Tan Chui Mui Writes

On Sat, Sep 26, 2009 at 7:07 PM, chuimui TAN wrote:

Dearest Alexis,

I am sorry I’m always bad at replying email. I’m sorry I took so long to reply your email. Some friends think I am nice and sensitive, but I think I must be a very cold person, to not to write a few nice words to you, after you lost your father.

And you are probably the only person in the world, who could write something like this, “It has been a very very difficult week for me this past week. My father has just passed away. I am certain that what I am going through is nowhere nearly as difficult as what you had to, but it hurts and is very difficult all the same.”

You are too nice.

And I couldn’t comfort you. Because I didn’t want to talk about how painful it was to lose someone so dear.

I just couldn’t. I think I am still in denial, about the death of my younger brother. I could tell my new friends, my father passed away in a car accident, but I couldn’t tell them, my younger brother died in the same accident too. He was 25.

Even after so many years, I still talk about my younger brother, as if he is still alive, living in my hometown.

He was young, good looking, with a nice girlfriend, and the family business.

It is always sad to lose someone young.

And now you.

And of course one doesn’t get used to thing like this.

I can’t imagine I will not see you anymore. And I can’t imagine how I could gather the courage to go to Cinemanila. You are my first Filipino friend. And it was you who showed me around, the first time when I went to Manila.
We were closest in year 2005, in the SIFF workshop. But we don’t talk that much about films. We were quite childish. Once we were in a Ramen restaurant, you and Khavn challenged me to take the spiciest Ramen. it turned out to be no problem to me at all. You were impressed; Or we skip some screenings and spent time in the Starbucks. Talking nonsense and taking silly photos. You complaint the photo I took of you, about your nose; and you took a funny photo of me holding a water bottle, like I was holding a light saber; The worst photo was in Rotterdam 2007, I was in the Brocka’s futsal team. And you ask me to make a stupid pose, to my regret.
all those silly photographs you took of me, can I have them back?

And how you always greet me, ” Tan Chui Mui, ni zhi dao shen me?".
And how I always joke to you, ” I don’t like Filipino. But I like you Alexis, you are not Filipino.” Which you were of course offended. Yes, how I liked to tease at you and your “Filipinoness".

because I don’t see you fitting into the Filipino characteristic I get to know later, from Khavn, Lav Diaz, John Torres, Arleen, Raya, Tikoy and others. I think, they are romantic, fun, unorganized, wild and crazy. Or to put it this way, I could not imagine how you can fit into the Brockas Band. No offence, but can you really play drums?

You are gentle, polite, and too nice. You are sort of a Singaporean. -Yes, I’m full of prejudice.
Indeed I was really surprised by your open love letter to Nika. I should realize earlier you can be romantic too.

I want to let you know I will take back my words. (Yes, like Raya did.) I am sorry my reply comes so late, and it comes in this way.
You are Filipino! And I like Filipino.

Hugs,
Mui


On Wed, Jun 21, 2006 at 2:51 AM, Alexis A. Tioseco wrote:

Dearest Mui,

My apologies for my late reply. Yes I did change your photo on that link. It used to be a photo that I took of you in Starbucks in Singapore, and is now a picture cropped of one that you sent me when you were bald.

Thank you so much for passing copies of your shorts to Jen. I haven’t gotten to see her yet, but hope to soon.

She should be back in Malaysia very soon. I will double check and let you know. In case you are able to get copies of others shorts /features.

It has been a very very difficult week for me this past week. My father has just passed away. I am certain that what I am going through is nowhere nearly as difficult as what you had to, but it hurts and is very difficult all the same.

Sincerely,
Alexis


On 6/14/06, chuimui tan wrote:

Dearest Alexis,

Of course I had visited your wonderful website. And I had read the article about Malaysia.

Did you change the photos?

I had passed a copy of my short films to Jen’s hotel.

I can’t get other short films now. Can only get them maybe end of this week. IF Jen is here again next week I could pass other shorts to her.

Cheers,
Mui



On Wed, Jun 14, 2006 at 3:05 PM, Alexis A. Tioseco wrote:


Dear Mui,

Thank you for contating Jen so fast! It is very much appreciated. :)

I am doing okay lately. Sometimes get tired of writing, but I really shouldn’t complain. I do enjoy it once the article is finished and out there.
I’ve just begun my second semester teaching. Am handling three classes, all film. Two sophomore classes, and one freshman class. It should be very interesting. Will be teaching it very differently from the way I taught it last semester. Hopefully better!

You’ve only read Criticine once? That’s terrible! It’s a wonderful site. ;-) The address is http://criticine.com. And there is a wonderful picture that accompanies this article on Malaysian cinema: http://criticine.com/feature_article.php?id=20

Look forward to seeing you again as well.

Cheers,
Alexis


On 6/11/06, chuimui tan wrote:

Dear Alexis,
I had SMS your friend and she had also replied. I’ll do it before Thursday.

How are you lately? Sorry I had only been to your online magazine once. Can I have the url again?
Yes i feel a bit bad about my film but I’m still working on it. Hope it would turn out OK. (althought it’s embarrasing to make OK and mediocre film. maybe it is more interesting if it is really bad, ker ker ker)

Anyway, will keep on making films. Since I only know how to pretend as a filmmaker.
looking forward to see you.



cheer