‘Mañanita’ Star Bela Padilla Shines at Tokyo Film Fest

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Mañanita" director Paul Soriano and actress Bela Padilla (Photo from the Filipino-Japanese Journal)

Bela Padilla, together with director Paul Soriano, graced the red carpet at the prestigious 32nd Tokyo International Film Festival to represent “Mañanita” last October 28, 2019.

Produced under Ten17P and VIVA Films and penned by award-winning filmmaker Lav Diaz, “Mañanita” is among the eight Filipino films featured in the Festival. The drama-suspense film was given a Graded A by the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB).

"Mañanita" director Paul Soriano and actress Bela Padilla (Photo from Marinel Cruz)

Bela first participated in the Tokyo Film Fest last 2016 for “I America” by Ivan Andrew Payawal, which competed in the Asian Future category.

“The red carpet event last night was different than the first time. I was nervous, but at the same time, super calm. Maybe because we’re here already at terms I didn’t expect at all,” said Bela Padilla.

She added, “I didn’t know we were part of the main competition until our press con a few weeks ago, and that in itself is already a huge blessing for me. There are so many interesting films this year, and I’m just happy to be here.”

Meanwhile, director Paul noted that this is also his second time in the Tokyo Film Fest as his film "Kid Kulafu" had its Japanese premiere under the Festival's CrossCut Asia Section last 2015. For this year's Tokyo Film Fest, he shared, "We had a really successful world premiere and a great Q and A right after the screening. The audience really embraced the film and really got what I was trying to say.”

He also mentioned, "I was also told that out of over a thousand submissions, they included ‘Mañanita’ in the 14 competition films, so it’s just truly an honor. We’re really excited and honored to represent the Philippines here in Tokyo.”

“Mañanita” revolves around a female sniper who loses her job and spends her nights getting drunk in a bar–until a phone call changes everything.

The film had its world premiere last October 29, 2019 at the EX Theater Roponggi and will screen nationwide this December 4, 2019.

The 32nd Tokyo International Film Festival runs from October 28 until November 5, 2019.

21st Global Pinoy Bazaar at The Fifth

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Uniting Filipino entrepreneurs to have a mindset of excellence and passion to develop and make homegrown products made with one hundred percent Filipino love and pride has been a staple project of Yabang Pinoy. From the moment it was conceptualized, it is clear for the movement that one of the most powerful solutions to elevate the economic terms of the country is to continuously believe and support Filipino products, ideas and services that are proudly made in the Philippines. This statement holds true until now.

On the road to the movement’s fifteen years of celebrating Filipino Pride since 2005, Yabang Pinoy presents the 21ST GLOBAL PINOY BAZAAR, the biggest gathering of Yabang Pinoy partner-brands and pioneering in showcasing a wide range of products, concepts and services that champion Filipino ingenuity and craftsmanship.

The 21ST GLOBAL PINOY BAZAAR showcases an extensive array of Filipino brands and products that will entice each market segment. One can find the Yabang Pinoy partner-brands that are present over the years such as Iconic Socks, The School of Satchel, Gouache, Hodge Podge, Straightforward, Sustainably Made by MARSSE Tropical Timber, Misispi, Mia Casa, Designs by Abby Jocson, My Journey, and Foodsource. The bazaar will also feature new and competitive players in the market such as Shop & Paul, Gira, Heart Factory, Bounty Sprouts, Holly’s, Pacaro, Gene + Jas, Bath & Buddy, and Aromatik Artisan Fragrances.

Yabang Pinoy encourages every person to make a difference and contribute to the booming Filipino marketplace by choosing local this Christmas. It will not only support local craftsmanship and creativity but will also skyrocket the effort of each and every Filipino entrepreneur in the holiday season.

In the yuletide spirit and merry-making of Christmas in the Philippines, Yabang Pinoy invites everyone to complete your gift list for your family, friends, and colleagues and let us all shop at the 21st Global Pinoy Bazaar. This will be held on November 30 and December 1, 2019 (Saturday and Sunday) at The Fifth in Rockwell, Power Plant Mall, Makati City.

DOST-SEI Awards 207 Scholarships Under Bangon Marawi Program

Wazzup Pilipinas!

207 Qualifiers of the Bangon Marawi Program on STHRD signed the Scholarship Contract as they begin their journeys as DOST Scholars to help Marawi City get back on its feet.


Two years since the siege, Marawi City is onwards to its full recovery.

Providing a boost to its resurgence is the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute’s (DOST-SEI) Bangon Marawi Program in Science and Technology Human Resource Development (STHRD), which recently awarded a total of 207 scholarships in the undergraduate and graduate levels for students from the city.

A total of 177 Bachelor of Science (BS), 27 Master of Science (MS), and three Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) qualifiers under the Batch 2 of the Bangon Marawi Program in STHRD was approved by DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña last September 5, 2019. Most of these qualifiers then signed the Scholarship Agreement on October 16 at the Mindanao State University-Main Campus in Marawi City.

DOST-SEI Director, Dr. Josette T. Biyo, led in orientating the qualifiers on the scholarship policies. Once documentary requirements have been validated, the newly hailed scholars will begin receiving financial assistance such as monthly stipend and book allowance for the First Semester AY 2019-2020. These will be released through the Project Coordinator at MSU – Iligan Institute of Technology in Iligan City.

Dr. Henry P. Aringa, Project Leader of the Program at MSU-Marawi, lauded DOST-SEI’s efforts in helping build back the once progressing city. He urged the qualifiers to maximize the opportunity by pursuing excellence in their studies and later on serve the city.

Biyo likewise congratulated the grantees and urged them to finish their courses to help their families recover from the impacts of the siege. “This program seeks to have a long-term effect on your city as we want you to be the ones to spark the rehabilitation of human and social infrastructures of Marawi,” she remarked.

Biyo also mentioned that the DOST-SEI provided a Learning Resource Center (LRC) not only for the scholars under the Bangon Marawi Program but for all DOST Scholars under the RA 7687, RA 10612, and Merit Scholarship Programs, as well as for graduate scholars under the Science and Technology Regional Alliance for National Development (Project STRAND). The LRC, which began operation last September 27, is equipped with 15 desktop computers, a laptop, and a printer/scanner that can be used for academic research, tutorials, and other activities.

The Program, which began early 2018, was able to help hundreds of affected students pursue their studies. Notably, out of the 217 BS, 20 MS, and 10 Ph.D. scholars from the first batch of beneficiaries, 131 have already graduated of which three and nine earned Magna cum laude and Cum laude honors, respectively.

“This is proof that despite the damages brought about by the siege, the people of Marawi have remained strong and hopeful. In the next few years, we believe that the Bangon Marawi scholars are already equipped with the knowledge and skills to bring a new dawn to Marawi,” Biyo said.