Manifesto on NCCA Fiasco # 2

NCCA Manifesto # 2

A Puppy in the NCCA Window?

Is culture going to the dogs? We're asking because, as we write this, the beleaguered NCCA Board is facing another acid test with the receipt of a "desire letter" expressing Malacanang's preference for the appointment of Education Undersecretary Labrador as NCCA Acting Chairman.

The "desire letter" is the latest in a series of what could only be perceived as state control and intrusion into the country's cultural affairs. Malacanang has previously succeeded in installing NCCA leaders who are not from the ranks of the active culture sector and were largely perceived as unpopular.

True, Malacanang is vested with the exclusive right, power and prerogative to appoint men and women to head national government agencies. But it must do so guided by the principles of good governance, transparency and respect for institutional history. It must not lose track of the agencies' innate culture and the dynamics of sectoral participation and consensus building among vaious constituencies.

NCCA's unique history as an agency born out of the concept of people empowerment and sectoral self-governance should have been taken into account. This important organizational premise has, unfortunately, been lost on both the national leadership and the chosen minions it appointed to run the organization. This is also the main reason why the NCCA always finds itself in such a messy state of affairs with charges of excessive and autocratic management styles shadowing its leaders.

And who is Usec Labrador that Malacanang has anointed as successor to its previous legally problematic appointee? We do not know her cultural and artistic background. We only know that she is the Department of Education's Undersecretary for Organizations and Programs tasked with the heavy load of ensuring the organizational efficacy of the country's largest bureaucracy – a job that requires full time involvement and dedication considering the sorry state of our our country's educational system. Her mandates as Education Undersecretary require her to give full attention to the shortage of classrooms and teachers, dealing with institutional partners and stakeholders, delivery of quality educational resources such as books and teaching aids, and the achievement of quality basic education for all. Already saddled with the gamut of problems besetting the nation's educational system, Malacananang has deemed it wise for Usec Labrador to head the premier agency concerned with the development, promotion, and dissemination of our national culture, heritage and artistic expressions

The "desire letter" manifests both Malacanang's indifference to culture as a national priority and predicates its scheme to control the country's cultural resources for its own purposes. Usec Labrador is not only an overloaded government functionary. She is also a public official whose reputation warrants further investigation. At the Department of Education, she allegedly faces some administrative cases with the Ombudsman on some shady deals concerning the misappropriation of education funds. The case of acquisition and purchase of gardening tools intended for schools without gardens is indicative of her sense of priorities. An enquiry with the Ombudsman's office is definitely in order, as the NCCA cannot afford to have another leader with the potential of misappropriating public funds. After all, Labrador is not known in DepEd circles as "Usec Kubrador" for nothing. According to sources, the only reason why her cases do not prosper in the Ombudsman Office is her close affiliation with the powers-that- be, particularly to House Speaker Jose De Venecia.

As NCCA's mandates implicate the formation of Filipino cultural character and identity, it is not good for the agency to have a leader whose integrity and sense of political patronage is under a heavy cloud of suspicion. Usec Labrador must answer persistent questions about her role in the 2004 presidential bid of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo where she was alleged to be GMA's money bag in charge of doling out campaign funds to principals and school heads. What Jocjoc Bolante was to the infamous fertilizer scam, Usec Labrador has to prove otherwise in terms of electoral politicking and maneuvering in the education community during the 2004 elections.

The culture sector is not lacking of leaders with solid experience in the study, practice, management and dissemination of arts and culture without the baggage of ill repute from the spoils of political patronage. The NCCA Board must be resolute against Malacanang's intrusion into the country's cultural affairs in general and the agency's operations in particular. It must choose leaders who will uphold the best principles of public governance, transparent and truly representative of the ideals and aspirations of the culture community, and assertive of the greater cultural interest of the Filipino people.

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Manifesto on NCCA Fiasco # 1

Manifesto on NCCA Fiasco # 1:

DELICADEZA, OR THE ABSENCE OF IT:
Not Something to Crow About at NCCA

It has been almost a month since the "Dear Madame Armida" letter first came out and raised more questions about the integrity and credibility of some already beleaguered personalities in the Philippine culture sector – particularly the NCCA Executive Director, her trusted artist-collaborator s, and the NCCA Board of Commissioners led by Chairman Ambeth Ocampo.

Written by a certain New York-based Marianito Parreñas, the letter raised allegations of corruption, artistic dishonesty, and the "folly of bringing 'plundering cultural productions' such as Something To Crow About to New York by NCCA using people's money…" Calling it "the much-ballyhooed, very bad and almost fake musical production from the Philippines," Parreñas called for an investigation and enquired if, in Madame Armida Seguion (sic) Reyna's opinion, "the NCCA Board also deserves to be revamped for perpetrating such gross oversight or conspiracy on their part?"

Depending on the reader's perspectives, the letter may be construed as either a severe case of inggit-driven nitpicking and crab mentality, or as another one of the many detailed charge sheets against a cultural leadership that has seen more criticisms than achievements in its incumbency.

Still reeling from the outrage that its own sponsored revision of the NCCA Internal Rules and Regulation (IRR) has generated, the NCCA Board of Commissioners and top management cannot afford another debacle brought about by their callousness and complete disregard of public criticism and perceptions of mismanagement of the country's cultural affairs and the resources of the country's premier cultural agency. They have already squandered the opportunity to correct their follies by choosing to remain deaf and blind to the expressed rejection of most of the proposed revisions to the NCCA IRR by most of the members of the National Committees whom they separately assembled precisely to solicit inputs to the revision process.

It will be recalled that the IRR revision process was called to examine the structural nature, composition and functions of the NCCA National Committees – something that the NCCA Board feels ought to be undertaken to streamline NCCA operations. It is not incidental that the NCCA Chairman, Mr. Ambeth Ocampo, has previously issued a statement to the effect that "the Committees are the weakest link" – a declaration that inevitably drew the collective ire of Committee volunteer-members who subsequently demanded an official clarification on the context by which the Chairman issued the statement. Characteristic of Mr. Ocampo's demeanor, an official clarification has yet to come from his office despite the insulting damage done to the morale of NCCA volunteers.

In most of the SubCommission assemblies convened for the IRR revision – held in lieu of a general assembly or NCCA-wide summit, which the NCCA Board apparently fears – the resounding vote was to maintain the integral and pivotal role of the Committee system in the NCCA's decision and policy making processes. For most of the unpaid NCCA volunteers serving in the agency's 22 National Committees, there is absolutely no need for IRR revision if the perceived weakness lies in system failure in other operational and management areas, not the least of which were the performances of the NCCA Secretariat and the NCCA Board itself. What could have been done by mere internal review of the manual of operations became a costly, shameless, and divisive exercise along the lines of classical authoritarianism.

NCCA has been heralded as one of the pioneering government agencies who has successfully institutionalized the spirit of "people power" and volunteerism in its operations. The Committee system is in the heart of NCCA operations as the grassroots-based volunteers in the various National Committees serve as listening posts and channels of civil society, local government units, other government agencies, and individual artists and cultural workers whose cultural programs the NCCA seeks to support, influence, enrich, and catalyze. What the proposed revisions seek to institutionalize are exactly the opposite: to weaken the same structure that strengthens the entire NCCA operations. From the looks of it, the NCCA Board has unilaterally and successfully undermined the process and went ahead with the revisions in complete disregard of the so-called consultative process.

And for what ends? To illustrate the point that the culture sector remains as divided and fragmented as ever? To silence the critical majority? To legitimize an already illegitimate cultural regime from the very start? These questions beg answers as charges upon charges of abuse of authority persist. The NCCA Board must answer and be held accountable for the following irregularities:

1. Why did it allow Mr. Ambeth Ocampo's misrepresentation of the National Historical Institute in the NCCA Board when the NCCA Charter is very clear on its provision that the NHI Executive Director should be the one sitting in the NCCA Board? Granting that there was no sitting NHI Executive Director during the constitution of the current NCCA Board, Mr. Ocampo should have served as a mere representative or alternate just as other represented ex-officio government agencies practice.. Why did the NCCA Board include Mr. Ocampo as a nominee for the position of Chairman and not advise the President of possible legal repercussions of having Mr. Ocampo as Chairman? Why did Mr. Ocampo not object to his nomination when he knew all along that he was not the legally authorized to represent his institution in the NCCA Board? Why did he not relinquish his NHI representation upon the appointment of the new NHI Executive Director? A rather odd note that appears in the newly-printed NCCA institutional brochure serves as an unsolicited and obviously defensive justification for Mr. Ocampo's continued presence in the NCCA Board. This, however, does not erase the fact that a violation of the Charter was perpetuated. Mr.Ocampo should immediately resign. Delicadeza tells us that this is the proper way. It is, in fact, the only moral and legal way.

2. Why does the NCCA Board allow Mr. Ocampo's act of unilaterally pulling out from the Board meeting agenda some calendared project proposals which have been properly reviewed en banc and endorsed by the National Committees and the SubCommissions, on the mere excuse that he has not read the proposals? This self-serving practice has delayed the implementation of some project proposals, some of which have been designated Commission-wide flagship programs which have gone through the rudiments of research, wider sectoral consultations and rigorous substantive and logistical review by both the NCCA Secretariat, the concerned National Committees and SubCommissions.

3. Why does the NCCA Board remain complacent about Ms. Cecille Guidote Alvarez's perennial habit of abusing her authority as NCCA Executive Director? Why does it allow projects authored and proposed by Ms. Guidote-Alvarez to be directly discussed and approved by the Board in wanton disregard of due process where project proposals are supposed to be reviewed, deliberated on and endorsed by the Committee/s and concerned SubCommissions? Why does it allow other Board-represented institutions to do the same? The NCCA Board and the Secretariat have always been nitpicking on the "conflict of interest" doctrine when it concerns project proposals initiated by National Committees and their members. Why does the NCCA Board exempt its members from the same rule of delicadeza when it fully knows that it is not just unethical but outright unlawful for the guardians of the law and order to vest upon themselves the authority to propose and approve projects that are self-benefiting?

4. Why does the NCCA Board allow project proposals already disapproved by the National Committees and/or SubCommissions to be discussed and approved at the Board level without consulting the concerned National Committees? Many of the disapproved projects are proposals submitted by agencies or organizations whose representatives sit in the Board. Are there separate conflict-of- interest rules for Board Members and the rest of the proponents outside the Board?

5. In the same token, why did the NCCA Board authorize the annual allocation of One Million Pesos for each of the represented government cultural agencies? Didn't the Board find it irregular and unethical for Board Members representing the beneficiary institutions to approve a self-serving measure? Where is the delicadeza and conflict of interest that they so assiduously demand of Committee members? And for what ends? A cursory review of the government cultural agencies' approved proposals for NCCA funding reveal a very disturbing fact: that the funds are intended for such non-cultural matters as repair of broken ceilings or leaking roofs and capital expenditures on office equipment – items that would normally form part of each agency's regular operational costs that should have been part of their regular institutional budget allocations. Costs that would have benefited quite a number of marginalized cultural organizations whose project proposals are regularly subjected to unreasonable, whimsical and voluminous requirements and justifications before they get awarded a ridiculously small portion of the requested budget.

