down from fatigue.

It was such a sin to snatch a couple of naps during the first day of shoot while everyone was still awake in finishing the sequences for the day. I felt all of the PAs, the EP, AP, Direk Raz and Direk Karla’s eyes on me and I swore that it would never happen again if I really wanted to get into this business. Everyone was so easy to work with and their morale was still high after more than 20 hours of taping.

Male Ward Sequence

In this taping, I was awed at Maxene Magalona’s passion to do her best in the rapping sequences. We had several takes since she committed quite a number of mistakes in her raps, but she told us that she didn’t want to fail her father, and asked us to have another take.

With Ms. Maxene Magalona!

The first day of taping lasted for 27 hours, and I promised to myself that I would never commit the same mistakes ever again–after everyone seeing me perform poorly on the set.

On the second day of taping, we taped at several locations. First, we taped inside a large house for the rooftop sequence. It amazed me how the Art Department was able to transform a rooftop into what looked like the abandoned building beside the LRT Betty Go Belmonte Station with all the artistic vandals. I watched how Maxene struggled to finish every rap sequence to make her father proud of her as a female rapper.

Me and another Production Assistant left early to prepare the other set–beside a high school in New Manila. We ensured that the catering had already prepared and that the barangay’s multipurpose hall was arranged for the artists. This also involved contacting Direk Raz’s Videography students for their set visit. I pulled them out to play as talents since we lacked people to play as professionals who needed to renew their nursing licenses at Professional Regulation Commission. The sequence was hard to shoot since we had to silence all high school students who were watching by their rooms’ windows. We also had to quickly buy Siopao from 7-Eleven which the Art Department forgot to ensure!

For the whole duration of the taping, I can attest that the most difficult sequence was when Fatima saw the old lady that got hit by a truck and rushed for help. We had to close down the whole road and warn every single bystander not to get in the way of the taping and maintain crowd control. It took us almost three hours to set up and another hour to tape the sequence. The road was half a kilometer long and we managed to pull it off. I had to run from different ends of the road to instruct and cue the talents and keep the bystanders silent, as well as ensuring that the talents have already worn the proper wardrobe for the scene.

The Palma Family

 Sadly, for the last few sequences at Fatima’s house, I had to leave by 11:00 PM because of class the next day. This was really one memorable taping for me because I really had to efficiently work and help the entire crew. The experience I got was all encompassing in several aspects of the production. And the things I learned in this taping were really for the books.

(SYNOPSIS) [Ito ay isang interpretasyon ng isang tula ni Lean Borlongan na pinamagatang “Pangkaraniwan”. Tinatalakay nito ang pangungulila na bunsod ng pagkawala ng isang minamahal sa buhay.]

Producer, Director, Cinematographer and Editor: Earl John M. Orio

Based on a Poem by Lean Borlongan, “Pangkaraniwan”

Executive Producer: Raz dela Torre

Type of Production: Video Poetry – Poetry

TRT: 4m 20 secs.

Videography (BC 144)

2nd Semester, AY 2013-2014

University of the Philippines, Diliman

Department of Broadcast Communication, College of Mass Communication

Producer, Director, Writer, Editor: Leslie Anne Marie Corpuz

Production Design: Outside Exhibit of CONTEND UP

Second Cameraman: Drestel Leigh Galang

Music by Leslie Anne Marie Corpuz

Executive Producer: Raz de la Torre

TRT: 3 Minutes, 24 Seconds

Videography (BC 144)
1st Semester, AY 2014-2015
University of the Philippines
Department of Broadcast Communication, College of Mass Communication

Videography

Literary work interpretation, based on E. E. Cummings’ poem – Somewhere I Have Never Travelled, Gladly Beyond.

Synopsis: Perception of the manifestations of a divine love. A story of how someone (outside the relationship) has fallen in love with the idea of loving that is completely transforming to reverence.

