PELÍCULA Spanish Film Festival will celebrate its 21st edition by returning to the big screens in Manila, and extending to Malaysia and Australia

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

From October 5 to 16, 2022, the 21st edition of PELÍCULA-Spanish Film Festival will return to face-to-face screenings. After two years of having a virtual festival, PELÍCULA will screen around twenty movies in three venues of Metro-Manila including Shangri-La Plaza, Cine Adarna at UP Diliman, and Instituto Cervantes Intramuros branch.

Since its creation in 2002 by Instituto Cervantes de Manila, PELíCULA has been an annual attraction in Philippine theatres. After the height of the Covid-19 crisis which forced cinemas to close worldwide and caused audiences of PELíCULA to migrate online, the festival returns to the big screen, on a first-come, first-served free admission basis. Furthermore, the Festival will also host face-to-face online screenings in Malaysia and Australia, as well as the Philippines.

In the Philippines, the Festival will open on October 5 with El buen patrón (Fernando León de Aranoa, 2021), a comedy starring Javier Bardem. Other comedies in the line-up include La boda de Rosa (Icíar Bollaín, 2020), El test (Dani de la Orden, 2022), Con quién viajas (Martín Cuervo, 2021). The official entries also include documentaries such as A las mujeres de España. María Lejárraga (Laura Hojman, 2022), dramas such as Maixabel (Icíar Bollaín, 2021) or El olvido que seremos (Fernando Trueba, 2020), and thrillers like La hija (Manuel Martín Cuenca, 2021).

PELÍCULA will also feature Latin American films such as the Colombian documentary Jinetes del Paraíso (Talia Osorio Cardona, 2020), the Panamenian comedy Algo azul (Mariel García Spooner, 2021), and Competencia oficial, a Spanish-Argentinean comedy directed in 2021 by Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn, and featuring Penélope Cruz, Antonio Banderas, and Oscar Martínez.

Just like in the previous editions, audiences may vote for their favorite films in the Audience Choice Awards. Established in 2004, the award will be given to the film that the viewers have voted as the best of the Festival. Since its establishment in 2004, it has been a very popular tradition in the Festival and is kept alive even through the festival’s transition online. In its 21st edition, both face-to-face and online audiences will be able to rate the films right after having viewed them. The film with the highest ratings will again receive this year’s Audience Choice Award and will be screened again during the closing of PELICULA 2022, on October 16.

To celebrate the 21st edition of the cinematographic showcase, there will be a short series of movies coming from the Basque Country (featuring Handia, and Oreina, among others); plus a special selection of classic Spanish films, to be shown online. These films are Esa pareja feliz (Juan Antonio Bardem & Luis García Berlanga, 1951), Muerte de un ciclista (Juan Antonio Bardem, 1953), Mamá cumple cien años (Carlos Saura, 1979) and El sur (Víctor Erice, 1983).

Since its first editions PELíCULA has programmed activities aiming to be a meeting point between the Philippine and Spanish cultures. In line with this, the Festival is honored to premiere Con tu latido. Fillipinas canta a Aute, the film of a concert-tribute to Spanish-Filipino musician and artist Luis Eduardo Aute, born in Manila in 1943. The screening is scheduled for 11 October, at Instituto Cervantes (Intramuros branch).

Philippine cinema was born in the Spanish language and almost all film-related terms in Filipino are in Spanish (such as pelikula, sine, direktor, aktor, contrabida, etc.), proof of the rich cinematic history shared between Spain and the Philippines. With this in mind, PELíCULA will be holding “En corto: Short films from the Philippines and Spain”, an activity which will feature recent short films from both countries.

PELíCULA 2022 is an initiative of Instituto Cervantes in Manila and Sydney, the Embassies of Spain in the Philippines, Malaysia and Australia, and the AECID, in collaboration with the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Instituto Etxepare, Filmoteca Vasca, the Embassy of Colombia in the Philippines, the Embassy of Panama in the Philippines, the UP Film Institute, the University of the Philippines, Intramuros Administration, Vibal Foundation, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Rustan’s, and La Pícara.


All the movies are in Spanish (or their original language) with English subtitles. For updates on the Festival, please visit the website of the Festival (https://pelikula.org) or the Facebook page of Instituto Cervantes de Manila: www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila

5 Tips for Planning a Successful Business Lunch Meeting in Doha

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Going to Qatar for a business trip means making the most of your visit here.

Whether you’re here to speak with your venture partners or investors, search for a business location, hire possible employees, or meet your team or clients, you need to maximize every minute you spend in the country.

