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Minsa’y Isang Gamu-gamo is an eye-opener for Filipinos. Lupita Aquino Kashiwahara’s highly praised award-winning film Minsa’y Isang Gamu-gamo (Once A Moth) tackles the special relationship between Americans and Filipinos. A lady nurse whose family resides near a US military base harbors an American dream. She wants to work and live in the land of milk and honey. Now that her departure papers are ready, she plans to avail of a green card after a one-year stint in an American hospital, then change her status to immigrant and finally petition for her family. With her ambition, she overlooks the crass injustices, discrimination and abuses brought about by the American military presence in the country. But on the eve of her travel, tragedy strikes. An American soldier “accidentally” shoots and kills her younger brother. This socially awakening film is acclaimed for unveiling another grim face of the so-called special relations between the Philippines and the United States of America. The Americans have ingrained in our psyches that they are our comrades against unfairness and injustices, our allies against the evils of the world, our companions in attaining economic stability, our helpers in bringing security in our land, and our mighty redeemers from the gloom of poverty––however, are these immaculate notions all true, as the white beasts claim that they are? Unfortunately, it a ubiquitous dismay to know that we, the collective Filipinos, have had believed such insidious schemes masquerading as noble contentions. Consequently, in the years that have passed by, the Filipino identity has become so Americanized which has lead me to ask: Who are the Filipinos in the contemporary setting of the world? v In relation to the film, this critical paper will tackle how we, the Filipinos in general, have become so obsessed with the American culture and how we’ve become so American-like. v This paper will attempt to relate the characters of the film to the mental condition of Filipinos nowadays. v Again, in accordance to the story of Minsa’y Isang Gamu-gamo, this paper will also attempt to expose the evils of the Americans who are like wolves hiding beneath sheep’s clothing. v Lastly, this critical paper will tackle how Americans have affected our national identity and how people from other nations view the Filipinos in the modern milieu of the world. Let us relate the story of the film to the present condition of our country. Corazon/Cora (Nora Aunor) is ready to leave the country after securing the necessary documents from her travel agent (DJ Fernandez). Aling Chedeng (Marian Grace Friginal), Cora’s mother, is ecstatic over her daughter’s fortune but Ingkong Menciong (Jef Henson Dee), Cora’s nationalistic grandfather, is not pleased with the turn of events. Meanwhile, Boni Santos (Noel Torrado), her boyfriend, is also planning to go with her to apply in the US Navy. The likes of Corazon are very prevalent in our country: those people who dream of working in the Land of Milk and Honey in the hope of finding greener pasture. Many Filipinos nowadays are very much in to taking up medical courses, especially NURSING. Such course indisputably attracts many Filipinos like a huge magnet compared to other college courses. Filipino’s competitive advantage is to provide domestic care. Being a nurse, a caregiver, or a domestic helper are very in. Doctors would even take nursing courses just to be able to provide domestic care abroad. Brain-drain nightmarishly happens. Instead of having more professionals here in our country, other countries like USA are the ones who benefit from their talent. After these students study in the Philippines, off they go to more developed countries. Well, who could blame them? The Philippines doesn’t offer much employment. It is one of the leading countries in Asia, or perhaps in the entire world, where unemployment and/or underemployment is predominantly widespread. Trouble erupts when Aling Yolanda (Victoria Candalla), Boni’s mother, is harassed by a power-tripping Filipino guard (Hazel Santiago). She had been shopping imported goods at the base for her PX store. Boni thus postpones his US trip to help his mother to pursue her case against the guard.
Approximate Word count = 2666
Approximate Pages = 10.7
(250 words per page double spaced)
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