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MMFF 2023 movies Rewind, GomBurZa, Mallari coming to Netflix
Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2023 entries "Rewind," "GomBurZa" and "Mallari" are soon going to be available for streaming on Netflix. .....»»
Naia rehab: SMC-led consortium bags P170-B project
As early as next year, passengers using Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) could expect improved management of the congested international gateway as a consortium led by San Miguel Corp. (SMC) takes over its operations and maintenance, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr). The DOTr announced on Friday that the solicited bidding for the highly.....»»
Defining moment
On Friday, the Philippine government announced that it has chosen the consortium that includes San Miguel Holdings Corp. to rehabilitate, operate, optimize and maintain the country’s premier gateway and inarguably one of the world’s worst – the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)......»»
Kris Aquino to share very important statement on her condition — Boy Abunda
Boy Abunda announced that Kris Aquino will be issuing a statement regarding her condition later, coinciding with the TV host-actress' 53rd birthday......»»
ABS-CBN’s star-studded special unveils exciting 2024 line-up
One of the main highlights of the night is the reveal of ABS-CBN’s shows for 2024. These include the Pinoy adaptations of What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim starring Paulo Avelino and Kim Chiu, as well as It’s Okay Not to Be Okay to be topbilled by Joshua Garcia, Carlo Aquino and Anne Curtis. Also announced are Pamilya Sagrado, starring Kyle Echarri, Grae Fernandez and Piolo Pascual, the international series The Bagman headlined by award-winning actors Arjo Atayde, John Arcilla and Judy Ann Santos, the third season of The Voice Teens Philippines, and the newest installment of Pinoy Big Brother......»»
‘NPA rebel’ caught at NAIA
A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on Wednesday, police announced yesterday......»»
Kris Aquino says health condition improving, clears relationship status
"Queen of All Media" Kris Aquino announced that her health condition is improving. .....»»
MRT-3 to offer free rides to gov’t workers
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday announced that it will offer free rides to government employees on the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) to mark the celebration of the 123rd Philippine Civil Service anniversary. Free rides on the MRT-3 will start from 18 until 20 September, throughout the line's operating hours, the DOTr said. To avail of the free rides, government employees must present their valid government ID. "Kami po sa MRT-3 ay taos-pusong nakikiisa sa pagdiriwang ng anibersaryo ng Philippine Civil Service. Ang handog naming LIBRENG SAKAY ay simpleng pasasalamat sa lahat ng mga sakripisyo ng bawat kawani ng gobyerno upang magampanan nang tapat at maayos ang kanilang mga tungkulin," DOTr Assistant Secretary for Railways and MRT-3 Officer-in-Charge Jorjette B. Aquino said. The annual Philippine Civil Service celebration is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1050, series of 1997, declaring the month of September as Civil Service Month. The post MRT-3 to offer free rides to gov’t workers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl welcomes first visitor with E-visa
On Saturday, 2 September the Bureau of Immigration welcomed the first holder of the Philippine Electronic Visa, who arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. It can be recalled that the Department of Foreign Affairs launched last month an e-visa system that allows foreign tourists to apply for their temporary visitors’ visa online. According to the Bureau, the E-visa system is an initiative of the national government to attract more foreign visitors to the country post-pandemic. Earlier, the DFA announced that the soft launch of the system was conducted in Shanghai, China. The first E-visa holder was a mother-daughter tandem who arrived at NAIA Terminal 1 on board a China Eastern MU211 flight from Shanghai, China. The BI shared that the DFA had a series of meetings with the bureau to ensure that the e-visa was integrated into the BI’s e-travel system as part of the BI’s efforts to streamline its procedures and expedite the process through fewer paper-based documents. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco and DFA Office of Consular Affairs Assistant Secretary Henry Bensurto Jr. personally welcomed the arrival of the first e-visa holder. The BI also said that they are expecting an increase in the number of passengers during the ‘ber’ months, following the re-opening of the country’s borders and the massive promotional campaigns of the Department of Tourism. The post Phl welcomes first visitor with E-visa appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BI welcomes first e-visa holder
