Benildean Filmmakers Bag INPFF Award

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A short documentary made by De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Digital Filmmaking students won Best Direction at the Istorya ng Pag-asa (Stories of Hope) Film Festival gala night and awarding ceremony held last June 12 at Glorietta, Makati City.

Winning the award for their documentary "Pamilyang Bernardo" are Anna Mikaela Quizon, Alda Dalisay and Jocelyn Frago. Two members of the Bernardo family from Looc, Romblon are suffering from ectrodactyly, a condition which causes malformation of their limbs and makes life difficult for them. Despite this, they find strength in their own home.

Florence Rosini's "Ang Biyahe ni Marlon," an inspiring tale of an Uber driver with Tourette Syndrome, which manifests through involuntary movements, got the INPFF Best Film trophy, a cash prize of 50,000 pesos, a DSLR camera and a Samsung S8 cellphone.

First runner-up winner Margaret Serranilla brought home 30,000 pesos for her entry "Tago," which tells the story of Nelson Gonzales, drummer and owner of Tago Jazz Café , a small jazz joint in Cubao that serves as a place for budding musicians to hone their craft.

Kelsy Lua's "Gawilan," about a disadvantaged Filipino swimmer named Ernie Gawilan who faced hardships that forced him to battle his insecurities before making it to the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, won second runner-up and 20,000 pesos.

Aunell Ross Angcos' "The Climbing Puppeteer," about a BPO employee-cum-ventriloquist who climbs mountains to help local villagers, won Best Cinematography, while Demy Cruz, Jr.'s "Ang Gahum Sang Daku Nga Handum," about a member of an indigenous tribe who has to face challenges to selflessly pursue her dream, got the Best Script award.

Aside from her documentary with Quizon and Dalisay, Frago has another entry which made it to INPFF's list of 15 finalists, "Liham Pagmamahal Para sa Kasalukuyan" (Love Letter to the Present). It tells the story of Lola Lita Vinuya and how she, and other members of Malaya Lolas, an organization composed of former "comfort women" or victims of sexual slavery, survived the cruelty of the Japanese imperial army during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II. This serves as their voice and a love letter to the present.

Their fellow DLS-CSB film majors Matthew Pelayo and Gian Arre were also selected as INPFF finalists from among 73 submissions all over the country.

Pelayo's "Overdrive" follows the life of Mel Majadas, a female Uber driver, as it shows what it is like for Mel, a mother who works hard for her family, to drive around Metro Manila.

On the other hand, Arre's "Mclaine" is based on the life of Mclaine Buatis, a student confronting complaints for his disruptive behavior. When his high school teacher warns him that he might get expelled from school, Mclaine reveals his innate desire to graduate and pleads for one last chance.

The other short film finalists are "Alkansiya" by Sandra Fajardo, "Ngiti" by Rhycie Anne Custodio, "Dealing with Healing" by Alyssa Bernardino, "Liwanag" by Kimberly Ilaya, "Dibuho" by Erri Rojo and "Person with This Ability" by Tala Reyes.

Acclaimed screenwriter Clodualdo "Doy" del Mundo, Jr., Film Development Council of the Philippines Chairperson Liza Diño, award-winning filmmakers Quark Henares and Dan Villegas, and veteran actress Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino served as INPFF judges. Actor Dingdong Dantes hosted the event.

Vice President Leni Robredo, whose office organized the nationwide film competition together with Ayala Foundation, described the entries as “extraordinary stories of ordinary people, and we are very, very proud of them. We wish that there are more that we can discover, and we vow to continue looking for them.” 

The INPFF was held to celebrate the first year of Istorya ng Pag-asa, an initiative that aims to inspire and empower the nation through extraordinary stories of the Filipino people. It seeks to promote hope and inspiration on a wider scale, with positive real-life stories that feature the triumph of ordinary Filipinos over life's adversities.

The winning short films are currently being screened at Ayala Malls Cinemas until June 30.

https://youtu.be/YeBGKfn93Hw

DOE Pushes for PH Natgas Dev't in Japan High-Level Conference

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Officials from the Department of Energy (DOE) led by Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi are in Tokyo this week as part of the country’s delegation to the fifth regular meeting of the Philippines-Japan High-Level Committee on Infrastructure and Economic Cooperation.

The DOE delegation will reinforce discussions on the Philippine energy industry with potential Japanese investors, while the other leaders of President Duterte’s economic team continue their high-level dialogues with the Japanese Ministry of the Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), on the administration’s flagship infrastructure projects under the Build Build Build program.

Secretary Cusi will focus on encouraging natural gas companies in Japan to invest in the Philippines’ liquefied natural gas (LNG) Hub Terminal project in anticipation of the Malampaya Gas Field’s depletion by 2022.

