Danish Film Starring Mercedes Cabral Premieres at Cinemalaya

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Danish film “Rosita,” in which acclaimed actress Mercedes Cabral plays the title role, will have its Asian and Philippine premiere at the 12th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival on August 13, Saturday, 6:15 p.m. at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).

Cabral, who portrays a Filipina mail-order bride torn between an old man and his son, will grace the film’s screening, which is part of Cinemalaya’s “Indie Nation” section. She's known for her remarkable roles in Brillante Mendoza’s award-winning films “Serbis,” “Kinatay,” and “Thy Womb” before she won her first Best Actress award at the 2015 World Premieres Film Festival for Alvin Yapan’s “An Kubo sa Kawayanan.”

It was Mendoza who recommended Cabral to Danish filmmaker Frederikke Aspöck when they met at the Marrakech Film Festival in Morocco. Aspöck eventually won Best Director for “Rosita” at the Moscow International Film Festival last year. She broke into the international film festival scene when she bagged the Premier Prix de la Cinéfondation at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004 for her short film “Happy Now.” The female director’s feature film debut “Labrador” (Out of Bounds) also made the rounds of international film festivals and also got favorable nods from critics worldwide.

In “Rosita,” Cabral stars with internationally recognized Danish actors Jens Albinus, who portrays the middle-aged widower Ulrik, and Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, who plays the role of his son Johannes, along with Julie Agnete Vang, Mads Riisom, Lise Baastrup, and Jacob Moth-Poulsen.

Exclusive Two-Night Omakase Dinner with Both New York and Manila Chefs of Nobu

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Nobu New York's Filipino Executive Chef, Ricky Estrellado, teams up with Nobu Manila’s Head Chef, Michael De Jesus, for a rare and exclusive two-night Omakase dinner.

The two chefs have collaborated to come up with a gastronomic feast that Nobu-fies timeless Filipino recipes with Japanese-Peruvian influences, for a special engagement on August 18 and 19.

The two-night event highlights the collaboration of two talented Filipino chefs who have both worked with the renowned Chef Nobu Matsuhisa for years. Chef Ricky, who has worked with Nobu for 22 years, is the Executive Chef in New York, overseeing both the Nobu New York in Tribeca and Nobu Next Door along Hudson Street. Chef Michael, a Fil-Am who grew up in the USA, started his nine-year career with Nobu in the Los Angeles restaurant then worked in Nobu Las Vegas, immediately before coming to Nobu Manila early this year.

The dinner’s indulgent eight-course menu highlights Nobu-style interpretation of Filipino classic cuisine starting with Sisig Foie Gras on a Gyoza Cone followed by Seared Tuna Kinilaw with Ceviche Gelee and Green Papaya Salad in Shiso Crepe and Lapu-Lapu with a choice of Jalapeno or Matsuhisa dressing. One of Nobu’s signature dishes, Yellowtail New Style, is reintroduced with a green mango salsa while the Spiny Lobster Tempura is served in Miso Sinigang Consomme. The evening’s entrees, Sous Vide Crispy Pata with Amazu Ponzu and Rencon Laing and Beef Short Ribs Kare-Kare Anticucho, proffer a refreshing perspective to the traditional Filipino pork and beef dishes. Before dessert, an array of sushi likewise incorporates local cooking methods and ingredients, such as Saba Tinapa Style, Local Tuna Toyomansi, Whitefish Sharsado Style, Salay Salay Paksew, and Mixed Seafood Kilawin Taco. The Nobu-Style Water Halo-Halo offers a delightfully sweet ending to the dinner’s full-on experience.

Yabang Pinoy Celebrates Made in the Philippines Week

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Yabang Pinoy has constantly uphold its advocacy of choosing and prioritizing Filipino-made ideas, products and services by supporting the efforts of some organizations lobbying for the revival of “Made in the Philippines Week”. Originally promulgated by former President Manuel L. Quezon in 1936, the Proclamation No. 76 or “Made in the Philippines Week” is a way to give the necessary encouragement and stimulus to domestic industries.

