"Ambulancia," a short film which tells of a painful twist in an ambulance driver's belief that a dying patient can be saved by running over stray animals on the streets, won best short narrative in the first Quisumbing-Escandor Film Festival for Health held at the Philamlife Center for the Arts, United Nations Avenue, Manila last February 21, Thursday night.

Director/writer/producer Richard Legaspi and production manager Seymour Barros Sanchez were on hand to receive the trophy designed by National Artist Napoleon Abueva and a plaque of recognition from Mu Sigma Phi, the first medical fraternity in the Philippines and in Asia.

"Santigwar," an entry of director Gerald Ian Mendez, producer Charlene Obumani, and writer Johner Cañeba of the University of Saint Anthony from Iriga, Camarines Sur, won the grand prize, the Honorato Quisumbing and Johnny Escandor award for best film. "Kasangkapan," directed by Carmelo Soberano of the Marinduque State College, and "Rx: Agap," helmed by King Mark Baco of the University of the Philippines Film Institute, were adjudged best documentary and best experimental film, respectively. Aside from a similar trophy and plaque, the "Santigwar" team will also receive P100,000 in cash while the directors and producers of "Ambulancia," "Rx: Agap," and "Kasangkapan" will each get P50,000. The winners and other film festival finalists were screened from February 18 to 20 at the Cine Adarna in UP Diliman.

"Ambulancia," which stars Alan Paule and Nor Domingo, was previously exhibited in the Young Cinema Night of the 2007 Cinemanila International Film Festival and the Asian Film Academy (AFA) Fellows' Night in Busan, South Korea. Legaspi also had the able support of director of photography Albert Banzon, assistant director Jules Katanyag, AD/producer/editor Anna Isabelle Matutina, co-producer Eloisa Espino-Sanchez, production manager/musical scorer Pam Miras, and production designers Grace Orbon, Sonja Completo, and Benay Reyes.

Legaspi, a faculty of the University of the East – Caloocan College of Fine Arts (UE CFA), was selected last year along with "Ligaw Liham" director of photography Carlo Mendoza as the only Filipinos among the 24 successful candidates from all over Asia who were offered fellowships by the AFA, an educational program that trains aspiring Asian filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts through workshops, one-on-one mentoring and a short film production project, to raise the bar on film production to further the future of Asian cinema. It was held in collaboration with Pusan International Film Festival, Dongseo University, and Korean Film Academy.

Legaspi, UE CFA alumnus and recipient of the UE Award for Exemplary Performance in Visual Arts, teaches Advertising and Painting. He is also a director, assistant director, and production designer for Red Room Productions, Pixel Art Media Production Co., and Digital Cheese. He underwent workshops under award-winning scriptwriter Ricky Lee and directed films such as "Kahon" (official entry to the 2006 Viewpoints of the World Festival, finalist in the End Frame Video Art Project, in competition at the 2006 One Minute International Short Film Festival (OMISFF), Netherlands, and finalist in the Smart Cuts of 2005 .MOV International Short Film Festival), "Pintuan" (in competition at the 2006 OMISFF), and "Makatang Luneta," (third place at the 2006 Cinemadali Film Festival).

The 18th Negros Summer Workshops 2008 will showcase short films. commercial videos, and theatre productions created by students. A panel of notables including film, theatre and print media personalities facilitate the workshops and recognized leaders judge and present special awards.

A special program honoring the best films and videos will highlight the closing ceremonies. Additionally, the program will feature a Media Lab of cutting edge film making technology; Children and Teen Theatres; and a panel series that will bring together leading filmmakers, directors, actors, and writers in the industry.

2008 Negros Summer Workshop will be on April 21 – May 17, 2008
Registration and Enrollment

March 03 - April 19, 2008

The 11th Crystal Piaya Awards
This Php. 25,000.00 video competition is open to all amateur and professional video and filmmakers.

8-35 minute video shorts are judged according to technical quality as well as relevance of its message.

Deadline for entries in the 11th Crystal Piaya Video Competition:

May 12, 2008 – 12:00 nn

Office of the Artist in Residence, USLS

http://www.usls.edu.ph/NSW/aboutus.html
http://www.usls.edu.ph/NSW/courses.html
http://www.usls.edu.ph/NSW/accomodation.html
http://www.usls.edu.ph/NSW/awards.html
http://www.usls.edu.ph/NSW/contactus.html

by Fr. Adonis Narcelles Jr. SVD

There is a gentle revolution happening in the Philippines. It is neither political nor economic. The revolt happens in the very heart of filmmaking. Its proponents and followers are the numerous film "guerillas" who have finally found an avenue to express their creativity and freedom. There is a breeze of fresh air which invigorates the contemporary scenario of Philippine Cinema. The Filipino achievement in this era of indie (short for independent), experimental and digital filmmaking has come. "Tirador," in winning the Caligari Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 15, 2008, proves that this Pinoy revolution works- in the world of filmmaking.