One way you can make the most of your visit to Qatar is by hosting a business lunch meeting at one of the best restaurants in Doha.

A business or work lunch meeting is less formal than a traditional get-together with your business partners, investors or team, enabling everyone to feel more comfortable and encouraging them to speak more freely.

Although the atmosphere is more relaxed and conversational, you can stay focused on the agenda when you properly plan the business lunch meeting.


Hosting a Productive Business Lunch Meeting

If you are organizing a business lunch meeting in Qatar for the first time, ensure its success by following these tips:


Choose the right restaurant.

Although you can host the business lunch meeting in your office if you have one, having it in a restaurant offers more advantages so it’s worth considering this option.

As mentioned, restaurants have a relaxed ambiance, which can encourage the participants to speak and engage more. Moreover, there are fewer interruptions during the meeting when you host it out of the office.

However, you must choose the right restaurant to have a successful business lunch meeting.

First, ensure all the attendees won’t have any difficulty getting to the venue. The restaurant should be easily accessible to them by public transportation.

It should also have ample parking space for participants who will bring their own vehicles.

In most instances, the best mall in Doha meets these requirements. As such, consider hosting the business lunch meeting in a restaurant here.

If you have shortlisted a possible venue, find out if there is ample seating room in the main dining area. If you need privacy and a quieter place, check if the restaurant has a function room you can rent.

Additionally, find out if you can reserve a table or the function room in advance so that you won’t have to wait to be seated and served on the day of your meeting.

Lastly, you would do well to check the menu of your preferred restaurant beforehand. Find out if it has an assortment of dishes so that attendees with dietary restrictions can still enjoy a meal.


Create a lunch meeting agenda.

Since out-of-office business meetings tend to be more relaxed, there is a chance that you and the attendees may not be able to touch on or discuss some important details.

You can avoid this problem by using a meeting agenda.

Make an outline of everything you want to do and the topics you need to cover during the meeting. Create a schedule for each activity or subject to ensure you go through all of them.

Have someone help you stay on your schedule to avoid skipping anything important.

If you have a small group for the meeting, try to find ways to get each attendee to participate.

Make sure your schedule also includes sufficient time for everyone to enjoy their meal.


Send your meeting invitations in advance.

Once you have your venue and meeting agenda, create your meeting invitations and send these to your guests.

Keep in mind that some of your intended attendees might have busy schedules every day and need to be informed in advance to include the meeting in their timetable.

Sending your invitations as soon as possible allows your attendees to adjust their plans and attend your meeting.

Moreover, emailing your invitations in advance allows the participants to add this event to their calendars and create reminders quickly.

Consider adding your meeting agenda to the invitation so the attendees know what to expect and can prepare their questions or anything they want to say during the event.


Inform the attendees about the menu choices.

Asking the meeting participants to order during the meeting could take plenty of time.

You can minimize the time the attendees need to decide what they want to order by sending them copies of the restaurant menu and asking them to choose what they want to eat in advance.

Sending the menu items in advance also allows you to know if one or more of your attendees can’t order anything from it due to allergies or dietary restrictions.

In such a situation, you can ask the restaurant staff to prepare dishes that your guests can safely eat.


Assign an official notetaker.

Even if the meeting takes place in a restaurant, you need to have notes of everything that gets discussed.

Notes let you keep track of a multifaceted meeting. These can also help you remember a list of the key meeting takeaways.

If you have an assistant, ensure they take notes. If not, ask a team member to do this during the event.

Having someone handle this can help you fully immerse yourself in the meeting and engage in more meaningful discussions with the attendees.

A business lunch meeting allows you to discuss important matters with people you need to meet and speak with in Qatar. It is also an excellent way to sample the amazing food offerings in this country.

6 Best All-Time Tips for a Comfortable and Safe Road Trip

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Sometimes, all you need is to go on a long drive to get away from everything that gives you stress. Even a simple day trip can help you get things in perspective, so just imagine what you can achieve if you go on a long one.

But before you ‘keep calm and travel on’, you need to make sure that you’re comfortable and safe during these trips. To help you achieve that, try the following six best all-time road trip planning tips you should keep in mind:


Have a plan.

The best thing you can do to boost your safety on your road trip is to plan for it ahead of time. Most long-distance trips are scheduled well in advance to allow plenty of time for ironing out the details.

To begin, map out your journey. You can use a mobile app for this or even an actual paper map if you find that more convenient to use.

Remember to pick out a few alternate routes beforehand if your primary road of choice is blocked because of road repairs, an accident, or some other reason.

When you’re planning your route, make sure you find stopping points along the way. This can be a place of lodging, fuel, or even food.

