In the midst of filming in the Philippines, Korean actor Lee Jong Hee and Filipino actress Marianne de Guzman find themselves thrust into an unexpected turn of events on New Year's Eve. Fate, concealed by the lens of a mysterious camera, catapults t...
"KASAMAHAN ka ba ni Doktor Rizal (Are you a companion of Doctor Rizal)?" the man continued.
"No habla Filipino, Señor, Señora (I don't speak Filipino, Sir, Ma'am)," I just replied.
"Saan mo siya nakuha, Tandang Sora (Where did you get him, Elder Sora)?" the man asked flatly towards the old woman standing beside him.
"Nakita sila ng mga kababaihang naglalaba sa ilog. Wala silang malay noong mga oras na iyon kaya naman ay nakaramdam sila ng takot (They were seen by the women who were washing clothes by the river. They were unconscious at that time, and that was why they felt fear)," replied the old lady.
My body, paralyzed with uncertainty, hesitated on the next move. Panic, a growing ember in my chest, whispered the idea of escape. Suddenly, a force nudged me towards the ground. Swiftly, I pivoted, transferring my weight to my right foot.
"Did you just-" The mischievous smile on the annoying girl's face hinted at an orchestrated push, a move made with purpose.
"Ineng, ano ka ba (Young lady, what are you doing)?" The old lady's gaze fixed on the young lady, eyebrows furrowed in disapproval as she questioned her actions.
A grin played on my lips, subtly conveying satisfaction at the situation unfolding before us. It seemed like a lesson well-deserved for the spirited young lady.
The man, dagger in hand, inquired, his expression devoid of emotion, "Ikaw ba , Binibini (How about you, Miss)? Nakakapagsalita ka ba ng wikang Filipino (Do you speak Filipino)?"
"Yes po, Manong (Yes, Sir)," Marianne asked.
"Yes?" The old woman, bewildered by the unfamiliar language, questioned. It seemed she struggled to grasp the peculiar tongue.
Why couldn't these people understand English? Perhaps the reason might be because we went to shoot far from the cities.
"Maaaring kasama nga sila sa mga illustrados (They might me a companion of the illustrados). Marami ang alam nilang lenggwahe (They know a lot of languages)." I heard the man whispered to the old woman.
"Ah... Hindi po kami illustrados (We're not illustrados). Mga actors at actresses po kami galing sa malayong lugar (We're actors and actresses from a far place). Isang giling lang may wantawsan shetemel na (Slang: One shake and we have a thousand seven hundred)," the crazy girl replied. She glanced at me and swayed her belly, perhaps convinced of her prowess as a dancer.
