My love affair with movies

 by Johannes Chua

EDITOR’S DESK

I call this an “affair” as my love for movies is not something I share with people, even to family members or friends. But ever since I saw my first movie inside a dark theater in Ever Monumento (that was one of the Star Wars films in the ‘80s), I always had this insatiable passion for movies. I don’t know where I got it, or who influenced me, but watching movies takes up my time, especially after editing stories or writing my articles here in Manila Bulletin.

Being passionate about movies, specifically art films or those featured during awards season, film festivals, or critics lists is not really a “useful” endeavor. There’s only a small group here in our country (usually from the academe, film and theater orgs) to talk to about the Oscars/ Golden Globes/ Critics Choice, Cannes/ Venice/ Berlin Film Festivals, or the ongoing Sundance Film Fest. But it’s something we enjoy and discuss during weekends – watching and reviewing films together that Filipino audiences may not have heard of but are part of the conversation among cineastes worldwide.

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The Academy Awards, or popularly known as Oscars, is a much-anticipated event (I miss school for this); we even place friendly bets on our chosen nominees. To quote a friend, this is our version of a “Miss Universe” pageant.

We also talk about the local film industry and lament how far we have fallen behind compared to our neighbors. For example, the Philippines has been submitting an entry to the Oscars “Best Foreign Language Film” since 1956 (the first time it was introduced), but we never had any film in the final five. We were even overtaken by Bhutan, when its film “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” was among the five nominees for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film in 2021.

This talk about the Oscars is not new for me, but to some, this feels like the first time as the name Dolly de Leon cropped up in news and on online sites these past few weeks. Dolly is not a “celebrity” in the usual mold compared to the actors gracing our screens. She is a theater thespian who had amassed years of experience as an “extra” playing bit characters in movies and television dramas. It took a Swedish filmmaker, Ruben Ostlund (who is nominated for Best Director), to notice Dolly’s extra-ordinary talent and cast her in the film “Triangle of Sadness.”

Even before Dolly’s name was part of the conversation, a few of us were able to notice her performance in that film, which was one of the competitive entries in the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. The film eventually won the grand prize, the Palme d’Or, and Dolly’s name was floated by critics as the one who dominated “Triangle of Sadness” in its third act. Through an online forum, I was able to watch the film early on even prior to the local screening. Hers was an unforgettable performance on screen, a magnificent showcase of Filipino artistry for the ages. 

It was a “travesty” that Dolly’s name was not part of the five names comprising the “Best Actress in a Supporting Role” when the Oscars nominations were announced last Tuesday evening. I assumed that Dolly was the number sixth nominee. It was the closest for a Filipino actor. But all is not lost as I feel that she has kicked the door open and has lit the fire in the belly of other Filipino artists to reach that goal. On the bright side, she has also encouraged foreign movie producers, directors, and casting agents to shift their eyes toward the Philippines and its bevy of talents.

I know a lot of friends who have this Oscars dream. A friend of a friend, the late director Francis Xavier Pasion, who passed away at the age of 38, wasn’t able to fulfill his dream. Francis directed the 2008 Cinemalaya Best Film called “Jay” and he shared to me his ultimate dream was to bring home an Oscars statuette for the Philippines. It was truly possible for him as he kept on winning awards and getting accolades for his films. If his dream was to win one, mine was just to attend a ceremony even as a spectator. It would be an experience of a lifetime to see the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles filled with celebrities, artists, singers, and the media personalities who cover this annual event.

My love affair with movies continues. I have watched all the movies nominated in the 95th Academy Awards, which will be held on March 12, 2023 (morning of March 13 in Manila). My friends and I will have our awards checklist, featuring “small” movies such as Aftersun, Living, Banshees of Inisherin, to the popular ones such as Everything Everywhere All at Once, Elvis, and Top Gun Maverick, and of course, Triangle of Sadness.

We are very excited this year as it is the first time that four actors of Asian descent are nominated: Michelle Yeoh (history making as first Asian best actress nominee in the Oscars), Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, and Hong Chau. I have my eyes on Michelle to win this year as her victory will show that it is possible for Asian artists to make it in Hollywood. I just hope to see in my lifetime another Michelle, now with a Pinoy surname, taking the world stage.

