Bea Alonzo, Judy Ann Santos Among Honorees for FDCP’s 4th Film Ambassadors’ Night

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has released the list of honorees for this year’s Film Ambassadors’ Night (FAN), to be held on February 9. This year, FDCP will be recognizing 63 honorees as ‘Film Ambassadors.’ The honorees consist of the many Filipino film industry artists, filmmakers, and films across genres and formats that received awards in film festivals abroad.

This year’s FAN honorees comprise of seven categories, namely: short films, TV awards, technical & creative awards, actors, full-length films, special citations, and A-Listers. This last category, which celebrates those who have won awards in the most prestigious "A-List" international film festivals around the world, headlines the honorees. These “A-List” film festivals include the big three: Cannes, Venice, and Berlin, as well as a select number of major festivals around the globe according to the list of FIAPF.

Our A-Listers this year include Brillante Mendoza’s Mindanao, winning Best Narrative Film, Judy Ann Santos as Best Actress in the Cairo International Film Festival in Egypt, Jun Robles Lana for winning best director in his film Kalel, 15, in the 2019 Tallinn Blacknights International Film Festival and the documentary film Aswang, directed by Alyx Ayn Arumpac which won the Fipresci Prize in International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), the most prestigious film festival in the field of documentary filmmaking. Raymund Ribay Guttierez's film Verdict, the official Philippine entry to this year's Oscars holds the highest award our country has achieved this year, having claimed the Special Jury Prize in the Orizzonti section of the Venice International Film Festival last 2019.

Other honorary ‘Film Ambassadors’ include Maja Salvador for her ‘Best Actress’ performance in Wildflower, Bea Alonzo for her ‘Asian Stars Up Next Award,’ and the critically-acclaimed, multi-award-winning films Signal Rock (dir. Chito Rono) and Balangiga: Howling Wilderness (dir. Khavn Dela Cruz). The late Kristoffer King will receive posthumous honors for his role in Kristo as well.

The late veteran actors Eddie Garcia and Tony Mabesa, who starred in Joel Lamangan’s award-winning Rainbow’s Sunset, will also be receiving posthumous honors during the Film Ambassador’s Night. Adding to their already illustrious careers, both actors tied in the “Best Actor” category during the 52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival and were part of the “Best Ensemble Cast” victory in New York’s International Film Festival 2019 alongside the rest of Rainbow’s Sunset’s lead cast.

“These ‘Film Ambassadors’ display the diversity and the wide spectrum of our national film industry. They exemplify the best that Philippine cinema has to offer, and as its cream of the crop they promote Philippine cinema internationally, therefore empowering our local film industry and strengthening our cultural heritage.” FDCP Chair Liza Dino said.

The new honorees will join the over 200 filmmakers and other members of the film industry who have been recognized by FDCP for their success in the international arena since the event’s inaugural night in 2017. Past honorees have featured and covered the various spheres of Philippine cinema, from blockbuster films such as The Hows of Us starring Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla to indie filmmakers such as Lav Diaz and Kidlat Tahimik.

FDCP’s Fourth Annual Film Ambassadors’ night kicks-off an eventful year for the agency as it leads the celebration of Sine Sandaan, the centennial year commemoration of Philippine cinema.

 

FILM AMBASSADORS' NIGHT HONOREES:

 

SHORT FILMS

 

1. BREECH ASHER HARANI

 

NEXT TO ME 

JCS International Young Creatives Award

International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

International Emmy World Television Festival

New York City, New York, USA

 

2. JULLIENNE ROASA

 

ELON'S WAY

Best Student Film

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

3. EMIR KAHN BAUTISTA

 

MISS CONCEPCION

Audience Choice Award

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

4. JOHN LANBERT RAFOLS, JAY CONDENO, JOHN NICO NUNAG

 

YERO

Best Short Documentary

21 Islands International Short Film Festival

New York, USA

 

5. MARK DELA CRUZ

 

AMOR FALSO

Best Short Film

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

6. RAYMUND RIBAY GUTIERREZ

 

JUDGEMENT

Gold Remi Dramatic – Original

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

7. JOJI ALONSO

 

LAST ORDER

Platinum Remi Award - Short film

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

8. LOUIE IGNACIO

 

NGITI NI NAZARENO

Jury Award 

Innuendo International Film Festival

Milan, Italy

 

9. ARJAN REBETA

 

PALABAS (A COUNTRY IN MOVING PICTURES)

Signs Award – Short Film Section

17th Festival International Signs of the Night – Zeichen Der Nacht

Berlin, Germany

 

