Filipino Films Win Big at Worldfest-Houston Int’l Film Festival

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Four (4) Filipino films gained international recognition at the 52nd Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival last April 13 at the WorldFest Remi Awards Gala at the HQ Westin Hotel in Houston, Texas.

ABS-CBN’s period film “Quezon’s Game” directed by Matthew Rosen brought home the Best International Feature, Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2018 Best Picture “Rainbow’s Sunset” directed by Joel Lamangan received the Special Jury Prize, and Cinemalaya 2018 film “School Service” directed by Louie Ignacio and award-winning short film “Judgement” directed by Raymund Ribay Guttierez won Gold Remi Awards.

Ai-Ai delas Alas in "School Service" (Photo from IMDb)

“Quezon’s Game” also bagged the Special Jury Award and the Gold Remi Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Director.

Meanwhile, “Rainbow’s Sunset” screenwriter Eric Ramos was awarded the Gold Remi Award for Best Story Innovation. Moreover, Eddie Garcia and Tony Mabesa were acclaimed as Best Actors for their performance in “Rainbow’s Sunset.”

In line with its mission to promote Filipino films and talents globally, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the country’s film agency, takes pride in the triumphs of the Filipino films and film personalities that emerged victorious at the Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival.

“It’s always an honor to see our films being represented and given recognition internationally. The victory of Filipino films, filmmakers, and actors in the recent Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival is a big win for us, and we are truly happy that they continue to bring honor to our country and our local film industry,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Mary Liza Diño.

The Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival is the world's oldest independent film festival and the third longest-running international film festival in North America, following San Francisco and New York.

Musica FEUropa Choral Competition on May 25 and 26

Wazzup Pilipinas!

MUSICA FEUROPA, Far Eastern University’s annual choral competition and festival with the European Union in the Philippines as its principal partner, grows in size and stature every year.

The key criterion of MUSICA FEUROPA is that each choir has to perform two songs: one song of their choice written in an official European Union language, and one piece written in any Filipino Language.

From just four choirs in 2009 mostly from the City of Manila, the number rose to an all-time high of thirty one choirs hailing from all over the Philippines. What used to be a competition for college choirs expanded to two categories: High School and Open including but not limited to university, church, company, government and other ensembles. Musica FEUROPA has become one of the definitive choral competitions in the Philippines.

As Musica FEUROPA begins its second decade, some notable changes will be implemented to intensify the competition. The High School Category expands to a Teen Category to include youth between thirteen and nineteen years of age. Like last year, the top three finalists of each category will compete for the title of Grand Champion.

Also, the tutti finale of the European Union Hymn will be sung in German.

Saunder Choi, an acclaimed Filipino composer was commissioned for a competition piece to be performed in the Grand Finals. The piece entitled “El Vasto Mar” will convey how music can serve as a universal language to promote and sustain unity, peace and harmony among different nations. The text of the piece is lifted from Sampaguitas Y Poesia Varias, written by Pedro Paterno.

This year, ten (10) choirs from the Open Category and five (5) from the Teen Category will compete in MusicaFEUropa 11.










The winner will be determined by esteemed Filipino choral conductors and clinicians.

The semifinalists from the Teen Category will be adjudicated by Arwin Tan, Rodolfo Delarmente, and Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan, while Lester Delgado, Jude Roldan, and Emmanuel De Leon, Jr. will adjudicate the Open Category.

The Grand Champion will be decided by Prof. Fidel Calalang, Jr., Dr. Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng, Dr. Ed Manguiat, Ma. Lourdes Hermo, and Ramon Lijauco, Jr.

The Grand Champion shall take home PhP100,000.00 and a trophy. The First Runner Up and Second Runner Up will receive PhP30,000.00 and PhP20,000 respectively, together with a trophy. A consolation prize of PhP10,000.00 will be given to the remaining grand finalists.

Musica FEUROPA 11 will be on May 25 and 26, 2019 in the recently retrofitted Auditorium of Far Eastern University, Manila.

Free tickets may be downloaded from Ticket2Me, a ticketing app available for download in the App Store for iOS or Google Play for Android devices.

Musica FEUROPA 11 is also brought to you by 98.7 DZFE FM and the German Embassy Manila

Follow Musica FEUROPA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.

You may also call the PCC Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, at (632) 849-4145

FEU's President's Committee on Culture Presents the FEU Bamboo Band in A Toast to Broadway on May 4

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Far Eastern University President’s Committee on Culture presents the FEU Bamboo Band in a concert entitled, “A Toast to Broadway” on Saturday, May 4 at 6:00 p.m. in the historic FEU Auditorium. Known as the cultural center of the Philippines in the 1950’s, the FEU Auditorium celebrates its 70th Anniversary throughout 2019.

The FEU Bamboo Band is composed of students from the different institutes of Far Eastern University under the artistic direction of Norberto Cads, who is celebrating his 10th anniversary with FEU. Mr. Cads has extensive knowledge on bamboo music and has participated in numerous international expositions and festivals together with the Banda Kawayan Pilipinas. He trains his members in various genres of music. The culmination of a whole academic year’s worth of rehearsals taught the members masterpieces from iconic Broadway musicals.

“A Toast to Broadway” features classics from musicals such as Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, Wicked, and Les Miserables on bamboo instruments. The concert celebrates these enchanting hits from Broadway Musicals but also highlights the talented members of the group who are all non music majors. The concert will reinforce to the audience that theatrical music is accessible to everyone, is enjoyable and can be performed on bamboo instruments.

The concert will be further electrified by two exceptional artists namely Mr. Raymond Gorospe and Ms. Banaue Miclat Janssen. Mr. Raymond Gorospe is a host, commercial model, and 2015 WCOPA (World Championships of Performing Arts) multi medallist including Silver Medals for the Gospel and Broadway Vocals Categories. Ms. Banaue Miclat Janssen is a professional performer who has won three Aliw Awards for Best Performance for a New Concept Production, most recently for her performance in Ginugunita Kita in the FEU Auditorium, the Best Actress Award from the Metropolitan Opera Getty Awards for her role in “Salome”, and a Best Actress citation for New York University’s First Run Film Festival for “Giving Care”. She is a professor in the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Department of Speech Communication and Theater Arts. She is the current Artistic Director of Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (DUP) and the UP Playwrights’ Theatre (UPPT).

“A Toast to Broadway” is a free concert that also celebrates the ninety first year of Far Eastern University. Tickets may be downloaded from www.Ticket2Me.net, a ticketing app available for download in the App Store for iOS or Google Play for Android devices.

For more information about the concert, FEU’s Cultural Groups and other upcoming performances, please visit and like the FEU President’s Committee on Culture Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/FEUPCC or download the FEU Cultural App.

You may also call the PCC Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, at (632) 849-4145