Pangasinan livelihood assistance benefits small industries, marginalized sectors
The beneficiaries were: Imbo Women’s Association in Anda, Quinaoayanan in Bani, Sapa Grande in Burgos, Calzada in Mabini, Aliguas Cooperative Enterprise of Songkoy Multi-Purpose Coop in Calasiao, Kalipi ng Mapandan in Mapandan, Angayan Sur in Balungao, Nama Women’s Association in Pozorrubio, Mejia-Sison Trading Furniture Shop in San Nicolas and Zeus Lucky Pancit Misua in Tayug town.
Each association received check worth from P90,000 to P120,000.
There are now 37 associations and 825 individuals who benefited from the program which started in October 2008. Of the P4.5 million released, some P1.1 million was already collected.
The loan assistance program mostly caters to different sectors engaged in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) including marginalized farmers/fisherfolks, community-based women’s group and individual entrepreneurs.
Facilitated by the provincial population office, the province’s livelihood program aims to generate more livelihood and employment opportunities for the underprivileged to increase their income and improve access to basic needs.
Ellsworth G. Gonzales, program population officer who heads the 10-man team which monitors and evaluates the program’s beneficiaries said the province’s livelihood program has a 100 percent repayment rate.
The province provides a maximum credit assistance of P100,000 with four percent interest in six months. However, a rebate of 2.5 percent is given if payments are made before the due date. The rebate will go back to the association as capital share.
This repayment scheme strategy, he said, encourages borrowers to become responsible and thus help the association sustains itself to the benefit of its members. (PIO/PIA Pangasinan/dos)
PNP bares peace and order situation in Region 2
Damian related the relentless efforts of the police in the interception and confiscation of pebbles in Aparri, Cagayan; the arrests of 9 Vietnamese in Batanes caught of illegal poaching; and the arrest of 3 fishermen in Buguey, Cagayan of illegal fishing.
He further presented the arrest of 4 persons for rape, kidnapping with murder, murder and statutory rape cases, respectively. He also stated that they were able to neutralize 3 gangs doing illegal activities in the region, and their accomplishments on the confiscation of illegal logs in Isabela.
Damian said despite these incidents, Region 2 remains secured and stable.
He also informed that there are about 230 newly recruited police in the region and additional 26 applicants were hired and are now assigned in Region 5 due to lack of eligibles in the said region.
In addition, RPOC Chair and Quirino Gov. Dakila Carlo E. Cua also informed that a certain Norman Dela Cruz of Nueva Vizcaya has returned from Canada and is now detained in Pasay City jail for a case of illegal recruitment.
“He should be charged of syndicated estafa having fooled not only Quirino businessmen but also corn traders as far as Aparri, Cagayan,” Cua said.
Cua also urged the RPOC to make a resolution informing the office of the DILG Secretary about the problem and ask them to intervene in compelling Dela Cuz to return the money to his victims. (Oliver B./PIA 2)
Rebel returnees seek livelihood assistance from PGMA
The council has adopted a resolution on the said request of the group through the participation of Mr. Calvin D. Magno the secretary general of NVRAA.
Magno said they had formulated a rebel returnees’ livelihood program entitled “NVRAA Integrated Livelihood Program for Community, Economic, and Environmental Development Towards Self-sufficiency: A Model for Poverty Alleviation Strategy for Peace in Region 2,” which has been forwarded to the office of the President for funding assistance.
The council, in their resolution, stated that considering the impact of the program in alleviating poverty and in making the lives of the rebel returnees productive and become partners once again in nation building, the council recognized the significance of the program in the overall efforts of gaining trust in the peace process.
PIA Regional Director Purita S. Licas moved for the adoption of the resolution endorsing and reiterating to the President the request to fund NVRAA strategic livelihood program.
The council further furnished copies of the resolution to the National Peace and Order Council, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, and the Department of Agrarian Reform. (Oliver B./PIA 2)
The 1st Cinemanila Machinima Online Film Festival
October 20, 2009
Eyes mesmerized at the moving images onscreen, ears attuned to the musical strains coming from the overhead speakers and momentarily holding your breath as the story reaches its climax —- such is the magical hold of cinema over us.
That is why it’s no wonder that the world of cinema is being celebrated worldwide. And here in the local scene, Cinemanila has always been the definitive authority in bringing the best of World Cinema to our native shores whilst promoting the crème de la crème of contemporary Philippine cinema.
With 10 years under its belt, it’s not surprising that the 11th Cinemanila International Film Festival will be the first film festival in the country to host and encourage a new advent of filmmaking fashioned about by technology – Machinima.
