Vilma Santos-Recto embarks on long-awaited dream project

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

Nov 25, 2024 08:09 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Ate Vi, as she is fondly called, did not intend to finish another entry for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). She had different thoughts when she accepted the movie "Uninvited." 

Star For All Seasons Vilma Santos-Recto couldn't contain her excitement as she embarked on a long-awaited dream project. 

After years of hard work and dedication in the entertainment industry, she is finally able to bring her creative vision to life. 

This project holds a special place in her heart, and she can't wait to share it with her fans and the world.

At the recent grand launch of the upcoming movie "Uninvited" at Solaire North, Vilma stated that director Dan Villegas and Mentorque Productions helped her fulfill her dream project.

"Dream project ko ang 'Uninvited.' Matagal ko ng gustong gumawa ng pelikula na nangyari lang in 24 hours. Mag-uumpisa siyang maganda at matatapos siyang dilapidated na s'ya. Yun ang gusto ko. 

"Hindi ko alam yung gitna. Paano mangyayari yun? Sila direk ang naglagay ng storya sa gitna hanggang sa nabuo yung Uninvited," she said. 

Ate Vi, as she is fondly called, did not intend to finish another entry for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). She had different thoughts when she accepted the movie "Uninvited."

"At this point of my career, mahirap na akong makahanap ng role na babagay sa edad ko at yung role that will challenge me.

"In more than 62 years in the industry, ang pakiramdam ko ay ang dami ko ng nagawang iba't ibang klaseng character. Yung iba paulit ulit na.

"Kung may gagawin man akong pelikula, I will make sure I will do a movie that will challenge me. Sa Uninvited, na-challenge ang role ko.

"I'm not thinking about winning another best actress. Ang gusto ko lang ay makagawa kami ng isang magandang pelikula na pwede naming ipagmalaki. Yun ang nasa isip namin," Vilma said.

The cast of 'Uninvited'

Last year, Vilma won Best Actress for the MMFF entry "When I Met You In Tokyo." Then, she won again at the Manila International Film Festival Awards Night in the US. 

"When we conceptualized the movie, wala itong plano na isali sa MMFF. Ang usapan lang talaga is to make a good film that we can be proud of. 

"Pero sinuwerte naman at nakapasok sa MMFF. Nagkataon lang na magkasunod sa MMFF," Vilma said.

Aga Muhlach admitted he enjoyed working on the set of the movie.

"Hindi siya mahirap gawin kung ang mga kasama mo ay magagaling. It was an experience because I was having fun on the set.

"It was the first time I worked with Director Dan Villegas. Very open siya kung ano ang gusto naming gawin.

"I've worked with Vilma (Santos) twice. Mabibigat yung ginawa naming pelikula. First time ko naman nakasama si Nadine (Lustre) rito.

"Wala kaming mga warm-up. Basta nagkita kami sa set then nagshoot kami at mabigat kaagad yung eksena namin. Pero nag-enjoy kami. Masaya," said Aga.

Award-winning actress Nadine Lustre expressed her excitement about the incredible opportunity to work alongside acclaimed actors Vilma and Aga. 

She highlighted how collaborating with such esteemed figures in the industry was a dream come true, which ultimately influenced her decision to accept the project. 

Bryan Dy of Mentorque Productions

Nadine emphasized the value of learning from their experiences and contributions to the film industry, making this project particularly special for her.

She confessed that she felt nervous on the first day of shooting for "Uninvited."

"This is an opportunity of a lifetime. Kelan ko ba uli makakatrabaho sila? Agad-agad tinanggap ko siya. On the first day, dumating ako sa set na kabado kasi nga bigatin ang mga kasamo ko but then everyone was welcoming, everyone was nice so mawawala na rin yung kaba mo," Nadine also said.

Nadine also highlighted the thoughtful steps she took to prepare for the role, showcasing her dedication and talent.

"Ever since, inaaral ko talaga yung script. I try put myself in the shoes of my character pero yung mga intense scenes naman namin, mahaba-habang rehearsals din especially yung mga shots na hindi puwedeng paulit ulit.