Cusi said, “The strategic location of the Philippines, as well as the fair and competitive playing field policy for natgas would entice investors to engage in the LNG terminal project.”

Currently, major Japanese gas companies such as Tokyo Gas are among those in serious talks for the project.

“In addition to discussions on LNG investments, our top officials and staff are undergoing extensive training to effectively monitor, regulate and supervise the upcoming Philippine LNG industry,” Cusi added.

DOE Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos and two ranking technical staff began an extensive training program on LNG value chains in Japan last Monday. They are expected to complete the course by the end of the month.

To date, natural gas from the Malampaya gas field off the coast of Palawan provides the fuel requirements of five gas-fired power plants, all located in the province of Batangas, with a combined capacity of 3,211 megawatts (MW).

“The construction of strategic natural gas facilities, which includes LNG receiving terminals and distribution pipelines, are necessary to ensure the security and diversity of the energy supply in the Philippines. It also provides the option of expanding the use of natural gas in the Philippines,” Cusi concluded.

Jeremy Miado Sharpens Fangs for Another Stringent Clash Against Thai Powerhouse

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It has not been an easy run for Filipino dynamo Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado as he received a lukewarm reception when he joined ONE Championship in 2017.

After losing his first two matches in ONE Championship, Miado was given a chance to turn his luck around three months ago, sharing the promotion’s famed circular cage with a celebrated Muay Thai legend.

Miado took full advantage of the opportunity before him, and in the co-main event of ONE: IRON WILL in Bangkok, Thailand this past March, he managed to surprise everyone in attendance at the Impact Arena by knocking out former ONE Strawweight World Champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke in front of his hometown crowd.

The 25-year-old Marikina City resident connected with a perfectly-timed right hook, which sent Amnuaysirichoke crashing to the canvas.

The referee quickly rushed forward to stop the contest before Miado was able to land any follow-up shots, with the end coming at 1:29 of the opening round.

Miado became the first person to finish Amnuaysirichoke in mixed martial arts competition and now owns the second-quickest knockout in ONE Championship’s strawweight history.

Although Miado expected to walk out victorious at ONE: IRON WILL, he did not anticipate knocking out a Thai kickboxing icon like Amnuaysirichoke.

“The game plan was to counter his aggressiveness and throw out combinations,” he shared. “The plan was to defeat Dejdamrong, but the knockout was unexpected. I felt really shocked because I defeated my idol.”

The impressive conquest of Amnuaysirichoke was a much-needed win for Miado, who has experienced a rough start to his tenure in the organization.

“All the hard work in the gym has finally paid off. I am really grateful,” he said. “I felt really strong and at my peak on that night. I showed everybody the real me, which I was not able to do so in my last two bouts.”

“Against my idol Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, I made sure that my performance would speak about the effort that I’ve done in training,” Miado added.

Miado will attempt to build on the amazing feat of defeating Amnuaysirichoke last March when he meets 13-time Thai national wrestling champion Kritsada “Dream Man” Kongsrichai on June 29.

Both man are slated to square off against each other on the undercard of ONE: SPIRIT OF A WARRIOR, which takes place at the iconic Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar.

“Here we are again. Another tough challenge is on our way. To be able to compete against a highly-decorated wrestler like my next opponent, it will only be good for my experience as a martial artist,” Miado stated.

Kongsrichai won two of his last three outings in ONE Championship, scoring first-round stoppage triumphs over the likes of Adrian Mattheis and Rabin Catalan.

The 26-year-old Thai grappler aims to place himself back on the winning track after his first-round stoppage of Robin Catalan in March was reversed to a disqualification loss.

Kongsrichai initially earned a first-round technical knockout victory over Robin Catalan as he suplexed his opponent and finished him off with punches at the 1:40 mark.

However, company head honcho Chatri Sityodtong issued a statement via Facebook hours later that the move was illegal, and as a result, Robin Catalan was awarded with the win via disqualification.

“I can really feel that my opponent wants to win in our fight because of what happened. It’s disappointing on his part because he was already declared as the winner. That kind of mindset makes him more dangerous. He is hungry to win. But I am ready for him,” Miado opined.

Miado views this upcoming strawweight tilt with Kongsrichai as the perfect platform to see where his talent truly stands.

“I consider myself a striker first and foremost, but I can take the bout to the ground. I am capable of competing anywhere, whether it is on the feet or on the mat. I have been working a lot on my wrestling and my Jiu-Jitsu, so I am confident I can handle any situation that happens in the cage,” he explained.

According to Miado, the way he sees things is that if he continues to win, it will inevitably lead to his dream of becoming the ONE Strawweight World Champion.

“I want people to know that I am a simple guy with a big dream. And I have the goal of becoming a world champion in my division. One win at a time,” he ended.

​For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.​ ​  ​