Johannes L. Chua is the editor of Property and Environment sections.

Flood-hit Davao del Norte declares state of calamity

By Ruth Palo

DAVAO CITY: Widespread flooding submerged several towns in Davao del Norte and killed at least two residents, prompting the provincial government to declare a state of calamity on Thursday, January 26.

According to the office of the provincial governor, the declaration came after the damage that Davao del Norte suffered in agriculture and infrastructure in six local government units (LGUs) as a result of bad weather conditions across the Davao Region this week.

At least P50 million worth of infrastructure and agriculture was damaged.

The affected flood-hit LGUs are Asuncion, Kapalong, Santo Tomas, New Corella, Carmen and Tagum City.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has pegged infrastructure damage in the six LGUs at P25,355,000 while in agriculture the damage stood at P25, 097,400.

The declaration of the state of calamity was made to mobilize necessary resources and assist affected communities.

Gov. Edwin Jubahib, who heads the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said they are doing everything to help those affected by the disaster.

"We are working closely with the local government units to provide aid and support to those in need," he also said.

Juhabib reiterated his call for the residents to take necessary precautions and follow the advice of local authorities.

DA confirms eggs overpriced

A worker at Marikina Public market sort trays off egg by size last January 24 2023. Photos by John Orven Verdote

By Bella Cariaso, Manila Times

AN official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday said the eggs sold in Metro Manila markets are overpriced by at least P1.50 per piece.

In an interview with The Manila Times, Agriculture deputy spokesman Rex Estoperez said that based on his inspection in Mindoro Occidental, the retail price of eggs only rose by 50 centavos per piece. The province gets its eggs from Batangas, which also supplies Metro Manila.

"The egg producers have been saying the farmgate price is stable. Metro Manila and Occidental Mindoro both source their egg supply from Batangas. It seems that the problem is in between as when eggs are transported to Mindoro, they only cause an additional 50 centavos. In Metro Manila, from Batangas, the added cost is P1.50, P2 to P2.50 [per piece]," he said.

Estoperez noted the big disparity in the farm gate price and retail price in the National Capital Region.

"No less than the President said that the traders should only increase the farm gate price of eggs between three and five percent," Estoperez said, referring to the directive of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to the DA to find out what was causing the spike in the retail prices of eggs.

Estoperez said that during his meeting with Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Inspectorate and Enforcement James Layug and Assistant Secretary and spokesman Kristine Evangelista, they agreed to discuss with the different market masters tapping the local government units (LGUs) for monitoring egg prices.

"We will look into the cost structure as the retail price of eggs is unreasonable," he said.

Estoperez said that personally, he is against imposing a suggested retail price on eggs, "but if traders fail to comply, there should be a penalty."

Estoperez said that because of a shortage of eggs in Mindoro, when the province orders 200 trays, only 100 trays will arrive.

"The LGU said it is okay for them if there is no oversupply of eggs in the province. What is important is that the stocks arrive regularly," he said.

On Wednesday, DA officials led by Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban met with the egg producers to comply with the President's directive to address the rising prices of eggs.

In a radio interview, Batangas Egg Producers Cooperative managing director Cecille Virtucio said the DA vowed to address the biosecurity problem, particularly in Central Luzon, where nine million chickens were culled following an outbreak of avian influenza.

"During the meeting, it was clear that the cause of the increase in the prices of eggs was due to the bird flu that hit Central Luzon. The Philippines was affected by avian influenza, particularly Central Luzon, where at least eight to nine million chickens were culled. This was confirmed by a cooperative in Minalin, Pampanga. Central Luzon is the next egg basket and as of now there is no production after egg producers were affected by bird flu in June to July 2022," Virtucio said.

Batangas is the country's biggest egg producer.

Virtucio said egg producers in Central Luzon cannot afford to implement biosecurity measures, the DA officials vowed to talk to financial institutions like Land Bank and the Development Bank of the Philippines to help implement a program to repopulate the poultry industry and improve biosecurity.

He said the producers plan to bring their eggs directly to the DA's Kadiwa centers to do away with middlemen.

