23rd PELÍCULA Spanish Film Festival: Here’s Your Last Chance!

Wazzup Pilipinas!?





As the 23rd PELÍCULA>PELIKULA Spanish Film Festival enters its final weekend, moviegoers are invited to catch the remaining films from October 11 to 13, 2024, at the Red Carpet Cinemas, Shangri-La Plaza. The Festival, which has celebrated Spanish and Latin American cinema over the week, will wrap up with a dynamic lineup of films, including the highly anticipated Audience Choice Awards on the final day.

Earlier this week, the Festival presented the Asian premiere of Benito Pérez Buñuel on October 8, 2024. The screening was followed by Q&A session moderated by Mapúa University professor and filmmaker Sheryl Andes, with the film’s producer Marta de Santa Ana and director Luis Roca. The documentary explores the life and influence of Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel and Spanish writer Benito Pérez Galdós, and the audience had the opportunity to dive into the creative process behind the film.

In addition to the films, the Festival also held a Post-production workshop of Rick, Rack, Catatrack!, with the Spanish filmmaker Mario Torrecillas on October 6, 8 & 9 at Shang and iAcademy Nexus Makati. The workshop was attended by children and 12 film students from leading universities such as iAcademy, Mapúa, CSB, MINT, APFI, and CIIT, who gained practical knowledge of the stop motion animation and post-production process. Torrecillas guided the students on offering useful hands-on experience.

As PELÍCULA>PELIKULA draws to a close, the final weekend kicks off on Friday, October 11, with a special screening of Puan, courtesy of the Embassy of Argentina. Directed by María Alché and Benjamín Naishtat, Puan explores in a comedic way the rivalry between two University professors of Philosophy, offering a satirical look at academia.

On Saturday, October 12, audiences can catch the last screening of the animated film Robot Dreams by Pablo Berger, as well as Casa en llamas, a dark comedy directed by Dani de la Orden. Casa en llamas follows Montse, a woman determined to reunite her estranged family for a weekend at the Costa Brava, leading to a chaotic but humorous series of events. The day also features Rioja, tierra de los mil vinos (Rioja, A Land of Thousand Wines), a documentary exploring Spain's renowned wine region.

By Sunday, October 13, the festival will feature the En Corto short film series. This year’s lineup includes Transients, presented by Kyla Romero, Aunque es de noche by Guillermo García López, Primetime Mother by Sonny Calvento, and La Sixtina by Juan Camilo Fonnegra. The festival will conclude with the screening of La Estrella Azul and the announcement and screening of the Audience Choice Awards.

The 23rd edition of PELÍCULA>PELIKULA is presented by Instituto Cervantes de Manila, Embajada de España en Filipinas, Shangri-La Plaza, and Red Carpet Cinemas. The festival is held in collaboration with MTRCB, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Teatro Real, Embajada Argentina en Filipinas, Embassy of Brazil in Manila, Embajada de Colombia en Filipinas, University of the Philippines Film Institute, De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde, CMB Film Services Inc., University of the Philippines Department of European Languages, Far Eastern University - Institute of Arts and Science, Ateneo de Manila University - Modern Languages, Meridian International College, CIIT College of Arts and Technology, Mapua University School of Media Studies, i-Academy Makati, Asia Pacific Film Institute, Kinoise PH, and Sinegang PH. The Festival is proudly sponsored by Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc., Arthaland, Ayala Corporation, Boysen, Fundador, Terminal Six, and Barcino.

All screenings are free of charge, and films will be shown in Spanish (or their original language) with English subtitles.

For more information and updates on the festival, including the full schedule, please visit the Instituto Cervantes de Manila website at https://manila.cervantes.es or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila .

DepEd and BJMP Forge Partnership to Expand Educational Opportunities for Persons Deprived of Liberty

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The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) have formalized their partnership to enhance educational access for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) through the Alternative Learning System (ALS).

The newly signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) underscores both agencies' shared commitment to improving the well-being and educational rights of PDLs, recognizing education as a key component in rehabilitation and reintegration.

In his speech, Education Secretary Sonny Angara commended BJMP’s “Tagapangalaga Ko, Guro Ko" program, which has been instrumental in providing continued education to PDLs since its inception in 2010.

“Saludo po kami sa inyong pang-unawa at suporta sa kahalagahan ng edukasyon bilang bahagi ng rehabilitasyon ng ating mga kababayan. Together, we’re not just giving education; we are providing hope, we are providing dignity, we are providing a brighter future,” said Secretary Angara.

