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Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKROUND

Introduction

Literature has become the way to express the different and changing voices of

people. It gives individuals freedom to express what they want to convey, question what

was and is happening in the world, and offer answers to those questions. Literature has

always been the reflection of what the culture of a country is.

Philippine literature has been as colorful as its culture. Philippines, as the melting

pot, serves as the epitome of “halo-halo” – the mixture of different ingredients into one.

Different cultures of different colonizers have been mixed to what Filipinos have before,

and until now. Also, history did and continuously, is doing its part. The phenomena

brought by different events in Philippine history cause literatures to change from time to

time, making their meanings ambiguous and sometimes unclear for different generations.

Literary theories have been the key to open multiple meanings of texts, songs,

plays, films, and everything concerned with literature. They enable readers, listeners, and

viewers to have a clearer and deeper understanding of what a certain piece of literature is

trying to portray or convey. Several theories have been introduced to students such as:

New Criticism, Feminism, Marxism, Reader-Response, etc. As time passes by, literary

theories increase its number. Theories like Modernism and Postmodernism have been

introduced in the field of literature to appreciate the shifting meanings of pieces of

literature in different vantages.

Theories like New Criticism, Marxism, Feminism, and Reader-Response are

discussed in literature classes and even in other fields of social sciences such as sociology
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and psychology. Marxism and Feminism started as a social movement both focus on the

economic, social and political equality of: Marxism – poor and rich, Feminism – men

and women. As to New Criticism and Reader-Response, both theories were introduced to

students as reading approaches before they were taught as literary theories. New

Criticism and Reader-Response are two contradicting thoughts, one focuses on “the text

itself” while the latter on the opinions and responses of the readers. These theories have

been the “knows” while other theories are still on the borderlines, some still

unfathomable.

Postmodernism as defined by Gillespie (2010), is the period after modernism; and

when brought to the field of literature, was still chained to modernism. He added, “a

dozen scholars have tried to define postmodernism but would give two dozen of different

answers. This is because of other scads of intellectual –isms of the past few decades –

structuralism, post structuralism, deconstructionism, historicism, and more – that are

sometimes clumped together under the label of postmodernism.” Thus, the term

postmodernism is complex and is always attached to other theories, usually modernism.

Many have tried to define Postmodernism in literature analyses but still there is no exact

definition drawn and still no distinct idea(s) designated to “just postmodernism.”

The film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin (2014) is based on the local film Bala

at Lipstik (1994) starring Roderick Paulate which plays as a gay, and an international film

Mulan (1998) which is about a girl who was forced to join the military. Both these

elements are adapted into the film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin which is about a gay

who unwillingly join the military for the sake of his father. Benjamin (or Benjie, the lead

character), broke the idea that gays are incapable of joining the military. Also, the film
 3

presented to the viewers that gays are not just accepted by the society as plain performers,

make-up artists, or comedian, they are now given fuller acceptance for doing noble jobs –

heroism. The film also illustrated the wide usage of gay lingo (gay language) by the

society not just on casual conversations, even on military environment and on public

speaking. The second sequel of the film The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin (2011)

depicts the abuse for power and fame by the main character Benjie. As the society

accepted and praised him for saving people, he became so proud of himself and ironically

lost his job because of it. The injection of various characters and elements from

teleseryes, films, and advertisements such as: Please Be Careful with My Heart (acting as

Maya, and the theme song), Feng Shui (the association of “bagwa” to Bimbi, the son of

Kris Aquino who was the lead character of the said film), lines from the film Madrasta

(1996) and Lucky Me Beef advertisement (both done by Sharon Cuneta), acting as Miss

Minchin, Sarah, and Loti from the film Sarah Ang Munting Prinsesa, the use of the

advertisement of ABS-CBN mobile, the use of briefcases from the show Deal or No Deal,

and the chant from the program Its Showtime. The film also adopted the setting of an

international film Warm Bodies, starting with the zombies in the airport, which has been

the theme of the said film.

The second sequel of Praybeyt Benjamin revolved on the quest of Benjie, finding

the bombs implanted by the terrorists, and regaining his reputation. The character of

“Gundina” became controversial for suggesting a simpler solution to the bomb threats but

“Benjie” refused to act her suggestion because if he will do it, there will be no more film

to act. Given these detailed observations, the researchers have found several

characteristics of postmodernism in the film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin such as

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Pastiche, Intertextuality, Irony, Black Humor, Maximalism, and Magic Realism. The

researchers also acknowledged the central ideas of postmodernism which the film has

manifested which are: Language as Reality, the Questioning of Universal Truths, and

Power Struggles. The researchers, thus, proved that the film The Amazing Praybeyt

Benjamin merits an in-depth analysis in a postmodern lens.

Statement of the Objectives

This study would analyze the film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin using the

literary theory Postmodernism. Specifically, it sought to attain the following objectives:

1. Describe the film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin by applying the central ideas

of postmodernism.

1.1 Language as Reality;

1.2 Questioning Universal Truth; and

1.3 Power Struggle

2. Determine the characteristics of postmodernism found in the film

2.1 Pastiche;

2.2 Intertextuality;

2.3 Irony;

2.4 Black humor;

2.5 Faction;

2.6 Maximalism; and

2.7 Magic realism

3. Determine the implications of the study on the use of Postmodern Literary

Theory.
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Significance of the Study

The analysis of this present study will be a beneficial contribution to the society’s

knowledge of literary theories; specifically on the theory of Postmodernism. The vital

results of this investigation will be highly significant and useful to the following:

Teachers. This study would offer them a useful reference that can serve as a

model to the idea of Postmodern Literary Theory. Since this study is centered on the

analysis of a specific film entitled The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin where the

characteristics and central ideas of Postmodern Literary Theory will be used as the

foundations in the analysis, the results can offer useful examples of the application of

Postmodern Literary Theory which teachers could use as references to their instruction of

literature.

Students. This study would provide them an instance of how Postmodern Literary

Theory will be used to criticize a specific film that would serve as their guide on making

their own literary analyses using Postmodernism.

Researchers. This study would supply them a better understanding and reference

to the knowledge about postmodern literatures specifically on the central ideas and

characteristics of the theory that would be identified and applied in the analysis of the

film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin in which other researchers could use as a model for

their further studies.

Film Critics and Viewers. This study would offer the audiences a different view

of the comedy film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin, exposing the postmodern features

that the film contains which they could use as a supporting reference for their analyses

and can be shared especially if the viewers are parents who would evaluate the film or
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other films that show similar characteristics, and evaluate if the subject film is beneficial

to their children.

Scope and Delimitation

The whole film centered on the analysis of the film The Amazing Praybeyt

Benjamin using the Postmodern Literary Theory. The film is based from the local film

Bala at Lipstik, and an international film Mulan, in which a gay (in character of

“Benjie”), unwillingly joined the military.

This study was an in-depth analysis of the film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin

using the Postmodern Literary Theory and was delimited on the characteristics of

postmodern literatures such as Pastiche, Intertextuality, Irony, Black Humor, Faction,

Maximalism, and Magic Realism; and the central ideas which include Language as

Reality, the Questioning of Universal Truths, and Power Struggle. The description of the

idea of language as reality was particular to the notable characters in the film as well as

their dialogues in the English language, their gestures, and object use. Although there are

Filipino, French, and Spanish terms and phrases within the dialogues, the main subject of

description will be on the dialogues expressed in the English language.

These ideas were enumerated based from their manifestations in the film The

Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin, enough to determine the implications of the analysis on the

use of Postmodernism as a literary theory in the said film. Though the film is a sequel of

The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin which is based from the intertext of the 1994

film, Bala at Lipstik and Disney animated film, Mulan, the study did not intent to make a

comparison between the films which it was based from.

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The general sources that made this study possible include the essays on Literary

Criticism compiled by Tim Gillespie where the central ideas of postmodern literature are

being discussed, the book of Arambulo et al., Literature and Society, where the

characteristics of postmodern novels, and the characteristics of Postmodernism listed

from different books, dictionaries, journals, and other sources and are supported by

authors like Bachillega (1997, 2013) and Barrett (1997).

Definition of Terms

For better understanding of the study, the following terms are conceptually and

operationally defined:

Analysis. It refers to the close examination of the work of literature by taking it

apart and discussing its various elements (Hall, 2000). In this study, it refers to the

process in which the subject film is studied.

Black Humor. It refers to a writing technique that juxtaposes morbid or ghastly

elements with comical ones that underscore the senselessness or futility of life

(Britannica.com). In this study, it refers to the technique which describes the style of the

plot.

Faction. It refers to a literary and cinematic genre in which real events are used as

a basis for fictional narrative or dramatization (Oxfordictionaries.com). In this study, it

refers to the presence of real events in the film (e.g. the presence of terrorists who planted

bombs).

Film. It refers to  a series of moving pictures, usually shown in a cinema or on

television and often telling a story (Dictionary.cambridge.org). In this study, it refers to

the film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin which is the subject of the study.
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Intertextuality. It refers to the literal and effective presence in a text of another

text (Academicjournals.org). In this study, it refers to the injection of various existing

works in the subject film which includes: the theme song and the character of “Maya”

from the teleserye, Please Be Careful with my Heart, the inclusion of “bagwa” taken

from the film Feng Shui, advertisements from Lucky Me Spicy beef and ABS-CBN

mobile, the chant from It’s Showtime, the “briefcases” from Deal or No Deal, the

injection of the characters of Miss Minchin, Sarah which are from the film, Sarah ang

Munting Prinsesa.

Implications. It refers to the possible future effects or results of something that is

suggested without being said directly (Meriam-Webster). In this study, it refers to the

results of the current study to the learning of literary theories, especially Postmodernism.

Irony. It refers to a situation in which something which was intended to have a

particular result has the opposite or a very different result (Dictionary.cambridge.org). In

this study, it refers to the phenomena in which a character blamed the size of the door but

his size was the primary problem, Dickens asking for help and suddenly transformed into

a zombie, Benjie losing everything he difficultly gained, etc..

Language as Reality. This refers to the notions that there are limitations in our

attempt to label and describe existence, that language isn’t just a vehicle of thought but

the driver, that words may produce our perceptions as well as our perceptions producing

our words, and that the medium is the message- all our experience is mediated by

language (Gillespie, 2010). In this study, it refers to the language use of the characters,

their gestures and use of objects which reflects theirs personalities and perspectives.
 9

Magic Realism. It refers to a literary genre or style associated especially with

Latin America that incorporates fantastic or mythical elements into otherwise realistic

fiction (Merriam-webster.com). Operationally, it refers to the inclusion of fictional

elements in the film such as the idea of the game Plants vs. Zombies and the weapons

used by the squad of the main character.

Maximalism. It refers to a characteristic of postmodernism which is described as

disorganized, sprawling, overly long, and emotionally disconnected. It exists in the

tradition of long works like The Odyssey (Books.google.com). In this study, it refers to

the illogical length of the film which can be done in a short period of time, the

unconnected emotions evoked by the characters, as well as their choices of words which

are unconnected with the topic being discussed.

Pastiche. It refers to an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work,

artist, or period (Oxforddictionaries.com). In this study, it refers to the use of the

elements of previous film Warm Bodies, the game Plants VS. Zombies, and the teleserye

Please Be Careful with My Heart in the subject film.

Postmodern. It refers to the suspension of the law of non-contradiction that is

endemic, all absolute values – such as the traditional values of God, Truth, Reason, and

the Law and so on – become sites of questioning, of rethinking, of new kinds of

affirmation (Hicks, 2004). In this study, it refers to the description to the subject film The

Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin which credits the film for an in-depth analysis.

Postmodernism. It refers to a late 20th-century movement characterized by

broad skepticism, subjectivism, or relativism; a general suspicion of reason; and an acute

sensitivity to the role of ideology in asserting and maintaining political and economic
 10

power. (Gillespie, 2010). In this study, it refers to the literary theory which will be used

to analyze the subject film.

Power Struggle. It refers to the search for our own position in a society, seeking

social validation for our views and behaviors. All our notions of what is “proper,”

“universal,” “natural,” or “true” are really interpretations that we are seeking to convince

ourselves and others are absolute—all to earn or maintain our power, position, and

privilege (Gillespie, 2010) In this study, it refers to the arguments and fights between the

characters of Benjie, General Chua, Bimbi, Gundina, and Jan Jaranjan, as well as the

Philippine Army against the terrorists.

Questioning of Universal Truth. It means that our explanations of truth are

actually attempts to define the situation in ways that are to our benefit (Gillespie, 2010).

In this study, it refers to the social norms or perceptions particular to Philippine context

which the film has broken and/or opposed.

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Chapter 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter presents the related literature and studies of both foreign and local.

These works were used by the researchers as bases for the analysis.

Related Literature

Literature, being the conglomeration of the changing voices of the people and a

reflection of the conditions and accidents of time, is continuous and cannot be

generalized and such makes systems of periodization and approaches more or less

arbitrary. Named periods and varying approaches become an essential tool because they

offer a framework in making us understand and appreciate the literary output of the

Filipinos through the centuries. Philippine Literature, together with History, would not be

nothing more than scattered events with periodization though sometimes overlapping

considering the schemes of tentative named periods (Ledesma, 2013).

Ledesma (2013) discusses the significance of name periods to understand and

appreciate the literary outputs of Filipinos, similarly, the researchers of the present study

will be analyzing a Filipino film using the theory Postmodernism (which has started as a

description of a time period). However, the current study focused on the description of

the film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin (2014) applying the central ideas given and

determining specific characteristics of postmodernism manifested in the film such as

Pastiche, Intertextuality, Irony, Playfulness, Black Humor, Faction, Maximalism, and

Magic Realism.

Similarly, Literature enhances English Language Teaching (ELT) through

elements such as authentic material, language in use and aesthetic representation of the
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spoken language, as well as language and cultural enrichment. It is with this last element

that literature opens the door that leads to a wider and closer look on the culture (or

cultures) where the target language is spoken. Culture, being an interdisciplinary core,

offers several perspectives that ELT can also approach such as artistic discourses, social

conventions, and reflexive impacts. It also places the object of study as a tree with many

different branches that could appeal more to undergraduate students, who already have

fixed interests, according to their respective fields of study. Still, the application of

literature and culture in a language classroom must not be random, since the teaching of

both disciplines is not akin to the bare transmission of information regarding the people

of the target community or country (Cruz, 2010).

The discussion of Cruz (2010), emphasizes the relationship of literature and

culture to English language teaching. The present study analyzed only one idea of

postmodernism which is Language as Reality in a local film. Nevertheless, the current

study will tackle three (3) ideas of postmodernism which are (1) Language as Reality, (2)

Questioning of Universal Truths, and (3) Power Struggle, and will not focus on Language

alone.

Postmodern literary theory rejects the notion that literary texts have objective

meanings and true interpretations. All such claims to objectivity and truth can be

deconstructed. In one version of deconstruction, literary criticism becomes a form of

subjective play in which the reader pours subjective associations into the text. In another

version, objectivity is replaced by the view than an author’s race, sex, or other group

membership most deeply shapes the author’s views and feelings. The task of the literary

critic, accordingly, is to deconstruct the text to reveal the author’s race, sex, or class
 13

interests. Authors and characters that least embody the correct attitudes are naturally

subject to greatest amount of deconstruction (Hicks, 2004).

Hicks (2004), pointed out the connection of two (2) literary theories which are:

Postmodernism and Deconstructionism. However, the researchers of the present study

focused on Postmodern Literary Theory in which the characteristics and ideas of the

theory are determined.

Phillips (2012), also discussed the American social scientists replaced universal

metanarratives with small local or individual narratives. All the big stories are broken up

into billions of little stories with no relation to each other. This emphasized the

multiplicity of valid theoretical standpoints and the relativity of our beliefs. Jean-Francois

Lyotard described this well in The Postmodern Condition when he suggested that we

have moved “from the muffled majesty of grand narratives to the splintering autonomy of

micronarratives.” To put all of this more crudely: what is true for you need not be true for

me. Living under the canopy of the postmodern metanarrative that there are no

metanarratives; we are freed from the constraints of consistency. We no longer have to

relate our lives to any larger meaning or outside purpose. David Wells grasped this mood

in his book Losing Our Virtue, when he wrote, “It means that people have nowhere to

stand cognitively in the world, no way to get their bearings, that life’s experiences fall

like pieces of confetti with no relationship to each other. Life is made up of a multitude of

separate experiences that are without interconnections or meaning.”

Phillips (2012), supported the study of Mercado and Macalinao (2015), on one

characteristic of Postmodernism which is the death of the grand narratives. The

researchers of the current study utilized the study of Mercado and Macalinao (2015), as a
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guide on their analyses, however, the researchers of the current study did not include the

characteristic given by Mercado and Macalinao (2015), but tackled seven (7)

characteristics of Postmodernism, and a local subject film rather than a foreign film.

Barrett (1997), also describes Postmodernists which flout the modernists

reverence for originality. A central postmodernist strategy is known by the term

“appropriation.” By appropriating or borrowing or plagiarizing or stealing,

postmodernists remind us that the notion of originality is absent in most tradition of art,

in the West and throughout the world. Throughout time, most cultures felt no need to

identify artists personally, even if they were specially gifted.

Pastiche and Intertextuality are implicitly described by Barrett (1997). The

researchers of the current study determined characteristics of postmodernism including

pastiche and intertextuality. KHowever, the researchers focused on the characteristics and

ideas of postmodernism, and not on the discussion of the notion of originality.

Bennett and Royle (2004), added their explanation of postmodern as the

suspension of the law of non-contradiction is endemic, all absolute values – such as the

traditional values of God, Truth, Reason, and the Law and so on – become sites of

questioning, of rethinking, of new kinds of affirmation. The postmodern, that is to say,

does not simply reject the possibility of making decisions. Rather, it gives new attention

to the value of the undecidable.

The aforementioned authors question all absolute values. Similarly, the

researchers of the current study included questioning in their analysis. However, it

questioned Universal Truths and not absolute values.

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Mudasir (2011) then explained that “Language is shown to be a medium that can

manipulate and hide the truth as much as it can express and reveal it. Moreover,

postmodern drama demonstrates the condition of the human subjectivity as a function of

linguistic codes, an idea expounded by theoreticians such as Benveniste. Language as

such is shown not to be merely reflective, but constitutive of what is termed as reality.

The linguistic codes, thoroughly social in their character, cannot be used merely as tools

for expression. They are, instead, inflected with prior meanings and traces from usages in

different contexts, and thus shape the subject’s perception of itself and reality.”

Mudasir (2011), explained that Language is the medium to reveal and hide the

truth. Also, the researchers of the current study used Language as a tool to reveal,

however, the researchers focused on using Language to expose the reality of a situation

and not of a certain fact or truth.

Arambulo, et al. (2000), compiled the characteristics of a postmodern novel from

the perspective of Dillard and McHale. According to them, postmodern novel shares the

following characteristics: (1) the narration of events does not follow a linear or

straightforward chronological order. Events might even be presented as a collage, all of

them occurring simultaneously; (2) the idea that one event causes other events does not

operate; (3) common sense and logic are not important ways of seeing the world. The

postmodern novel’s fictional world follows a different kind of logic; (4) the postmodern

novel uses shifting points of view. There may be several narrators, and first, second, and

third person points of view; (5) the postmodern novel involves rapid changes in time, and

space is not necessarily three-dimensional. “Space” may be public, random or temporary.

In other words, time and space and other aspects of setting are not necessarily fixed; (6)
 16

unlike “traditional” novels where strange settings are made familiar, postmodern novels

tend to play up the multiple and alien aspects of an unfamiliar setting, or make the

familiar strange; (7) whether in minor or major roles, characters who appeared in other

text and/or individuals who actually existed in the real world appear in the fictional world

of the postmodern novel; (8) the real world and fictional world meet and overlap; (9) in

the postmodern novel, clashing worldviews of people who belong to different classes, or

who espouse different religions, or are of different races, etc. meet and mix; (10) the

postmodern novel uses parody, which is “a form of self-reflection and self-critique, a

genre’s way of thinking critically about itself; (11) the postmodern novel uses pastiche,

which is the employment of different styles, genres, etc., in one text; (12) the postmodern

novel uses a variety of styles and registers, including letters, essays, poetry, etc. to

comprise the narrative, rather than just relying solely on description, narration, and

dialogue.

