Destined to be yours Episode 20 #DTBYPananakot
Wednesday, 29 March 2017 11:51![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
catatonic_17In this episode, Benjie gets drunk, Ninay leaves town with her family, the Obispos take a firm stand against evil, and Catalina proves that not only does evil and unethical scheming run in the family, she will always be better than Benjie in everything.
Recap
Sinag is at the aviary, doing a monologue. (Wow, do the writers of this series really expect us to believe that parrots just naturally freely fly and hang out at the aviary, perching so close to humans? Really?) She apologizes to the birds because their home would be caught up in the mess (I was right when I I pointed out about the birds) and blames it all on the Rosaleses, Benjie included (in Benjie’s defense, he has nothing to do with their 1.5M unpaid taxes. Whether or not he showed up in town, they would still have those unpaid dues which the mayor would use against them. Even the parrot thinks so).
And because her monologue is done, in comes Badong, who apparently have bionic hearing. He could hear her whispered words from outside the aviary. She scolds him for eavesdropping on her moment and he tells her that she could rest if she’s getting tired. She doesn’t even face him the entire time.
At Rosales Development, Elton tries to make up for Catalina’s absence as he scolds Benjie in front of the whole office for being “out of it.” As he puts down Benjie for being the cause of delay for the company project (a first, he says), he also kisses up to Catalina, without her even being there.
At Bahay Obispo, team Pelangi gathers again to see how much they have raised so far. Despite the dismal figures, Sinag doesn’t lose hope and keeps encouraging her family. Teddy comes in and presents them his latest work of art.
Meanwhile, Ninay’s mom is beside herself with joy as she tells her daughter that her estranged American father contacted them (after seeing them in Sol’s video uploaded online) and wanted to meet them…in Manila. Which means that Ninay and her mom are moving out of Pelangi for good since her mom practically gave the Mayor a one finger salute.
As the Obispos are having a moment, congratulating Teddy for getting back into sculpting, Badong slips in a cheesy line to Sinag. Sol points out that Sinag was the only one depicted in the sculpture and his dad assures him that even though he was not in the sculpture, he was in his father’s heart.
At the mayor’s house, Marjorie complains to her father what Ninay and Sinag did to her and Yaya (Can someone explain why anyone would wear heels around their own house? You can see how careful she was walking down those few steps). As if the nagging voice of her daughter is not enough, the Mayor also faces the ire of Catalina (who complains that this delay was giving her a problem, on top of having to stand being in Marjorie’s company). The mayor tries his best to allay their concerns that he highly doubts that the Obispos would be able to raise that amount of money, but both continue to press on with the issue. Catalina even gives a weird sage-like analogy “In a war, you can’t give your enemies time to reload. You attack when they’re least prepared.”
Sinag and Teddy chat about his “recovery” (making them indebted once again to Gabriel Rosales’ family; if Amanda did not explicitly say that he has forgiven him, he wouldn’t be able to let go of the crippling guilt) and how his guilt swallowed him whole no matter how much he tried to escape it. He then says sorry for bringing up Benjie again (to be fair, he could’ve said the wife of the man who saved me. It may be longer but at least it is more accurate), teasing his daughter.
Jason attempts to talks some sense to Benjie, prompting him to ask, “Is that how special Sinag is to you?” He leaves when it’s clear that he won’t be getting a response from him (If I were Don Vicente and saw Benjie like this, I would fire him again. It’s obvious that he has lost the drive to do anything, making him a liability to the company). He murmurs, “Yeah. She’s special.”
At Pelangi, Sinag has no time to wallow in lost love as she was too busy picking out which clothes she could sell…or so I thought. When she sees the dress she wore for her aviary candlelit dinner date with Benjie, she goes into a rampage, and brings out the Doc Marten shoes Benjie gifted her as well. As Sinag and her family consolidate the items they will be selling, Badong makes another cheesy side comment (which is kinda annoying because it’s so half-assed) which Sol backs up. The compliment is lost on Sinag. Tatay Teddy shares what Nana Puring (yey! Nova Villa is back!) told him over the phone, and tells them that he’s heading to Manila with the artworks they’re selling.
Their happy evening is interrupted by police sirens outside their home (why the police had to turn on their siren when they’re just parked outside and not in pursuit of a suspect I have no clue other than the fact that they’re simply there to intimidate. A blatant display of abuse of power). Mayor and Catalina face the Obispos with a couple of policemen, asking them if they’ve paid. Of course, Teddy points out the absurdity of their request and Catalina gives them a cold “We don’t care. The government does not care.” (Catalina makes the Mayor look like a saint). The mayor insists that they have to leave because they can’t pay that night and Teddy tells him how ludicrous his order was, especially since there was no court order. So like a 12-year old bully who loses an argument, he says as menacingly as he could, “You’re going to regret this,” as he leaves with his posse.
As the Obispos are giving out a battle cry, Ninay slips in, unsure how she’ll raise up the topic of her leaving Pelangi. She asks to have a private talk with Sinag and you can tell from Arman’s serious face that it was indeed serious.
And just when I thought that nothing could be worse than Marjorie’s voice and Elton’s diction cannot be topped, this show brings in people who could be tough competition for the title. Exhibit A: the random ex fling. So Benjie tries to skip out on a Friday night hang out with Jason, which surprises the wingman (you know, for a guy who’s supposedly smitten with his girlfriend, we never see the guy with his girl. Not even pictures). And that’s when they bump into this girl.