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) welcomed the first holder of the Philippine Electronic Visa (E-visa), who arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), on Saturday, 2 September. BI said that it can be recalled that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) launched last month an e-visa system that allows foreign tourists to apply for their temporary visitor visas online. According to the Bureau, the E-visa system is an initiative of the national government to attract more foreign visitors to the country post-pandemic. Earlier, the DFA announced that the soft launch of the system was conducted in Shanghai, China. The first E-visa holder was a mother-daughter tandem who arrived at NAIA Terminal 1 on board a China Eastern MU211 flight from Shanghai, China. The BI shared that the DFA had a series of meetings with the bureau to ensure that the e-visa would be integrated into the BI’s e-travel system as part of the BI’s efforts to streamline its procedures and expedite the process through fewer paper-based documents. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco and DFA Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) Assistant Secretary Henry Bensurto Jr. personally welcomed the arrival of the first e-visa holder. The BI also said that they are expecting an increase in the number of passengers during the ‘ber’ months, following the re-opening of the country’s borders and the massive promotional campaigns of the Department of Tourism.- The post BI welcomes first e-visa holder appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Immigration personnel undergo language training
The Bureau of Immigration recently announced that the Confucius Institute at the University of the Philippines Diliman and Chiang Kai Shek College are working together to offer Chinese language instruction for the BI’s staff. According to the Bureau, a total of 25 BI personnel from the head office and 25 from different airports are currently undergoing training sponsored by CKSC. A 50-hour curriculum makes up the Basic Mandarin Language Program Level 1 training. There are two training schedules: one at the BI Main Office, which started last 10 July and will end on 9 October, and the other at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which started last 11 July 11 and will end on 3 October. The BI added that the Confucius Institute has also started a 36-hour online program for BI personnel nationwide, which started on 29 August and will end on 16 November. BI commissioner Norman Tansingco said that this partnership reflects BI’s commitment to improving communication and efficiency, ultimately enhancing the immigration process for Chinese-speaking individuals. The BI chief emphasized the importance of the initiative. “Proper communication is not just essential for effective service but also for building trust with the public. This training equips their personnel with valuable language skills to ensure accurate and efficient interactions with Chinese-speaking individuals.” Tansingco also expressed his gratitude to CKSC and CI-UPD for their support, saying that the program would be beneficial to the agency’s delivery of basic public services. Prior to the pandemic, Chinese nationals ranked second among the highest numbers of foreign arrivals in the country. The BI’s Learning and Development Section organized this initiative. Tansingco said that this is just the start of a series of language-based trainings aimed at strengthening the capacities of their officers. The post Immigration personnel undergo language training appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CEB makes headway in its EV program
Cebu Pacific announced on Friday afternoon that the airline will start a demonstration run for an electric baggage tractor and charging station this quarter as part of its ongoing electric vehicle transition program. According to CEB, baggage tractors are essential equipment used by airlines to haul carts and dollies during ramp operations. One of the largest fleets of ground support equipment (GSE) in the airline industry, CEB operates more than 100 luggage tractors. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila will serve as the operating and testing location for the all-electric, zero-emission tractor used for CEB's ground operations. This year, it is intended to import numerous electric baggage tractors for use at NAIA. CEB Chief Operations Officer Javier Massot said that their objectives for this demo run are multi-pronged. Since electric vehicles are a relatively new area for CEB, they want to test the technology and its operational viability and safety. They also intend to test the demo unit for various scenarios in their ground operations, so they are deploying it for both airport operations and cargo operations over the demo period. Massot added that the electric baggage tractor and charging station demo units are provided by TLD Asia Limited (TLD) — a subsidiary of Alvest, a group that designs, manufactures, and distributes technical products for the aviation industry. It uses lithium-ion batteries which have a significantly longer life compared to previous-generation lead-acid batteries. The charging station unit is a fast charger that is also provided by TLD. CEB is expecting one more electric baggage tractor demo unit to arrive from another GSE original equipment manufacturer (OEM), which is also targeted for deployment in the last