Producer: Jessa Mae Gabon
Director, Writer: Jessa Mae Gabon
Cinematographer, Editor: Jessa Mae Gabon
Executive Producer: Raz de la Torre
Type of Production: Video Production – Literary work interpretation
TRT: 5m 13s

Videography (BC 144)
1st Semester, AY 2014-2015
University of the Philippines
Department of Broadcast Communication, College of Mass Communication

(SYNOPSIS) Based on a poem by Bienvenido Lumbera, the video tackles the pests of Philippine society.

Producer, Director: Ria Tagle
Director of Photography: Ria Tagle
Production Designer: Ria Tagle
Executive Producer: Raz de la Torre
Video Production – Poetry
TRT: 3m 11s

Videography (BC144)
1st Semester, AY 2014-2015
University of the Philippines-Diliman
Department of Broadcast Communication, College of Mass Communication

The imperfect splendor of sex and women’s nudity.

Producer and Director: Princess Guzman

Director of Photography: Princess Guzman

Production Designer: Princess Guzman

Editor: Princess Guzman

Executive Producer: Raz de la Torre

Type of Production: Video Production – Essay

TRT: 00:04:23

Videography (BC 144)

1st Semester, AY 2014-2015

University of the Philippines-Diliman

Department of Broadcast Communication, College of Mass Communication

“Upon strings, we can build another attempt to constellate all the things happening between us.”—Christian Benitez, String Theories

Combining science and myth, String Theories explains the missed connections within our universe—red-threaded or otherwise.

Producer and Director: Katherine Gutlay
Director of Photography: Katherine Gutlay
Production Designer and Editor: Katherine Gutlay
Executive Producer: Raz de la Torre
Type of Production: Video Production – Essay
TRT: 4:32 minutes

Videography (BC 144)
1ST Semester, AY 2014-2015
University of the Philipines-Diliman
Department of Broadcast Communication, College of Mass Communication

Based on Raymond Carver’s short story, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.

Ano nga ba ang love? Paano ba ito maipapaliwanag? Tatlong magkakaibigang nag-uusap para malaman kung ano nga ba ang pag-ibig.

Producer, Director, Cinematographer and Editor: Jainee Turla

Executive Producer: Raz Dela Torre

Type of Production: Video Production – Short Story

TRT: 7 minutes

Videography (BC 144)

1st Semester, AY 2014-2015

University of the Philippines, Diliman

Department of Broadcast Communication, College of Mass Communication

(SYNOPSIS) I’m trying to live, / but the Sun never rises, / the ocean calls still.

Producer & Director: Alyssa Kangleon

Based on Man’yōshū vol. 11, verse 2513 – 2514

Director of Photography: Alyssa Kangleon

Editor: Alyssa Kangleon

Production Designer: Alyssa Kangleon

Executive Producer: Raz de la Torre

Video Production – Video Production – Poetry

TRT: 4m 18s

Videography (BC144)

1st Semester, AY 2014-2015

University of the Philippines-Diliman

Department of Broadcast Communication, College of Mass Communication

Never had they felt this happy until their forbidden love, in every sense of the word, leaked and affected their professional stature. One has to leave. One remained.  He left him. But he remained loving him.

Producers: Reynald Russel Santos & Guia Jolina Peralta

Directors and Writers: Reynald Russel Santos & Guia Jolina Peralta

Videographer: Reynald Russel Santos 

Editor: Guia Jolina Peralta

Executive Producer: Raz de la Torre

Type of Production: Video Production – Poetry

TRT: 4m 13s

BC 144 – Videography

1st Semester, AY 2014 – 2015

University of the Philippines – Diliman

Department of Broadcast Communication, College of Mass Communication

(synopsis) The Lover’s Dictionary defines the story of a man and woman; of love’s ups and downs; of how there is no perfect relationship.

Based on excerpts taken from the novel “The Lover’s Dictionary”  by David Levithan

Producer & Director: Rebecca Tan
Cinematographer & Editor: Rebecca Tan
Executive Producer: Raz de la Torre
Type of Production: Video Production- Excerpts from a novel
TRT: 3m 12s

Videography (BC144)
1st Semester, AY 2014-2015
University of the Philippines- Diliman
Department of Broadcast Communication, College of Mass Communication