FEU Filmsoc Alumni's Short Films Compete in Sine Kabataan

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Two short films by recent Communication graduates of Far Eastern University made it among the eight Sine Kabataan finalists, which will be featured along with Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018 full-length film entries from August 15 to 21 in cinemas nationwide. 

Enalyn Legaspi's "Alas-Nuebe ng Tanghali" and Christian Babista's "Anonymous Student Vlog" will vie for the top prizes in the second edition of the competition, which aims to provide a youth lens on youth issues that affect the sector. 

Their short films will be shown along with "Bakwit Boys" by Jason Paul Laxamana and "Ang Babaeng Allergic sa WiFi" by Jun Robles Lana, respectively. Both Legaspi and Babista are also alumni of the FEU Film Society.

In "Alas-Nuebe ng Tanghali," the nicest toys and tastiest food await three children in their home after a long day. However, as they further indulge in euphoria, everything turns out differently from what we are seeing.

Legaspi, also called Ena, directed, co-wrote and co-edited the short film. Her Square Up Productions is composed of four of the previous members of her production team when she was still in college -- assistant director, production designer and graphic artist Peej Tapel, production manager, co-writer, and co-production designer Mary Lourdes Membrebe and director of photography and co-editor Prince Viterbo.

"Our take on the film is as simple as how the youth would perceive things. With all these heavy themes, we wanted it to be light and straightforward as much as possible. One liner, no dialogues, but more on sound scoring," Legaspi explained.

"We started by putting ourselves in the shoes of our characters, who are kids. How far can their imagination go with the circumstances they are actually in? What are the first things they wanted to see? And so we came up with an idea to put three kid characters into a huge house where there are maids serving them," she added.

Membrebe, who came up with the original concept, further discussed the inspiration behind their film. "We were very much inspired by the youth who dream like us, so I think it speaks a great deal about how our circumstances affects the way we see things. Through this story, we can realize that everyone has their own dreams and ways of survival," she said.

Meanwhile, "Anonymous Student Vlog" takes on a student vlogger who is mistakenly identified as the prime suspect of a crime that went viral on social media. Similar to Legaspi, Babista also teamed up with his fellow FEU alumnus Raf Evangelista to shoot his film. 

"What pushed me even more to do this is mainly my thirst to create a new film after two years since I graduated. I figured I have a lot of stories in mind so why not try it out. It’s nice to hear that Ena made it as well. I know it’s been awhile since she made a film and it’s good that we both made it," Babista shared.

The young filmmaker added that he got the concept when he was still starting with his job. "It was my first time to encounter trolls while I was doing a Facebook live video. It somehow honed my idea into how people attack other people through social media accounts by using other identities. It’s interesting how social media is a tool that can make or break a person as it can be a source of information and at the same time be a medium to attack," he explained.

Unlike Legaspi, however, Babista disclosed that his production wasn’t well-planned. "I just saw the post about Sine Kabataan the night before I decided to shoot the story I have in mind. I immediately tapped Raf and asked him if we can get at least 30 extras for the film we are about to shoot. However, only seven people made it to due to heavy rains," he said.

"We decided to have a guerilla shoot instead for three hours only since we were thinking of the people who joined us and braved the rains for this shoot. We can’t thank them enough for their help. Despite the weather condition, they chose to push through with the shoot."

The other Sine Kabataan finalists are "Bahay-bahayan" by Brian Spencer Reyes, "Bato Bato Pik" by Lorys Plaza and Ardinian Sanque, "Isang Tula Para Sa Nawawala" by Rod Singh, "Koleksyong Pamalo" by Jocelyn Frago, "Masaya Ako" by Daniel Delgado and "Runner" by Levi Jun Miscala.

The Best Picture winner will win 50,000 pesos, a round trip ticket to Busan and Busan International Film Festival with four (4) days and three (3) nights accommodation, and immersive experience and exposure to the BIFF as a member of the Philippine delegation. All finalists will receive 10,000 pesos.

