This is a new site highlighting my autobiography with my name David B Katague spelled backwards. The photo above is Chateau Du Mer Beach House in Boac, Marinduque, Philippines. Photo taken in the Spring of 2012.
My Dark Red Crape Myrtle tree in full bloom in my front Yard
The
other day, Ditas brought a truck load of big potted plants from her
yard to take a summer hiatus in my backyard. There is the 6ft fig
tree, the 5ft dwarf Japanese maple, several potted tomato plants,
lavenders, blueberries, lemons, a rose and other succulents and cacti. I
watered and fertilized the dehydrated plants this morning.
Here
are some photos, including my dark red crape myrtle tree in full bloom(
photo above) and my potted pineapple in the front porch.
The Fig tree and tomatoes in big pots with my okra and my potted flowering ampalaya Plants
The Japanese Maple tree and succulents with my mini-cacti Garden
The two potted blueberries and Lavender Plant
The
unexpected hero of the day is the baby praying mantis thriving on the
succulent plant. It came out in hiding after I spray the plant with cold
water this morning. Here are a few shots of the baby praying mantis
enjoying the fresh water spray.
Last but not least is my potted pineapple plant with fruit in my front porch
Meanwhile enjoy this video of the Veritas Group singing the Lord's Prayer
Last
Father's Day Ditas and Carenna gave me Storyworth as their gift. I have
been enjoying the service, since all the questions I can easily answer
since most of them are already published in my blogs and autobiography.
What is StoryWorth?
StoryWorth is a service that can collect your dad’s favorite stories and memories and preserve them in a beautifully bound book.
StoryWorth is a service that aims to capture these precious memories —
even the ones that are hard to talk about — over the course of one
year, culminating in a gorgeous book.
Here's the latest question regarding my elementary and high school years.
My high school experiences will not be complete if I do not mention
some events during my elementary school years. I should mentioned that
during my time ( I believe it is still true today) that elementary
school years in the Philippines is only for 6 years ( 6 Grades only) not
8 years as in the US. When the Japanese-American War in the
Philippines ended in 1945 school was resumed. We were given a test and
based from the results you are assigned your grade level.
When
the war started in 1941 I was only in 2nd grade. After the war my test
level indicated I was capable of 4th grade, thanks to the
schooling/teachings I received from my Father while we were hiding in
the jungles of Panay. Thus, I completed elementary school years for only
4 years instead of six. I was 2 years younger than my classmates. In
my autobiography, I wrote 3 events in my life, illustrating the
statement that your failures motivates you to succeed. One of that event
occurred
during my elementary school days.
When I did not receive the first honor
award (I got 2nd honor award) during my elementary school graduation
both my parents and I were very disappointed. My parents even
contemplated filing an official complaint to the school superintendent
against my teacher and principal for nepotism since the valedictorian
was a close relative of the teacher and principal. However, I convinced my parents not to do it. I told them I would work
harder in high school to be number one, to show the teacher and
principal they made a mistake in the selection process. The whole four
years of high school, I competed with the top five honor students from
my elementary school. Needless to say, I graduated valedictorian of our
high school class. My classmate who was the valedictorian in my
elementary school got the salutatorian award (second place). I was happy
and felt vindicated. My teacher in elementary school congratulated me
but without looking straight into my eye, when my parents invited her to
my high school graduation party at our house.
One of the highlights of my elementary school years was my participation in Our School District Declamation Contest.
I
was in 6th grade, when I participated in a declamation contest
sponsored
by our school district. There were ten schools in our district from
three neighboring towns. If you have not heard of a declamation contest:
It is just public speaking contest reciting and acting poetry, a short
story or an article. My English teacher was my coach. I remember
memorizing for 4 weeks, a short story titled "A Yankee in Love". The
short article were filled with American slang words that I could barely
understand. The piece was more suited to an older teenager, possibly
someone who has already fallen in love. As a result I delivered my
declamation piece without any feelings or emotion but with an American
accent taught by my coach. But I was surprise to win 4th place ( among
10 contestants). The gold medal winner was from the school in the next
town and I
remember very well her declamation piece was Jose Rizal famous poem, My
Last Farewell( Ultimo Adios in Spanish). Jose Rizal is Philippines
number one national hero. December 30 is Rizal Day in the Philippines.
