Kaon Na 'Ta of Negros Occidental to Showcase Noche Buena Delights

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Kain Na! Food & Travel Festival of the Department of Tourism (DOT) culminates with a “star-studded” Christmas edition-Ilonggo style this coming December 19-21 at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City.

“The finale event in Bacolod City, aptly titled ‘Kaon Na Ta!’ Food & Travel Festival, is envisioned to capture the joyous spirit of Christmas in the Philippines with noche buena delights as its traditional centerpiece,” says DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

This week’s event will be the seventh edition of the food-travel fest series in partnership with the Ayala Malls Group that was launched simultaneously in Legazpi City, Albay and Cebu City last October, followed by events in Cagayan de Oro City in November; and in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna and Davao City early this month.

“The Bacolod cookfest, which will feature international culinary luminaries like Margarita Fores, is a fitting culmination to our efforts to promote awareness about the Philippines’ rich and diverse gastronomy and establish the country as a world-class food hub,” Sec. Puyat pointed out.

Sec. Puyat said the event, which will be participated in by the local government units and various tourism stakeholders, will also celebrate the triumph of newly-crowned Miss Universe Catriona Gray. Going into the pageant, the beauty queen has gone out of her way to champion Philippine tourism.

In addition to Margarita Fores, other prominent chefs who will serve their special recipes for degustation include Nico Millanes, Don Colmenares, Joeri Arro, Patrick Go, Niño Laus, Kalel Demetrio and JP Anglo.

Native delicacies, bamboo products, handcraft items, fresh fruits and vegetables will also be on display Wednesday through Friday.

The series represents DOT’s version of the Kain Na! food fair pet project organized by Sec. Puyat during her tenure as undersecretary at the Department of Agriculture (DA). The DOT chief has also held its own version of Philippine Harvest, an agro-industrial fair where farm produce were showcased.

To help boost food tourism, the Ayala Malls Group agreed to make available its branches in the key cities to serve as Kain Na! venue for the three-day events, free-of-charge.

Political Thriller Film Project ‘Filipino’ Wins Top Prize at Singapore Project Market

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A film project from the Philippines stood out and won the prestigious Cre8 Co-Production Award during the Southeast Asia Film Financing Forum (SAFF) Project Market, beating out 15 projects from Southeast Asia. The project-in-development titled Filipino by Mel Allego wowed the jury for its powerful storytelling and potential to be commercialized and co-produced globally. Allego took home a co-production deal worth up to $200,000 from Cre8 Productions.

“I always have had (these) thoughts and ideas about my experiences living in contemporary Philippines. I wanted to do a film that is something nonconventional, and get people thinking about what is correct, what is incorrect–against the backdrop of the current uncertain socio-political landscape,” said Allego.

Set in Cebu, it tells the story about a journalist who sneaks through the blockade and inevitably gets caught up with five individuals cornered in a deadly chess game between fundamental extremists and higher powers.



The SAFF Project Market is back for its fourth edition this year to offer opportunities for investment and co-production to feature films from Asia and Europe and featured five (5) Filipino projects in its slate, including:

Ani (The Harvest)
Science Fiction, Coming-of-Age
Producer: Toni Zuniga
Director: Kristine Zuniga

Bangsa Badjao
Drama Thriller
Producer: Suzanne Richiardone/Jessel Monteverde

Director: Jessel Monteverde

Comfort
Feminist Action Drama
Producer: Bianca Balbuena and Kriz Gazme
Director: Gino M. Santos


John Denver Trending
Drama, Social Satire
Producer: Sheron Dayoc and Sonny Calvento
Director: Arden Rod Conde

Launched by ScreenSingapore in partnership with the Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association (SAAVA) and Ties That Bind: Asia/Europe Producers Workshop (TTB), the annual summit was established in 2015 to bring together key players in the international film industry and promote fruitful collaboratios.

Meanwhile, in line with the celebration for the Philippine cinema’s 100th year anniversary, the Singapore Media Festival (SMF) puts the Philippines in center stage as this year’s country of focus. The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) was the lead agency in the Philippine participation to the SMF, and brought together thirty (30) companies including film buyers, producers, service providers, distributors, and animation agencies to attend SMF-established events, including the Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) Leader's Summit and SAFF Conference.

The SAFF Project Market 2018 was held from December 5 to 7, 2018 at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

FDCP and Nabunturan Gov’t Inaugurate Cinematheque in Compostela Valley

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Residents of Nabunturan and neighboring communities can finally enjoy a unique cinematic experience and access diverse film programs as the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the Municipality of Nabunturan inaugurate the Cinematheque Centre Nabunturan last Monday, December 10, 2018.

The Cinematheque’s inauguration ceremony was spearheaded by FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño and Mayor of Municipality of Nabunturan Chelita C. Amatong. It was also attended by Executive Director Wilfredo Manalang, Admin and Finance Head Emilita Alquiza, Alyssa Jane Mernelo of Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and members of the Board of Trustees Anna Abalahin and Atty. Rochelle Macapili-Ona. They received a warm welcome from the Cinematheque Centre Davao team led by Distribution and Exhibitions Division Lead Officer Dustin Guillermo, Jamir Mallari, and Rejh Castillon.

The Cinematheque is an alternative venue for screening a diverse set of films as well as for hosting film development programs and various events that cultivate film culture and unify the community, such as workshops and symposiums.

The 92-seater cinema was built by the FDCP in partnership with the local government of Nabunturan, which donated an 800-square meter lot for the building. It is the first Cinematheque under the leadership of Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño and the first establishment sponsored by FDCP built from scratch, as the others were refurbished structures.

Despite not having a formal cinema house, Nabunturan residents made creating a film community in the region possible. FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño hopes to strengthen the passionate filmmaking community of Compostela Valley even more with the construction of Cinematheque.

“I’m so excited to be able to share the rich and lively world of cinema with the Nabunturanos and I hope that you can take advantage of this opportunity because this is where we can come together as one community. Maraming-maraming salamat po. This is yours. Make it relevant to you and make it personal to you,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño during the Inauguration. 

The event was followed by the ceremonial unveiling of the plaque and blessing of the Cinematheque. A screening of Kip Oebanda’s Liway concluded the historic event.

The Cinematheque Centre Nabunturan’s inauguration ceremony was held last December 10, 2018 at 3:00 PM at Layug Avenue, Purok 13 beside SPED, Central Elementary School.