Machinima is the thrilling union of filmmaking and online gaming, thus creating a new filmmaking genre where gamers have the chance to craft movies using the video games they’ve come to dearly love. They have absolute control in breathing life to their favorite game characters, designing the virtual environment of their movie and constructing a storyline that will test their creative abilities while considering traditional cinematic conventions.
And it doesn’t hurt that the new filmmaking movement virtually eliminates the usual headaches of traditional animation that hounds professional animators such as hefty expenses, wearisome preproduction and the long, sleepless nights.
With such added practicalities of Machinima, the 1st Cinemanila Machinima Film Festival is the perfect avenue for ingenious, resourceful but cash-strapped gamers. In launching this new component of Cinemanila, gamers are given the chance to show the world what they can do and be recognized for their creativity.
The festival begins accepting entries this August and culminates with an Awarding Ceremony on October 20, 2009 during the 2009 Cinemanila International Film Festival.
For more information on the 1st Cinemanila Machinima Film Festival, log on to www.cinemanila.org.ph.
The premiere Philippine international film festival begins a new decade
Cinemanila, the festival traces its roots to the desire of continuing the legacy of Lino Brocka. In 1974, the great filmmaker created “Cinemanila,” an independent production outfit. With immortal classics like Mortal and Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang, Brocka was able to associate Cinemanila to films that are uniquely Filipino yet able to play to international markets. In turn, Cinemanila the film festival was envisioned to be a nurturing environment for the future of the Filipino film industry. By exposing them to international-caliber films, Cinemanila aimed to rouse the yearning among young and upcoming filmmakers to be more globally competitive and to be optimistic that they too can create world-class films worthy of exhibition abroad.
Since then, Cinemanila has become an annual exposition of the best of World Cinema to the Philippines and the best of Filipino films to the world. The festival has pushed the boundaries of filmmaking by focusing on movies made beyond the mainstream. In doing so, it was able to imbue the almost moribund local film industry with a new sense of vigor. As Cinemanila championed independent filmmaking, it was able to cultivate artistic inclinations unhampered by monetary considerations.
And the outputs are all nothing short of extraordinary. Cinemanila has become the veritable launching pad for the new breed of Filipino filmmakers. For the past six years, the festival’s Young Cinema competition has produced the most promising local filmmakers in recent memory. A collection of short films, the program awards the most outstanding young Filipino filmmaker with the Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema, a tribute to the late filmmaker’s innovation and unique artistry. And truly, awardees do reflect the Bernal spirit. Gawad Urian awardee Mes de Guzman and Cannes scholar Raya Martin are but only two of its prestigious alumni. The competition was also one of the first to recognize John Torres, now Dragon and Tiger Awardee from Vancouver and recipient of the Fipresci-Netpac Award from Singapore.
When Cinemanila, together with Asiacontent.com and the Singapore International Film Festival, launched 8arts.com, it presaged that digital filmmaking would soon be the wave of the future. Recognized as the first-ever digital film festival in Asia, 8arts.com featured the Internet premieres by renowned directors from the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries. It has since evolved into Digital Lokal, a competition that recognizes Filipino excellence in digital filmmaking. Past awardees of the Lino Grand Prize – Aureaus Solito, Brillante Mendoza and Raya Martin – all gained international recognition for their Digital Lokal films. Solito’s winning entry, Tuli, won Outstanding International Narrative Feature at the 2007 Outfest in Los Angeles and the NETPAC Award from the Berlin International Film Festival. On the other hand, Mendoza, Cinemanila’s Director in Focus this year, garnered a record 7 nominations during the 30th Gawad Urian for his film Manoro, which won the 2006 Lino Grand Prize. Martin’s 2007 winning entry Autohystoria later bagged the Special Mention at the International Competition of the Marseille Film Festival.
As Cinemanila introduced Filipino filmmaking excellence to the world, the elite of world cinema also found themselves drawn to the festival. From Asian royalty to Hollywood luminaries, distinguished guests have graced the festival’s annual celebration, infusing Cinemanila with a dose of prominence and credibility. Industry veterans like Chris Doyle (Hero, In the Mood for Love), Fernando Meirelles (City of God, Constant Gardner, Blindness) and Indonesian actress and Cannes jury member Christine Hakim attended previous editions of the festival. Acclaimed legends such as Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Jafar Panahi were warmly welcomed as well as Fil-Am Hollywood personalities Tia Carrere and Lou Diamond Phillips. And highlighting last year’s edition, Cinemanila had rolled out the red carpet for American cult icon Quentin Tarantino and HSH Chatrichalerm Yukol, film director and member of the Thai Royal Family.