Here's
the first and last stanzas of this patriotic poem both in its original
Spanish and an English translation. The poem has 14 five-lines stanzas
and has been translated into 30 languages. I will never forget this poem
as long as I live because of the Declamation Contest that I lost during my elementary school days in the Philippines. Mi Ultimo Adiós.
Adios, Patria adorada, región del sol querida,
Perla del Mar del Oriente, nuestro perdido Eden!
A darte voy alegre la triste mustia vida,
Y fuera más brillante más fresca, más florida,
Tambien por tí la diera, la diera por tu bien.
Adios, padres y hermanos, trozos del alma mía,
Amigos de la infancia en el perdido hogar,
Dad gracias que descanso del fatigoso día;
Adios, dulce extrangera, mi amiga, mi alegria,
Adios, queridos seres, morir es descansar.
An English Translation-My Final Farewell
Farewell, dear Fatherland, clime of the sun caress’d
Pearl of the Orient seas, our Eden lost!,
Gladly now I go to give thee this faded life’s best,
And were it brighter, fresher, or more blest
Still would I give it thee, nor count the cost.
Farewell to you all, from my soul torn away,
Friends of my childhood in the home dispossessed!
Give thanks that I rest from the wearisome day!
Farewell to thee, too, sweet friend that lightened my way;
Beloved creatures all, farewell! In death there is rest!
The last phrase, "In death there is rest" ( morir
es descansar) is appropriate in Rizal's Life. Dr. Jose Rizal who was
executed by the Spanish colonizers of the Philippines on December 30,
1896 for his alleged role in the armed revolution against Spain. He was
in prison and on the night before his execution, he wrote this poem as a
final statement to his fellow Filipino countrymen. Here's a partial
video of the poem sang in English and Tagalog translations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUjqJzq8YhE The
"Mi Ultimo Adios"(My Last Farewell) was originally written in Spanish. I
feel that the English translation loses the depth of emotion Dr. Rizal
felt at the time he wrote it. The poem is so inspiring, I do not get
tired reading it again and again.
My elementary and high school years were in the town of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo. Here's a brief description of the town.
Barotac Viejo, Iloilo(BVI) is a 3th
class municipality about 60Km North of Iloilo City. Iloilo is
one of the four provinces in Panay Island. Panay Island is part of the
Western Visayas Region of the Philippines. The Visayas Region is the
Central Part of the Philippine Archipelago.
BVI is the town where I grew up. It is the town where I finished my
elementary school years. It is also the town where I finished high
school. In 1951 I graduated valedictorian of my high school class. It is
the town where I have both pleasant and unpleasant memories of my
childhood and teen-aged years.
My childhood memories of the American-Japanese war occurred in the town
proper, foothills, seacoasts and jungles of this town.
When I left BVI in 1951 to pursue my college degree in Iloilo City and
later in Diliman, Quezon City, BVI was a 4th class town with less than
5000 residents. In 2015, Wikipedia states that is now a 3rd class
municipality, with a population of around 45,000. When I left BVI in 1955,
there was the elementary and high schools, public market, Cockfighting
Arena, the Catholic Church, the Post office and one gas station, a
couple of hardware stores, a Chinese bakery and may be 100 residential
homes in the town proper.
Today this 3rd class town has more
buildings both for business and private homes. The local high school was
named a national agricultural high school. Part of the land for
the school was donated by my uncle ( Jose Balleza) and my mother Paz
Balleza .
