B8
April 2015
MetroVanIndependent.com
Lifestyle/Entertainment
Opening Salvo
Pope Mobile
PINOY MIXX
By Rene Orobia Durian
When my college classmate and dear
friend Luisa Mendez-Marshall invited
me to write for this very promising and
prestigious publication, hesitation and
excitement crept in.
I thought of using the iconic jeepney to
visually represent my column to remind
our dear kababayans in this part of the
world that, yes, jeepneys are still alive and
kicking and still the dominant mode of
transportation.
In fact, during the visit of Pope Francis,
the pope mobile was designed using the
jeep as its inspiration. This vehicle brought
Pope Francis all around the streets of
Manila as he was greeted by millions of
Filipinos in the entire 4 day sojourn.
Beautiful Bohol
The Philippines has much to offer when
it comes to beaches. Palawan being
considered one of the best is of course
hands down winner.
But there is another island that the
country is also proud to share – Bohol.
Despite the devastating earthquake that
destroyed most of its century old churches,
Bohol is fast on its way to complete
rehabilitation.
In our recent visit to this beautiful
province, Bohol is still a tourist destination
to consider. The world-renowned chocolate
hills, the captivating Panglao beach, the
endearing tarsiers, the diverse species of
birds, butterflies, and exotic animals and
the enchanting caves are just a few of the
remarkable reasons why Bohol is one of
the most fascinating places to be.
The brilliance behind the name
From left: Nora Aunor, Paolo Bertolin and John Badalu.
When I inter viewed internationally
acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Brillante
Mendoza during his latest project Sinag
Maynila, I was not surprised at his innate
brilliance.
Mendoza started his career as a
production designer accounting for most of
the country’s award winning commercials.
His reputation as a truly brilliant production
designer was developed over a decade of
working in the advertising industry.
His directorial debut film “Masahista
(The Masseur) “which starred Coco Martin,
was just an off shoot of prodding by some
friends.
When he did the film, it created a stir
among its audiences here and abroad.
Masahista (The Masseur) instantly won
the Golden Leopard Award in the 2005
Locarno International Film Festival in
Switzerland and served as a precursor for
the escalation of Alternative Cinema in the
Philippines.
“The responsibility of a filmmaker does
not begin with the shoot and ends with the
screening. The responsibility continues
until the impact of the film is validated
through the audience’s reactions,” he said.
Since then, Brillante, through his Center
Stage Production has produced a body of
work that reaped awards and recognitions
from local and international film festivals,
including his most recent accomplishment
in the Asia-Pacific Screen Awards for Thy
Womb; Asia-Pacific’s counterpart to the
Oscars.
H i s wo r k s p r o p e l l e d a ye a r l y
retrospective film screenings in Europe,
Asia and Russia where the world’s film
critics regard him as an “ultra neo-realist”
for portraying social realities and lives of
ordinary people in extraordinary situations.
The French government awarded
Brillante Ma. Mendoza with the Chevalier
dans l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres or Knight
of the Order of Arts and Letters. The first
and only Filipino director that has been
bestowed the singular distinction and
elevated with the likes of distinguished
filmmakers, Bernardo Bertolucci and Dario
Argento.
For his accomplishments and standing
in world cinema, most film festivals all over
the world have requested Mendoza to sit
not only as Jury Member, but also as Jury
President.
Currently, Mendoza remains to create
socially significant films and documentaries
that portray the lives of the Filipinos
and the marginalized sectors of society,
nurturing film audiences for Alternative
Cinema by screening his films in schools
all nationwide.
His film, Manoro, is part of the local
Depar tment of Education’s of ficial
component for Grade 8 students. His films
are based on real lives of ordinary people
in extraordinary situations.
Brillante Mendoza is the first and the
only Filipino filmmaker who won as Best
Director in 2009 Cannes film festival
besting Quentin Tarantino, Ang Lee and
Pedro Almodovar among others. His name
speaks so much of his persona.
Sinag Maynila
Mendoza’s latest project is Sinag Maynila,
a film festival featuring alternative films,
which Brillante personally curated. A
collaboration with Solar and Shoe Mart,
these featured films will be marketed
internationally.
For the longest time, the local film
industry is flooded with films that were
inanely crafted. Raking in millions of pesos,
the local moviegoers had no choice but to
swallow these films.
With the efforts of Brillante Mendoza
and other local independent filmmakers,
the moviegoers would have the chance to
watch socially relevant films.
The festival, which will culminate
on March 24, will have its awarding
ceremony with the jury composed of
prominent figures in international and local
film industry: Paolo Bertolin, John Badalu,
F. Sionil Jose, Bienvenido Lumbera.
Armando and Tito Valiente.
Who da who?
Just to tickle your imagination, I will share
some bits of blind items:
• Good-looking young actor rumored
to have successive affairs with
high-ranking politicians. Actor’s
name is foreign sounding.
• Two of the country’s popular,
pretty and young actresses are
actually lesbians. One actress
had an ex-boyfriend who was
caught in the act with another
very popular young actor, while the
other one has a current boyfriend
who is rumored to have broken off
with another young actress who
revealed that he is gay.
• These couple is also rumored to
be gay and lesbian. While both are
singing beautiful tunes together,
the showbiz industry could not
help but raise their brows whether
the relationship is for real or mere
publicity.
Can you guess the showbiz name of these
personalities?
• Ignacia Mabug-at
• Regina Alatiit
• Claudia Maluloy-oy
• Socorro Ledesma
• Rodel Nacianceno
• Ma. Teresa Llamedo
• Alma Vaca
• Ricardo Macaraeg
• Evangeline Rose Eigenman
• Esperanza Padilla
• Juanito Ong
• Cipriano Cayabyab
• Jesusa Sonora
So there you go. I hope that Pinoy Mixx
has brought some information from the
Philippines that would update and entertain
you. See you on the next issue!
Rene Orobia Durian is an educator, publicist
and media specialist in the Philippines. He
spearheads an effective media and press
relation management team with politicians,
filmmakers, performing artists, religious
leaders and education figures as clients.