The description of postmodernism by Arambulo et al. (2000) is limited to novels

alone. Correspondingly, the researchers of the current study described a local film using a

postmodern lens.

“In postmodernism there is no frame, no stability: tradition is a collection of

trivia. So postmodernism refuses to take anything too seriously. Its mode is play, its

attitude ironic. Each works declares: greatness is a delusion, great art a pretense…

Modernism was haunted by a struggle with disenchanted and a search for new bearings.

Pomo said, it’s impossible and doesn’t matter anyway.” Or, the idea that absolute truths

are definable belongs to the realist tradition, whereas modernism explores subjective

personal and individual truths; postmodernism holds no truths. We can, if we squint,

 17

perceive some of those hard-to-bring-ideas that inform much postmodern thinking, most

notably analyses of three problems: (1) the importance and simultaneous squishiness of

language, (2) the force lure of grand narratives, and (3) the role of power in human

interactions” Gillespie (2010) added.

The aforementioned ideas presented by Gillespie (2010), discusses the three (3)

problems which the postmodernism presents. The present study determined these ideas

based on their manifestations on the subject film. However, the researchers of the current

study included seven (7) characteristics of Postmodernism to deepen the analysis of the

study.

Marasigan (2014), then, narrated the plot of the story in which "Benjie" Santos

(Vice Ganda) has been promoted to colonel in the Philippine army and has made a name

for himself as a modern day national hero. But when Benjie starts taking his reputation

and his duties for granted, he is forced under the service of General Wilson Chua

(Richard Yap) to try and thwart a terrorist plot to bomb areas around the Philippines. It

just so happens that the only person who knows where the bombs are is a young boy

named Bimbi (Bimbi Aquino). Praybeyt Benjamin 2 makes no apologies for what it is – a

brainless, hyper stylized and utterly ridiculous family comedy. It is a film designed to do

nothing more than delight casual moviegoers, and what it sets out to do, it does so with

the candor of a mile-a-minute comedian – in this case, Vice Ganda.

The subject film of the current study is The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin which is

the second sequel of The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin (2011). Marasigan (2014),

narrated the plot and characters of the film which is used as a reference to the current

study conducted by the researchers. Nevertheless, the researchers conducted a

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postmodern analysis of the second sequel, The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin and not a

comparative analysis of the two sequels.

According to Calayan (2012) in the “Analysis of the Genre” Filipino Films often

derive intertexts from Hollywood films; however, Praybeyt Benjamin was based on the

intertext of the 1994 film, Bala at Lipstik starring Roderick Paulate. Aside from Bala at

Lipstik, Praybeyt Benjamin also made reference to Disney’s animated film, Mulan

(1998), wherein the lead character was forced to join the army taking over her father’s

place. The subject film is mainly comedic; however there were few fight scenes and

arguments, which made it an action-comedy film.

Martin et al. (2008), discuss that Bala at Lipstik is a “transition” film in that it

contains that transgressive politics of the earlier films yet is also a counterpoint to the

politicized gay movies that came after it. The absence of masculine-identified

homosexuals in the film is a key point, as other art forms of gay plays written in the last

thirty years. Gerardo Z. Torres shows that playwrights writing during 1971–1989 created

more masculine gay characters than femmes and that the representation in these texts was

already moving away from stereotypical effeminate bakla. It is doubly ironic that the film

was produced in 1994 – when gay activism was already beginning to escalate and, as

Nick Deocampo claims, a new oppositional consciousness had merged among Filipino

filmmakers during the Marcos years – and that the film was written by Jose Javier Reyes,

a pioneer in Philippine gay studies.

The researchers of the current study acknowledged the film Bala at Lipstik

(1994), as a basis of the subject film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin. However, the

present study did not conduct a comparative analysis of the two films. The current study
 19

focused on the film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin, determining the characteristics and

central ideas of postmodernism the film contains.

Related Studies

Foreign

In the Aspects of Postmodernism in Anthony Burgess’ Novels (2011) by

Mikulaková (2011), his study connects postmodernism and literary works of a twentieth

century British writer Anthony Burgess. It deals with terms postmodernity and

postmodernism as such and tries to define their essence and aspects considering

contemporary society and science, especially literary theory. Secondly, it analyzes

Burgess’ novels “A Clockwork,” “Orange” and “The Wanting Seed” (1985) from the

perspective of fictional semantics and defines fictional worlds of these novels. Fictional

semantics has been chosen as the basis of interpretation, because it correlates with genres

and distinctions of postmodern literature. Finally, the study deals with basic themes of

these three novels, individualism and its weak position within current society and a cyclic

socio-philosophical theory of human development, which Burgess introduces in these

novels.

The aforementioned researcher used the postmodern literary theory in analyzing

Anthony Burgess’ Novels. Similarly, the researchers of the current study used the theory

of postmodernism as their theory of analysis. However, the researchers used a film as

their subject of study.

Moreover, Fantasy Films as a Postmodern Phenomenon by Değim (2011) shows

that saga fantasy genre is indeed a postmodern phenomenon, borrowing from the

elements that construct the structure of narrative, imagery and the stylistic features. The
 20

most important ingredients in support of this argument are the notions of Time, Subject

and the understanding of Historicism. These elements become the founding blocks of the

genre and the sub-genre specifically when analyzed through the various ways of looking

into these texts. It became clear that Saga Fantasy films had various different elements

that make them unique both within the genre and among the outer genres. The features

that finds ground in this type of films, stands out as having tendencies towards a different

world, namely a fantastical world, where the key element becomes the existence of

supernatural phenomena along with magic. By looking at this point, it became evident

that this very struggle was because of a confusion to define the genre. When defined in

terms of its own existence amongst the plain of other genre’s and films, it finds solid

ground to produce meaning and story in a postmodern sense.

Değim (2011) made use of postmodernism to create a new literary genre called

“Saga Fantasy” by using Time, Subject and the understanding of Historicism to support

their claim. However, the researchers of the current study used postmodernism as a lens

to analyze a film by identifying the manifestations of the characteristics and central ideas

of postmodernism present in the film.

In addition, Critical Postmodern Social Work & Spirituality by D’Amico (2007),

claims that a significant component of critical postmodern social work theory and

practice is about identifying levels or aspects of domination, such as at the level of

discourse, and then seeking liberation at these levels. Yet, it fails to consider the spiritual

level of marginalization, alienation and liberation. An engagement with spiritual

knowledge would allow critical postmodern social work theorists to consider spiritual

experiences of oppression and ways of knowing. Overall, consideration of spiritual ways

 21

of knowing in critical postmodern approaches to social work theory would allow them to

be more expansive and holistic. It would allow spiritual understandings and experiences

of oppression to be considered, and could also lead to consideration of how oppression

can be resisted at spiritual levels. For critical postmodern social work theorists this means

that an examination of spirituality is essential to their consideration of social oppression

and emancipation. This link between social oppression, emancipation and spirituality also

highlights a pivotal concept that spiritual liberation is linked to material and social

liberation, and conversely material and social liberation is linked to spirituality.

The said researcher used the idea of postmodernism not as a literary theory, but a

social work theory. He mentioned the essence of the examination of spirituality in

consideration of social oppression and emancipation for critical postmodern social work

theorists. The researchers of the current study used the idea of postmodernism to analyze

a literary work, specifically a film.

Gorelova (2009), on her study Postmodernism, Native American Literature, and

Issues of Sovereignty, she concluded that native narratives are also more likely to borrow

not from postmodern powers of shape-shifting but the powers of play represented in the

tribal archetypal figure of clown. Postmodernism, in one of its main functions,

deconstructs metanarrative (i.e. the grand narrative dictated by the Western civilization,

that is the colonizer) and lets the margins into the center. At the same time postmodern

theory has similar limitations to those of post colonialism. The prefix “post” might

simply not be there yet for Native American literature. As Womack argues,

postmodernism deconstructs history and identity, and Native American history, both of
 22

Indian/Euro-American relations and literary history, is still to be constructed from the

Native point of view.

Gorelova (2009), identified the similar limitations of postmodern theory to that of

post colonialism. The researchers of the current study focused on the idea of

postmodernism in the film The Amazing Praybet Benjamin and did not use the theory of

post colonialism to analyze the film.

According to Flynn (2013) in “Literature’s Postmodern Condition: Representing

the Postmodern in the Translated Novel”, the novels of Haruki Murakami have created a

new postmodern space. The translated novels challenge hegemonic views on

postmodernity, and offer a more eclectic perspective on what it means to be postmodern

in our media-saturated, multi-layered world. Using his work, we have a fresh approach to

postmodernism that is compatible with both Eastern and Western first world experiences.

Using theory to interrogate his writing in turn will help us re-conceptualize this very

theory to take account for an east/west experience. His work emulates a postmodern

condition that has resonances with Lyotard, Jameson and Harvey. The mood of his novels

is one of postmodern ennui, of isolated detached protagonists, of misrepresented females,

of disconnection from work and the novels embody an atmosphere that is distinctly

postmodern regardless of time, location and language.

Flynn (2013), examined the translated novels in a postmodern lens. However, the

researchers of the current study used a local film as the subject of study rather than

Japanese novels.

In the study “The Concept of Self-Reflexive Intertextuality in The Works of

Umberto Eco” conducted by Premier (2013), Eco views the whole corpus of Fellini’s
 23

films in much the same way this dissertation views the compendium of Eco’s works.

Since both his fiction and non-fictional writing is constantly remembering or looking

back to past texts and experiences, Eco’s works at once fulfill a definition of self-

reflexive intertextuality and, through his writing process, provide an art of memory. Eco

connects memory with the process of writing. His memories, a combination of personal,

cultural, as well as reading experiences, provide the material for his novels and, as a

result, become narrativized within his work.

The researcher introduced Intertextuality as association with the individuals’

memory and not between texts. The researchers of the current study used Intertextuality

of previous films within the current subject film. Also, the current researchers used

Intertextuality as one characteristic of postmodernism, which is manifested in the subject

film.

In the “Humor of Advertising” by Olson (2005) and Larrson (2005), one general

finding of humor is that it is associated with something positive; it gives a feeling of

happiness and makes people laugh. Humor is good for both mind and soul. There are

great benefits with using humor in television advertising. The primary benefit is the

capturing of attention. People want the advertisement to be more like a movie/comedy

that entertains, than just a boring advertisement. When humor succeeds in capturing

attention, people will remember it for a long period of time. Of all different ways a

television advertisement can be composed, humor is the most superior way of capturing

attention.

The mentioned researcher introduced the positive association to humor. The

researchers of the current study used a comedy film as the subject of the study. However,
 24

the researchers analyzed the film using Postmodern Literary Theory, rather than

analyzing the effect of humor to the viewers of the film.

According to Robinson (2008) in “Cultural Value in Historical Pastiche:

Reclaiming the Past as Modern ‘Parody’ and Postmodern ‘Pastiche’ in The Hours and

Marie Antoinette”, pastiche more effectively engages with the postmodern condition of

the individual as “fragmented” and whose experience of history is mediated by the

present. Therefore, because parody clings to an archaic notion of the individual and its

corresponding “effect,” pastiche ironically becomes more meaningful today because of

its emergence out of contemporary postmodernism as well as its engagement with our

understanding of “reality” at the present.

The aforementioned researcher mentioned pastiche becoming more meaningful to

analyze postmodern condition of individuals. Also, the researchers acknowledged the

importance of pastiche in the whole idea of postmodernism. Nevertheless, the researchers

of the current study tackled seven (7) characteristics of postmodernism and did not focus

on one (1) characteristic alone.

Local

In the work of Alamo, et al. (2010), they focused on film review and analysis of

Quentin Tarantino’s film, Pulp Fiction using postmodernism theory. They described the

film in terms of its style of directing, characterizations, settings, plot, theme, symbols,

conflict, and language. In their study, they also identified the manifestations in where

postmodernism was applied in the film such as: all religions are valid, characters living

with doubts and uncertainties, individuals have no “independent identity”, characters are

in control of their individual narratives, character represent a different views points,

 25

extensive use of pastiche, morality is personal, traditional authority is false and corrupt,

no absolute truth, denial existence of reality and total doubt.

The said researchers used postmodernism to make a review and analysis of a film.

Similarly, the researchers of the current study made use of a film as the subject of study

using postmodernism. Nonetheless, the current researchers analyzed the film by

determining the characteristics and ideas of postmodernism present in the film.

Moreover, Mercado and Macalinao (2015), studied the postmodern manifestation

of the film Maleficent, which was adopted from classic fairytale sleeping beauty

possesses certain features of the theory of postmodernism in terms of its characterization

and its plot. The features of postmodernism seen in the film Maleficent are death of the

grand narratives, intertextuality, and the dissolution of the “I”.

Similarly, the study of Mercado and Macalinao (2015), made use of the theory

postmodernism and a foreign film as the subject of study, limited to three (3)

characteristics of postmodernism. However, the researchers of the current study used a

local film as the subject of study and presented seven (7) characteristics and three (3)

main ideas of the theory.

According to the study “Visual Literacy and Popular Culture in the Philippine

Literature Classroom: Teaching Filipino Literature through the Graphic Novel” by

Mendoza and Gonzaga (2010), ZsaZsa’s splintered identity is one aspect of

postmodernism. This fragmentation of the hero’s self completely goes against the grain

of the hero/superhero grand narrative wherein the internal conflict is only between the

protagonist’s personal identity and that of his alter-ego, and the ultimate goal is the

triumph of good vs. evil -- a utopian ending. ZsaZsa’s hero journey involves a search for
 26

identity. He finds through his superhero self a way in which to perform his gender. The

conflicts in ZsaZsa, both internal and external, are not clear cut black and white, good vs.

evil, since what each side represents is not stable and absolute. For instance, the zombies

who attacked the neighborhood may represent such things as death, vestiges of the

colonial past, or a morally corrupt society. However, one zombie turns out to be the

corpse of Ada’s father, who verbally torments ZsaZsa by proclaiming his disgust and

disappointment over Ada’s homosexuality. The meaning of the zombie representation

now shifts from an apparent “forces of good vs. forces of evil battle” to a past but

unresolved antagonism between Ada’s asserted identity and his father’s oppressive

attempts to stifle it. Meaning and representation in ZsaZsa’s carnivalesque world are not

fixed and determined.

The aforementioned study also made use of a local film. It acknowledged the

manifestation of postmodernism within the lead character (which is a fictional superhero)

and narrated the manifestations supporting the researchers’ claim. However, the subject

film of the current researchers presented the main character as a modern-day hero. The

current researchers analyzed all manifestations of postmodernism in the film, not limited

to the lead character.

Conceptual Framework

This study analyzed the film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin through the use of

the theory postmodernism. The work is based from the 1994 film Bala at Lipstik starring

Roderick Paulate, and a foreign film Mulan, which depicts the story of a gay who joined

the military to comply and replace his sick father, (in the first sequel), and then later on

gained the acceptance and respect of the public, but transformed into a boastful and
 27

disrespectful colonel, resulting to the loss of what he gained throughout his journey

(second sequel).

The literary work was examined using the list of postmodernism characteristics

gathered and compiled from dictionaries, journals, and the book of Arambulo, et al. titled

Literature and Society. These characteristics include Pastiche, Intertextuality, Irony,

Black Humor, Faction, Maximalism, and Magic Realism; also, using the central ideas of

postmodernism developed by Gillespie (2010), namely: (1) Language as Reality (2)

Questioning Universal Truths, and (3) Power Struggle among different characters.

Characteristics of postmodernism include: (1) Black humor which refers to a

writing technique that juxtaposes morbid or ghastly elements with comical ones that

underscore the senselessness or futility of life. (2) Faction which refers to a literary and

cinematic genre in which real events are used as a basis for fictional narrative or

dramatization; (3) Intertextuality which refers to the literal and effective presence in a

text of another text; (4) Irony which refers to a situation in which something which was

intended to have a particular result has the opposite or a very different result; (5) Magic

realism which refers to a literary genre or style associated especially with Latin America

that incorporates fantastic or mythical elements into otherwise realistic fiction; (6)

Pastiche which refers to an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work,

artist, or period; (7) Maximalism, which refers to a characteristic of postmodernism

which is described as disorganized, sprawling, overly long, and emotionally

disconnected. It exists in the tradition of long works like The Odyssey; Tim Gillespie

(2010), also explained the three (3) main ideas of postmodernism including: (1)

Language as Reality which refers to the notions that there are limitations in our attempt to
 28

label and describe existence, that language isn’t just a vehicle of thought but the driver,

that words may produce our perceptions as well as our perceptions producing our words,

and that the medium is the message- all our experience is mediated by language; (2)

Questioning Universal Truth means that our explanations of truth are actually attempts to

define the situation in ways that are to our benefit; (3) Power Struggle the act of seeking

our own position in a society, seeking social validation for our views and behaviors. All

our notions of what is “proper,” “universal,” “natural,” or “true” are really interpretations

that we are seeking to convince ourselves and others are absolute—all to earn or maintain

our power, position, and privilege.

 29

The paradigm below shows the connection of Postmodern Literary Theory to the

analysis of the film “The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin” as the instrument of

interpretation. The analysis sought to describe the film by applying the central ideas as

well as to determine the characteristics listed below to reveal the implications of the

analysis on the use of Postmodern Literary Theory.

Faction

Magic Realism

Figure 1 The Paradigm of the Study

 30

Chapter 3

METHODS AND SOURCES OF DATA

This chapter discusses the research methodology, specifically the research design,

the sources of data and the data gathering procedures and the analysis of the data.

Research Design

This study made use of a descriptive method of research. It attempted to describe

the film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin (2014) by applying the central ideas of

postmodernism which includes Language as Reality, Questioning Universal Truth and

Power Struggle. This research aimed to determine the characteristics of postmodern

literary theory that are manifested in the film namely: Pastiche, Intertextuality, Irony,

Black Humor, Faction, Maximalism, and Magic Realism; and through this study, the

implications of the analysis on the use of postmodernism as a literary theory in the said

film was also determined. The researchers employed the use of qualitative approach in

order to gain a better understanding on this study.

Source of Data

The film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin was used as the main source of data for

this study. It is a 2014 film written and directed by Wenn V. Deramas. The film is a

sequel from the film The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin (2011). Jose Marie Viceral,

also known as Vice Ganda is the lead character of the film known for his role as Colonel

Benjamin “Benjie” Santos. Some famous local celebrities were also introduced in the

film such as Richard Yap as General Chua, Tom Rodriguez as Jan Jaranjan, James Carlos

“Bimbi” Aquino Yap as Bimbi, Alex Gonzaga as Gundina and special participation of
 31

Eddie Garcia as General Benjamin “Ben” Santos VI and Kristina Bernadette “Kris”

Cojuanco Aquino as Krissy. The researchers made use of published and unpublished

work of literature in reviewing the film using postmodern literary theory. Also, the

researchers used of the characteristics of postmodernism such as Pastiche, Intertextuality,

Irony, Black Humor, Faction, Maximalism, and Magic Realism. The study was guided by

Tim Gillespie’s book “An introduction to Literary Criticism for Students” wherein the

central ideas of postmodern literary theory is being discussed. Other sources such as from

online and books like Arambulo, et al. titled Literature and Society were also utilized for

a clearer understanding of the study.

Data Gathering Procedure and Analysis of Data

The objectives of this study were attained through critical and detailed views of

the subject film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin by listing the scenes which show the

characteristics and ideas of Postmodernism which the researchers observed. The analysis

was guided by utilizing online books, articles, and analyses made by critics, authors, and

bloggers describing and analyzing different subjects (i.e. films, novels, articles) using

Postmodernism as their theory of analysis.

In analyzing the film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin, the researchers made use

of a list of characteristics compiled from different books, dictionaries, journals, and other

online sources ascribed to the theory of postmodernism. Among these characteristics are

Pastiche, Intertextuality, Irony, Black Humor, Faction, Maximalism, and Magic Realism.

Through these characteristics, the researchers were able to detect and identify the specific

features in the plot, characterization and symbolism shown in the film. Also, the

researchers utilized a teacher’s guide handbook written by Tim Gillespie (2010), and a
 32

book by Arambulo, et al. titled Literature and Society as a basis for identifying the

central ideas of postmodernism presented in the film.

 33

Chapter 4

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

This chapter presents, analyzes and gathers data based from the objectives listed

in Chapter 1.