"Inaaral ko talaga ang role ko. Mahilig kasi talaga akong mag-imagine. So kahit hindi ko napag-daanan or na-experience ang isang bagay, parang nararamdaman ko rin siya," Nadine said.

Director Dan shared that the project went really well, and he couldn’t have done it without the actor’s awesome cooperation. "What's important is that you work closely with your actors para nagkakaintindihan kayo."

In celebration of MMFF’s 50th anniversary, Uninvited stands as a testament to the unparalleled excellence of Filipino filmmaking.

Mentorque Productions, following the massive success of the MMFF 2023 entry Mallari, teams up with Project 8 Projects to craft a movie that guarantees a meaningful and unforgettable experience for viewers.

“We understand the challenges Filipinos face today,” shares Mentorque CEO John Bryan Diamante. “Watching a movie in theaters is a luxury, so we made sure this is worth every peso.”

Christian poverty more than just detachment from things

by Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

THAT gospel episode where Christ praised a poor widow for giving all that she had to live on to the treasury of the temple (cfr. Lk 21,1-4) graphically reminds us that Christian poverty, which is what is required for true Christian love to reign in our hearts, is not so much a matter of how much, in terms of money and quantity, we are willing to be detached from as detaching ourselves from our very own selves, giving everything to God.

It’s actually the best deal that we can have, since as Christ said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to have his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” (Mt 16,24-25)

This is divine wisdom which we have to learn to live by. Moreover, it is something which we have to learn how to convince others, especially the young ones who are exposed today to so much materialism and egotistic ways, to believe in it.

This will, indeed, take a lot of time and effort, especially in the area of how to make this divine wisdom attractive and doable. In this regard, we have to learn to present Christ the way Christ presented himself to the people of his time.

He adapted himself to how the people were. He, of course, as St. Paul said, emptied himself by becoming man and went to the extent of offering his life on the cross, just to identify himself completely with us. (cfr. Phil 2,6-8)

In this preaching, he used literary devices, like the parables, so as to elicit interest and eventual understanding and appreciation of the redemptive messages and lessons he wanted to impart to the people.

This is something that we, in our own time with our distinctive cultures and mindsets, should also learn to do. We can only show and give Christ to others, we can only make Christ’s redemptive messages and lessons appreciated by us, if we learn how to connect the real Christ, both in spirit and in the flesh, and not a disembodied Christ, to the people of today.

The effort required here involves emptying ourselves so as to embody the real Christ in ourselves in the context of today’s world with all the good and the bad that it now has. That is why we always need to detach ourselves not only from things but also, and more importantly, from our own selves, so we can be filled with Christ’s spirit and enabled to show Christ in the flesh.

But given our human condition which allows us to learn things in stages, we have to understand that everyday we have to conquer our tendency to fall into some earthly attachments so that we can say we are giving ourselves more and more to God until we give ourselves completely to him.

This will require a constant reminder and self-reassurance that it is all worthwhile to give and to lose everything for God because we will in fact gain a lot more than what we give. Let’s always remember Christ telling us “to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” (Mt 6,33)

We have to learn to let go of our possessions, our preferences, our opinions, etc., until we can say that we are letting go of our whole selves so as to give everything to God, and with God we are assured that we can have everything that is truly important to us!

Be aware of initiatives to mitigate climate change

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Nov 24, 2024 00:01 AM

  

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The commemoration of the 17th Climate Change Consciousness Week from Nov. 19 to 25 comes at a time when the effects of climate change are very apparent around us. 

We do not only read about massive floods, heavy rains and strong winds in Europe and the United States, we have experienced that many times in the recent past.  Several cities and towns have experienced a month’s rain being dumped in a day. Flood waters have stayed for days. And most recently, six strong cyclones came one after the other in a month, battering many parts of the country, claiming many lives, and causing huge amounts of damage to our food supply and infrastructure.

We have also read about many initiatives to mitigate the effects of climate change.  One of these is the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or Conference of the Parties, commonly known as COP 29, held in Azerbaijan, from Nov, 11 to 22, where the world united around climate action.

