Comments on: Film Post #2: On Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s Jose Rizal

By: Hansley A. Juliano

Hansley A. Juliano — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:39:14 +0000

I am glad I share such opinions with your observations of the film. In a way I have been quite lost as to the real significance of their confrontation. Yet I find it so surreal yet resounding.

I would definitely recommend the Lacson-Locsin translations, as they are, almost literally, how Rizal’s Spanish would be looking like in English. To add to that, recent scholars on the Philippines, notably Benedict Anderson, has preferred them over the quite “corrupted” Guerrero translations.

I wonder what is your opinion on the “other” Rizal films like Mike de Leon’s “Bayaning Third World” (which had Joel Torre as Rizal), or whatever remained of his “Rizal” supposedly starring Aga Muhlach?

By: ROSEVIE SAMUT

ROSEVIE SAMUT — Mon, 04 May 2009 10:12:04 +0000

YOUR SUCH A GOOD BLOGGER. galing mo!

By: Barbara Jane Reyes

Barbara Jane Reyes — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:02:18 +0000

Thanks for your comment Emily. I will have to invest in a copy of the Lacson-Locsin’s translation of the Fili. It does make sense that the follow-up to Noli would be less romantic. That kind of “youthful” idealism which is necessarily a part of the process of political awakening, has to die, don’t you think?

By: Emily Zshornack Topacio

Emily Zshornack Topacio — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:37:34 +0000

Great observations!

Personally, I preferred the Fili over the Noli because it was more passionate and less “romantic”–but rightfully so.

If you can obtain the versions of Soledad Lacson-Locsin, those are by far the better translations into English—I’ve read Derbyshire’s and Guerrero’s–
Please feel free to respond, ask, etc.

Sincerely,
Emily Zshornack Topacio
Seattle, WA