"Many of our farmers supply directly to their clients in Manila but many egg producers still have no means to transport their produce so they still rely on the traders to deliver to the markets in Metro Manila," Virtucio said.

The producers are also burdened by the high cost of feeds.

"We all know that big components of feeds are imported like soya. Even the cost of corn is increasing," Virtucio said.

She said the DA and egg producers will also meet with retailers to find ways to bring down egg prices.

Virtucio said the producers are also asking the DA for financial help.

"It is very difficult for egg producers to bounce back if they do not have capital. That's one of our requests to the government to normalize egg production," she said.

Never lose hope

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

EVEN if we feel we already are a hopeless case because we have been abusing the goodness and mercy of God countless times, we should never lose hope. God is always ready to forgive and forgive, ready to help us in any way we need. We should banish the fear that there can come a time when God would finally say, “That’s enough!” It’s rather us who tend to say enough, because of our lack of faith and hope.

The mercy and compassion of God is endless. He may be mad at us for a while, and give us some punishment, but we can be sure that if we abide by our Christian faith, we know that his anger will only be for a moment, while his mercy is forever. 

And any temporal punishment he gives us will always be for our own good, our own purification and strengthening. It may help us to do some restitution, but it’s never a pure act of revenge.

We are reminded of this aspect of our Christian faith in that gospel episode where Christ freed a man who was possessed by a legion of evil spirits. (cfr. Mk 5,1-20) Despite his seemingly hopeless case, Christ helped and cured him.

This reminder about this virtue of hope is crucial these days since we cannot deny that many people today, especially the young ones, appear to be helplessly trapped in some addiction. Yes, the many intoxicating conveniences and advantages that our modern sciences and powerful technologies are offering are spoiling many of us, since we fail to use and enjoy them with God as the motive and goal. Instead, it is self-indulgence that is being always reinforced.

There is always hope because God is always a father who cares for all his children, both the good ones and the not so good ones. In fact, he gives some preferential attention to those in some difficulty, whether materially or spiritually and morally.

We need to avoid being swallowed up by the horror of our predicaments, difficulties and sins. We should not stop at lamenting and complaining. We have to remember what St. Paul once said: “Where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly.” (Rom 5,20) And more, from the Book of Ezekiel: “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?” (18,23)

We have to reassure ourselves, based on what Christ has promised and has actually done for us, that there can be no crisis that is too big for the grace of God to handle.

We have to remember that nothing happens in this life without at least the knowledge and tolerance of God. And if God allows some really bad things to happen, it is because a greater good can always be derived from them. 

We just have to put ourselves in God’s side to tackle whatever crisis plagues us. That is the real challenge we have to face. And just like what Christ did and continues to do to redeem us, we have to follow the formula he once spelled out: deny ourselves, carry the cross and then follow him. (cfr. Mt 16,24)

If we are willing to do that, then we can even gain a lot more than what we appear to lose and to suffer. In other words, we can say that the bigger, the more serious the problem, the bigger, plentier and stronger also the grace God will give us. So, let us just be game and do our part of the bargain.

There’s always hope for us!

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

DOT bares 8 new tourism circuits in Western Visayas

by Tara Yap, MB

ILOILO CITY – The Department of Tourism (DOT) has revealed eight new tourism circuits in the Western Visayas region. 

VISITORS enjoy the sunset at world-famous Boracay Island. (Tara Yap)

“The new tourism circuits for 2023 will not only focus on sun and beach or cultural tourism. This will be different from before,” said newly installed DOT-Region 6 Director Crisanta “Krisma” Marlene P. Rodriguez.

Three are in world-famous Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan – the Boracay Biking Tours, the Boracay Wellness Workation (combining wellness and work retreat), and the Boracay Food Crawl.

These new offerings want to tap the other potentials of the country’s most famous beach destination.

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Another is the Western Visayas Dive Circuit, which will boost dive sites in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.

The DOT-6 is also promoting the Fun Farm circuit for farm tourism, the Slow Food project for culinary tourism, and the Western Visayas Sugar Heritage Trail for the robust sugar industry.

There is also Inter-Regional products, which will create a tourism circuit for diving, pilgrimage, and motor tours across the Visayas in collaboration with the DOT regional offices in Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.

