FDCP Counts Down to Film Ambassadors’ Night 2022

 

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

 

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), in anticipation of the 6th Film Ambassadors’ Night, gathered friends from the press last February 22, 2022 in Quezon City.

The FDCP welcomed more than 40 of their media partners at the Agency’s first in-person press conference after two years of holding media events online. About the same number of friends from the press joined the occasion virtually via Zoom.

FDCP Chairperson and CEO, Liza Diño together with Film Ambassadors Adam Dumaguin and Jek Jumawan, shared what’s in store for the honorees at this year’s exclusive Film Ambassadors’ Night that goes with the theme “Beyond Limits” in recognition of the efforts and creative artistry of Filipino filmmakers as shown by their continuous presence in the in the international scene despite the pandemic.

Dumaguin, a 21-year-old filmmaker, won 3rd Place for his debut short film, My House at the AGBO Film - No Sleep ‘til Film Fest in California, USA last May 2021. Dumaguin admits that his win was unexpected, “fast forward to a year from that win, nandito po ako sa harap niyo, until now I’m still taking everything in and using everything for experience.”

Jumawan, a Senior High School teacher, won best actor “Sun of the East Award” for Pas-an (Carried Burdens) at the Tagore International Film Festival in India last April 2021. “Iyong dala mo ang pangalan ng Pilipinas sa paglahok mo roon [international film festivals] at mabigyang parangal, talagang nakakataba ng puso,” Jumawan remarked.

My House is one of the twenty one honorees for the short film category while Jumawan is one of the four short film actor honorees.

John Arcilla, A-List Awardee and one of the recipients of the Camera Obscura Award for On the Job: The Missing 8, graced the event as an online participant. Some of the other honorees who were also present virtually were: Hannah Ragudos, director of the Short Film Honoree Ana Bikhayr (Okay Lang Ako); Khent Cacho, director of the Short Film Honoree Ora Miss Mo; Patti Lapus, producer of the Feature Film Honoree Midnight in a Perfect World; and Cedrick Juan, Feature Film Actor Honoree for Gitarista.

All of the 77 honorees—including the Camera Obscura and Gabay ng Industriya Awards to be conferred by the FDCP— will all be feted at the Film Ambassadors' Night on February 27, 2022 to be held in the historic architectural landmark, The Manila Metropolitan Theater.

In the press conference, FDCP Chairperson and CEO, Liza Diño expressed “FDCP’s objective for FAN is to celebrate our filmmakers’ successes. We have gone so far in bringing Philippine cinema to the world but we still have so much to do. We continue to create content and we continue to represent the Philippines through our stories.”

Diño also clarified, “We name them ‘film ambassadors’ because they represent our cinema, they promote our films in different parts of the world by joining international film festivals. We give importance to these recognitions because they are creating platforms for our Filipino filmmakers to be showcased in that particular country where their films were screened.” She added, “With more than 7000 film festivals all over the world every year, our role is to find the legitimate ones. Our criteria is on the film festivals and not on the filmmakers.”

The annual celebration of Philippine cinema continues to be a symbol of hope for the future of Filipino filmmakers in setting the standards to be a globally competitive industry. This year’s Film Ambassadors’ Night is special as it will also celebrate not just the wins, but the courage and strength of Filipino filmmakers overcoming the challenges of filming during a global pandemic in the past year–and despite these challenges, still get to represent the country in the world stage. Film Ambassadors’ Night 2022 will be an in-person event this Sunday exclusive to honorees. Telecast date via the FDCP Channel will be announced at a later date.

Land Transportation Office (LTO) sa Candon City, Ilocos Sur

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Binigyang-diin ni Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade na kailangang pairalin ang disiplina at tamang pamamaraan sa pagsisilbi sa publiko sa gitna ng kaniyang pagpapasinaya sa bagong tanggapan ng Land Transportation Office (LTO) sa Candon City, Ilocos Sur ngayong araw, ika-24 Pebrero 2022.Nasa Ilocos Region ang Kalihim, kasama ng iba pang opisyal ng Kagawaran para sa sunud-sunod na aktibidad, tulad ng inagurasyon ng nasabing LTO District Office at inspeksyon ng iba pang mga proyekto kabilang na ang Vigan at Laoag Airport, gayundin ng Currimao Port.

Sa inagurasyon ng LTO Candon District Office, pinaalalahanan ni Secretary Tugade ang mga kawani ng ahensya na bukod sa pagsasa-ayos at pagpapaganda ng mga pasilidad, tulad ng bagong gusali ng LTO, kailangan ding panatilihin ang maayos at kalidad na serbisyong pampubliko.

"Sa pag-inaugurate natin ng mga facility at mga darating pang pasilidad, kailangan – cut processing time, no corruption, be punctual and don't be late," ayon kay Secretary Tugade.