Usually observed on the third week of August, the “Made in the Philippines Week” urges Filipinos to contribute to the growth of local industries by patronizing and prioritizing Filipino products for their personal and home needs. In the past, celebrations of “Made in the Philippines Week” include exhibits, expos, lectures, and bazaars showcasing Philippine products and services.

Over the years Yabang Pinoy has worked with several organizations and entities which also promote the same kind of advocacy. Patch Dulay, Founder of Obrano Heritage Goods and The Spark Project, believes that patronizing Filipino products should start from the consumers’ mindset. He said, “I want the local buyers to at the very least try supporting local, try purchasing local brands. And if they want to go a step further, advocate”. On the other hand, Marco Sebastian of Marsse Tropical Timber Plantation stated that “If [we] get more support from the buyers, we can improve our facilities, our methodologies, we can make it more affordable to other people.”

Entering into another decade of Filipino excellence and ingenuity, Yabang Pinoy strives to create programs and projects that inspire local artists and entrepreneurs to create masterpieces. One of the projects that boosts Filipino entrepreneurial spirit since the organization’s establishment in 2005 is the Global Pinoy Bazaar. This coming August 10 to 14 at Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City, Yabang Pinoy will hold its 17th Global Pinoy Bazaar in line with the celebration of “Made in the Philippines Week”. The movement believes that by staging projects such as Global Pinoy Bazaar, it may become instrumental in the revival of Proclamation No. 76.

To get updates regarding this proclamation, stay in touch with Yabang Pinoy through www.yabangpinoy.com.            

Fil-Am International Artist JEFRЁ Reconnecting With His Filipino Roots

Wazzup Pilipinas!

JEFRЁ – a name that’s been steadily gaining recognition in the Manila creative scene. As the internationally acclaimed public artist and former landscape architect brings his considerable talents from his Florida studio to create even more thought-provoking pieces here at home, it won’t be long ‘til JEFRЁ becomes a Filipino household name.

Born and raised in Chicago to parents who were natives of Ilocos Sur and Laguna, Jefre Manuel Figueras studied at the Art Institute of Chicago before pursuing a degree in Landscape Architecture from Ohio State University.

“I went into the arts at the Art Institute of Chicago in the beginning 'cause I wanted to pursue my passions from high school into college. But then my parents were concerned about the struggles of a starving artist, saying, how am I gonna make money in art? So I went to Ohio State to study Urban Design and Landscape Architecture to be a city planner.”

His first decade out of college had him working for established firms like Skidmore Owings and Merril; and working for clients and involved in partnerships with some of the biggest industry names Santiago Calatrava, BIG Architect’s, Zaha Hadid and Philippe Starck – until a heart attack changed his view of the world and the legacy he wanted to leave. 

#RP612fic: What If Pinoy Heroes Are Still With Us Right Now

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Filipinos online celebrated Independence Day creatively again as they post witty tweets on Twitter this June 12, 2016 putting our real life Filipino or Pinoy "Bayanis" or Heroes living today as among the millennials or depicting what they would probably be posting or texting if ever they are living with us during these times.

From our national hero Jose Rizal, to the rest like Juan Luna, Apolinario Mabini, Andres Bonifacio, Marcela Agoncillo, Emilio Aguinaldo, Padre Damaso, etc.

However, some have even included fictional characters like mother and sons Sisa, Crispin and Basilio, as well as president-elect Rodrigo "DU30" Duterte as among the characters conversing with these Filipino heroes.

Paintings like the Spolarium were not spared also as these imaginative netizens came up with humorous captions that will surely put a smile on your face, if not making you laugh out loud or rolling on the floor laughing like a loony.

June 12 is never a sad day as these jokes kept on coming until this moment of writing. We would love to put everything here but that would be too much and we would want to save you from dying because of too much pain laughing.