When I left the town in 1955, the mayor of the town was Luis Tupas, a
relative of my mother. Today the local politics, are still controlled by
the Tupas family and their clan. When I left the town, my parents
bestowed me a 12 hectare parcel of rice land as part of my
inheritance.
Today that land has been land reformed and I have not received a single
centavo from the Philippine government. What was left of my inheritance
is a 2-hectare parcel in the upland area without water irrigation and
not suitable for rice growing.
In 2005, my wife and I accompanied by my sister visited our parents grave site .Me and Macrine(RIP) with sister Amor at the Cemetery.
Our old house (located at the back of the Post Office) was gone. The
only thing that remained was the foundation stone with the engraving
Dolce Building, 1952.
Tears from my eyes flowed like a gentle rain, when I saw that
foundation, recalling the pleasant memories of my teen-age years. The
house is gone but my memories of BVI will live forever.
Our ancestral Home-The Dolce Building, 1953- My Home during my elementary and high school years in the Philippines.
Here are some photos of my high school years (1947-1951).
My High School Graduation- 1951. I am in the front row Second from the Right.
National High School Conference for Visayas and Mindanao, Iloilo City, 1949
Delegates to the National High School Conference. I am in the front row knelling second from the Right
Ditas
and Carenna plan to travel during the months of July and August. To
insure that her indoor and potted outdoor plants survive the hot summer
days of Northern California, she moved her succulents/cacti and other
plants in my backyard. I welcome this task since I enjoyed gardening/
watering and other chores when it comes to light gardening. Here are
some photos of Ditas succulents and cacti plants.
Meanwhile,
enjoy these photos - my first okra and tomato fruits and the beginning
of the full blooms of my dark red crepe myrtle in my front yard as well
as my potted pineapple plant in my front porch.
I harvested my first okra this year! Looking forward for my ampalaya and tomato harvest. Happy Gardening!!
I
just finished watching the award winning movie Minari. I enjoyed it
very much. The rent was for $5.99 and the three of us ( David III, Dinah
and I) were enjoying the movie. After watching the movie I immediately
searched for the Minari plant. The description of the plant is below. If
you have not seen the movie, here's the trailer and summary.
Minari had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2020, winning both the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize
and the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award. It began a one-week virtual
release on December 11, 2020, and was released theatrically and via virtual cinema on February 12, 2021, by A24.
In 1983, the Korean immigrant Yi family moves from California to their new plot of land in rural Arkansas,
where father Jacob hopes to grow Korean produce to sell to vendors in
Dallas. One of his first decisions is to decline the services of a water diviner and he digs a well in a spot he finds on his own. He enlists the help of Paul, an eccentric local man and Korean War
veteran. While Jacob is optimistic about the life ahead, his wife
Monica is disappointed and worries about their son David's heart
condition; he is frequently told not to run due to this. Jacob and
Monica work sexing chicks at the nearby hatchery and argue constantly while David and his sister Anne eavesdrop.
To help watch the children during the day, they arrange for
Monica's mother Soon-ja to travel from South Korea. David, who is forced
to share a room with her, avoids her because she does not conform to
his idea of how a grandmother should be. Still, Soon-ja attempts to
adjust to life in the States and bond with the children.
The well that Jacob dug runs dry. Jacob is reluctant to pay for
county water, but eventually is forced to do so. He runs into additional
difficulties, such as the vendor in Dallas cancelling their order at
the last minute. Even so, he perseveres despite Monica's vocal desire to
return to California. This brings their marriage closer to breaking
point.
Meanwhile, Soon-ja takes David to plant minari
seeds by the creek. She tells them how resilient and useful the plant
is, and predicts plentiful growth. David finally begins to warm to his
grandmother after she teaches him card games, bandages his wounds, and
soothes him to sleep. Soon-ja also encourages him to do more physical
activity, something his parents discourage, but she says that he is
stronger than they think.
Soon-ja suddenly suffers a stroke overnight. She survives with medical treatment, but is left with impaired movement and speech.
