All Nurse Cast Intoduced: SIGLO NG KALINGA (The Life of Anastacia Giron Tupas)

Last month, a call for auditions was announced by the production and the Philippine Nurses Association for the film "SIGLO NG KALINGA". This is about the life of Anastacia Giron Tupas set in three acts. In an unconventional move, they wanted to have the cast to be all NURSES. This weekend, they just announced an ensemble cast who would tell the story of the honorable lady.

Dr. Carl Balita was right. If you think about it, casting nurses in the film would entail training them because not all are professional actors. He believes in them that much, with their talent, and proved he could find the right people for the project. With the help of Archie Del Mundo who wrote and is line producing this film, they presented these individuals to the press last week.

Now it can be told, the cast includes Abbey Romero, Denmark Mismanos, Jewell Alano, Lorrich Del Tantoco, Joel Rey Carcasano, Jerico Roque, Dre Canaria, Bambi Rojas, VJ Mendoza, Tads Obach, Ms. Irma Bustamante and Ms. Lydia Palaypay. The title role of Anna Formantes went to Joy Ras who also was extremely emotional that afternoon. She mentions "Nurses are like actors too, we do our jobs everyday and try not to show much emotions especially when we get affected when someone dies, we feel and remember patients when that happens. Our jobs as nurses in a way equate to acting experience."

VJ Mendoza will play Alfred in the film.

 

VJ Mendoza adds "When I saw how they worked in the workshops we had, I saw how intelligent they were picking up advanced acting methods being taught to us by Ms. Angeli Bayani. They follow instructions very well. Imagine, I have been doing acting projects for many years, and they are at par with what I could do!"

To tell you honestly, the line of questions asked by the press was a bit worrisome as it questioned the lack of experienced actors in the list. Dr. Carl Balita took time to explain their goal of giving the roles to equally talented Nurses that would fit what they need to do in the film and how they were able to see what huge potential lies with the new cast. All of them were also eager to showcase the lives of unsung heroes, who got recognized about their work especially during the pandemic. This is a dream for most of them, and being a part of a movement to tell the story of Anastacia Giron Tupas was truly an honor they wouldn't want to pass on.  As Dr. Carl says "They have what it takes to perform the role (the actors that we chose), this is for the love of the nurses whom I want to put on the spot!" and we certainly couldn't agree more.

 

Joy Ras and Tads Obach will play Anna Formantes and Tony, a couple

Aside from the cast, Dr. Carl Balita also told us that he's working on several nurse actors like Rocco Nacino, Kuh Ledesma, Princess Punzalan, Carol Banawa and other artists to become a part of this film (or cameo roles) once the ball starts rolling. The piece will be shown mid next year and they are still finalizing some of the details. I could feel they too were so excited about the possibility of the actors surprising us all with their performances in this project, which they would rather want to do once it shows on theaters.

A lot of people are already eager to see what Director Lemuel Lorca has up his sleeves as this will be part of the award winning work he's already done in the past few years. They have intentions of putting this into international film festivals, and I wouldn't be surprised if it picks up a laurel or more when showcased abroad. 

From what I see, Dr. Carl Balita and the Philippine Nurses Association already has a gem in their hand. If the accolades come and the viewing public gets to see this film, they deserve every bit of praise they would get from SIGLO NG KALINGA. 

Congratulations to everyone who's making this dream a reality!

100 Years of World Class Hardware Solutions: Co Ban Kiat Hardware

Co Ban Kiat Hardware Inc. is celebrating 100 years in the country. This stands as a remarkable feat for a company that started retail concepts in the hardware market in the  Philippines. Today, they continue to provide world class hardware solutions around the country.

 

From their humble beginnings in Binondo Manila during the early 1920s, Co Ban Kiat Hardware Inc. initially did the wholesale buy and sell hardware business. As you may know, World War II happened during those years and Manila was in shambles. Rising from the ashes of war, Co Ban Kiat slowly resumed business with a the makeshift shanty and begun helping people in rebuild their homes and establishments by providing hardware materials during reconstruction.