6. Why does the NCCA Board allow itself to be bamboozled by the NCCA Executive Director whose penchant for throwing her weight around always manifest on matters of reconsideration for her already disapproved projects? The case of the multi-million Sining Gising television show, which even NCCA constituents barely watch, is instructive. Already disapproved twice by the NCCA Board, the Executive Director got her way and secured Board approval after invoking the powers-that- be for a media project that she conceptualized, produced and starred in. Another case is the anomalous and monumental flop that was the International Theater Festival, which cost the NCCA more than Twenty Three Million Pesos to stage to the detriment of many other local projects with far-reaching impact on the local and international theater communities.

7. Why did the NCCA Board allow the NCCA Executive Director to go scot-free for her illegal and unauthorized act of touching and moving the NCCA Endowment Fund upon mere recommendations of the NCCA Internal Auditor without approval of the NCCA Board? In other government agencies, this would have constituted a major criminal offense punishable by removal from and future appointment to public office not only of the offending officer but also of the authorities who, knowingly, condone such act or do nothing to prevent it. The NCCA Board fully knew of the offense and did nothing but remind the Executive Director of the rules. It did not bother to authorize a full-scale investigation and find out whether anyone has actually benefited personally from the financial transactions. Was the NCCA Board not aware that such transactions normally – albeit illegally – yield monetary commissions for parties who broker it? Are there deeper issues and wider collusions in the transactions? We're talking here about public funds, not personal moneys that one can easily manipulate at will.

8. Why does the NCCA Board continue to approve travel grant proposals from its members disregarding the procedure of having such proposals pass through National Committee and SubCommission endorsements?

9. Why does the NCCA Board insist on the practice of having separate meetings for policy matters and project proposals' review? This practice has been observed to be illogical, inefficient and unsound as policies and project implementation go hand-in-hand. Even on the matter of policy review, the NCCA Board has demonstrated a reactionary tendency to decide on issues when they become acute and not treat them in anticipatory manner. Many of these policy issues are actually advocacy issues which the National Committees have already identified as weak areas of NCCA operations.

10. Why did the NCCA Board cancel the scheduled NCCA Summit and General Assembly for this year? Is it afraid of the backlash from its self-engineered revision process of the IRR? Is it afraid of the major issues that the National Committee members may lodge against the NCCA leadership? The NCCA Board did not have second thoughts about conducting repetitive and costlier SubCommission assemblies. Why did it balk at the conduct of a less costly and more democratic general assembly where other procedural matters – such as the National Committee assessments and new elections for National Committee Executive Councils – could have been accomplished at one-time cost to NCCA? As it is, the NCCA Board has officially not disclosed its final disposition on the IRR revisions, save for unofficial information from the NCCA Secretariat that the widely-contested revisions have been officially approved and the term of office of the National Committees has expired. Is this the NCCA Board's way of appreciating the services of its volunteers? Or is it their way of easing off current criticisms and issues against it?

There are many more questions and issues that the NCCA Board has chosen to ignore.

Mr. Parreñas' letter cited in the beginning of this manifesto occasions not just an investigation but an immediate revamp of the NCCA Board to protect the institution from further abuses by its own leaders.

This manifesto is the first in a series of questionings on the institutional efficacy of the NCCA as a public institution with the primary mandate of promoting the development of the country's culture, arts and heritage. This was written guided by the spirit of the constitutionally- guaranteed right to freedom of expression, pro-active engagement and constructive criticism, and the principles of transparency and public accountability. The writers believe that NCCA could not efficiently and truthfully deliver its mandates with questions on the professional credibility and personal integrity of its public servant-leaders who are sworn to uphold the highest ideals of their offices.

Mr. Parreñas' letter referred to in this manifesto is copied below in its full version for those who have not read it.

Dear Madame Armida,

So the Filipinos would know Madame Armida Seguion- Reyna, I am writing you straight from the Big Apple after I watched the much-ballyhooed, very bad and almost fake musical production from the Philippines "Something To Crow About" at La Mama Theatre. The musical was brought in New York City reportedly to the tune of FIVE MILLION PESOS from the funds of the Presidential Management Office in Malacañang under the auspices of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts(NCCA) chaired by Ambeth Ocampo.
The budget could be more than that considering that other government agencies were tapped as major sponsors like the NCCA, GSIS, DOT, PAGCOR, etc. The big question that we should ask Madame Armida is: "Was the act of bringing an unworthy, half-baked musical to New York worth the people's money at all?"

Outright, we say a big NO! to that. It is an act of plundering the people's money when that amount could have gone to the country's social services instead of dispensing it to finance the junket of about 50 people in the cast all passing themselves off as Filipino cultural ambassadors headed by the executive director of NCCA & also the adviser of the Office of the Presidential Assistant on Culture Cecile Guidote Alvarez and a certain Frank Rivera.

We were told that "Something To Crow About" took off as a dream project that reached the point of folly on both sides of Cecile and her long-time benefactor Dr. Roces whose National Artist award has become a source of an unending controversy among those who never believed that the old man deserves the title even if it was awarded through a presidential discretion by Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself (Dr. Roces by the way was the Education Secretary during the presidency of GMA's father, Diosdado Macapagal).

Why folly? (or madness, or foolishness ?). To begin with the production was composed of amateur students of voice mostly from the University of Santo Tomas. Some of them can sing alright, but all them (except the four in lead cast) cannot act or even dance. Think even if it's off-Broadway that the group was trying to conquer. The gall, ha? Other performers were picked out from Cecile's & Hereherson Alvarez' Earthsavers Ensemble made up of street kids who did not possess the look and luster of a Broadway performer. Clear case of casting lesser talents to save up on talent fees obviously for some gainful motives. The librettist was a mediocre Phil. Star columnist Isagani Cruz who is never known to excel in the area. The composer is virtually an unknown in the field who goes by the name of Ferdie Dimadura.
We have read how the same production was lambasted in a review by Gibs Cadiz of Phil. Daily Inquirer when the same show was first presented to local audiences. This should have served as Cecile's wake-up call, but she looked the other way and went on headlong to make or break it off- Broadway thinking that she could get away with a bad, ill-motivated production. But hasn't the world become so small with the advent of internet? Read on Madame Armida!

Why such venture turned out to be such a disastrous folly? It did not prove anything at all to the snooty circumscribed off-Broadway/ Broadway world of New York even if it was staged at La Mama whose proprietor Ellen Stewart is also a long-time, ingratiating benefactor of Cecile if you still did not know. We all know how snobbish the New York's performing art critics can be. They don't waste time watching a production from a developing country in stilted and badly-written script in English yet written by Frank Rivera. New York critics snubbed the four nights of performances of the shamefully boring production of the Philippine team. "Pagka-pangit- pangit," were the words used to describe the show uttered by a well-known Filipino theater aficionado in New York Melvie Pacubas who also watched it on the first night.
So what reviews did the Phil. delegation get? The ingratiating solicited feedbacks from credulous, unsuspecting Pinoy audiences who rarely watch legit performances all their lives and crafted back home for general press release by the spin doctors of Cecile at the NCCA. You must have read it by now mostly in the pro-Administration broadsheets their self-serving and glowing press releases.

In all, the hoopla of "Something To Crow About" getting off-Broadway was actually part of an agenda of Cecile Guidote Alvarez' to promote and prop-up the career of her husband who passes himself off as a staunch environmentalist former senator Heherson T. Alvarez and who is now as everybody knows a virtual political has-been.

We were told again by some members of the cast that the English zarzuela "Something To Crow About " is a co-production venture of Earthsavers, Inc. Earthsavers is an unregistered organization without accountability papers founded by Heherson that continues to receive funding and donations from overseas on behalf of the stable of performers with disabilities (blind, deaf, crippled, street kids, ethnic, retarded, etc.) who sadly have not benefited from it at all. Some NCCA insiders have bewailed the fact that Cecile has been using her power to bamboozle and browbeat all of them to include the Earthsavers agenda of her husband in all NCCA-related activities and make the event appear as one of the seven arts when it is not. How true?

So, what did the folly of the Phil. team prove by going off-Broadway?

1. Bringing the supposed oeuvre of Dr. Roces' short story to off-Broadway was Cecile's last-ditch attempt to prove to all and sundry that her benefactor is a writer (but doesn't everybody know that he is not even a great journalist?) of consequence and deserving of the title National Artist.

Unfortunately, something went wrong in the process of transposing Dr. Roces' slim, short story into an English zarzuela. It lost its wit, brilliance if any, and integrity due to bad & unfocused writing, highly derivative musical compositions, lousy ensemble acting, & poorly executed set design betraying the lack of knowledge even on basic perspective by designer Len Santos. Filipino costumes were so badly designed and shabby. The minus one's used to accompany the actors' songs sounded like it was coming from a creaking, vintage phonograph. Poor guy Joey Nombres' inadequate lighting went helter-skelter.

The leads, however, composed of couple Leonel and Cynthia Guico, including Joel Trinidad & Liesl Batucan were real talents gifted with brilliant singing voices, but it was obvious that their performances were stymied by an ill-conceived material and bad direction from the assistant of Cecile, Frank Rivera who also tried so hard to act out the role of a rich man, but failed miserably because he simply did not look the part.

Sadly, the production was not a par with the reputation of Cecile as a theater artist who dreams of becoming a National Artist herself. We are bound to believe that her obsession to lift up her husband's vanishing career in any way that she could has led her to engage in such folly, ending up in a magnanimous act of self-destruction for a beloved husband who is rumored to have carried up to the present time an affair with his own secretary.

Here are questions and complaints we heard from the cast themselves which not only Cecile ought to justify but also the Philippine government for being a party to the racketeering plunder under the pretext of her hoodwinking buzzword "cultural caregiving to the Filipino Overseas Worker."

1. Why were most of the cast of about 50 lumped together in a dormitory fit for refugees and were even made to sleep on the basement floor, while Cecile and her minions composed of her seven year old grand daughter, a closed-in nervous-wreck lesbian staff named Susan Claudio, a secretary, Frank Rivera known for writing books without methodology, and others luxuriated in a classy hotel? Where did the funds of the highly-financed production as endorsed no less by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo go?

1. Why should Cecile Alvarez put the Filipino delegation to eternal shame by begging food from the Filipino Consulate and Filipino communities in New York to feed the cast for four days?

1. Why is it that before the show begins Cecile Guidote Alvarez always does an act of apologia or explanation to the audience about the problem that her company went through to come to New York when it is the least of our concern having paid 25 dollars to watch it. Was it her way of preempting the audience to accept the failure of her too high-schoolish production? Or was it her way of begging for more donations and dollars?