Jacob, Monica, Anne and David head to Oklahoma City for David's
heart appointment and to meet a vendor to sell Jacob's produce. Although
they learn that David's heart condition has dramatically improved and
Jacob makes a deal to sell vegetables to a Korean grocer, Jacob also
indirectly admits to Monica that the success of his crops is more
important to him than the stability of their family. Following an
emotional argument, the two tacitly agree to separate.
However, Soon-ja accidentally sets the barn containing the
produce on fire in their absence. Upon arriving home, Jacob rushes in to
save the crops, and Monica soon follows. Eventually, the fire grows out
of control, and they decide to save each other while leaving the barn
to burn. A distraught and confused Soon-ja begins to wander off into the
distance, as Anne and David call for her to come back. Seeing that she
is not responding to them, David breaks into a sprint to meet her,
blocking her path. Soon-ja seems to recognize David for a moment, and
reaches for his hand and the grandchildren lead her back home. The
family is asleep on the floor, collapsed from the fatigue of the night
before. Above them, Soon-ja is awake, in a chair, watching them sleep
with a subdued expression.
Some time later, Jacob and Monica are with the water diviner who
finds a spot for a well. They mark it with a stone signifying their
intention to stay on the farm. Jacob and David then head to the creek to
harvest the minari, which had grown successfully, with Jacob noting how
good a spot Soon-ja had picked to plant them.
What is minari Plant?
A species of water dropwort, minari, also known as
Korean watercress, water celery, water parsley, or Java water dropwort,
is a vegetable found in temperate and tropical climes across Asia. As in
the film, it grows rampant along the banks of streams and over damp
ground, requiring little attention. According to Irene Yoo, writing for Slate,
it is also believed to have medicinal properties, with a detoxifying
effect. Importantly, there are several other species of water dropwort
that are extremely poisonous, so it is unwise to forage unless properly
trained.
In South Korean cooking, it is commonly the stems of the minari plant that are used as a vegetable and herb in kimchi, bibimbap,
fish stews, and a variety of namul (a category of side dishes made with
leafy green vegetables). Though some suggest substituting parsley,
which looks similar to minari, the flavor is quite different.
Minari
can be found in many Korean grocery stores when it's in season,
typically in early spring. It also may be available in other local
produce markets serving Chinese, Japanese, or Korean communities. Or if
you live near a stream, try buying some seeds and growing it yourself.
You might be surprised by the results, particularly if you can wait a
year.
Once you get your hands on a bundle of minari, there are countless ways to prepare it. Try it in this classic napa cabbage kimchi, or this particularly light haemul pajeon, perfect for spring. Or keep it simple, and serve it as a namul along with rice and other banchan.
The Minari plant reminded me of the Philippines
Kangkong ( water spinach) that also like to grow on moist places (in
rice paddies and river beds) wild or cultivated. For some recipes,
here's the link:
Yesterday
was one of the happiest Father's Day Outing I have experienced in my
aging years. It was the first time in 12 months I was out of the house
without mask and saw more than 50 people inside a restaurant without
social distancing. Ditas treated me for an early dinner to a 4.7 Star
Lobster House( see photo above) in Rancho Cordoba only about 5 miles
from our house. We had an early dinner reservation at 4:15PM. When we
arrived at the restaurant, the parking lot ( around 100 cars) was almost
full. We were seated right away and served our order in 10 minutes.
Below is the menu for Father's Day.
The
food was excellent, but after the Boston clam chowder and the Calamari
appetizer, I was so full, I was not able to eat my entry. However, but
we took it home. The soup was delicious and SF sourdough bread was warm
and taste perfect.
Besides my first post -vaccination and
without mask outing in the crowd, yesterday's is the Father's day, I
will always remember- because all my children called me and extend their
greetings.
The Rudy's Hideaway Lobster house reminded me of
Spangler's Sea Food Restaurant in Berkeley that Macrine (RIP) and I used
to patronized in the 1980's when we were still residing in Pinole,
California. Ditas informed me Spanglers is now closed.
