HEARD: Myrtle’s advice to current PBB housemates

Myrtle Sarrosa, “Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition 4” grand winner, gave this advice to “PBB Lucky Season 7” contestants: “Just enjoy your time inside the house. You can’t get a better deal than this—free food and accommodations, as well as free use of the swimming pool. The only thing you need to focus on is fulfilling your tasks.”
On love, the singer-actress told newsmen at a recent press conference hosted by Sisters Sanitary Napkin, which she endorses: “I’m scared to entertain suitors. I used to be the type who would give everything when I’m in love. I’m scared to give the same kind of love to another person, especially if he is from show biz.”

Positive effects of Cinemalaya 12 highlighted

 

 

 

We were stunned,” said film producer E.A. Rocha of the short film “1-2-3” that its director Carlo Obispo released in 2004. “I said we should expand it because its story is lamentable and has to be told.”
Twelve years later, the full-length version of “1-2-3,” about human trafficking, became the opening film of the 12th edition of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.
On Friday night, Rocha and coproducer Fernando Ortigas went up the stage of the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) with Obispo to encourage the audience to watch the film “that reflects the true state of our nation.” “We need to develop an audience (for indie films),” said Rocha.
Also present at the event were cast members Therese Malvar, Barbara Miguel, Bong Cabrera and Carlos Dala. Malvar told the Inquirer: “We had to do immersions and to really internalize. Doing the film was difficult because it was based on the experiences of real people.”
In her speech, Cinemalaya Foundation president Laurice Guillen pointed out the positive effect of the 12-year-old indie festival to the industry. She said: “Now, new players have joined the industry. Indie films are now screening in commercial theaters. Those who started out in this venue are now active in the industry as directors, cinematographers, producers… With the emerging alternative distribution system, films are now watched on demand.”
The event, which opened at 6 p.m., began with a screening of an advertisement that features Edu Manzano and Jun Sabayton. The video, which pokes fun at Filipino action-fantasy films and their recurring plots, is produced by Leo Burnett Manila and directed by Joel Linchuk.

The Songbird soars in Cebu

 

My son, IC Mendoza, and I relished every minute of our coverage of “The Regine Series” at SM City Cebu.
The musical extravaganza capped PLDT Home’s month-long festivities in the Queen City of the South. It was their way of thanking the Cebuanos for making them the market leader in digital and multimedia services.
Regine Velasquez was in her element as she wowed the full-house audience with her rendition of OPM classics, pop songs and her signature hits. She even sang a Visayan tune, “Usahay,” much to the delight of the crowd.

According to Reg, Cebuanos are among the hardest to please, since many locals are born singers. She endeared herself to the crowd all the more when she spoke in Cebuano.

Reg said that she has fond memories of her growing-up years in her mom’s hometown, Leyte.
The Songbird’s voice was clearer than the Queen City’s beaches.
Ogie Alcasid gamely did a duet with his wife, while their unico hijo Nate cheered them on.
Donna Cruz also jammed with Reg. They reminisced about their filming days of “DoReMi.”
Christian Bautista regaled the crowd with his solo number and duet with Regine. Binibining Pilipinas beauty queens, Maxine Medina, Nicole Cordoves and MJ Lastimosa, added glitter to the event.
I asked Maxine how she feels about Manila being the venue of the Miss Universe pageant 2017. “Too bad I won’t get to compete for the crown abroad,” she sighed. “But I have come to terms with it already. At least my family and friends can watch it live. It will feel good to compete with majority of the crowd rooting for me.”
Aside from the concert, the top broadband and digital services provider held The Fantastic Sale with deals that came with free DSL installation and WiFi modems.
It also mounted an exclusive event at Radisson Blu Hotel wherein guests tried out Smart Home devices.
Prior to the show, I got to bond with Reg, Ogie and Nate backstage. It was such a delight to see them in their unguarded moments. What an adorable “Family Three.”
Here’s a bit of preconcert trivia about the Songbird: Unlike other celebs who have makeup artists, Reg prefers to do her own makeup.
But even if she was busy getting dolled up for her miniconcert, she still doted on Nate.
“He’s fascinated with airplanes,” said Reg. “So every time we travel, I don’t have a hard time taking care of Nate on the plane because he loves flying. For now, it seems like he wants to be a pilot, not a singer like his dad and me.”
When I told Nate that I saw his TV commercial, he
snapped back so cutely, “The first one?” He will soon have another ad as the face of Smart Watch.
To celebrate her 30th anniversary in the biz, Regine will mount a concert in October. She will also release an album under Viva Records, compiling 30 songs that played a significant part in her career.
After three decades, the Songbird still has a lot to chirp about. “Singing is in my system. I want to keep making good use of my God-given talent.” Reg pointed out, “Even if I’m just singing ‘Bahay Kubo,’ I want the audience to feel it. Their applause gives me an adrenaline rush that makes me reach the high notes.”
Gary Dujali, PLDT vice president and Home Marketing director, praised Regine: “She was our unanimous choice to be our brand ambassador,” he quipped, “because she best represents the modern-day mom who’s also a career woman.”

No-frills singing boosts Esang de Torres’ bid for recording stardom

She may have only placed third in the second season of “The Voice Kids,” but Esang de Torres has since clearly outpaced her talented rivals in the popular kiddie tilt.
In terms of singing chops-honing experience and cachet-boosting exposure, her recent stint as little Cosette in the Manila and Singapore staging of “Les Miserables” is an impressive addition to Esang’s continually expanding body of work.
Is this a cautionary case of too much, too soon for the adorable singing moppet? Not really.

