JISHCAND'S LABYRINTH: THE VERISIMILITUDE OF THEIR EXCLUSIVE BUCCANEERING

Last year, Jay made stirring echoes at the Cinemalaya Film Festival. Unfortunately. I wasn't able to do a peek-a-boo on Baron Geisler's polemic frontal nudity. I wasn't really looking forward on seeing it coz I'm not a huge fan. It won as Best Picture and even named Giesler as their Best Actor that's why I became curious about this film by Francis Pasion and even prayed for it to be shown in Robinsons last year. I also tried looking if there was a bootleg copy somewhere coz I was really zealous. When I heard that SM will be showing it exclusively, it was a great relief! Finally, I said to myself “it's my chance to meet the mysterious gay man named Jay”.

Jay Mercado, a gay teacher from Pampanga, has been found dead in his apartment, the victim of a knockdown-dragout murder. Boob tube producer Jay Santiago, also gay, decides to create a documentary on the slaying. He takes advantage of Mercado’s impecunious family to create an interesting documentary. But it becomes palpable cursorily that the fact isn’t the consequential interest, and that there are some thingamajigs on television that must be accepted.

The gimmick is so original and I like it. The outset is in documentary style and it may affect the mainstream audiences who don't dig it. However, when Jay Santiago starts his witty manipulations then the riot kicks off. Jay is such a vexatious character but he is really hilarious. I used to have a friend who was once a victim of this doodad. Watching Jay is not quiet a great experience. You will be fuming to some parts but you will just laugh at it. It's the truth! I think some Filipinos are easy to cozen if there's a camera in front of them and knowing that it will be aired nationwide. We see it everyday in news and some charitable reality shows. I don't know if its pathetic or simply hilarious. I admit that these shows made me cry sometimes. Guilty pleasure. After watching Jay, I already have second thoughts now. Pasion's film making is awesome. He is passionately good but I'm not that impressed. The editing is the one that I love here. When it comes to Indie films, I think Adolf Alix Jr is still on top. For me he is such a genius auteur. I'm still sad coz I wasn't able to catch his “Adela”. I wanna cry now.

I know that some people are only looking forward on Baron's nudity. To tell you frankly, I'd rather watch a porn movie if that's your only intention here. His wiener is not that staggering but his acting is truly superb. He is the perfect Jay. I like his gay acting in “Jologs” and this one is truly his best performance to date. But the one who truly shows an endearing execution is Flor Salanga. Her portrayal of the role of the late gay teacher’s grieving mother who tries to present herself effectively on camera for the television is really moving. That part in the morgue during a re-take is one of the best scenes I've seen in Philippine cinema. Hats off to you lady! Coco Martin, the Indie King, also shows his cuteness here. He does nothing actually except accepting Jay's philandering moves but I'm happy to see his face again on the big screen.

Here's the shocking part!!! This is the controversial issue. I'm not talking about the weird ending. Yeah, it baffles me honestly. After watching Jay in Megamall, I went home immediately. I was astounded that my gay neighbor was watching Jay on his DVD!!! What??? I asked him about it and he said that the pirated copy is already available in the palengke. Oh c'mon!!! Give me a break!!! SM should explain! Jay is being shown exclusively at their cinemas. Before the film starts, they have this ANTI-PIRACY campaign whatsoever! How come that Jay has been pirated so quickly??? Huh???? Like what happened? What went wrong??? I think Pasion should also make a film about this buccaneering and I'm really willing to act. I would even dare to bare myself all the way. My gay neighbor was disgruntled because Baron's nudity is not that lucid. Shame on you!