Best Short Film

15th Mini Film Festival

Sarawak, Malaysia

 

Best International Short Film 

Short Film Festival on Cultural Diversity and Peace by Dhaka University Film Society 

Dhaka, Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

 

Telefon Art Category Top Prize Winner

12th Szczecin Film Festival

Szczecin, Poland

 

MA-GULONG SAYAW NG BUHAY (THE COMPLICATED DANCE TO THE WHEEL OF LIFE)

Second Best Short Film

Maandeshi International Short Film Festival

Sangola, Maharashtra, India

 

VIRAL GIRL

Best Child Short Film

Maandeshi International Short Film Festival

Sangola, Maharashtra , India

 

A BOXING COUNTRY

Best Short Film

ANPUD Short Film Competition 2019 

Bangkok, Thailand

 

Best Experimental Short Film

Dolgoji Experimental Shorts 

Seoul, South Korea

 

WING CHAIR

Best Short Documentary 

LAMP» International Film Festival 2019 

Perm, Russia

 

Jury Award 

10th Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival – 

PESTA10 Filmmakers’ Competition 

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

 

AT HOME

Best Documentary Film    

3rd Asia Peace Film Festival 

Lahore, Pakistan

 

 

TELEVISION DOCUMENTARIES

 

1. THE ATOM ARAULLO SPECIALS: BABIES FOR SALE (GMA 7)

Gold Camera Award

US International Film and Video Festival

Chicago, Illinois, USA

 

2. THE ATOM ARAULLO SPECIALS: NO LEFTOVERS (GMA 7)

Gold Camera Award

US International Film and Video Festival

Chicago, Illinois, USA

 

3. I-WITNESS (HOWIE SEVERINO TEAM): ISLANG WALANG LUPA (GMA 7)

Silver Screen Award

US International Film and Video Festival

Chicago, Illinois, USA

 

4. FRONT ROW: PASAN (GMA 7)

Silver Screen Award

US International Film and Video Festival

Chicago, Illinois, USA

 

5. INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTARIES: PIITAN (GMA 7)

Silver Screen Award

US International Film and Video Festival

Chicago, Illinois, USA

 

6. LOCAL LEGENDS: KARNE NORTE (ABS-CBN)

Bronze World Medal

2019 New York Festivals “World’s Best TV and Films”

New York, USA

 

SHORT FILM DOCUMENTARIES

 

7. NO MAN LEFT BEHIND

Directed by Ella Mage

Best Feature Documentary

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

FULL-LENGTH FILM DOCUMENTARIES

 

8. CALL HER GANDA

Directed by PJ Raval

Produced by Jim Butterworth, Daniel J. Chalfen, James Costa, 

Abigail Disney, Barbara Dobkin

Audience Choice Award

Seattle Asian American Film Festival 2019

Washington, USA

 

Best Feature Film

Seattle Asian American Film Festival 2019

Washington, USA

 

 

TECHNICAL AND CREATIVE AWARDS

 

1. ROMM BURLAT

Best Director - Ama Ka Ng Anak Mo

16th We Care Film Festival

New Delhi, India

 

2. ERIC RAMOS

Best Story Innovation - Rainbow Sunset

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

3. MATTHEW ROSEN & MARIA ROWELLA TALUSIG

Gold Remi Best Art Direction - Quezon’s Game

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

4. MAC COSICO

Best Cinematography - Musmos Na Sumibol Sa Gubat ng Digma

Festival Internacional de Cinema da Figueira da Foz (Film Art 2019)

Coimbra, Portugal

 

5. RODY VERA

Best Script - Asian Competition Section - Signal Rock

17th Dhaka International Film Festival

Dhaka, Bangladesh

 

6. CARLO ORTEGA CUEVAS 

Best Screenplay - Guerrero

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

7. MIKKO QUIZON

Best Sound Effects – Nabubulok

Formosa Festival of International Filmmaker Awards

Taiwan

 

8. MATTHEW ROSEN 

Gold Remi Best Director - Quezon’s Game

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

 

ACTORS

 

1. KRYSTLE CAMPOS

Best Child Artist - VIRAL KIDS

Maandeshi International Short Film Festival

Sangola, Maharashtra , India

 

2. GERALDO "JEK" JUMAWAN

Best Actor - Special Mention Citation - Nothing Beats the Oldies

Lake City International Film Festival

New Delhi, India

 

3. SOLIMAN CRUZ

Special Mention for the Signs Award - Viral Kids

17th Festival International Signs of the Night

Bangkok, Thailand

 

