Construction of Metro Manila Subway Project Formally Starts with Site Clearing Works at Valenzuela Depot

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The dream of giving the country its first-ever subway or underground railway system finally pushes into reality as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) formally starts with clearing works in the Partial Operability (PO) Section of the Metro Manila Subway Project.

The Partial Operability Section of the subway comprises the first stations in Valenzuela City and Quezon City, the line's depot in Valenzuela City, and buildings for the Philippine Railway Institute (PRI), the country's first-ever railway training center.

A ceremony to formalize the start of the subway's construction was held at the depot site in Barangay Ugong in Valenzuela City today, 21 December 2019. The depot site is also where the subway line's East Valenzuela Station will be located.

Dubbed as the “Project of the Century,” the underground rail line is expected to serve 370,000 passengers daily in its first year of full operations, and is targeted to be partially operable by 2021.

Once completed and fully operational, the Metro Manila Subway Project will have a total of 15 stations, including a terminal station at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

Part of the ceremony was the distribution of checks and the signing of deeds of absolute sale with project-affected landowners, as well as a testimonial video presentation of project-affected informal settler families that have already been relocated to Valenzuela’s Disiplina Village.

This formal start of clearing operations at the subway's Valenzuela depot is part of DOTr’s continuing efforts to muster all factors needed in building the underground railway project and in dealing with right-of-way acquisition issues.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, who led the ceremony, noted the progress in the right-of-way acquisition both in terms of acquiring land from legal owners and relocation of informal settler families.

A total of 460 lots are required for the partial operability section of the subway, out of which 364 offers to buy have already been issued based on current market value appraised by Landbank.

Owners of 285 lots out of the 364 lots that the government had already offered to buy, have accepted or are already completing documentation requirements for selling their properties to the government for the project.

A batch of project-affected landowners were present during the ceremony and received their check payments.

As for informal settler families, 178 out of 183 affected families have already been resettled to a better and safer location in Disiplina Village in Barangay Bignay, Valenzuela City with the support of the Valenzuela City local government.

“This gathering today is the primodial trigger to be able to start the subway. That is why this gathering is important. Wala naman ‘hong proyektong mai-implement kung ‘yung babagtasin mo na daan ay hindi pa nasolusyunan. Ngayong araw na ‘hong ito ang signal na para bang sinasabi nating parating na ang subway,” Secretary Tugade expressed.

Following the official transfer of the properties from the landowners to the DOTr, contractors then started the clearing and fencing of portions of the depot.

“With our funding in place, contractor signed-up, detailed designs completed, and right-of-way substantially acquired, and under the strong willed leadership of our leader, Secretary Arthur Tugade, partial operability of the Duterte Administration's flagship Metro Manila Subway Project is on track to delivering its promise of a more comfortable life to every Filipino,” DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said in his message.

“Write About Love” Holds Campus Tour

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Miles Ocampo, Rocco Nacino, Yeng Constantino and Joem Bascon recently visited different campuses, aside from conducting the usual mall tours and TV guestings, to promote their new film “Write About Love” with director Crisanto Aquino, producer Lexter Tarriela, editor Vanessa de Leon and the TBA Studios team.

“Write About Love,” one of the eight finalists in the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival, is a romantic comedy about a newbie (Ocampo) and an experienced writer (Nacino) who, despite their clashing personalities and different perspectives, collaborated in finishing a script. “Just Us,” the story they are working on, is about a couple (Constantino and Bascon) who is struggling to sustain their relationship.

Written by Aquino and Janyx Regalo, “Write About Love” takes a closer look into how film scripts are made and how writers deal with their personal issues while doing their scripts.

The film’s cast and crew visited Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Barcelona Academy in Marilao, Bulacan State University, University of the East-Caloocan, St. Dominic College of Asia, Manila Tytana Colleges, Centro Escolar University-Manila, Adamson University and University of Makati, among others.

The team shared tips and insights about filmmaking and scriptwriting to students. They entertained questions from the audience and encouraged them to watch their film. As an added treat, they also chose and read love letters written by members of the audience as part of their promotional tour.

