Many thanks for your very kind words. I was actually reluctant to post this "mess of a review" (as I saw it) when I finished it because I felt I didn't do justice to Diaz' monumental endeavour. In it's grand scale and socio-political message this movie stands next to Erich von Stroheim's Greed! I'm not exaggerating, as the film has to be seen to be believed. An extremely important piece of work, that deserves a much wider audience and is in desperate need of further studies. 

Great you saw it, and don't worry - Lav Diaz himself encouraged people before the screening in Berlin to walk in and out of the film, to sleep if they want to, go outside if they want to, and return to the flow of images at a later stage. He said that the film doesn't have to be seen in one eleven hour session, but is intended as an experience. 

Too bad I wasn't able to watch "Batang Westside" the next week Do you know if his films are available on DVD anywhere? Diaz said something about trying to sell them over his own web site, but I haven't discovered any news, yet.