BUNNY GOES TO MONDOMANILA

Or my feature on director Khavn de la Cruz's movie adaptation of MONDOMANILA: Kung Paano Ko Inayos ang Buhok Ko Matapos ang Mahaba Haba Ring Paglalakbay is out now in PLAYBOY Philippines' Jan-Feb 2010 issue.

Hope you can drop by your fave bookstore and score a copy.

Here's the cover of the film tribute themed issue (with a smashing Gallaga photo by Joser Dumbrique) :


And a brief excerpt from the feature:

This Movie Will Destroy You
Welcomed into his den, we talked to director Khavn De la Cruz about his latest opus and came back with an infernal vision of urban decay. This is PLAYBOY’s exclusive, rough cut screening of the much anticipated film adaptation of the novel Mondomanila. Prepare thy guts for a blessed hell ride.
By KARL R. De MESA

* * *
In my mother’s belly and I’m starting to kick / Nine months in the womb and I’m making her sick ~ Tricky, “Council Estate”
* * *

Kamias Road Studios serves very tasty, home-cooked meals. And director Khavn De la Cruz (an artist of immense energy in several media, not to mention the godfather of local digital cinema and the brains behind the Dot Mov Film Festival) is a gracious host.

Right now, however, he’s dozing on the couch beside me. “Pasensya na, pre. Napuyat ako kagabi,” he says, squinting against the 1PM light, ushering me through the gate.

We retreat into Khavn’s recording studio where it’s comfy and dark and there’s two couches. On one wall sits a squad of guitars in their hard cases or gig bags. On the opposite wall is a small library in front of which is a grand piano. The same piano where folk-jazz singer Isha shot her album cover and beside which is the guitar that Lav Diaz (director of Batang West Side) used to record his solo album Impiyerno.

Khavn feeds his portable hard drive to the DVD player and in turn feeds the player to the TV. There’s a few moments of confusion and technical difficulty as one of the A/V cables doesn’t sit too well with the port and Khavn stands awkwardly, leaning over the whole catastrophe in his pajamas trying to fix the misbehaving thing.

Satisfied that the player will not suffer another tantrum Khavn closes his eyes and naps as I view his latest, most expensive movie. . .

~ 30