True to its aim of opening doors for local filmmakers to the global arena, Cinemanila has brought in representatives from other international film festivals and the international financing circuit as well. They include Olivier Pere, artistic director, Director’s Fortnight, Cannes Film Festival; Ansgar Vogt, selection member, Berlin International Film Festival Forum; Jérémy Segay of Cannes Director’s Fortnight and program adviser of the Paris Cinema Project; and Wieland Speck, director, Panorama Program, Berlin International Film Festival. But perhaps the festival’s greatest achievement yet was the establishment of the Boracay Co-production Meeting, a genuine international platform where Southeast Asian filmmakers can apply for partial grants for their film projects. The meeting has since recognized the most promising filmmakers from Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand via the auspices of the Hubert Bals Fund of Rotterdam IFF (represented by IFFR programmer Gertjan Zuilhof) and in previous years, the Goteborg Film Festival Fund (represented by Goteborg fund chair Bengt Toll). One such example is Filipino maverick filmmaker Lav Diaz. One of the very first recipients of the grant from Hubert Bals, Diaz’s Heremias went on to win the Special Jury Prize at the Fribourg International Film Festival. It was also nominated in the Grand Prix category of the same festival.
Ten years in the making and the Cinemanila International Film Festival has gracefully reached its first pit stop. Now as another edition of the festival beckons, Cinemanila is sure to manifest why it is the Philippines’s undisputed premiere international film festival – a first of its kind, the only one of its caliber in the country. This edition has also more gravity as Cinemanila pays tribute to its first ten years, a decade that saw a seemingly unattainable dream transform into an unyielding cause fueled by a vision and coupled with the spirit of volunteerism, enthusiasm, hard work, dedication and yes, even luck. The festival has indeed come a long, long way. Achieving farther than being a festival truly worthy of extending Lino Brocka’s legacy, Cinemanila is now a mighty stronghold in which the commitment to Filipino excellence in filmmaking is explored, cultivated and showcased for all the world to see.
And at the turn of this page, thus will begin another journey. Cinemanila will once again set its sights on breaking new grounds. Keen on transforming the stumbling blocks of yesterday into stepping-stones towards another fruitful decade, the Cinemanila International Film Festival looks forward to tomorrow with invigorated energy and artistic maturity. What lies ahead then is the next dream, and the long road ahead to its next glorious triumph – onward to another decade of cinematic excellence.
This is Cinemanila.
CINEMANILA has always stood for two things:
The promotion of Filipino films to world cinema audiences and of world cinema to Filipino audiences; and the development of new and independent Filipino filmmakers.
The central features of the festival are Philippine Cinema and Southeast Asian Cinema, or SEA Cinema.
The direction and framework of the festival have provided the focus for its programs to provide to the world a window on Philippine cinema in particular and Southeast Asian cinema in general.
The goals of CINEMANILA are to:
To nurture young Filipino directors and unearth new talents in the Philippines and Southeast Asia in order for the Philippines to become the hub of Southeast Asian films.
To create content that will make a major contribution to the development of the bigger picture which is the Asian Content Industry.
To revitalize the Filipino Film Industry that will become a major player in the development of the Asian Content Industry.
A Peek at the Past Festivals
1999
First CINEMANILA was launched in July 1999
Award-winning cinematographer Christopher Doyle (Hero, Last Life in the Universe, 2046) conducted a lecture on cinematography
Adoor Gopalakrishna. The Servile, Monologue, The Walls (India) was honored/featured Director in Focus
Lino Brocka Award: Leaf on a Pillow by Garin Nugroho’s (Indonesia)
Grand Jury Prize: The Terrorist by Santosh Sivan (India)
NETPAC Jury Award: Birth of a Butterfly by Mojtaba Raei (Iran) and Pila Balde by Jeffrey Jeturian (Philippines)
Best Short Film: Father’s Toys by Carol Miu-Suiet Lai (Hong Kong)
2000
Saw the rise of 8arts.com – Asia’s first digital film website
Alternative films competed for the first time for the Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema
Tribute to Majid Majidi (Iran)
Lino Brocka Award: Colour of Paradise by Majid Majidi (Iran)
Grand Jury Prize: Yana’s Friends by Arik Kaplun (Israel)
Best Actress: Evelyne Kaplun for Yana’s Friends (Israel)
Best Documentary Film: Punitive Damage by Annie Goldson (New Zealand)
Best Short Film: The Offering by Paul Lee (Canada)
Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema: Buwan by Peter Chua
2001
Tribute to Nonzee Nimibutr, Nang Nak, Jan Dara, Dang Birely’s
