Commemorating Heath Ledger’s Unending Flair and Cleverness

In Tuesday’s replay of the 81st Academy Awards shown at Studio 23, I was more excited to watch the awards night this time. I was waiting for the awarding of the Oscar Best Supporting Actor. In January, I first heard about Heath Ledger’s Academy Award best supporting actor nomination for The Dark Knight. I really wished in the depths of my heart that he will win it. He deserves the nomination more than anyone else. Not because he’s not with us here anymore. But because his performance as the menacing Joker will go down the history of cinema as one of the best big screens villains. And arguably one of the best performances of an actor that ever graced the movie screens. He definitely has left us a legacy as one of the best actors in his generation.


I was rejoicing for the sweep win of Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire because I really fell in love with the movie even though I haven’t seen The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Reader, Milk and Frost Nixon. I’m sure each of the other nominees for best picture is beautiful in their own right. I already knew that Heath Ledger won because I saw the live forecast on Monday and he deserved it in an utmost manner. But the feeling was really overpowering on Tuesday when I exactly saw Kevin Kline presented him the best supporting actor.


“ This striking film images, perhaps the most unforgettable is that of a man with his face smeared with a clown make- up ; gleefully spitting his head out of a speeding car; relishing in the night wind and reveling in the chaos he has unleashed on the streets of Gotham City. “


"Menacing, mercurial, droll and diabolical," co-presenter Kevin Kline summarized as he listed Ledger among the supporting actor nominees.


“Heath Ledger as the Joker in the Dark Knight kept us all on edge anxious to see what act of falling mischief he might commit next with his revering performance as well as a wide range of other roles to which he put his unique signature. Heath Ledger has left us an original and enduring legacy. “


I was crying then when his parents, Kim Ledger and Sally Bell with his sister Kate Ledger walked up the stage to accept his award in behalf of his daughter Matilda.


“This is ever so humbling being in such wonderful people in a wonderful industry. Firstly, we’d like to thank the academy for recognizing our son’s amazing work, Warner Bros. and Christopher Nolan in particular for allowing Heath the creative license to develop and explore this crazy Joker character. To Steve Alexander, Heath’s mentor, special friend and agent for 10 years. We Love you Steve.

"This award tonight would have humbly validated Heath's quiet determination to be truly accepted by you all here, his peers, within an industry he so loved," Kim Ledger said.


“Heath was such a compassionate and genuine soul. He rendered so much excitement and inspiration in our lives. We have been truly overwhelmed with the honor and respect being bestowed upon him with this award. Tonight, we are choosing to celebrate and be happy with what he has achieved, “Sally Bell said.


“Heath, we both knew what you had created in the Joker was extraordinary special and had even talked about being here on this very day. We really wished you were but we proudly accept this award in behalf of your beautiful daughter Matilda, Kate Ledger said.


I knew Heath Ledger would win the Oscar Best Supporting Actor. God didn’t allow anything to interfere with Heath Ledger’s win. Because God knew that he really was meant for it whether he’s still with us here or not. I have high respects for anyone who has gotten nominated at the Oscars. Therefore, I have high respects as well for Heath Ledger’s co-nominees. But they themselves had put their faith in Heath to win the plum award.

I just really wish he was there on stage to accept the award he really worked hard for. I wished I heard him say his acceptance speech and how thrilled he was to be bestowed with this kind of honor. I’m sure he will be in absolute happiness. But even though he was just watching from above, I know and we know his fans and the people who love him that he’s extremely happy with the tribute and reverence by the people and his peers for him. We know you know we love you dearly. You will always be a part of our lives. We will never forget you Heath Ledger.

Remembering Heath Ledger

It’s been a year and people still just can’t accept the fact that he is forever gone. The shock is still there from the first time we heard about the incident. He doesn’t deserve it of course, but I’m sure wherever he is, he is now in a better and happier place. I’m sure he’s smiling at us from above right now. Because people don’t seem to forget who he was and who he is.

Since the release of the Dark Knight in July last year, critics and audiences alike have been giving him accolade from here and there. It would have been a lot better if he was here hearing those accolades himself. If it was actually him who was receiving those awards from respected award giving bodies. It was no doubt one of his best performances ever in his successful career. Just like what the saying goes, “Save the best for last “. It was his last performance and truly one of his best.

At the height of the awards season, here comes the Oscars. He is indeed nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the Joker in the Dark Knight. He already won in the Golden Globes and I really pray and hope he will take the Oscars. I don’t think there’s anyone who could match up to his performance among the nominees for the best supporting category. I’m not saying Robert Downey or Phillip Seymour Hoffman didn’t do great but performance wise, it should really be Heath Ledger. I’m not saying they should make him win because he’s gone. They should make him win and he should win because he should really win. So here I am, asking and pleading for God for a wish to come true. Tomorrow, it will be known if my wish and most people’s wish came true.

To Heath, wherever you are the, people who loves you and your fans will miss you forever and remember you always. You are the best and you are the winner with or without a trophy. You will be with us for as long as we live.

February 13, Friday

Proceed or Suspend


It’s raining hard outside now. What if some unearthly creature called “shinigami” or death god came to me one day. And he looks stunningly just like Chiba, Takeshi Kaneshiro’s role in Sweet Rain. (I’d die in his arms, hehe in my wildest dreams) Chiba is a rain man because it rains hard when he’s around. Serious talking here, what if Chiba indeed comes to Manila and I’m his current subject. He will have to decide if I live or die.

