1. The document discusses several theories that can be applied to analyze relationships and interactions in three Filipino movies: Woman of the Ruins, Blue Bustamante, and Kabisera. 2. Social Penetration Theory and Interpersonal Deception Theory are discussed in the context of developing relationships and detecting deception in the movies. 3. Attribution Theory and Cognitive Dissonance help explain characters' behaviors and decision-making processes. 4. Uncertainty Reduction Theory and Elaboration Likelihood Theory are relevant to how children in Blue Bustamante seek information and are persuaded.

1. Arla Jemimah G. Dela Peña BACR 2-2
Movie # 1: Woman of the Ruins
The Social Penetration Theory explains that as relationships develop, communication moves from non-intimate levels to deeper, more personal ones. This can be applied with Sabel and Maria’s relationship with each other, wherein, as they got closer to each other after they passed through their struggle of Pasyon’s abusive behavior. They got to share more intimate things with each other regarding Maria’s identity, how Sabel is in love with Pasyon, and having to understand each others’ situations--which even lead to a more personal communication of trusting Sabel enough to let her take care of their child.
According to the Interpersonal Deception Theory, when the communicator attempts to manipulate untruthful, it causes them anxiety of having their false communication detected. But simultaneously, the receiver of communication tries to detect the validity of the communicated information. The theory is applicable to the scenario in the movie wherein Sabel met Pasyon somewhere in the woods, and knowing his secret, she condescendingly told Pasyon not to hurt Maria and he anxiously lied to her that there are no reasons for him to do that. Although in this situation, wherein the receiver of the information should be validating the information, Sabel already knows that Pasyon continuously abuses Maria.
The theory of Cognitive Dissonance says that human beings often have conflicting beliefs with actions they take or other beliefs they have. It also states that you have two good choices and you make your decision then you find yourself unsure or in doubt about the choice you made so you might have to downplay the other choice in order to reassure yourself. This can be applied to the movie of when Sabel witnessed how Pasyon abuses Maria and she believed that she should help in letting Maria free of her husband. So she consulted her mother, whom advised her not to meddle with Maria and Pasyon’s marital problems, but instead of ceasing action, she chose to seek help to Sol and pursue her choice of helping Maria.

2. Movie # 2: Blue Bustamante
According to the Elaboration Likelihood Theory, there are two routes to persuasion, which is the central route and peripheral route. The central route uses message elaboration to observe ideas and determine its value, which can produce major positive attitude change. This theory may be applied through the sequence of actions in the movie wherein the children watches an elaborated message in the form a TV show—specifically Force Five and producing major positive attitude change upon Kiko and his friends and encouraged them to stand up against the bully who, according to the children, did unpleasant things unto them—and encouraged them to stand up against the bully.
Attribution Theory is a theory that attempts to explain the cause of people’s behavior and attributing or explaining reasons to why people behave the way they do. This can be applied to George’s actions towards of not telling the truth to June—his wife, about him being a stuntman in Japan due since his wife told almost everyone surrounding their family that his husband was working as an engineer in Japan--including their neighbors, close family members and even far-off relatives—and fears of receiving disappointment from them.
Uncertainty Reduction Theory was illustrated when the children were uncertain of Kiko when they saw him tied on the playground. All of them were uncertain what happened to him, so they tried to ask questions of what happened and who did that unto him. And even though he gave answers, they were still curious and uncertain about him, and his story about how he is bullied, and once their uncertainty is reduced, they also imparted their experiences with the said bully. The Uncertainty Reduction theory applies here since it says that initial interactions between strangers are characterized by information seeking in order to reduce uncertainty.

3. Movie # 3: Kabisera
After Andres was told conflicting stories about who planned his son’s supposed accident, he was angry and confused of whether Jose or Pablo planned it. After several short scenes of showing how the 2 convinces Andres that the other was guilty or suspicious, and how keeping the other close or as an ally would be a great risk of revealing their secret. As the show progress, a scenario wherein Andres and Jose is shown to be having their usual casual drinking, but then Andres points a gun at his friend and they also get surrounded by Jose’s men and Andres finally shots his friend Jose, despite how he begged for his life. Meaning that however close and how long Jose and Andres shared a friendship, his action of killing his friend can be attributed to how he wanted to keep his secret safe about the meth and how he believed that his friend was the one who planned his son’s accident, which can be associated to the Attribution Theory, since 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.
Social Penetration Theory may be seen on the progressing relationship of Andres and Pablo. It started on their first meeting and Jose introduced Pablo to Andres, and Andres got mad with Jose’s decision because he feared they might get caught since Pablo was a police and there is no guarantee if might sell them out. The next scenes from the movie showed how Pablo was earning Andres’ trust through helping him keep his secret and exposing anyone who tries to leak information from their “business”. He even trusted Pablo more than Jose as proven by killing his friend rather than believing him. This can be associated to Social Penetration Theory which states that as relationships develop, communication moves from relatively shallow, non-intimate levels to deeper, more personal ones.
While the Interpersonal Deception Theory may be applied to the scene wherein Kulot was being interrogated by Andres, Jose and Pablo, asking him whether he leaked information to the PDEA regarding their meth business. The theory states that the communication sender attempts to manipulate messages so as to be untruthful, which may cause them to be anxiousness regarding their false communication being detected and may be applied as when Kulot tries to deceive the 3 by telling them that he didn’t said anything to the PDEA, but simultaneously, the 3—who are receivers of the communicated information—tries to validate the information but ended up killing Kulot anyway, since the said theory also states that at the same time the receiver

4. of information receives the message tries to unveil or detect the validity of that information, causing suspicion about whether or not the sender is being deceitful.
One of Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon’s message would probably was showing what had happened in the past when Philippines was subdued to Spain’s jurisdiction. Many parts of the movie showed how there are many differing perspectives regarding who’re considered as the “true Filipinos”. One part of the movie showed 2 Spaniards talking with each other of how the Filipinos or Indios are being naïve of calling themselves Filipino. Another part of the movie showed Kulas explaining to Lim that people who’re born inside the Philippines are considered as Filipinos. Then Lim—a Chinese man—told him that if that was how being Filipinos are, then he was a Filipino himself since he was born in the Philippines. There was another scene wherein Don Tibor said that you are not yet considered a Filipino when you’ve not contributed for the welfare of that country.
The movie represented the Filipino people in different point of views. The movie showed Onofre “Kidlat” Biltao as a Filipino who bravely tries to oppose the Spanish Government through joining the revolutionary army to fight for their identity as the “true Filipinos”. From another point o view would be how Filipinos are being underestimated and thought lowly of the Spaniards.
I think that the Social Penetration Theory was dominant within the movie since the theory may be applied to the different relationships between the characters. First example would be the case of Bindoy and Kulas’ relationship. It would seem that at their first meeting, Bindoy didn’t talk much to Kulas, but as the movie progressed it would seem that Bindoy talked more to Kulas regarding even his father. Another example was with Kulas and Diding’s relationship of how at first, Diding was evidently uncomfortable with Kulas. But not later on, it was seen that Diding was sharing a moment with Kulas as she shares with him her dream of being a famous star someday. And not later on, Kulas also shared his story unto Diding.