1. The case of an Earthsavers performer named Ramil is one for the book horrors. The young man wanted to extend his stay in New York, but was advised against from so doing when the prospective host found out that he could neither read nor write.

1. Isn't it shocking to know that Cecile's Earthsavers group could win an award like UNESCO Artist For Peace as she has been bandying it around in her own press releases when some of her performers are actually illiterate, and are still living in the slums without decent housing? Where did the donations for the group who has been in the business of showcasing their disabilities for fund-raising go? The group is also asking why the passenger van donated to them is now in the hands of the nephew of Heherson named Rico Alvarez.

1. Of what aesthetic sense and relevance was the paraplegic named Niki Pajati in a wheel chair being thrown here and there at the finale of "Something To Crow About"? Was it to tell the audience that there was a member from the Earthsavers, the organization of Cecile's husband in it?

To us that scene was absolute exploitation of a person with disability. We feel that scene was an emotional blackmail to force us into sympathizing with the disabled. That was gross! A repeat of the preposterous St. Louis Exposition.

1. The promise of an honorarium of $200 (Two hundred dollars) from the NCCA for each performer was never fulfilled and was cut- off to one-hundred dollars. Worse, others were given but a measly 50 & 20 dollars each. The aggrieved performers cannot complain because the sponsoring NCCA never issued a contract to the performers. Can the NCCA Chairman Ambeth Ocampo explain or justify? As a sign of protest we were informed that the cast from UST will boycott the scheduled homecoming performance at GSIS.

Isn't it high time that an investigation be made on the folly of bringing "plundering cultural productions" such as "Something To Crow About" to New York by NCCA using people's money? Isn't this a case of plunder , of squandering people's money committed by the mentioned production group being unashamedly passed off as a cultural show to afford Cecile's favored friends, employees, and relatives with junket that they don't deserve? What do you think, Madame Armida? Don't you think the NCCA Board also deserves to be revamped for perpetrating such gross oversight or conspiracy on their part?

Thank you for publishing this so others would know the other side of the coin far apart from from their blatant, face-saving NCCA engineered press releases extolling the fake medals and successes they supposedly earned in New York City.

Sincerely,
(Sgd.) Marianito Parreñas

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When the Curtains Go Down…The 9th Cinemanila at Closing Time

In the short span of twelve days, Gateway Cineplex 10 played host to
the 9th Cinemanila International Film Festival, recognized by local
cineastes as the Festival of Festivals. Indeed, only Cinemanila can
boast of no less than 50 films from almost just as many countries,
movies as diverse in theme and flavour as their origins. Films from
Bollywood, epic Thai war movies, works by Almodovar, Grindhouse
pictures, the best of the local digital scene: Cinemanila gave its
audience these and much more.

Tarantino Mania

Undoubtedly, a significant part of Cinemanila's success is the
participation of filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, internationally
renowned for his a cool style that is all his own. He was present
several times during the Festival run: to receive the Lifetime
Achievement Award along with fellow honorees H.S.H. Chatrichalerm
Yukol, revered Thai filmmaker, and Robert Malengreau, Director of the
Brussels International Film Festival, in the Opening Night events on
8 August; to lend support to his favorite Filipino directors Cirio
Santiago and Eddie Romero during the Grindhouse Day directing
workshop on 10 August; to give a talk on his filmmaking experience in
the Grindhouse Day seminar on 11 August; and to introduce his films,
almost all of which made their Philippine debut in Cinemanila. In all
instances, crowds flocked to see the iconic filmmaker, who was
consistently casual, cool, and friendly to his fans. On 15 August, he
received his award from Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during
ceremonies at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañang Palace.

Strong Titles

At the end of the day, however, the fate of festivals lies in
the draw of its films. Several movies proved highly successful,
drawing long lines and garnering praise from those who braved the
rains pouring outside Gateway Mall. A Girl Who Leapt Through Time, a
delightful Japanese anime about a time-hopping student, was a hit
among animation fans; in its first screening, cosplayers from
Cosplay.ph entertained the audience with a mini-fashion show. 4
Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, Palm D'Or winner at the Cannes Film
Festival, drew arthouse audiences in its limited release. Paris Je
T'aime and 2 Days in Paris, both romantic French films, were also
certified hits, as was Volver, directed by respected auteur Pedro
Almodóvar and starring Oscar-nominee Penélope Cruz.

Seminars and Workshops

Aside from the Grindhouse Days workshops with Romero, Santiago,
and Tarantino, other seminars were attended by film students,
cineastes, and curious moviegoers. On 9 August, Asian Film Archive
Founder and Director Tan Bee Thiam discussed Film Archiving in Asia.
He was accompanied by Clodualdo del Mundo, Ph.D., who talked about
the need for such film preservation practices in the Philippines. Dr.
del Mundo, who wrote the screenplays for such classics as Maynila: Sa
Mga Kuko ng Liwanag and Itim, returned for a Master Class in
Scriptwriting on 12 August, which he gave alongside fellow
scriptwriter Ralston Jover (Kubrador, Foster Child).

Nap Jamir, cinematographer of festival hit Ang Pagdadalaga ni
Maximo Oliveros, gave a Master Class in Cinematography on 13 August.
Scenema Concepts sponsored the workshop. Cirio Santiago joined
international producer Anant Singh for a seminar on International Co-
Production on 14 August. Independent directors Rico Ilarde, Raya
Martin, Raymond Red, Roxlee, and John Torres were at Gateway Mall for
a two-day Indie Filmmaking Seminar on 15 and 16 August.

Award Winners

At Malacañang Palace on 15 August, Cinemanila and the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) officially awarded the
winners of the Festival. Fatih Akin's The Edge of Heaven was given
this year's Lino Brocka Grand Prize for the best international film.
The entire cast of Jim Libiran's Tribu was given the awards for Best
Actor and Best Actress, a first for the Festival. The Special Jury
Prize went to Persepolis, directed by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent
Parronaud. The International Competition Jury was chaired by Wieland
Speck, Director of the Panorama Programme of the Berlin International
Film Festival. He was joined by Jesper Andersen of the Danish Film
Institute and Lalu Roisamri, Program Manager of the Jakarta
International Film Festival.

Chul Jung's Waiting Time and Christopher Gozum's The Calling won the
awards for Best International Short and Best Short (Local),
respectively. Neo-Lounge, directed by Joanna Arong, took home the
Best Documentary Prize. All these awards were decided upon by a jury
chaired by Filipino filmmaker and Ishmael Bernal Awardee Jobin
Ballesteros, who was joined by Laura Gerber, Director of the
Southeast Asian section of the Asian Hot Shots Berlin Festival, and
Hanne Robenhagen, cultural sociologist and documentarist.

Making its debut this year was the ASEAN Competition in
celebration of the ASEAN's 40th anniversary. Lifetime Achievement
Awardee Robert Malengreau chaired the jury, which also consisted of
Tan Bee Thiam and Jeffrey Jeturian, director of the critically
acclaimed Kubrador. Yasmin Ahmad's Mukhsin was hailed as the Best
ASEAN Film, while Renita, Renita by Tonny Trimaranto was declared
Best ASEAN Short.

Solidifying its status as Numero Uno sa Digital, Cinemanila gave
awards for its eighth Digital Lokal Competition. Olivier Pere,
Artistic Director of the Directors' Fortnight of the Cannes Film
Festival, was chair of the jury. Other members were Ansgar Vogt of
the Selection Committee of the International Forum of New Cinema in
Berlin, and Jaclyn Jose, multi-awarded Filipino actress. Autohystoria
by Raya Martin won the Lino Award, Grand Prize, while Voice: Tilted
Screens and Extended Scenes of Loneliness: Filipinos in High
Definition (A Work in Progress) by John Torres garnered the Lino
Grand Jury Prize. Christopher Gozum's The Calling was chosen as Best
Short Film. Cinemanila's eighth Ishmael Bernal Awardee for Young
Cinema is Ernest Michael Manalastas for his film Delusions. He joins
an illustrious list of filmmakers: Peter Chua (2000), Mes de Guzman
(2001), Romeo Candido (2002), Mariami Tanangco (2003), Raya Martin
(2004), John Torres (2005), and Jobin Ballesteros (2006).

The 4th Boracay International Co-Production Meeting

In its fourth year, the Boracay International Co-Production
Meeting saw projects from all over Southeast Asia vying for financial
support from the Hubert Bals Fund, represented by Gertjan Zuilhof.
Babi Buta Yang Ingin Terbang (Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly), directed
by up-and-coming Indonesian filmmaker Edwin (whose Kara, Anak
Sebatang Pohon was the first Indonesian short to screen at Cannes)
and produced by Meiska Taurisia, eventually won over seven other
entries in the short-list for funding. These are: Chris Chong Chan
Fui's Karaoke from Malaysia; Paolo Herras's Ang Manghuhula (The
Fortune-teller) from the Philippines; Tey Clamor's Paslit Puslit
(Young Thief) from the Philippines; Azharr Rudiin's Pungguk Rindukan
Bulan (This Longing) from Malaysia; Sally Jo Marie Bellosillo's
Regina from the Philippines; Roxlee's Whistler from the Philippines;
and Khoo Eng Yow's World Without Shadows from Malaysia.

A special party at the Sandbar, organized by Festival Co-Director
Anima Aguiluz, was held for the participants and guests. Fire dancers
and drummers entertained a rapt audience, which was also treated to
an outdoor screening of the Joey Gosengfiao classic Temptation
Island. The event was closed by the presentation of the 5-minute
contribution to the SEAWAVE Project by Boracay Co-Prod winner Edwin.

Asian Spirit provided the transportation for the participants
of the 4th Boracay International Co-Production Meeting. Cinemanila
also gives special thanks to Casa Pilar, the venue for the Meeting
and home to the participants, and René Barbier for wines.

On to the 10th Cinemanila…

Next year, the Cinemanila International Film Festival will be
celebrating a decade of bringing the best of international cinema to
the Philippines. It will be difficult to top a year that saw
Tarantino, Thai royalty, Cannes and Berlin luminaries, stalwarts in
Filipino filmmaking, and international festival favorites grace the
Festival. What will next year bring? Cinemanila has always risen to
whatever challenges it has faced over the years. The 10th will be no
different.

The 9th Cinemanila International Film Festival was co-presented
by the Independent Cinema Association of the Philippines (ICAP), the
NCCA, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Gateway
Cineplex 10, CinemaOne, the Office of the President, the Department
of Education, and the Department of Tourism. Other sponsors were Edsa
Shangri-La Manila, Ignite Media, Manila Bulletin, Philippine
Airlines, Scenema Concepts, and Web Philippines Inc. (Gold Sponsors);
ClicktheCity. com (Festival Sponsor); Asian Spirit and Boysen (Event
Sponsors); 105.1 FM Crossover (Festival Patron).