 

 

It’s hard to begrudge Esang her share of the performing spotlight—after all, it isn’t like she only started trying her luck in Tinseltown last year.
In fact, it’s been five years since Esang first ventured into singing competitions (at age 4)—and she just turned 9 years old last February!
Esang refuses to rest on her laurels, however. Her latest triumph comes in the form of her solo debut album, “Ako ay Kakanta,” whose age-appropriate, Vehnee Saturno-penned songs prove that relative fame hasn’t spoiled her or her disarmingly unaffected, no-frills singing style.
If you’re partial to birit-sung encomiums about love that defies seemingly insurmountable odds or show-stopping renditions that offer generous servings of tricky melisma, you won’t hear much of those here.
Esang sings about character-forming relationships forged through the years (“Your Angel,” “Friend”) and issues that kids her age can relate to—from the unquantifiable pleasure she gets out of singing (“Ako ay Kakanta”) to what children think about conflict in the complex world they inhabit (“Pag-ibig ang Sagot,” “Batang Makulet”).
If you think there’s only so much that children and tweens can sing about, you’ve got another think coming: “Nanay Ko, Tatay Ko” examines the ties that bind young kids and their OFW parents, who grudgingly leave their cash-strapped families behind to give their heretofore bleak future a fighting chance.
For music enthusiasts who want some vocal bravado and bombast, the show-stopping “Kung Bubuksan Mo Lang ang Puso” is “wired” as an inspiring ballad that hews close to the structure of a contest piece, fueled further by soaring sections that melodically dramatize its empowering theme.
The eight-track album’s only cover, Charo Unite and Ernie dela Peña’s enduring “May Bukas Pa,” is a pleasant addition to the lineup because, devoid of excessive gimmicks, it’s easy to appreciate what its message is truly about when there aren’t potential distractions that can dilute its lyrical and melodic appeal.

Kapampangan film in Japan fest

Carlo Enciso Catu’s “Ari (My Life With a King)” is one of 13 films that will be screened at the Fukuoka International Film Festival in Japan, from Sept. 15 to 25. Catu will attend the festival to represent the Kapampangan film produced by Holy Angel University.
According to its website, the fest aims to “introduce excellent films from Asia… [that] use film to deepen understanding of [the region]…, promote cultural and international exchange… [and] foster new talents.”
“Ari” is the lone Philippine film in the lineup, which features entries from other Asian countries including Iraq, Kazakhstan, India, Malaysia and Taiwan

Not too late to go back to school at 40 for Allen Dizon’s character

Gravestone makers have earned his respect, according to actor Allen Dizon, who plays a troubled one in the Vic Acedillo Jr. drama, “Lando at Bugoy.”
“A real lapida maker was present during filming, but I still had to do some engraving myself. It isn’t as easy as it appears to be. These people put a lot of time and effort to what they do. I hope they get paid fairly,” Dizon told the Inquirer shortly after the gala screening on Sunday night at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City.
The film, which also features Gold Azeron as Dizon’s rebellious son Bugoy, is an entry in the 2016 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, which runs up to Aug. 14.

 

The story of Lando Amora, Dizon’s character, is based on the real-life experiences of Silvino Bajao, a school teacher in Acedillo’s home province, Camiguin.

Disrespected by his teenage son, a 40-year-old high school dropout tries to solve this problem by returning to school, which only makes his son hate him even more. Then, an unexpected event changes everything.
“In our barangay in Tupsan, Camiguin, [Bajao] has become a legend. He is the subject of conversations in drinking sessions,” said Acedillo, describing the stories he heard of Bajao as hilarious.
“At first, he didn’t want me to interview him. He got angry and drove me away. I created the story from recollections of neighbors, teachers and his fellow students. They were those whom he fed because they went to class hungry, or those he gave money for tuition.”
Acedillo said Cesar Montano was his first choice to play Lando, but the action star’s work schedule did not permit this.
Allen proved to be a good second choice because “he attacked the character differently. His Lando is softer and friendlier,” said the director. “My favorite scene was of Allen and Roger Gonzales (who plays Lando’s father) having a serious talk… [the] sunken cemetery [was] in the background. It’s so heartwarming.”
Dizon said he liked that his director gave him relative freedom to develop his character. “He just told me how he’d like the story to begin. I also gave him my input,” the actor said. “I can relate to my character well. As a dad [with four kids], I know the importance of education. I also understand the need to have a good relationship with my children.”
Acedillo said most of the cast members are from Camiguin. “I’m so proud of them. They attended an acting workshop for only two days, but I never had any problems with them [during filming]. They’re  natural actors,” he said.
Gonzales, a theater actor and school principal based in Davao City, is convincing as Lando’s war veteran father.
Acedillo’s last two films, “Lando at Bugoy” and “Kakampi,” were both shot on Camiguin island. He hoped to make his next project in his home province, too.

Pinoy blues harmonica musician wins Asia-Pacific tilt

FILIPINO blues harmonica musician Ian Lofamia topped the 11th Asia-Pacific Harmonica Festival held recently in Hsinchu City, Taiwan.
Lofamia—known in the local blues and rock music community for his frenetic performing style—joined 300 other participants from different countries.
He competed in the 10-hole diatonic solo division which consisted of 20 aspirants. “Nasungkit ko po ang first place (I clinched first place),” he told Inquirer Lifestyle.

 

Lofamia added that his opponents used pre-recorded guitar and piano backing tracks as accompaniment, while he played alone using “pure improvisation.”
Along with a trophy and certificate, he “got lots of branded harmonicas.”
In the Philippines he fronts his own group, the Ian Lofamia Band.