Secretary Angara highlighted that, on average, around 20,000 PDLs have enrolled in ALS over the past three years. For School Year 2023-2024 alone, 5,596 PDLs enrolled in elementary, 9,286 in junior high school, and 5,983 in senior high school under the program. "Through this MOA, we are reinforcing our commitment to leave no one behind. With your help, we reaffirm that every Filipino, no matter their circumstances, deserves a chance to learn and grow," he added.

BJMP Chief Ruel Rivera expressed his gratitude to DepEd for its continued dedication to creating meaningful change in the lives of PDLs.

“Ang inisyatibong ito ay isang patunay ng pinagsamang pagsisikap ng BJMP katuwang ang Kagawaran ng Edukasyon na sumasailalim sa isang layunin na lumikha ng mas makatarungan at makataong lipunan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapahalaga sa edukasyon.” Rivera said.

By expanding educational access, DepEd plays a crucial role in developing the skills of PDLs, boosting their self-esteem, and preparing them for reintegration into society. This agreement also highlights the Department’s ongoing commitment to social justice and its mission to reach marginalized and underserved populations.

Ph and Bangladesh Envi NGOs Forge Cooperation to Tackle Toxic Chemicals in Toys and Kids' products in the region

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Asian children are increasingly at risk from unsafe toys, including those made from recycled plastics that contain hazardous chemicals and legacy compounds banned in many markets, as highlighted by various studies. Unlike their counterparts in Europe, they face greater dangers due to inadequate and inconsistent regulations governing toy safety in the region. This assessment has driven environmental NGOs advocating for toxic-free consumer products to address this critical public health issue.

On October 3, 2024, NGOs BAN Toxics from the Philippines and the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) from Bangladesh signed a pivotal memorandum of agreement (MOA) that would strengthen cooperation in advocating for safe and toxic-free children’s products. The signing, led by BAN Toxics Deputy Executive Director Jam Lorenzo and ESDO’s Executive Director Siddika Sultana, took place at ESDO’s head office in Dhaka.

The two environmental NGOs started their collaboration in 2023 to conduct a study on the presence of toxic heavy metals in children’s products in Bangladesh. The new MOA, set for a duration of five years, will continue and expand this collaboration by pursuing further research, publishing scientific studies, conducting public awareness campaigns, and developing information, education, and communication materials, among other initiatives.

“This new agreement reinforces our shared commitment to safeguarding children's health and the environment through collaborative research and public education efforts. We are hopeful that this continued cooperation will pave the way for stronger regulations and greater public awareness of the pressing issue of toxic chemicals in children’s products in both our countries,” said Lorenzo.

Prior to the signing of the MOA, a press briefing was held to share the initial results of product testing of 160 samples of children’s products. Laboratory analysis revealed that all samples contained one or more hazardous chemicals, including mercury, lead, bromine, cadmium, arsenic, among others.

ESDO called for stricter enforcement of regulations on toxic substances in children’s products, including mandatory third-party testing before they reach the market. The organization also advocated for a ban on harmful materials, such as recycled plastics containing hazardous chemicals like bromine in children’s toys, while promoting safer alternatives.

“The presence of such hazardous chemicals in children's products is an urgent public health issue. We must act swiftly to protect our future generations from these invisible threats,” said Syed Marghub Murshed, Former Secretary of the Government of Bangladesh and Chairperson of ESDO.

Sultana, meanwhile, stressed the long-term impacts on children’s health, saying, “Exposure to toxic chemicals at such an early age leads to developmental, cognitive, and physical issues that can last a lifetime. This is a crisis that demands immediate regulatory intervention.”

BAN Toxics Advocacy and Campaign Officer Thony Dizon highlighted that the issue of harmful chemicals in toys is a global concern that transcends borders, necessitating international cooperation and action.

“The same toys we found in local markets in Bangladesh are also sold openly in other Asian countries like the Philippines. This underscores the transboundary nature of the problem and emphasizes the need for regional and global solutions to ensure that unsafe products are removed from our markets,” Dizon added.



BAN Toxics and ESDO are set to release their joint study on plastic toys in the coming months. They will also conduct further testing of children’s products in the region, alongside efforts to promote cooperation with other civil society organizations and campaign for harmonized regulations to ensure the safety of children’s products.