Pinoy filmmaker wins special prize in New York

Wazzup Pilipinas!

 

Award-winning Filipino filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist Richard Soriano Legaspi won the Special Honor Mention at the sixth edition of the 21 Islands International Short Film Festival in New York City.

Legaspi added another feather to his cap when his experimental short film “Job Order” was announced winner of the special prize during the festival’s awarding ceremony last February 23.

The film reflects on the daily journey of migrant workers in Taiwan as it shows the geography and culture of the island through a fast-moving narrative and as a reflection of their limited time.

The 21 Islands ISFF features animation, experimental, and live action films “from island nations, island states, island cities and island territories around the world.”

This year, it also screened selected films from Australia, Canary Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Madagascar, Madeira Island, Malta, Manhattan, Montreal, Puerto Rico, Sardinia, Sicily, Singapore, Taiwan, Tenerife, United Kingdom, and Vancouver Island.

“We showcase short films that depict stories that express cultural, philosophical, and aesthetic perspectives shared by artists living and producing their work in islands and their respective audiences,” 21 Islands ISFF curator, filmmaker, and media producer Melisa Ramos explained.

“Job Order” was selected “from thousands of multilingual submissions originating in hundreds of qualifying locations worldwide.” The experimental film was previously shown at the 17th Athens Digital Arts Festival in Greece last October.

Completing the circle of winners are “Hedy” directed by Andy B. Clarke (Ireland), Best Film; “Martin’s Vantage Point” by Chedey Reyes (Canary Islands), Best Script; “Before the Beauty is Gone” by Mackai Sharp (Vancouver Island), Best Editing; “The Hole” by Fang Hsin Kai (Taiwan), Best Animation; “Hello” by Oldren Romero (Cuba), Best Cinematography; “Nostos Algos” by Juan Diego De Leon (Dominican Republic), Best Direction; “Pacing the Pool” by Radheya Jegatheva (Australia), Best Documentary; and “Cacos” by João Brás (Madeira Island), Audience Award.

The festival, which shines a spotlight on island life in its richness and diversity, was presented by Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, “a multigenerational performing ensemble, multidisciplinary arts presenter, and owner/steward of bilingual arts facilities” in The Bronx and in Manhattan, NYC.

“A diverse cross-section of the community served by Pregones/PRTT participates in the festival selection process. Artists, activists, scholars, audience members, and neighbors of diverse age and cultural heritage evaluate over 1,500 multilingual film submissions from more than 200 islands worldwide,” the organizers revealed. The finalists then competed for both Festival Jury and Audience Choice awards.

Legaspi is a three-time Gawad Alternatibo awardee of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, winner in the screenplay category of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, and a recipient of the UNESCO-Aschberg Laureate, eventually becoming a resident artist of the Università delle Idee, Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto, and winner of the ILLY Can Prize Design – Art for Social Change in Italy.

His other films have competed and won in different film festivals in the Philippines and around the world.

CNN hosts first virtual Presidential and Vice-Presidential debates in the Philippines with Microso

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CNN Philippines hosted the first presidential and vice-presidential debates at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) with a virtual audience, in partnership with Microsoft. Citizens were able to participate in the Philippine electoral and democratic process, while maintaining restrictions in place during COVID-19.

Ahead of the national elections in May, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has planned three presidential and vice-presidential debates. In addition, news organizations are also given the opportunity to conduct COMELEC-accredited debates of their own to further give voters across the country insight into candidates’ policies, priorities, and positions on pressing and current issues.

CNN Philippines’ presentation, titled “The Filipino Votes” was set for February 26th and 27th, 2022 at UST’s Quadricentennial Pavilion, for vice-presidential and presidential candidates, respectively. However, with limitations on public gatherings still in place due to COVID-19, they faced the challenge of replicating the audience atmosphere and direct engagement that would feature in the event under normal circumstances. For this, CNN Philippines partnered with Microsoft to power a virtual audience experience using Microsoft Teams.

With Microsoft Teams, a combined virtual audience of nearly 800 individuals from various segments of society including Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, students, professionals, and various other social groups were able to attend the debates, interacting and responding in real-time to both the candidates and CNN Philippines’ news anchors who served as moderators for the event.

“Technology has been at the forefront of the world’s response to COVID-19—enabling nations and communities to adapt, thrive and to sustain our way of life in spite of the challenges we continue to experience,” said Microsoft Philippines Public Sector Director, Joanna Rodriguez. “As an organization, we’re committed to ensuring our technology benefits the world around us, driving lasting innovation and purposeful impact today and for the future. We’re excited by the opportunity to do just that for the Philippines. This partnership with CNN reflects the transformative nature of digitalization and its cross-cutting purpose – democratization of technology to empower the government, the institutions and the citizens of the country.

“The Filipino Votes” convened nine of the country’s ten presidentiables and seven of nine vice-presidentiables, making it the most well-attended media-led candidate debates so far in the lead up to the May 2022 elections. Both debates were broadcast live on television and CNN Philippines’ online channels and have reached more than 4.7 million Filipinos nationwide. The debates are available on demand via CNN Philippines’ social media channels.

