Two Filipino Films To Compete in the Sundance Film Festival

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

 

The largest independent film festival in the United States selects a Filipino feature film and a short film to take part in its 38th edition of the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah to be held from January 20 to 30, 2022.

Competing in the prestigious World Cinema Dramatic section is Martika Escobar’s feature film Ang Pagbabalik ng Kwago (Leonor Will Never Die), while short film The Headhunter’s Daughter by Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan is part of the Shorts Program 4 section. Both films will have their world premiere and onsite delegates at the festival.

“The selection of two Filipino films chosen to participate in the Sundance Film Festival, one of the world’s largest and most influential independent film festivals, is already a huge win for Philippine Cinema. We are proud that our country’s delegation to Sundance will be led by two promising independent filmmakers, especially Martika and her film which were part of the Agency’s Full Circle Lab Philippines and CreatePHFilms funding program,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

A Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) CreatePHFilm fund grantee and a Full Circle Lab alumni, Ang Pagbabalik ng Kwago (Leonor Will Never Die) is about retired screenwriter Leonor, who becomes the action hero in her own screenplay after falling into a coma. The film’s delegation, including director Escobar and producers Monster Jimenez and Mario Cornejo, will fly to Utah to attend the festival onsite.

The Headhunter’s Daughter tells the story of Lynn, an aspiring country singer and her trusty brown horse July, who endure an arduous descent along the Cordilleran highlands to make it on time for the audition of her dreams in the city. Her journey leads her to a path where her indigenous identity is confronted by the unseen forces of the landscape’s colonial American past. Director Eblahan will be attending the festival together with US-based producer Hannah Schierbeek.

Since 1978, the annual Sundance has brought artists and audiences together from all over the world, championing stories that inspire new ideas and amplify original voices in support of independent storytelling.

The Sundance Film Festival 2022 organized by Sundance Institute will be held in a hybrid format that will run from January 20 to 30, 2022.

SSS reminds members of guidelines in filing of UMID Card applications

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The Social Security System (SSS) is reminding its members who would want to apply for a Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID) Card to follow the application guidelines implemented in its branches to minimize their risk of exposure to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Under the guidelines, members may submit their UMID Card applications at SSS branches following the number coding system. They may also set first an appointment with their preferred branch using the Appointment System in the My.SSS Member Portal.

The list of SSS branches accepting UMID Card applications can be accessed at https://bit.ly/UMIDAppFacilities.

“We encourage our members to accomplish the UMID Card Application Form before going to their preferred SSS branch to lessen the time they will spend in them,” SSS President and CEO Aurora C. Ignacio said.
Together with the properly accomplished UMID Card Application Form, members are also required to bring one primary valid ID, or in its absence, two secondary valid IDs.

UMID Card Application Forms can be downloaded through the SSS website at https://bit.ly/UMIDAppForm.

Starting September 27, 2021, the SSS gradually resumed the acceptance of UMID Card applications in its branches.

Qualified to apply for SSS-issued UMID Cards are members with at least one posted contribution. It is free of charge for first-time applicants, but for those who lost their UMID Cards or need to update them, they will have to pay a P200 replacement fee at the SSS branch.

“The SSS is the only authorized institution that accepts applications and issues UMID Cards for its members working in the private sector. The biometrics data capturing, which is an important process in the issuance of UMID Cards, is currently done only through our branches. We are reminding our members to refrain from transacting with fixers to avoid any inconvenience,” Ignacio added.

Meanwhile, members who applied for an SS Number online beginning December 10, 2020, will no longer need to fill out a UMID Card Application Form. They just need to set an appointment with their preferred SSS branch for biometric data capture and present their printed SS Number application and transaction number slip.

The SSS advises its members that there will be delays in the production and availability of UMID Cards until further notice. A notification will be issued to UMID applicants when their cards are available for pick-up. For members who are applying for work in Taiwan, the SSS will continue to issue certification in lieu of the SSS-issued UMID Card to facilitate their visa application.

