Almost 8 in 10 Filipinos believe that vaping devices and e-cigarettes are a ‘serious health hazard’

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

66% of those who use such devices support a ban on flavors that appeal to children, according to Pulse Asia
Almost 8 in 10 Filipinos (or 77%) believe that vaping devices and e-cigarettes are a ‘serious health hazard’. This was according to a recent Pulse Asia survey conducted to gain insight on vaping and e-cigarette habits among Filipinos.

The survey also reported that 74% of the respondents support a ‘100% e-cigarette or vapes-free policy’ in public places while 70% support a policy that restricts age accessibility to vapes and e-cigarettes at 21 years old and above. The fieldwork for the survey was conducted among 1,200 respondents and from September 6 to 11.

The survey results were released as Senators are set to resume their deliberations next week on Senate Bill No. 2239 (SBN 2239) or the Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act, more commonly referred to as the ‘Vape Bill’. Advocacy groups have criticized the measure as a ‘betrayal of public health’, citing provisions that roll back the minimum age of access to these products from the current 21 years old to 18 years old, among others.

Dr. Maricar Limpin of the Philippine College of Physicians urged Senators to ‘junk the measure’ echoing the position of the medical community against vapes and e-cigarettes’ adverse health effects, citing studies that have shown that the products contain cancer-causing agents.

At least 7 former health secretaries and 60 medical groups previously opposed the bill’s provisions that will ease restrictions on the use of flavorings, shift the mandate to regulate such devices from from the Food and Drug Administration to the Department of Trade and Industry, and allow vaping in public places, schools, and hospitals.

“Medical opinion and public opinion are in agreement: vapes and e-cigarettes are harmful to Filipinos’ health,” said Dr. Limpin. “Senators should heed the call of Filipinos and their doctors and reject the Vape Bill,” she added.

“Proponents of the Vape Bill are claiming that vapes and e-cigarettes are a healthier alternative to smoking and help smokers quit. This is not true. There are real health harms in these devices and there is not enough evidence to claim that they help smokers quit,” said the physician.

“In fact, it has been shown in other countries that a higher percentage of people who use e-cigarettes still continue to use traditional cigarettes which presents even greater harm,” Dr. Limpin also said.

Ban on flavors that appeal to children

Public interest law group ImagineLaw also pointed out that stricter regulation of vape and e-cigarette devices are sought out even among those who use such devices. In the same survey, 62% of respondents (and 66% of respondents who use such devices) said that they will support a ban on the availability and accessibility of e-cigarette and vape flavors that appeal to children and youth (e.g. cotton candy, fruity).

“Even vapers and e-cigarette smokers agree with the proposal to ban flavorings that attract young people and children,” said the law group’s Executive Director Atty. Sophia San Luis.

“The Vape Bill will introduce more young people and even children to the dangers of vapes and e-cigarettes,” she said. “The people have spoken against vapes and e-cigarettes. Our legislators’ duty is to listen and junk the Vape Bill,” San Luis added.

The Pulse Asia survey has a plus or minus 2% error margin at 95% confidence level.

It’s More Fun to Film in the Philippines: FDCP Goes to the American Film Market 2021

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is currently at the American Film Market (AFM) 2021, which started November 1 and will culminate on November 5, 2021. As part of the AFM’s official events and activities for this year, the FDCP, through UniPhilippines and the FilmPhilippines Office, hosted a panel discussion about the opportunities available for international partnerships with the Philippines.

A virtual panel discussion titled "It's More Fun to Film in the Philippines" was held last Monday, November 1, and was moderated by journalist and film festival consultant Wendy Mitchell. The panel was made up of American and Filipino producers and filmmakers who have had experience in working with the Philippine film industry on international productions, including Philippine Film Studios, Inc. Executive Producer Jun Juban, Director Pedring Lopez of Counterplay, writer and producer Scott Rosenfelt, Electric Entertainment's producer Francis Dela Torre and FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño, who joined the panel as a resource person to discuss the country's filming incentives which intend to boost international coproductions and make the Philippines more enticing as a film location option for international production outfits.

FDCP Chairperson Diño shared her excitement about the Agency’s ongoing projects and incentive programs. Through its banner program FilmPhilippines, the country offers location incentive programs to attract a range of international film and audiovisual projects for production and post-production, as well as foreign producers looking to do international coproductions with Filipino producers. One such incentive is the Film Location Incentive Program (FLIP), which grants an eligible international project a 20% cash rebate on their qualified spend in the Philippines. It also provides logistics support via the Film Location Engagement Desk (FLEX), one-stop-shop assistance for government permits, and interagency endorsements to those coming to shoot in the country.

UniPhilippines, on the other hand, has several support programs aiming to help Filipino films and filmmakers, as well as their international coproducers, intending to reach a global audience by exposure to international festivals and film markets.

But more than the incentives and support, it is in fact the people that makes the Philippines an excellent choice for collaboration and film location. Executive Producer Jun Juban relates, “the best ‘infrastructure’ is the people themselves, the enthusiasm to work… the qualified and well-trained technical staff.” He also shares that film technical personnel were even invited to overseas filming projects for their expertise, and then they go back to the Philippines with even better experience to share with the industry.