This chapter presents a comprehensive analysis of the film The Amazing Praybeyt

Benjamin using the ideas and characteristics of Postmodern Literary Theory. The

researchers analyzed and interpreted the data gathered through intensive viewing of the

subject film.

1. The central ideas of postmodernism which are applied in the film:

1.1. Language as reality

Although the film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin used Filipino language as its

medium of communication, the researchers focused on the usage of the English language

on the dialogues of the notable characters, their gestures, and their object use and how

these reflect their personalities and attitude towards other characters and towards life.

Colonel Benjamin Santos (Benjie)

• The Pink Plane

The film started with the lead character (Benjie) with his troop getting down from

their private plane. The plane was pink in color which has no specific connection with the

nature of mission they are into.

Color is an element of visual language that people process before they are

consciously aware of it. It ‘pops out’ at viewers in the early stages of vision. Color is a

potent element of visual communication (Understandinggraphics.com). It has been

known that their plane was customized. The usual colors of military planes are dark,
 34

usually grey or blue-grey. The dark color is to minimize visual signature of the aircraft.

Aircraft operating over sea can be camouflaged by painting them blue-grey. This scheme

was first adopted by Britain during the Battle of Britain, where undersides of day fighters

and bombers were painted a grey-sky color to reduce chances of detection by AAA

(Sludge and Slime scheme), (Nasery, 2014). The plane which brought Benjie and his

troop to France was colored pink. The color pink is associated with girls (femininity).

According to Paoletti (2012) on her book Pink and Blue, there was no gender-color

symbolism that held true everywhere. But during the 20 th century, the norm of pin-for-a-

girl, and blue-for-a-boy was set as a social norm. Given the time period in which the

subject film was created, color pink has already been associated by the society to

femininity.  As to the nature of the job of the military, having such color will only expose

them to the public which also connotes the exposure of homosexuality to the society.

• Bonjour (Good day)

As Benjie landed his feet on the ground and saw the surroundings, he uttered

"...So, this is France..." As he walked to meet the military men of France, he greeted

them, “Bonjour!” a French term for "Good day." His troop then questioned him, "Anong

bonjour?” (What is bonjour?) Then, a sound of a car crash came into effect and Benjie

said, "Ay! Yung bata na-bonjour!"

The term bonjour was used in the subject film as a substitute for the Filipino term

bunggo. The sound of car crashing exemplified that Benjie was actually referring to a boy

hit by a car. The main character in the subject film is a gay; and as a gay, the use of gay

lingo is inevitable.
 35

Also, when Benjie responded to Colonel Dickens, he used a different language

(Spanish) rather than the language used by the colonel (French). Benjie replied “La

importancia que mujer la porgiomental la mores la paz batchoy la para mirar la bamba y

la pomegracia y la mercia” to answer.

The phrases are in Spanish but the inclusion of Batchoy to the phrase La Paz

made it Filipino. The term la importancia is actually a Spanish phrase for the

importance; que mujer stands for that woman; la mores – the more; La Paz means (the)

peace, but with the word Batchoy, it became a Filipino cuisine originated from La Paz,

Ilo-ilo; La Para Mirar means to watch the. However, the phrases la bamba, y la

pomegracia and y la mercia do not have direct equivalent to the language although some

words on the phrases have Spanish equivalents such as the words y which stands for and

and la for the (Google Translate).

Some terms and phrases used by the lead character are expressed in the gay lingo

(gay language). From its origin, the use of gay language of gays is unavoidable. Baytan

(2002), offers that it is “possible that the gays are turning the source of their oppression –

their desires – into the very source of their self-affirmation.” The very term bakla is

pejorative in itself used by homophobes in insulting homosexuals in the country, and not

a few gays have winced at the word when it was first spat at them. Baytan underlines that

the utterance of the word alone brings to mind “a series of images related to oppression,

trivialization, and marginalization.” Hence, the invention of words that sound less painful

to the ears: baklita, baklesh, bading, bakling, bahing, badette, badush, badinger,

Badinger Z – all in an effort to neutralize the original word (Alba, 2006).
 36

The use of bonjour (good day) to replace the word bunggo (crash) is a way of

Benjie to make the meaning subtler. The scene brought out tension to them for they are

into another mission that needs to be solved. In a way, Benjie lightened his own burden

through substitution of words. Another is the use of Spanish phrases as a substitute

answer for the question of Dickens in French. Since Benjie did not understand what the

Colonel has said, he tried to look for an alternative. It is also a way of Benjie to make

things easier. As he answered Dickens in Spanish, Dickens replied in English for he was

the one who could not understand what Benjie has said.

• “Welcome, welcome to my life”

After Colonel Dickens told Benjie that he could speak in English, Benjie hugged

Dickens and said, “Welcome, welcome to my life.” As a homosexual, Benjie could have

a tendency to direct sexual desire towards another of the same sex (Merriam-Webster

dictionary). Given the physical attributes of Colonel Dickens, gays and girls could

actually be enticed by his looks. Thus, Benjie has been attracted to Dickens.

• The Exaggerated Gestures

When Benjie asked Colonel Dickens for an update about the virus spreading in

Europe, Dickens told him that it is getting worse. As soon as Dickens stated that some

people were trying to spread the virus, Benjie bit his index finger, with a very surprised

look on his face. Dickens, then, added that the people who were trying to spread it are

high-ranking officials. Benjie put his palm on the upper part of his left cheek, almost on

his temple, this time looking shocked. The gestures of Benjie as in biting his index finger

and tapping his head with his hand were signs that he was very affected with the

information given to him by Colonel Dickens.

 37

This just shows how powerful gestures are in expressing the thoughts of people.

On the first sequel of the film which is The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin, Benjie was

disgraced by his grandfather when he danced with a hand fan while wearing clothes

specific for women. Given that Benjie is a dancer, he is particular with body movements

and that includes gestures. Gays are expressive and they tend to exaggerate things on

their own ways of communication. Urban Dictionary described gay men as “more

emotionally expressive, leading to a general 'tightness' and muscular activation

throughout the entire face. Gay face includes an eye expression that is both surprised-

looking and predatory.” The facial expression and hand gestures of Benjie mirrors his

personality as a gay and as a dancer. He uses body language as much as he uses the oral

language.

• “Congratulations to myself”

The success of Benjie and his troop led them to be published on Thime magazine

(their version of Time Magazine) and a glamorous welcome party from their families and

neighborhood. One by one, the troop members searched for their families and greeted

them with hugs. As Benjie got his turn to step from their transport vehicle, he was asked

by a reporter of what does he want to say. He sarcastically answered, “Congratulations to

myself!”

This scene has displayed how Benjie reacted to fame and success. He became so

high that he did not care to look down for the people who look up to him. Going back to

the first sequel, Benjie strived hard to earn the trust not only of the military men but also

of the people of the country. As a gay, Benjie was not expected to join such troop which

requires tough and strong men. Moreover, as a homosexual, the traits which Benjie
 38

possesses are that of a woman. As he achieved his goal to be accepted by the society, he

started to feel on the top. And in turn, he felt so high that he thought he was already the

best among others. He did not recognized the works of others, not even the effort exerted

by his father to invent the seeds he used to defeat the zombies. He thought that whatever

he has were the product of his own hardships, alone.

• “Pamilya muna; Family first.”

After sarcastically answering a reporter, Benjie hugged the members of his family

one by one. He hugged his younger sister and said, “Miss na miss ko kayo.” Then he

hugged his grandmother but when his father (with a new look, a new actor to act the

character), approached him with a hug, he denied the arms which are so ready to

embrace. His mother then asked him why he did that, he answered, “Pamilya muna diba?

Family first.” His mother corrected how he acted and told him that the person he refused

to embrace was actually his father. His mother asked the father of Benjie to explain

everything and he told everyone that he has invented something to change his physical

appearance.

The scene illustrates how Benjie dealt with others who are not related to him.

Despite of the age and gender, he disregarded others whom he does not know and are not

connected with his family. Benjie, as the main character, started as an underdog. Other

people did not accept him like how his family did. The first people who accepted him

with or without his achievements were the members of his family. As he make a name of

his own, he isolated himself from the public and concentrated on his family and career.

However, as the story went by, Benjie concentrated more on his career than his own

family.
 39

• “Mister President, any last words?”

After General Chua took Benjie from the Birdie-Birdie bar, the president gave

Benjie the certificate, medal and sash of appreciation for the pride he has contributed to

the Philippines. As Benjie receives the tokens, he delivered a short speech for everyone

and told them that what he has achieved was just proper for what he has done for the

country. He, then, asked why some people are in the event whereas he do not even know

them. He concluded that those people who attended the awarding want to have a photo

with him, so he just let them stay for a while to have the picture-taking after the closing

remarks of the president. He, then, asked the president, “Mister President, any last

words?” As if dismissing what the president wanted to say.

The president serves as the most powerful person among the people in a country.

It is proper to show respect to him not just through words but also through actions. The

film mirrors how people disgrace their leader through all forms. Being the president of

the Philippines, the president functions as the whole representation of a country. As to the

experience of Benjie from his own countrymen who misjudged and belittled him, the

representation of the Philippines and the Filipinos in the form of the president, has been

the target of revenge of the lead character. Revenge, not in the literal form wherein

Benjie will let those people who made his life hard or suffer; Revenge in an implicit way,

where his attitude towards the president has become his automatic response towards

everybody else. He tend to dismiss everyone who talks a lot.

 40

• “President: Colonel Benjamin Santos, you’re an amazing soldier.

Benjie: I know, I know. Maliit na bagay.” (I know, I know. Small thing.)

The president told Benjie that he is an amazing soldier and those have been the

last words of the president. Benjie arrogantly replied that he already knew that he is

amazing. It is just a small thing.

How Benjie replied to the president revealed how ungrateful he is. He was not

able to appreciate the acknowledgement given to him by the leader of the country. He

never humbled himself, instead he raised himself higher than he was supposed to be.

What Benjie thought was that what was given to him was just proper for his effort

towards being a hero.

• “Lo, chill. It’s better to be late than very, very late.”

Benjie answered his grandfather as he confronted him for being late for the

awarding. Benjie let the people who wanted to take a picture of him and did not let his

family accompany him for the picture-taking. He posed alone in the middle of the stage

to different cameras which surrounded them while his family stared at him in dismay.

Going back to the first sequel, the first goal which Benjie wanted to achieve was

for his grandfather to accept him. He even joined the military just to save the life of his

grandfather. However, as fate stayed at his side, everything that he surpassed just to get

where he is now, he disregarded them all. Benjie as a person tends to forget things in a

short period of time. As to what he has been through, it has been a good thing for him to

disregard the bad memories. Yet, it seems that the goal he has set in the first place has

been disregarded like a bad memory.

 41

• “Sir, yes, sir” (with eyes rolling)

After the encounter of the troop of General Chua and Benjie with the terrorist

organization of Jan Jaranjan, the grandfather of Benjie died for saving the life of his

grandson. The failure of the mission took its toll on Benjie. He was under disciplinary

action and will be under the supervision of General Chua for the time period until he

renders service to his commanding officer. Benjie received the consequence bitterly and

replied, “Sir, yes, sir” with eyes rolling.

For a person who had reached the top, Benjie fell down as he was assigned under

General Chua. As a person who strived hard to get himself where he was, Benjie

displayed how disappointed he was after his dismissal. His response to his superior with

“Sir, yes sir” indicates how he wanted to follow the high-ranking official but, with the

rolling of his eyes, he has shown rebellion which he kept. Benjie does not want to go

back one step; he wants to continue his step forward.

• “Bimbi-yah, Bimbi-yah”

Benjie started his mission to guard the son of Chua. However, he also tried to

encourage the child to tell him where the locations of the bombs are. His first try was to

act as a Korean. In Korea, in addressing someone of equal or lesser social status, one can

attach -ah to a name that ends in a consonant and -yah to a name that ends in a vowel

(Halcyon-morn.livejournal.com). Benjie introduced to Bimbi his friend whom he named

“Big boy.” Bimbi in return talked in Chinese wherein Benjie and “Big boy” were

shocked because they did not understood what the boy has said. Bimbi added in Chinese

Way ’a Tzu wherein Benjie interpreted it as Bimbi wants Big Boy to leave because of the

sound of Tzu similar to shooo – a term used when repeatedly moving your hand away
 42

from you in a short motion with your fingers down to tell an animal or person to leave

(Merriam-Webster). Big Boy took his turn to interpret what Bimbi has said, he associated

Tzu into an English word chew. Benjie questioned the interpretation given by Big Boy

and associated Tzu to a person, an actress specifically which is Kim Chiu. Chiu is known

to have a skinny body type and Benjie told Big Boy that Kim Chiu does not eat.

Benjie knows how to connect to other people using different type of languages.

Although Benjie does not display a perfect mastery of the languages he used, he has done

various ways on how to use different languages to build rapport with Bimbi. This just

shows how determined Benjie is on getting the information from Bimbi to regain his

reputation.

• “I’m Chuckie the chocolate drink.”

On the second try, Benjie entered into the room of Bimbi. He talked to Bimbi in a

husky voice which the boy has questioned, “Why is your voice like that?” Benjie

answered “…because I’m Chucky…” Bimbi became frightened and Benjie cleared his

character “…I’m Chuckie the chocolate drink.” he added.

Notice the use of Chucky and Chuckie interchangeably. Chucky is a film wherein

the lead character is a possessed doll that kills people. Chuckie, on the other hand, is a

brand of chocolate drinks wherein the consumers are mostly children. The shift from

Chucky to Chuckie illustrates the shift of approach of Benjie on how he could have the

information he wants from Bimbi. Chucky, depicts how desperate Benjie is on getting the

information. Chucky the doll is always desperate to kill. But, Bimbi is still a child and

Benjie has considered his age. Chuckie was also a way to build an amiable environment

with Bimbi.
 43

Chucky Doll Chuckie (The chocolate drink)

• “Your father loves you the only way he knows how.”

As Bimbi brought out his sentiments about his dad, Benjie encouraged the boy not

to plant any grudge unto his father. He also reminded the boy how his knowledge could

save the whole country and how he could help his father defeat the terrorists. Benjie

explained to Bimbi how parents show their love to their children in many forms and that

he should not think that his father does not love him. Benjie said, “Your father loves you

the only way he knows how.” Bimbi did not believe what Benjie has said about his

father. He made Benjie promise not to tell his dad about the location of the bombs.

Benjie loves his family so much. His conversation with Bimbi mirrors how he

sees his father and his grandfather. Even with their imperfections, Benjie saw the perfect

love in them. Thus, upon talking to Bimbi about paternal love, what Benjie told Bimbi

were the actual thoughts of him about his father and grandfather.

Benjie and his father Benjie and his grandfather Benjie was saved by his
grandfather

• The use of “ligtas” (save) and “talo” (defeat)

In the same scene, Benjie has told Bimbi that he could save the lives of the people

in the whole Philippines and help his father defeat the bad people if he will tell the
 44

location of the bomb. Despite of everything that Chua has done to Benjie, still Benjie

thought of the General to be the savior and did not put himself into it, “This is the only

way that you can make ligtas the whole Philippines from the bad people and your father

can make talo the bad people with this.” Benjie considered the emotions of the boy on his

father so, he build a “can-trust” image of Chua to Bimbi. From the diction of Benjie, he

talked to the child in straight English but chose to change two words into Filipino terms

such as “ligtas” and “talo”, instead of “save” and “defeat”. This somewhat proves that

Benjie recognizes the current position of Bimbi. He was still a child, thus, what he should

hear and know about the world must be subtler than how it is in the reality of a grown up.

• The insult found on “hey”

When Benjamin and Jan Jaranjan met again, now to save Bimbi and find the last

bomb, Jan Jaranjan approached Benjie with a “hey” but, the approach did not start and

ended there. Jan Jaranjan greeted Benjie with “hey, bakla! How are you?” As to the

dismay of Benjie with what Jan called him, he answered, “don’t you dare call me… hey!”

And the fight between them has started again.

In a usual form of conversation, specifically when people are of the same age

brackets and statuses, the greeting “hey” is a usual approach, but given that Jan Jaranjan

put another term “bakla” in his approach, it was never been that usual. As for the viewers,

they will assume that Benjie was insulted because of the term “bakla.” But, it turned out

that he has been upset with Jan greeting him with a “hey.”

There are two things which reflect Benjie with how he reacted to Jan Jaranjan,

that is, (1) he was not ashamed of being a homosexual since he has earned a lot of things

through pursuing his gender preference; and (2) he considered himself a man with a
 45

position in the country and it is not proper to be referred to as “hey” because he was a

member of the military.

Benjie did not change his gender preference even when his grandfather displayed

dismay as he met him on the first time. Instead, he pursued his gender and use his own

capabilities to save his grandfather from the criminals (first sequel). As he became

famous and honored by the countrymen, he became so proud of himself that he thought

he was above everyone. Thus, it shows that Benjie is proud of being a gay and he still

demand Jan Jaranjan to recognize him as someone who is on top and has many

achievements.

General Wilson Chua

• “Hold your breath”

After the meeting was adjourned, Benjie and General Chua argued about the

penalties Benjie will face because of the failure of the mission. Benjie told General Chua

about all the things that he has done for the country and what they did to him was not fair.

General Chua then told him “…Next time kasi, ‘wag kang magmamarunong, kung ayaw

mong tuluyang ma-dismiss sa serbisyo”, (Next time, don’t act as if you know everything

if you don’t want to be dismissed from the service). Benjie glared at him for what he has

said. Chua added that from the time being, everything that Benjie will do, he will have to

let Chua know, even his breathing. So, when General Chua has to hush Benjie for him to

answer a phone call, Benjie held his breath – stopped breathing, to follow the command

of his officer.
 46

Being a commander of the military, Chua is used to giving exact orders. Benjie,

as someone who is under the supervision of the general, strictly follows what his superior

would order. As a leader, Chua is characterized as serious and firm. Given to this, Benjie

has thought that what Chua meant should strictly be imposed, thus, taking it seriously.

• The Insult

The president introduced General Chua as the commanding officer of Benjie.

Also, he introduced the new terrorists who alarm the country, and they are called the

United Terrorists’ Organization United Terrorists’ Organization (UTO – UTO). Benjie,

then, took the arm of the president for them to enter his office and talked about his latest

achievement which he branded “fresh.” Major Chua felt insulted and confronted Benjie at

hand and asked, “Iniinsulto mo ba ako?” (Are you insulting me?) He told Chua that he is

always angry and that he must install an air-conditioning unit on his forehead.

Chua has been used to set the rules and be followed. As he has been disregarded

by the president and Benjie, he felt insulted and disrespected. Being the commander, he

wants everyone to follow his orders. He felt that the authority must be felt and that Benjie

should remember the hierarchy.

Bimbi

• “You’re not my mom, you’re a horse.”

In a desperate try, Benjie confronted Bimbi to tell him where the bombs are.

Bimbi told Benjie that he does not trust anyone and he only trusts his mom. The boy even

exemplified that Benjie is not his mom and he will not tell Benjie the location of the

bombs. He, then, branded Benjie as a horse.

 47

In the Philippine context, gays are associated with horses. Given the age of Bimbi,

he is already on the generation Z which are predicted to be highly connected, living in an

age of high-tech communication, technology driven lifestyles and prolific use of social

media (Waterworth, 2013). TV shows with gay actors are everywhere and their

association to horses is highly abundant. This reveals what kind of a boy is Bimbi. He is

highly influenced by mass media, given the generation in which he belongs.

• “I hate him so much. He never loved mom, he never loved me. He

abandoned us. I will never trust him.”

When Benjie gained the trust of Bimbi, the boy reminisce the memories of his

mom and how his mom reminded him not to trust anyone especially the operation.

Gundina interrupted the drama and demanded Benjie to ask Bimbi the locations of the

bombs while the boy is weakened by his sentiments. Benjie, then, told Gundina to stop

talking and said, “Ba’t ka ba nagmamadali? Edi ‘pag sinabi n’ya edi tapos na ‘tong

pelikula?” (Why are you rushing? If he would tell us about it, the film would end soon).

Bimbi, then, let out his sentiments about his father, “I hate him so much. He never loved

mom, he never loved me. He abandoned us. I will never trust him”, in the tone of Cookie

monster.