Sine Kabataan was launched last year as one of the pet projects of then National Youth Commission Chair Ice Seguerra with the Film Development Council of the Philippines. After Seguerra resigned from the NYC, the competition is now made possible through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Philippines and still with the FDCP.

Dusit International Set to Unveil Latest dusitD2 in Ao Nang

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Convenient location puts travellers within easy reach
of famous beaches, islands and attractions of Krabi.

Dusit International, Thailand’s global hospitality company, has signed a management agreement with Vogue Pranang Bay Resort Co., Ltd. to operate dusitD2 Ao Nang, slated to open at the end of this year. The hotel will be the second Dusit property in the popular resort area of Krabi.

Located 25 kilometres from Krabi International Airport, the new dusitD2 Ao Nang is tucked away amidst lush jungle greenery on a hillside in downtown Ao Nang, yet within walking distance to the beach, providing convenient access to all of Krabi’s main attractions.

The downtown location of dusitD2 Ao Nang will also enable guests to be within walking distance to nearby facilities such as supermarkets and convenience stores as well as cafés and fast-food outlets.

dusitD2 Ao Nang comprises 173 modern guest rooms and suites with a choice of sea, mountain or pool views. The hotel offers all amenities for a fun and comfortable getaway, including an indoor and outdoor all-day-dining restaurant, a lobby bar, an outdoor swimming pool with a separate kids’ pool, a fitness centre, a spa, and a 200-square-metre ballroom. For families travelling with children, dusitD2 Ao Nang also features an extensive kids’ playground that will keep the hotel’s youngest guests entertained throughout their stay.

Popular activities in Krabi around dusitD2 Ao Nang include jungle trekking, sightseeing excursions and boat trips to some of Thailand’s most stunning beaches and islands, located within protected national marine parks, for snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking and bird-watching.

Krabi’s famous limestone hills and caves also attract climbers from around the world, especially the limestone rock faces at Railay Beach, where several popular rock-climbing schools can be found.

“We are very happy to be bringing the dusitD2 brand to Ao Nang,” said Ms Suphajee Suthumpun, Group Chief Executive Officer, Dusit International. “This beautiful area has always been very popular with visitors and adventure-seekers from Thailand and all over the world. We look forward to welcoming all our guests to the new dusitD2 Ao Nang, which combines modern comfort, convenience and connectivity with the excellent service and hospitality that is the hallmark of all Dusit hotels.”

Mr Watcharaphon Deechaisettha, Vogue Pranang Bay Resort’s Chief Business Development Officer, said, "Krabi is one of the fastest-growing destinations, especially amongst younger travellers. We are very pleased to work with Dusit to present a fresh new option to meet the needs of the tourists who seek a mix of relaxation and recreation in this resort area. We believe that our knowledge of Krabi, and the proven management expertise and Thai graciousness that Dusit will bring to this project, will create a successful collaboration."

The upscale mid-market dusitD2 Ao Nang is a rebrand of the previous Vogue Resort and Spa in this popular seaside town. The property has been entirely refurbished and updated, with new additions to the existing buildings.

Dusit International currently operates 27 hotels across four brands worldwide, and is rapidly expanding its footprint in key global markets. dusitD2 Ao Nang will be the third dusitD2 branded hotel in Thailand, following dusitD2 Chiang Mai and dusitD2 Kao

Possible Return of Stolen Balangiga Church Bells is Victory of Philippine Independent Foreign Policy & Struggles, Not American Benevolence

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Speakers at Kamuning Bakery Café’s non-partisan Pandesal Forum in Quezon City on August 14 were Balangiga Battle hero Capt. Eugenio Daza’s grandson and president of Kaanak 1896 (association of descendants of the Philippine Revolution and Phil-American War era) Eugenio Roy Daza, “Balangiga: Howling Wilderness” film director & co-writer Khavn de la Cruz and producer/co-writer Achinette Villamor, geopolitics analysts Butch Valdes and George Siy of Integrated Development Studies Institute (IDSI). Moderator is writer Wilson Lee Flores.