week of August this year. The learning and experience from the demo runs will be essential components of CEB's long-term plan to replace its ground transport network with electric, zero-emission alternatives. The airline is dedicated to managing and minimizing the environmental effect of its activities, and the EV project is an important component of that commitment. CEB Chief Strategy Officer Alex Reyes said that CEB’s Scope 1 emissions come from their flights and ground operations. Although emissions from their GSEs, as part of their ground operations, are only a small portion of their total Scope 1, their decarbonization strategy addresses the entire emissions from their value chain. This is necessary as they align with net-zero emission reduction goals by 2050. Reyes said that earlier this year, CEB rolled out its EV service for employees with the deployment of 100 percent electric COMET vehicles from GET Philippines Inc. For its flying operations, CEB continues to receive new Airbus deliveries of fuel-efficient aircraft, with 10 brand-new aircraft expected for 2023 and five additional aircraft via long-term leasing. The post CEB makes headway in its EV program appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Teddy Boy named special envoy to China
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin Jr. as the President’s Special Envoy to the People’s Republic of China for Special Concerns, the Presidential Communications Office announced on Wednesday in a Facebook post. Locsin’s recent appointment came amid the resurgence of tensions in the West Philippine Sea between China and the Philippines. In a Viber message to Palace reporters, Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said Marcos appointed Locsin to boost the bilateral relations between the two countries. Locsin, who is the Foreign Affairs Secretary of then-President Rodrigo R. Duterte from 17 October to 30 June 2022, takes on the new task “in a concurrent position” as the Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Chief Executive appointed Locsin UK ambassador with jurisdiction over Ireland, Isle of Man, Bailiwick of Jersey, and Bailiwick of Guernsey on 30 August 2022. During his tenure, he frequently lodged numerous diplomatic complaints and occasionally used the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to criticize China. The newly-appointed special envoy is the son and namesake of Teodoro Locsin Sr., a journalist who was imprisoned during the 1970s for criticizing President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the father of now President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Following the overthrow of Marcos Sr. in 1986, the younger Locsin became the speechwriter and legal advisor to President Corazon Aquino. Subsequently, he wrote speeches for Presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He was elected Makati 1st District representative in 2001, a seat he held until 2010. Holding a master’s degree in law from Harvard University, Locsin is a lawyer and a media figure. The post Teddy Boy named special envoy to China appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NAIA-3 upgrade scheduled today
The Manila International Airport Authority announced that there would be an electrical maintenance and upgrading work at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. today......»»
Congress earmarks funds NAIA infra projects
House Committee on Appropriations Vice-chairperson and Makati City Representative Luis Jose Angel Campos Jr. on Sunday announced that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is set to receive some P2.8 billion for infrastructure projects. Campos disclosed that also included is the P1.2-billion budget for the acquisition of a new traffic management system following the New Year’s Day breakdown that disrupted hundreds of flights. He said that the P1.2 billion in the proposed 2024 budget was allocated for the communications, navigation, and surveillance-air traffic management system which seeks to improve the efficiency of the country’s main gateway. “We are counting on the new CNS-ATM system to optimize airspace and airport efficiency, reduce flight delays, and improve travel experience,” said Campos in a statement. “Our hopes are high that the new system, once installed and fully functional, could potentially increase airport capacity to accommodate more flights in the years ahead,” he added. The move comes as Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista in January cited the need for a backup system, as the current system in use estimated to be worth P13 billion — is already in its midlife. Last month, the National Economic and Development Authority Board chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., opted to push through with plans to privatize NAIA through a solicited bid with the upfront payment cost now being studied and initially estimated at P30 billion. In June this year, the DoTr and the Manila International Airport Authority submitted a joint proposal to the NEDA Board seeking a private concession to invest and improve the NAIA for 15 years. The NEDA Board approved the 15-year concession period, with the option to renew for another 10 years based on a performance review, and should the two new airports — the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan and the Sangley International Airport in Cavite — be delayed. Before this, the Manila International Airport Consortium in April submitted an unsolicited proposal to take over NAIA, but this was deemed “de facto closed” when the government opted for a solicited bid. At present, NAIA’s terminals service over 40 million passengers versus its 32-million annual capacity, with 38 to 40 landings and takeoffs made per hour. The post Congress earmarks funds NAIA infra projects appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MIAA eyes T3 electrical system enhancement