In the Philippines, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) is “mandated to ensure the mainstreaming of climate change in national, sectoral and local development plans and programs,” according to Republic Act No. 9729.  Proclamation No 1667 signed in 2008, has designated “Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week” to raise awareness and develop solutions to the climate crisis.

This year’s theme is “Aksyon at Adaptasyon ng Makabagong Henerasyon” (Action and adaptation of the new generation). The CCC activities focus on “action” to emphasize the importance of implementing concrete measures to mitigate climate risks; and “adaptation” to build resilience.

The activities will highlight the Commission’s ongoing projects, among them the Net Zero Challenge, and a comprehensive climate discussion on the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and on “Intersections between the Law of the Sea and International Environmental Law” in collaboration with the University of the Philippines.

 “This year’s observance urges all Filipinos to embrace bold, adaptive strategies that prioritize community engagement, resilience, and sustainability in addressing the climate crisis,” the CCC said. 

Initiatives to mitigate the effects of climate change need the collaboration of government and the private sector.  This collaboration was shown during the opening ceremonies of the Climate Change Consciousness Week with representatives from government agencies and private organizations in attendance.

Sec. Robert Borje, CCC vice chairman and executive director, said: “The work ahead of us remains challenging, but together, multiple stakeholders can make a difference. This week will pave a path toward a stronger and transformative climate action and adaptation.”

At the local government level, the Commission’s work includes training local government units (LGUs) to fast-track the development and implementation of Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAPs) to achieve the objectives of the National Adaptation Plan and the Nationally Determined Contributions Investment Plan (NDCIP). At a workshop conducted last month, about 800 participants were given guidance on how to integrate climate adaptation and mitigation strategies into local development plans, strengthening their capacity to respond to climate-related risks.

At the household level, it is the responsibility of heads of families to initiate and implement action to contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change.  They should keep themselves and their families informed of how daily personal choices can contribute to these initiatives – like avoiding the use of single-use plastics, or leaving our cars home once a week, or proper disposal of solid waste.  We must do our part now.

Miss Universe Philippines condemns video commentary vs Chelsea Manalo: 'We do not tolerate bullying'; vlogger Adam Genato apologizes

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

Nov 24, 2024 07:44 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• In a statement, the MUPh said the video commentary of Adam was "unfair, insensitive, hurtfuland dismissive of her accomplishments." 

The Miss Universe Philippines Organization has condemned the video commentary of pageant enthusiast and vlogger Adam Genato on Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo.

In a statement, the MUPh said the video commentary of Adam was "unfair, insensitive, hurtful and dismissive of her accomplishments." 

"We do not tolerate bullying and irresponsible vlogging, especially when an accredited MUPh media partner whom we have welcomed in our events," the MUPh statement also said.

It added: "We believe that content creators, bloggers, and vloggers must be guided by respect, responsibility, and decency."

The MUPh encouraged other creators, bloggers, and vloggers to exercise care in expressing opinions about Philippine delegates.

The same statement said that Chelsea does not deserve to be compared to other beauty queens.

Chelsea made it to the Top 30 semifinals of the Miss Universe Competition 2024 in Mexico, although she was also awarded Miss Universe Asia. 

In Adam's video commentary, he said that the Philippines would have a bigger chance of winning the 2024 Miss Universe pageant if the delegates were either Athisa Manalo or Christi McGarry.

This developed as Adam tearfully apologized for his comments about Chelsea.

"I am coming out with this video not to gain sympathy, but I think this is the most Christian thing to do. The past 24 hours have left me bewildered about my actions towards our candidate, Chelsea Manalo, and it pains me to have come to this.

"Chelsea, I am sorry about what I said about you. It was never really my intention to hurt your feelings or your teams. You've worked so hard to be where you are right now.

"I realized now that I should have been diplomatic and tactful with my words. It is only now that I realize the impact of my words on you, your team, and everyone else.

"There's no excuse for what I did. It pains me when people say I am plastic to you. I want to apologize to you and everyone in MUPh. You guys have shown nothing but kindness to me ever since Day One. 