4. MAJA SALVADOR

Best Actress - Wildflower

Asian Content Awards 

Busan, South Korea

 

5. DANTE RIVERO

Best Actor Award - Kung Paano Hinihintay ang Dapithapon

39th Fantasporto-Oporto International Film Festival

Porto, Portugal

 

6. BARBARA MIGUEL

Best Supporting Actress - 1-2-3

ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards 2019

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

 

7. OGIE ALCASID

Best Actor -  Kuya Wes

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

8. GLORIA ROMERO

Best Actress - Rainbow Sunset

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

9. EDDIE GARCIA, TONY MABESA, GLORIA ROMERO, AIKO MELENDEZ, TIRSO CRUZ, SHIDO ROXAS, ALBIE CASINO, ROSS PESIGAN

Best Ensemble Acting - Rainbow Sunset

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

10. ANGELI BAYANI

Best Actress - Bagahe

15th Zagora International Trans-Sahara Film Festival

Morocco

 

11. INA RAYMUNDO

Best Actress - Kuya Wes

39th Fantasporto-Oporto International Film Festival

Porto, Portugal

 

12. AI-AI DELAS ALAS

Best Actress - School Service

39th Fantasporto-Oporto International Film Festival

Porto, Portugal

 

13. CRISEL CONSUNJI 

Best New Performer - Still Human

38th Hong Kong Film Awards

Kowloon, Hong Kong

 

14. MAXINE EIGENMANN 

Best Performance by an Actress - Verdict

13th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA)

Brisbane, Australia

 

15. KRISTOFFER KING (Posthumous Award)

Best Male Actor - Kristo

ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards 2019

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

 

Best Performance - Verdict

Silver Screen Awards

30th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF)

Singapore

 

 

16.  TONY MABESA 

Best Actor Award - Rainbow Sunset

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

17. EDDIE GARCIA

Best Actor Award - Rainbow Sunset

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

FULL-LENGTH

 

1. ARIA

Directed by Carlo Enciso Catu

Best Feature Film

Lake City International Film Festival

India

 

2. RAINBOW SUNSET

Directed by Joel Lamangan

Special Jury Prize

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

Best Feature Film

International Film Festival Manhattan 2019

Manhattan, New York, USA

 

3. SIGNAL ROCK 

Directed by Chito Rono

Best Film

Asean International Film Festival & Awards 2019

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

 

4. SCHOOL SERVICE

Directed by Louie Ignacio

Orient Express Special Jury Prize

39th Fantasporto-Oporto International Film Festival

Porto, Portugal

 

Gold Remi Foreign

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

5. QUEZON’S GAME

Directed by Matthew Rosen

Special Jury Award First Feature

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

Best Foreign Movie of the Year

52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival

Houston, Texas, USA

 

6. BALANGIGA: HOWLING WILDERNESS

Directed by Khavn

Best Jury Prize

5th Bangkok ASEAN Film Festival

Bangkok, Thailand

 

7. HINTAYAN NG LANGIT

Directed by Dan Villegas

The Golden Samaritan Lion: To The Sincere Play-Acting

2019 Festival International Film East and 

West Classics and Avante-Garde

Orenburg, Russia

 

8. PAN DE SALAWAL

Directed by Che Espiritu

Best Narrative Feature Award

14th Belize International Film Festival

Belize City, Belize

 

9. MUSMOS NA SUMIBOL SA GUBAT NG DIGMA 

Directed by Iar Arondaing

Special Jury Prize

18th Baikal International Film Festival

Irkutsk, Russia Siberia

 

10. MAMANG

Directed by Denise O’Hara

Best Feature Film

17th Dhaka International Film Festival

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Four Casinos Making a Killing in Online Sports Betting

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Many people still question the legality of online gambling in America. However, after a lengthy court battle, the Supreme Court upheld New Jersey’s appeal to have sports betting legalized.

The legalization wasn’t equally apprehended in all states, leading to some people supporting the move, and others opting not to abide by the ruling.

Nowadays, online betting is legal, but accessing these platforms is geographically limited.

By this, it means that you do not need to be residents of a given state to place your bet online, but rather, you have to be in the country that allows gambling for you to bet. This might be challenging, especially for those in regions where online sports gambling is limited.

Reasons Behind Online Sports Betting Popularity in the USA

Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Indiana, and West Virginia are among the states that have passed gambling legalization bills, with the rest set to follow a similar route.