The Manila International Airport Authority announced on Tuesday that it is already intensifying efforts to improve the current state and condition of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3’s electrical system. This, as a 4-hour power interruption in limited areas of the terminal was scheduled to pave the way for the replacement of defective medium voltage power cables and vacuum circuit breakers in two of the Terminal’s substations. “We apologize for the inconvenience due to this scheduled limited power interruption. This is an inevitable consequence of our commitment to rehabilitate and upgrade our T3 electrical systems,” MIAA officer-in-charge Bryan Co said. MIAA generator sets have provided temporary power to Air Asia office, Boarding Gates 101-112, moving walkways and elevators at Levels 2 and 3 of the international wing, Level 1 offices, food and retail outlets located at the south concourse of the Terminal. The Schedule of shutdown in the subject areas started at 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Tuesday and may be extended on 9 August if energization activities cannot be completed within the 4-hour window. It is expected that the power interruption will have no impact to flight operations. Co assured the public that the MIAA shall deliver on its promise to complete the electrical systems rehabilitation and upgrade as soon as possible. The post MIAA eyes T3 electrical system enhancement appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bongbong’s foreign policy: More like ‘Macoy’ than ‘Digong’
Despite being dismissed as a spoiled brat and a weakling by both his father and the man he succeeded, Rodrigo Duterte, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his first year in office, stood up to China and showed he is more like the older Marcos than Duterte. Always underestimated, Marcos Jr., observers noted, spent much of his political career surrounded by powerful women, including former First Lady Imelda Marcos and his sister, Senator Imee Marcos. But this shouldn’t fool one into thinking that he is not his own man. Only days after winning last year’s presidential elections, he asserted his independence by denying top allies, including running mate Sara Duterte, key cabinet positions. He also showed his own distinct approach on the foreign policy front by holding cordial meetings with diplomats from both traditional and regional partners. While emphasizing his preference for a diplomatic engagement with China, Marcos Jr., notes the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, reiterated the finality of the arbitral tribunal ruling in the South China Sea, and made clear he “will not compromise it in any way,” calling the country’s sovereignty “sacred.” “Taking into consideration the widespread skepticism towards Beijing among Filipinos and within the country’s defense establishment, Marcos Jr. adopted a calibrated assertiveness towards China while welcoming pragmatic cooperation on the economic front,” AMTI said. The perceived wisdom on the younger Marcos’s foreign policy, according to AMTI, is that he is nothing but a mild-mannered version of Duterte. In fact, he was the only candidate during the elections who publicly backed full continuity in the country’s Beijing-friendly policies. He barely mentioned the treaty alliance with the United States, emphasizing his preference for a diplomatic engagement. “Whatever we do, we can’t go to war… we don’t want to go to war with China,” he was quoted to have said. A year into office, however, it is obvious the younger Marcos was advocating a centrist position in the territorial dispute. It was, according to one analyst, a middle-of-the-road decision aimed at appeasing both superpowers, China and the United States. Indeed, it was a balancing act complicated by both internal and external factors. While Duterte was reluctant to confront China over the South China Sea, Marcos Jr. has adopted tougher rhetoric, showing a better appreciation of how the Philippines should position itself given the very uncertain strategic environment it is facing. He is said to have been able to forge closer relations with Washington because his family already has long-standing ties with Beijing which affords him a degree of capital. A year into office, however, it was obvious the younger Marcos was advocating a centrist position in the territorial dispute As AMTI related, the Marcos connection to Beijing goes deep, stretching back to the height of the Cold War period when his father formalized