Spy Docu Film Wins World IP Day Pitching Showcase

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Genre-bending documentary film project “Looter” by Jayson Bernard Santos bagged the Best Pitch award at a pitching showcase conducted by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) for the World Intellectual Property Day celebration last April 27, 2019 at Novotel Manila Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.

Twenty-one (21) Filipino feature and documentary film projects were chosen to join the pitching showcase, and “Looter” emerged as the victor. Director Santos will have the chance to go to Los Angeles to participate in a four-day Film and Television Immersion Course courtesy of the Motion Picture Association (MPA) in Los Angeles, California.

A SineSaysay finalist, “Looter” “melds the story of Naomi Flores and the women of the Philippine underground and espionage in World War 2. Straddling the line between different modes, the film employs creative techniques that are interspersed with archival footage, interviews, and unnerving dramatized sequences.”

Odin’s Eye Entertainment Head of International Sales and Distribution Martin Gallery and "Alimuom" Director Keith Sicat

Meanwhile, Director Keith Sicat impressed the panel during the pitching showcase with his feature film project “Unos,” a sequel to TOFARM Film Festival's“Alimuom,” which became the runner-up.

To help spread awareness about the Intellectual Property (IP) rights of Filipino filmmakers, FDCP also conducted a lecture series on Film Distribution, Intellectual Property Rights and Pitching Essentials. FDCP partnered with the MPA supported by the Department of Trade and Industry-Expert Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to make the event happen.

“Our films hold a lot of promise and potential to compete in the global market. Having events like these pitching showcase and lecture series is a huge help to our filmmakers for them to learn more about tapping into the international audience and have better chances in penetrating world cinema,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Mary Liza Diño.

2 Miss Universe Titleholders and Celebrity Performers Amplify the HIV Advocacy

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, and Concert King Martin Nievera headline this year's Love Gala: Courage Amplify on May 11 at the ABS-CBN Vertis Tent in Quezon City.

Wurtzbachwill launch a new advocacy campaign that promotes HIV treatment-as-prevention method. Graywill offer words of courage to commemorate all those who lost their lives to the virus in the 2019 International AIDS Candlelight Memorial ceremony.

Meanwhile, Martin will serenade the occasion to show his support for the HIV/AIDS advocacy. Suklay Diva Katrina Velarde, Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 Grand Star Dreamer Laarni Lozada, World Champions of Performing Arts winner Rhap Salazar, The Voice Philippines Season 2 Finalist Leah Patricio, Prince of Ballad Gerald Santos, Jeffrey Hidalgo, Ana Ramsey, and more will also lend their voices for the cause. In addition, Zeus Collins of the Hashtags, Addlib Dance Company, and Hiraya Dance Company will gracefully extend their moves to support the advocacy.

The 2nd Ripple Awards will also be conferred at the Love Gala. This award is given to individuals, organizations, and initiatives that have greatly contributed to the HIV/AIDS advocacy. Esteemed panel of judges from World Health Organization, UNAIDS and other international and local institutions rigorously screened the awardees. The awards will be presented by DJ Chacha, Kaladkaren Davila, Paolo Ballesteros, CK of the Hashtags, Vivoree Esclito, Iyah Mina, BJ Pascual, Phil Palmos, Samantha Mae Bernardo and Empress Schuck.

The charity-gala promises to be a memorable evening of exquisite music, worthwhile fundraising, and heartfelt recognition of movers in the HIV cause. For those who want to be part of this special night, tickets are available at www.lovegala.org.

Love Gala is hosted by LoveYourself and UNAIDS. LoveYourself is the country’s leading non-government organization that provides free HIV education, testing and counseling, and treatment services, among others. Meanwhile, UNAIDS is leading the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 as part of its Sustainable Development Goal.

Love Gala is supported by AIDS Healthcare Foundation, World Health Organization (WHO), Department of Health (Philippines), PhilHealth, Save the Children Philippines, Philippine National AIDS Council, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. and Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO); co-presented by ABS-CBN Corporation, Durex, Camber by Hetero, Cape Lupe, Hairdressers Against AIDS by L'Oreal Philippines; and sponsored by Gilead Sciences, TELUS International, Victoria Court, SIP, Inspi Philippines, Absolut & Olmeca, Okamoto Philippines, Maquillage Professionnel School of Make Up Artistry, Vicks, Downy, Business Mirror, Digital Out of Home with contributions from Mont Albo, Shopee, Cognizant, Rotary International D3780, MASS TV & F1 Hotel Manila.

NASECORE Seeks JCPC to Exercise Oversighr Functions Versus Brownouts

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms Inc. urged the Joint Congressional Power Commission to exercise its oversight functions to determine the real cause behind the recent brownouts and penalize those responsible for it.

Nasecore--the group that dragged Manila Electric Company to the Supreme Court and won the P30.2-billion refund for consumers--said the JCPC should exercise its oversight functions and use its subpoena powers to determine the true cause of the outages and recommend the prosecution and imposition of penalties on those responsible.

Nasecore is aiming for a party-list seat in Congress under the name Kontra Brown Out.

According to former energy undersecretary and Kontra Brown Out Party List nominee Pete Ilagan, “Brown outs are illegal because the law requires quality, reliable, and secured power supply.”

In a position paper submitted to Senate energy Committee chair Sherwin Gatchalian, Kontra Brown Out said the DoE with the Energy Regulatory Commission, should conduct regular physical audits of the country’s power plants and other assets to fulfil its mandating of ensuring reliable and stable power in the country.

Ilagan said consumers pay a monthly transmission charge that goes to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, which is responsible for procuring and contracting ancillary services to ensure the security of electricity supply.

He said the ERC allowed the imposition of fees for ancillary services to ensure that it’s operation is viable.

Ilagan had started an audit of the power supply contract of private distribution utilities and electric cooperatives before he resigned last year.