Bimbi was raised solely by his mother. He grew up without the supervision of a

father. Upon meeting General Chua and knowing him for a short period of time, it was

hard for Bimbi to trust Chua just because he is his father. Given to that, the only person

whom he sees to be trusted is Krissy, alone. The tone which Bimbi used was to

emphasize how a little boy could have much anger. Given his age and position, the only

thing he could do to express himself is to talk

 48

Gundina

• “Hi yaya! Yaya.”

As General Chua and Bimbi went home, the character of Gundina was presented.

When they noticed about the presence of Bimbi, she and Misty (the other daughter of

Chua) asked who the boy (bagets) is. Chua told them that the boy was his son. Gundina,

then, overreacted and said “No. No. Sino s’ya? Mas maganda ba s’ya? Mas bata? Sino

s’ya? Sagot. Sagot na.”, (Who is she? Is she more beautiful? Younger? Who is she?

Answer. Answer me!) Chua then, reminded her that she was just a maid in the house.

Gundina, then, moved aside to greet Bimbi with “Hi yaya! Yaya.”

Gundina, being the mayor do ma (a person in charge of a group or project-

Merriam-Webster) in the house, is supposed to take care of the household chores and of

the members of the household. Furthermore, Gundina also likes General Chua, thus, her

act as the wife of Chua is a revelation of her feelings. However, given her position in the

house, she cannot confess nor display her feelings for her boss because their statuses in

life are at far. Her greeting to Bimbi, “Hi yaya! Yaya”, is an evidence that she recognizes

her position in the house. What she can only do is to let go of her feelings and focus on

her work because it is her obligation to do so.

• “Isang malaking Good luck.” (One Big Good Luck)

Benjie moved in the house of General Chua and there he met Gundina. Their first

introduction brought an instant rivalry. They even fought for the last message of Gundina

to Benjie before he enters his room, that is, “Meron lamang akong tatlong salita para

sa’yo: (1) isang, (2) malaking, (3) good luck.” (I have only three words for you: (1) one,
 49

(2) big, (3) good luck) Benjie questioned the word count and Gundina did recount what

she has said and arrived finally to the conclusion that the word good luck is one word.

• The Incorrect Pronunciation of the Word “Bomb”

On the fourth try, Benjie decided to ask Bimbi the location of the bombs through

the use of jokes. Gundina then recommended trying to ask the boy directly where is the

bomb. Benjie then, questioned the pronunciation of Gundina of the word “bomb” as

“bam.” He even connected it to a particular name of a person who was named Bam

Aquino. When Gundina corrected her articulation, she pronounced the word as “bom”,

making Benjie associate it again with an actual name Bom Navarro (Vhong Navarro).

The phrase, “Isang malaking good luck (one big good luck),” is in Taglish – the

combination of Tagalog (Filipino) and English language. Gundina did not talk in straight

English. Another was the mispronunciation of the word “bomb.” Given the nature of her

work, it shows that Gundina was not able to pursue her studies because if she has, she

will never be a maid. As to how she talked with Benjie, the choices of words and the

manner of her delivery reveals the level of her education and her desire to be taken in.

Gundina likes General Chua and she has to be someone great to be recognized by the

general. Therefore, in her own simple way, she tries to show to other people that she is

not just a maid; she could also be someone knowledgeable. In that way, Gundina will be

noticed by General Chua and hopefully, they could fall in love with each other. The word

use and pronunciation of Gundina exposed the uneducated side of her character.

• “No, sir. How dare you, daring me. How you dare.”

After Benjie was dismissed in the Chua residence and in the service, he left the

house and that means leaving General Chua, Gundina and Bimbi alone. As Gundina had
 50

the chance to talk one on one with Chua, she confronted the general about the lack of

time and attention Chua was giving towards his children. Chua avoided the drama and

tried to dismiss Gundina and said, “How dare you!” But, Gundina fired back and

answered, “No sir. How dare you, daring me. How you dare!”

The scene showed the explosion of Gundina towards Chua though, their subject

was not about the two of them. They argued about the relationship of Chua towards his

children. Gundina transfers her feelings to the parental obligation of Chua instead of his

true feelings for Chua. As a maid, the primary task of Gundina is to look after the

members of the household and that includes Bimbi and Misty. Given that her limitations

are only within the children, she chose to express herself through the issues of the

children.

Jan Jaranjan

• Jhong Hilario – Jhong Hilarious

After Jan Jaranjan stumbled and fall off his back, he managed to tumble up again

like the famous dancer and former member of the group Backstreet Boys – Jhong Hilario.

Benjie teased Jan Jaranjan of how he fell and got up, associating him to the said dancer,

Jan Jaranjan branded himself Jhong Hilarious instead.

Jan Jaranjan is the leader of the terrorist organization, UTO – UTO. Physically,

his body type is not of a dancer, for his built is intact and muscular. Usually, dancers have

defined calves and thighs, a long or straight torso (often emphasized by great posture)

and lean muscular arms. In men, the waist line tends to be thinner and in women, the

back/lower back is noticeably toned (Launchpad, 2014). There were also instances in the

movie wherein his fondness of working out was shown.

 51

• Party: Work out

Upon seeing the three (3) guys who planned and perform the execution of Krissy,

Jan Jaranjan asked the men if they also killed the boy – the son of Krissy. The men

answered while looking below, “Yes sir.” Jan Jaranjan, then said, “Good. Good. Let’s

enjoy the party. Mag-workout na rin kayo, dali!” (Good. Good. Let’s enjoy the party.

You should also work out. Go!)

Though, there were scenes where Jan Jaranjan danced with Benjie (on their first

encounter), it was not a direct way of dancing, they were somehow dancing but they were

moving to fight. Jan Jaranjan branded himself as Jhong Hilarious because he considered

dancing as hilarious. He does not see himself as a dancer because he is not interested in

such. Furthermore, there was no actual party in the scene. There was only gym equipment

in a closed room and men working out. This shows how Jan Janjaran enjoys working out;

he even considered it a party, wherein party is commonly perceived as a social gathering

of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking, and entertainment (Google

Dictionary).

• The Dog: His Own Kind of Gun

When Jan Jaranjan knew that Bimbi is the son of General Chua, he abruptly

commanded his men to attack the house of the General. He talked to his deputy and said,

“Lusubin natin sila, I want the kid”, (Let us attack their house. I want the kid.) In an

instant, the group of Jan Jaranjan was already in the house and killed everyone that

guards it. Jan Jaranjan, being the leader, holds a dog instead of a gun and ordered his men

to get the boy, in a very long manner.

 52

Jan Jaranjan is the villain in the film and he is a terrorist. A terrorist is someone

who uses terror especially as a means of coercion (Merriam-Webster). Given the fact that

they must make the people frightened because that is the nature of their job, Jan Jaranjan

should have his own gun to make people frightened of him. But, he just carried a dog

with him and directed his men to do the works instead. This just shows how dependent

Jan Jaranjan is with his organization. He just directs them into the work without doing it

on his own. Although he was carrying a gun on his first encounter with Benjie, he was

not able to use it because it malfunctioned. Another was in the last encounter; he also

carried a gun with him as he terrifies Bimbi for him to tell where the bomb is. Gundina,

being so annoying because she always interrupts Jan Jaranjan from talking, was not shot

by Jan Jaranjan even though he has all the chance to do it. This reveals how soft he is. He

is not able to inflict pain or terror unto the people. What he just really wanted was to have

the four (4) notable places in the Philippines and not to hurt others by himself. He let

others do the work.

1.2 Questioning Universal Truth

All of the notable characters in the film have their own disposition in life which

they held and dignified throughout the film. Their actions on specific situations may

sometimes be for the benefit of others but more of to their own benefits as individuals.

They believe that what they think is true may always be true with the other characters.

The researchers will identified the “truth” held by the characters and question them based

on their life experiences in the film.

 53

Benjie

• Homosexuality in the Military

A Military is defined as a set of soldiers involved in the armed forces (Merriam

Dictionary). It requires a person to have strong endurance of physical strength to face the

challenges in every encounter and most of the time, men are part of it. On the other hand,

homosexuals are born as men but are sexually attracted to people of the same sex

(according to Merriam dictionary). Usually, homosexual acts womanly like in pageant

competitions (Miss Gay) and Television Show (Destiny Rose). Given to that observation,

Benjie being a homosexual in the film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin (2014), as well

as being part of the military serves to catch criminals using their physical power. The film

broke the perception of “only tough men could join the military.” The military trains men

to be “men”, where men pertain to those who are attracted to the opposite sex and are

engaged into battles and fights. But, the film made use of a homosexual colonel who has

been successful on being a soldier.

Benjie, being a homosexual member of the Philippine army broke the norm (an

authoritative standard. Merriam-Webster Dictionary). As how he has been successful

with his chosen path, he believed that he could be one of the best of men in the service,

regardless of his gender. Thus, he always compete with others, especially General Chua.

His confidence towards the competition evolves from his belief that despite of being a

homosexual, he could still be a good soldier.

• Not Followed Orders from the seniors

In the field of Military or any other legal forces, they follow this hierarchy of

leaders whose orders are strictly followed. Like in the film Pearl Harbor (2001),
 54

American Sniper (2014), and even in real life where the Philippines lost forty-four (44) of

its policemen on the Mamasapano Encounter (2015) – all of the characters obeyed their

officers without any questions and oppositions. It is an undeniable fact not only in the

Military but also in other professions that the higher officials must be followed. In the

case of Benjie in the film, he disobeyed most of the orders of Chua being his

commanding officer and a General. In the hierarchy of Philippine Military, the staffs are

divided in three: General Officers, Officers and Enlisted Personnel (Globalsecurity.org).

Benjie belongs to the group of officers given that he is a Colonel. On the other hand,

Chua belongs to the group of General Officers given that he is a General, the highest

among the General Officers; thus, breaking the hierarchical norm of the Military.

Chua to Benjie, “Dito ka lang, hindi mo kilala si Jan Jaranjan” (Stay here, you do

not know Jan Jaranjan) But, Benjie still went at the encounter and disobeyed the

order of the General.

Chua also commanded Benjie to be the personal bodyguard of Bimbi but he

refused, “Eh sir, isabak nyo na kami sa kahit saang giyera huwag lang sa pagiging

personal bodyguard.” (Sir, you could send us in any war; but not by being a

personal bodyguard.)

He was ordered to know where the bombs are located by being the personal

bodyguard of Bimbi but when Bimbi finally told him, he did not tell it to Wilson

to keep his promise to Bimbi, “Ako nalang sisira sa mga bomba, tapos sasabihin

ko nalang kay General Chua kapag napagtagumpayan ko na.” (I will just destroy

the bomb, then I will just inform General Chua when I succeeded.)
 55

Being able to complete missions and be awarded by the President of the Republic

of the Philippines, Benjie became sure that he could compete with General Chua. Given

their differences in personalities and handling missions, they often argue and fight. Benjie

has ignored the position of Chua because of his belief that he could be as good as the

general; which has led him to his dismissal.

• Asking for Social Media Accounts

Benjie and Jan Jaranjan got tired of their fight and Benjie asked him why not be

friends instead of enemies? Benjie asked for his Twitter and Instagram account for them

to follow each other, “Hindi ba pwedeng magkaibigan nalang tayo? Anong Twitter mo

tsaka Instagram? Follow kita”, (Can’t we just be friends? What is your Twitter and

Instagram account? I will follow you.) In that situation, the standard of rivalry especially

between the military and terrorism has been broken when they instantly forgot that they

want to kill each other before.

Friendship between a terrorist and a member of the army is not a usual friendship.

One brings the terror while the other protects the people from it. Benjie has believed that

he could befriend Jan Jaranjan. As to how Benjie had use the power of words and

gestures (Language as Reality), he believed that through proper communication, they

could really be friends. However, what Benjie assumed to be real cannot actually be true

because Jan Jaranjan was set to make the bombs explode.

Gundina

• The Mayor Do Ma Who Acted As a Wife

In the usual setting, maids ought to follow the orders of their bosses. Like in the

film Maid in Manhattan (2002), Jennifer Lopez as the lead character always obey her
 56

boss in his every commands. In the subject film, Gundina plays the same character as

Jennifer (being a maid) but unlike Jennifer, she sometimes exceeds her limits. She often

acts like the wife of Chua.

When Chua introduced Bimbi to their house and he reacted like the wife and

demanded Wilson for an explanation, “Sino s’ya? Maganda ba s’ya? Mas bata?

Sino s’ya? Sagot! Sagot na!” (Who is she? Is she more beautiful? Younger? Who

is she? Answer. Answer me!)

Gundina displays a one-sided “like” on General Chua. This is evident on the way

she reacted to Chua with the revelation about Bimbi and her confrontation to the general

for his parenting. Given her position in the house, even though Gundina is a maid, she is

still the manager of all the maids in the Chua household. She thought that because she

was given the trust to supervise other workers, the house, and the children, she could

have a say to everything inside the house. Moreover, her responsibility has brought her

hope that someday, she could be the wife of Chua since, she was already taking care of

everything. However, what she assumed that could be true will never be real because she

was fired from her job after the confrontation.

• The Hostage Who Scolds More Than the Kidnapper

When Jan Jaranjan abducted Bimbi, her sister Misty, and Gundina, Jan Jaranjan

bugged Bimbi to make him confess where the bombs are located. Gundina did the same

way as Jan Jaranjan did, but she was interrupted by Bimbi who told her that even if he

would tell the locations of the bombs, he would still kill them. Gundina got angry and

asked Jan Jaranjan for an explanation, “Totoo? Totoo ba ang sinabi ng bata? Ang kapal

ng mukha mo!” (Is it true? Is the child telling the truth? How dare you!)
 57

In those difficult situations, hostages are known to stay quiet and frightened when

they are in danger like the film Captain Phillips (2013) and in Philippine event Manila

Hostage Crisis (2010). But, Gundina always talk. That is very evident with her fights

with Benjie, confrontations with Chua, as well as petty fights with Bimbi. Moreover,

during the kidnapping incident, she even confronted Jan Jaranjan who was technically her

kidnapper. These just show how Gundina got used with letting out her opinion. She was

given all the freedom to talk in her workplace and with her boss. Thus, she has only

executed her attitude as the mayor do ma, “the girl who has a say on everything.” She

thought that Jan Jaranjan could also be manipulated and it turned out that he is.

Jan Jaranjan

• Jan Jaranjan as a Terrorist

Terrorists are known to use violence to frighten the people in an area as a way of

trying to achieve their desire (Merriam-Webster). They are known to possess these

images of being terribly ugly and gangster-like. In the film Momzilla 2013, the terrorists

who tried to harm the couple characters (Billy Crawrford and Andy Eigenman), looks

like maniacs trying to rape the character of Andy. Taken Sequels 1, 2 and 3, on the other

hand, have antagonists who are drug addicts. But in the case of Jan Jaranjan, he possesses

none of the abovementioned attributes. He and his troop only do work outs to maintain

their good-looking physical appearance.

Jan Jaranjan felt afraid of Gundina as he lied to her about sparing them if Bimbi

would tell him where the bomb is. It turned out that he has no plan of saving them; he

will kill them no matter what. He shook his head while Gundina was shouting at him as if

he needed to defend himself to someone authoritative while in fact, the authority was in
 58

his hands, like in the film Captain Phillips (2013) and in an actual event in the

Philippines which is Manila Hostage Crisis (2010), capturers were not afraid of the

hostages since they are armed with weapons.

Terrorists are expected to bring terror to the country. It might be in the form of

bomb attacks, but their physical appearance is expected to reflect their evilness. Jan

Jaranjan displayed his love of himself through his fondness of working out. Based from

his physical appearance in the subject film, he was really maintaining his figure. He

believes that his body is worth maintaining, thus, his attitude as a terrorist does not suit

him. Moreover, he did not carry with him a gun when he and his organization kidnapped

Bimbi. Rather, he held a dog with him and ordered his men to do the “dirty” work for

him.

1.3. Power Struggle

The ultimate rivalry between the groups of Jan Jaranjan which is called United

Terrorists’ Organization United Terrorists’ Organization (UTO-UTO), and that of

General Chua and Benjie with the military men started from the fight for possession of

the notable places in the Philippines which are: Baguio, Batanes, Boracay, and Palawan.

This has caused the chaos among other characters in the film. The minor commotions

happened between and among characters which caused the film to prolong.

Philippine Army VS. UTO-UTO

The Philippine Military fights against the United Terrorists’ Organization United

Terrorists’ Organization (UTO-UTO) to save the country from the bomb threats. The

UTO – UTO is the villain in the film who ordered Krissy to implant bombs on random

places in the country. They are leaded by Jan Jaranjan. The Philippine army, on the other
 59

hand as the protector of the country, must stop the explosion before it could hurt or in the

worst case, kill people. The conflict between both parties arises as they defend their

obligations and desires in life. Instances of power struggle happened at the abandoned

building where the troops of Chua and Benjie and the UTO – UTO had their first

encounter; and at the mall where the Philippine Army composed by the troops of Chua

and Benjie came to save Gundina and the children of Chua from the UTO – UTO who

abducted them to know the location of the last bomb.

• Benjie VS. Jan Jaranjan

The first encounter between Benjie and Jan Jaranjan happened in an abandoned

building together with the other troops from the Philippine army. Benjie and Jan Jaranjan

exchanged punches and kicks since their weapons dysfunctioned. As they got tired of

fighting, Benjie offered Jan Jaranjan friendship by asking his social media accounts.

”Napagod na ako girl! Hindi ba pwedeng maging magkaibigan nalang tayo?” (I’m tired,

girl. Can’t we just be friends?) Jan Jaranjan agreed, however, he tricked Benjie by giving

him a briefcase as a “token of friendship”, in which Benjie later on, found out that the

case contains a bomb.

The fight between the two has extended because they represent the two

adversaries (Philippine Army and UTO – UTO). The rivalry has been also intensified

given that Benjie lost his grandfather because of the bomb which Jan Jaranjan gave to

him.

Man VS. Homosexuality

The last encounter between Benjie and Jan Jaranjan happened at the mall where

Benjie chased Jan Jaranjan to save Bimbi. At first, Jan Jaranjan underestimated Benjie for
 60

he is only a homosexual, “Eh paano mo ako matatalo? Bakla ka lang”, (How will you

defeat me? You are just a homosexual/gay). Then, they fought again until Benjie wins by

knocking him out.

The fight between Jan Jaranjan and Benjie was not just about the bomb, Bimbi,

and/or the safety of the public. The fight also brought out the fight of Benjie against

prejudices. As Benjie knocked down Jan Jaranjan, Benjie has also defeated the prejudices

set by the society.

Man VS. Himself

The battle between men versus homosexuality extends to Benjie fighting for his

position as a homosexual. Benjie has long fought for the acceptance of the society which

leads him in pushing himself to be better than any heterosexual in the military. His fight

towards other characters were driven by his own motivation, his own goals, for his own

satisfaction.

Benjie VS. Chua

Both Benjie and Chua are members of the Philippine army. However, they have

different ways to solve the mission as well as to get the trust of Bimbi.

• Benjie VS. Chua: Who Will Handle the Mission with the UTO- UTO?

Upon watching the video message of Jan Jarajan to the Philippines, the soldiers

drove to catch Jan Jaranjan in an abandoned building. Benjie was ordered by Chua to stay

at their command center “…No Santos, hindi mo kilala si Jan Jaranjan”, (No Santos, you

do not know Jan Jaranjan) but he insisted and still joined the mission. ”Anong ginagawa

mo dito? I told you to stay at the command center” (What are you doing here? I told you

to stay at the command center) Chua confronted Benjie who was not expected to be there.
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“Sir nandito po kami para tumulong” (Sir, we are here to help) Benjie explained to Chua.

Benjie started to contest against the order of Chua by following his own desire. Given

their motivations, the opposition between Benjie and Chua has risen. But, the fact that

Chua was the one with the higher rank, even with the good intention of Benjie, he was

still dismissed from the service and he was handled down to General Chua.

• Benjie VS. Chua: How to Get the Information from Bimbi

As the search for the locations of the bombs became hard, General Chua became

desperate which led him to a confrontation with Bimbi and forced him to tell where the

locations are. When Benjie saw Chua hurting Bimbi, he interrupted him, “Pati bata

pinapatulan niyo? So anong gagawin n’yo ngayon dahil matigas ulo ng anak nyo, ipe-

pressure cooker niyo para lumambot?” (You are even fighting with the child? So what

will you do, pressure cook his head because he is stubborn?) Chua then replied to him

that he is not in the place to come in between them as father and son, ”Huwag mo nga

pakialaman pagdidisiplina ko sa anak ko, isa ka pa wala kang disiplina” (Do not question

how I discipline my child, even you do not have discipline unto yourself). Both of the

parties fought for their emotions.