The Pandesal Forum agrees that the possible and long overdue return of the Balangiga bells is a victory of Philippines’ independent foreign policy and struggles, not American benevolence

Return Balangiga church bells, other loot, issue official apology

University of the Philippines (U.P.) Prof. Bobby Tuazon of the Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) gave this message to the Pandesal Forum: “The return of the Balangiga Bells is long overdue and a historical injustice of American colonizers. The return should not be seen as American benevolence, but rather as a victory of the Filipino people who have fought hard and long for their return.”

Prof. Tuazon added: “Much of our history, by the way, was looted by the American aggressors during the Philippine-American War---relics, archives, treasures, etc. remain in the U.S. until today---are in museums such as the Smithsonian, collectors, etc. These should also be returned.”

Tuazon said: “No apology has been given for the 1 million Filipinos---revolutionaries and civilians---who died during the Philippine-American War. If the U.S. really cares for ‘friendship’, they should at least apologize.”

Retelling history from viewpoint of the defeated… Balangiga: Howling Wilderness

In the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) from August 15 to 21, the Pandesal Forum highly recommends that the public watch watch the award-winning “Balangiga: Howling Wilderness” which had won 3 times as best film at the QCinema 2017, the Urian and Famas.

The artists behind “Balangiga: Howling Wilderness” are director and co-scriptwriter Khavn de la Cruz, co-writers Achinette Villamor and Jerry B. Gracio. There are no celebrity stars in the cast led by Justine Samson, Pio Del Rio, Warren Tuaño.

Producer and co-scriptwriter Achinette Villamor said the injustice that happened in Balangiga is “part of the numerous national wounds in the consciousness of the Philippines”. She said: “History is usually written by the victors, such as many accounts of the Philippine-American War whoch were mostly authored by the colonizers, the white men, there is a need to tell history from the points of view of those who were defeated and conquered, like us Filipinos. The Balangiga film project is one such attempt.”

It is unique that this movie stands out for its good attempt at artistry, its uncommon courage and its seeking to retell a sad, controversial and violent episode in Philippine history from the refreshing, innocent perspectives of little children.

This well-crafted movie is set in 1901 in seaside town of Balangiga in the Philippines’ third largest island of Samar. Eight-year-old Kulas flees the town with his grandfather and their carabao to escape U.S. General Jacob Smith’s controversial “Kill & Burn” military order. He finds an infant amid a sea of corpses and together, the two boys struggle to survive the American military occupation.

Remembering history, to create a better future… Read this U.S. account of the past

J. P. Lawrence wrote last year in the “New York Review of Books” on this sad episode of Philippine history which followed local Filipino rebels decisive military victory in Balangiga over U.S. occupation troops:

“US troops returned to Balangiga in force. They bombarded the town with cannons, and set it ablaze. The three bells remained in the ruins of the church. But the retribution did not end there. General Jacob Smith told his troops he wanted a ‘howling wilderness’ and ordered any male over the age of ten killed. ‘I want no prisoners,’ he said. ‘I wish you to kill and burn; the more you kill and burn the better it will please me.’ Theodore Roosevelt, who was responsible for the conduct of the war in the Philippines for part of 1902, had earlier reflected on the justification for such harsh tactics. ‘In a fight with savages, where the savages themselves perform deeds of hideous cruelty, a certain proportion of whites are sure to do the same thing,’ he said. In the reprisals for Balangiga, US troops are said to have killed as many as 50,000 Filipinos.”

Lawrence also wrote: “Forty-eight US soldiers died at Balangiga, America’s worst military defeat since the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. To commemorate their lost men—or perhaps to avenge them—American troops brought the three bells of Balangiga home with them. Over the next century, the bells passed through various military bases. Two are now in Wyoming, and one is on an army base in South Korea, displayed to memorialize the battle.”

History---whether sad, happy, tragic or triumphant---is part of our present and influences our future. May these two indie movies on our history not just entertain, but hopefully educate, awaken, conscienticize and inspire us to help create a better and more just future.