Chairperson Diño said that the film industry was one of the hardest-hit sectors in the Philippines during the pandemic. She adds, “Participation in festivals and film markets open new avenues to our films and our filmmakers to have a wider reach. Not only does choosing the Philippines as a film destination make the country more visible to the world, but it also helps our economy by creating jobs for our homegrown pool of film workers and generating revenue for service providers in the country.”

A film market is not only where films are showcased but is the place where networks are forged, titles acquired, and production and distribution deals sealed. The AFM has the reputation of being the most efficient, with more than a billion in US dollars worth of deals closed, both for completed films and those under production and development. It brings together a diverse audience of more than 7,000 film industry professionals from more than 70 countries every November. It is also a venue to discover a global catalog of available films and projects, attend world-class conferences, panels, and workshops, and connect with the independent film community’s decision-makers.

Throughout the five-day networking event, FDCP hosts two virtual booths at the LocationEXPO and Industry Offices for FilmPhilippines and UniPhilippines, respectively. Four Filipino films are on market screening as well, namely: “Hello Stranger” directed by Dwein Baltazar, “Whether the Weather is Fine” by Carlo Francisco Manatad, “A Hard Day” by Law Fajardo, and “Real Life Fiction” by Paul Soriano.

Since its first participation at the AFM in 2016, FDCP has closed numerous deals, acquired remarkable films, and made notable partnerships in this annual event. AFM will run until November 5, 2021. “It's More Fun to Film in the Philippines” panel session will be available for replay to participants of the American Film Market 2021. It can be accessed by logging in to https://afm2021.online/.

To know more about FDCP’s international collaborations and opportunities, you may check out - http://www.filmphilippines.com.

3SF Festival bares 20 finalists

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Organizers of the Three Shots Film Festival revealed the finalists to its new and unique competition.

Media Underground or MUD Studios challenged students 16 to 25 years old to make a short film – fiction, documentary, or animation – using only three shots and three cuts for a story composed of a beginning, middle and end, with a minimum running time of one minute and a maximum of 15 minutes.

Making it to the Top 20 are Cedric Dalangin (“Sa Tanan Nga Adlaw”), Calvin Ponteblanca (“Feelingerong Feline”) and John Thomas Trinidad (“Boom Tiyaya”) from University of the Philippines-Diliman; Mark Wilson S. Catindig (“Ip-”) and Christine Anne C. Crisostomo (“Kabtang”), Lyceum of the Philippines University-Manila; Lyka Calingasan (“Lamang Lupa”) and Janina Cortez (“4:00 p.m.”), De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde; Angelo P. Gillo (“Ninong, Enge Arep”) and Mark Jhon Villanueva (“Living”), University of the East-Caloocan; and Rainner S. Cion (“Sakaling Makalipad”), Far Eastern University-Manila.

Completing the list are Jhody Alessandra Sacramento (“Laruan”), St. Dominic College of Asia; Jermaine Tulbo (“Bulawan”), Meridian International College; Ma. Aizil Blues Turen (“Alpas”), San Sebastian College-Recoletos, Manila; Peter Solano (“Do or Die”), Universidad de Manila; Alyssa Maxine B. Balayo (“Nilaga”), University of Santo Tomas; Faith Carisa Lacanlale (“Bagito”), UP Baguio; Francis Lester S. Lacambra (“Per Kilo”), Gordon College, Olongapo City; Francis Ryan Basa Pabiania (“Paghibi sang Langit”), Silliman University, Dumaguete; Preanne Nicole Parojinog (“Kalat”), Malayan Colleges Mindanao, A Mapúa School, Davao; and Dominic Howell Dumogho (“Sumalangit Nawa”), Father Saturnino Urios University, Butuan City.

MUD Studios founder and director August Lyle Espino was inspired by a workshop he attended a few years ago, “where they were challenged to think outside of the box and create an even shorter version compared to what was usually required for a short film.”  

“Lumalabas ang pagka-artist mo pag nali-limit ka. Doon ka mag-iisip,” Espino shared, talking about his experience from the said workshop. “Now is the best time to create art,” he added.

The 3SF festival finalists will be available for viewing on MUD’s website (https://www.mud-studios.net/) from November 5 to 11. The site is “an alternative content platform that offers a catalog of independent films, festival entries, and original content dealing with a wide variety of real-life themes.”

Awarding ceremonies will be held on November 12, 8 p.m. The Best Film, Best Direction, and Best Cinematography winners will receive cash prizes and plaques of recognition. The festival will also hand out a People’s Choice award.

Kase Lens PH will award a four-lens kit worth 12,000 pesos, including a travel case bag, 7.5mm fisheye lens, 16mm wide-angle lens, 25mm macro lens, 65mm telephoto lens, two clip mounts, and cleaning cloth, as a special prize. Three pieces Selens Redhead lights with light stand kit also await the winners.

Prior to the competition, 3SF organizers conducted a Creative Visioning Workshop last September 30, with Espino and fellow filmmakers Arvin Belarmino, Tristan Cua, and Mina Cruz as speakers.

The 3SF festival jury is made up of Belarmino, Cua, Emmanuel Dela Cruz, and Peter Mackie.