This document provides a summary of 5 different Filipino films and analyzes scenes from each film using communication theories. For the film "Kabisera", the document discusses how reinforcement theory explains a scene where a character convinces another to sell drugs. For "Woman of the Ruins", social penetration theory and uncertainty reduction theory are used to analyze scenes where relationships develop. Attribution theory is used to explain changes in behavior in two of the films. The document also discusses how deception theory applies to a lying scene in "Bukas Na Lang, Sapagkat Gabi Na" and how social penetration theory explains an intimate scene. Overall, the document analyzes how communication theories can be applied to understand relationship and behavior changes depicted in

1. POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES College of Communication Department of Communication Research
TERM PAPER in COMMUNICATION THEORIES AND MODELS
Submitted by: Adrian R. Gayoso BACR 2-1
Submitted to: Kriztine Viray

2. Kabisera
Kabisera is a movie about a family with a simple way of living. The patriarch of the family is Andres, a fishpond owner who sells and supplies fish to several markets. Andres, as played by the veteran actor Joel Torre, is a hardworking father and he’ll do anything for his family. One morning, he retrieved two packages of shabu in his fishpond, and these two packages will now change him, and his family.
Now, in this movie, there are scenes that depict some communication theories, as discussed by our Professor. Let’s go first to the scene where Pablo, a childhood friend of Andres, was convincing Andres to sell the two packages of Shabu. Pablo said that if they sell those, their lives will change from good to better. In this scene, the evident theory is the Reinforcement Theory by Howland, Janis and Kelly. Reinforcement theory explains that attitude changes result from an opinion change produced through reinforcement in areas such as attention, comprehension and acceptance. In this scene, Pablo is trying to convince Andres to sell the Shabu by explaining that by doing it so, they will earn money, they will earn power. Because of these, Andres’s attitude will be changed because of the reinforcement made by Pablo.
Second, the scene at the table where Andres and Pablo shook their hands and say, “Partners”. In this scene, it can be said that Andres quickly agreed to Pablo’s suggestions. By this, the evident theory is the Elaboration Likelihood Model by Petty and Cacioppo. This theory states that there are two persuasion – the central and peripheral route. The central route is thinking twice first before making a decision while peripheral route is a quick response or a quick decision. Andres agreed to Pablo, probably because of the convincing- ability of Pablo, and by this, Andres used his peripheral route because he quickly responded and agreed to Pablo’s greedy suggestions. Okay, not real quick, but he did not think twice, so it’s the peripheral route who took over.
Third and last is the scene where Andres has changed a lot. He now drinks liquor, smoke and gamble. This change of behavior can be explained by Attribution Theory by Heider. In this theory, it states that it attempts to explain the causes of people’s behavior. Andres’s behavior has changed, probably because of the drugs and the influence of greediness, as enforced by Pablo.

3. Woman of the Ruins
Woman of the Ruins is a movie about a small community in an island or “Isla”, as called by the characters in the movie, and their living condition after the World War II. The story is about the lady named Maria, who people were believed to be dead because she’s missing about seven years ago. But she suddenly came back to the island and it surprised almost everyone, including her husband named Pasyon. Pasyon, a seller of coal in the island, is praying almost every day to bring his wife back. Yes, his prayer was answered, but in a strange way, because Maria can’t remember anything, including her husband. By this, the numerous misfortunes happened to her, mainly because of his husband.
Like the first movie Kabisera, this movie has some scene that depicts some communication theories. The first one is the scene when Maria came back and she can’t remember anything. Sabel, a friend with hidden desires to Pasyon and a resident in the little community, is trying to help Maria to remember her past. At first, they’re not talking too much but eventually, they became close to each other. This scene, the best Communication Theory that can be use to explain this is the Social Penetration Theory by Altman and Taylor. This theory explains that as relationships develop, communication moves from shallow to deeper and more personal ones. Maria, at first, treated Sabel as stranger, but as they talk and interact with each other more often, their relationship became deeper.
Second, it can be related to the first scene that I discussed. The scene where Maria is starting to ask Sabel about her past is explainable by the Uncertainty Reduction Theory by Berger and Calabrese. This theory states that initial interactions between strangers are characterized by information seeking in order to reduce uncertainty. By asking Sabel anything related to Maria’s past, Maria became more informed, and as a result, the uncertainty of Maria decreases because of the information she gained. Eventually, they became close, as explained at the first part by the use of Social Penetration Theory.
Third scene is when Pasyon, husband of Maria, is starting to hurt his wife and even chained her. This change of behavior can be explained by Attribution Theory. Attribution theory explains the causes of people’s behavior. Pasyon changed, probably because of her wife can’t remember anything. Pasyon wants her wife back the way she was before but nothing’s happening, so, he decided to hurt her wife, thinking that through pain, her wife will back to normal.

