Spirits of Christmas
“Estrellita, the little wishing star,” a Carlos Palanca award-winning children’s book, tells of how the paths of Estrellita, one of the millions of stars in the sky who dreamed to make someone happy, and Noel, a sick orphan boy who wished to see his mother he had never seen, had crossed......»»
470 children in Cebu receive early Christmas gifts from Malacañang
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A total of 470 children from selected shelters and orphan care centers in Cebu received early Christmas gifts from the Office of the President (OP) on Sunday, November 25. They were also treated to various fun activities and games during their stay at the gymnasium of the Cebu Technological University-Main Campus.....»»
Fil-Am director ready to take on Hollywood with ‘sweeping drama’
While the feverish Hollywood actors’ strike is still ongoing, Filipino-American filmmaker Gerard Pizarro is undaunted. The lawyer-turned-director is currently scouting cast members in the Philippines and LA for his ambitious Hollywood limited television series called Mt. Samat. Pizarro may not be a household name, but the passionate Fil-Am director has been winning awards in the American film circuit for a decade now. Pizzaro’s Mt. Samat has been described as a “sweeping drama of an orphan who rose to riches and wealth amidst time-worn wars and generational family feuds.” Mount Samat, also known as the Dambana ng Kagitingan, is a shrine located in Pilar, Bataan built to honor the gallantry of Filipino and American soldiers who fought against the Japanese army during World War II. But Pizzaro’s Mt. Samat will be based on the 2021 biographical novel The Man Behind the Uniform, penned by his own father, Tony Deleon Pizarro. The inspiring story will focus on Pizzaro’s father pursuing the American Dream beginning in Bataan, in the midst of war. It is undoubtedly a big project, as the rags-to-riches story will be backdropped by historical events — a period drama that aims to cast the best Filipino actors, as well as actors from Hollywood. Pizzaro, who said his favorite actor is Sean Penn, studied for four years at the American Conservatory Theater. “And I think my training as a lawyer, we did a lot of listening and observing, we watched,” so he intends to use those skills in casting and directing his film. Big marketplace Mt. Samat will be pitched at the American Film Market on 31 October. The AFM is an eight-day film industry event held each year at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. It’s a big marketplace for the film business, with more than 7,000 participants from 70 countries who attend to network, sell, finance and acquire films. [caption id="attachment_200914" align="aligncenter" width="1694"] ‘BLOOD on Canvas,’ Pizarro’s 2013 drama-thriller film, bagged awards at various film festivals. | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF Pizarro Creatives[/caption] Even with Mt. Samat set to be pitched at the AFM to attract film buyers, it is currently being produced with a pilot episode that will open in 1941 with the Japanese invasion of the Philippines. It will then unfold into a dramatic family saga, following the older Pizzaro’s experiences in Bataan before migrating to the United States in 1959 and his struggles as an immigrant before finding success. Aside from the American Conservatory Theater, Pizarro also obtained training from the San Francisco Film School and the USC School of Cinematic Arts. His 2013 drama-thriller Blood on Canvas, starring Kristen Doute and Stephen DeWitt White, bagged awards at various festivals, including Best Feature at the Michigan Film Awards and Best Thriller at the Honolulu Film Festival, and recognition at the Golden Ace Awards and Las Vegas Festival. The post Fil-Am director ready to take on Hollywood with ‘sweeping drama’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Wishing out loud
Like defeat, a bad idea is an orphan......»»
Making Phl top innovation, creative hub
In this fast-evolving globalized world, we have learned that those who fail to adapt to new rules and laws will always fall behind. However, rewards await those who can nimbly pivot to the new demands. The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines or IPOPHL is very fortunate to have passionate allies in the House and the Senate. They understand that even domestic intellectual property or IP rules have to dance cheek-to-cheek with global changes if we want to keep the Philippines from falling behind. They understand that creating a competitive Philippines requires adequate protection for IP rights which help oil the wheels of technological and economic growth everywhere. This week, IPOPHL briefed the staffs of Senator Imee Marcos, Senator Loren Legarda, Rep. Marvey Marino, Rep. Joey Salceda, and the House Committee on Trade and Investments, all of whom we appreciate highly for taking the time to listen to the pressing needs of our creators, innovators and IP rights holders. Our conversations were filled with insightful exchanges on the future of the knowledge economy, affirming that we share the same vision of an IP system that fosters inclusive economic and social development. In our meeting, we provided the honorable lawmakers with an overview of the 10 main provisions we propose to make the new IP Code more responsive to technological and relevant global developments. Key proposals These 10 key amendments we are pushing for are the following: Impose steeper penalties on infringers — and steeper even where IP infringement threatens health and life, such as when counterfeit drugs and food are involved; Give IPOPHL power to issue orders to block pirated sites and take down IP-infringing posts and platforms; Adopt a solidary liability in trademark infringement where online platforms and service providers, as well as landlords in the case of brick-and-mortar stores, are held accountable for their client-sellers’ IP infringing acts; Allow provisional patent applications which will give filed technologies protection on the date of filing; Introduce a parallel protection system, through which inventors can simultaneously register for a patent grant and utility model or UM protection for the same technology. Such would allow inventors to attempt a patent grant while already commercializing their works as UM applications can be approved in months compared to patent applications which could take years; Provide clear-cut rules on orphan works, which are copyrighted works whose rights holders are difficult to determine or contact; Protect sound marks and certification marks to provide brands with more tools to gain better recall; Recognize extended collective licensing, through which collective management organizations or CMOs can provide licensing solutions to non-members, enabling greater access to CMOs’ cost-efficient, one-stop-shop licensing solutions; Remove the P200,000 damage claim threshold. At present, cases with claims below this amount, usually by MSMEs, cannot be filed as an administrative case; and Institutionalize the interagency National Committee on IP Rights, the IP Rights Enforcement Office, and the IP Academy to funnel to them proper funding and other means of support. Combined, these 10 key amendments will apply global best practices for protecting Filipino inventions; provide an enabling environment for the Philippine creative industry; create more measures to deter counterfeiting and piracy; and make solutions to IP rights protection more accessible to both small and big businesses alike. The proposed protection of sound marks in particular will allow the country to comply with its trade obligation under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or RCEP Agreement. Building a new IP system sends the world the message that we are building a Philippines that is safe and reliable for all creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Once we turn the page over with this better Philippine IP environment, our kababayans can expect IP creation to set out at an unprecedented pace and make impacts we’d never seen before. The post Making Phl top innovation, creative hub appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Alden thirsts for newness and diversity
Alden Richards challenges himself by taking on a bida-kontrabida character in The World Between Us. His Louie Asuncion, an intelligent orphan, is a stark contrast to his dramatis personae in The Gift and I Can See You: Love on the Balcony......»»
HERO Foundation welcomes new scholars
For 32 years, HERO Foundation Inc. has made it their mission to ensure every military orphan gets to achieve their dreams......»»