Read More »

Pistang Panitik 2007

Malugod kayong inaanyahan ng UP Insitusyon ng Malikhaing Pagsulat sa Pistang Panitik 2007. Ang Pistang Panitik ay isa mga programa ng UP ICW kung saan ipinapakilala sa madla ang mga likhang akda ng ating mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Panitikan. Nasa ibaba ang listahan, araw at oras ng lektyur ng bawat "national artists" at ng kanilang kritiko. (ITO AY WALANG BAYAD.)

PISTANG PANITIK 2007
The 28th Manila International Book Fair
World Trade Center

Araw ni Bienvenido Lumbera
AUGUST 30 Function Room A 1:00-3:00 PM
KRITIKO: Dr. Roland Tolentino, Dr. Rod Nuncio, at Dr. Rosario Torres Yu
TAGAPAGTANGHAL: Bb. Susan Magno
MULA SA MAMBABASA: Kristin Mandigma & Marianne Suba
Araw ni Francisco Sionil Jose

AUGUST 31 Function Rm A 1:00-3:00 p.m.
KRITIKO: Dr. Neil Garcia, Dr.Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta at Ferdie Lopez
TAGAPAGTANGHAL: Under Siege
MULA SA MAMBABASA: Mia Sereno & Israel Realin

Araw ni Virgilio Almario
SEPTEMBER 1 Function Rm B1:00- 3:00 p.m.
KRITIKO: G. Roberto Añonuevo, Prof. Mike Coroza at G. Rogelio Mangahas
TAGAPAGTANGHAL: Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo

MULA SA MAMBABASA: Kristel Autencio, Renita Norada

Araw ni Alejandro Roces
SEPTEMBER 2 Function Rm A1:00- 5:00 p.m.

KRITIKO: Dr. Isagani Cruz, Prof. Lito Zulueta, at Prof. Danton Remoto
TAGAPAGTANGHAL: Alitaptap Storytellers Philippines

MULA SA MAMBABASA: Rachel Teng, Karen Inocencio & Paolo Cruz

Araw ni Edith Tiempo

Kritiko: G. Alfred Yuson, Dr. Gemino Abad, Prof. Ralph Galan
TAGAPAGTANGHAL: Ony Carcamo

MULA SA MAMBABASA: Pamela Punzalan & Mia Marci

HALINA'T DUMALO AT IPAGBUNYI ANG PANITIKAN NG PILIPINAS.

Read More »

2007 NCCA Writer's Prize

NCCA ANNOUNCES ACCEPTANCE OF ENTRIES TO THE 2007 NCCA WRITERS' PRIZE

Executive Director Cecile Guidote-Alvarez of the National Commission
for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) announces the acceptance of entries
to the 2007 NCCA Writers' Prize.

The NCCA Writers' Prize is a biennial grant awarded to six (6)
writers, one for each of the following categories: novel, short
stories (including children's stories), poetry, drama, essay
(English) and literary biography (English/Filipino) . The grant, in
the amount of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS gross, will assist the
grantee during the writing stage of the project. The grant is good
for one year, after which a manuscript of the writing project will be
submitted to the NCCA for possible publication or staging.

Complete competition guidelines may be downloaded from the NCCA
website: www.ncca.gov.ph.

Entries shall be accepted starting June 1 to December 31, 2007.

For queries, please call Frances S. Alincastre, tel. No. 527-21-92,
local 309 or e-mail: haraya@ncca.gov.ph.

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Revved Evolution Art Exhibit

KUBO
in cooperation with
THE ENTERPRISE CENTER
and KUSINA
presents
"REVVED EVOLUTION" an Art Exhibit by:
EGHAI ROXAS
LIRIO SALVADOR
LEOPOLDO AGUILAR
CRISTO ABELEDA &
DONDON VILLALUZ

August 29, 2007 @ the ART HALL LOBBY
THE ENTERPRISE CENTER, TOWER 1
Ayala Ave. cor Paseo de Roxas, Makati City
Opening cocktails: 5:00 pm

exhibit runs until Sept. 12, 2007

http://da-beehive. deviantart. com/art/REVVED-EVOLUTION-62615402

KUBO is a non-stock, non-profit organization composed of various
artists with all ages and levels from here and abroad whose
objectives are to help preserve, promote and develop all kinds of
arts in the world.

KUBO a house of dreams

Dream of unity; Dream of creativity; Dream of serenity

A place where these dreams may come into reality
Express what you feel; Explore what you see; Explain what you know

A place where senses exist
Without limitations; Without restrictions; Without discrimination

A place with only one direction to unify our human nation
Home for different people;Home for different culture
Home for different beliefs

A place where you can live

Read More »

UP Film Institute's Forthcoming Screenings

Please watch UP Film Institute's forthcoming screenings. Featured
films screen in celebration of the anniversary of the movies which
was invented more than a hundred years ago in September. Pertinent
descriptions and details of concerned screenings are as follows:

THEY TROT THE GLOBE
Around-the-World- in-Cinema Special for the Anniversary of Movies
Aug 23 Thu 5 p.m.
Borat
A 20th Century Fox Release through Warner Bros. Pictures
Presented by UP Batangan
Kazakhstan's leading TV journalist is dispatched to the United
States to make a documentary about the greatest nation in the world.
Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay—2007 Academy Awards;
Winner of Best Comedy Movie—2007 Annual Awards, Broadcast Film
Critics Association; Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical for Sacha
Baron Cohen—2007 Golden Globe Awards among some 22 awards and
distinctions
Direction: Larry Charles. Screenplay from the Television Character:
Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Peter Naynham, Dan Mazer. Cast:
Sacha Baron Cohen, Kenneth Davitian, Luenell, Pamela Anderson, Pat
Haggerty.
2006 84 minutes 35mm color
For mature viewing with pervasive strong crude and sexual content
including graphic nudity and language

Aug 27 Mon 2/7 p.m.; Aug 28 Tue 5 p.m.; Aug 29 Wed 2/7 p.m.; Sept 1
Sat 2/7 p.m.; Sept 3 Mon 5 p.m.; Sept 4 Tue 2 p.m.
Spy Game
A Sky Films Release
A retiring CIA agent recalls his training of a onetime protégé
jailed on espionage charges in Beijing as the former seeks to free
the latter from his Chinese captors.
Direction: Tony Scott. Screenplay: Michael Frost Beckner, David
Arata. Cast: Robert Redford, Brad Pitt, Catherine McCormack,
Stepehen Dillane, Larry Bryggman
2001 126 minutes 35mm color
For mature viewing with language, some violence and brief sexuality

Aug 27 Mon 5 p.m.; Aug 28 Tue 2 p.m.; Aug 29 Wed 5 p.m.; Sept 1 Sat
5 p.m.; Sept 3 Mon 2 p.m.; Sept 4 Tue 7:30 p.m.
Buffalo Soldiers
A Sky Films Release
A criminal subculture operates among United States soldiers
stationed in West Germany just before the fall of the Berlin wall.
Best Screenplay—2004 Evening Standard British Film Awards,
Nomination for Best British Independent Film—2004 British
Independent Film awards among more awards and distinctions
Direction: Gregor Jordan. Screenplay from Robert O'Connor's book:
Gregor Jordan, Eric Weiss, Nora Maccoby. Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Anna
Paquin, Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Elizabeth McGovern
2003 98 minutes 35mm color
For mature viewing with violence, drug content, strong language and
some sexuality

Sept 4 Tue 5 p.m.
Blood Diamond
A Warner Bros. Pictures Release
Presented by UP Batangan
Tha fates of a mercenary, a fisherman and an American lady
journalist are entwined as they hunt for a priceless diamond in
Sierra Leone.
Oscar nominations for Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Sound Editing,
Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio, Best Supporting Actor for Djimon
Hounsou—2007 Academy Awards among over 20 awards and distinctions
Direction: Edward Zwick. Screenplay: Charles Leavitt. Cast: Leonardo
DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly, Micahel Sheen, Arnold
Vosloo
2006 143 minutes 35mm color
For mature viewing with strong violence and language

Sept 5 Wed 2/5/7 p.m.; Sept 6 Thu 2/7:30 p.m.; Sept 8 Sat 2/5/7 p.m.
The Holiday
A United International Pictures Release through Solar Entertainment
A trailer editor from Los Angeles with man problems jaunts over to
England in a distinct exchange deal with a lady journalist from
Surrey who has similar troubles.
Direction and Screenplay: Nancy Meyers. Cast: Kate Winslet, Cameron
Diaz, Jude Law, Jack Black.
2006 140 minutes 35mm color

Sept 6 Thu 5 p.m.
Babel
A Viva International Pictures Release
Presented by Geography Society-UP
Two children curious about just how far a bullet will travel in the
remote sands of the Moroccan desert set into motion a tragedy that
ripples across six families around the world.
Official Selection for Golden Palm, Winner of Best Director,
Technical Grand Prize, Ecumenical Jury Prize—2006 Festival de
Cannes; Oscar winner for Best Music and nominations for Best
Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best
Supporting Actress for Adriana Barraza, Best Supporting Actress for
Rinko Kikuchi—2007 Academy Awards; Best Motion Picture-Drama— 2007
Golden Globe Awards among over a hundred awards and distinctions
Direction: Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu. Screenplay: Guillermo
Arriaga. Cast: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael Garcia Bernal, Elle
Fanning, Koji Yakusho.
2006 143 minutes 35mm color
For mature viewing with violence, some graphic nudity, sexual
content, language and some drug use

Also in the Series: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants; Wide
Sargasso Sea; Donsol; Mr. Bean's Holiday; The Lover; Fantastic Four—
Rise of the Silver Surfer; Transformers

Here is a rundown for the full slate of UP Film Institute's current
and next attractions:
Aug 23 Thu
Borat 5 p.m.
@ the Videotheque: Huk sa Bagong Pamumuhay 7 p.m.

Aug 24
Friday Film Bar 6:30 p.m.
(Featured Performer: Agaw Agimat; Free Films: Bingit/Manila By Night)

Aug 25 Sat
Batad 5/7 p.m.

Aug 27 Mon
Spy Game 2/7 p.m.
Buffalo Soldiers 5 p.m.

Aug 28 Tue
Buffalo Soldiers 2 p.m.
Spy Game 5 p.m.
@ the Videotheque: Huk sa Bagong Pamumuhay 5:30 p.m.
Kubrador 7 p.m.

Aug 29 Wed
Spy Game 2/7 p.m.
Buffalo Soldiers 5 p.m.

Aug 30 Thu
@ the Videotheque: Huk sa Bagong Pamumuhay 5/7 p.m.

Aug 31
Friday Film Bar 6:30 p.m.
(Featured Performer: Heber Bartolome; Free Films: Nasaan ang Katawan
ni Baklesh/Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag)

Sept 1 Sat
Spy Game 2/7 p.m.
Buffalo Soldiers 5 p.m.
@ the Videotheque: Imahenasyon 4 p.m.