Once you’re done with that, proceed to write a packing checklist for the journey. Then, build a to-do list that should include car maintenance tasks, like tyre changes, engine fixes, or even a mobile car wash, to make sure your vehicle is comfortable to ride and drive.


Sleep well before the drive.

Don’t underestimate the power of a good night’s rest. In fact, this is one of the most important things you could do to prepare for an extended drive.

Make sure you have at least seven hours of sleep for two consecutive nights. This will help you build up the energy reserves you require for the task ahead.

It also pays to schedule your road trip in the morning after sleeping the night before, instead of after an exhausting day at work. The only exception is if your travel plans involve stopping for the night in one of the stopping points you plotted earlier.

Try to avoid being on the road between midnight and 6 a.m. since this is when the body temperature drops and people feel naturally drowsy.


Inspect your car ahead of time.

Inspect your vehicle before a long drive. Like you, your car needs to be prepped for the potentially exhausting road trip.

You should also consider bringing your car to a mechanic for any necessary repairs that may hinder your car from functioning optimally. Even if there’s nothing significant to fix, it’s still best to have a trained expert eye look at the engine and other parts of the vehicle to ensure it won’t fail while on the road.

To be safe, bring your vehicle for routine maintenance and tune-up a few days before the drive.


Pay attention to the road.

Driving can sometimes come as second nature for people who’ve been behind the wheel for half their lives. However, don’t be lulled into a false sense of security, especially if you’ve been on the road continuously for an extended time.

Remember: The longer you drive, the easier it can be to lose your focus.

Adding your phone into the equation can only make things worse, so keep it away while driving. Or if you must use it, pull over.

Don’t let your mind wander into other things that won’t bring you to your destination safely.

To maintain the level of alertness required for the task, be sure to sit up straight. Before driving, adjust your seat so that your body is upright to promote optimal blood flow.

If you feel like you’re going into a driving ‘trance’, adjust your sitting position. Then, take a deep breath and make adjustments for your maximum comfort (e.g., lean slightly to the left if your right hip feels sore).

Some scents, like peppermint, can also help you stay awake and focused. The smell can serve as an all-natural pick-me-up that helps to increase alertness and reduce fatigue.

You can use a car air freshener with this scent or simply chew a minty gum. The repetitive process of chewing also helps boost alertness and blood circulation.



Take occasional breaks.

It’s also smart to take breaks at regular intervals during your drive. You can do this for every 160 kilometres you are on the road. You may also include the rest stops in your schedule in a two- or three-hour interval.

In fact, even if you’re headed somewhere that’s just one hour away, you still need to take at least one pit-stop to stretch your legs and back.

Sitting for long periods can be hard on your lower back. The compression may lead to numbness, pain, and even a tingling sensation in your legs. It can also cause your hips and neck to feel tight.

To prevent this, stop the vehicle and go out for a walk and stretch a bit once in a while.

It is also vital that you avoid pushing yourself to drive late into the night. Since night is the time when you’re usually asleep, it can be challenging to keep your eyes open behind the wheel.

If you’re feeling drowsy, consider switching drivers. If you’re the only driver, stop the vehicle and get some shuteye.




Bring first aid kits for your passengers and car.

There are two types of first aid kits you’ll need on your road trip: one for the passengers and another for your vehicle.

The kit for people must have the essential medical supplies, such as:


Bandages

Gauzes

Antiseptic

Medical tape

Cotton balls and swabs

Cold packs

Scissors and tweezers

A thermometer

Rubber gloves

Breathing barriers (e.g., surgical mask)

You’ll also need to bring emergency medicines for cough and colds, pain, fever, and stomach ache. Don’t forget anti-allergy medications and other maintenance drugs you need for some chronic ailments, like diabetes, asthma, and hypertension.

For your car, a first aid kit basically means your mechanic’s toolbox that should contain:

Screwdrivers

Hex keys

Wrenches

Pliers

Duct Tape

Box cutter

Tyre gauge

Portable air pump

Tyre jack

Multi-tool

You must also have a fire extinguisher, road reflectors, jumper cables, and a window breaker or seatbelt cutter. And don’t forget your spare tyres in case you’re somewhere that a mobile service cannot reach for tyre change.

Also, bring the following extra car supplies in case you run out while on the road:


Brake fluid

Engine oil

Coolant

Windshield washer fluid

Power steering fluid

Transmission fluid


Drive Safely and Comfortably

Long drives can provide you with much-needed stress relief when planned right.

Follow the tips listed in this article to ensure you stay safe and comfortable during your road trip.