Earned its reputation as the Philippines’ premiere international film festival with the presence of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as guest of Honor
Lino Brocka Award: Firefly Dreams by John Williams (Japan)
Grand Jury Prize: Roads and Bridges by Abraham Lim (USA)
Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema Award: Batang West Side by Lav Diaz (Philippines)
Special Recognition Award for Career Achievement: Charlotte Rampling, Screen Actress (UK)
Best Short Film: Sand by Percy Fuentes (Canada)
Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema: Batang Trapo by Mes de Guzman
2002
Cinemanila-ASEF Film Development Plan was launched
Scriptwriting Competition
Direct Action Cinema workshop conducted by Rob Nilsson (Cannes’ Camera d’Or winner, Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner)
Cinematography workshop conducted by French Cinematographer and Screenwriter Pierre-William Glenn
Grand Prize Lino Brocka Award: Atanarjuat the Fast Runner by Zacharias Kunuk (Canada) and What Time Is It There? by Tsai Ming-Iiang (Taiwan)
Grand Jury Prize: Seafood by Zhu Wen (China)
Special Jury Prize: Una casa con vista al mar by Alberto Alvero (Venezuela)
Kodak Vision Award for Technical Excellence in Cinematography: What Time Is It There? by Tsai Ming-Iiang (Taiwan)
Best Actor: Lee Kang-sheng for What Time Is It There? (Taiwan) and Alejandro Trejo for Taxi Para Tres (Chile)
Best Screenplay: Orlando Lubbert for Taxi Para Tres (Chile)
Best Actress: Aoi Miyasaki for Harmful Insect (Japan)
NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film: Hollywood Hong Kong by Fruit Chan (Hong Kong) and Harmful Insect by Akihiko Shiota (Japan)
Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema: Lolo’s Child by Romeo Candido
Best Short Film: Batinglaw by Lawrence Cordero
Best Documentary: Case of Wilkie Duran Monte: Toxic Chemical Victim by Minnie Solomon Crouse
Scriptwriting Competition Grand Jury Prize: James Arnold B. Ladioray, Cut and Mario O’Hara, Hocloban
Scriptwriting Competition Special Jury Prize: Anton Juan, Ugat Nating Lahat and Peter Solis Nery, Buyong
2003
Asia-Europe Scriptlab
Tribute to Filipino-American Hollywood celebrities Lou Diamond Phillips, Tia Carrere, Dean Devlin, Fritz Friedman and Rob Schneider
Cinemanila graced by Fernando Meirelles (City of God, Constant Gardner, Blindness) and Lou Diamond Phillips, Tia Carrere and Fritz Friedman
Christine Hakim (Indonesian actress and activist) attended festival to receive Lifetime Achievement award
Grand Prize Lino Brocka Award: Uzak (Distant) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Turkey)
Grand Jury Prize: City of God by Fernando Meirelles (Brazil) and The Blessing Bell by Sabu II (Japan)
Special Jury Prize: Whale Rider by Niki Caro (New Zealand)
Best Actor: David Gulpilil, The Tracker (Australia)
Best Screenplay: Divine Intervention by Elia Suleiman (Palestine) and Mr. and Mrs. Iyer by Aparna Sen (India)
Best Actress: Vilma Santos, Dekada ‘70 (Philippines)
NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film: Divine Intervention by Elia Suleiman of Palestine
Best Short Film: Liyab (Flames) by Sockie Fernandez
Best Documentary: Riles (Life on the Tracks) by Ditsi Carolino
Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema: Binyag (Baptism) by Mariami Tanangco
2004
Boracay International Co-Production Meeting in cooperation with Goteborg Film Festival Fund and Hubert Bals Fund
Film Projects Winners: Pin Ball by Han Yew Kwan (Singapore) and Heremias by Lav Diaz (Philippines)
Other participants: Auraeus Solito, Raymond Lee, Khavn dela Cruz
Director in Focus: Jafar Panahi, who attended the festival
Grand Prize Lino Brocka Award: Vibrator by Ryuichi Hiroki (Japan)
Grand Jury Prize: Roads Koktebel by Boris Khlenikov and Alexel Popogrebsky (Russia) and August Sun by Prassana Vithanage (Sri Lanka)
Best Actor: Nikolaj Lie Kaas Recontruction (Denmark) and Gleb Puskepalis in Roads to Koktebel (Russia)
Best Actress: Katherine Luna, Babae sa Breakwater (Philippines) and Marina Golbahari, Osama (Afghanistan)
NETPAC Award: Min, Ho Yuhang (Malaysia)
Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema: Bakasyon, Raya Martin (Philippines)
Best Short Film: Balikbayan (USA/Philippines)
Best Documentary: Trollywood by Madeleine Farley (UK/USA)
2005
Lifetime Achievement Award : Kim Dong Ho
Tributes to : Roger Corman and Yonfan
Director in Focus: Raymond Red
Launched Digital Lokal
Grand Prize Lino Brocka Award: The President’s Last Bang by Im-Sang Soo (Korea)
Grand Jury Prize: In Casablanca, Angels Don’t Fly by Mohammed Asli (Morocco)
Best Actor (International): Krystyna Feldman, My Nikifor (Poland)
Best Actress (International): Fatoumata Coulibaly, Moolaade (Senegal)
Best Documentary: Children of Leningradsky by Hanna Polak and Andrzei Celinski (Poland)
Best Picture (Lokal): 1st Prize – Tuli by Auraeus Solito, 2nd Prize – Ang Daan Patungong Kalimugtong by Mes de Guzman, 3rd Prize – Ala Verde Ala Pobre by Briccio Santos