Sept 3 Mon
Buffalo Soldiers 2 p.m.
Spy Game 5 p.m.
Premiere: Ang Lalake sa Parola 7:30 p.m.

Sept 4 Tue
Spy Game 2 p.m.
Blood Diamond 5 p.m.
Buffalo Soldiers 7:30 p.m.

Sept 5 Wed
The Holiday 2/5/7 p.m.

Sept 6 Thu
The Holiday 2/7:30 p.m.
Babel 5 p.m.

Sept 7
Friday Film Bar 6:30 p.m.
(Featured Performer: Kontra-Gapi; Free Films: Kumpas/Batch '81)

Sept 8 Sat
The Holiday 2/5/7 p.m.
@ the Videotheque: Imahenasyon 4 p.m.

Sept 10 Mon
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2/7 p.m.
Mass Media Awareness: Thank You for Smoking 5 p.m.

Sept 11 Tue
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2/7 p.m.
Mass Media Awareness: Thank You for Smoking 5 p.m.

Sept 12 Wed
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 p.m.
Kabayanihan ni Sakay Centennial 5 p.m.
Mass Media Awareness: Thank You for Smoking 7:30 p.m.

Sept 13 Thu
Mass Media Awareness: Thank You for Smoking 2/7 p.m.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 5 p.m.

Sept 14
Friday Film Bar 6:30 p.m.
(Featured Performer: Bayang Barrios; Free Films: The Tear
Stealer/Mababangong Bangungot)

Sept 15 Sat
@ the Videotheque: Imahenasyon 4 p.m.

Sept 17 Mon
Wide Sargasso Sea 2 p.m.
Donsol 5/7 p.m.

Sept 18 Tue
Wide Sargasso Sea 2/7 p.m.
Fantastic Four—Rise of the Silver Surfer 5 p.m.

Sept 19 Wed
I-Witness Documentary Festival 2 p.m. onwards
Mr. Bean's Holiday 7 p.m.

Sept 20 Thu
Mr. Bean's Holiday 2/5/7 p.m.

Sept 21
Friday Film Bar 6:30 p.m.
(Featured Performer: Cynthia Alexander; Free Films: Misteryo ng
Hapis/Todo Todo Teros)

Sept 22 Sat
The Lover 2/7 p.m.
@ the Videotheque: Imahenasyon 4 p.m.
Wide Sargasso Sea 5 p.m.

Sept 24 Mon
Mr. Bean's Holiday 2/7:30 p.m.
Transformers 5 p.m.

Sept 25 Tue-Sept 27 Thu
Korean Film Festival 2007

Sept 28
Friday Film Bar 6:30 p.m.
(Featured Performer: Ligaya Fernando Amilbangsa and the Alun-Alun
Dance Circle; Free Films: Pirouette/Ang Magpakailanman/ Anino)

Sept 29 Sat
@ the Videotheque: Imahenasyon 4 p.m.

To always get screening alerts, join UP Film Institute e-group:
upfilminstitute@ yahoogroups. com

University of the Philippines Film Institute
(Member, CILECT/Internationa l Association of Film and Television
Schools)
Academic Programs and Research
Plaridel Hall, Ylanan Road, UP Diliman, Quezon City
Tel: 9818500 (UP Trunkline) local 2669, 2670; 9206863 (Telefax)
Extension and Theater Services
Cine Adarna, Magsaysay and Osmeña Avenues, UP Diliman, Quezon City
Tel: 9818500 (UP Trunkline) local 4286, 4289; 9262722 (Telefax);
9263640; 9250286
upfi.academic@ gmail.com
upfi.adarna@ gmail.com
upfi_workshops@ yahoo.com. ph

Read More »

Pictorial Tales of Boracay: Exhibit and Talk

"The Alcove Photo Gallery" still has slots for the following workshops:

DIGITAL 101: PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE COMPUTER
September 3, 5, 10, 12, and 17 at 6:00-9:00 p.m.

Food Trip in Bulacan and Pampanga
September 29 at 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

"The Alcove Photo Gallery" is pleased to announce their next exhibit -

PICTORIAL TALES OF BORACAY
A one-man exhibit by Jay Alonzo (open to the public)
September 1 to October 6, 2007

The Alcove photo gallery
Gallery hours: Tuesday to Saturday at 9:00 a.m. to
6:00 p.m.

In Pursuit of the Picturesque

Boracay Island, or Bora to most Filipinos, is
synonymous to tropical haven with its white sand,
azure waters, and tranquil atmosphere. Especially
over the summer months, tourists from all over the
world troop to this part of Western Visayas for
pleasure and relaxation. A trip to Boracay is not
complete without a camera as the place is undeniably
picture perfect.

With an Olympus E500 camera in tow, Jay Alonzo
explored the island for new photographic subjects.
The best of his Boracay images will be on display at
The Alcove photo gallery beginning September 1, 2007.

Pictorial Tales of Boracay will run until October 6,
2007 at The Alcove located at the Filipinas Heritage
Library along Makati Avenue, Ayala Triangle, Makati
City (across The Peninsula Manila).

CONVERSATIONS WITH JAY ALONZO
A talk on basic travel photography (free of charge)
September 28, 2007 at 5:00 p.m.

The Pictorial Tales of Boracay exhibit will be
complemented by Conversations with Jay Alonzo where he
talks about traveling with a camera in one of the most
picturesque destinations in the Philippines.

As an additional treat to the guests, The Alcove
Perspective and Olympus are having a special display
and demonstration of select photographic gears as they
learn the basics of travel photography.

Fees will not be collected for this talk but due to
the limited number of slots, interested participants
are encouraged to pre-register. Refreshments will be
served.

For more details, please call 8921801, send an SMS to
0917-5594417, email cruz.ct@ayalafoundation.org, or
visit www. filipinaslibrary.org.ph.

Read More »

Cesare A.X. Syjuco | The Sound of 2 Feet Clapping Exhibit | F*ART Gallery

You are invited to
an opening exhibit of
Cesare A.X. Syjuco
"The sound of 2 feet clapping"
on Saturday, August 25, 8 pm
at Fashion Art (F*ART) gallery
24 K-D cor. K-1st, Kamuning, Quezon City

About the Artist:
Cesare A.X. Syjuco is undoubtedly the most acclaimed Filipino multi-media artist of our time, and is likewise a prizewinning painter, poet, composer and art critic of international stature. Once widely regarded as "the Golden Boy of Philippine Art", his remarkably varied distinctions have included the prestigious TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines) Award for Art & Culture Advancement; the Gerry Roxas Foundation Presidential Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts; the Gawad CCP Sa Sining Biswal from the Cultural Center of the Philippines; the AAP Grand Prize and Gold Medal for Painting from the Art Association of the Philippines; the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Literature in English Poetry; the UNESCO Paris Gold Medals for Photography and Design; the CMMA Outstanding Filipino Communicator Citation from The Catholic Mass Media Awards; and the first Purita Kalaw-Ledesma Award for Art Criticism, among many others - all before the age of 40.
Cesare’s sudden and mysterious disappearance in 1992 – at the height of his tumultuous and often controversial art career – transformed him, in the words of one writer, “from the country’s most visible art renegade.. into something even larger than life.. a cult figure of legend among his peers”. But it is largely for his groundbreaking experimental works in “visual-literary transmedia” that his reputation as a world-class Filipino artist endures to this day.

(Text: Eliseo “Spike” Madriaga)

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Parallel Wounds Art Exhibit by J. Pacena II

"i watch you sleep like the dust you breathe through your nostrils… going inside, deep. deep enough to penetrate your soul. it is i who made you feel tingly inside.. .it is i who made you scream in pain. have you eaten lately? of flesh and burned tissue. reach within... god is watching you. im not god. busy streets of your imaginary road... walking, flying in and out, then out, then in again. it was never for them, it was always about you. can't seem to find words... words. all words. words, worlds consists of words. thoughts. feelings. ouch! watch where you're going asshole! money... makes the world go blah! i am the dust... you are the dust. we are all part of this one whole big mess. healing... or maybe not."

* * *

The Cultural Center of the Philippines
presents
"Parallel Wounds"
An Exhibition of Mixed Media works by J.Pacena II
at the Pasilyo Guillermo Tolentino (3rd Floor Hallway)
Opens August 22, 2007
Drinks will be served at 6PM
Exhibition runs till the 7th of October.

* * *

J.Pacena II is currently self employed. bumming around the vicinity of UP Bliss, Quezon City. He is currently a delinquent student of UP Diliman Masteral of Fine Arts and is a proud graduate and a former college instructor of University of Santo Tomas College of Fine Arts, whom he was recently terminated because of his worn out sneaker shoes.

If he is not busy doing music video projects, he is either sleeping or eating.

Parallel Wounds is his own observation of what seems to be the world we all live in. The parallelism of human condition and emotion.

For details or questions, you can always knock at 713 Bldg. 7 U.P. Bliss Diliman Q.C. or call him or text him at this number: 09157810135.

And also.... J.Pacena II is cute.

Read More »

Museum Volunteers of the Philippines Holds History Course @ Filipinas Heritage Library

Philippines – Past and Present

A history course presented by the Museum Volunteers of the Philippines: 2007-2008

WHAT IS IT?

A hands-on, seminar style course, held every Wednesday from September until April covering major historical events in the Philippines. The first day of the course is Wednesday September 19th. Topics will cover key episodes from the pre-colonial period up to the modern day.

This year’s course is divided into the following broad sections:

1 - Early History

2 - The Spanish Colonial Period

3 - The American and Japanese Colonial Periods

4 - Independence and the EDSA Revolution

5 - The Modern Era

Each section is covered in a variety of ways:

* Carefully chosen guest speakers give expert insight into the topics covered.
* Students also present a short assignment (up to 10 minutes in length) on a topic given to them during the course. Guidance is provided for these presentations in the form of information packs and module leader support.
* Field trips, relevant to the topic being studied, are also organised for each section. Last year’s trips included guided visits to Intramuros and Corregidor Island.

WHO IS IT FOR?

The course is ideal for anyone who wishes to learn more about the Philippines. It allows for a deeper understanding of the country through participant presentations, field trips, guest speakers and special events. All that you need is an enthusiasm for learning and the ability to read and write English.

All presentations are in English and help is given to those for whom English is not their first language. Extra support is also provided for those who would like help with their presentation skills.

WHEN IS IT?

The course begins on Wednesday September 19th 2007 and runs through to April with breaks over Christmas/New Year and Easter. The course finishes with a Graduation Lunch in May at which successful students are awarded a certificate.

Classes are not held when the Wednesday session coincides with a regular or special non-working Philippine holiday.

WHERE IS IT?

Sessions are held at the Filipinas Heritage Library, Nielsen Tower, Makati Avenue, Makati, from 9.00am to 12.00 noon. A break is taken mid-morning for merienda.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

The course fee is 6,000 PhP if paid on/before September 19.