However, these are only a fraction of the 54 states in the USA, but online betting is still producing huge chunks of money. Nevada casinos took in nearly $1.06 billion in winnings in September 2019, which is a 6.8% monthly gambling increase.

So, Are There Reports Showing Illegal Betting in the USA

There are many concerns over many people accessing online betting through offshore sportsbooks, and this makes sense, given the recent growth and development of the firms.

American Gaming Association estimates that Americans illegally wager $150 billion every year. People in states where betting isn’t legalized yet can likewise use VPNs and access these sites with ease.

Likewise, according to Weekly Slots News, black market sports gambling brings about $150 billion annually.

However, under this section, our main interest is to educate on the reasons behind online betting popularity. So, why are many people interested in the platforms?

· Unsurpassed welcome and loyalty bonuses

There is no doubt that promotions and rewards will work like a charm in making people use your service. Luckily enough, the trick works perfectly for online sports betting companies as they give you money to make money even though it’s rare to scoop huge wins using these bonuses.

The wagering rules when using these rewards are a calculated risk. If you experience luck at this stage, there’s a likelihood you will deposit more money and seek to keep up the winning streak.

· Ease of access

The easy to access website and apps make many people find it fun playing these games via phones or computers. Apart from those in geographically restricted areas, others in betting legalized regions will access the platform any time they want.

· Fast payouts

One way of making a gambler happy is ensuring they receive their winnings as soon as the game ends. Luckily enough, some sites will settle live bets as soon as your prediction stands, and you don’t have to wait for the game to end.

Away from that, many sites will allow you to stake small amounts, which makes the service affordable to many people. That said, let’s have a look at four of the best online betting sites in the US.

Bovada

The site has now been perfectly established to gain many US players' trust. It is arguably the best online sports betting site in the country, and the high number of players accessing the platform might offer enough evidence of that.

Among the many reasons why gamblers join the site is because they get more than online sports betting. There are also unlimited casinos, which you can easily access using the same wallet.

The multiple payment methods incorporated here also make you think about the ease and speed of transacting. Besides that, there is a wide variety of bonuses and promotions to keep players motivated as they cut losses.

GT Bets

Highly credible and legit, the site is surely among the top choices recommended for US citizens, even though its service is limited to a few states. The platform’s long history and exceptional features have made many fall in love with it.

Here, there are a lot of bonuses ranging from welcome to loyalty rewards. Likewise, you shouldn’t have an issue with accessing the site due to the recent website upgrades. You can now enjoy first-hand gambling experiences with a swift and easy to use interface.

Lastly, the platform is mobile-friendly to enable you to access it wherever you are. Unlike many mobile-friendly websites, this is easy to use and lite, to ensure you get the ideal swiftness even in areas with slow connections.

Intertops

Being in the industry for over 20 years, it would be unfair to state that the oldest online sports site only paved the way for other platforms. Fairly speaking, the site hasn’t lost its taste in serving its customers right yet, and that’s a great achievement to maintain for such a period.

Without a doubt, their customer support service is top-notch. Odds here are highly competitive, and the many payment methods available ease your transactions. For beginners, there isn’t a better choice to join.

The sign-up process is simple, and the platform is accessible in multiple languages. Likewise, beginners can enjoy the services of a site with the lowest minimum stake here.

BetMGM

It is tough to miss the site on the mentions as it has now developed to outdo most of its competitors. The rebuild process began after the 2011-2012 scandals, and now the firm is established in ensuring you get the best for your money.

The site’s highly responsive customer staff and unmatched promotions are its main marketing tools. There are also multiple withdrawal options, even though new players are limited in terms of deposit amounts. Lastly, the number of games you can bet on is fascinating, and unique features like live betting also exist. If you want to learn more about the site, here’s a review to help you with that.


Final Thoughts

Conclusively, most sites under review offer exceptional customer services and bonuses with reasonable requirements. Therefore, make an effort to sign up and try your sports betting luck without wasting much time.

Likewise, since these sites are mobile-friendly, take advantage of the situation by researching and placing more winning bets with ease. Remember sports betting bonuses change, and as explained in Canyonnews, look for sites which require a playthrough only of the bonus amount.

10 Awesome Products To Help You Hit Your Running Goals in 2019

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As serious athletes and runners, it’s important to have good gear, from your shoes to your sports bra to your sweatband.

As strong women, we want to work harder, run faster, and last longer when it comes to our fitness. Here are 10 items to help us reach those goals, while also keeping us comfortable and not sacrificing on style.