"If you cannot do good in government service, don't join government service. If you cannot sacrifice for the people, don't join government service," dagdag pa ng Kalihim.

Matatagpuan sa tinatawag na sentro ng mga aktibidad sa lugar, ang LTO Candon District Office ay sumasakop at nagseserbisyo sa dalawampu’t-dalawa (22) pang mga bayan. Maliban sa Candon City, sakop sa Geographical Area of Responsibility ng LTO Candon ang mga sumusunod na munisipalidad ng Ilocos Sur: Santa, Narvacan, Nagbukel, Sta. Maria, San Esteban, Burgos, Santiago, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, San Emilio, Galimuyod, Salcedo, Gregorio Del Pilar, Quirino, Sta. Lucia, Sta. Cruz, Tagudin, Sigay, Suyo, Cervantes, Alilem, at Sugpon.

Taong 2019, pinagsumikapan ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Candon na gawing government center ang kahabaan ng Bypass Road, Bagani Campo sa Candon City at isa sa mga ahensiya ng gobyerno na nabigyan ng lupang pagtatayuan ng himpilan ay ang LTO Candon District Office.

Matapos ang groundbreaking nito noong Enero 2020, nailipat at naitayo na ang bagong tanggapan ng LTO Candon, tampok ang mga makabagong pasilidad. Layon ng inisyatibo na mas ilapit ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa mga tao.

Samantala, pinasalamatan naman ni Candon City Mayor Ericson Singson si Secretary Tugade at ang pamunuan ng Land Transportation Office sa pagsasakatuparan ng proyekto. Aniya, malaking tulong ang pagtatayo ng bagong LTO Candon District Office sa kanilang adhikain na mas palaguin ang ekononomiya sa lugar sa pamamagitan ng pagdami ng negosyo, pagkakaroon ng iba’t-ibang tanggapan ng pamahalaan o at pamumuhunan ng maraming investor.

"Aminin natin na we need to speed up our recovery dahil sa sobrang epekto ng pandemya sa ating lahat. Again, we acknowledge that such government project na gaya nitong LTO Building na maraming attached na negosyo and new opportunities ang makakatulong nang malaki,” ani Mayor Singson.

Online Traditional Bingo BingoPlus has first 8 millionaire jackpot winners after just one month of opening

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

 

Only over a month after soft-launching the country’s first and only licensed Online Traditional Bingo (OTB) services under BingoPlus’ Remote Gaming Platform, it now has eight individuals winning more than a million each in jackpot prizes in quick succession.

 

Starting February 3, nearly16 million pesos in cash has been collectively won from playing BingoPlus online traditional bingo. The innovative game transforms the way traditional bingo is played by combining the fun and familiarity of traditional bingo with the excitement and convenience of technology and online access. The new game format was created by AB Leisure Exponent Inc.,  a subsidiary of Leisure and Resorts World Corporation (LRWC), to provide more playing opportunities to customers during the pandemic and is in line with its digital expansion plans.

 

The first winner took home P3,171,259 on February 3, followed by another winner (P1,364,302) on February 4. Since then, six more winners received P2,274,498 on February 7, P2,131,704 on February 11, P3,096,612 on February 16, P1,073,315 on February 17, P1,293, 739 on February 20 and P1,497, 924 on February 22 for a total of P15,903,353. This does not yet include winnings from non-jackpot games.

The first four jackpot winners were already awarded their prizes at the Bingo Bonanza Store at SM Megamall. The other winners are scheduled for another awarding ceremony.

 

One of the players who received over 2 million pesos said he will invest some of his prize money in a business and help his family pay their bills. He also plans to donate money to the church being built in their area and help some relatives. “I’m inviting everyone to play this game. I was able to prove this is really a legit game,” he said.

 

LRWC President Andy Tsui said, “The pandemic ushered in a new normal, where technology is at the forefront of almost everything we do. BingoPlus will continue to bring entertainment and provide value to the Philippine audience. We aim to be recognized as one of the most reputable brands in the country through our collaborations and partnerships with different organizations.”

 

“Our goal is to be the best one-stop online entertainment platform in the country,” added Jasper Vicencio, president of ABLE, the country’s bingo gaming pioneer and first licensed OTB operator of BingoPlus. “BingoPlus will provide a wide variety of online games besides traditional bingo: slot machines, card games, and many more to come. 2022 is going to be a thrilling and busy year with an amazing jackpot pool.”

 

To play Online Traditional Bingo, no special equipment is needed besides a smartphone and internet access. There is no membership fee, the game can be accessed from anywhere in the Philippines, but players have to be at least 21 years old to play, Vicencio added.