Benjie has been attached to Bimbi as their time together lengthened. Because of

his concern for the child, Benjie tried to defend him from his own father. Given their

position in the house, Chua was still the father and Benjie was just there to look after the

child. The battle between emotional attachment and blood relation has taken its place.

• Benjie VS. Chua: Child Discipline/Parenting

When Benjie was blamed because Bimbi has fainted, the Doctor asked him if they

really do not know that Bimbi has a history of asthma. Gundina and Benjie has told the
 62

doctor that they do not know Bimbi has an asthma. They narrated, then, how Bimbi had

gotten in the house. Then, Chua interrupted them. Benjie, then, confronted Chua that the

problem was not the asthma, instead, it is the care from his father which is lacking. “…

dahil baka hindi naman talaga hika ang sakit ng anak nyo, baka nangangailangan lang ng

kalinga at atensyon ng isang ama.” (…maybe because your child is not suffering from

asthma, maybe he just needs care and attention from a father.) Chua nagged at Benjie

because of the outcome of letting Bimbi go at the mall. He also reminded Benjie that he

just gave him a favor since nobody likes him in the service anymore. ”Let me remind you

Santos hindi kita kailangan, wala ng may kailangan sayo sa serbisyo, I am just doing you

a favor kaya umayos at lumugar ka!” (Let me remind you Santos, I do not need you; there

is no one who needs you in the service. I am just doing you a favor, so fix yourself and

know your place). Their fight continued because of their different principles. Chua is

very committed to his job while Benjie became committed to Bimbi. Thus, it created

chaos between them.

Benjie VS. Bimbi: Respect to Seniority

Since Benjie was given a task to locate the bombs through guarding Bimbi, he

performed different ways in order to make Bimbi confess. But in some of his trials, he

became impatient resulting both of them to fight verbally. Their fight happens when

Bimbi does not cooperate to stop the bombs from exploding. However, their major fight

was the confrontation with General Chua where Bimbi questioned how Benjie was

supposed to respect the general, and Benjie on the other hand, questioning his

uncooperative attitude. This created the fight on who did wrong. However, both of them

believed that they are personally correct.

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Benjie VS. Gundina

Instances of Gundina and Benjie fighting verbally are evident through their

frequent arguments. Benjie was always irritated to Gundina for the reason that she always

interrupts Benjie on doing his ways. On the other hand, Gundina being the mayor do ma

of the house claimed the authority in the house which led into a series of argumentation

and debates.

• Benjie VS. Gundina: Who Rules the House?

Since Benjie was introduced in the house of Wilson, the treatment of Gundina

towards him was undeniably unpleasant. It started when she talked about her position in

the house telling Benjie that she is the mayor do ma of the house, ”Ako si Gundina

Galamiton ang mayor do ma ng pamamahay na ito”, I am Gundina Galamiton the mayor

do ma of this house.) In response to Gundina, Benjie asked Chua to choose a maid who is

healthier than Gundina next time. ”Sir sa susunod naman na kukuha ka ng mayor do ma

eh yung may laman laman naman,” (Sir, the next time you hire a mayor do ma, hire the

one who is in good shape.) After the introduction, all members of the household left.

Gundina then threatened Benjie and said, “Benjie, Benjie, Benjie tatlong salita lamang

para sa’yo. Isang malaking good luck!” (Benjie, Benjie, Benjie, I just have three (3)

words for you; One big good luck.) Benjie made a question to Gundina about the word

“isang malaking good luck” that this has four (4) words “Kahit apat yun?” (Even if it is

composed of four (4) words?) Gundina insisted that the word “good luck” is only one

word “Tatlo lang yun, dahil isang salita lang ang good luck”, (There is only three (3)

words, good luck is just one word.) From then, their opposition against each other has

continued.
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• Benjie VS. Gundina: Child Care

Instances of Benjie and Gundina fighting happened most because of Bimbi. Since

Benjie is assigned to be the personal bodyguard of Bimbi and Gundina acts as the mother

of the child, both of them oppose the decision of the other resulting to verbal fights.

Benjie and his friends are having a guessing game with Bimbi in relation to the

word “bomb”. In the middle of their enjoyment, they were interrupted by Gundina

as she suggested to Benjie to ask Bimbi directly where the bomb is. ”Bakit ganito,

hindi niyo nalang itanong sa bata Where is the “bam”?” (Why not asks the child:

where is the bom “bomb”?) Her second try sounded as “bom.”

Bimbi is about to tell where the bombs are. Benjie told Gundina to stay away

from the room they are in. At first, she refused for the reason that she also wanted

to hear what Bimbi is about to tell. “Oh ayan nagsasalita na yung bata, itanong mo

na kung nasaan yung bomba, sinasabi na niya nag-e-emote na siya, tanungin mo

na kung nasaan ung ibang bomba, Dalian mo na, Dalian mo na”, (Oh there, the

child is already speaking, ask him where is the bomb, he is already emoting, ask

him where is the bomb, hurry, hurry up) then he was push away Gundina until she

gets away from the door “Doon ka nga muna, bumaba ka doon at gumawa ka ng

pagkain, chismosa!” (Just stay there, go down and prepare some food, gossiper!)

Benjie and Gundina had also an encounter at the mall in terms of the security of

Bimbi since there are many people there. Benjie had an idea of disguising Bimbi

and himself into a a famous cartoon character Sarah ang Munting Prinsesa which

he thinks no one could really identify them. Gundina, could not relate on them

that is why she negated the idea of Benjie, “Oh bakit ka naman naka ganyan? Ang
 65

O.A. mo rin tlga e!” (Why are you dressed like that? You are really O.A.!) “Ikaw

ha tatandaan mo, yang batang dala dala mo ngayon, pangangatawanan mo dahil

alam mong delikado ang buhay niya, inilabas labas mo dito”, (You should

remember, that child you are with now is your responsibility because his life is in

danger; and you brought him out). Gundina has said. Benjie countered her and

said that he knows and is sure on what he is doing.” Alam kong ginagawa ko at

sisiguraduhin kong hindi nila makikilala ang batang lalaking hinahanap nila.” (I

know what I am doing, and I will make sure that they will not identify this child

that they are looking for).

Chua VS. Gundina

When Chua introduced Bimbi at home, Gundina reacted like her wife and forced

him to explain about Bimbi being his son. “Kalian pa ha? Sino sya? Maganda ba sya?

Mas bata? Sino sya? Sagot! Sagot na!” (Since when? Who is she? Is she more beautiful?

Younger? Who is she? Answer. Answer me!) Chua then, shouted back to Gundina

reminding her that she is just a maid, “Gundina! Papaalala ko lang sa’yo, kasambahay ka

lang dito!” (Gundina! Let me just remind you, you are just a maid in this house!)

This illustrates the battle between fantasy and reality. Gundina secretly likes Chua

but Chua does not know about it. For Gundina, she could be the wife of the general but

the reality was she is just a maid who was set to serve the Chuas with compensation.
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2. The characteristics of postmodernism present in the film.

2.1. Pastiche

The Opening scene of the film: Airport

The film started with the arrival in France of the private plane of the lead

character (Benjie) and his troop. After Benjie and the troop of Colonel Charles Dickens

were introduce, they discussed about the spread of the virus in Europe which is the main

reason why the French troop asked for their help. While Benjie discusses the problem

with his troop, the French military men have transformed into zombies. Benjie and his

troop ran towards the airport so they could avoid the zombies but they did not notice that

the rest of the zombies were inside the building. They divide themselves into smaller

groups and ran toward different directions inside the airport. As they all met into a dead

end, Benjie managed to think of an idea how they could defeat the bunch of zombies at

hand.

The film pasted the elements of the setting and plot (conflict) of the foreign film

Warm Bodies 2013 where the lead character, who is a zombie, lived in an abandoned

airport together with the other infected zombies in their region. The lead character of the

film was also infected by a virus which turned him and all other people into zombies as

well. Although the lead character searched for a vaccine, the film focused on the love

story of a zombie with a human. The subject film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin 2014,

on the other hand, adopted and modified these elements into a short-term scene and used

them (airport and zombies) as an introduction to the current status of the main character –

a hero of his generation, saving the lives of people as a gay military man.
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The seeds: Plants VS. Zombies

As Benjie was thinking of ideas to defeat the zombies, a voice (of his father)

reminded him of the seeds which were given to him to be kept and let out only for

emergency purposes. Benjie, then, remembered the seeds handed to him by his father and

decided to plant them out. The seeds grew fast, and at a short moment, became plants

which shoot the zombies until they vanished. Benjie and his troop defeated the zombies

by the help of the plants.

The elements of plants fighting against the zombies are adopted by the subject

film from a video game – Plants VS. Zombies. The game is about implanting different

kinds of plant into the backyard of the player to protect his house from zombies who eat

brains. The plants were grown through specific number of sunlight – more sunlight, the

faster the plants would grow. The subject film adopted the characteristics of plants as the

protector and zombies as the conquerors. However, in the game, the plants defeat the

zombies through dissembling their bodies but in the subject film, the zombies evaporated

as they were being shot. The game also uses the idea of brains as a representation for the

life of the player but the subject film uses actual humans.

Please Be Careful with My Heart: The maid

As the President of the Philippines recognized the heroic deed of Colonel

Benjamin Santos, Benjie himself chose to stay in a bar (Birdie-Birdie) rather than

accepting the plaque of appreciation that will be awarded by the president. General Chua

then, decided to pick up Benjie in the bar to escort him to the event. As Chua approaches

him, Benjie daydreamed of General Chua (Richard Yap), as Sir Chief (the male lead

character in the local teleserye, Please Be Careful with My Heart). Benjie envisioned
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himself to be a maid, somewhat like the lead female character of the said teleserye –

Maya who was a maid. Benjie wore a revealing maid uniform where his legs, arms, and

chest were exposed. In his daydream, he was waiting for the Chua (as Sir Chief in his

imagination) to come near him as he was unbuttoning his long sleeves. Benjie (playing

the role of the maid, somewhat Maya), looked him in the eyes as he does the peace sign

continuously and acted as "pa-cute."

The teleserye Please Be Careful with My Heart is a love story of Richard and

Maya where the man (Richard) fell in love with her innocent, kind and conservative maid

(Maya) who is from the province. The subject film pasted the characters of the

aforementioned teleserye and re-conceptualize a whole new characterization of the lead

characters especially the concept of the maid who is innocent. Benjie, acting the character

of the maid changed the image portrayed by Maya in the teleserye into a cosplayer

(costume player) who is dressed in a maid costume because of his movement doing the

peace sign. Cosplay refers to the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie,

book, or video game, especially one from the Japanese genres of manga and anime

(Google Online Dictionary). The famous peace sign was widely used and known to

originate from Japan. According to Barron (2011), the spontaneous V-sign (peace sign) is

as natural to many Japanese people as it is puzzling to visitors. Children seem to start do

it as soon as they can control their hands – as evidenced by photos of crying toddlers who

find the wherewithal through their tears to raise two little fingers. Also, the revealing

wardrobe of Benjie has exemplified that he was doing cosplay for cosplay also emanated

from Japan due to the exposition of the skin.

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Maid Sama! A cosplayer in Maid Sama! Costume

Feng Shui: Bagua

Bimbi (James Aquino Yap) played as the son of General Chua from another

woman, who is named Krissy (Kris Aquino), who happens to be the key solution to find

the locations of the implanted bombs. In a scene where Benjie and General Chua were

searching for Bimbi, they were on a rescue to save Krissy and his son. Darla (the personal

assistant of Krissy), point out the direction where Bimbi could be found before he died.

When Benjie and Chua reached the location, they found a large cage containing

numerous lads inside. They were all dressed with the same shirt, same shorts and with the

same eyeglasses. Upon seeing the picture of Krissy, Benjie then let out a piece of bagua

and present it to the lads to distinguish who among them is the boy whom they are

searching for. When he reached the third boy, the boy screamed in a voice familiar with

the trademark scream of the lead character of the film Feng Shui, who happens to be Kris

Aquino.

The use of the bagua and the scream acknowledges another local horror film –

Feng Shui (2004). The subject film adopted the horrifying effect done by the bagua to

anyone who sees it. However, the subject film did not highlight the fright of the boy upon

seeing the bagua to maintain the comedic feel of the subject film. Benjie let out the bagua

for three (3) times to make sure that they really found the right boy, making the scene

funnier than that of frightening with the use of the bagua.

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Please Be Careful With My Heart: Theme Song

Aside from his irritation to General Chua, Benjie occasionally shows his desire

for his senior officer. When Benjie and Chua had their “lone time” together, sitting on the

edge of the pool while drinking alcohol, Benjie sang the theme song of the teleserye

Please Be Careful with My Heart which is also the title of the song itself. Benjie sang the

first lines of the song ...If you love me, like you tell me, please be careful with my heart...

while Chua napped on his shoulder.

The theme song of the said teleserye usually plays during the scenes where the

lead characters were having their romantic time together. However, in the subject film,

Benjie himself, sang the theme song while looking at the sky and touching the face of

Chua. When Benjie tried to kiss the General, Chua suddenly woke up, making Benjie

jump unto the swimming pool. Benjie has shown a one-sided like to the General. Singing

the song on his own showed that he was the only person feeling the romance between

them where the other one does not feel the same.

Deal or No Deal

The second bomb was located and was place inside a briefcase, Benjie danced

like one of the ladies who hold briefcases in the TV Show Deal or No Deal.

The incorporation of the briefcases and the dance acknowledge the TV show Deal

or No Deal wherein there are girls who hold briefcases which contain monetary amounts

which are used for a game play.

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2.2. Intertextuality

Miss Minchin and Sarah at the mall

When Benjie became close with Bimbi, he took Bimbi to the mall to make the

boy happy. Unfortunately, the boy was under protection due to his knowledge about the

locations of the bombs. Thus, in order for Bimbi to be safe while outside the Chua

residence, Benjie decided to disguise himself and Bimbi into characters from the local

film Sarah, Ang Munting Prinsesa (1995). Benjie dressed himself as the strict and

morose head of the school – Miss Minchin, while he dressed Bimbi on the clothes

particularly worn by Sarah. Benjie and Bimbi went out of the Chua mansion through the

use of a ladder. Unfortunately, Gundina has seen them and told them she will tell General

Chua about it. As Benjie explained to Gundina how sad the boy has become because he

was unable to go outside, Gundina let them go to the mall and she accompanied them in

return.

Benjie and Bimbi mimicked the images portrayed by the characters of Miss

Minchin and Sarah. Benjie even mentioned the lines of Miss Minchin “...ikukulong kita

sa chimineya”, (I will imprison you in the chimney) not to Sarah but to Gundina.

Gundina and the guard acknowledged Benjie as Miss Minchin and Bimbi as Sarah,

indicating that for that short scene, the characters of the subject film played the role of the

aforementioned film which is Sarah, ang Munting Prinsesa.

“I was never your partner, I’m just your wife” – Madrasta (1996)

As Benjie and Chua argued on how to convince Bimbi to tell them the location of

the bombs, the question of parenting arouse. Chua questioned how Krissy, being the

mother, raised Bimbi; Benjie questioned the way Chua disciplined his child; Bimbi
 72

questioned the attitude of Benjie towards his commanding officer. In the end, Benjie

brought out his sentiments until he arrives to the famous line of Sharon Cuneta in her

film, Madrasta (1996), “I was never your partner, I’m just your wife.” Chua, then, reacted

and said, “Sharon Cuneta?” Benjie then, recited the famous catch phrase of the

endorsement of Sharon Cuneta, “I Lab-uyo!” (Lucky Me Spicy Beef.)

Based on how Chua responded to the sentiments of Benjie, the film Madrasta was

already been acknowledged. Sharon Cuneta is the lead actress of the said film and she

was a wife who, like Benjie, brought out her sentiments to her husband because of the

lack of respect. The performance of the endorsement also exemplifies that the subject

film recognized the film Madrasta and its lead actress, Sharon Cuneta.

ABS-CBN Mobile: “Happy lang, walang ending!” (Just happy, no ending)

As Benjie worked on his plan to locate the bombs and defuse them by himself,

one of his friend who is also a member of the military, contacted General Chua for help.

As the timer of the bomb ticked, the troop of General Chua approached. Benjie

accidentally threw the briefcase containing the bomb to one of the soldiers. As the timer

strikes at the last two (2) minutes, Benjie demonstrated the catch phrase of ABS-CBN

mobile as he faces the camera, “The last two (2) minutes is brought to you by ABS-CBN

Mobile: happy lang, walang ending!”

The subject film made use and directly stated the company and/or the product it

offers. It mimicked how the company endorsed the product on television and during

television programs.
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Showtime Chant: What’s up madlang people?

As Jan Jaranjan knew that Bimbi was the son of General Chua, he thought of

taking the boy from the house. As the terrorists approached the house, they killed all the

bodyguards who surround it. Jan Jaranjan kidnapped Bimbi, Misty and Gundina and took

them to the mall where the last bomb is located. General Chua asked Benjie for help

because he did not know where the location of the last bomb is. Benjie then, gave Chua

the help that he needed. So, they all went to the mall. To make the people leave the mall,

Benjie thought of something that would make the process easy. He took the microphone

from a man and started reciting the chant of the local noon time show, It’s Showtime. He

talked through the microphone and shouted, What’s up madlang people? Mahal nyo ba

ang mga buhay n’yo? Pwes, may sasabog na bomba!” (What’s up, people? Do you love

your lives? Well, there will be a bomb exploding!) Everyone in the mall ran towards the

exit hastily.

Vice Ganda (Benjie) is one of the host of the mentioned noon time show. The

opening chant for the show which is What’s up madlang people is a part of the routine of

the show. It is to make sure that the audience enjoys the show and to maintain their

participation. However, in the subject film, the chant was used to inform the people that

there was a bomb inside the mall to make them leave abruptly.

2.3. Irony

The Narrow Opening for His Big Figure

At the airport scene, one of the friends of Benjie complained about the size of the

exit door of the private plane saying, “Ang sikip naman!” (The exit is too narrow) Then,

his other friends corrected him that it was not the door which was narrow, it was him who
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was just big, “Hindi masikip, Malaki ka lang”, (It is not narrow, you are just big). He

blamed what surrounded him but the truth is, it was his own figure which made it

difficult for him to exit.

Dicken asked for help to stop the spread of virus but he became the instrument

to further disseminate it.

The troop of Colonel Dickens asked for help from the troop of Benjie stop the

spreading virus in Europe which turns the infected person into a zombie. In the middle of

their conversation, Benjie wondered what these zombies look like. Facing his troops, he

asked them “Paano natin malalaman kung sino kalaban natin?” (How can we know who

are our enemies?) As he turn around, the troop of Colonel Dickens turned themselves into

zombies and ran after them. As Dickens asked for help to stop the spread of virus, he also

became an instrument to further disseminate it.

A Denied Offering

Inside the abandoned airport where the troop of Benjie was having an encounter

with many zombies, there was a time when his big friend does not have any other way to

escape and he willingly offered himself to be eaten instead, “Sige, kainin muna ‘ko nang

matapos na’to, sige na!”, (Go eat me to end this chase, go!) but the zombie refused to

have a bite of him because of his cholesterol, “No, I don’t want! Too much cholesterol,

it’s bad for my health.” When his fat friend was ready to be eaten by the zombie, it

refused to eat him because he was too fat.

Benjie Assumed To Be Part of the Mission

When the soldiers were about to attack the UTO-UTO after watching their video

message, Benjie assumed that his troops will also be a part of the mission to stop the
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terrorists since he has been awarded by the President upon saving Europe from the spread

of virus. Benjie executed his last mission successfully but Chua has blocked him from

accompanying them and ordered him to stay in the command center instead.

He Saved Everyone Except for His Grandfather

Despite of his desire to help everyone from the bomb explosion, the grandfather

of Benjie died. Though the bomb did not kill a lot of people, one of the most important

people to Benjie has been killed because of it.

Being a Bodyguard Despite Of His Big Accomplishments

From the first sequel of the film The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin (2013), the

accomplishments of the lead character, Benjie, is undeniable. He saved his country

through his own way but in the second sequel The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin (2014),

he ended up being a personal bodyguard. Despite of the award he has gotten and the

missions he has completed, Benjie as a Colonel, turned into a body guard.

