Thoughts on "That Thing Called Tadhana"

“The Arrow with a Heart Pierced Through Him”

           

            “The Arrow with a Heart Pierced Through Him” is a lot like “The Missing Piece Meets Big O” by Shel Silverstein.

(Photo credit belongs to owner)

            “The Missing Piece Meets Big O” is one of my favorite short clips in the Internet. It portrays how sometimes we look for somebody to complete us but what we really need to do is to complete ourselves first before we find our match.  You can watch this short story here. 

Suitcase Symbolism

(Photo credit belongs to owner)

            Their 3 suitcases symbolize their emotional baggage. Sabi nga ni Mace laman nun yung “buong buhay nya”. Mace let Anthony carry some of her baggage and Anthony had a piece of her life. One of my favorite scenes is when Mace was carrying her suitcases up and down staircases.

            Before that scene, Anthony asked, “Anong gusto mo?” Mace replied, “Makalimot.” This conversation was followed by the staircase scene where the two were saying, “Mabigat. Pero mabagal. Pero kaya.” Ganyan ang paglimot. Mabigat. Mabagal. Pero kaya. Near the end, they both lost their luggage.

One More Chance References

            I love “One More Chance” just like everybody else. Pero sa totoo lang, hindi naman ako masyadong naka-relate kay Popoy at Basha. Yung character ni Maja, yun yung paborito ko. Parehas silang maganda pero mas tumagos talaga sakin ‘tong “That Thing Called Tadhana”.

University of the Philippines References

            “Tadhana” ang school hymn ng UP. Mas memorize pa namin yan kesa sa “UP Naming Mahal”. Nung tumugtog sa closing credits (bukod pa dun sa ringtone scene), sobrang daming feels.  

            At siguradong marami samin ang naka-relate sa sinabi ni Anthony, “Pagdating ko ng UP…akala ko magaling na ko eh, marunong lang pala.”

Baguio and Sagada

(Photo credit: juice.ph)

           

            I’ve been to Baguio just five times and those escapades are five of the most memorable moments of my life. I remember standing before those paintings in BenCab Museum (where Mace and Anthony stood) thinking what those two paintings meant. If I were to go back there someday and I know I would, it will be as meaningful as all the other times.  And Sagada… never been there. I plan to go this summer.

Shooting Stars

            I have a fascination for shooting stars (and Saturn) so that shooting star scene…major plus points!

7 words

            “Hindi na kita mahal. Makakaalis ka na. 7 words. Yung 8 years namin, nagawa nyang tapusin sa 7 words.” – Mace

            This is all in the past and all is well now. But that line just reminded me of what I went through. Before my 4-year relationship ended, I tried reaching out and my efforts proved futile. In the end, I just wanted an explanation but still to no avail. I gave up and just asked, “Break na ba tayo. Yes or no?” I got a reply. He said, “Yes”. Yes, the word yes can be as heartbreaking as a no. Well, Mace, you got 7 words. I got one. Beat that!

            I wanted an explanation but as Anthony Lagdameo said, “ Kung sinabi ba nya sayo kung bakit, may magbabago ba?” With or without explanation, you move on eventually.

JM De Guzman!

(Photo credit belongs to owner)

            Anak ng tokwa! Ang pogi! Nakakamatay yung ngiti at titig nya! Holy Mother! Tagos sa screen! Hindi OA. Sakto lang. Gusto kong habang nagde-develop yung istorya, pakislap nang pakislap yung mata nya. Move over, John Lloyd Cruz.

Best Scenes For Me

First – When Mace told Anthony about her dream and Anthony told her about his.

            “Yun lang. Walang bungee jumping, bilang-bilang, bitaw-bitaw, wala.”

            It was his way of comforting her. Alam mo yung ang taas ng emosyon ni Mace tapos basag trip si Anthony? Wala lang. Ang saya. Ang simple. Ang sweet.

Second – Akbay scene

                  (Photo credit belongs to owner)         

            Para sakin ito yung climax nung movie. Paka-simpleng climax. Pero tagos sa puso. Ang saya. Ang simple. Ang sweet.

           

Hugot Lines

“Sasamahan ba kita kung di ka chicks?” ---- Honesty!

“Aren’t we supposed to be great by this time?” ---- Tagos!

“Eh sorry. Mahal kita eh.” ---- Ayun na!

And because I collect quotes, I personally wrote down all my favorite lines. Here.

            This film is a must-watch. It gave me hope that Filipino moviegoers would start patronizing stories and not personalities. Cheers to more quality Filipino movies! 

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Ba't di pa sabihin ang hindi mo maamin? Ipauubaya na lang ba 'to sa hangin? - Tadhana, Up Dharma Down