For more information, visit the uSSSap Tayo Portal at https://crms.sss.gov.ph, follow the SSS on Facebook at “Philippine Social Security System - SSS,” Instagram and YouTube at “mysssph,” Twitter at “PHLSSS,” or join its Viber Community at “MYSSSPH Updates.”

4 Tips for Building Great Teams

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Many people understand that it takes more than their efforts to become successful. They need the support of the right people to get their desired results. When you have diverse individuals working together, they can overcome many challenges as each member can bring unique ideas and solutions. As such, a lot of team leaders realize that great teams are developed and don’t just happen by chance.

If you are looking into developing your unit and need talented individuals to help you reach your business goals, here are some tips for building great teams.

 

Refine the Recruitment Plan

Building a great team starts with the individuals you hire into the company. This is why the hiring process is a crucial step that you’ll want to be involved in. Fast hiring in Davao or where your office is located can help you fill up vacancies quickly, and having a checklist of requirements can make it easier to choose the right candidate. Focus on the skills you are looking for and consider how the new recruit will fit with the rest of the team.

To do this, make sure you include both hard and soft skills you are looking for in the job postings. Hard skills are teachable abilities and they are often easy to quantify based on educational degrees, test scores, and other certifications. Such skills can easily be found on an applicant’s resume. On the other hand, soft skills refer to interpersonal skills or the way a person relates and interacts with other people. These are subjective skills and harder to quantify but abilities like time management and work ethic are important considerations for working in a team.

Since it’s not enough for applicants to say they possess certain skills, you need to uncover this through a comprehensive interview process. In the last interview, focus on the candidate’s habits by asking open-ended questions. It will help you discover their behaviors and competencies. Compared to the previous interviews where you ask questions that are work-related and measure the applicant’s knowledge, the final interview is when you can have a better understanding of the candidate as a person. It can also help you determine if an individual is a great fit for your team.

 

Equip Members with the Right Tools

If you want your employees to perform well, you need to help them develop and improve their skills. The first few weeks of the job should be designed to help new team members adjust to the organization and learn the ropes. In many instances, newly-hired employees are given an orientation about the company and introduced to other team members. They may also be asked to shadow an experienced employee as a way to learn about their jobs. While this can work for some people, it is not as purposeful. Instead, focus on teaching newly-hired members about their responsibilities and expected results. It is also best if you can give them a rundown on what a typical day might look like for them. Then, provide a period of adjustment for members to get accustomed to your company’s process and ways of working. Some companies dedicate up to 60 days for the adjustment period.

 

Create an Environment Conducive to the Members’ Well-Being

Many people know that success requires a lot of hard work. But if this is the only focus, success will not be sustainable. This is why you also need to pay attention to the overall well-being of every member of your team. As jobs can sometimes be mentally and physically taxing, you need to ensure team members are able to adequately rest and recover. Consider offering benefits or programs that allow employees to take care of their physical and mental health. Good work etiquette, like being respectful of work hours and leaves, is also important for a good work environment. By creating a healthy work-life balance, your team members can avoid burnout and have the energy to go the extra mile to achieve your team’s success.


Foster Team Spirit

Cultivating a strong team spirit can drive employee success and retention. When you engage people, they can feel a sense of belongingness and develop loyalty. You can achieve this by having consistent meetings where all members can talk about their tasks and challenges. During these meetings, encourage all members to contribute ideas. Being able to share their inputs can make members feel valued and respected. You can also use the time to effectively communicate expectations so everyone understands their responsibilities.

Another way to foster teamwork is by creating team goals. It helps members to come together and be on the same page. When members work on a collective goal, it makes them feel they are contributing to the success of the team.

A lot of talented individuals can contribute to your business objectives. By following the suggestions mentioned above, you can ensure these people become part of your growing team and continue to play an active role. While the road to success can be challenging, it is possible to achieve when you have great teams working with you.