We regret that refunds cannot be given should anyone have to withdraw from the course for any reason.

Annual membership of the Museum Volunteers of the Philippines (MVP) is required for everyone on the course. This will be available on the first day of class for 800 PhP.

Additional costs apply to optional field trips and the Graduation lunch.

CONTACT

For information and enrollment, join us at the Annual MVP Afternoon Tea
on 12th September at 2pm - Urdaneta Village Clubhouse, Urdaneta
or call/text Norman Wright on Cell: 0916-511-5688
Email to the Director, MVP-PPP: dmvpppp@yahoo.com
The Museum Volunteers of the Philippines: http://mvphilippines.hypermart.net
Everyone is welcome!

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Floy Quintos' Fluid Debuts At The Ateneo Theater Scene

FLOY QUINTOS’ FLUID DEBUTS AT THE ATENEO THEATER SCENE

The Ateneo de Manila University Theater Arts Seniors 2008 presents a new production of Fluid, as the fundraising project for their creative thesis showcase which will be staged on November. The play runs for three weeks starting August 30 at the Fine Arts Studio Theater, Loyola School, Ateneo de Manila University.

Art is center-stage in this Palanca-winning full-length play by celebrated playwright/director, Floy Quintos. This play is given a fresh twist as a young cast of actors steps in to relive this shining moment in Philippine theater.

Art brings together the lives of three couples as they grapple for a life of compromise. Amir is a talented painter on the fringes of a breakdown when he meets Mira, a rich art collector, who challenges him and his belief in art. Jom and Alben are struggling theater actors debating on the struggle between high art and popular art while trying to make their relationship work. Renata is the coordinator for an orchestra whose passion for “real art” drives the domineering events coordinator, Simone, crazy in a series of wacky affairs.

At the opening of Amir’s one-man-show, all discover true art in the midst of a pandemonium that looks into hypocrisy and the awakening of exhausted creative spirits.

Heading an all-Atenean cast is Missy Maramara who plays the worldly art collector, Mira Albano, alternating with Jasmine Mendiola and Pia Bonalos. Paolo Galia and Jio Javier alternate as Amir Montano, a struggling painter. Alben and Jom, two theater actors, are played by alternates JJ Ignacio and Nikko Atienza, and alternates Gerauld Rivera and RX 93.1 DJ, Jake de Leon, respectively. The playful events coordinator, Simone, is played by Jorja Hung, Diega Villanueva and Jean Pierre Reniva while Trency Caga-anan gives life to Philharmonic coordinator, Renata.

The playwright also directs the play with the set design of Monica Sebial and costumes design of Mahar Mangahas. Voltaire de Jesus handles the lights.

Framed within the context of sex, love, money, commerce and power, witness the three couples’ game of Art and Compromise at the Fine Arts Studio Theater (G-306), 3rd floor Gonzaga Hall, Loyola Schools, Ateneo de Manila University on August 30-31, September 1-2, 4-9, and 11-16, at 7pm with additional 2pm shows on Saturdays and Sundays. For inquiries, contact 0920-5574558 or the Fine Arts Program at 426-6001 loc. 5331.

THEATER ARTS PROGRAM
Fine Arts Program
2nd Floor, Gonzaga Hall
Loyola Schools, Ateneo de Manila University
Loyola Heights, Quezon City 1108
Tel. No. 4266001 local 5331
Press Release Reference:
Name: Jean Pierre Mitchell T. Reniva
Cellular Phone: 0906-2611268
E-mail: pierre.reniva@gmail.com

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GSM Blue Poster Making Contest Last Call for Entries

ARTIST KA BA? MAKIHALO NA!!!

LAST CALL FOR ENTRIES TO THE GSM BLUE POSTER MAKING CONTEST

You've enjoyed the sights…

You've been moved by the grooves…

Just when you think it can't get any better than this, we're
celebrating our 3rd year with even MORE brilliant performances
and MORE exciting activities.

And because you've been with us all these years, we're putting the
spotlight on YOU!

In partnership with GSM Blue, you get a chance to be part of the
grandest gathering of artists and aficionados by becoming one of our featured
artists. Yes, YOUR artwork gets to be exhibited for three days at the
3rd Backdoor Ventures Arts & Music Festival and Tradefair with GSM Blue's
Poster Making Contest!

If you're an art student or a student enthusiast, show us your best
depiction of the theme "Masarap Makihalo Ang Responsible Drinker with
GSM Blue" using the medium of your choice. Dimensions are 2x3ft.

Entries should be brought to the GSMI office for pre-selection of
works.Selected works will be featured in an exhibit at the 3rd Backdoor
Venures Arts & Music Festival and Tradefair from August 24-26, 2007.
Deadline for submission is on August 22, 5PM. The GSMI Office is
located at:

3/F San Miguel Properties Centre
St. Francis Street, Mandaluyong City
1550 Metro Manila, Philippines

The pre-selected entries will be judged according to the qualifications
set by the jurors consist of renowned artists and representatives from
GSMI, during the exhibit on August 24 at the 3rd Backdoor Ventures Arts
& Music Festival and Tradefair.

One lucky winner gets to bag a major cash prize plus cool premium items
From GSM Blue. The winning artist also gets to sign a contract allowing
GSM Blue to use Their entry as design for future collaterals of the
Brand(shirts, notebooks, posters, and other POP materials).

So get those creative juices flowin' and join GSM Blue's Poster Making
Contest!

For further inquiries, please contact:
Khristine Anunciacion: 689 9100 loc 280
Yanna Acosta: 407 1602/ 0927 917 3704 or drop us a line.

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2007 Ateneo Art Awards Winners Announced

2007 ATENEO ART AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The 2007 Ateneo Art Awards, the country's premier contemporary art prize,
were conferred on three young Filipino visual artists for their
outstanding contribution to the definition and development of modern and
contemporary Philippine art at a formal ceremony at the Rockwell Tent on
8 August 2007 following the 2007 Ateneo Art Awards exhibition at the
North Court, Power Plant Mall from 2 - 7 August 2007.

The three winners are Lyle Buencamino for the exhibition "A Bowtie for
John Lyle" at Mag:net ABS, Wawi Navarroza for the exhibition "Saturnine:
A Collection of Portraits, Creatures, Glass & Shadow" at the Silverlens
Gallery and MM Yu for the exhibition "Thoughts Collected, Recollected" at
Finale Art Gallery.

The winners were also each bestowed with the Ateneo Art Gallery
International Studio Residency Grant, the only program of its kind
organized by a Philippine cultural institution. Buencamino received the
Ateneo Art Gallery - La Trobe University Bendigo, Australia Residency
Grant, Navorroza the Ateneo Art Gallery - Artesan Gallery Singapore
Residency Grant and Yu the Ateneo Art Gallery - Common Room Bandung,
Indonesia Residency Grant. It provides them with roundtrip airfare,
allowance, accommodation and a work studio for three weeks, as well as an
invitation to exhibit at their respective host venues.

The other artists short-listed for the awards were Racquel de Loyola,
Bembol dela Cruz, Nona Garcia, Winner Jumalon, Yasmin Sison, Jay Ticar,
Mac Valdezco and Jevijoe Vitug.

The theme for this year's exhibition, Global/Vernacular, is recognition
and credence, acknowledging Philippine art has its own nuances yet
believing it moves beyond local context to reverberate cross-culturally.
The theme realizes the question of national identity in the face of
increasing globalization and the challenge to increase the profile of
Filipino art and artists abroad.

Ateneo Art Awards 2007: Global/Vernacular is presented by the Ateneo Art
Gallery together with Unionbank, Metro Society, Power Plant Mall,
Rockwell Land, Smart Gold and Y Style with the support of Artesan
Gallery, Common Room Networks Foundation, Arts Network Asia, La Trobe
University Bendigo, Timbuk2 and Absolut Vodka. The exhibition runs at the
Ateneo Art Gallery from 21 August to 24 September 2007.

For further inquiries on the Ateneo Art Awards, please contact Clarissa
Chikiamco at 426-6488 or at cchikiamco@ateneo. edu.

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9th Cinemanila to screen best films in Asia

9th Cinemanila to screen best films in Asia

IN commemoration of the ASEAN's 40th anniversary, the 9th Cinemanila
International Film Festival (CIFF) celebrates "ASEAN Astig!" The CIFF
will be showcasing several of the region's best films in an ASEAN
Cinema Focus. The official line-up will include Thailand's "The Dorm,"
"Alone," and "Syndromes and a Century"; and Malaysia's "Village People
Radio Show" and "Love Conquers All." The festival will screen several
films of Pen-ek Ratanaruang and Garin Nugroho, including the latter's
"Leaf on a Pillow," winner of the Lino Brocka Award in the first CIFF
in 1999. As part of its competition highlights, the CIFF will give an
award to the Best ASEAN Film of the year. A cash prize of P250,000
will be presented to the winner of this award. The Best ASEAN Short
Film will be similarly honored and the winner will receive a prize of
P50,000.00. These competitions and awards are made possible by the
joint efforts of the Film Development Council of the Philippines
(FDCP) and Cinemanila.

Seeking to promote the identity of ASEAN cinema, CIFF will also be
launching the SEAWAVE project this year. Some of the prominent
filmmakers of the region will each be contributing 3 to 5-minute films
revolving around the theme of "A Journey." The project will culminate
in the production of a 90-minute feature from the contributions, to be
previewed during the festival. Among the filmmakers who have been
invited to participate in the SEAWAVE project are Riri Riza, Nan
Achnas, and the I-Cinema Group of Indonesia; U-Wei bin Hajisaari, Tan
Chui Mui, and Amir Muhammad of Malaysia; Eric Khoo, Royston Tan, and
Kelvin Tong of Singapore; Nonzee Nimibutr, Apitchatpong Weerasethakul,
Wisit Sasanatieng, and Pen-ek Ratana-ruang of Thailand; and Pinoy
filmmakers Lav Diaz, John Torres, Raya Martin, Jeffrey Jeturian, Dante
Mendoza, Auraeus Solito, Chito Roño, and Rox Lee of the Philippines.

The 9th Cinemanila International Film Festival will have its run from
August 8 to 19 at Gateway Mall Cineplex 10 in Araneta Center, Quezon
City, and from August 17 to 19 in Boracay. The CIFF is organized
jointly by the Independent Cinema Association of the Philippines
(ICAP), the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). For more
information, visit www.cinemanila. org.ph or email cinemanila@gmail. com.

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Moonrise Film Festival 2007

Moonrise Film Festival 2007

The 3rd Annual Moonrise Filmfest features more documentaries than ever. Riveting footage of national treasure and a cause to support the environment are two reasons to come this year.
CEAE in cooperation with the Independent Filmmaker's Cooperative present a varied line-up of documentaries on the country's foremost cultural, environmental and social issues. Included in the roster is award-winning documentary Children of the Mountains.