Poured Alcohol in the Glass But Drank From the Bottle

Chua and Benjie were at the swimming pool while drinking alcohol. They both

exchanged their cheers in a drinking glass but Benjie drank from the alcohol bottle

instead of drinking the alcohol he poured in the glass. It is expected that Benjie will drink

from the glass because he poured the alcohol there but then he drank from the bottle.

Benjie poured alcohol Benjie and Chua toasted Benjiie drank from the
into the glass their glasses alcohol bottle
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Benjie Kissed the Son Instead Of the Father

Benjie asked something in return from Chua. It is for him to kiss Benjie before he

accompany them to the location of the last bomb. But, Benjie changed his decision and

told Chua to do it at the end of the film. When the soldiers won against the terrorist, Chua

attempted to kiss Benjie but Bimbi interrupted them by putting the magical umbrella at

the back of Benjie’s dress and they both started elevating. Instead of getting his kiss from

Chua, Benjie has gotten the kiss from Bimbi.

Benjie and Chua are Bimbi hooked the Benjie and Bimbi flew Benjie kissed Bimbi on
about to kiss each umbrella at the back using the flying his forehead
other of Benjie umbrella

2.4. Black Humor

Zombie on a diet

When the troop of Benjie arrived in France and they were chased by the zombies,

the fat soldier offered himself to a zombie to eat him but the zombie rejected him and the

zombie said to him, “No, too much cholesterol, bad for my health.” Usually, zombies do

not refuse to any flesh especially when the size is bigger than the usual; like in the TV

series The Walking Dead (2010) and the movie Warm Bodies (2013). The mentioned

scene depicted a zombie who became choosy on his food. In that manner, the film

illustrated how the matter of life and death was made hilarious.

It is okay to be late than being very, very late

Benjie was invited to the Malacañang Palace to receive an award. He arrived late

for the reason that he chose to go to the Birdie-Birdie Bar. After receiving his tokens, he
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was called by his grandfather and was confronted on being late and was asked the place

where he came from. Benjie laughed and said, “It’s better to be late than very very late.”

Given the fact that the president serves as the supreme ruler who leads the whole country,

he must be respected. But, Benjie came late and made the president wait for him. That

shows disrespect. But, instead of showing guilt on the confrontation of his grandfather, he

made his reply to him a joke.

An Unexpected Joke Out Of Chua’s Serious Facial Expression

Benjie was ordered by Chua to not join on the encounter with the UTO-UTO for

the reason that he does not know Jan Jarajan “Santos, stay in the Command Center, hindi

mo kilala si Jan Jarajan”, Santos, stay in the Command Center, you do not know Jan

Jaranjan). Pissed, he asked General Chua “Eh bakit ikaw ka-facebook mo?” (How about

you, are you friends on Facebook?) He answered “Hindi, pina-follow ko siya sa

Instagram”, (No, I follow him on Instagram). Benjie and Chua were currently facing a

terrorist attack but they made a joke out of their unknowingness of Jan Jaranjan, instead.

The Catch: Handsome Men vs. the “Not-so-handsomes”

Benjie is grieving for the death of his grandfather but he still chose the persons

whom will catch him upon falling. He rejected the not-so-handsome men and directed the

handsome ones to do the catch. During a funeral, the family of the dead is expected to be

sad and lamenting. But, Benjie acted silly during the funeral of his grandfather by faking

a fall and choosing who will catch him, ridiculing the not-so-handsomes.

The Pictures: Terrorists exchanged with Celebrities

Chua commanded his deputy to bring the pictures of the terrorists for them to be

familiar of who will be their targets. But, instead of getting the picture of the terrorists,
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Chua received pictures of celebrities which are collected by Benjie. The meeting was

supposed to be serious because they were talking about the terrorists in here; however,

the insertion of celebrity pictures changed the ambiance of the film to less-tensioned.

Hold your breath – Stop Breathing

Since Benjie is under the supervision of General Chua, his actions are also under

control. Benjie then asked, “pati paghinga?” (Even breathing?) Benjie took it seriously

and when General Chua received a phone call and said “Hold your breath,” Benjie did

held his breath. The conversation of the two is about the dismissal of Benjie from the

service. But, instead of compromising with General Chua, he made fun of himself by

taking what he has said seriously, wherein he stopped breathing.

Rivals into friends

At the time when Benjie and Jan Jaranjan first met, having both dysfunctional

weapons, they began to fight using their physical strengths. They exchanged boxes and

kicks as if they were dancing. But then, they just decided to be friends exchanged social

media accounts instead. Given what Benjie and Jan Jaranjan represents, they are not

supposed to befriend each other because they can’t comply with their demands. But,

given the way friendship was offered (through social media), it gave their rivalry humor.

Making Fun of Darla When He Was About To Die

When Benjie and General Chua was about to save Bimbi, they saw Darla lying on

the floor and is about to die. “Yan ba si Krissy?” (Is that Krissy?) Benjie asked. Chua

replied no. “Baka naman nalunod kaya bloated na si Krissy!” (Maybe Krissy’s drowned

that is why she is bloated) Benjie added. “Tumigil ka nga! Si Darla yan!” (Stop it! That is

Darla) Chua reiterated. While General Chua was asking Darla where is Bimbi, Benjie
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interfered saying, “Baka kinain nya si Bimbi kaya sya bloated!” (Maybe he ate Bimbi

that is why he is bloated!) The side comments of Benjie against Darla made the death

funny rather than emotional.

The use of Bagua

As Darla pointed where Bimbi was, they saw a group of lads wearing the same

outfits from head to toe. The troops were confused on distinguishing the real Bimbi so

Benjie thought of the bagua which is used the lead character of the film Feng Shui

(2004), who happens to be the mother of Bimbi in real life. The bagua was used in the

subject film to identify the real Bimbi in which their basis to find the real boy was

through scream.

The Incorporation of a Famous film line

As Chua, Bimbi and Benjie had an argument about parenting and respect, Benjie

mimicked the famous line from the film Madrasta (1996) which is, “Hindi mo lang s’ya

anak, anak ko din siya! No. I was never your partner! I’m just your wife!” (He is not just

your child, he is my child too! No. I was never your partner! I’m just your wife!) Chua

reacted with “Ngee, Sharon?” Their arguments were about serious problems which they,

themselves were encountering. By the insertion of the famous line, the scene became

comical for Benjie was not the wife of Chua and Bimbi was not their child, but he acted

as if he was.

The out-of-place Christmas tree

When Benjie has realized what he could do to fix the problem on the bomb threats

and keeping his promise to Bimbi, he decided to leave their house instantly. His mother

then asked him “Oh, san ka ba pupunta?” (Where are you going?) Then, Benjie
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answered, “Bibili po ng Christmas tree para may ka-partner naman itong si Snowman.

Tamang tama may Belen na,” (I will buy a Christmas tree to partner with the snowman.

Perfectly, there is already a “belen”) “at mga tupa” (…and sheep) his mother added.

“May kabayo na nga may tupa pa?” (We already have a horse, now even a sheep?) Benjie

confronted her. The connection between the solution he thought and the Christmas tree

was vague and odd. However, because of the ridiculous shift of ideas, the seriousness of

Benjie has vanished.

Deal or No Deal Act

When the second bomb was located, Benjie danced like one of the ladies who

hold a brief case in the TV Show Deal or No Deal. The bomb threat gave terror to the

people as well as the military. But, the way Benjie reacted to the found bomb was

inappropriate.

A TV Commercial before the Bomb Explosion

In the middle of an intense scene when the last minutes of the bomb is running

out, Benjie again incorporated a TV commercial before they expected the bomb to

explode, he recited the catch phrase of the advertisement of ABS-CBN mobile, “The last

2 minutes is brought to you by ABS CBN mobile, happy lang, walang ending!” They are

supposed to be terrified to lose their lives by this time but Benjie humored the situation.

“Utong” (Nipple) in association to the Heart

Benjie arrived late for the wedding anniversary of his parents. Due to this, his

parents became mad at him because he prioritized his missions more than his family.

When his father reminded him how he was before, he pointed unto Benjie’s chest, “ano
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ba ang nasa loob nito?’ (What is inside this (pointing to his shirt)?) Benjie then answered,

“Utong”, (nipple).

The father of Benjie was actually giving him an advice to ponder, but, it turned

out that Benjie took it as another joke to make.

A Chant to Make the People Leave

As they all arrived in the mall where the last bomb is located, Benjie, Chua, and

the military problematize the presence of a huge crowd. Benjie, then, thought of an idea

to make the people leave; that is, in the form of a chant from the noontime TV show, It’s

Showtime. Benjie has announced “What’s up madlang people! Mahal nyo ba ang mga

buhay n’yo? Pwes, may sasabog na bomba!” (What’s up, people? Do you love your

lives? Well, there will be a bomb exploding!) The people exited the mall hastily

afterwards. The solution made by Benjie has been effective; however it was odd, given

the situation.

The Disguise

Benjie brought Bimbi to the mall for the fulfillment of his promise to the child. To

disguise themselves, they dressed up into the characters of Miss Minchin and Sarah,

notable characters from the local film, Sarah Ang Munting Prinsesa (1995). The disguise

went good and they continued to roam in the mall. When Benjie saw a free-taste of

peperoni, he took two (2) pieces and put them into the cheeks of Gundina. He, then,

identified Gundina as Loti, another character from the said local film. When he has saw a

guard along the way, Benjie took his arm and claimed that they were already complete.

There was Miss Minchin, Sarah, Loti, and Emengard. This scene illustrates how Benjie
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needed to secure the safety of Bimbi. However, it became humorous because of the added

characters.

2.5. Faction

Philippines: Blasts kill 14

The bombings in General Santos City - some 215 miles from where U.S. forces

were holding counter terrorism exercises with their Filipino counterparts - were the

bloodiest in the mainly Christian country since suspected Muslim extremists killed 14

and wounded over 100 in a wave of bombings in the capital Manila in December 2000.

Police had blamed last year's attacks on Muslim guerrillas fighting for an Islamic

state in the south of the country. In Sunday's attacks, a home-made bomb left in a parked

pedicab exploded as shoppers waited for rides home outside a shopping mall. Ten

minutes later, another bomb thrown by unidentified attackers exploded near a residential

compound. The police suspected the bomb-throwers had also planted the first bomb. A

man who said he represented the Muslim Abu Sayyaf guerrilla group, which operates in

the country's south and is linked by the United States to Saudi-born militant Osama bin

Laden's al Qaeda network, called local RMN radio and claimed responsibility for the

blasts.

The subject film displays notable similarities from this attack in the year 2000. (1)

There was the presence of bomb as the instrument of terror, (2) a group of terrorists

which planted the said bomb, and (3) the motivation was to own a specific place, a state

of their own.

The main conflict on the subject film was the explosion of the bombs which were

planted by the terrorists’ organization UTO – UTO headed by Jan Jaranjan. The film
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itself revolved on the search for the locations of the bomb and stopping them from

exploding. The main motivation of the UTO – UTO is to have some notable places in the

country namely: Baguio, Batanes, Boracay, and Palawan. Although both the incident and

the film have the elements of terrorism, the incident involved many terrorist groups both

local and international. Furthermore, the bombs on the incidents were planted by different

groups whereas in the film, only the group of Jan Jaranjan has found responsible for the

bombs.

Terrorist Bombs in the Philippines

Two bombs exploded in separate shopping centers in the Filipino city of

Zamboanga, on the island of Mindanao, on Thursday, killing six people outright and

injuring 143, 20 of whom are in critical condition. Islamic fundamentalist groups are

suspected of being behind these attacks.

This was the third bomb attack in the country this month. On the 2 nd day of

October year 2002, three people were killed in an attack attributed to the terrorist

organizations Abu Sayyaf and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. On the 10 th day of

October, a larger explosion killed eight people. Now the Filipino government has added

the Jemaah Islamyah group to its list of suspects, after the bomb which killed nearly 200

people in Bali last weekend. 

This group fights for a united Islamic state which includes the territory of

Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the Sultanate of Brunei and the southern Philippines. 

Similarly, the news also presented three (3) similarities with the subject film: (1)

there is an existing terrorist group. However, there is only one group of terrorist in the

subject film which is the UTO – UTO. The article presented three (3) different groups
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who are suspected to be responsible for the bomb attacks (Abu Sayyaf, Moro Islamic

Liberation Front, Jemaah Islamyah; (2) their motivation is to have territories. Compared

to the terrorists in the subject film, the real attack demands for a larger scope of

territories. They want the whole countries to conquer and; (3) the presence of the bombs

as the instruments of terror. The subject film and the article has mentioned three (3)

bombs as to how many bombs will explode.

2.6. Maximalism

Bonjour as Bunggo (Crash)

In the beginning of the story, Colonel Benjamin Santos (Benjie) and his troop

landed in France to help the troop of Colonel Charles Dickins about the spread of virus in

Europe. Benjie greeted them “Bonjour” (good day in French) and one of his friends asked

“Anong Bonjour?” Instead of translating the word, Benjie adopted the sound of

“Bonjour” as a substitute word for “Bunggo” (Filipino word for crash); he then added

“Yung bata na-bonjour!” There is no direct connection between the words “bonjour” and

“bunggo.” The response of Benjie to the question of his friend is not related to the actual

meaning of the word which he has used.

Unconnected pictures of celebrities

Chua commanded his subordinates to bring the envelope of pictures of the

terrorists, but he received pictures of celebrities which are collections of Benjie, but Chua

is referring to the actual pictures of the terrorists. It is on the second try when he received

the pictures he has been looking for. The scene took so long just for Chua to gather the

pictures from his subordinate. The pictures of the celebrities were not connected to the
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meeting of the military about the terrorists; moreover, Benjie was not included in that

particular scene, making it unrelated to other elements.

The inclusion of the father of Kokey

While Benjie is being interviewed, he was asked by one of the reporters if the

Philippines is ready for the threat brought by terrorism “Handa naba ang Pilipinas sa mga

banta raw ng terorismo?” (Is the Philippines ready for the threats of terrorism). He

answered that their troops are ready to fight the UTO-UTO “Handang-handa ang buong

sandatahan para sa mga paglusob ng mga teroristang ‘yan; at inihanda ko talaga at trinain

ang mga sundalong ito para sa mga UTO-UTO. Handa silang lahat” (The army is

prepared for the terrorist attacks; and I trained them for these UTO-UTO. They are all

ready). He, then, asked a question if that reporter is also ready to admit that he is the

father of Kokey “Ikaw, handa kana bang aminin na ikaw ang ama ni Kokey?” (How about

you, are you ready to admit that you are the father of Kokey?). Kokey is a fictional

character in a television show with the same title, who is an alien and talks odd. The

question that Benjie has given to the reporter is not connected with the topic they are

talking about.

Misused Word: Gadget

When Benjie insisted to join the encounter of the troop with the UTO-UTO, he

was caught by General Chua and asked why he was there when he was told to stay at the

command center. Benjie explained that they are there to help and said that they brought

gadgets with them (pointing to their magical weapons). The word gadget does not fit to

the object which he was pointing at for it describes something that is run by electricity

and is concerned with technology. According to Merriam-Webster, a gadget is a small

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mechanical or electronic device with a practical use. Given to that observation, his usage

of the term gadget is unnecessary.

The Dance

At the time when Benjie and Jan Jaranjan had their first encounter, both of them

are having dysfunctional weapons, they began to fight using their physical strengths.

While doing that, they danced while exchanging punches and kicks. The scene that was

described in the film requires an intense anger but the both parties danced which depicts

happiness. Given to that, the scene became emotionally disconnected for the reason that a

fight describes the use of weapons or physical force to try to hurt someone, to defeat an

enemy and to argue in an angry way (Merriam-Webster).

Asking Social Media Accounts Despite of Being Enemies

After they fought and get tired of fighting, Benjie asked him if they could just be

friends and asked his social media accounts to follow him (Instagram and Twitter) “Hindi

ba pwedeng magkaibigan nalang tayo? Anong Twitter mo tsaka Instagram? Follow kita”

(Why cannot we become friends? What is your Twitter and Instagram? I will follow

you.) Jan Jaranjan then replied to him and gave his account with the same username

“Pareho lang @janjaran_jan lang” (They are the same, @janjaran_jan only). Benjie and

Jan Jaranjan are supposed to fight against each other because they are rivals.

They Could Actually Run, but They Did Not

In the scene where Jan Jaranjan gave the briefcase to Benjie as a token of their

friendship, Benjie did not know that the case contains a bomb which is in time for

explosion. The grandfather of Benjie saw him with the bomb and told him to go with him

for there is no way to stop that bomb from exploding. Benjie listened to him and they
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have decided to use the flying umbrella. Instead of running away from the bomb, they

used the weapon which slowly works and can only carry one person at a time. His

grandfather died to save the life of Benjie. They actually have the chance and the time to

run but they did not. This triggered the conflicts between and among characters which

prolonged the film.

The Judgment between Handsome and Not-so-handsome Men

When Benjie cried in front of the coffin of his grandfather, he cried until he

fainted consciously. He was caught by an ugly guy and he got back to stand and criticized

him “Ang panget mo” (You are ugly!). Then he called the good looking guys seated in

front and signaled them to catch him while he resume his fainting. The scene became

odd when Benjie chose the good looking guys to catch him fainting for the reason that the

ugly and good looking guys have no connection to who could help who.

The Usage of Bagua

Benjie and Wilson came to look for Bimbi being hostaged by the UTO-UTO

Gang. At the time where they found the group of lads in the area, through the help of

Darla, they got confused for the reason that they all dressed the same – same shirt, same

shorts and with the same eyeglasses. So in order to identify Bimbi, Benjie used a bagua to

know the real son of Chua among them. As Benjie presented the bagua to the lads, Bimbi

shouted upon seeing it. The idea of bagua being the instrument to identify Bimbi among

other boys is not connected to the plot and even to the characterization of any character.

Exaggeration of Gundina

General Chua and Bimbi arrived at their house. Their maid, Gundina, greeted

them. When he heard General Chua introducing Bimbi as his son, he acted like a wife,
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asking General Chua to explain about the mother of Bimbi “Kalian pa ha? Sino s’ya?

Maganda ba s’ya? Mas bata? Sino s’ya? Sagot! Sagot na!” (Who is she? Is she more

beautiful? Younger? Who is she? Answer. Answer me!) General Chua, then, reminded

Gundina that she was just a maid “Gundina, papaalala ko lang sa’yo, kasambahay ka lang

ditto, ‘di kita asawa” (Gundinan, let me just remind you, you are just a maid here, you are

not my wife). Gundina was just a maid and has no direct relation to Chua but she acted as

if she was her wife.

Gundina: Her figure vs. Her Capabilities

When Benjie was being introduced to the household of Chua, he met Gundina, the

mayor do ma ( of the house. Benjie acted surprisingly when he saw Gundina talking and

teased her by asking if she is still alive “Buhay ka pa ba?” (Are you still alive?) Benjie

underestimated the capability of Gundina as the mayor do ma of the house given her

figure. There was no relation between the figure of Gundina and her ability to work.

The Trick

Bimbi tricked Benjie and said that the map of the location of the bomb is inside

the chicken which they were eating. Bimbi added in Chinese Way ’a Tzu wherein Benjie

interpreted it as Bimbi wants his friend to leave because of the sound of Tzu similar to

shooo – a term used when repeatedly moving your hand away from you in a short motion

with your fingers down to tell an animal or person to leave (Merriam-Webster). Big Boy

took his turn to interpret what Bimbi has said, he associated Tzu into an English word

chew. Benjie questioned the interpretation given by Benjie’s and associated Tzu to a

person, an actress specifically which is Kim Chiu. Chiu is known to have a skinny body
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type and Benjie told Big Boy that Kim Chiu does not eat. All they were associating to

what Bimbi has said have no association with each other.

Asking the Question Directly

Benjie and his close friends among his troop are having a “knock-knock” game

about the word bomb. Gundina interrupted and suggested that they could ask Bimbi

directly where the location of the bombs is “Bakit hindi nalang ganito, bakit hindi n’yo

nalang tanungin sa bata: Where is the bomb?” (Why not try this way, why not ask the

child: Where is the bomb?) The scene then prolonged the search for the location of the

bomb despite of the fact that they could always ask Bimbi directly.