Best Screenplay: Jorge Arago and Briccio Santos, Ala Verde Ala Pobre
Best Actor: Bo Vicencio, Ala Verde Ala Pobre
Best Actress: Ana Capri, Ala Verde Ala Pobre
Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema: Salat, John Torres (Philippines)
Best Short Film: Salat (Philippines)
2006
Lifetime Achievement Award: Aruna Vasudev and Philip Cheah
Awards Night in Malacañang Palace with President GMA
Grand Prize Lino Brocka Award (International Competition): Kubrador by Jeffrey Jeturian (Philippines)
Special Jury Prize (International Competition): Everlasting Regret by Stanley Kwan (Hong Kong)
Best Actor (International Competition): Alexei Chadov, 9th Company (Russia/Ukraine/Finland)
Best Actress (International Competition): Lee Young-ae, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (South Korea)
Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema: Jobin Ballesteros, Ballad of Mimiong Minion
Best Short Film: Hopia Express by Janus Victoria
Best Documentary: Paper Dolls by Tomer Heymann (Israel)
Digital Lokal Grand Prize: Manoro by Brillante Mendoza
Digital Lokal Jury Prize: Squatterpunk by Khavn Dela Cruz
Best Director (Digital Lokal): Brillante Mendoza for Manoro
Best Actress (Digital Lokal): Maricel Soriano for Numbalikdiwa
Best Actor (Digital Lokal): Archie Adamos for Raket ni Nanay
Audience Favorite Awards (Digital Lokal): Numbalikdiwa by Bobby Bonifacio, Jr. and Anino ng Setyembre by Briccio Santos
2007
Hollywood icon and filmmaker Quentin Tarantino graces the festival to accept his Lifetime Achievement Award
Jury members include Wieland Speck of the Berlinale Panorama and Ansgard Vogt of International Forum for New Cinema. Also on the jury is Olivier Pere, Artistic Director of Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.
Grand Prize, Lino Brocka Award: The Edge of Heaven, Fatih Akin (Germany/Turkey)
Special Jury Prize: Persepolis, Marjana Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
Best ASEAN Film Award: Mukhsin, Yasmin Ahmad (Malaysia)
Best ASEAN Short Film Award: Renita, Renita, Tonny Trimarsanto (Indonesia)
Best International Short Film Award: Waiting Time, Chul Jung (South Korea)
Best Documentary: Neo-Lounge, Joanna Arong (Philippines/China)
Digital Lokal Lino Award, Grand Prize: Autohystoria, Raya Martin (Philippines)
Digital Lokal Lino Grand Jury Prize: Voices…, John Torres (Philippines)
Best Director (Digital Lokal): Autohystoria, Raya Martin (Philippines)
Best Actress (Digital Lokal): Ana Capri, Ala Suerte Ala Muerte (Philippines) and Maris Dimayuga, Ala Suerte Ala Muerte (Philippines)
Best Ensemble (International): The cast of Tribu, Jim Libiran (Philippines)
Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema: Ernest Michael Manalastas, Delusions (Philippines)
Best Short Film: Calling, Christopher Gozum (Philippines)
FDCP/CINEMANILA Scriptwrting Contest: 1st Place | Francis Pasion, “Jay, ” 2nd Place (2 winners) | Maria Clarissa Estuar, “I.U.D. Afternoons” and Froilan Medina, “Tinig sa Dilim”
Essay Writing Contest: 1st Place, Queenie Simbulan Caranto, “The Global Pinoy Cinema,” 2nd Place, Maria Alicia Aquino Sarmiento, “A Search for Identity in Common Ground Through the SEAWAVE Project,” 3rd Place, Remrick Espin Patagan, “Going Global: Juan dela Cruz on the Silver Screen”
2008
Cinemanila celebrates its 10th year anniversary
Launching of Sine Barangay
Lino Brocka Grand Prize: The Band’s Visit (Israel)
Lino Brocka Grand Jury Prize: The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela (Iceland/Philippines/France)
SEA Film Grand Prize: Confessional by Jerrold Tarog and Ruel Dahis Antipuesto (Philippines)
SEA Best Short – Frou Frou.. Shhh… Wag Mong Sabihin Kay Itay by Michael Juat (Philippines)
Best Documentary: Marlon by Ralston Jover and James Amparo (Philippines)
Best SEA Actor: Mario Maurer for Love of Siam (Thailand)
Best SEA Actress: Anita Linda for Adela (Philippines)
Digital Lokal Lino Grand Prize: Imburnal by Sherad Anthong Sanchez
Lino Grand Jury Prize: Next Attraction by Raya Martin
Best Actor: Kenneth Moraleda for Lucky Miles (Australia)
Best Actress: Angeli Bayani for Melancholia (Philippines)
Ishmael Bernal Award for Most Outstanding Young Filipino Filmmaker: Christopher Gozum for Surreal MMS
Best Short Film: Tumbang Preso by Antoinette Jadaone
UN MDGs Prize: Lay-an by Rommel Tolentino
EVENTS & HIGHLIGHTS
11th Cinemanila International Film Festival
The Best of World Cinema
Continuing the tradition of previous editions of the festival, Cinemanila will once again screen films fresh from Cannes, Berlin and Pusan at the 11th CIFF. There will be a Competition and Exhibition program, as well as an ASEAN focus. Recent award-winning films from China, Spain, Japan, Sweden, France, Korea, Belgium, Russia, Thailand, USA and Singapore will be shown in the festival. Also to be screened are films from emerging talents in the Young Cinema section and Opera Prima (First Features). In instances where the director of a film is present, time is given at the end of a screening for a Q&A.