1. Nike Free RN Flyknits ($120)
Yes, they’re trendy and stunning to look at, but more importantly the Nike Free RN Flyknits are lightweight, flexible, and durable. They’ll keep your feet cushioned without slowing you down. With an airy, barefoot feel and a sleek fit, you’ll start hitting your health goals in no time. Plus, they come in wide selection of colors so you can pick whichever goes with your style.

2. Kool8 Water Bottle ($24.99)
Hydration is key, as every runner know. The Kool8 Water Bottle holds your water and keeps it cool, so as soon as you get back from your run you can quickly cool down. It’s also a great way to make sure you stay hydrated all day and monitor your water intake, since it holds 18 ounces of water. Plus, it comes with a tea infuser so you can spice your water routine up a bit when needed.

3. Under Armour Storm Launch Jacket ($75)
Unfortunately, we’ve still got to wait it out until the end of winter and the chill of spring, so it’s important to be ready to face some for the elements. A little rain certainly isn’t going to stop us, but it would be nice to be prepared. Under Armour’s Storm Launch Jacket is water-proof and wind-proof, which will help you battle any elements. Its loose-fitting and stretchy fabric is warm and comfortable and won’t impede your pace. Even better, it has pockets to help store whatever needed items you might have.

4. Fabletics Mila Pocket Capri (2 for $24)
I was sold at the world “sale”. Fabletics’ current sale on both runner’s outfits as well as runner’s leggings means you will be able to get a spare set. Stretchy, form-fitting fabric that moves with your stride keeps you running dynamic and quick. Without being too tight, the leggings are capri form so you have some breathing room, plus a mesh pocket to carry your phone with you while you run. They also have dozens of colors and prints available for you to choose from.

5. Wrist Saver Pepper Spray ($14.95)
As much as we don’t want to think about it, it’s important to stay safe and prepared for anything. The Wrist Saver Pepper Spray is compact and small, so it won’t be difficult to carry on your run, and it has a convenient wrist carrier, so you don’t have to worry about fiddling with a pocket or fanny pack should an emergency arise. Lightweight, easy to use, and made with reflective material, it comes in black and orange and black and pink. It brings all runners a sense of ease and lessens potential worry to have protection with you on the jog.

6. Trail Heads Ponytail Performance Running Beanie ($26.00)
Most of us know that if you keep your head warm, you keep your body warm. But, most of us also know that it’s pretty difficult to fit a ponytail conveniently underneath a beanie. Trail Heads has both beanies and headbands to help keep your head warm, but still allow you the convenience of keeping that ponytail nice and high for your run. Sleek and black, it goes well with whatever running outfit you have on.

7. Nike Run Club App
Okay, now before you say this one seems obvious, let’s look at everything it actually offers. You really need to take a moment and sit down with this app to figure out what part of it is going to work for you. It offers verbal support, running tips, full calendar training and planning to help you reach your goals, motivational excerpts, route tracking, pacing guides, planning for long distance, marathon training and short distance running. Whether your goal is to train for a specific event or simply get more fit, the app is so developed it can personalize your plan to the letter. You may be running alone, but you don’t need to plan on your own.

8. iMangoo Sports Pouch ($9.99)
Available in white or pink, this armband holds more than just the usual phone device. With a zipper sleeve and card slots, you’ll be able to fit all necessities in this pouch. It’s clear screen means you can still work your phone, pause your workout, select your next song, all without taking the phone out. It also has a convenient earbud hole and breathable fabric.

9. Nike Alpha Sports Bra ($55)
Honestly, this one tends to go underrated when we make a list of items we need to run. But truly, the difference it makes on your comfort level, your movability, and ease of impact are tremendous. It’s worth it to invest in a solid high support sports bra. Without thinking, you’ll realize how much further and faster you can go when you don’t have to stop and think about readjusting yourself or stopping all together because there’s too much movement. This one’s worth every penny.


10. Lintelek Fitness Tracker ($28.98)
With FitBits and Apple Watches costing hundreds of dollars, this neat little piece offers the same perks for runners without the cost. Small, sleek, subtle, and unnoticeable on your wrist, this gadget is able to track your activity levels, monitor your sleep patterns, and watch your heart rate. It’s waterproof and sweatproof, so you can wear it for runs in the hot sun or in the cold rain. For your runs, it can help track your pace and distance, as well as calories burned.

Stay fit, stay fast, stay fashionable. 2019 is the chance for women to start fresh, set yourself ourselves up for success, and there’s nothing wrong in indulging in a few items to help us get there!