A shinigami’s job is to decide whether this certain life of a person is worthy of death. They don’t deal with suicides and illnesses, only those that are foretold. They go to funerals but only those cases of children because children don’t understand many things. They choose either to “suspend “or “proceed”. Suspend means that that person’s life has been chosen to continue for it hasn’t fulfilled its purpose just yet. Proceed means that that life is without a doubt worthy of death for it has fulfilled its purpose already.

Chiba’s first subject is a 27 year old female office worker named Kazue Fujiki. Fujiki thinks that there is nothing good in her life. When she was little, her parents died from a car accident. The couple who took her in died as well from a fire. And her boyfriend died in a car accident too. She herself has been thinking a lot about death and that she wants to perish just like them. Then Chiba came to her life and she seemed to have some hope alive again. But then we know what Chiba’s purpose after all, that is to judge whether she dies or she lives by making contact with her. Fujiki has been receiving these weird calls from a stalker who wants to her voice. Surprisingly, that weird caller is a music producer who is looking for new talents and he happened to like her voice. When Chiba saw this and found out that her voice is special, he decided to suspend and that way she lives. Because a singing career might be the fulfillment of her life’s purpose.

His second subject is a male 40 year old yakuza leader Fujita. Fujita wants to take revenge to Kuriki, another yakuza leader who killed Fujita’s boss some time ago. Chiba came to the picture as an informant who knows the whereabouts of Kuriki. Unknown to him, his most trusted ally Akutsu was sent by Kuriki’s gang to keep an eye on him to kill him at the right time. Fujita was tricked that there is a certain meeting but it turned out to be a plot to corner and kill him finally. Akutsu, who looks at Fujita like an older brother decides to ask Chiba’s help only for them to get caught. Fujita came to save Akutsu but it wasn’t him who died there but Kuriki. But Chiba has decided to proceed for Fujita to die in a car accident.

And his last subject is a 70 year old hairdresser who lives near the sea. Chiba came to get his hair cut but unexpectedly, the old woman knows what he really is. She lost her husband and she abandoned her son for fear that anyone she loves will die. She already has a grandson but she doesn’t want to meet the 7 year old boy. So she asked Chiba’s help to gather some 7 year old boys to get a haircut for free the day after tomorrow. There was this particular boy who wanted to pay. She knew exactly then who among those boys was her grandson. Incidentally, the woman’s son is Akutsu the former yakuza member. That means this woman is Kazue Fujiki. And so Fujiki and Chiba met again. She said she has no regrets and that she can die anytime. And for the very first time, Chiba has seen a real blue sky. He now seemed to understand what Fujiki meant that a life maybe ordinary but important just like the rising of the sun.

Kazue Fujiki has made her purpose. She became a singer and she had a family and a son. She might have abandoned her son but she is already forgiven. She finally meets her grandson and she has find complete peace at last. Akutsu is Fujiki’s son who she abandoned when his father dies when he was little. He became the closest ally to Fujita, a yakuza and came to know how to live again. When Fujita died, he renewed his life carrying on what Fujita has taught him about life and built his own family.

We may never know when our time is, but what’s important is that we make our everyday as worthy as the life that was bestowed on us. Do what we have wanted to do. Be happy and find contentment in life in ways that we feel secured. Forgive and forget. Let go and move on. Move forward and find that star that will shine on us alone. And if we do, we will be that star that will shine for them alone as well. And if we get a “proceed” in that fateful time, we have live with no regrets and will leave with no regrets. Don’t forget to live.

A Stranger Calls


A stranger called me on Tuesday night, January 20. I was then busy doing something when I heard the phone ringing. I knew there’s someone downstairs so I don’t really bother to answer the phone. And it didn’t even come to me that it might be him calling. When I was told that the call was for me, still it didn’t occur to me that it could really be him. I answered the phone and when no one answered, I knew immediately it was him. He was the only person I know who’s like that. But I really thought it was Jacky.

To be honest, I really didn’t feel anything at all. I wasn’t happy nor was I sad or angry. I used to be so excited whenever the phone rings expecting it was him calling. But that call really had a different feel for me. I still talk to him the way I used to. I don’t know if I’m being judgmental and unfair to think that he only called to remind me of my debt. But I always think of him this way.

Then he suddenly blurted that he didn’t know I went home to the province. To top it all, he even said why I didn’t even told him I was going home. Should I? And I doubt it because Joanne told me once that Fabio and he went to her place. Joanne even asked if they’re going to my place which they answered maybe next time. So how could he not know I was there? He just really didn’t pay any attention or they had no plans at all. Well it didn’t really matter to me whether they did come or not. What matters is he’s lying again in my face.

I just gave his sister the payment for the rest of my debt. His sister told me I could have just gone to their place. She even asked me if the reason why I gave the payment to her instead of him was because I don’t want to see her brother. I was really caught off guard by what Ading said because she was damn right.

As days pass, he just might become stranger and stranger to me. I’m not sure if I still can remain friends with someone who only toys with someone else’s feelings. Maybe we’re just supposed to be mere strangers to each other. That way, we’ll be well again.