I feel bad, and this is how I repay you all. Hindi ko talaga alam how I would still make up for this. I have no more excuses. All I want is to say I am sorry. I want to seek all your forgiveness."

Vereiste Autobahn! Winter-Chaos im Norden

Schneelandschaft auf der A7 bei Brekendorf: Für viele Autofahrer kam der Wintereinbruch überraschend

Foto: Friedrichs Daniel / Danfoto

Schleswig-Flensburg – Achtung Schnee und Glätte! Im Kreis Schleswig-Flensburg gibt es einen massiven Wintereinbruch mit viel Neuschnee. Die A7 ist sogar teilweise vereist.

Der Verkehr in Richtung Norden kommt daher immer wieder zum Stillstand. Es staut sich kilometerweit. Räumdienste sind auf der A7 pausenlos im Einsatz.

Probleme gibt es für die Autofahrer ebenfalls auf den Landstraßen in Schleswig-Holstein. Auch hier sind Straßen vereist und es geht nur mühsam vorwärts.

An der B77 bei dem Naturschutzgebiet Sorgwohld sieht die Landschaft aus wie im „Winter-Wonderland“. Schneeflocken fallen vom Himmel. Bäume sind schneebedeckt.

Erste Verkehrsunfälle

Unterdessen haben die ersten Schneefälle und Glätte zu mehreren Verkehrsunfällen auf den Straßen Norddeutschlands geführt. Dabei gab es laut Polizei im Laufe des Tages bereits vier Vorfälle – querstehende Laster und Busse in den Landkreisen Segeberg, Ostholstein und Schleswig-Flensburg.

Nach kurzzeitigen Sperrungen wurden die Straßen aber schnell wieder freigegeben. Verletzte gab es nicht.

Nach Polizeiangaben liefen die Streuarbeiten auf den Autobahnen zudem nach Plan und alle Winterdienstfahrzeuge standen je nach Wetterlage jederzeit in Bereitschaft. Auch wenn die Temperaturen am Sonntag dem Deutschen Wetterdienst (DWD) zufolge wieder in den zweistelligen Bereich steigen werden, warnte die Polizei bis dahin vor glatten Straßen.

Bis zu zwei Meter Schnee

Blitz-Winter und Bodenfrost in den Alpen

Von 30 Grad auf Bodenfrost! Das Wetter saust in diesen Tagen in Richtung Kühlschrank.

Trotz der erfolgreichen Streuarbeiten bleibe die Situation kritisch und Autofahrer sollten weiterhin vorsichtig fahren.

Auch die Pressestelle der Verkehrszentrale Nord mahnte Autofahrer im Norden zur vorsichtigen Fahrweise. Vor allem die Streufahrzeuge sollten nicht überholt werden, da die voraus liegenden Straßen dementsprechend glatt seien.

FASHION PULIS: Drinking buddies

BY MIKE LIM

Nov 23, 2024 10:42 AM

  

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The title says it all and best describes the alleged relationship of a budding couple. First, Versatile Boy (VB) and Talented Girl (TG) are of age and legally allowed to get into vices. Second, they have matured in the entertainment industry and their experiences have forged their character as well.

Apparently, VB and TG hit it off as their careers crossed paths. Fans found the pair cute together and found nothing wrong if they end up together. Both are single and secure with their careers. In fact, they have nothing to prove as they have a list of accomplishments in and out of showbiz.

Given that perception, fans look up to VB and TG even consider them as role models. VB rose from the ranks and his fans witnessed his hard work to reach his spot. The same is true with TG, who proved she’s not just a pretty face. Thus, when VB and TG were seen in popular spots known for nightlife, kibitzers were surprised at the two’s behavior.

Their zest for living was evident. VB and TG love life and that was shown when followers saw them enjoying a drink and much more. Sadly, the two gave the impression that they are heavy drinkers in public. Unwinding from the pressures of their work probably was the excuse for finding solace in drinking. Unfortunately, nothing escapes netizens and seeing them as heavy drinkers is not taken in a positive light. Did drinking bring them together? Would they become an official couple soon?

