I know it’s strange…to talk about death during the holiday season. But loss, is an essential part of life and the holidays are often a difficult time for anyone who has ever lost a loved one.

I watched “100″ the other evening with H and was very much impressed with the way that Director Chris Martinez handled the subject of death and dying. And contrary to popular belief, it’s the type of movie that won’t make you cry buckets but rather, get you to think about your own life and the hundred or so things you want to do before you go. And rather than cry, it will make you laugh, and smile and remind you about certain people in your life…

“100″ is a 2008 Cinemalaya Film Festival finalist. The movie chronicles the life of Joyce, a strong, hardworking and driven woman, and how she makes her remaining days worthwhile. She makes a list of things to accomplish from the most trivial to the most important. She spends her remaining days accomplishing the list with her loved ones. The story helps us face mortality in a positive and optimistic light.

Okay, maybe some scenes will get to especially if they remind you of issues you may have in life with certain loved ones. There was one scene that got me teary-eyed but I’m not saying which one it was The actors turn in such memorable and fabulous performances! Mylene Dizon and Eugene Domingo are so worthy of their actinbg trophies.

I made this film a requirement for my grief class at the Ateneo and I am looking forward to using it as a jump off point for what I hope to be will be an interesting and lively discussion.

“100″ won Best Director, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress at the 2008 Cinemalaya competition. It’s limited run has been extended for another week. Go and catch it at –

GLORIETTA 4 : Extended until Friday
SM NORTH : Extended indefinitely
STA. LUCIA : New cinema
ROBINSON’S GALLERIA : Extended indefinitely
ROBINSON’S ERMITA : Extended indefinitely

Anong gagawin mo kung bilang na ang araw mo?

When a child has died, the holidays are an extremely difficult time for the family. While others are enjoying celebrations and holiday good cheer, bereaved families find themselves simply trying to figure out how they can survive what used to be, for many, such a special time of the year.

Bereaved families now have one special day when they can join together to remember all children around the world who have died, regardless of age or cause of death. The second Sunday in December is The Compassionate Friends worldwide Candle Lighting. More than 500 formal services planned for December 14 are expected to be listed on The Compassionate Friends national website with hundreds more planned for that day. Dozens of countries will be hosting services around the globe.

The worldwide Candle Lighting is sponsored by The Compassionate Friends, the world’s largest self-help bereavement organization. The event is officially held the second Sunday in December at 7 p.m. local time for one hour creating a 24-hour wave of light around the earth,
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In MANILA, the event will be held at the second level, University of the Philippines Institute for Small Scale Industries, E. Virata Hall, UP Diliman Campus, Diliman, Quezon City

View map: http://www.map.upd.edu.ph/updmap/index.phtml

Email noemidado@gmail.com for more information. Please pass this information to others who may wish to participate in the service.