Benilde Film "Amy" Wins Back-to-Back at ASEANnale 2018, 9th Largabista Festival

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A short film on grief, memories, past experiences and a loved one, who has presumably died from a disaster, scored consecutive victories in the ASEAN Biennale or ASEANnale 2018 at the Asian Center in UP Diliman and at the 9th Largabista Film Festival in Tacloban, Leyte.

Amy, written and directed by De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Digital Filmmaking student John Craig "Jaig" de Guzman, tied for the Best Narrative Film award with Mission Accomplished by Eidref Kristin Faith Magpayo of Centro Escolar University-Malolos at the first ASEANnale Film and Multimedia Competition awarding ceremonies held last March 2.

De Guzman's entry also won Best Short Film and Best Editing at the Largabista Film Festival awards night held last March 3 onboard the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, which is docked at the Tacloban city port as part of its climate justice ship tour in Southeast Asia. The city is known as “ground zero” of the devastating typhoon where over 7,000 people died last November 8, 2013. 

Chloe Tabanda plays Amy, who now lives in the mind of her boyfriend Mark after dying from the havoc caused by Typhoon Yolanda, while Seaver Choyessays the role of Mark, who tries to seek answers to his existential questions while living in a state of delirium.

GMA news reporter John Paul Soriano, who represented the UP Film Institute, brought home the ASEANnale Best Film and Best Documentary Film for Recto while the ASEANnale Special Jury Award went to Pipo by Richard Legaspi of University of the East-Caloocan. 

Gilbert Baldoza, also from UPFI, won the top prize in the animation category for Kinalimutan Natin ang mga Bata while Edmund del Rosario's Beautiful Soul and Donnie Ray Ipan's Kapit, both from the University of Makati, took honorable mention.

Hide and Seek by Nur Anis Zulaikha binti Ahmad and Che Mat Ruzinoor bagged the Best Interactive Multimedia prize. Dr. Ahmad Hisham bin Zainal Abidin of Universiti Utara Malaysia received the trophy and cash prize on their behalf.

Meanwhile, Che de los Reyes of the Ateneo de Manila University and Jerald Yucot of the University of Makati bagged honorable mention awards in the documentary film category for Who's Behind the Trump's Effigy at the ASEAN Summit in Manila? and Puti (White), respectively.

Diwa by Ma. Daniella Louise Borrero from the UP College of Mass Communication and En-Route by Anna Ma. Elizabeth Cañas-Llamas of UP Los Baños also got honorable mention certificates in the experimental film category. 

In the public service announcement category, Nancy Galang and Lynda Garcia of Upholding Life and Nature won honorable mention for their PSA PWD Sensitivity Video.

ASEANnale gathered academics, experts, filmmakers, multimedia artists, and scholars celebrating the unique ASEAN perspectives and narratives. The three-day event centered on the theme Capturing the Spirit of ASEAN in the Digital Times and the sub-themes Diaspora, Disasters and Democracy.

ASEANnale 2018 Film and Multimedia Competition Director Arminda Santiago, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) International Affairs Staff Director Lily Milla and ASEANnale 2018 Organizing Committee Chair Dr. Grace Javier Alfonso facilitated the awarding of trophies, certificates and cash prizes.

Dubbed by Dr. Alfonso as "a festival of ideas in multi-modal and multi-textual spaces," ASEANnale is a composite of activities that showcases the creative and research works of higher education students and faculty from ASEAN member countries. It is a project of CHED, UP Open University, UP Asian Center, UP College of Mass Communication, TVUP and the UP System in collaboration with the UP Open University Foundation Inc. and the Philippines Communication Society.

Another Benilde film, Auntwo Susan, directed by Andrea Arias and Mia Rosero, won Best Cinematography for director of photography Yves Jamero and Best Actress in a Lead Role for Sherry Lara, who plays the title role. The short film tells the story of a 50-year old woman (Lara) who reconnects with her former neighbor (Kate Alejandrino) and together they settle problems about home. 

Other Benilde films which made it to Largabista's list of finalists are Kaming Mga Nakakulong by Michael Pagaduan and Obra ng Maestro by Anna Francesca Coronel. They competed with eight other short film finalists. 

Aaron J.P. Almadro, editor in chief and creative director of 8 Magazine, spearheaded the film festival along with fellow organizers Greenspeace Southeast Asia-Philippines, led by its country director Amalie Obusan, and Sinerangan, co-founded by film director Gianfranco C. Morciano.

Angat ang Sarap ng Kape with Krem -Top diba Alex Gonzaga?

Wazzup Pilipinas! 

