PH Rise Sidelines - Cusi Pushes AURELCO, NGCP Sub-Transmission Connection

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As President Rodrigo Duterte asserted the Philippine sovereignty here, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi fits in Aurora’s energization last Tuesday during the commemoration of the First Anniversary of the renaming of Benham Rise to Philippine Rise.

Cusi used the occasion to meet with Aurora Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AURELCO) General Manager Noel DV. Vedad to discuss the island- and micro-grid designs, as well as the planned sub-transmission facilities in their franchise area for the possible connection expansion with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in the Municipality of San Luis, which is located south of Aurora’s capital, Baler.

Cusi and Vedad discussed about these plans to increase the reliability of electricity services in AURELCO’s franchise area, as part of the electric coop’s “redundancy” measures.

“Aurora is a thriving province and we have to further equip them with effective energy systems to increase not just the stability of their power supply, but also their capability to be energy resilient, especially that it’s vulnerable to natural disasters brought by typhoons,” Cusi explained.

AURELCO is closely coordinating with the DOE’s Electric Power Industry Management Bureau, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the Energy Regulatory Commission to put up a 69kV sub-transmission facility traversing Maria Aurora and Casiguran. This also includes a 5 megavolt ampere substation as endorsed by DOE to NEA, which forms part of the electric cooperative’s Distribution Development Plan.

When completed, these projects will provide stable and reliable services to the towns of Dinalungan, Casiguran, Dilasag in Aurora Province and Dinapigue in Isabela or the so-called “DICADIDI areas”.

The DICADIDI areas are currently being served by the National Power Corporation’s Small Power Utilities Group, which is isolated from the Luzon Grid.

The DOE noted that sub-transmission projects are badly needed to improve electricity services in the AURELCO franchise area including also the facilitation of the graduation of AURELCO from its missionary electrification (or subsidy) status.

The DOE Chief concluded, “We are seeing stronger grid connectivity and functioning island- and micro-grids as a way forward to improve Aurora’s current power situation.”

Cover photo caption:

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi (second from left) are AURELCO General Manager Noel DV. Vedad, DOE Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos and Energy Resource Development Assistant Director Ismael U. Ocampo. The meeting happened last Tuesday (15 May) as a sideline to the Presidential Ceremonial Send-off for the All-Filipino Marine Scientific Research (MSR) and Laying of an Ocean Buoy and Symbolic Marker at the Philippine Rise held in Casiguran, Aurora.

Benilde Prof Bags Best Editing Award in France for Bhoy Intsik

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Benilde Film faculty John Anthony Wong won Best Editing for "Bhoy Intsik" in the Foreign Language Film category of the 2018 NICE International Film Festival of World Cinema held in France from May 5 to 12.

Wong bested fellow nominees Chang-Gyun Kim ("A Trip With Friends"), Aziz Imamoglu ("Dad Where Are You I Am Lost"), Yuji Kakizaki and Yasutake Torii ("Dai 2 Keibitai – The Second Security Unit"), Yuan Fang ("Destiny Among the Mountains"), Jose David ("Flea"), Giancarlo Escamillas and Carlo Ortega Cuevas ("Guerrero"), Takeshi Iwamoto ("Lemon & Letter"), Alex Vargas ("Rice"), Shinpei Masui ("Spit & Honey"), Maxime Aubert ("The Blogger"), Abdulla Alneyadi ("The Tragedy of the Monster") and Sreekar Prasad ("To Let").

"Bhoy Intsik," a film about two small-time felons who crossed paths and forged an uncanny friendship, stars Raymond "RS" Francisco in the title role and Ronwaldo Martin as Marlon. Directed by Joel Lamangan, it previously won the Special Jury Prize in the Orient Express section of the 38th Oporto International Film Festival and two acting trophies for RS Francisco at Sinag Maynila Film Festival 2017, in a tie with Kristoffer King ("Kristo"), and Star Awards for Movies 2018. It also competed at the London East Asia Film Festival 2017. 

Wong, who has been editing movies since 2000, considers the film a very interesting project to edit. "The challenge was to create a world where these interwoven lives would interact and counteract with each other without losing the audience in the story's narrative. My team had to work with material that was both visually compelling and dialogue-driven."

The managing director of EDGE Manila Creatives Corporation (EMC2) added that it helped that he was also the film's Visual Effects supervisor. "During editing, when I felt that a sequence needed a little VFX assistance to enhance the mood and tone of a scene, I just ask EDGE Manila's VFX team to add details here and there like 'stormy/gloomy' clouds during a break up scene or digital prosthetics to make a pivotal scene more realistic," he explained. 

Apart from Lamangan, Wong has also worked with the late Gil Portes, Mel Chionglo, Jun Lana, Quark Henares, Albert Martinez and Gino Santos, among others. His work on the 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival entry "Rosario" gave him a Best Festival Editor prize and a similar award from Gawad PASADO (Pampelikulang Samahan ng mga Dalubguro). He has also received a Best Editing trophy from the 2012 Cinemalaya entry "The Animals" and was nominated several times for his editing work by FAMAS, Golden Screen and Star Awards.

Wong dedicated the win to his family, to all the hard-working Filipino film editors and to the Philippine movie industry. "I'm thankful to have once again been able to work with Direk Joel on one of his most important projects. It was also a pleasure to have been able to work with screenwriter Ronald Carballo, cinematographer Rain Yamson II, musical scorer Emerzon Texon and actor-producer Raymond Francisco. All of them were very hands on in the creative process. The success of the film is truly a collaborative process," he stressed.

Aside from his professional work as a movie editor, he also shares his vast post-production knowledge by teaching at the film department of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Design and Arts. He also shoots and directs short films, music videos and corporate videos. He is a graduate of Ricky Lee's 14th scriptwriting workshop.

New OPM Musical GeeGee at Waterina Sets Audition on May 26

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Artist Playground will hold auditions for its forthcoming original Pinoy musical “Geegee at Waterina ” on May 26 – 7 pm onwards at 112 Arts Above, West Avenue QC ( beside McDonald’s ).

The production is looking for Males – 20-35 years old. Can sing and dance. Preferably with ‘ hunk ’ physique. Bring photos and music material.

With book and lyrics by J. Dennis C. Teodosio, “Geegee At Waterina” was first presented at the CCP Virgin Labfest in 2005. A short film version was produced for Cinemalaya in 2006.

The roles of GEEGEE AT WATERINA will be portrayed by Norman Penaflorida and Roeder Camanag respectively.

GEEGEE is an entertainment actor, radio host and a counselor of Pasay City. More than 60 years old.

WATERINA is a ‘comfort gay’ during Japanese Occupation in the Philippines. More than 70 years old. She is one of Gee-gee’s Golden Gays.

With original music composed by Jesse Lucas, and choreography by Leslie Dailisan, GEEGEE AT WATERINA will be directed by Andrew de Real.

The performance schedules of GEEGEE AT WATERINA are as follows:

August 18 (3pm & 7pm)
August 19 (3pm & 7pm)
August 25 (3pm & 7pm)
August 26 (3pm & 7pm)
September 1 (3pm & 7pm)
September 2 (3pm & 7pm)


For further inquiries, please call or send SMS to Ms. Kimberly Somoza at 0975-9193179.