Category: Entertainment

I love Mocha Uson

Published by Ellen on January 25, 2018

She entertains us.

Last Wednesday, she provided distraction from the revolting picture of Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Senate majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas doing the fist pump over dinner in a restaurant in the midst of reports that Alvarez wants to convene a Constitutional Assembly to change the Constitution even it consists only of congressmen and a few senators.

Imagine transferring Mayon Volcano which is currently in tantrums from Albay to Naga City in Camarines Sur some 100 kilometers away.

13th Virgin Lab Fest is truly ‘Wagas’

Published by Ellen on July 2, 2017

There is no English word that can fully capture the meaning of the Filipino word, “Wagas.”

Consult a dictionary and it will give you all feel-good meanings: unfeigned, endless, genuine, sincere, true, pure, faithful. “Wagas na pag-ibig,” is a common phrase. We also say it with an exclamation point to stress our approval.

We also use “wagas” as a reaction/ commentary to statements or situations so unbelievable that leave us dumbfounded like President Duterte telling members of Philippine Chinese Charitable Association, “I hate corruption. Hindi ako nagmamakalinis. Marami rin akong nanakaw pero naubos na. So wala na “ and the audience applaud him.

Cinemalaya 2016: showcase of Filipino talent, substance and relevance

Published by Ellen on August 14, 2016

Mostly young crowd at CCP for Cinemalaya 2016

I hope the movies shown in the recent Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival would be shown in commercial theaters more widely later.

I was able to watch only two: “Kusina” starring Judy Ann Santos under the direction of David Corpuz and Cenon Palomares and “Pamilya Ordinaryo” by Eduardo Roy, Jr.

(“Pamilya Ordinaryo” won the best fim, best director, and best actress awards)

I missed “Toto” by John Paul Su; “Tuos” by Roderick Cabrido starring Nora Aunor; “Hapis at Himagsik ni Hermano Puli” by Gil M. Portes; “Dagsin” by Renato Ignacio Magadia, Jr. and many more.

French film festival, a delightful respite from the toxic political exercise

Published by Ellen on May 26, 2016

2016 Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Jaclyn Jose hugs Director Brillante Mendoza upon receiving award. Daughte Andi Eigenmann looks on

Martin Macalintal, audiovisual attaché at the French Embassy in Manila, might as well have taped his answer to the question, “Will Ma’ Rosa be shown during this year’s festival?”

That was the question everybody asked Macalintal at last Wednesday’s press preview of the 21st Film Festival held at My Cinema in Greenbelt 3 in Makati.

Macalintal’s answer: “We are working it out.”

But for sure Jaclyn Jose, the best actress awardee at the recent Cannes Film Festival for her gripping performance as a mother who found herself caught in the web of police corruption after she was caught dealing with illegal drugs to support her family, will grace the red carpet that will be rolled out on June 8 at the Bonifacio High Street Central to mark the start of the weeklong festival.

Jose is the first Filipina to have won the award in the prestigious festival.

Beneficiaries seek accounting of MMFF funds

Published by Ellen on December 24, 2015

Text and photos Maria Feona Imperial
VERA Files

(First of two parts)
Movies featuring the country’s most popular stars—including presidential sister Kris Aquino, comedian Vice Ganda, screen favorites John Lloyd Cruz and Jennylyn Mercado, and young love team Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza—are likely to make the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival another smash hit, possibly raking in much more than last year’s almost P1 billion earnings.

But government auditors and MMFF critics say proceeds from the festival, in dwindling amounts, are not reaching their intended beneficiaries on time, and that an accounting of the festival proceeds is long overdue.

MMFF officials, on the other hand, say the festival is a private undertaking not covered by government audit rules and regulations, even if it is run by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

The main issue is the amusement tax collected from Metro Manila theater owners who screen only MMFF entries for 10 days from Dec. 25 until Jan. 5. For that period, the local government units waive amusement taxes in favor of movie industry beneficiaries.

Antonio Luna not assassinated? Puñeta

Published by Ellen on September 24, 2015

Aguinaldo descendant Emilio Joseph 'Jun' Abaya — Aguinaldo descendant Emilio Joseph ‘Jun’ Abaya

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio “Jun” Abaya is a great grandson of Emilio Aguinaldo, considered as the First President of the Philippines (1899–1901).

Aguinaldo was head of the revolutionary forces that proclaimed Philippine independence from Spain on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite.

The current box office sensation is Jerrold Tarrog’s “Heneral Luna”, a movie about Gen. Antonio Luna, the disciplinarian and temperamental commander of the Philippine Revolutionary Forces.

Tarrog’s “Heneral Luna” was based on the book “The Rise and Fall of Antonio Luna” by retired University of the Philippines Professor Vivencio R. Jose.

Aquino, Del Rosario and Gazmin should watch ‘Heneral Luna’

Published by Ellen on September 20, 2015

I watched “Heneral Luna” last Friday at Southmall in Las Pinas and I witnessed something that re-affirmed my faith in the Filipino: after the screening the students in the audience clapped.

I should not be worrying much about the future of our country.

Actress, writer and director Bibeth Orteza, who is a member of the board of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board posted a suggested in Facebook: “I’m saying this in my individual capacity, not as a member of the MTRCB. If I were the producer of “Heneral Luna” I’d bring the film back to the MTRCB, seek a lower audience rating classification, and then bring it around the country for a school tour.”

Heneral Luna is rated R-13, which means only those age 13 and above can watch the movie. It must be because of the violent scene in the movie, which were essential to underscore the intensity of the power struggle at that time. I myself had to close my eyes in the murder scene.

Antidote to inane and offensive TV shows : Don’t watch

Published by Ellen on July 15, 2015

A number of parents and single adult friends who happened to watch some episodes of Pinoy Big Brother 737 were appalled by the very sexual behavior of housemates, who are all teenagers –the youngest are 12 years old.

Which made me wonder, if the audience have that reaction watching the reality show, how about the parents of those housemates?

PBB 737 is the 12th PBB. Most of the previous shows were in the higher age brackets.

Big Brother is a reality game show franchise created by Dutch John de Mol. A group of people called “housemates” live together for a long period of time (In PBB 737, it’s seven weeks) in a specially constructed large house.

Celebrities show conscience and heart for the 44 SAF heroes

Published by Ellen on February 3, 2015

apl.de.ap leads a rousing tribute to the 44 SAF heroes.

Wearing black arm bands emblazoned with “44”, apl.de.ap of the international hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas and one of the judges of The Voice PH, led the performance of one the group’s hits, “Where is the Love?” in last Sunday’s episode of the singing competition.

The lyrics were sharply apt: “Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism/But we still got terrorists here livin’….

“Madness is what you demonstrate/And that’s exactly how anger works and operates/…
“Father, Father, Father help us/Send some guidance from above/’Cause people got me, got me questionin’/Where is the love (Love)…

“Makin’ wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends/Not respectin’ each other, deny thy brother/
A war is goin’ on but the reason’s undercover…

“The truth is kept secret, it’s swept under the rug/If you never know truth then you never know love/
Where’s the love, y’all, come on (I don’t know)”