Digital Lokal
Now on it’s fourth year of screening the most groundbreaking local digital films, Cinemanila will once again show this year’s crop in this competition program. Latest digital works of Filipino filmmakers from various parts of the country and the world will highlight the local programming thus strengthening the local content of the festival.
Gala Opening Night
About 1000 people in attendance including local and international celebrities, stars and press. Presentation of special awards of merit to outstanding Pinoy and Asian film personalities. Following the reception is the screening of the festival’s Opening Film.
Awards Ceremony & Closing
Winning films, directors and actors will be announced at the Awards Ceremony, which takes place on the last weekend of the festival. The Closing Ceremony, takes place shortly after on the festival’s last day and is marked by a reception and the screening of the closing film.
Gala Screenings
Red carpet premieres of important Filipino films will be presented in cooperation with the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the NCCA and the Film Academy of the Philippines.
Outdoor Screenings
Crowd favorites will screen in outdoor venues at the festival site.
Director in Focus
A Filipino film director will present a retrospective of his film as a carte blanche/director-in-focus program.
Young Cinema Night
One of the festival’s most popular events involves the screening of the short films of emerging young Filipino filmmakers. A short casual reception follows the screenings of the competition and exhibition shorts.
Embassy Night
Embassies of the countries in focus open their program with a by-invitation-only cocktail reception at the festival venue, followed by the screening of one of their country’s films. This event is attended by diplomats, expatriates and public figures.
Mayor’s Night
In previous years, Cinemanila has celebrated its host city in a Mayor’s Night party and reception. Logistics for this event are typically organized by the Office of the Mayor.
Master Classes and Workshops
Master Classes in various phases of film production and distribution will be open to local and Southeast Asian filmmakers. The workshop will be conducted by European, Asian and American experts. Previous mentors have included Christopher Doyle (In the Mood for Love), and Brillante Mendoza (Foster Child), among others.
Digital Cinema Symposium
Critics, film buffs, film students and professionals discuss the future of filmmaking in these half-day seminars. Students and teachers from the universities also are main attendees of these technical and educational meetings.
Exhibits
Educational exhibits on the history and importance of Philippine cinema and its leading figures are displayed for the duration of the festival.
Sine Barangay
Cinemanila will host the three-day Sine Barangay for the neighboring communities of Taguig. Workshops and seminars will take place during the day and will be followed by outdoor screenings of selected shorts and docs in the evening.
Cinemanila Machinima Online Film Festival
In perfect contrast to Sine Barangay, this online film festival celebrates a wholly new genre of filmmaking fashioned about by technology — Machinima. Machinima is the thrilling union of filmmaking and online gaming, thus creating a new filmmaking genre where gamers have the chance to craft movies using the video games they’ve come to dearly love. The first of its kind in the Philippines, this online festival, which launched in August, culminates with an Awarding Ceremony in October during the 11th Cinemanila that will showcase the movement’s best local talent.
The Boracay Co-Production Meeting
This three day event takes place on the last weekend of the festival in Boracay, Aklan. Attended by 10-15 filmmakers from Southeast Asia and representatives of the Hubert Bals Fund from the Rotterdam Film Festival, the Boracay Co-prod Meeting has provided a venue for young filmmakers to meet their Southeast Asian counterparts and to exchange ideas about the production, distribution and creation of content that can be part of an emerging new Philippine cinema.
