Going to the Movies.

When I was a kid my sisters would take me to the movies in the run down cinema called Riverside, along Kalentong in Mandaluyong.  We called it Riversurot because of the fleas populating the wooden seats.

There in pitch darkness, I saw double program LVN and Premiere-produced cine such as Familia Alvarado (the first ever movie I saw), Lo Waist Gang, and countless comedies which starred Nida Blanca and Nestor de Villa.

I was, maybe, five or six, then.

Ideal Theatre along Avenida Rizal, now gone.

Next, my aunt and uncle took me to first class cinemas, Ideal, Ever and others along Avenida Rizal, and saw Hollywood movies which starred Liz Taylor, Elvis Presley, David Niven,  Doris Day, Henry Ford, Julie Andrews, Ann Margaret.

My father also took us to the movies on Sundays; I remember he took the whole family to see Cursillo at the Cinerama, right after he joined the Christian movement which became very popular in the early 60s. 

Later on as an elementary student, my sister Jo and cousin Cel would pressure me in joining them watch Tagalog teen movies starring Rosemarie Sonora.

On my own, when I was already in the University, I would proceed to Cubao when classes got suspended and watch with my five-peso allowance any movies showing at the popular movie houses.
This was the time when I totally immersed myself in English movies only, with sporadic Tagalog clips directed mainly by Lino Brocka.

Movie directed by Lino Brocka, starred Hilda Koronel as Ligaya Paraiso.

Watching movies, whether in double-run theatres or air-conditioned cinemas, entail bringing in snacks with you. If there's no sitsirya, the fun is not complete.

Me and my siblings munched on chicharon (pork rinds) and mani (peanuts) at Riverside, wherein after, we'd have sorbetes sa pan de limon (ice cream on hot dog bun) on the way home.

Dirty ice cream was a favorite snack during my childhood.

At Ideal or Odeon or Lyric, my uncle brought ham or cheese sandwich and afterwards, took us to Wa Nam Panciteria behind Carriedo.

In Cubao, my favorite eatery was Ma Mon Luk for its huge bola bola siopai and pancit or mami. 

Old Ma Mon Luk in Cubao, famous for its siopao.

Clearly in the U.S. and Canada, movie snacking consisted of the American icon pop corn and soda and a piece of chocolate. Lately with the proliferation of fast food, concessionaires both in the Philippines and in North America, have added tacos, hot dogs, pizza, etc in their counters.

Price of movie tickets, together with movie snacks have gone up through the years.

Riverside which later became Amor, charged 30 centavos for adults; while a first run cinema cost 1.20 pesos.  Today, a movie costs at least 150 - 200 pesos, even more, if it's on 3D.

Bloor Cinema along Bloor St, Toronto, near Honest Ed's and U of T.

In Toronto, there used to be Tuesday half-price movies and matinee discounted- movies. Now, it would cost you 20 CDN dollars to see Avengers, Spiderman, a Bond or a Bourne movie.  On top of that, snacks cost another 20 dollars for pop corn, soda, or tacos.

Cineplex at corner of Eglinton and Yonge in Toronto

If you want to enjoy movies and save money, too, there's the option of renting a DVD or blu ray.  But action and sci- fi just don't look that good in the small screen.  You've got to see it big time, or on 3D with Dolby sound surrounding you and your eardrums.

For the upcoming Bourne Legacy movie, I'd surely see it on the big screen. Here's the  trailer, partly filmed in the Philippines.