Regent Seven Seas Cruises Takes Delivery Of The Ship That Perfects Luxury, Seven Seas Splendor

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, the world’s leading luxury ocean cruise line, has welcomed to its fleet the new ship that defines luxury perfected, Seven Seas Splendor. Delivered at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy, Regent’s fifth ship builds on the cruise line’s rich 28-year heritage offering guests An Unrivaled Experience with every luxury included.

At 55,254 gross tons and 735 feet in length, Seven Seas Splendor is Luxury Perfected. On board, the highest benchmarks of personalized service and comforts will be delivered by 551 professional crew members caring for 750 guests in 375 beautifully appointed suites, ranging from 307- to 4,443-square feet. Lavishly designed public spaces include five exquisite and unique restaurants and three elegant bars and lounges, while a $5 million curated art collection, more than 500 crystal chandeliers, and over an acre of Italian marble complement the ship’s sophistication.

“Wherever you turn on Seven Seas Splendor, you will be surrounded by elegance, comfort and hospitality,” said Jason Montague, president and chief executive officer of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “Luxury travelers have anticipated this stunning new ship for more than two years. The day she opened for reservations was the busiest booking day in our company’s history. We thank the talented team at Fincantieri for collaborating with Regent to achieve our ambitious vision of creating the ship that perfects luxury. Seven Seas Splendor demonstrates how Regent continues to deliver An Unrivaled Experience for guests across our fleet.”

“Quality is a hallmark of both Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Fincantieri, and it has been our privilege to construct this important and remarkable ship that reflects Fincantieri’s extensive abilities and its reference presence in the luxury cruise segment, a unique and competitive market niche in the shipbuilding industry,” said Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager, Fincantieri Merchant Ships Division.

Helmed by Captain Serena Melani, the first female captain to take charge of a brand-new ocean cruise ship, Seven Seas Splendor sails her first official voyage on February 6, 2020 from Barcelona, Spain to Miami, Florida. The ship will be christened on February 21, 2020 by her Godmother, the legendary supermodel and actress Christie Brinkley, at a glamorous and elegant ceremony in PortMiami. Seven Seas Splendor will also be showcased to global media and travel partners on preview sailings throughout February and March.

Following her christening event, Seven Seas Splendor cruises the tropical paradises of the Caribbean and Mexican Riviera, which includes two crossings of the Panama Canal and one unique Southern Caribbean cruise from Miami to New York City. In spring, Seven Seas Splendor will traverse the Atlantic Ocean once more for its inaugural European season, offering cultural and historically rich ports of call in one of the world’s most popular regions, the Mediterranean.

DOTr, PPA Inaugurate Port of Claveria to Help Improve Connectivity in Cagayan Province

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Connectivity going to and from Cagayan gets a much-needed boost as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Philippines Ports Authority (PPA) formally inaugurate the Port of Claveria on 03 February 2020.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, together with PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago lead the blessing and inauguration of the port project in the municipality of Claveria, which started construction in 2017 and was completed in October 2019.

The port development project aims to help address the need of the province for an efficient network that integrates land, sea and air transport systems. Among the works carried out in the port were the construction of the Reinforced Concrete Platform to serve as additional backup area, additional Roll-on/Roll-Off (Ro-Ro) ramp to handle increasing cargo traffic, restoration of the causeway, and road repair going to and from the seaport.

Secretary Tugade pointed out that the Port of Claveria is one of the many seaport projects being done by the Duterte administration to continuously improve connectivity and mobility not just for people, but also for goods and commodities across the country.

The transportation chief added that it is also a way of giving back to the place where he came from.

“May kasabihan ‘ho: “Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa kaniyang pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan.” Kaya po ako gumagawa ng mga proyektong ganito kasi tumitingin po ako sa aking pinanggalingan – kung saan ako pinanganak, ito ‘ho ang Claveria.”

“I give you a project, the project of President Rodrigo Duterte, use it, enjoy it, but in Heaven’s name, please take care of it,” Secretary Tugade said.

For his part, PPA General Manager Santiago stressed that there was a need to construct the said seaport in the municipality to establish economic linkages in the Cagayan Valley region that is highly in need of connectivity.

“Nakita kasi natin na kulang na kulang ang connectivity natin sa northern Philippines. Ang pinakamalapit na PPA port sa northern Philippines na nagco-connect sa Batanes ay dito sa Cagayan. Dislocated din ang Calayan Group of Islands so kinakailangan talagang magkaroon tayo ng mga pantalan dito para magkaroon ng accessibility doon sa mga northern islands natin.”

Local Government Officials were also present in the inaugural ceremony, who expressed their gratitude to the President Duterte’s Build, Build, Build program. This, as the seaport will further enhance the upland and lowland communities’ trade, industry, and tourism activities.

“We’re very happy about this project. The governor has always said that the key to Cagayan’s development is ports,” said Atty. Maria Rosario Mamba – Villaflor, Chief of Staff of Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba.

“Magandang blessing ang Claveria Port kasi yung mga turista. Ang target po kasi ng ating mahal na mayor dito is Agri-Tourism. Of course, kapitbahay lang natin ang Ilocos, andami-dami pong mga turista diyan. Nabanggit nga po ng namumuno sa Ilocos na ibigay sa atin ang sobra-sobra nilang mga turista dito. From dito sa port na ‘to, pwede nang mag-dock ang international cruise ship,” 2nd District of Cagayan Board Member Archie Layus said.

Further, apart from the completion of the Claveria port, Secretary Tugade also pledged to finish his second project for the municipality, which is the Pata Lighthouse as well as the establishment of a Regional Office for the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for ease of doing transactions for the locals.

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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