‘[I]t is the wine that leads me on, the wild wine that sets the wisest man to sing at the top of his lungs, laugh like a fool—it drives the man to dancing…it even tempts him to blurt out stories better never told.’ —Homer

Honest mistake, rude response

No one’s perfect when it comes to technology. For example, encoding numbers in mobile devices can sometimes be the source of future misunderstandings. Honest mistakes can often test patience, therefore, the character of the person at the receiving end. Often, even if the error has been owed, only a few have the manners to let a mistake pass. 

Unfortunately, Businessman (BM) was at the receiving end of the reply of Popular Personality (PP). BM sent a message to a number, thinking he was messaging A Contact (AC). However, a few minutes passed and BM did not receive a reply. Subsequently, BM sent another message. Still, the assumed AC did not answer. More minutes passed but the number did not reply. The messages simply asked how the supposed receiver was. BM had no malice in sending the messages.

Then, a reply came through. BM thought he had finally reached AC. The reply was unexpected as the message asked why she was receiving such messages. BM realized his honest mistake and apologized sincerely.

The conversation did not end there even if BM already explained and said sorry. PP replied and called out what she thought was BM’s character. The message was not pleasant. The reaction was quite different from the perception of the image of PP.  

‘Be strong, but not rude; Be kind, but not weak; Be bold, but not bully; Be humble, but not timid; Be proud, but not arrogant.’ — Zig Ziglar

Follow @FashionPulis on Twitter and @fashionpulis on Instagram. 

Why are Southern Filipinos better than Northern Filipinos in terms of manners and behavior?

 

Dayang Marikit

6,992 followers

364 following

My Quora account is mainly focused on promoting and educating people about the pre-colonial period. Below are some of my articles and as well as some informative videos.

I would like to inform people that “nothing is set in stone” because we are constantly gathering information and learning about our history, somethings may change in the future, but for now the things that I publish are the things that we currently “know about.”

Based on what measure?… and how far "South" are we talking about?

• When you say "Southern Filipinos" I'm assuming that you're referring to the "Visayans" instead of the "Mindanaoans".
• There are "cultural norms" from each region of the country that may greatly differ from each other… "this doesn't mean that one is "objectively right" and the other is "objectively wrong".

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The "Visayans" of central Philippines are considered to be more "jolly, straightforward, jokesters, outgoing, talkative and generally friendly towards strangers, the females also tend to display their "closeness" towards their male friends much more and this is generally considered "normal" to them, (nothing "sexual or anything")… They are generally "touchy-feely" which Western tourists may find to be "more appealing".

• The warm smile of a Visayan lady from Central Philippines.

However this is not considered to be "normal" in Luzon… and the further north you go, the more "conservative, silent, aloof and serious" people tend to be. People also tend to keep their personal space more until they have "warmed up"… they may perceive Visayan "straightforwardness and humor" to be "rude and disrespectful" and their friendliness might also be perceived to be an "invasion of personal space". Females who show so much "closeness" to their male friends are also perceived to be $/vt$ in the north, and thus being very close to your male friends is considered to be "inappropriate". In turn, people from Luzon may also be perceived as "rude" by the Visayans.

• I'm not generalizing but people in the north just tend to have that "unimpressed" look in their eyes.

And if we also go all the way down to the south of the country in the island of Mindanao, especially where the Muslims reside… the people may also be equally "appalled" by "Visayan manners", especially the "closeness" displayed between friends of the opposite sex. Just like in the northern parts of the country, the people also tend to be more "conservative, silent, aloof and serious".

Lastly, Manila being a "melting-pot" that is situated between the Visayas and the far north of the country tends to mix some aspects from both cultures… (We in Metro Manila may not be as "jolly" as the Visayans, but we are also not as "uptight" as those in the far north and also the far south of the country).

• I would like to make it clear that my observations and assessments are mainly based on "generalizations".

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In the end, these are just cultural differences within the country and no one is "objectively right or wrong"… by the way, kindly read the article made by Allan Daniel in the link below.

• Allan Daniel Serrano's answer to What do Tagalog people think of Cebuano people in general?