Here's a brief description and Customer reviews of Rudy's Hideaway Sea Food Restaurant for your information. https://www.opentable.com/rudys-hideaway Home Food Delivery is also available via Door Dash. The regular menu is not as pricey as the Father's Day menu above.
Meanwhile enjoy Hauser's cello rendition of Meditation by Thais- one of my favorite classical piece.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia: Detail from Fernando Amorsolo's 1945- Defence of a Filipina Woman's Honour,
which is representative of Amorsolo's World War II-era paintings. Here,
a Filipino man defends a woman, who is either his wife or daughter,
from being raped by an unseen Japanese soldier. Note the Japanese
military cap at the man's foot
Fernando Amorsolo y Cueto (May 30, 1892 – April 24, 1972) was one of the most important artists in the history of painting in the Philippines.
Amorsolo was a portraitist and painter of rural Philippine landscapes.
He is popularly known for his craftsmanship and mastery in the use of
light.
Four days after his death, Amorsolo was honored as the first National Artist in Painting at the Cultural Center of the Philippines by then-PresidentFerdinand Marcos.
The volume of paintings, sketches and studies of Amorsolo is believed to
have reached more than 10,000 pieces. Amorsolo was an important
influence on contemporary Filipino art and artists, even beyond the
so-called "Amorsolo school."
Amorsolo's influence can be seen in many landscape paintings by
Filipino artists, including early landscape paintings by abstract
painter Federico Aguilar Alcuaz.
In 2003, Amorsolo's children founded the Fernando C. Amorsolo Art
Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving Fernando Amorsolo's
legacy, promoting his style and vision, and preserving a national
heritage through the conservation and promotion of his works.
During the post-war period, Insular Life commissioned Amorsolo to
create a series of paintings of historical events for their offices
(and which were subsequently used in Insular Life calendars from '50s to
'80s).
In Wellesley, Massachusetts, two original 1950s paintings by Amorsolo, The Cockfight and Resting Under the Trees, were bought by a New Jersey collector for $36,000 and $31,500, respectively. During a 2002 episode of Antiques Roadshow, a Sotheby's
antiques appraiser estimated that an attendee's signed 1945 rural
landscape painting by Amorsolo could fetch between $30,000 and $50,000
at auction.At a 1996 Christie's auction, Amorsolo's The Marketplace went for $174,000. In April 2002, Portrait of Fernanda De Jesus was bought for US$377,947.
On November 30, 2009, the Family Gathering Fruit sold for US$77,257 at Christie's. In December 2009, Fruit Gatherer was auctioned off in Maryland,
in record-breaking manner, topping 19th- and 20th-century European and
American paintings. In May 2010, the highest priced Amorsolo painting
was auctioned off at Christie's for about US$440,000.
Photo Credit: Geringer Art, LTD: Amorsolo's- Philippine Village Life-1954
I do not owned an Amorsolo painting but I have a Jesse Santos Painting
The Nipa Hut by Jesse Santos-1974
Meanwhile: Here's an appraisal of one of his paintings
Balleza is one of the 67 municipalities of Chihuahua, in northern
Mexico. The municipal seat lies at Mariano Balleza. The municipality
covers an area of 7,073.6 km².
As of 2010, the municipality had a total population of 17,672, up from
16,325 as of 2005.
Mariano Balleza is a town in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, close to the border with Durango. It serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of Balleza.
History
It was in this vicinity that Juan Fontes founded the first Jesuit mission to the Tarahumara in 1607, however that mission was abandoned during the Tepehuan war against the SPanish starting in 1616.
This specific settlement was founded as a Jesuitmission, with the name San Pablo Tepehuanes, in 1640, as part of the efforts to evangelise the local Tepehuan people; this was one of the earliest missions in that part of New Spain.