“Writing love letters was an idea of the TBA team to give our millennial/student audience a medium to express their love to anyone or anything,” Aquino shared. The writer-director revealed that he was overwhelmed by the love letters they have received from them. “We read letters on different kinds of love – about family, friends, relationships, or even secret love,” he added.

“What really surprised me was a letter I read from a female senior high school student. She was really devastated. I decided not to read her name and that of the guy. The audience were quiet after I read the letter. It’s serious and painful. I told the students that pain is always there when we love, and we need to be strong. I announced that whoever made the letter should meet me backstage after the program. I met her, hugged her, and talked to her the best way I can. I hope I made her feel better,” he disclosed.

On the other hand, SDCA student Ryle Sofe, whose love letter was read in one of the tour stopovers, did not expect his note to be personally chosen by Nacino himself. “He read all the entries, but my letter captivated him. When they were holding the papers, I knew that the paper that Rocco was holding was mine because it was the only paper that was crumpled and the only one written with blue ink,” he said.

“Instead of writing the usual letter, I came up with a romantic poem that details my everyday moments with my crush. At the end of the poem is a stanza that’s telling my crush that I’m fine with us just being friends. I knew it would strike a chord with a lot of students,” the BA Communication sophomore said.

“My heart jumped, and when he started reading it, I felt proud of myself and honored. I was so happy seeing the audience react to every sentence that they’re hearing from my letter. I felt like it was a small success, but I felt so happy,” Sofe concluded.

“Write About Love” opened in cinemas nationwide last December 25 as part of the Metro Manila Film Festival.

FEU Film Tops Zamboanga Fest

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A student film from Far Eastern University bagged the top prize and two other awards in the Pluma de Paz main competition of the 3rd Festival de Cine Paz Mindanao held during the Mindanao Week of Peace celebration this month at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University-Lantaka Campus.

“Sa Gabing Tanging Liwanag ay Paniniwala” (Belief as the Light in Darkness), which was directed by Francis Guillermo as a Cinema Production or CNM2 project at FEU, got the Pluma de Oro award for Best Film, Best Cinematography and Best Sound Design at the annual national film festival in Zamboanga City.

The short film is about a local chieftain (Soliman Cruz) and his son (Dylan Ray Talon) who investigate the disappearances of the townspeople in the woods only to come across a mysterious answer.

Guillermo was congratulated by his acquaintances from the Nabunturan Independent Film Exhibition, but he had no idea what they were for as he was not able to attend the festival to claim his award personally. He only learned about it when the organizers posted the list of winners on social media.

“I’m pretty sure it was a very successful festival and I hope to experience the festival in person in the future. I’m very thankful to Ryanne Murcia, the festival director, and the team for having the film in their festival,” he said.

Guillermo, who graduated with a Communication degree and previously served as president of the FEU Film Society, was ably supported by his CNM2 groupmates, assistant director Ipe Maglalang, production manager Ariana Yanice Napay, line producer Patrizsia Reyes, production designer Ron Alos, and location manager James Manalili, among others. They were assisted by director of photography Rommel Ruiz and editor Zaire Andrade. Maglalang, Napay, Reyes, Ruiz and Andrade are also FEU Filmsoc alumni.

The film previously competed at Cinemalaya at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last August. It won Best Cinematography at Pelikultura: The Calabarzon Film Festival last February, Best Production Design and Best Sound Design at Nabifilmex in Compostela Valley last September, and honorable mention at the 30th Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video short feature category last year.

In addition, it also bagged Best Film, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design and Best Sound Design at the Indie Un-Film Festival 2018 Pamana category (De La Salle University-Manila), the Cardinal Bronze Film award, Best in Sound and Music, and Best Performance of an Actor for Cruz at the CineMapúa intercollegiate category (Mapúa University), and 2nd Best Picture, Best Cinematography and Best Production Design at the Sinepiyu XI Black Reel category (FEU).

Showcasing the different stories and faces of peace, Festival de Cine Paz Mindanao aims to support and strengthen its vision of sustaining the journey for peace by exploring its different dimensions, expressions, and forms through the cinematic medium.

Organized and presented by AdZU, Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance, Inc., Peace Advocate Zamboanga, and Joint Task Force Zamboanga, the event is also supported by the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the City Government of Zamboanga.