Animate Your Life with Saving Sally at the MMFF 2016

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"MMFF... Maraming Magandang Filipino Films!" - Saving Sally

The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) council for this year could should be praised for no longer continuing to accepting poorly conceptualized movies with no substantial or significant story lines and only capitalizes on the popularity of its lead stars.

The acceptance of only quality films would make the movie choices on Christmas Day of December 25 a lot more interesting to watch since it would not cater to the upper level crowd that usually snubs the MMFF due to crap movie choices.

Being low-budgeted does not necessarily mean poor quality films. It only means it was a lot more challenging for the people involved to finish the movie project. It is quite admirable that these individuals have managed to come up with a promising piece even though they do not have the luxury of resources or financial funding.

I would be equally surprised that I would be included among the MMFF choices for the public to watch on a highly celebrated occasion when most people are joyously out there on the streets with their families dining out them watching their choice of movie.

One of the movies included among the 8 MMFF 2016 entries is Saving Sally, a familiar coming-of-age story told with super-stylized visuals. The project blends live action, 2D animation and an abundance of warm, fuzzy feelings to create a totally unique and loveable little film. The movie is from Director Avid Liongoren and Writer Charlene Sawit-Esguerra, with actors TJ Trinidad, Enzo Marcos and Rhian Ramos.

We recently had a bloggers conference (blogcon) with some of the Saving Sally peeps, specifically with actor TJ Trinidad, it's Director and it's writer.  The blogcon was held at the Tomato Kick restaurant located in Sct. Madrinan corner Tomas Morato in Quezon City.

PNP Chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa Awarded with Gusi Peace Prize

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Not too many individuals get to be honorably acknowledged on their accomplishments. With so many of us either competing, aiming and wanting to get recognition, not everyone would become equally as successful as the rest of us. We have to admit that somehow "luck" has something to do with it. Being at the right place, at the right time, or knowing the right people, can take us to greater heights more conveniently.

PNP Chief Ronald Bato Dela Rosa was recently awarded with the Gusi Peace Prize during the awards night held on November 23, 2016 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

This man is surprisingly so popular nowadays that it is quite overwhelming to find out he is one of the awardees among many international delegates. There was a total of 14 individuals that received the valued Guzi Peace Prize, of which was received in the past years by the likes of Noar Aunor, Lea Salonga and other Pinoy celebrities. Known popularly as Bato or the Rock or Stone, the PNP Chief projects toughness while being a bit wacky at times especially during the early days as PNP Chief since the administration of Rodrigo Duterte appointed him into position.

There was even a mascot and doll resembling his image, and I've seen him get invited to beauty pageant finals like the Miss Earth 2016 as one of the judges, and too bad I missed his much-awaited press conference at Kamuning Bakery.

Sharon Cuneta Rants About Slow Wi-Fi (Internet), Netizens React Harshly

Wazzup PIlipinas!

Sharon Cuneta, like most everyone else, posted on Facebook her frustration about the slow "Wi-Fi" of which she is most probably referring to her Internet connection.

She is not alone on that particular fact since it is actually a nationwide dilemma where people have been complaining to the telco companies providing Internet services that are rather slow compared to the rest of the world. Several studies have shown that we have relatively one of the slowest, if not the slowest, Internet aside from being very expensive.

But netizens reacted to Sharon Cuneta's post and proceeded to blame mostly her husband, Kiko Pangilinan whom they say had several years as a Senator but was powerless to do anything about it.

"I cannot believe (or take) how super SLOW wi-fi still is in the Philippines. How can I expect my country to progress a little faster if it doesn't even have the very basics necessary in this new techie world we move in? So beyond frustrating. Imagine if something like a document was very, very urgent, bound to affect a whole bunch of people, and you couldn't get it across because e-mail (or something as simple as a video upload) just wouldn't fly? Oh, please Lord, let them fix this never-ending problem. It's bad enough that we have to deal with the traffic situation and would rather stay home. Now we can't even expect to get things done ASAP sitting on our butts. Grrrrr!" - Sharon Cuneta

What People Say About Mocha Uson as Philippine Star Columnist

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Starting on Tuesday, Nov. 8, The Philippine STAR will welcome Mocha as a columnist, not in the Entertainment Section but in the Op-Ed Section. Her title will be called Hotspot and that sums up what “hot” items you can expect from Mocha every Tuesday." - Philippine Star

Regina Belmonte, the daughter of Philippine Star President Miguel Belmonte expressed her dismay over Mocha Uson's commentary space on their newspaper.

"THE STAR WAS FOUNDED WITH ‘TRUTH SHALL PREVAIL’ UNDER ITS MASTHEAD. TO HAVE MOCHA USON PEDDLING LIES IN IT IS A DISGRACE TO MY LOLA’S MEMORY,” Belmonte said in a separate tweet, referring to Philippine Star founder Betty Go-Belmonte.

“There’s nothing more I can do than to express my displeasure, which I’ve done here and in private. I can’t change anything on my own..." Belmonte said.

While many are arguing about Mocha's commentary space offer, few realized that above and over, this is "business." Philippine star's probable reason why Mocha got a column space was due to her popularity.

Mocha doesn't need the Philippine Star. The Philippine Star needs her.

Let's talk about the "truth," and the "truth" is Philippine Star columnists, writers, reporters and editors have, at one time or another, been equally guilty of defying the motto, "truth shall prevail." Unless she's been hiding in a hole deep and far enough to shield her from reality, she should not be in denial of the crap so many of that newspaper's staff and columnists have been spewing out over the years. But when we talk about violating the truth, we should also talk about sins of omission, because these are just as damaging. And when I speak of BS artists, I'm not just talking about hard news people but fluffy, social-climbing and mundane types. In a way, they're even worse.

That Maine “Kiss” is a Winner, Gets BDO the Asian Banker’s Best Social Media Initiative Award

Wazzup Pilipinas!

BDO Unibank has won the Best Social Media Initiative award in the recently concluded Asian Banker Country Awards for its “Project Kiss” campaign that featured one of its celebrity endorsers -- phenomenal star Maine Mendoza.

The campaign, anchored on the message "Abot ang Pangarap ‘pag BDO ang Kausap", was a social media megahit, with the video reaching more than 5.6 million Facebook users since its launch in March this year.

“BDO effectively took advantage of the social media to advertise and market its products. One of the bank’s most engaging initiatives was the Project Kiss campaign to promote its savings account, which has reached more than 5.6 million people in Facebook,” The Asian Banker said. “The bank also implemented a social media e-learning program to provide its employees with adequate knowledge on existing social media policies and effective ways to properly engage and handle customers.”

The Bank also received the Best Deposit Initiative in the Philippines and Best Mobile Payment Initiative citations during the Country Awards, which was held in conjunction with the Philippine International Banking Convention.

“BDO’s Peso Savings Account significantly contributed to the Bank’s retail deposit growth of 23% in the first half of 2016. Extending banking hours and offering weekend banking have helped to boost the bank’s deposits,” The Asian Banker added. “BDO opened new branches in malls to reach more customers.”