4. Bukas Na Lang, Sapagkat Gabi Na
Bukas Na Lang Sapagkat Gabi Na is a movie about four interconnected stories during Martial Law. The main character of the film is Pedro. The flow of the story is quite uneasy to understand but that’s the best thing about this movie. Since all the four stories were interconnected with each other, you have to watch every scene.
Although this movie is not the typical movie we watch every day, it has some scene depicting some communication theories. The first scene that I’ve noticed is the scene of the rebels. There are rebels because of Martial Law, probably because they are against the Law. They are normal people before, but because of Martial Law, they’ve changed. They became the enemies of the Government. This change of behavior can be explained by Attribution Theory. This theory explains the change of people’s behavior. Since Attribution theory is humanistic and the movie was also humanistic, then this theory fits.
Second scene is the scene inside the car where Pedro and “Ama” is inside. Ama asked Pedro if he sneaked in to Ama’s house and watched him while his having sexual intercourse with one of the dead bodies. Pedro, of course, denied the accusations but eventually told the truth to Ama. This lying can be explained by Interpersonal Deception Theory by Buller and Burgoon. This theory states that communication senders attempt to manipulate messages as to be untruthful. Simultaneously, the receiver tries to unveil or detect the validity of the information, causing suspicion about whether or not the sender is being deceitful. In this scene, Pedro is the sender who’s denying the accusations and Ama is the receiver who’s trying to detect if Pedro is telling the truth or not. Ama said that that God doesn’t like liars, and by this, Pedro told the truth.
Third scene is the scene when Ama asked Pedro if he liked what they did inside the car. I don’t know what exactly happened but I think it is related with sexual intercourse. I just don’t know how they did that. So, the theory that fits with this scene and to what they did is the Social Penetration Theory. Social Penetration Theory explains that communication develops from shallow to deeper and personal ones. Probably, Pedro and Ama started as strangers or friends but eventually they became close to each other, to the point that they did some intimate and personal things.

5. Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?
The movie Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon, is a 1976 Filipino film about the living condition of the Philippines and the Filipinos during the era of colonization in the Philippines. It was directed by Eddie Romero and starred by Christopher De Leon and Gloria Diaz. This film has a digitally restored version by ABS-CBN Archives and Central Digital Lab which made it possible to be presented in the Cinema One Originals Campus Tour.
I think the message of the movie is that, how will the Filipino people face the colonizer in case it will happen again in the future. It is trying to teach us, the present generation, how to deal with these circumstances. The movie is trying to show the viewers how to be a true Filipino during these times. It tells us that, whatever happens, no matter how many love ones we lost, we must stick to being a Filipino. The movie represent Filipino people as naive or innocent, as portrayed well by Christopher De Leon, who played as Nicolas or “Kulas”. It shows the condition of Filipinos during colonization, how they behave, and how they live. Yes, the movie represents Filipino people as naive, weak, or slaves, but it also represents Filipino as unbreakable. That’s what we are, that’s who we are. We’re underdogs, but still, we remain stick to our Nationality, that’s how Filipinos portrayed in the movie.
The evident theories in this movie are the Social Penetration Theory and Attribution Theory. Social Penetration Theory explains that as relationship develops, communication moves from relatively shallow, non-intimate levels to deeper and more personal ones. On the other hand, Attribution Theory states that this theory attempts to explain the causes of people’s behavior and attributing or explaining reasons as to why people behave the way they do. These two theories are evident because, the movie is during the colonization era, specifically, the Spanish Colonization. Without the intimate and deeper communication made by the Spaniards, Filipinos probably would not end up as slaves. Also, it is evident how the Filipinos’ behavior and attitudes have changed, mainly because of the colonization. Their behavior and attitudes are just products of the experiences made by the colonizer. So, these two theories fit with this movie.