The Exaggeration of Benjie’s Sister on His Absence

The family of Benjie is about to eat dinner when they remembered him not being

present to eat with them. Her sisters got carried away and talked about the good deeds of

his brother, somewhat like a eulogy “Sana magkasama na sila ni lolo. Sana pareho na

silang nasa langit. Kahit na sabi nila diba, bawal umakyat ang bakla sa langit?” (I hope he

is with grandfather now. I hope they are both in heaven, even though they say that

homosexuals are not permitted there.) Her mother corrected her and confronted her that

her brother was not yet dead and that he was just away for dinner. Given that the emotion

of her sister exceeded from their topic resulting her to utter those words, the scene

became emotionally disconnected.

Inappropriate Application of Famous Film Line

It started when Chua forced Bimbi to tell where the bombs are; then Benjie came

in and rescued Bimbi from him; Bimbi then shouted at Benjie for saying “hoy” (hey) to

Chua because he is a general; Benjie then scolded Bimbi for being hard-headed and
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having no respect to his father. The scene then, resumed with Chua commanding Benjie

not to say those words to Bimbi because he is his son. Benjie interrupted him and said

that he is also his son and continued reciting the lines of Sharon Cuneta on the film

Madrasta (1996) – “I was never your partner, I’m just your wife”; and the commercial “I

lab-uyo!” From Lucky Me Spicy Beef commercial. In the middle of the argument, the

seriousness has been broken by the line and the advertisement he inserted.

Inappropriate Application of Action

When Chua napped while drinking with Benjie, Benjie started to sing the song

Please be careful with my heart which is the theme song of a teleserye with the same

title. He also attempted to kiss Chua acting like the female lead character in the said TV

show. Given that Chua was also the lead character in that show, the scene became

rumbled with the characterization that Benjie and Chua portrayed.

The Inclusion of Mommy Divine

At the mall where Benjie and Bimbi disguised themselves as Miss Minchin and

Sarah (characters from the film Sarah ang Munting Prinsesa), Gundina asked Benjie if

Bimbi was Sarah, and Benjie was Miss Minchin; but Benjie answered her no, and said

she is Mommy Divine, the mother of Sarah Geronimo (a local singer in the country). The

story again became confusing for the reason that it is obvious that he is dressed like Miss

Minchin but he considered himself as the mother of Sarah the singer, and not Sarah from

the film.

The Prolonging of the Film itself

When Gundina bugged Benjie to ask where the bomb is, “Tanungin mo na kung

nas’an yung bomba, Benjie.” (Ask him where the bomb is, Benjie) Benjie then asked her
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why she is in a hurry, if he will do that, the story will end fast; “Bakit ka kasi

nagmamadali kapag sinabi n’ya edi tapos na yung pelikula?” (Why are you in hurry? If

he would tell it, the film will end.) This shows that the film could have been ended in a

shorter length of time but it was prolonged.

The Christmas tree

When Benjie has already figured out what he could do with the bomb, he decided

to leave their house abruptly. As he walked, his mother asked “Oh, san ka ba pupunta?.”

(Where are you going?) Then he answered that he will buy a Christmas tree for his friend

who looks like a snowman, “Bibili po ng Christmas tree para may ka-partner naman itong

si Snowman” (I will buy a Christmas tree to compliment this snowman). There is no

occasion which needs a Christmas tree in the story though Benjie familiarized the

appearance of his friend to that of snowman, the injection of Christmas tree and the

snowman was out-of-place since they were talking about where Benjie was heading to,

and that is to locate the bomb himself.

The Deal or No Deal Dance

The second bomb was located and was place inside a briefcase, Benjie danced

like one of the ladies who hold briefcases in the TV Show Deal or No Deal. The

incorporation of the dance from the said TV sow has nothing to do with the detonation of

the bomb.

Benjie as he danced like the ladies from Deal or No Deal

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The Advertisement

In the middle of an intense emotion where the timer of the bomb has only two

minutes left before it explodes, Benjie mimicked the advertisement of ABS-CBN Mobile

“The last two (2) minutes is brought to you by ABS CBN mobile: happy lang, walang

ending!” (Just happy: no ending!). They were supposed to be frightened at this point of

time but Benjie still managed to recite the lines from the said advertisement.

Inappropriate Wardrobe

Benjie wore his military outfit differently on their last encounter with UTO –

UTO (without pants and with gloves). In situations like that, proper gearing is necessary

during encounter, as showed of the Military is considered to be the pride of their so it

should be worn properly (Army.mil.ph). The outfit worn by Benjie is inappropriately

worn given that is he is still a part of the Military and is obliged to follow its set orders;

thus, making the story disordered.

The oufit of Benjie on their last encounter with the UTO-UTO Gang

Standardized gearing of the Military during encounter

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Gundina: Like a Boss

Gundina acted like someone superior to Jan Jaranjan when Bimbi enlightened her

that despite of telling Jan Jaranjan the location of the last bomb, he would still kill them.

Gundina shouted at Jan Jaranan who is supposed to be the man in control, being the

terrorist. Instead, he acted like someone who is very afraid to tell the truth.

The easy-find location of the last bomb

At the time when Bimbi and Benjie are in search for the last bomb in the mall,

they found a hole in the ceiling of the mall. Benjie reacted and complained about the film

being long when in fact; the bomb is just on the ceiling, “Ang haba-haba ng movie

andyan lang pala yung bomba!” (The film took so long, yet the bomb was just there!) If

that bomb was found earlier, the story will end shortly.

2.7. Magic Realism

Incorporating Plants to kill zombies instantly

The first action scene in the film was an encounter between the zombies and the

troop of Benjie. This showed an incorporation of the video game, Plants VS. Zombies.

Benjie and his troop planted seeds that grew as plants and have special powers that kill

the zombies. In reality, there is no such thing as plants that throw magic seeds to kill the

zombies. There are no zombies as well that has been known.

The weapons

In the first sequel, The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin, the characters made use

of fans with ammos as well as headbands with missiles. They also made used of an

umbrella which they use to fly. These are the weapons used by Benjie and his troop on

their missions. These were made by the father of Benjie who is an inventor.
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A formula to imitate the physical features of a person

The parents of Benjie have turned themselves into somebody else, specifically,

his mother into Angel Locsin and his father to Luis Manzano (local celebrity couple).

What has made them transform was the formula which his father has made. Benjie also

used the formula to transform himself into Krissy. Unfortunately, he was unable to get

information from Bimbi.

3. Implications of the study on the use of Postmodern Literary Theory.

3.1. The study of postmodern literary theory is not limited to those films which

are highly magical and fairytale-like.

Although the main character of the subject film is a gay, the theory of gay, lesbian

and queer was not used. Instead, the study revealed the postmodern aspect of the film and

maximizes the characteristics and ideas which the Postmodern Literary Theory offers.

3.2. Postmodern Literary theory is no just an answer to the questions and

possibilities brought by Modernism.

Postmodernism exemplifies the strong bond between language and literature by

exposing the “small realities” within the situations of the notable characters, whether it is

on their personalities, how they view the world, and/or how they interact with the world.

Postmodernism exposes the status quo of the country in where the literature was made

and put it into the plot. It illustrates the societal problems by giving each character a

problem to solve. The study of postmodernism tackles everything that all literary theories

may tackle.
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3.3. The study of postmodernism is a great help to promote literary appreciation

towards local literature.

Oftentimes, Philippine literature, specifically films, is set aside compared to those

of the international films. One reason is because there are few researchers who study

local literature, thus, the essence of the local films were not being highlighted. Same with

the use of the theory postmodernism; because it is wide and hard to understand, few

researchers use it as their tool of interpretation. Given these circumstances, this study

which made use of the theory postmodernism and a local film as its subject, will

accentuate the local films and the said theory

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Chapter 5

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter presents the summary of findings, conclusions and recommendations

based on the findings.

This study aimed to analyze the film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin (2014)

using the Theory of postmodernism. Specifically, it sought to describe the film The

Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin (2014) by applying the central ideas of postmodernism:

Language as Reality, Questioning Universal Truth and Power Struggle; To determine the

characteristics of postmodernism found in the movie: Pastiche, Intertextuality, Irony;,

Black humor, Faction, Maximalism and Magic realism; and To determine the

implications of the study on the use of Postmodern Literary Theory. Furthermore, the

study employed a descriptive method and a qualitative approach.

Summary of Findings

1. To describe the film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin (2014) by applying the

central ideas of postmodernism.

1.1. Language as Reality;

1.2. Questioning Universal Truth; and

1.3. Power Struggle

1.1. Language as reality

Although the film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin used Filipino language as its

medium of communication, the researchers focused on the usage of the English language

on the dialogues of the notable characters, their gestures, and their object use and how

these reflect their personalities and attitude towards other characters and towards life.
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Colonel Benjamin Santos (Benjie)

The Pink Plane. Given the time period in which the subject film was created,

color pink has already been associated by the society to femininity.  As to the nature of

the job of the military, having such color will only expose them to the public which also

connotes the exposure of homosexuality to the society. This indicates that Benjie is

confident enough with his gender preference as well as being a member of the military.

The use of bonjour (good day) in exchange for the term bunggo (crash) is a way for the

lead character to make his situation subtler and lighter to make it easier for him to solve

the problems at hand. As Benjie welcomes Colonel Dickens in his life, it exposes how

Benjie is a person, who is a homosexual enticed by the looks of Dickens. The

exaggerated gestures, on the other hand, reflects Benjie being a dancer and how well he

could express himself through words as well as his body movements. As he congratulates

himself, it only shows how he disregard the help of others on his successes, not even the

help of his father. However, there are instances where he shows how he prioritizes his

family for they are the first to accept him more than the society. Even the recognition of

the president was rejected by Benjie wherein he came late to the actual event and asked

the president of his last words to close the program. This just shows how Benjie

dismisses the people whom disgraced him in the start of his career. As the representation

of the people, the president has been the subject of the revenge. Benjie has been doing

everything for his grandfather right from the start, but then, as he rises up, Benjie also

learned to disregard his grandfather as his grandfather confronted him for being late. As a

member of the military, Benjie was supposed to follow the orders of his seniors as a sign

of respect. However, he accepted the orders with irritation because he does not want to
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step back, he wants to continue his step forward. The way Benjie approached Bimbi,

nonetheless, shows how he could relate to other people using different languages. Even

the shift from Chucky to Chuckie has been effective to build rapport with Bimbi. Also,

the use of ligtas (save) and talo (defeat) has been an excellent substitute to connect to

Bimbi as a minor. Despite of his resistance to General Chua, the father of Bimbi, Benjie

still built a trusting image of Chua to Bimbi because Benjie wants to save the Philippines

from the bomb threats disregarding his personal issues and illustrating how he was loved

by his father and grandfather. As he encounters Jan Jaranjan and has been approached

with a “hey, bakla”, Benjie has been insulted not by the word bakla (gay) but by the word

“hey” because he was proud enough to be a gay but he is unhappy because he was still a

member of the military and Jan Jaranjan did not recognize that.

General Wilson Chua

Being a commander of the military, Chua is used to giving exact orders. As a

leader, Chua is characterized as serious and firm. Given to this, Benjie has thought that

what Chua meant should strictly be imposed, thus, taking it seriously. Also, Chua has

been used to setting the rules and be followed. As he has been disregarded by the

president and Benjie, he felt insulted and disrespected. Being the commander, he wants

everyone to follow his orders. He felt that the authority must be felt and that Benjie

should remember the hierarchy.

Bimbi

The dialogues of Bimbi reflected his generation (generation Z) wherein he is

highly influenced by mass media, given the era where he belongs. He is exposed to the

shows where gays are associated with horses. Also, Bimbi displayed how he trusted his
 99

mother, alone. Despite of Chua being his father, given that he grew up with his mother

alone, he does not see Chua or anyone else as somebody to be trusted and that the only he

could express his anger towards his father is only through words.

Gundina

The dialogues of Gundina reveals her level of education and her secret love to

General where in some scenes, she acted as if the wife of the general. Her dialogues, “Hi,

yaya. Yaya!” indicates how she accepted her position in the house. Her incorrect

pronunciation the the word “bomb” as well as her reconsideration of the word “good

luck” as a single word illustrates that she is undereducated but she tries to fit in in the

situations which concern the Chuas. However, in an instance, she uses her position as the

caretaker of the children of the general wherein she confronted the general for having

little time with his children. This shows how Gundina wanted to fix the problem within

the family but it turned out worst because she was fired for nagging too much.

Jan Jaranjan

Jan Jaranjan is the leader of the terrorist organization, UTO – UTO. Physically,

his body type is not of a dancer, for his built is intact and muscular. There were also

instances in the film wherein his fondness of working out was shown. Though, there were

scenes where Jan Jaranjan danced with Benjie (on their first encounter), it was not a

direct way of dancing, they were somehow dancing but they were moving to fight. Jan

Jaranjan branded himself as Jhong Hilarious because he considered dancing as hilarious.

He does not see himself as a dancer because he is not interested in such. Even as a

terrorist, Jan Jaranjan carries a dog rather than a gun during the hostage-taking and let his
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men do the shooting. This shows how Jan Jaranjan just want to have the four (4) notable

places and he does not want to hurt anyone by himself.

1.2. Questioning Universal Truth

Questioning of Universal Truth refers to the explanations of truth which are

actually attempts to define the situation in ways that are to one’s benefit. This idea

questions the standards which are practiced by most people but are broken by the

characters in the story. Instances of this ideas are evident which are as follows:

Benjie

Though Benjie is a gay, who are known to act like women, he still joined the

military which is known to require strong physical abilities to the aspiring soldiers. In the

military, it is a must to follow the orders especially of the seniors. But in the case of

Benjie and Chua, he always disobeys the rules of the general and does his own will.

Instances of Benjie disobeying Chua includes: the first encounter with the UTO-UTO,

refusing to be the body guard of Bimbi, and not telling where the bombs are located

despite of knowing. Benjie and Jan Jaranjan were also questioned on their friendship

offering after hurting each other on a fight.

Chua

In the Philippine context, family comes first above all things. But to Chua, his

responsibility to his family especially as a father of Bimbi, is not evident in the film since

he always prioritizes his profession. Evidences of this instance is when Krissy called him

for help and at their conversation, reminisce their past where Chua left them for his

profession too; and Chua hurting Bimbi to tell him the locations of the bombs.

Gundina
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Gundina being the maid exceeds her limitations when she acted like the wife of

Chua and the mother of his children. Maids are known to follow the orders of their

bosses. But in the case of Gundina, she broke the standard of the assumptions of what

maids are. Instances of the said idea include demanding Chua to explain about Bimbi and

questioning his parenting.

Gundina as a hostage of Jan Jaranjan also broke the assumption of hostages being afraid

to their abductors. When she knew that Jan Jaranjan is lying, she walked in front of him

and demanded him to explain the truth.

Jan Jaranjan

The attributes of the UTO-UTO broke the standards of the terrorists who are

perceived as harmful. Jan Jaranjan being one of them was the perfect epitome of this

idea. Their troop does not look like gangsters. Instead, they maintain their looks through

workouts. Also, when Jan Jaranjan abducted the children of Chua and Gundina wherein

Gundina nagged at him for not telling the truth about killing them despite of Bimbi

telling him where the bomb is.

1.3. Power Struggle

Power Struggle refers to the search for our own position in a society, seeking

social validation for our views and behaviors. All our notions of what is “proper,”

“universal,” “natural,” or “true” are really interpretations that we are seeking to convince

ourselves and others are absolute—all to earn or maintain our power, position, and

privilege. The film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin (2014) found evidences of this idea

to lead characters of the said film.

Philippine Army vs. UTO-UTO Gang (Benjie vs. Jan Jaranjan)

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The Philippine Army and the UTO-UTO have their own dispositions and goals.

Because of these differences, the groups fought against each other to defend their

principles and wants. One (Philippine Army) protects the country from harm, and the

other (UTO-UTO) brings harm to the country. Their fight revolved around the search for

the bombs.

Benjie vs. Chua

The disobedience of Benjie towards Chua is evident in the film resulting them to

fight most of the time. One of these instances was when Chua ordered Benjie to stay at

the command center but Benjie did not follow the order of Chua and still continued to

participate in the encounter with the UTO-UTO. Another was when they argued about

Chua forcing Bimbi to tell him where the bombs are located and Benjie stopped him.

Lastly, when they both fought verbally in terms of disciplining Bimbi and the way Chua

treats his son.

Benjie vs. Bimbi

Evidences of Benjie and Bimbi fighting because of their beliefs are also visible in

the film. These were shown when Benjie got impatient with Bimbi and forced him to tell

where the bombs are.

Benjie vs. Gundina

Arguments of Gundina and Benjie in different scenes are highly manifested. First

is when Gundina interrupted the troop of Benjie on their guessing game about the word

bomb and suggested to directly ask Bimbi where the locations of the bombs are. Benjie,

being irritated, corrected Gundina on her pronunciation. Another is when Benjie pushed

away Gundina because she is interrupting his talk with Bimbi. Gundina insisted to stay
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but Benjie did not grant her. Lastly, when they are out to take Bimbi to the mall and

Gundina kept on reminding Benjie the status of the security of Bimbi since there were a

lot of people there; Benjie then said to her that he knows what he is doing.

Chua vs. Gundina

The conflict between Gundina and Chua were all about Chua having another child

and how Chua is as a father. Since Gundina is the caretaker of the household, she cares

about the children of Chua and that made her argue with him. Also, she secretly “likes”

Chua, thus, leading to confrontations about the relationship of the general.

2. Determine the characteristics of postmodernism found in the film

2.1 Pastiche;

2.2 Intertextuality;

2.3 Irony;

2.4 Black humor;

2.5 Faction;

2.6 Maximalism; and

2.7 Magic realism

2.1. Pastiche

Pastiche refers to an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work,

artist, or period. The film pasted the elements of the setting and plot (conflict) of the

international film Warm Bodies 2013 where the lead character, who is a zombie, lived in

an abandoned airport together with the other infected zombies in their region. The game
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Plants VS. Zombies was also acknowledged in the film. The elements of plants fighting

against the zombies are adopted by the subject film from the video game. The subject

film adopted the characteristics of plants as the protector and zombies as the conquerors.

Another is the teleserye Please Be Careful with My Heart wherein the subject film pasted

the characters of the teleserye and re-conceptualized a whole new characterization of the

lead characters especially the concept of the maid which turned out to be a cosplayer

dressed in a maid costume. Also, the theme song of the said teleserye was used in the

subject film. However the lead character sang the song himself rather than using it as a

background music. The use of the bagua and the scream acknowledges another local

horror film – Feng Shui. The subject film adopted the horrifying effect done by the bagua

to anyone who sees it but did not highlight its horrifying effect. The use of a briefcase

and a dance number also indicated the presence of a TV game show, Deal or No Deal.

However, it was to present a bomb and not an amount of money.

2.2. Intertextuality

Intertextuality refers to the literal and effective presence in a text of another text.

Benjie and Bimby mimicked the images portrayed by the characters of Miss Minchin and

Sarah. Benjie even mentioned the lines of Miss Minchin ...ikukulong kita sa chimineya...

not to Sarah but to Gundina. These characters are from the film, Sarah ang Munting

Prinsesa. Another was when Benjie brought out his sentiments, he arrived to the famous

line of Sharon Cuneta in her film, Madrasta (1996), “I was never your partner. I’m just

your wife.” Benjie also recited the famous catch phrase of the endorsement of Sharon

Cuneta, I Lab-uyo! (Lucky Me Spicy Beef.) In one scene, as the timer strike at its last two

(2) minutes, Benjie demonstrated the catch phrase of ABS-CBN mobile as he faces the
 105

camera, The last two (2) minutes is brought to you by ABS-CBN Mobile: happy lang,

walang ending! The subject film made use and directly state the company and/or the

product it offers. Another was the opening chant for the TV show Its Showtime which is

“What’s up madlang people!” which is the exact chant used by the hosts of the show.