This "new epoche" of filmmaking in the Philippines brings out a new breed of young and dynamic filmmakers. This is the advent of the independent digital filmmaking. The emergence of affordable and user-friendly digital cameras and editing softwares make this rapid evolution possible resulting to a new film consciousness in the Philippines with a profound interest in festivals abroad, like the 58th Berlin Film Festival. The Berlinale this year was an avenue where the metamorphosis of filmmaking was acknowledge and admired. It was an historical event for the Philippines. This prestigious, glamorous and one of the biggest film festivals in the world recognized the international quality of digital Filipino films. For the first time in the long history of Philippine Cinema that six Filipino films were shown at the Berlinale from February 7 to 17, 2008. Indeed, this Berlinale documents the greatness of this creative spirit present in various characteristics of Filipino filmmaking- experimental, documentary, live musical accompaniment and screening with three projections.

"This is one of the hardest films I have shot." Director Brilliante Mendoza admits the challenges he encountered in making "Tirador" (Slingshot). He spoke before the international audience after the first screening, the European Premiere of his film at the Colosseum Cinema in Berlin on February 9, 2008. He worked on three cameras to shot the scenes in the dangerous areas of Manila, particularly in Quiapo in order to capture the life and operation of poor small-time crooks, the "little criminals" who do dirty tricks to earn money. His guerilla film-making has been recognized around the world. "Tirador" has been shown at film festivals in Toronto, Singapore, Granada, Pusan and in Marraketch where it won the International Special Jury Prize.

Director Mendoza also impressed the judges in Berlin that they awarded "Tirador" with the much-coveted Caligari Award 2008. It is the first Filipino Film to win this award which is given to a film in the Berlinale Category of International Forum of Young Films. It is the most important recognition of a film under this category. This award, given for the 23rd time this year, has been awarded to films which are thematically innovative and stylistically creative.

This award includes an endowment of 4,000 € prize from the sponsors: the Bundesverband kommunalen Filmarbeit, the German Federal Association of 150 cultural cinemas and the film journal "Film-Dienst".

The judges gave the Award to "Tirador" with this reason: "Well-thoughtout paradigmatic sequencing shows daily survival between pickpocketing, gambling, part-time-jobs, arbitrary police acts and corrupt politicians. Dramatic highpoints are blended into scenes of everyday life." Indeed this film blends fiction and reality to portray the life of street criminals who are exposed to crimes, drugs, and abuses. What was originally planned as a documentary film turned out to be a feature film with the local election and the Holy Week as its backdrop. "Tirador" refers figuratively to somebody who makes a hit (tira) which refers to hired killer, drug addict, thief and the like. Director Mendoza workled closely with the film's writer Ralston Joel Jover and even interviewed "little criminals", went to their houses and in places where they do their petty crimes in order to show authenticity in his film which was originally planned to be documentary.

The corruption of politicians and abuses of police officials are also portrayed in the film. The drama of Philippine elections with rampant vote-buying and empty promises of policians were also shown. The movie ends with the little criminals joining the people in a prayer rally in Manila, an event which was attended by senatorial candidates who promised a better life and future for the people.

Director Mendoza was born 1960 in San Fernando, Pampanga and studied Advertising at the University of Santo Tomas. He worked in television and theater before focusing into filmmaking. His fifth major film gathers film legends like Jaclyn Jose, Julio Diaz and several young actors whose films have been shown and recognized in film festivals abroad: Jiro Manio ("Magnifico", Best Children Film at Berlinale 2004), Nathan Lopez ("Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros", Best Children Feature Film and Teddy Award, Berlinale 2006), Kristofer King ("Ang Babae sa Breakwater", Cannes 2004) and Coco Martin ("Masahista", Locarno 2005). His major films which were shown in major international film festivals which include: "Masahista" (The Masseur, 2005), "Kaleldo" (Summer Heat, 2006), "Manoro" (The Aeta Teacher, 2006) and "Foster Child", 2007. Director Mendoza was joined in Berlin by other "Tirador" staff: Producer Ferdinand Lapuz of Centerstage Productions, Script Supervisor Armando Lao and Actor Coco Martin.

