The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
What happens when an ordinary, poor peasant Filipino is deprived of his or her rights to live harmoniously in a place he or she calls her own after he or she was land grabbed by an unscrupulous businessman in connivance with a politician?
Precisely, no matter how fictitious, character Corazon Vitug (Geraldine Villamil) builds her own republic right in the middle of the land seized forcibly by opportunists from her family who has tilled the soil since God knows when.
In defiance, Cora, as she is endearingly called, plants her own flag in the field to show reign over her nation and proclaims herself as the President of the nation she named Republika ng Pipolipinas.
In her clumsiness, though, the flag slips from her grip as she unwittingly utters the word “puki (slut)” as a regular expression of sudden jolt.
As early as the narrative unfolds, the audience is given the personal traits of Cora as a heroic, assertive woman yet flawed.
Initially, one would perceive her as a crazy, delusional woman who has a carabao for a son (which was unfortunately killed by government authorities) and free ranged ducks and geese in her animal kingdom but as the story progresses, she has meat and balls.
Cora might be a fictional character but she mirrors and represents a huge number of Filipinos who are tired, disgusted, disgruntled and disappointed with the way the Philippines is being uan by its leaders so they find solace and identification with her.
Cora is easily the face and name of every Filipino (the masses) who wants to escape and run away from her native land because of inequality. Harshness, Injustice and poverty.
For all its scratches and isolation, Republika ng Pupolipinas is paradise for Cora.
But who would want to occupy her republic when it’s rough and ugly?
Some neighborhoods condescend.
Authorities look down or even harass her.
Well, because of Cora’s trailblazing stint as an idealistic micronation builder, netizens flock and support her dream. They plan out to set up an orderly government.
Amid the common vision for good governance, though, betrayal and disunity come to play but Cora is able to withstand them emerging victorious every now and then.
But she must pay the price for going against the norms of society and government.
Is Cora a subversive when she’s just trying to be a good citizen?
The Local Government Unit (LGU) charged her with rebellion and sedition, anyway, which eventually sent her to jail.
The people she leaves behind, though, rally against her incarceration and feel triumphant.
Hurrah! Geraldine Villamil is made as an actress.
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Beauty and actress Maria Isabel Lopez is indeed a globetrotting artist.
Aside from her mastery of mosaic making craft which is winning attention not only in the Philippines but the US and Europe as well, Maria Isabel’s filmmaking sphere is extending as well across continents.
Recently, she went to London for the 2025 British Film Institute (BFI) London Film Festival to attend the premiere showing of the film “Diamonds in the Sand” which also competed in the fest.
“Diamonds in the Sand” (a story of a Japanese retiree being played by Lily Franky (“Shoplifters”) who left his homeland to settle in the Philippines believing that he could find real happiness here), has been touring around the world. It already won Best Debut Film at the 2025 Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy. Before it went to the United Kingdom, the film was also screened in Thailand and Austria.
Maribel, who portrays the role of a caregiver to the Japanese national, and Janus Victoria who directed the film, attended the screenings which were followed by a Q&A with an enthusiastic response from the audience.
Before Lopez went to London, she dropped by the family of her daughter, actress Mara Lopez.
At Newark in the US, Maria Isabel played grandma to newborn Lana whose parents, Mara and Chandler Booth are enjoying parenting.
It was a reunion of sorts with the Booths because Maribel stays in Sebastopol, California with her husband-lawyer Jonathan Melrod.
“Farewell lunch prior to my flight from Newark to London’s Heathrow Airport. My grandma role is done for now. Movie star mode again at the 69th BFI London Film Festival,” Maribel noted jovially in her Facebook wall.
Meanwhile, Dennis Trillo won Best Actor and Arisa Akano bagged the Best Actress for the films “Green Bones” and “Kono Bashio,” respectively at the 48th Gawad Urian. Details at the www.marketmonitor.com.ph.