bilateral relations with Maoist China. As the then-announced successor, Bongbong even personally met Chairman Mao, who warmly welcomed the princeling and his family to Zhongnanhai. The Marcoses maintained those linkages even after their ouster from power in Malacañang, albeit on a sub-national level. As overlords of the northern province of Ilocos Norte, the Marcos dynasty continued to welcome trade and diplomatic relations with their Chinese counterparts under the emerging Maritime Silk Road Initiative. Despite the growing Chinese coercive actions against the Philippine Coast Guard and Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, Marcos Jr. welcomed continued economic engagement with China under his “Friend to all, enemy to none” policy first espoused by Duterte during his pivot to Beijing. Balancing act Compared to former presidents before him, Marcos Jr.’s foreign policy is truly a balancing act not much different from his father’s. Ferdinand Marcos Sr. (1965-1986), during his presidency, pursued a foreign policy that sought to balance relations with both the United States and other countries, including those in the Soviet Bloc. He declared martial law in 1972, and this had implications for the country’s foreign relations. The Philippines’ relationship with the US was close, but during his time, Marcos also sought to strengthen ties with our Asian neighbors. Corazon Aquino (1986-1992) focused on restoring democracy and human rights in the Philippines after the end of the Marcos dictatorship. She sought to rebuild relations with other countries that had been strained during Marcos’s rule. Her administration also emphasized diplomatic engagement with ASEAN countries and the international community. Fidel V. Ramos (1992-1998) prioritized economic diplomacy and focused on attracting foreign investment to boost the Philippine economy. He worked to strengthen relationships with ASEAN and APEC countries and fostered ties with the US, Japan, and other regional partners. Joseph Estrada (1998-2001) emphasized national sovereignty and non-interference in domestic affairs. He pursued good relations with ASEAN nations but was criticized for a more inward-looking approach to foreign affairs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2001-2010) focused on economic diplomacy and sought to improve the Philippines’ standing in the international community. She maintained strong ties with the US and also expanded engagement with China. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III (2010-2016) emphasized upholding the rule of law in the region and advocating for the Philippines’ territorial claims in the South China Sea. He strengthened relations with traditional allies like the US and worked to foster closer ties with other Asian countries. While Bongbong Marcos is not his father, the legacy of the former Filipino strongman hangs over his administration. This legacy of pragmatism is also reinforced in the sentiments of the defense establishment and the broader Filipino public who want the government to take a tougher stance against China. Unlike Duterte, the younger Marcos has shown in his first year in office that he is adopting a more calibrated foreign policy combining elements of pragmatism and assertiveness towards a major power like China while seeking to leverage Philippine ties with the United States. The post Bongbong’s foreign policy: More like ‘Macoy’ than ‘Digong’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl cinema in the first year of BBM
Here, we look back at the state of the Philippine film industry since he took the seat of power 13 months ago. When President Marcos Jr. became the 17th leader of the nation, the country was on the brink of the “new normal.” The campaign elections even saw multitudes of crowds in the streets, the Filipinos’ political passion overpowering the fear of a Covid-19 infection. Covid-pandemic viewing By May 2022, the month of the presidential campaigns, the Department of Health said the country was at “minimal-risk case classification” with an average of only 159 cases per day. By June 2022, when the President took his oath, 69.4 million Filipinos had been fully vaccinated. Along with the country, the Philippine film industry started healing. On the same month, the country went under Covid-19 Alert Level 2, with 50-percent allowed capacity in indoor cinemas. Live film festivals The Marcos administration saw the return of Filipino film festivals in theaters. On Marcos’ fifth month as president, the QCinema International Film Festival, with the theme “in10City,” held hybdrid screenings — in-person and online. The Metro Manila Film Festival in December 2022, six months into the new presidency, went full force in cinemas for the second time during the pandemic. Earlier, in 2020, during the Duterte administration, the festival was held online for the first time, and the following year, in December 2021, after level alert measures in the Philippines were relaxed, the MMFF finally went back to the cinemas. However, only around 300 cinemas (down from the usual 900) were allowed to screen the MMFF entries. Meanwhile, the 18th edition of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival was held from 5 August to 31 October 2022 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, in select mall cinemas and online. But what made a mark during the Marcos administration’s first year was the inaugural edition of the 2023 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival. The SMMFF was held in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines. Organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority in partnership with the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines, the first MMFF was supposed to be held in 2020, but was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2023, held from 8 to 18 April 2023 with the theme “Tuloy-tuloy ang Saya,” the summer festival featured eight entries and, like its December counterpart, even held a Parade of Stars. About Us But Not About Us by Jun Lana, produced by The IdeaFirst Company, Octobertrain Films and Quantum Films, emerged as the first Best Picture of the summer festival. [caption id="attachment_161372" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] About Us But Not About Us by Jun Lana[/caption] The Film Development Council of the Philippines’ sixth edition of its own mini-film festival, held during the Marcos administration’s third month, headed back to cinemas, offering free access to award-winning classic films of the new National Artists for Film and Broadcast Arts at TriNoma Cinema in Quezon City and in all Cinematheque centers nationwide (Manila, Iloilo, Negros, Davao and Nabunturan). CCP closes for renovations On 1 September 2022, CCP president Margarita Moran-Floirendo announced during a hearing of the Senate committee on cultural communities, that The Cultural Center of the Philippines — home to the Cinemalaya festival — will close its doors starting January 2023 for renovation and structural retrofitting works, and will reopen in March 2025. This marks the first time that Cinemalaya, on its 19th year, which has the theme “ilumiNasyon,” will be held at various venues inside the adjacent Philippine International Convention Center, from 4 to 13 August 2023. The rise of political films With the country deeply driven by polarized political views, the Marcos administration saw a war between political commercial films. [caption id="attachment_161370" align="aligncenter" width="1800"] ‘MAID in Malacanang’ stars Cristine Reyes, Diego Loyzaga and Ella Cruz. | Photograph courtesy of viva[/caption] On 29 July 2022, Darryl Yap’s period drama Maid in Malacañang, touted as “the most controversial film of the year,” was released to packed cinemas. The movie, about the Marcos family’s last three days in Malacañang Palace before they were forced into exile, premiered at SM North EDSA and was released nationwide on 3 August 2022. Yap, who passionately campaigned for Marcos, became a controversial filmmaker with the release of his Marcos film. Leni Robredo supporters tried to boycott the film, with some Filipino movie critics exposing themselves as heavily political and non-neutral with their reviews, accusing the film of propaganda and historical revisionism. The attempt to quash the movie’s release failed and it became a box-office hit, with producer Viva Films releasing a statement that it earned a whopping P21 million on its opening day and P63 million three days after its release. It was the first time in Philippine cinema history that local theaters nationwide saw a deluge of moviegoers lining up to watch a movie on the big screen, mostly driven by political affiliation. Another unsuccessful political attempt to diminish the film’s release was Vince Tañada’s re-release of his Martial Law film Katips to counter Maid in Malacañang. Tañada’s film eventually won Best Picture at the Famas Awards. MIM actress Ella Cruz’s remark during a press conference, that “history is like tsismis,” further fanned the flames of political debate online. Eight months later, in March 2022, Viva released Yap’s second installment in his Marcos trilogy, Martyr or Murderer, which now focused on Ferdinand Marcos and the assassination of Ninoy Aquino. Two anti-Marcos movies rose to combat the film — Joel Lamangan’s Oras de Peligro, released on the same day, and Tañada’s movie adaptation of his musical play Ako Si Ninoy, released one week earlier. Movie buffs, political analysts, film critics, the press and social media influencers dove into feverish commentaries on the three films, and Philippine cinemas were ignited and, for a while, became alive with social discourse. New FDCP head On 21 July 2022, Tirso S. Cruz III officially assumed his position as the head of the country’s national film agency, the Film Development Council of the Philippines. He replaced Liza Diño, who was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as FDCP chairperson on 12 August 2016. [caption id="attachment_161368" align="aligncenter" width="736"] FDCP chair Tirso Cruz III. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF FDCP[/caption] Cruz, a veteran actor, said that the target of the FDCP under the Marcos administration was to support local films, not just in Metro Manila, but also from regional filmmakers. He also professed support for film students and highlighted archiving as part of the FDCP’s agenda, with 42,000 materials in its archives to be salvaged. MTRCB In September 2022, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board released a statement addressing the controversy about its proposal to expand its jurisdiction to online streaming services like Netflix, Vivamax, Amazon Prime and other streaming platforms. The MTRCB said it was responding to multitudes of complaints from parents and other concerned groups demanding that the agency regulate movie and TV online platforms to protect children from harmful viewing. The Marcos administration has seen a continuous boom in streamers, which began during the pandemic, with Vivamax becoming one of the leading local streamers due to the popularity of Filipino sexploitation films. On 23 February 2023, MTRCB chairperson Lala Sotto-Antonio expressed her gratitude to Senators Francis “Tol” Tolentino, Grace Poe and Sherwin Gatchalian for the separate bills they filed that would amend and expand the board’s mandate. “We welcome the move to amend the charter of the MTRCB as it will allow the agency to adequately adapt to changes in technology and the ever-evolving needs of the viewing public and our other stakeholders,” Sotto-Antonio said before the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media chaired by Senator Robinhood C. Padilla. Eddie Garcia Act In January 2023, the chamber passed through voice voting House Bill 1270, or the proposed Eddie Garcia Act, at the House plenary session. [caption id="attachment_161367" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] HOUSE Bill 1270 has been proposed in honor of the late actor Eddie Garcia. | Photograph courtesy of gma-7[/caption] Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte authored the bill, which aims to provide workers in the movie, television and radio entertainment industry opportunities for well-paid employment and protect them from economic exploitation, abuse and harassment, as well as hazardous working conditions. The bill was named after the late veteran actor Eddie Garcia, who died in 2019 after suffering a neck injury while shooting the television series Rosang Agimat, produced by GMA Network. According to Villafuerte, productions would go from 16 to 24 continuous work hours per set and would rush productions to save costs. The proposed law mandates that normal work hours of the worker or talent shall be eight hours a day; overtime work should not exceed more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period; and the total number of work hours shall not exceed 60 hours in a week. Paul Soriano Relatively unknown to most Pinoy moviegoers, filmmaker Paul Soriano was put on the limelight as the man behind the President’s advertisements — way back from campaigns since Marcos started out as vice governor, and then, governor of Ilocos Norte, up until his senatorial campaign, and eventually his campaign for the vice presidency and presidency. [caption id="attachment_161371" align="aligncenter" width="781"] PRESIDENTIAL Adviser on Creative Communications Paul Soriano. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ig/PAUL SORIANO[/caption] Of course, the opposition in the film industry predictably canceled Soriano, the blood nephew of First Lady Liza Cacho Araneta-Marcos. Dolly de Leon It was also during the BBM era that Filipina actress Dolly de Leon gained international fame for her performance in the 2022 Cannes Palme d’Or winner Triangle of Sadness. [caption id="attachment_161366" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Dolly de Leon gained international fame for her performance in the 2022 Cannes Palme d’Or winner ‘Triangle of Sadness.’ | Photograph courtesy ofig/dolly de leon[/caption] The 54-year old film, television and theater actress made history by becoming the first Filipino actor to be nominated at the British Academy Film Awards and Golden Globe Awards. Filipino movie fans and critics, having been exposed to global content since the rise of the streamers, plus the proliferation of self-published movie reviews, are generally still disappointed with the output and system of the Philippine film industry, but filled with hope that, with full support from the government, Philippine cinema will finally become truly internationally competitive, sustainable and recognized. The post Phl cinema in the first year of BBM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rob the Philippines
There is a reason why Seiko, one of the world’s biggest watch manufacturers, makes all of its parts, including the movements of even its most affordable models, in-house: It is to have full control over the end product, thus ensuring the best quality possible. That is also why, in the horological world, watchmakers who outsource their components are considered inferior. Our country’s tourism department is a large organization. You would think that they would have enough brainpower within that department to come up with a simple three-word slogan such as “Love The Philippines.” But no! For that no-brainer, they had to engage the services of an outside multinational public relations firm for 49 million pesos. The Department of Tourism or DoT could have been better served by holding a contest among