After facing a setback, Catalina starts getting desperate. Because it’s one thing to fail but it’s a whole other thing to fail just like Benjie. So she conspires with the Mayor to make sure that they chase away the pests and termites (Thus making Sinag’s words come true. “This is our house. This is where we were born, and this is where we’ll die.” And Catalina be like, and die you shall)
While Catalina schools the Mayor in the basics of “Filipino Kontrabida 101,” Sinag and Ninay say their farewells. But not before Sinag inadvertently wedges the guilt deep in Ninay’s chest, musing about how many people have already left town. And since Sinag has sold her phone (and has no money to get a new one), Ninay gives her her own phone, so they would still be able to contact each other even while they’re apart.
We find out that even Arman is leaving Pelangi along with other individuals, further dwindling the resistance (Even Sol’s paramour is gone). Sinag asks her parents if their town could still be Pelangi even if their neighbors and friends are no longer in town. Suddenly, loud firing noises ring out from outside, making them think that they’re under fire, only to discover that they were simply firecrackers (it’s such a douche move. There are two old people in that house, and two kids, one of which just recovered from a head injury. What an @sshole). Teddy warns his family that that won’t be the last scare tactic against them.
In Manila, Benjie gets drunk, gets into a drunken tirade and proves that he is a jerk and a male chauvinist through and through (He thinks that Sinag is simply throwing a hissy fit even though she loves him. Okay fine I’m too harsh). I love that scene where just as exhibit A tries to steal a kiss from him, he pukes on her. And everything that he sees reminds him of Sinag.
At Bahay Obispo, while the whole household is sleeping, masked men set their house in fire…with gasoline and lighters. The Obispos rush out the house but Sinag gets trapped inside.
Random thoughts
* I swear the main reason why Don Vicente wants to buy the whole town of Pelangi is because Gabriel died there.
* Heartbroken-and-swallowed-up-by-guilt Benjie looks like drunk Benjie.
* “So you’re back from outer space,” “home is where the heart is” –seriously? Elton is like a walking cliché quote book. And I thought Don Vicente’s kontrabida lines were horrible.
* Poor Sol. He is obviously feels neglected but every time he voices out his unhappiness, his concerns are swept under the rug. Nobody takes him seriously because everyone is focused on Sinag. He’s the sun (Sol) but all they see is the sun ray (Sinag).
* It must be hard for Mang Teddy. No matter how much he wants to hate Benjie and everyone associated with him, he can’t because he’s too indebted to each member of his nuclear family, including himself. His father died to save him from the bus. His mother forgave him, thus releasing him from the survivors’ guilt and enabling him to go back to his craft. Benjie raised money to help them save Tala’s life.
* Here’s my problem with Badong’s character. I get that he’s from the torpe trope but what I cannot stand is he’ll “make a move” only when it’s convenient for him, when he knows it’s “safe.” He’s delusional in thinking that Sinag is simply waiting for him to make a move. He’d puff out his chest and act like he’s protecting Sinag but in reality, he cannot even bring out the courage to be upfront with Sinag. It’s like real life bread crumbing. Sinag does not deserve this spineless excuse of a third wheel. There’s a reason why Ninay is not rooting for him despite being aware of his not-so-secret crush.
* I knew I should’ve taken up pol sci subjects in college. Since when has tax collection (which is under BIR) the personal duty of an elected mayor? This is ridiculous.
* It’s crazy. Right after the Mayor tells her he cannot force them out of their home against the law, he agrees with arson. Because at least, no one would know it’s him, right? *face desk*
* I get that Catalina is the main kontrabida but does the styling team really have to dress her up in a black leather jacket? It’s like a sarcastic shout out to the Filipino kontrabida cliché (complete with the land grabbing and burning of houses). Next thing you know, they’ll be gunfights at a funeral/wedding/christening.
* This is how polarizing the Obispo’s campaign is. Even their allies feel like total douches for leaving even though they did not sell their land.
* Drunk Benjie falls into the trap of exhibit A’s ploy to get in his pants. Which is what happened when he played drunk Jerome in Mundo Mo’y Akin back in 2013. Only the girl in the previous series had more class.
* Does she really think that it is okay to burn down someone’s house, especially when she’s aware that there are people inside? Why does she think she can get away with arson and premeditated murder? When I saw her with that unaffected look on her face at her brother’s burial, I knew that she was bad but no one told me that she’d be spawn-of-the-devil evil.
* You know what sucks? Teddy just got back into sculpting, churned out new pieces only for them to get burned. Cruel heartless criminals.
In conclusion
Catalina is a savage kontrabida. She’s enough. Now, can we please, please get rid of the Escobar girl?
Now it’s no secret how much I love Catalina. In fact I like her more than Benjie. But man, this is one psycho megalomaniac. I wonder how many people she has killed in the past to “get things done” and secure her position (I wouldn’t be surprised if she had a hand in the death of her older brother, or at least in his “banishment.” Her younger version was played by the same actress who played young Pirena and Catalina is proving to be more and more like the keeper of the brilyante ng apoy. Hence arson).
But I’d still choose her over Marjorie, any time. At least she has substance. When she strikes, she makes sure it counts. Unlike Marjorie who always ends up with her schemes blowing up in her face immediately. She’s like a mosquito buzzing around in your ear, whose main purpose of existence is to annoy the hell out of you. There was only one scene with Marjorie and look how awesome and chilling this episode turned out to be with only Catalina causing havoc?
This week’s run has been emotionally exhausting. I think I’ll start doubting anyone who claims that a story is “light lang.”