DTI holds 1st CAR OTOP Congress
by Lito Dar
Baguio City (19 September) — In recognition to partners and other stakeholders who unconditionally extended their support to the One Town, One Product (OTOP) program, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-CAR) held the first CAR Regional OTOP Congress at the Hotel Supreme, last September 15.
Various OTOP stakeholders from the six different provinces of Cordillera were presented market development for fair trade, and discussed other pertinent issues, and regional winners as best OTOP implementers were also awarded during the Congress.
In his welcome message, Baguio City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista lauded the region’s small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as each OTOP brings pride and honor to every community, and also helps build the economy.
For Baguio City, Bautista said he is honored to have Burnham Park as an OTOP as it brings tourism and boost the city’s economy. And with this, he also thanked the
President for giving back Burnham Park to the city, and for committing for its further development.
The OTOP is a priority program of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to promote local entrepreneurship and job creation through public-private partnership between the local and national government with the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSMEs). OTOP highlights the diversity as well as distinctiveness of every municipality through the development of and promotion of a handcrafted product or service which they produce or render with competitive advantage.
DTI-CAR Regional Director Myrna Pablo stressed that since its launching in 2005, the OTOP program in CAR has extended 307 trainings on skills, entrepreneurial and managerial development to the region’s 6,058 existing and would be entrepreneurs. The introduction of new product designs and prototypes, the enhancement of existing products, the improvement of products label and packaging through various product developments and consultation all contributed in the generation of 14,967 new jobs, export and domestic sales amounting to $3.6 Million and P295 Millions, respectively, and with investments reaching to P245 Million.
“Participation of our OTOP SMSEs in a number of trade fairs, such as the OTOP Luzon Island fair last July, shows increasing trend in terms of sales and buyers interest. In the recently concluded Luzon Island Fair in July, CAR with a total of 26 exhibitors, was the highest selling region with a total sale of P8.39 million or 39 percent of the total cash and book sales generated by the eight participating region,” Pablo said.
Meanwhile, awarded as Best OTOP implementers are the local government of La Trinidad, Benguet for the Local Government Unit category, while Carlos Balneg, a bamboo craft entrepreneur from the province of Abra won in the MSME category. The Department of Labor and Employment in Mountain Province won in the partner institution category.
All winners were given plaque of recognition and cash prize and will represent CAR in the National OTOP Recognition and Awards slated in November. (PIA)
SSS posts steady growth despite global financial crisis
by Lito Dar
Baguio City (19 September) — Contribution collections of the Social Security System (SSS) exceeded payments for benefits by nearly P650 million during the first six months of the year. This was confirmed by North Luzon SSS Assistant Vice President Luis Olais, during a Kapihan forum, Wednesday.
According to Olais, this is a proof that SSS remains to be strong and maintains a good financial status, despite the present global economic crisis.
SSS data shows that contributions from January to June this year totaled to P36.30 Billion, which is about P650 million more than the P35.65 billion benefit payments over the same period.
Olais also disclosed that the SSS North Luzon cluster is targeting a P2.182 billion in contributions this year. With this, he also expressed confidence that they will reach their target as they have already collected almost P1.2 billion from January to July.
Olais also confirmed that in the case of employers, SSS has minimal problem in terms of contribution collection. Out of the 35,000 employers in CAR, they have only filed cases against 319 employers. In Baguio city only 13 cases were filed.
In further improving their services, Olais informed that they have already installed self-serving terminals/kiosk in their offices. He also encourages all SSS members, to use their new enhanced website to avoid long queue, for just simple transaction or inquiries in their offices.
Through their enhanced website (www.sss.gov.ph), Olais said members can now inquire everything they want, from their contributions, salary loans and updates from SSS. “It will be convenient to all our members to utilize our website now, even all of our forms can now easily be downloaded from the website for more easier transactions,” he explained.
Olais is also encouraging delinquent SSS members to avail of their short-term loan amnesty programs so that they can continue to benefit from various SSS programs. According to Olais, for the North Luzon cluster 2,841 members have already availed of the said condonation program, resulting to about P30 million in collections.
In the same forum, Olais confirmed that the SSS has entered into an agreement with some government agencies including the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and has on-going negotiations with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Commission on Election (COMELEC) on using the so-called Unified Multi-purpose Identification System (UMID), a single identification system and make it easy for people to transact business with the government. (PIA)
DBP reiterates support to Credit Surety Fund
Manila (18 September) — State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is committed to support the growth of micro SMEs in the country by contributing to more Credit Surety Fund (CSF) initiatives.
DBP president & chief executive officer Reynaldo G. David reiterated DBP’s commitment during the first anniversary celebration of the Cavite Credit Surety Fund, the first CSF initiative established through the efforts of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Other contributors to the trust fund include the Industrial Guarantee and Loan Fund (IGLF), Land Bank of the Philippines, the provincial government of Cavite, and several Cavite-based cooperatives.