Filipinos with a 5-million prize money for whoever comes up with the best tourism slogan. I am sure one of the 80 million adults in this country could have made up a much better one. And for a small percentage of that amount, a high-quality video could have been made by any small but competent production company that would not need to feature fraudulent footage. Heck, a teenager with a halfway-decent laptop could have done a better job. I should know: I make movies. At any rate, our luckless tourism officials have been caught in a lie, not once, not twice, but three times now. If this were baseball, three strikes and they should have been out. Those old enough will recall that in 2010, during the time of the late unlamented Noynoy Aquino, there was a campaign called “Pilipinas Kay Ganda.” Almost immediately after its launch, many called out the DoT for the campaign logo’s uncanny similarity to the tourism style of Poland; in other words, a blatant plagiarism. Fast forward to 2012 (still under Noynoy), and there was much hype from the DoT about boosting tourism via the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” ad blitzkrieg. Imagine the universal chagrin when it was discovered to be a shameless rip-off of Switzerland’s “It’s More Fun in Switzerland” promotion. Methinks there is something about the culture inside the big public relations companies that its people just cannot resist the allure of making the most money with the barest minimum of efforts, hence the plain laziness of recycling slogans. As it was later exposed that the new tourism drive has a total budget of around a quarter of a billion pesos (and only initially at that, meaning there will be more expenditures as the years go by), such sloth is totally inexcusable. By reaping such “tubong lugaw”, as they say in the vernacular (for easy, big profits), one cannot help but conjecture that there may be an entrenched group in the DoT that benefits from kickbacks from such lucrative deals that require absolutely no service from the PR companies other than mining the web for ideas to steal. The DoT has announced that it was canceling its contract with the PR company. Fine! But we have no information as to whether or not the PR firm was required to return the monies already paid, for clearly botching up an operation that was not only stupid but has caused widespread embarrassment for the government. And while they’re at it, the DoT should explain why it has become a tradition to pay so much money for so little output, or for results that could have come from the efforts of its officials who are, after all, already being paid with taxpayer money. If these practices persist, the DoT should make minor revisions to its catchphrases past and present. It should thus be “Pilipinas Kay Ganda (ng kita),” “Its More FUNDS in the Philippines,” and “ROB The Philippines.” At least those shibboleths would speak the truth. The post Rob the Philippines appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Muntinlupa judge inhibits from De Lima case
Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 256 Presiding Judge Romeo Buenaventura announced on Friday that he decided to inhibit from handling the remaining illegal drug charges against former Senator Leila de Lima. In a seven-page order dated 15 June 2023, the judge expressed his decision to recuse, stating that the suspicions raised by the accused, although baseless and maybe contrived, have tainted the court’s integrity and impartiality. He also emphasized the need to uphold trust and confidence in all future proceedings related to the case. “For this reason, the undersigned Presiding Judge will exercise his discretion and will recuse himself from further hearing this case not because the allegations are true, but because it is his avowed duty as member of the Bench to promote confidence in the judicial system,” Buenaventura said. Earlier, Joenel Sanchez, Ronnie Dayan, and Franklin Bucayu in their respective motion requested Judge Buenaventura’s immediate withdrawal from the case, alleging that he is the brother of Atty. Emmanuel Buenaventura, who purportedly assisted Dayan in one of his affidavits, later claiming coercion. Sanchez also revealed that Atty. Buenaventura had served as a legal adviser to the late Mindoro Congressman Reynaldo Umali during congressional hearings on the alleged drug trade at Bilibid. He asserted that Judge Buenaventura failed to disclose his relationship with Atty. Buenaventura. Buenaventura on 7 June issued a 35-page order denying de Lima’s request for bail. The court deemed her experience of being taken hostage as “injurious to health” or a threat to her life unlike in other bail cases. However, the judge clarified that evaluating the strength of the evidence does not predetermine the final outcome of the case. To recall, the Department of Justice filed the charges against De Lima alleging her involvement in the illegal drug trade during her tenure as justice secretary under the Aquino administration. Since 2017, the former lawmaker was detained at the Philippine National Police-Custodial Center in Quezon City. The post Muntinlupa judge inhibits from De Lima case appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»