Hello Alex! Kaya pala ma crema ang coffee collection ko hahaha. Ang daming chizmax kanina with the famous celebrity vlogger Alex Gonzaga #showbiz #wazzuppilipinas #coffee #angatangsarapwithkremetop #mybagongtimpla #alexgonzaga @kremtopph #vlogger #celebrity #blogger

I can say that the rise and fall benchmark of anybody's lovelife and career is just a substantial amount of coffee maybe. Kremtop coffee local creamer enhances its taste. The creamer the better... Kaya ang sarap nito visit facebook.com/kremtopph 

Gov. Imee Marcos Plans Senate Bid, Invites Tourists to Ilocos Norte 200th Anniversary

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos confirmed to media that she’s thinking of running for the Senate in 2019 but is still now “50/50” on this decision until final consultations with her mother Congresswoman Imelda Romualdez Marcos and other kin, she said this at Kamuning Bakery Café’s non-partisan Pandesal Forum. Despite the Feb. 6 fire which burned down Quezon City’s pioneer, iconic, 79-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café, the previously scheduled forum with media proceeded at a temporary venue.

Governor Marcos expressed her strong support for “the successful socio-economic, foreign policy and political reforms of President Rody R. Duterte” which she said have sustained, fast and more inclusive Philippine economic growth. One of the tangible benefits of the country’s robust economic growth is booming tourism not only nationwide, but also to Ilocos Norte such as the arrivals of Star Cruise tourist groups and others enjoying the historic, cultural and numerous unique eco-tourism wonders of Ilocos Norte province.

Governor Imee Marcos announced also that Ilocos Norte has launched their year-long celebration of the bicentennial or 200th anniversary celebration of the creation of the province starting in February 2018. She welcomes more tourists and investors to visit their province.  

In response to recent problems of Boracay, Governor Marcos said that her province of Ilocos Norte recognizes that it cannot accommodate many millions of mass tourists yearly but would prefer to cater to manageable numbers of tourists in order to enhance the ecology, nature, sustainability, and beauty of the province.

Governor Imee Marcos lamented the delays in the on-going election protest case of her younger brother former Senator Bongbong Marcos and expects a recount of provincial votes in Camarines Sur to start soon.

When asked if her running for the Senate in 2019 is due to their efforts to rehabilitate the legacy of their father the late President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos, Governor Imee Marcos said that her possible running or the vice-presidential bid of Bongbong Marcos, all that have nothing to do with their father’s legacy. She stressed that President Marcos’ legacy can stand on its own based on his solid accomplishments in massive infrastructures, socio-economic welfare programs, a more independent foreign policy of the Philippines befriending all the world’s big powers, etc., and that nothing they---his children---shall do or not do, can change his legacy for future historians and future generations to judge dispassionately and objectively.

Governor Imee Marcos added that her family has endured 32 years of criticisms by critics and political foes on the alleged wrongs of their father’s administration, but they are also gratified that more people---especially millenials and the youth---are also giving due recognition to the numerous contributions of President Marcos to nation-building and development.

When asked why at the Panagbenga Festival, she and former Senator Bongbong Marcos were allegedly campaigning there, she said some critics are exaggerating the issue, but she and her brother were grateful for the warm welcome of Baguio people and they were very touched to witness that there’s still the “Solid North” unity of many Ilocano people.  

On the Marcos wealth issue, Governor Imee Marcos said that there is nothing concrete yet on this issue, but she hopes that proper representatives from their family and the government can thresh out something during the term of President Duterte, because she and her family trust that Duterte shall be sincere and capable in putting to good use for the public welfare whatever money to be returned. In reply to questions, she said she still had no idea the exact amount of money to be negotiated.

On what her top priorities shall be as possible Senator, Governor Imee Marcos cited these top 3 advocacies---First, the construction of better, modern nationwide and provincial public transportation systems to benefit rural development and economic development; Second, ensuring cheaper consumer prices and putting in place social safety nets for ordinary and poor families to protect them from high prives; Third, reforms to create millions of new jobs. She said that her advocacies mainly support the progressive, pro-people and comprehensive reforms by the strong-willed President Duterte. She urged all leaders and citizens to unite in supporting the government’s reform efforts.

On the recent controversy about the new Bagani TV series of ABS CBN, Governor Imee Marcos said she and Ilocos Norte province enthusiastically support “this beautiful, well-made, and interesting TV series” which was set and shot in the natural locations of their province. She believes this project doesn’t dis respe3ct our cultural minorities or indigenous peoples. Governor Imee Marcos encouraged the public to watch this new TV series, also congratulating Liza Soberano, Enrique Gil, Matteo Guidecilli, Sofia Andres and others behind the project for their good talents, their creativity, and professionalism.

Herself a former movie producer, head of the Experimental Cinema of the Philippines (ECP) and producer of classic Filipino films like Nora Aunor’s multi-awarded “Himala”, Governor Imee Marcos said she is thinking of again going into movie production to boost support for Philippine cinema and arts. She also welcomed local and international film producers and others to continue using the beautiful and “lucky” Ilocos Norte province as location for their projects, citing the box office successes and critical acclaim of many movie and TV projects shot there through the decades.