In 1952, CBK Hardware was formed and market expansion efforts were made.  Business flourished and prospered further due to the fourth generation of the Cobankiat family under the leadership of Johnny Cobankiat. His accomplishments include the inauguration of Hardware Workshop as the first retail hardware chain of stores, Coby's Design Center as a means to answer the increasing demand of high-end architectural hardware products and the accreditation and introduction of Ace Hardware USA in the country, with CBK Hardware Inc. as one of its suppliers. CBK Hardware now is now towards its journey to supply the country with world-class, life-improving technological and hardware solutions.

 

Its promising milestone of achieving a century of excellence was made possible with a wide-ranging portfolio of products. Over the years, Co Ban Kiat Hardware consistently expanding its products with a one common personality; the highest quality only and its vision to be the largest network of supplier of the biggest brands in the world for hardware industry. This vision was made possible by partnering with 68 trusted global brands of building materials, electrical, houseware, power equipment, outdoor, plumbing, hand and power tools, encompassing completely any product type for building and construction and home comfort. A key source champion global hardware products including Stanley, Lincoln Electric, Baldwin, Chubbsafes, Dormakaba, Facom, Fairbanks Scales, Nilfisk Professional Cleaning Equipment, Westinghouse, Yale Locks, and more. These brands are all being smoothly distributed to customers who want to get more bang for their buck when it comes to home and facility improvement, safety and security, D.I.Y projects, energy conservation, cleaning solutions, and the like. Supplied and shared out by CBK Hardware Inc., these brands are truly together in excellence.

 

The founding belief of the company to provide the Filipino access to quality products was translated by the expansion of its geographic presence, supplying to over 2000 partner wholesale and retail stores nationwide, which includes D.I.Y stores, traditional hardware stores, depots, and much more for 68 brands and over 6,000 SKUs. CBK Hardware utilizes wide array of its product portfolio to realize market leadership in every market segment. Solidifying its distribution network is the integration of well-known business sectors and boasts an expansive list of automotive, hospitality, service, and other industry clientele as well as distinguished real estate developers and construction companies nationwide considering CBK Hardware as the most trusted supplier.  Reaping the benefits of ecommerce, CBK Hardware prides itself to be the first hardware distributor to aggressively offer products online through several ecommerce platforms and to its social media accounts.

 

Business in the hardware industry is not the only way the brand is helping the world become a better place. CBK Hardware Inc. is also partaking in multiple advocacies, philanthropic endeavors, humanitarianism, and charity work, because those in the company are wholeheartedly committed to contributing towards the growth of society and the environment. Hundreds if not thousands of people from different walks of life have benefited from CBK Hardware Inc.’s initiatives, from the intensive CSR programs to the hardware donations for the improvement of living facilities. The goodwill of CBK Hardware Inc., was also gifted to the neglected children and elders by teaming up with many GOs and NGOs.  And as part of 100 years celebration, Co Ban Kiat Hardware will massively deepen its dedication to create valuable contributions to the society and environment by launching 100 Years Donation Drive, a 10-month long CSR project that aims to help 100 organizations.

 

As the company enters a new century, there will be even more local and global brands to acquire and form partnerships with, more ways to help out and give back to the community, more homes and buildings to improve using many tools and appliances the brand has in its disposal, and more individuals to help in any way.

 

Going forward, Philippines will expect Co Ban Kiat Hardware to remain true to its heritage of providing more years of world class hardware solutions.

To inquire online, visit https://www.cbkhardware.com/. Follow their social media account: www.facebook.com/CBKHardware and join CBK Viber Community: https://bit.ly/2S4N8KB.

 

Co Ban Kiat Hardware Inc. is the preferred and trusted distributor of home improvement and hardware products in the Philippines. With its wide range of products from 68 global hardware brands and more than 2000 distribution channels, CBK Hardware is committed to provide more years of world class hardware solutions to Filipino homes and several industries.