Award-Winning Pinoy Film "Santa Nena!" Competes in Iraq

Wazzup Pilipinas!

An award-winning short film from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Design and Arts (SDA) has been officially selected to compete at the 3rd Slemani International Film Festival in Iraq from October 10 to 16.

Tim Rone Villanueva‘s “Santa Nena!” follows fellow Benildean filmmaker Shallah Montero’s “Papa’s Shadows,” which represented the Philippines at the Slemani IFF’s international short film category last year.

"Santa Nena!" tells the story of a miraculous patron saint (Elora Españo in the titular role) who springs to life at night. One day, while talking to her friend, an angel (Jelson Bay), she received a message from God. She has to be the child-bearer for the second coming of the Messiah on earth with Manuel (Ross Pesigan), “the boy with the golden balls.” Fellow thespians Mailes Kanapi, Rolando Inocencio and Martha Comia play supporting characters.  

Villanueva, who hails from Kawit, Cavite, said he was inspired by Santa Maria Magdalena of Kawit Church, or more popularly known as Santa Nena to Kawiteños, in coming up with the short film.  Advocacy filmmaker and BenildeFilm mentor Seymour Sanchez served as creative producer of the capstone project.  

"In Philippine culture, having devotion to a saint or patron is a huge part of it. Most people believe in the miracles of different patrons of the church to accommodate their request. But what if the situation turns around and saints were to ask people a favor? Will the people grant a saint’s request? This film challenges what happens if you reverse the situation of men and saints," the young filmmaker explained.

The black comedy earlier won several accolades such as Best Short Film (Student Category), CineFilipino Film Festival 2018; Best Director and Best Production Design (Student Category), Pelikultura 2018: The CALABARZON Film Festival; Honorable Mention (Short Feature Category), 29th Gawad CCP Independent Film and Video Festival; Gold Picture Prize, Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Performance for Españo and Technical Excellence awards (Maningning Category), CineSB7 Film Festival; Best Narrative Short Film, Best Director, Best Script and Best Actor for Pesigan, Ateneo Video Open 2017; and Best Narrative, Best Performance and Best Production Design (Intercollegiate Category), Sinepiyu XI.

"Santa Nena!" was also screened last July 5 at the DLS-CSB SDA Cinema as part of the One La Salle Film Festival. Last year, it figured prominently in two film events in Mindanao -- competing at the Philippine shorts competition of the fifth Salamindanaw Asian Film Festival in General Santos City and being part of the official selection of Cinema Rehiyon 9 in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley.

Villanueva’s capstone project under the Digital Filmmaking program will slug it out with 19 other similarly notable short films from Afghanistan, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Estonia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Palestine, Spain and Turkey.

UP OVPEA Proudly Presents the Filipino Youth Summit

Wazzup Pilipinas!

For the first time, the Office of the Vice President for External Affairs (OVPEA) of the University Student Government is organizing the first Filipino Youth Summit, an advocacy-based youth conference in the country where student-leaders gather to participate in reviewing local and national government initiatives, addressing national issues, and collaborating towards a more empowered and progressive nation. The summit will be composed of collaborative discussions, and issues-centered talks to further unite the Filipino Youth of common interest.

The summit will be divided into 5 pillars and composed of mainly: Business Ethics, Education, Environment, Human Rights, and Public Health. Each delegate will thoroughly discuss specific issues in relation to ther respective pillars. In addition an activity entitled “Cross Talks” will be facilitated wherein 5 distinguished guests are invited to discuss relevant topics outside the 5 pillars of the conference. These topics outside the pillars aim to engage and focus the youth into adapting better lifestyles, addressing other issues the best way they can, and improve themselves in society today. It will feature topics on healthy living, solid waste management, maximizing social media platforms and building a career at a young age to name a few.

This coming August 30-September 2, the very first FILIPINO YOUTH SUMMIT will be pioneered by outstanding Filipino students all over the world.

For more info their website, www.filipinoyouthsummit.org or their Facebook page

DOE Apprehends Gas and LPG Stations Violating Consumer Protection Rules

Wazzup Pilipinas!

LIQUID FUEL INSPECTION: Members of the Focused Inspection Team evaluates a gasoline station in San Juan, Siquijor.

The Department of Energy (DOE) recently concluded another round of compliance monitoring inspections for establishments involved in the distribution and sale of petroleum products in the provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor on 13-17 August 2018.

The “Focused Inspection (FI) on the Downstream Oil Industry” was conducted in partnership with concerned Local Government Units (LGUs), the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Science and Technology, the Philippine Information Agency, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Philippine National Police.

Spearheaded by the Energy Industry Management Division of the DOE-Visayas Field Office (VFO), the FI seeks to ensure that all petroleum products being sold in the market adhere to national quality and quantity standards that protect the consumers.

A total of 162 liquid fuel retail outlets and 115 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) establishments were inspected. It was revealed that 84 percent of liquid fuel retail outlets operate without the Certificate of Compliance required by the DOE.

For the distributors of LPG, about 98 percent of the LPG establishments are without Standards Compliance Certificates in violation of the Amended Retail Rules and LPG Industry Rules. Furthermore, 11 percent of the total liquid fuel retail outlets inspected was found to have under-delivering dispensers. These were immediately referred to the LGUs for immediate corrective measures, without prejudice to the appropriate cases that may be filed later.

The DOE-VFO regularly conducts compliance monitoring activities throughout the Visayas to uphold the welfare of consumers in the region.

OTHER PHOTOS:

LAB TEST VERIFICATION: Samples collected from inspected establishments are brought to the DOE’s laboratory for further testing.

ENSURING LPG QUALITY AND QUANTITY: Members of the Focused Inspection Team examine an LPG cylinder to determine its  compliance with national quality and quantity standards.