2.3. Irony

Irony refers to a situation in which something which was intended to have a

particular result has the opposite or a very different result. Instances of this characteristic

are found in some scenes in the film. (1) When the friend of Benjie at getting down from

the plane and complaining about the plane being tight wherein it was actually his body

which made the path tight. (2) Another is when Colonel Dickens who asked for help to

stop the spread of virus but he was already infected. (3) Then, a zombie rejected the offer

of one of the members of the troop of Benjie for the reason that he has too much

cholesterol content. (4) Also, Benjie assumed to be a part of the first encounter with Chua

but he was stopped by Chua. (5) When Benjie saved everyone from the bomb but lost his

grandfather. (6) Despite of the accomplishments of Benjie, he was ordered to be a

personal bodyguard of a child. (6) Then, Benjie was having a drink with Chua, poured his

glass with alcohol but drank from the bottle. (7) Also, at the last encounter of Benjie with

Jan Jaranjan, he was belittled because of being gay, who are known to be weak, but at the

end, Benjie defeated him. (8) Lastly, the favor of Benjie to Chua to kiss him on the lips

which did not happen bacause of the interruption of Bimbi and at the end, Benjie kissed

Bimbi, instead.

2.4. Black Humor

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Black Humor refers to a writing technique that juxtaposes morbid or ghastly

elements with comical ones that underscore the senselessness or futility of life. Instances

of the said characteristic are evident in some of the scenes in the film. (1) First is the life

and death situation which was made hilarious when the zombie in France refused to eat

one of the members of the troop because of his obesity. Another is when Benjie was

given a special award in the Malacañang Palace but was late and made his response

hilarious. (2) Also, when Benjie and Chua made fun of their conversation about the

terrorists that Chua follow these people on social media. Then, at the funeral of the

grandfather of Benjie, Benjie chose the handsome guys and over the not-so-handsome

guys to catch him of his fall. (3) The meeting about the terrorist attack was destructed

because of the mistaken pictures of famous celebrities who were assumed to be the

terrorists. (4) Then, General Chua supervised Benjie where his actions were controlled.

But, Benjie took it seriously and stopped breathing when Chua told him to hold his

breath. (5) Also, while Benjie and Jan Jaranjan were fighting physically; they fought as

if dancing which made it humorous. (6) Another is when Darla was about to die but

Benjie made fun of him about being bloated because he ate Bimbi. (7) The bagua was

also incorporated in the film to identify the true Bimbi wherein the basis was through his

scream. (8) Lastly, instances of incorporating different shows and commercials in some

serious matter in the film humorized the scenes. These includes, the line of Sharon

Cuneta in the film Madrasta, Deal or no Deal, the commercial about the ABS-CBN

Mobile and the Sarah, Ang Munting Prinsesa where Benjie and Bimbi disguised as the

characters in the said film just to protect the identity of Bimbi.

2.5. Faction
 107

The subject film displays notable similarities from the attacks in the year 2000

and 2002. (1) The presence of bomb as the instrument of terror, (2) group of terrorists

which planted the said bomb/s, and (3) the motivation was to own a specific place, a state

of their own. These similarities are evident on the two (2) bomb incidents that has

happened in the country. However, there are differences with the quantity of bombs, the

number of groups involved in the bombing, as well as the scope of the territories they

demanded from the government.

2.6. Maximalism

Maximalism is described as a characteristic of postmodernism which is described

as disorganized, sprawling, overly long, and emotionally disconnected. The film

manifested the evidence of maximalism being described as disorganized (1) when Benjie

used the Filipino word bunggo as a replacement to the French language Bonjour. (2)

Benjie also asked the reporter if he is the father of Kokey based from his tone of voice.

(3) Then Benjie used the word gadget though it is inappropriate to be used. (4) Benjie

also discriminated the not-so-handsome guys over the hadsome guys. (5) Then, the

unrelated usage of Bagua in their encounter in determining the true Bimbi. (6) Benjie also

based the capability of Gundina based from her physical figure. (7) When Benjie acted

like the lead female character in the TV show Please Be Careful With My Heart

attempting to kiss Chua who is also the lead male character in that TV show making the

story rumbled for their characters in the film are different from the said TV show. (8)

Another instance of disorganization is when Benjie obviously denied the answer to

Gundina that he is Miss Minchin. (9) Then, Benjie is about to go to locate the bombs but

he told his mother that he will be buying a Christmas tree to pair his snowman friend.
 108

(10) Lastly, Benjie wore an inappropriate dress code which is not properly geared on

their encounter to the terrorists. The other characteristic of Maximalism being evident in

the film is the emotional disconnection of action of the characters in the film. (11) One of

these is the dance of Benjie and Jan Jaranjan while they are angry with each other

exchanging their punches and kicks. (10) Benjie and Jan Jaranjan also exchanged their

social media accounts though enemies. (11) Gundina also performed an emotional

disconnection to Chua when he introduced Bimbi as his son where she acted like a wife

asking Chua for an explanation for that matter. (12) Another is when the sisters of Benjie

got carried away at their family dinner treating his brother as dead though they are just

talking about him being absent at their meals together. (13) Benjie also incorporated

famous scenes from a commercial and TV show at the middle of difficult situations about

the bomb. (14) Lastly, Gundina nagged at Jan Jaranjan though a hostage must be the one

to be afraid to the terrorist. (15) The last characteristic of Maximalism is prolonging the

story though it can be short. (16) One manifestation of this characteristic is the celebrity

pictures which are given to Chua though he needs the pictures of the terrorists. (17)

Another is when the grandfather of Benjie sacrificed himself to save Benjie by the flying

umbrella though he has still a time to runaway from bomb. (18) If also Bimbi was honest

that he can talk in English, Benjie and his friend would not have a hard time guessing the

meaning of his uttered language. (19) Benjie and his friends also asked Bimbi in their

guessing game about the bomb but Gundina interrupted them by a direct question where

the bomb is. (20) Lastly is the easy-to-find location of the last bomb. If it was found

earlier, the film would not prolong.

2.7. Magic Realism

 109

This characteristic refers to a literary genre or style associated especially with

Latin America that incorporates fantastic or mythical elements into otherwise realistic

fiction. The film made used of these elements in some of its scenes. (1) First is the

planting of the seeds and grew rapidly which turned to be harmful to zombies. (2) Then

the usage of magical fans, crown as a replacement to guns and the flying umbrella that

can help to fly. (3) Lastly, instance of the said characteristic is the turning of the parents

of Benjie into a famous celebrity couple, Luis Manzano and Angel Locsin, perfectly

through the use of a special formula made by his father. Benjie also used the said formula

to imitate the mother of Bimbi for Bimbi to tell the location of the bomb.

3. To determine the implications of the study on the use of Postmodern Literary

Theory.

The study of postmodern literary theory is not limited to those films which are

highly magical and fairytale-like. Postmodern literary theory provides answers to the

questions and possibilities brought by Modernism. The study of postmodernism is a great

help to promote literary appreciation towards local literature.

Conclusions

1. The film The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin (2014) manifested the ideas and

characteristics of Postmodernism and is a great example to illustrate how to

analyze a film using the theory of Postmodernism.

 110

2. Language acts as the determiner of the reality of the characters. Also, it reveals

the personalities and perceptions of the characters through the words they used on

their dialogues as well as their gestures and object use.

3. The universal truths or the norms in the Philippine context, and the prejudices set

by the society, were illustrated in the subject film where it tries to vary these to

answer and suggest solutions.

4. The struggle between characters were not directly demonstrated into fights, rather,

they were demonstrated through arguments which were made into jokes, leaving

them unresolved.

5. Most of the characteristics of Postmodernism are found in the film. The

characteristics which are highly evident in the film are Black Humor and

Maximalism. Since the subject film is comedic, it transforms even the serious

events into comedy as well as to relate out-of-place topics in scenes to make them

funny.

6. Most of the previous literary works acknowledged in the film are from the media.

Works like films, advertisements, and TV shows were incorporated, rather than

written literatures.

Recommendations

1. The instructors of literature should use other literary forms such as films,

advertisements, and TV shows to maximize learning as well as to provide wide

range of illustrations to their students.

 111

2. The students of literature should engage themselves in using various literary

theories and not conform to the same literary theory throughout their learning

procedure. There are newly developed theories which are more suited for the

changing and timely literatures of the generation of today.

3. The future researchers should illustrate and discuss the totality of every literary

theory which they will use as their instrument to provide other researchers full

knowledge and guide about these theories to further strengthen their study.

4. The film critiques should use different theories applied to a particular literary

work to provide their readers the diversity or even the ambiguity of that particular

piece as a way to promote literary appreciation.

5. The viewers should watch the film they are viewing thoroughly and try to be a

critique of their own. Any forms of literature, either be films, novels,

commercials, etc., have imbedded values and exposed social issues in which the

viewers could relate to and react as a part of the society.

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Paoletti, Jo (2012). Pink and Blue. Indiana University Press. 1320 E 10th St,
Bloomington, IN 47405, United States. Retrieved on September 27, 2015 fom:
https://muse.jhu.edu/books/9780253001306

Alba, Reineiro A. (2006). In Focus: The Filipino Gayspeak (Filipino Gay Lingo.
Retrieved on September 17, 2015, from: http://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-
arts/in-focus/the-filipino-gayspeak-filipino-gay-lingo/

Anonymous author (2009). Adding Sh*t to Korean Names. Retrieved on September 19,
2015 from: http://halcyon-morn.livejournal.com/31250.html

Waterworth, Natalie (2013). Generation X, Generation Y, Generation Z, And the Baby

Boomers. Reterieved on September 14, 2015from:
http://www.talentedheads.com/2013/04/09/generation-confused/
 115

Launchpad (2014). 4 Physique Types – Swimmers Body, Dancers Body, Gymnasts Body
and Runners Body. Retrieved on February 27, 2016 from:
http://www.constantaggression.com/4-physique-types-swimmers-body-dancers-
body-gymnasts-body-and-runners-body/

Barron, Sandra (2011). Origin of the peace-ies: The history of peace sign/V-sign in
Japan. E-essay. Retrieved on September 27, 2016 from:
http://www.japansubculture.com/origin-of-the-peace-ies-the-history-of-peace-
signv-sign-in-japan/

No author. Philippines: Blasts kill 14. Retrieved on February 27, 2016 from:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-110716/Philippines-blasts-kill-14.html

Bancroft-Hinchey, Timothy (2002). Terrorist Bombs in the Philippines. Retrieved on

March 2 2016 from: http://research.lifeboat.com/philippines.htm

Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved on March 2, 2016 from: http://www.meriam-

webster.com

Google Dictionary. Retrieved on March 4, 2016 from: http://www.google.com

The Philippine Arm Core Philosophy. Retrieved on April 16, 2016 from
http://www.army.mil.ph/Core_Philosophy2/standards_of_conduct.htm

Philippine Military Rank Insignia. Retrieved on April 16, 2016 from

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/philippines/rank.htm
 116

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A

Summary of “The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin” (First Sequel)

Benjamin "Benjie" Santos VIII (Vice Ganda) comes from a long line of warriors

and soldiers. His grandfather, Benjamin Santos VI (Eddie Garcia), expects him to be in
 117

the army and to be like his ancestors who fought every battle in the country. He lives with

his parents and two sisters named Jesamine (Angelie Urquico) and Anjamin (Abby

Bautista). His father, Benjamin Santos VII (Jimmy Santos), gave up being a military

soldier to be what he wants to be, a scientist and an inventor. Benjie's grandfather did not

agree with his decision, so they were forced to leave his grandfather's house and to never

come back. They now live in a cramped house, where they started a new life. His father,

as expected, followed what makes him happy. He invented gadgets and unique deadly

weapons. Some examples are the Fart-gun, or the Utot-gun in Tagalog, a fan that shoots

bullets, and a tiara that can kill thousands of people.

A few years later they were invited to his grandfather's 75th birthday by a relative.

His grandfather finds out Benjie is gay. They were asked to leave and to never show their

faces again for they are a disgrace to the Santos family.

When a civil war in the Philippines breaks out, Benjie is forced to enlist in place

of his ailing father, who was said to have high blood pressure and diabetes. After a long

time training, Benjie's group was to be dissolved for being not good enough. His group

decides to train at night, and show their improvement in the morning. A rival group,

incensed with constantly losing to Benjie's group during training, sought to reveal

Benjie's sexuality by getting Benjie drunk and filming a sex video of him.

The following morning, the High-General calls Benjie because of the video, and

makes him leave the army. When Benjamin was about to leave, his friends joined him

saying, "Hindi kami masaya kung wala ka!" ("We are not happy without you!"). They left

the army, and while travelling through a wooded area, they heard some trucks and cars
 118

moving. They wake up, and followed the cars, resulting in them discovering the location

of the enemy base by accident.

They went back to the army, and told the High-General about what they saw, but

he wouldn't believe them. They believed the real enemy base was in Tanay, based on the

army's gathered information and decided to attack there instead. While the army searched

for enemy forces at the Tanay base, they were ambushed by hundreds of terrorists.

Meanwhile, Benjie's group returns to the enemy's real base, where they saw the terrorist's

trucks with the captured forces, including Benjie's grandfather and Brandon Estolas

(Derek Ramsay)—the group's former commander in the army and Benjie's love-interest.

They then make plans to rescue their allies by dressing up as girls to trick the enemy

guards into letting them inside their base. Once inside, the group kills many people with

the tiara, fan, and Fart-gun that Benjie's father invented.

As they enter the base, the group split up in different ways. When one of the

terrorists spots what he thought was Benjie hiding in a metal barrel, he then tells Abe

Sayyep (named after the Abu Sayyaf), the squadron commander, about what he saw. Abe

Sayyep pulls out the wig Benjie put in the barrel, only to find out it was some sort of

trickery. Benjie finds his grandfather, Brandon, and the other generals. Benjie's

grandfather thanks him and asks for forgiveness for treating him so badly. Benjie is then

reunited with his group, where Abe Sayyep appears and shoots Benjie's grandfather.

Benjie jumps in front of his grandfather in order to save him.

 119

He sees himself in heaven, and sees his great-grandfathers, who tell him that he did very

well and it is not yet the time for him to die. He is soon revived, and the group returns

home, where they celebrate their victory with a party.

Summary of ”The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin” (Second Sequel)

Private Benjamin (Vice Ganda) has become the Philippines' amazing soldier and a

worldwide sensation by saving the world from a zombie outbreak. Inevitably, he rises

from the ranks and in no time becomes the incredible, unbeatable, and unreachable

soldier and promoted to Colonel. To prepare him better, Benjamin is assigned under a

new General, Wilson Chua (Richard Yap). However, Private Benjamin committed a big

mistake. Benjamin is about to be dismissed from service when General Wilson Chua

saves him by giving him a mission – to be the private security of a brat kid Bimbee

(Bimby Yap) who holds the key to locating the remaining bombs and saving the country.

As he watches over Bimbee, Benjamin finds himself clashing with Misty (Rhed

Bustamante), General Chua's daughter, and the meddlesome housemaid Gundina (Alex

Gonzaga). However, as he gets to know Bimbee more, he learns that Bimbee is a kid

deprived of love from family – something that he has ignored in his quest to be on top

again. A terrorists led by Jan Jaranjan (Tom Rodriguez) threatens the government to

detonate the bomb hidden in a mall. After searching the last bomb they will able to stop it

by dancing Vice Ganda’s jingle Push mo yan te.

APPENDIX B

The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin Film

120
 121

CURRICULUM VITAE

RHOA P. BUSTOS
Blk.6, Brgy. Ungot, Tarlac City
Contact No. (0946) 3075-849
E-mail Address: [email protected]
 122

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: March 26, 1996

Nationality: Filipino
Age: 20 years old
Gender: Female
Civil Status: Single

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Tertiary: Tarlac State University

Romulo Blvd. San Vicente, Tarlac City
Bachelor of Arts in English
(2012-2016)
Secondary: Tarlac National High School – Annex
` San Miguel, Tarlac City
(2008-2012)
Elementary: Ungot Elementary School
San Rafael, Tarlac City
(2002-2008)

WORK EXPERIENCES

Tarlac State University – College of Arts and Social Sciences – English Department
Romulo Blvd. San Vicente, Tarlac City
Student Teacher
(January 2016 – May 2016)

AFFILIATION

Linguistics Society
President
(2015-2016)

HONORS AND AWARDS

Academic Excellence Awardee

Tarlac State University
March 28, 2015

SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS ATTENDED
 123

Seminar-workshop on trends in writing research on language and literature at

Tarlac State University Alumni Center (February 12, 2015)

Research Review on Language and Literature at Tarlac State University Alumni

Center (March 10, 2015)

Understanding Foreign Culture for Better Future at Clark Institute of the Philippines,
INC, Angeles City (November 7, 2015)

Project Dialogue at Tarlac State University Alumni Center (December 19, 2015)

Research Review on Language and Literature at Tarlac State University Alumni

Center (March 10, 2015)

S.A.L.T. Program (a.k.a. Ecumenical Recollection Activity) at Tarlac State University

Alumni Center (March 28, 2016)

Pre- Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) at Tarlac State University Hostel

Rooftop (March 31, 2016)

Labor Education for Graduating Student (LEGS) at Tarlac State University Hostel
Rooftop (March 31, 2016)

VERNETH DENISE O. CARALIPIO

Lapsing, Moncada, Tarlac
Contact No. (0909) 8305-287
E-mail Address: [email protected]
 124

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: August 14, 1995

Nationality: Filipino
Age: 20 years old
Gender: Female
Civil Status: Single

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Tertiary: Tarlac State University

Romulo Blvd. San Vicente, Tarlac City
Bachelor of Arts in English
(2012-2016)
Secondary: San Pedro High School
` San Pedro, Moncada, Tarlac
(2008-2012)
Elementary: Moncada South Central Elementary School
(Moncada, Tarlac
2002-2008)

WORK EXPERIENCESS

Sutherland Global Services

Brgy. Tibag, Tarlac City
Consultant (FTD.Com)
(March 2014-May 2014)

AFFILIATION

Linguistics Society
(2015-2016)

SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS ATTENDED

Seminar-workshop on trends in writing research on language and literature at

Tarlac State University Alumni Center (February 12, 2015)

Research Review on Language and Literature at Tarlac State University Alumni

Center (March 10, 2015)

Understanding Foreign Culture for Better Future at Clark Institute of the Philippines,
INC, Angeles City (November 7, 2015)

Project Dialogue at Tarlac State University Alumni Center (December 19, 2015)
 125

Research Review on Language and Literature at Tarlac State University Alumni

Center (March 10, 2015)
S.A.L.T. Program (a.k.a. Ecumenical Recollection Activity) at Tarlac State University
Alumni Center (March 28, 2016)

Pre- Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) at Tarlac State University Hostel

Rooftop (March 31, 2016)

Labor Education for Graduating Student (LEGS) at Tarlac State University Hostel
Rooftop (March 31, 2016)

ANA MARIE C. MANALILI

Blk.6, Brgy. Burot, Tarlac City
Contact No. (0910) 6841-132
E-mail Address: [email protected]
 126

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: September 06, 1995

Nationality: Filipino
Age: 20 years old
Gender: Female
Civil Status: Single

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Tertiary: Tarlac State University

Romulo Blvd. San Vicente, Tarlac City
Bachelor of Arts in English
(2012-2016)
Secondary: Tarlac National High School – Annex
` San Miguel, Tarlac City
(2008-2012)
Elementary: San Miguel Central Elementary School
San Miguel Tarlac City
(2002-2008)

WORK EXPERIENCES

Sutherland Global Services

Brgy. Tibag, Tarlac City
Consultant (FTD.Com)
(March 2015-May 2015)

OnlineCubicle
Korea
ESL Tutor
(June 2015- August 2015)

Regional Trial Court (Branch 65)

Brgy. Burot, Tarlac City
(February 2016- April 2016)

AFFILIATION

Linguistics Society
Vice President
(2015-2016)

SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS ATTENDED
 127

Seminar-workshop on trends in writing research on language and literature at

Tarlac State University Alumni Center (February 12, 2015)

Research Review on Language and Literature at Tarlac State University Alumni

Center (March 10, 2015)

Understanding Foreign Culture for Better Future at Clark Institute of the Philippines,
INC, Angeles City (November 7, 2015)

Project Dialogue at Tarlac State University Alumni Center (December 19, 2015)

Research Review on Language and Literature at Tarlac State University Alumni

Center (March 10, 2015)

S.A.L.T. Program (a.k.a. Ecumenical Recollection Activity) at Tarlac State University

Alumni Center (March 28, 2016)

Pre- Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) at Tarlac State University Hostel

Rooftop (March 31, 2016)

Labor Education for Graduating Student (LEGS) at Tarlac State University Hostel
Rooftop (March 31, 2016)