David said that after a year in operation, the Cavite CSF has empowered micro SMEs to venture into more entrepreneurial activities that result to more job opportunities especially in the countryside.
“To us, what is more important is that micro entrepreneurs graduate into another level, one wherein they generate and give employment even to a couple of individuals,” he said.
He explained that since Filipinos generally want to be employed than be employers, the CSF provides not just opportunities for micro SMEs but also for job seekers. “The CSF not just creates entrepreneurs, but it also creates employment.”
David also said DBP’s participation in the CSF program is part of its commitment to nurture the growth of small entrepreneurs in the country, citing that the Bank has committed more than P15-million for 8 CSFs. He added DBP will donate to upcoming CSFs in Negros Occidental, Digos City, North Cotabato, and Davao Oriental.
He said DBP branches have been instructed to be more proactive in assisting small borrowers in areas where the CSF has been established. “We commit to serving you better and faster to the reduction and hopefully for the eradication of the usual bureaucratic maze so we can expand our micro SME portfolio.”
He also committed DBP’s assistance to train or coach cooperatives, particularly in capability-building. DBP’s assistance can be expanded in terms of loan evaluation, loan processing, and loan approval, based on our credit requirements, evaluation standards, accounting, and risk management, according to David. (PIA)
7 Pangasinan young athletes shine in Milo Little Olympics
Dagupan City (18 September) — Seven promising young Pangasinenses have been adjudged Best Athletes in the recently concluded 12th Milo Little Olympics Luzon held at the sprawling Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) in the capital town of Lingayen.
The seven athletes who excelled in their respective events were: Aries Dela Pena, Telbang Elementary High School (Alaminos City), athletics; Eden Padilla, Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation (San Carlos City), athletics high school division;
Eric Paul Sison, Alaminos Central School, badminton; Amiel Joseph Beltrano, San Jose Elementary School (Alaminos City), lawn tennis; Kim Alexis Sotelo, Collegio San Jose De Alaminos, lawn tennis high school division; Lea V. Rayos, Pangapisan Elementary School (Lingayen), volleyball; and John Mark Caranto, Binmaley School of Fisheries, table tennis high school division.
Milo Sports Organizer Tess Bernardino said the seven young girls and boys were included in the list of other outstanding athletes who stood a chance to compete for the National Milo Little Olympics Competition slated in Cebu City next month.
However, the final announcement of the rooster of athletes who will represent Luzon for the national open will be announced on Sunday, September 20, during the awarding ceremonies of the Milo photo contest at the CSI Mall Big Atrium.
Bernardino said that the athletes from VMUF and Telbang Elementary School will definitely represent athletics along with the athletes from Alaminos Central School for badminton, Cabuyao Elementary School and Pangapisan Elementary School for volleyball and Urbiztondo Elementary School for gymnastics.
University of Baguio and Baguio City National High School as usual notched the top posts for garnering the most number of medals in the elementary and high school divisions, respectively, besting more than 40 schools from Regions I, II, III and CAR.
Telbang Elementary School of Alaminos City placed second in the elementary division followed by St. Louis University Elementary School, Tamurong Elementary School (Candon City), and Cabuyao Elementary School (Bolinao).
Alaminos Central School and Alaminos National High School occupied the 9th and 10th slots for the elementary and high school divisions, respectively. (PIO/PIA Pangasinan)
DOH confirms 12 positive AH1N1 cases in Region 2
Tuguegarao City (18 September) — Twelve (12) out of 32 swabbed specimen has been declared positive in Influenza A (H1N1) in Region 2.
Dr. Tita Callueng, OIC-Director IV of the Department of Health Region 2, said there were 32 cases under observation reported from the different municipalities of Cagayan Valley and 12 of these were confirmed positive, 16 turned negative and 4 are still pending at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
Callueng said there are 15 male and 17 female which shows that both gender are vulnerable to the said virus and the age range of the affected individual is from 2 months old up to 52 years old.
She reported also of the positive cases, five are from the province of Cagayan, 3 from Isabela and 4 from Quirino while there were no reported cases from the provinces of Batanes and Nueva Vizcaya.
The DOH continually monitors cases from different areas but they only cater to severe cases, those who have contact from infected countries. They also informed that beginning last month up to this moment the cases have decreased as compared to the previous months of May and June.
But DOH said, this should not cause them to be complacent but to be always prepared to cater any instances and even in the severe or pandemic cases.
DOH has 4,800 caps of Oseltamivir, personal protective equipments and the Virus Transport Medium (VTM) as the laboratory supply of the region. (Oliver B./PIA 2)