CALL 721-7360 for more info. or visit www.ceae.org

When: August 15-21
Where: Robinson's Galleria
When: 12:00 - 10:00 p.m. daily
Tickets are pre-sold at P100 through CEAE
office. Call 7217360

SCHEDULE OF FILMS 2007
Moonrise Film Festival 2007
(To view the film synopses, click here.)

Wednesday, August 15
12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Moving Mountains, No More Dead Seasons
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Lawa ng Bae, Where have all the Monkeys gone?, Caubian: An Island Under Siege
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Silent Natives of Fuga, Agno, Environmental Art, Hidden Treasures of Agutayan
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sa Ngalan ng Mina, Kalimed, Our World in a Changing Climate
8:00 - 10:00 p.m. Memories of the Sea, Colours of the Philippines, Tamaraw Quest

Thursday, August 16
12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Children of the Mountains, Endangered Tales
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Sa Ngalan ng Mina, Kalimed, Our World in a Changing Climate
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Wailing of Paradise, Paang Walang Saplot, At the Edge of Paradise
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Bodong, Aramiden: A glimpse of the City of Pines , Shokoy
8:00 - 10:00 p.m. A Wonderful World, Hinga, Hingal, Hingalo, Winning the War on Garbage

Friday, August 17
12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Legacy: World Heritage Sites, Gods of Rice
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Bodong, Aramiden: A glimpse of the City of Pines , Shokoy
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Moving Mountains, No More Dead Seasons
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Lawa ng Bae, Where have all the Monkeys gone?, An Island Under Siege
8:00 - 10:00 p.m. Silent Natives of Fuga, Agno, Environmental Art, Hidden Treasures of Agutayan

Saturday, August 18
12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Lawa ng Bae, Where have all the Monkeys gone?, An Island Under Siege
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Bodong, Aramiden: A glimpse of the City of Pines , Shokoy
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Sa Ngalan ng Mina, Kalimed, Our World in a Changing Climate
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Children of the Mountains, Endangered Tales
8:00 - 10:00 p.m. -------AWARDS NIGHT --------
(to view the official 2007 entries, click here.)

Sunday, August 19
12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Sa Ngalan ng Mina, Kalimed, Our World in a Changing Climate
2:00 -4:00 p.m. Moving Mountains, No More Dead Seasons
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Bodong, Aramiden: A glimpse of the City of Pines , Shokoy
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Children of the Mountains, Moving Mountains
8:00 - 10:00 p.m. Lawa ng Bae, Where have all the Monkeys gone?, An Island Under Siege

Monday, August 20
12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Wailing of Paradise , Paang Walang Saplot, At the Edge of Paradise
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Bodong, Aramiden: A glimpse of the City of Pines , Shokoy
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Silent Natives of Fuga, Agno, Environmental Art, Hidden Treasures of Agutayan
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sa Ngalan ng Mina, Kalimed, Our World in a Changing Climate
8:00 - 10:00 p.m. Children of the Mountains, Endangered Tales

Tuesday, August 21
12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Memories of the Sea, Tamaraw Quest, Colours of the Philippines
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Children of the Mountains, Endangered Tales
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Lawa ng Bae, Where have all the Monkeys gone?, An Island Under Siege
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Moving Mountains, No More Dead Seasons
8:00 - 10:00 p.m. Legacy: World Heritage Sites, Gods of Rice

***

Moonrise Film Festival 2007

Moonrise Film Festival Official Entries 2007

This years environmental documentaries are brought to you by:




Awards

Cash Prize

Other Prizes

The Grand Charlie
– Best Documentary

P100,000.00

Trophy + Certificate

Best Direction

P5,000.00

Trophy + Certificate + Spa Gift Certificate

Best Storyline

P5,000.00

Trophy + Certificate + Spa Gift Certificate

Best Cinematography

P5,000.00

Trophy + Certificate + Spa Gift Certificate

Best Editing

P5,000.00

Trophy + Certificate + Spa Gift Certificate

Best Musical Score

P5,000.00

Trophy + Certificate + Spa Gift Certificate

People's Choice Award

P3,000.00

Trophy + Certificate + Spa Gift Certificate

Volunteer's Choice Award

Trophy + Certificate + Spa Gift Certificate + GreenMinds Web Hosting Certificate

Citation for Issue-based
Documentary

Trophy + Certificate

Citation for Documentary
on Culture

Trophy + Certificate

Moonrise Film Festival Official Entries 2007

ARAMIDEN: A Glimpse of the City of Pines

Director: Diane Elizabeth Sipin
TRT: 12 minutes

Synopsis: What we know as the “City of Pines ” has become a highly urbanized with the trappings of any modern-day metropolis, corrupting what once was a dearly unique culture and environment. This film is about the locals' continuing effort to save what is left of the glory that is Baguio .

BODONG (Peace Pact)

Director: Seymour Barros – Sanchez
Producer: Red Room Productions / Pixel Art
TRT: 12 minutes 30 seconds

Synopsis: Bodong is about the traditional peace pact entered into by warring tribes in the Klainga.This documentary seeks to encourage Cordillera people to forge a “Bodong” to fight destructive mining and intensified militarization in the region.

WHERE HAVE ALL THE MONKEYS GONE?

Director: Mabel Batong
Producer: Cordillera Green Network
TRT: 21 minutes 12 seconds

Synopsis: Monkeys that used to abound in Kibungan, Benguet are gone, an indication of the pressures of population growth, disappearing forests, and hunting. Yet the making of clay monkeys masks in Kibungan gave an opportunity to remember the past while exploring the past while exploring the art and processes involved in using clay.

OUR WORLD IN A CHANGING CLIMATE

Director: Maria Ernestine Tamana
Producer: Jesuit Communications Foundation, Inc. and Manila Observatory-KLIMA (Center for Climate Change)
TRT: 24 minutes

Synopsis: Our World in a Changing Climate is a short animated documentary about the accelerated global warming. A leaf, named Malki, travels the world and notices the unusual patterns and changes in the weather. Along her travel, she meets a smart kid-Franco. Together, they journeyed and talked to environment experts and advocates to understand what's going on with the environment.

SYOKOY

Director: Ray Defante Gibraltar
Producer: Hermit Crab Production on TV Creative Production
TRT: 72 minutes

Synopsis: A true tale told by a fisherman in the island of Naoway , Guimaras, about a syokoy . The film demystifies syokoy from a powerful evil being into an ordinary sea creature that is ready to defend the integrity and beauty of its natural habitat.

LAWA NG BAE

Director: Donnie T. Sacueza
Producer: Donnie T. Sacueza and Philippine Women's University
TRT: 20 minutes

Synopsis: Lawa ng Bae tells the stories of the fishermen about the present and past problems of Laguna de Bay. This short documentary also reveals the richness and beauty of the dying lake.
CAUBIAN: An Island Under Siege

Director: Ulysses Sison
Producer: Hubert Zanoria / College of Arts and Science Southwestern University
TRT: 36 minutes 25 seconds

Synopsis: An investigative video documentary on environmental and social awareness about Caubian Island on its practice of blast fishing, over-population, sanitation, livelihood, and the island's present and future.

KALIMED

Director: Golda Mae Pay-ong
Producer: University of Makati
TRT: 15 minutes

Synopsis: KALIMED is a personal account of a young Kalinga native who has acquired a scholarship to study at the University of Makati .
SA NGALAN NG MINA?

Director: Geraldine Torres – Brillantes
Producer: Philippine Misereor Partnership (PMP) and Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM)
TRT:
Synopsis:

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Schedules for Cinemanila 2007

Schedules for 9th Cinemanila 2007

Please find below the schedule of screenings and special events of the 9th Cinemanila International Film Festival. Tickets are already available at Gateway Cineplex 10. Please be informed, however, that schedules are subject to change without prior notice.

Thank you.

Ronald Cruz
Festival Coordinator

9TH CINEMANILA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AUGUST 8 – 19, 2007 VENUE 1: GATEWAY MALL CINEPLEX 10 VENUE 2: BORACAY ISLAND, PHILIPPINES

AUGUST 8 WEDNESDAY 4:30PM CONTROL - MATINEE SCREENING
(With Band Performances by: Blast Ople and Pupil after screening)
CINEMA 1

IRINA PALM - MATINEE SCREENING
CINEMA 4

8:00PM OPENING / ASEAN NIGHT CINEMA 5
Lifetime Achievement Awardees:
Mr. Robert Malengreau, Mr. Quentin Tarantino & HSH Chatrichalerm Yukol

9:00PM OPENING FILM: KING NARESUAN
CINEMA 5

AUGUST 9 THURSDAY CINEMA 1
1:00PM LOVE’S LONE FLOWER
3:30PM CONTROL
7:30PM SOUTH AFRICAN NIGHT: U-CARMEN eKHAYELITSHA
10:00PM THE EDGE OF HEAVEN

CINEMA 4
12:30PM CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY
2:15PM WOMAN ON THE BEACH
5:00PM IRINA PALM
7:15PM THE UNSEEABLE
9:30PM CONTROL

CINEMA 6
10:30AM POSTMODERN LIFE OF MY AUNT
1:00PM – 4:00PM FILM ARCHIVING SEMINAR
(Speakers: Mr. Tan Bee Thiam - Asian Film Archive and Mary Del Pilar - ABS CBN Archives)
5:00PM INVISIBLES
7:00PM VANAJA
9:30PM RED DUST

AUGUST 10 FRIDAY
CINEMA 1
1:00PM YESTERDAY
3:30PM WOMAN ON THE BEACH
7:30PM BOLLYWOOD NIGHT: THE NAMESAKE
10:00PM IRINA PALM

CINEMA 4
12:30PM CONTROL
3:00PM FAITH’S CORNER
5:00PM VOLVER
7:15PM RESERVOIR DOGS (1st theatrical screening in the Philippines)
9:40PM 2 DAYS IN PARIS

CINEMA 6
10:30AM LOVE CONQUERS ALL
1:00PM – 4:00PM GRINDHOUSE DAY
(With Mr. Eddie Romero and Mr. Cirio Santiago)
5:00PM EBONY, IVORY AND JADE
7:00PM REQUIEM
9:30PM THE UNSEEABLE

AUGUST 11 SATURDAY
CINEMA 1
10:30AM LEAF ON A PILLOW
1:00PM SECRET LIFE OF WORDS
3:30PM THE HOMESONG STORIES
6:00PM PULP FICTION
9:00PM NO REGRET

CINEMA 4
10:30AM GOD WILLING
12:30PM WOMAN ON THE BEACH
3:00PM 2 DAYS IN PARIS
5:00PM WONDER WOMEN
7:00PM YOUNG CINEMA NIGHT 1 (COMPETITION)
9:30PM VOLVER

CINEMA 5
1:00PM – 4:00PM AN AFTERNOON WITH QUENTIN TARANTINO
9:00PM PHILIPPINE PREMIERE: “DEATH PROOF”
(Gala Screening)

