FEU Short Films Win in Pangasinan

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Two student projects from Far Eastern University recently brought home Urduja Film Festival trophies from the 5th UFF awards night at Sison Auditorium in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Madison, directed by Jesus Singh, won the Best Sound and Musical Score award for Jeff Hernandez while Estrella, helmed by April Jelen Tan, bagged Best Supporting Actress for Bellatrix Tan, who plays the elder sister in the short film. Both competed with 21 other finalists in the UFF short film competition.

Madison is a musical short film about a transgender student (Christian Viñas) who is fond of making fun of other people. One day, the lead character belittles an old woman (Raven Relavo) who is asking for help. Then, mysterious things start to happen.

Meanwhile, Estrella tells the story of Angel (Larissa Alivio), an aspiring actress who finds it difficult to penetrate the entertainment industry due to a strange condition. Compounding her problem is that elder sister Jackie usually gets chosen for projects because of her mestiza looks.

Singh and Tan have graduated from FEU. Both films were completed as their final requirement for Cinema Production under mentor and creative consultant Seymour Sanchez.

Singh was assisted by fellow FEU Theater Guild members and alumni led by Viñas, Relavo, assistant director Anne Valencia, directors of photography Richmond Cadsawan and Kenneth Mandrilla, FEU Cheerdancers, and Nota Productions team members Bevelyn Lopez, John Jeff Clores, Franz Dollete, Mhyca Ramos, Nolan Marcojos, Renz Regis, Jason Carpo, Bernice Punay, Kristal Lascano and Ashley Relleve.

Tan, on the other hand, got the support of fellow Peekaboo Productions team members -- assistant director Maria Fatima Francisco, scriptwriter and production designer Sandra Jade Villa, production manager Geneva Paula Mae Espejo, director of photography and colorist Sherwin Frondozo, and production designer, editor and sound designer Natalie Dones.

UFF is an annual event which highlights student and independent films, both short and feature-length projects, that promote and preserve the country's cultural and heritage values.

The Pangasinan-based competition is mainly sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and supported by the Film Development Council of the Philippines and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.

TEDxMiriamCollege AFTERMATH: Breaking New Grounds

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Life's trials from the past have completely honed us into what we are today and has been continuously opening new opportunities we didn't even think about. Now, how are we going to make use of all the experiences we had as we continue to embark the journey we chose?

On January 19, 2019 (Saturday), TEDxMiriamCollege will hold its third conference entitled, "AFTERMATH: Breaking New Grounds" at the Henry Sy Innovation Center, Miriam College, Quezon City from 1:00PM to 5:00PM. It seeks to converge the outcome on how a person is headed towards the path they took, and will practically deal in evoking the society about the result and growth of everything that is surrounding us.

The conference is open to the whole Miriam College community and even to other communities who are interested to take part in this remarkable event. Interested applicants may sign-up at https://tinyurl.com/TEDxMiriamCollegeApplication. Deadline of Application is on November 10, 2018 (Saturday) at 11:59PM.

For more information and updates about TEDxMiriamCollege, kindly visit their Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/TEDxMiriamCollege/

About TEDx, x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or fewer) delivered by today's leading thinkers and doers. Many of these talks are given at TED's annual conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, and made available, free, on TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Monica Lewinsky, Philippe Starck,  Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Sal Khan and Daniel Kahneman.

TED's open and free initiatives for spreading ideas include TED.com, where new TED Talk videos are posted daily; the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as translations from thousands of volunteers worldwide; the educational initiative TED-Ed; the annual million-dollar TED Prize, which funds exceptional individuals with a "wish," or idea, to create change in the world; TEDx, which provides licenses to  thousands of individuals and groups who host local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; and the TED Fellows program, which selects innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

For more information and updates about TED, kindly like their Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/TED/ and follow them on Twitter: @TEDTalks

Early Detection and Depression: What Filipinas Should Know About Breast Cancer

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With almost 25,000 new cases this year, breast cancer ranks first in cancer incidence among all other cancers here in the Philippines. In fact, one in every 13 Filipinas is expected to develop the disease in her lifetime.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month — a worldwide campaign held annually to raise awareness on the disease. With the World Health Organization reporting that early detection remains the best protection as the causes of breast cancer are still unknown, this awareness month is crucial to increase understanding of the disease in the Philippines.

Early detection

In the Philippines, breast cancer screening is often seen as a burden and there is a false belief that breast cancer is a sure killer, even if caught in the early stages. The ICanServe Foundation, a breast cancer advocacy group in the Philippines, promotes early breast cancer detection, which encompasses education about breast cancer, breast self-exam (BSE), clinical exam, and mammography. Citing the American Cancer Society, ICanServe suggests women should perform a monthly BSE by the age of 20, schedule an annual clinical exam upon turning 30, and have their annual mammography by the time they hit 40.

Alya Honasan, ICanServe member and veteran writer and editor, was diagnosed at 49: “I was lucky because it was detected early,” she shared. Having always had regular checks, Alya stopped in 2011, and when she found time again in 2013, her doctor discovered a lump that didn’t look benign.

Due to her early detection, and after having multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, Alya successfully completed treatment in 2014. In a recent interview, she referenced both post-treatment depression and support groups as important topics of treatment that are not often discussed.

Post-treatment depression

“Of course, it’s normal to be depressed while you have it, but in my case, I was depressed after,” Alya revealed. In a study, it was found that up to 50% of women diagnosed with early breast cancer had depression and/or anxiety in the year after diagnosis; 25% in the second, third, and fourth years; and 15% in the fifth year. This may be attributed to factors such as adjusting to life after treatment and having worries about breast cancer recurring.

A number of treatments for depression are available,7, and Alya found comfort in seeking professional help and therapy: “It also helps that my psychiatrist is a cancer survivor, so we speak the same language.”

Breast cancer buddies

Aside from seeking professional help, having a support group around you is essential during and after treatment — moms, daughters, and spouses are great point persons. Alya had fellow Bicol native and ex-Marine Ernesto Lozada, aka Kuya Kulot, who was assigned to her by her older brother and who drove her to and from chemo and work just like a true kuya or big brother. “If I’m not done with work by 9 PM, bubusina na nang bubusina yan sa labas (he would honk the horn repeatedly until I came out of the building). He was quite the disciplinarian but was also malambing (affectionate), always there to reassure me that I am loved,” Alya recalled.





Alya with her breast cancer buddies: retired Marine Sergeant Ernesto Lozada or Kuya Kulot, and her eldest dog or panganay Kikay

Aside from friends such as Kuya Kulot, workmates, and family, Alya also had a spiritual group and ICanServe Foundation to lean on. ICanServe’s flagship project, Ating Dibdibin (Take Your Breast Care to Heart), is the Philippines’ first community-based breast cancer screening program, launched in 2009 under the auspices of the American Cancer Society and with a grant from Pfizer.

Pfizer’s heritage and innovation in breast cancer

Pfizer’s legacy in breast cancer spans nearly two decades, being a leader in awareness campaigns, advocacy partnerships, and pioneering treatments. Among its latest breakthroughs in research and development is a therapy targeted for specific mutations in breast cancer, which is a significant advancement in first-line treatment of breast cancer in 10 years.

“We believe that more than the breakthrough therapies that Pfizer develops, our success is also measured by how we are helping redefine life with cancer,” Dr. Veronica Prasad, Medical Manager for Pfizer Oncology in the Philippines, shared. “We want the breast cancer community to know that they are not alone in their journey, and that Pfizer goes beyond treatments to help them live their best lives despite the disease.”