This was the experience of Tarantino Wednesday afternoon who opted to be on time in Malacañang for the 9th Cinemanila International Film Festival awarding ceremonies.
Tarantino, Cinemanila awardee and director of the "Kill Bill" series, and Filipino director and Cinemanila project director Amable "Tikoy" Aguiluz, had already been stuck in traffic for about "two to two and half hours" when they decided to abandon the limousine.
The Hollywood director said the "pedicab" ride was necessary due to the flood, so they, both wearing barong tagalog and black slacks while Tarantino's has white lining on the sides, flagged down two pedicabs at the corner of Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard and Pureza Street to take them to Malacañang.
Tarantino said Aguiluz was the one who recommended that they transfer
"to get around" faster.
A waiting car sent by National Commission on the Culture and the Arts executive director and presidential adviser on culture Cecile Guidote-Alvarez met them at the corner of Nagtahan and J. P.Laurel Street to be brought to Malacañan Palace.
A size 13 black leader shoes was immediately given to Tarantino to replace the sandals that he favor so much. The dress code in Malacañang bars the wearing of sandals for men when attending events in the Palace along with jeans and rubber shoes.
Tarantino described the experience as "a lot of fun" and "wild". He and Aguiluz boarded separate pedicabs.
He said there was nothing to worry or be scared about as "I've done more serious things than that."
They arrived around 2:40 pm. or about 40 minutes late for the 2 p.m. ceremonies. They were however still 30 minutes earlier than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who arrived late for the event at around 3:10 p.m. because she also got stranded.
Together with Thailand Prince Chatri Yukol and Belgian Independent film director Robert Maleangreau, Tarantino was the third to be awarded for the Lifetime Achievement Awardees in the 9th Cinemanila ceremonies for writing a book on Philippine horror and action films that used to be shown in the "West" including the United States and Germany.
The award was for their contributions and support port for the Asian entertainment industry.
Both Maleangreau and Taratino thanked Arroyo for her support to the Philippine cinema and expressed hope that Philippine film industry would continue to flourish. (JMR/Sunnex)