CINEMA 6
10:30AM LOVE FOR SHARE
1:00PM VILLAGE PEOPLE RADIO SHOW
3:00PM JUAN BAYBAYIN
5:00PM PLOY
7:30PM AUTOHYSTORIA
9:40PM PLEASURE FACTORY

AUGUST 12 SUNDAY
CINEMA 1
10:30AM CHILDREN OF GLORY
1:20PM MUKHSIN
3:30PM LOVE AND HONOR
6:00PM 2 DAYS IN PARIS
8:30PM CINE MANGA:
THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME
(with Cosplay.ph)

CINEMA 4
10:30AM PLOY
12:45PM GETTING HOME
3:00PM HULA GIRLS
5:30PM THE EDGE OF HEAVEN
8:00PM YOUNG CINEMA NIGHT 2 (EXHIBITION)

CINEMA 6
10:30AM (JURY SCREENING)
1:00PM – 4:00PM MASTER CLASS IN SCRIPTWRITING
(with Dr. Clodualdo “Doy” Del Mundo. Jr. and Mr. Ralston Jover)
5:00PM VOICES, TILTED SCREENS & EXTENDED SCENES OF
LONELINESS: FILIPINOS IN HIGH DEFINITION CINEMAS
7:00PM PAIN THINGS
9:00PM BEYOND THE CALL

AUGUST 13 MONDAY
CINEMA 1
1:00PM GETTING HOME
3:30PM LOVE FOR SHARE
6:00PM PARIS JE T’AIME
9:00PM HULA GIRLS

CINEMA 4
12:00PM SARAFINA
2:30PM LOVE’S LONE FLOWER
4:30PM CHILDREN OF GLORY
7:00PM GOODBYE BAFANA
9:50PM NO REGRET

CINEMA 6
10:30AM (JURY SCREENING)
1:00PM – 4:00PM MASTER CLASS IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
(with Mr. Nap Jamir and Scenema Concepts)
5:00PM JACKIE BROWN
7:00PM A LA SUERTE A LA MUERTE
9:30PM THE ARSONIST

AUGUST 14 TUESDAY
CINEMA 1
1:00PM GOD WILLING
3:30PM IRINA PALM
6:00PM VOLVER
8:30PM PERSEPOLIS

CINEMA 4
12:30PM SANKARA
2:30PM THE UNSEEABLE
5:00PM THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME
7:10PM NO REGRET
9:30PM THE NAMESAKE

CINEMA 6
10:30AM (JURY SCREENING)
1:00PM – 4:00PM INTERNATIONAL CO-PRODUCTION SEMINAR
(with Mr. Anant Singh of Videovision Entertainment and Mr. Cirio Santiago)
5:00PM THE MUTHERS
7:00PM FAITH’S CORNER
9:30PM TRIBU

NOTE: SCHEDULE OF 2ND WEEK SCREENINGS (From August 15 – 19)
- To Be Announced Later. – o Best of Cinemanila 2007
o Screenings of Award Winners and Audience Choices
o More Philippine premieres
o Critic After Dark Programme by Noel Vera

AUGUST 15 WEDNESDAY CINEMA 5 8:30PM AWARDS NIGHT

CINEMA 6
1:00PM – 4:00PM INDIE FILMMAKING SEMINAR (DAY 1)

AUGUST 16 THURSDAY
CINEMA 6
1:00PM – 4:00PM INDIE FILMMAKING SEMINAR (DAY 2)

AUGUST 17, 18, 19 (FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY)
CINEMANILA IN BORACAY
4th BORACAY CO-PRODUCTION MEETING

AUGUST 19 SUNDAY
8:30PM CLOSING FILM: SEA WAVE FILM PROJECT

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Backdoor Ventures Sets 3rd Arts and Music Festival

It will be yet another feast for the senses as Backdoor Ventures presents
its ground-breaking roster of live performances and artists at the
*3rd Backdoor Ventures Arts & Music Festival & Trade Fair at the
Megatrade Hall 3
of SM Megamall from August 24 to 26*.

The event is the only one of its kind that fuses arts and music in the
context of a trade exposition catering to enthusiasts and promotes the
diversity and artistry of Pinoy art and music.

With over a thousand participating artists in the past two years, the third
edition of this event will set higher ground with its powerhouse lineup of
live musical and dance performances from different genres, stage plays, art
films, free workshops and art exhibits to give guests a complete art
experience.

The festival will showcase art materials, musical instruments, audio-visual
equipment and a wide array of art- and music-related products and
services catering to artists, art students, art enthusiasts, gallery owners,
hobbyists,musicians and music lovers.

"*The Backdoor Ventures Arts & Music Festival & Trade Fair* is a one-stop
shop for showcasing talent, creative expression, and product innovations
which appeal to a broad audience because of the universal reach of music and
the arts," says project director Jay Viriña.

Hundreds of artists and musicians will take part in this year's fest, which
includes art groups such as the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP),
the Saturday Group, Halili-Cruz School of Ballet, Printmakers Association of
the Philippines, UP Artists Circle, Neonescas, Romancing Venus and Teatro
Flamenco.

Participating bands are The Dawn, Pinikpikan, Kjwan, Kapatid, Stonefree,
Kadangyan, Sinosikat, Agaw Agimat, Nityalila, Project Ganymede, Greyhoundz,
Coffeereak Island, The Chongkeys, Bulol, Makatha, Dice & K9, Reklamo,
Matilda, Brigada, Riot, Cosmic Love, Check, Alakpa, Sruvaleh, Indio-I,
Niniskirt, Duster, Zip Code, Blue Sub, The Late Isabel, Syke, Gloc 9,
Bahaghari, Stick Figgas, G2 & the Bundoks, Unitiima, Good Leaf, Lahi,
Scarlet Tears, Purple Chickens, ERF, Ducks Entertainment, Mono Temple, FMD,
Syalam, and Quadro.

Solo artists such as Joey Pepe Smith, Noel Cabangon, Sofia, Kooky Tuason,
Miko Pepito, Julianne, and Wawi Navarroza, will also take part to make the
event a "Woodstock" assemblage of sort.

The event is supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts,
the AAP, MTV Philippines, GSM Blue, GSM Premium Gin, SM Record Bar, Argon
Animation, 88DB, Pepsi, Pulp Magazine, NU 107, JAM 88.3, Wave, XFM, Adobo
Magazine, and the Philippine Star.

"The fair is a family-oriented activity because there is something in store
for guests of all ages and artistic preferences. We also have special
activities for children to expose them to art and culture at an early age,"
Viriña added.

Interested parties can call 407-1602, 0916-7814785 or e-mail
backdoorventures@ gmail.com or log on to www.backdoorvent.multiply.com.

Read More »

Schedule of 9th Cinemanila Digital Lokal Full-Length Films

9th CINEMANILA Digital Lokal Full-Length Competition Schedule
(Filipino Films)

Official Selection for 9th Cinemanila Digital Lokal Full-length
Competition

1. Ala Muerte Ala Swerte by Briccio Santos
2. Autohystoria by Raya Martin
3. Juan Baybayin by Roxlee
4. Pain Things by John Red
5. Tilted Screens and Extended Scenes of Loneliness: Filipino on
High Definition By John Torres

9th Cinemanila Digital Lokal Competition Juries
1. Oliver Piere-Artistic Director Director's Fornight Cannes
Film Festival
2. Jacklyn Jose- Award Winning Filipina Actress
3. Ansgar Vogt- Member Berlin International Film Festival

9TH CINEMANILA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULES FILIPINO FILMS

AUGUST 8 - 19, 2007
VENUE 1: GATEWAY MALL CINEPLEX 10
VENUE 2: BORACAY ISLAND , PHILIPPINES

AUGUST 11 SATURDAY
CINEMA 6
3:00PM JUAN BAYBAYIN BY ROXLEE
7:30PM AUTOHYSTORIA BY RAYA MARTIN

AUGUST 12 SUNDAY
5:00PM VOICES, TILTED SCREENS & EXTENDED SCENES OF
LONELINESS: FILIPINOS IN HIGH DEFINITION CINEMAS BY JOHN TORRES
7:00PM PAIN THINGS BY JOHN RED

AUGUST 13 MONDAY
CINEMA 6
7:00PM A LA SUERTE A LA MUERTE BY BRICCIO SANTOS

NOTE: SCHEDULE OF 2ND WEEK SCREENINGS (From August 15- 19)
- To Be Announced Later.
o Best of Cinemanila 2007
o Screenings of Award Winners and Audience Choices
o More Philippine premieres
o Critic After Dark Programme by Noel Vera

Read More »

Final Schedule of Cinemanila Short Films For Competition & Exhibition

CINEMANILA: SCHEDULE of CINEMANILA Short Films for Competition & Exhibition

FINAL SCHEDULE of CINEMANILA Short Films for Competition & Exhibition
AUGUST 8 to 19, 2007
VENUE 1: GATEWAY MALL CINEPLEX 10
VENUE 2: BORACAY ISLAND , PHILIPPINES

AUGUST 11 SATURDAY
CINEMA 4
CINEMANILA
7:00PM YOUNG CINEMA NIGHT SHORT FILM COMPETITION

1. Libingan (Ramon del Prado)
2. The Calling (Christopher Gozum)
3. Three Boys (Ming Kai Leung)
4. Delusions (Ernest Michael Manalastas)
5. Parang Sirang Plaka (Real Florido)
6. Bingit (Michael Christian Cardoz)
7. Kasila (Sherwin Desierto)

AUGUST 12 SUNDAY
CINEMA 4
CINEMANILA
8:00PM YOUNG CINEMA NIGHT 2 (EXHIBITION)

1. Afterbirth (Reginald Vinluan)
2. Umbilical (Jason Joven)
3. Sa Kanlungan ng Impyerno (Milo Tolentino)
4. Ambulancia (Richard Soriano Legaspi)
5. Qwerty (Paolo Dy)
6. Walang Paraiso (Ivy Tayag Baldoza)
7. Tres Pas (Janus Victoria)

Read More »

Reflecrions - A Painting & Photography Exhibit @ Granos De Cafe

REFLECTIONS - A Painting & Photography Exhibit

Exhibit opening: August 10, 2007, 6PM
Exhibit runs until September 10, 2007
Granos De Cafe, Timog Avenue, Q.C.(front of Zirkoh)

A Group Exhibit featuring: Jose Barja, Grandier Bella, Jes Evangelista, Lucy Fernando, Kara Iñigo and Dennis Rito present photos and paintings in "Reflections, " which opens on August 10, 2007, 6 p.m., at Granos de Café, 39 Timog Avenue, Quezon City (front of Zirkoh).

As the title of the show suggests, the works represent each artists' personal interpretation of different subjects through two mediums, the camera and the brush. Exhibit runs until September 10,2007.

For information, email at: reflections_ exhibit@yahoo. com or text/ call: 09154814388 / 09209071303

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