In 1830 the State Congress renamed it in honour of Fr. Mariano Balleza, who fought alongside Miguel Hidalgo in the War of Independence. The town is still informally known as San Pablo Balleza.
Personal Note: My mother's maiden name was Paz Barrido Balleza. My own full name is David Balleza Katague, Jr. For My Balleza and Tupas ancestry from the Philippines visit:
Yesterday,
my friendly neighbor, DR gave me some summer squash/zuchini( photo
above) from his garden. I was surprise because I did not expect it. He
suggested I just steamed it and seasoned it with butter and
parsley/onion salt and it should taste good. Do you have any recipe you
can share?
I was eager to talk to him because I wanted to know
why our other neighbor are selling their house. DR informed me they are
down sizing since both of them are now fully retired. They have
purchased another house (smaller) in Wilton, a more rural community and
where homes are still cheaper and affordable. The house they are selling
was sold in 7 days for $10,000 more of the asking price. It is a 4BR
2bathroom house with around 2000 sq foot and a beautifully landscape
yard. It has a swimming pool, sauna, hot tub and an RV parking space in
the backyard. When I searched the house in Zillow.com, it was listed
for $579K. I heard from DR it sold yesterday for 589K. This is the
photo of the backyard from the Internet.
DR
also informed me that all our neighbors are fully vaccinated. However,
he said our mailman is not. I asked him if he knows the reason. DR said
he is not sure, he thinks the guy is just lazy and think he does not
need the vaccine because he is healthy. DR also joked that the mail man
is a Trump cult follower. DR statement reminded me of how I sad and
shocked I was when I learned last month that a closed relative who is
highly educated does not want to be vaccinated because the vaccines are
experimental innoculants.
Meanwhile enjoy these photos I took from my yard just recently
My
side yard- a View of my Neighbor Flowering Pink Crape Myrtle Tree, my
storage house and Lombardy poplar pine trees as screened trees.
My mini-succulent Garden and last but not least my potted pineapple plant
To All my Relatives and Friends: Thank You for your Love and Support
during the last stages of my life-my aging years. Special mention to
those who have visited me, send me messages and cards( my birthday and
on Father's Day), bringing me food or just calling me to just say Hello.
I will not mention names, but you know who you are. This posting is
dedicated to all of you.
It
feels good when you know a family member loves you. I am talking about
love from nephews and nieces and from grand children as well as from my
children.
Last week Macrine's(RIP) niece and her family
visited me and brought with them a delicious Pinoy lunch. I felt good
and to me their visit meant I am loved and not forgotten.
The following day, my nephew from Australia sent me a FB message(conversation) as follows:
Hellooo Tito
Hope you’re doing well. Was just thinking of you and wanted to say hello.
Maybe we can do a chat again soon on computer. I’m about to go to a meeting with a client, but just wanted to reach out!
My
Response: How thoughtful of you. You realized that a short chat, email
or FB messages from relatives is very much welcome in my late stages of
life. How's your work, It must be picking up? How's the family
especially your Dad and Mom?
Nephew
Response: Things are become great again. Let’s organize a call and I’d
love to chat and get to spend some time with you. Love you Tito
My Response: Love you, too! Take Care!
Last but not least here's some FaceBook messages( conversation) from my grand daughter studying abroad.
Grand Daughter: Hi Lolo I miss you!! Having a very difficult time getting through this week
My Response: Remember, if you feel like talking, just message me, Take Care! Love, Lolo.
I
heard you will be home in July. That is great, just hang in there for 6
more weeks and see you soon, I love you, Hugs and kisess. Lolo
Her Response: I love you too Lolo
Saying
the three words "I Love You" is not the only way to show love. Actions
like calling or sending messages just to say Hello is as powerful and
effective as the three words, I love you.
This
recent visit from a relative reminded me of one event during my
childhood years in the Philippines. I remember that day when my mother
and I visited an aging relative living alone in her house. We visited
her and brought some food and fruits. After our visit, she cried and
told us her tears are of joys and not of sorrows.