Cyberattacks target websites of German airports, admin

by Agence-France-Presse

BERLIN, Germany — The websites of German airports, public administration bodies and financial sector organisations have been hit by cyberattacks instigated by a Russian “hacker group”, authorities said Thursday.

The Federal Cyber Security Authority (BSI) had “knowledge of DDoS attacks against targets in Germany”, a spokesman told AFP.

A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack is designed to overwhelm the target with a flood of internet traffic, preventing the system from functioning normally. 

The attacks were aimed “in particular at the websites of airports”, as well as some “targets in the financial sector” and “the websites of federal and state administrations”, the spokesman said.

The attack had been “announced by the Russian hacker group Killnet”, the BSI spokesman said.

The group’s call to arms was in response to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s announcement Wednesday that Germany would send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine to help repel the Russian invasion, according to financial daily Handelsblatt.

Attributing Thursday’s attacks directly to the hacker group, however, was “particularly hard”, the BSI spokesman said.

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“They call for action and then a lot of people take part,” he said.

The attacks made “some websites unavailable”, the BSI said, without there being “any indication of direct impacts on (the organisations’) services”.

Attacks on public administrations were “largely repelled with no serious impacts”, the BSI said.

The interior ministry for southwestern Baden-Wuerttemberg state acknowledged “nationwide” DDoS attacks since Wednesday evening against websites, including those of public administration and the regional police.

Germany is on high alert for cyberattacks in the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The Federal Office for Information Security said in October that the threat level for hacking attacks and other cybercrime activities was higher “than ever”.

Respecting religious freedom starts with tolerance and understanding

by Manila Bulletin

Compared to other countries or nationalities, Filipinos generally enjoy a sense of freedom when it comes to their choice of religion. As a predominantly Catholic country (more than 80 percent of Filipinos are Catholics), there are other thriving religious sects such as Islam, Buddhism, Adventist, etc. Each Filipino, therefore, can exercise, announce, or propagate his or her faith without fear of discrimination or reproach.    

Even with this scenario, there are still reports of discrimination rooted in religion. An employee is bypassed for promotion because he or she may not share the same religion with the employer; a person is shamed online for demonstrating his religious rituals; or a school is forcing a policy that favors one religion over the other. Though isolated in some cases, these are sources of tension and disagreements that may disturb societal peace and harmony.    

To address this situation — and more importantly, to protect the right of people to freedom of religion — the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved on the third and final reading House Bill 6492, or the proposed “Magna Carta on Religious Freedom Act” last Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. 

Generally, the proposed Magna Carta seeks to “prohibit the government or any person to burden, curtail, impinge, or encroach on a person’s right to exercise his or her religious belief, freedom, and liberty of conscience.” 

Congressman Bienvenido Abante Jr. of the sixth district of Manila, author of the measure, said that “right to freedom of religion or belief is enshrined in the Constitution, which states that free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed.” The House bill strengthens this Constitutional provision, with the proposed Magna Carta also ensuring that “the government must also prohibit any act by a person, natural or juridical, or any group of persons that burdens or encroaches on the said right.” 

“The free exercise of religious freedom would only be denied, regulated, or curtailed if it results in violence or inflicts direct or indirect physical harm or danger on other people, or infringes on their own freedom of religion or conscience; and if it is necessary to protect public safety, public order, health, property and good morals,” the bill stated.  

Other notable features of this Magna Carta is how it also includes educational institutions and businesses. In fact, House Bill 6492 protects 12 rights, which includes “the right to freedom against discrimination in educational institutions, the right against discrimination in employment; the right to religious worship and ceremonies; the right of companies or businesses to be founded on religious belief; the right of parents or legal guardians to rear children; the right to tax exemption, etc.”  To put it simply, no one can be denied employment (or be terminated) solely on the basis of religion or adherence to religious beliefs. 

While we welcome this proposed bill, there are underlying issues when it comes to discrimination and persecution. Choice of religion may be one of them but there are also economic causes, as poverty breeds inequality, ignorance, and insensitivity. A nation must raise citizens that are tolerant and understanding since, after all, the Philippines is made up of a diverse group of people with different beliefs and values. Tolerance is key and to cultivate it starts with providing everyone access to universal human rights.