Indeed, "Tirador" and the other Filipino films who made it to this year's festival are products of the blooming independent film genre brought about by the prevailing "digital revolution" in the Philippines. Filmmakers are more free to try new tricks and express themselves using unconventional methods. And their efforts and creative achievements are being recognized, if barely at home, then in many international film festivals, like at the Berlinale.

The Blood of a Poet
By Eric S. Caruncho
(Published in Sunday Inquirer Magazine, 18 November 2007)

MANILA, Philippines - "Poets, too, must know how to fight." Uncle Ho Chi Minh might have had Amado V. Hernandez in mind when he penned that line. While Ho was rallying his countrymen to drive the French out of their homeland, Hernandez—a poet who knew how to fight—was languishing in the New Bilibid Prison on a subversion charge. This, however, did not stop him from composing his greatest masterpieces. The grateful Vietnamese named their capital after Ho, but how many Filipinos remember Ka Amado, our first National Artist for Literature? How many are still stirred on first reading "Panata sa Kalayaan" or "Isang Dipang Langit"? Or have their conscience awakened upon reading "Mga Ibong Mandaragit"? All too few. Yet Hernandez's work is as relevant today as when he first wrote them half a century ago: the social injustices that he railed and fought against are still here, and so are the forces that put him in jail. The more things change…

On Nov. 30, a much-deserved tribute will be paid to Ka Amado's legacy as the Cultural Center of the Philippines, in cooperation with the Amado V. Hernandez Resource Center, stages "Amado, Minamahal…," a concert featuring the poet's works. No ordinary concert, "Amado, Minamahal…" brings together the collective talents of National Artists Bienvenido Lumbera (Literature, 2006), Napoleon V. Abueva (Sculpture, 1976), Ben Cabrera (Painting, 2006), and Salvador Bernal (Theater and Design, 2003), who collaborated on the script, stage design, posters and visuals, and costumes, respectively.

The concert will also feature the music of the late National Artist Lucio San Pedro (Music, 1991), which will be performed by a hundred-voice choir composed of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philippine Madrigal Singers and the Bonifacio Choir, and accompanied by a pure dance performance by the Ballet Philippines. Set to be staged at the CCP main theater, "Amado, Minamahal…" will be directed by Chris Millado.

Says scriptwriter Bien Lumbera: "The script for 'Amado, Minamahal…' has been structured according to the three dominant themes of his poetry, namely, freedom, justice and human rights." He adds, "The three themes are the pressing concerns of our society today as the present administration has allowed the military to exercise unwarranted power to enforce compliance with its political designs." Lumbera believes that Hernandez's works, though written in the 1950s, still have a message for contemporary Filipinos.

Explains this National Artist for Literature: "After he was released, Ka Amado was simply transported from the repressive confines of a prison cell to the repressive world outside where an anti-subversion law hang like a sword of Damocles over the heads of writers whose ideas could be interpreted as bearing traces of socialist or communist ideologies." But Hernandez, says Lumbera, continued to think and write as a free individual. His works have much to say to Filipinos today. "His 'Panata sa Kalayaan' is a message to the post-EDSA and post-9/11 Philippine society under the Arroyo regime, where the Human Security Act hangs over the heads of men and women who vigilantly struggle for freedom, justice and human rights." Hernandez was the epitome of the engaged artist, a man of action who nevertheless still had the sensitivity to give voice to the inchoate cries of the suffering masses. The need for men like him hasn't diminished, says Lumbera.

Hernandez was born in 1903 in Hagonoy, Bulacan but grew up in Tondo, Manila. He was only 19 when he joined Aklatang Bayan, a literary group which included established Tagalog writers such as Lope K. Santos and Jose Corazon de Jesus. In 1932, he married stage actress Atang de la Rama, who would also become a National Artist. When the Japanese invaded the Philippines, Hernandez became a guerrilla. It is believed that he first encountered the ideas of socialism through the Hukbalahap movement. After the war, Hernandez became a Manila councilor and a labor leader, organizing the biggest strike ever in Manila in 1947, and coming to the attention of the military. In 1951, during a crackdown on the Huk rebellion then raging in Central Luzon, Hernandez was arrested and eventually charged with rebellion with murder, arson and robbery—a complex crime unheard of in Philippine legal history. The case became a celebrated civil rights issue, drawing the support of such legal luminaries as Claro M. Recto, Jose P. Laurel and Claudio Teehankee. Nevertheless, Hernandez wasn't released until 1956, and he wasn't acquitted until 1964 in a landmark decision that is still invoked to this day.

By that time, Hernandez had already written the works that he would be remembered for. He died in 1970, but his words live on: "Pilipino akong sa pambubusabos ay hindi susuko! (I am a Filipino who will never, ever give in to oppression). "