Finally
to my younger relatives, I hope that when you grow old, your children
and younger relatives as well as your future grand children will also
visit you during your aging years.
Meanwhile enjoy this video by Hauser- one of my favorite cellist
This
song (Song from the Secret Garden) and the Tiki torches in the beach
reminds me of our Chateau Du Mer Beach house in the Philippines. Have a
Great week and enjoy this Perfect weather here in Northern California.
Yuka Maeda and Alex Chellan with Alex, Jr visiting me and bringing Pinoy lunch from the Oriental Market in Roseville.
Yuka
is my wife's niece, oldest daughter of Jean- Macrine's(RIP) younger
sister. The Chellans are residents of Roseville, CA. Thanks Yuka and
Alex for your visit and the delicious Pinoy dishes.
This
week I had two set of visitors that I treasured and had touched my
heart. One is from a closed relative and the other is from the avian
animal species.
In my aging years, a short visit or a phone
call from relatives or friends are always welcome and I will always
remember in my late stages of life here in Planet Earth.
First, I
had a short but pleasant visit from the Chellan family, Yuka and
husband Alex with their 19 months old son, Alex Jr. ( see photo above).
They also brought with them delicious Pinoy dishes ( lechon kawali,
pancit, Kare-kare and pinacbet) from my favorite Pinoy store-The
Oriental Market on Harding Rd in Roseville. We had a nice visit that I
will always treasure in my aging years.
Second, I had also a
surprise visit from a pair of Mallard ducks today. I am not sure if they
are domesticated or wild, but I was able to take their photo below.
Animal
visitors, reminded me of the bluebirds that is claiming my backyard as
their summer residence. They have been cavorting and chirping in my back
yard for the last three weeks. Here's a reprint of my posting about
bluebirds in my backyard for your reading pleasure.
I
finished watching this film on Netflix a few months ago. It made me cry
and I can fully identify with the story and sentiment in this film
being an octogenarian myself. I highly recommend this 2021 Oscar
nominated documentary to all and specially to Senior Citizens and their
relatives.
A
private investigator (Rómulo) hires an elderly man (Sergio) to go
undercover in a nursing home in Chile. The film had its world premiere
at the Sundance Film Festival on 25 January 2020. In August 2020, Gravitas Ventures acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film, and set it for a 1 September 2020, release. The film will be broadcast on PBS on 25 January 2021, as part of their POV program. It was released in the Netherlands on 10 December 2020, by Cinema Delicatessen.
Critical response
On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes,
the film has an approval rating of 94% based on 51 reviews, with an
average rating of 7.50/10. The critical consensus reads "Warm and funny,
The Mole Agent offers audiences a poignant reminder that it's never too
late to forge new connections and embark on new adventures." On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 69 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Glenn Kenny of The New York Times
gave the film a positive review commenting: "The film’s people are
moving, and the payoff is compassionate, humane and worth heeding.". Nick Allen of RogerEbert.com
rated the movie three stars out of four writing: "The documentary
succeeds with its tenderness, while vividly reminding us how easily
society can forget its elders.".
Awards and nominations
The Mole Agent has received several awards and nominations, the documentary was the Chilean entry for the Goya Award for Best Iberoamerican Film,
achieving the nomination being the eighteenth Chilean nomination in
that category since its creation and the second for Alberdi after La once was nominated in 2015. At the 93rd Academy Awards, the film made the shortlist for two categories, for Best International Feature Film becoming the third Chilean entry to make the shortlist after No and A Fantastic Woman made the shortlist and received a nomination with the latter winning, though The Mole Agent did not received a nomination for this category, it achieved one for Best Documentary Feature, the other category where it was shortlisted.
Philomena is a 2013 drama film directed by Stephen Frears, based on the 2009 book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by journalist Martin Sixsmith. Starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, it tells the true story of Philomena Lee's 50-year search for her adopted son and Sixsmith's efforts to help her find him.