"The May elections will be a critical crossroads for the Filipino people, a test of our resolve to strengthen the rule of law, human rights fundamentals, accountability and transparency of government. And our debates will serve as our modest contribution towards this end. Microsoft's team of engineers, project managers and technicians provided us the technology and platform to set up the debate’s virtual audience and showcase an immersive and communal viewing experience to our viewers," said CNN Philippines President, Benjamin Ramos. "We at CNN Philippines are so proud to partner with Microsoft as we successfully staged a very important event which educated and informed our electorate as we draw closer to decision day."

In line with its national commitment, Microsoft Para sa Bayan, Microsoft Philippines has been working closely with national and local governments, businesses across industries, and communities to accelerate purposeful innovation and digital transformation through a broad range of initiatives, technology interventions, and skilling efforts to empower stakeholders and create sustainable societal impact.

"For 27 years now, Microsoft has been a partner to the Philippines. We have always been and will continue to be allies in nation-building," said Rodriguez.

Microsoft Teams is a secure teamwork and collaboration platform that brings together apps, communication tools, and shared spaces that people and organizations need. Its powerful meeting and videoconferencing capabilities allow for thousands of users to join calls, making it a trusted virtual event platform since the pandemic, seeing similar use in the Parliament of the Maldives, and Malaysia’s youth-led Digital Parliament. Its Teams Live Events capability allows users to broadcast to up to 10,000 participants and its Together Mode uses AI segmentation technology to digitally place participants in a shared background, creating the feel of an in-person gathering.

It’s all out irresistible deals at The Metro Stores Sidewalk Sale on March 18 to 20

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Catch the biggest price markdowns on supermarket and department store finds at The Metro Stores

Doing it BIGGER and BETTER every year – The Metro Stores is back with its first big sale event of 2022. It’s all about making life easy with affordable shopping of extensive product selections at The Metro Stores Sidewalk Sale from March 18 to 20.

In a bid for an exciting invitation for customers to march back to the stores and to re-engage them with the shopping experience they missed, The Metro Stores is kicking off it’s first sale event of the year with up to 70% OFF discount, and Buy 1 Get 1 deals on great finds. #ShopTheMetroStores in-store at Metro Supermarket and Department Store branches nationwide or online at www.shop.themetrostores.ph.

Need an upgrade on home appliances? Big discounts for even bigger savings await at the Metro Department Store on houseware, storage essentials, electronics and major appliances and furniture. Metro shoppers can avail P8,995 off on a 65” UHD LED TV with a free soundbar, or bring home a new aircon at P15,497 off. Add in some cooking ware and save P899 on cooking pots and P575 off on portable barbeque grills for more delectable dishes at home.

Make comfort and affordability meet with up to 40% off on sofa sets and recliner chairs for your living room or give your room a quick makeover with storage and organization products at nothing over P300.

There’s more to purchase as the sale does not stop there. Now’s the best time to fill up the pantry and grocery essentials with the lowest price markdowns. Take advantage of bundle deals with free items on meal staples, such as fresh meat and vegetables, snacks, and even toiletries, cleaning items and more from Metro Supermarket.

That is just a sneak peek at the headline items to be featured during the Sidewalk Sale. At The Metro Stores, there’s always something new to discover. Shoppers can expect to buy more and save more with the wide selection of products at jaw-dropping prices in The Metro Stores’ first big sale of the year.

Customers can also avail of The Metro Stores’ Personal Shopper services through call, text, or Viber! Visit https://www.themetrostores.ph/orderonline/ for more information.



Visit the nearest Metro Supermarket and Department Store to get first dibs on the participating products on sale or #ShopTheMetroStores online via www.shop.themetrostores.ph. Join The Metro Stores Viber community to stay updated on the latest sales, promos, and announcements.



About Metro Retail Stores Group Inc.

The Metro Retail Stores Group Inc., previously known as Gaisano Metro, is a retail company that built its first Metro Department Store and Supermarket in Colon, Cebu City in 1982. It has grown to own and operate over 60 branches of supermarkets, department stores, and hypermarkets in Luzon and Visayas with heightened presence in Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, National Capital Region (NCR), Central Visayas, CALABARZON, and the Bicol Region.



As one of the largest supermarket and department store chains in the country, Metro aims to make life easy for its customers by offering wide and assorted product selections at affordable prices through convenient ways. Customers can #ShopTheMetroStores in-store or order online through www.shop.themetrostores.ph and have it delivered straight to their homes or picked up at the nearest Metro branch.



Follow @themetrostores.ph on Instagram and The Metro Stores on Facebook or join The Metro Stores Viber community to stay updated!




PHOTOS




Doing it BIGGER and BETTER every year – The Metro Stores is back with its first big sale event of 2022. It’s all about making life easy with affordable shopping of extensive product selections at The Metro Stores Sidewalk Sale from March 18 to 20.




Need an upgrade on home appliances? Big discounts for even bigger savings await at the Metro Department Store on houseware, storage essentials, electronics and major appliances and furniture.



Take advantage of bundle deals with free items on meal staples, such as fresh meat and vegetables, snacks, and even toiletries, cleaning items and more from Metro Supermarket.