PUREGOLD Cinepanalo Film Festival Showcased Good Short Films

It's the weekend and after the really fun Puregold Cinepanalo Film Festival Awards Night, we took time to watch the student short films this Sunday afternoon before they end screenings. 

Short films are, short. If you couldn't get your point or story across, I would feel it would fail, I think the few ones I saw were actually good. Super happy about how Puregold Cinepanalo Film Festival became a great platform for regional film makers to showcase what they can do despite the odds. I didn't even need to read the subtitles in order to understand them.

Dito, Dati was about memories. They had a short film made on VHS recorded tapes but in the end they lost it all. Then they reminisced where it all happened, how it happened. It played on family ties, filial love and what lengths you would go for them. 

Ritche Films Production on the other hand offered Sine Sine, a short film about friends in the Bicolano dialect. A supposed date plan was about to go into shambles because the local movie house called Obet's Sine Sine was closing down. It was cute, mostly about puppy love. When the plan to watch a movie didn't pan out, they made their own film. Obet's Sine Sine was back in business, and the date continued. It made the folks inside the cinema giggle. No wonder this won awards. Their soundtrack was fun and catchy too. 

Daog/Pildi was another regional short film. In Cebuano, they get to tell the adventures they had in arcade gaming (a thing I adore). It was old school, had a little cute and romantic story line. 

SAMPIE was eye candy. It's a coming of age film that had elements of a cartoon (in 2D) about a mermaid, a gay one. It's also about family  and the little joys of life. It is also about acceptance. Pretty good short film, no wonder it won awards too. 

"Our One and Only Baboy" was about an elderly couple, one stricken with cancer but chose to give up and just enjoy his vices. The lone pig was opted to be sold for money, for his medical needs and finances... But they treated it like their child (they didn't have kids). His wife was not so keen in doing it. The film has flaws, the panning shots made me dizzy, but it was certainly a touching film. It's about dreams, the idea of true happiness, love and what matters most.

If you can catch the other films today, go do it. Or maybe wait for a future release in platforms, because from the looks of it, they've got a lot of people out there that would really appreciate it.

Thanks to Puregold who's doing this annually, the ones who made it possible to showcase regional films in actual cinemas. I loved the shorts!

PRAY.COM Features Gary Valenciano on New Audio Series

Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano just recently did critically acclaimed Joseph the Dreamer and played as Jacob in the Trumpets musical.

Today marks another milestone as he puts another feather to his hat as the Philippine ambassador for the most downloaded religious app in the world. They just released a new audio series called "Heroes of the Bible: Joseph". This is his voice bringing in an emotional cinematic take on one of the famed heroes found in scriptures - which would really be fit to be listened to in today's generation.


Max Bard the VP of Content for Pray.com says “He's a breath of fresh air and has been one of the nicest voices we have heard on the app. We have been working with Gary since last year and everything has been magical. With the new audio series, Joseph. You can listen to him bring these stories to life!"

For those who don't know, Joseph is one flawed hero. You'll get to see how he gets to develop his relationship with his father, his brothers, his coat, the Pharoah, his dreams and learn from his story.

Download the Pray.com app today on the App Store or Google Play and listen to this newly imagined story. You can listen to the audio series and other stories all in the app.

Lovely Couple MayWard Hosts STARHUNT

MayWard is doing something BIG and this is it. If you’re already aware of Star Hunt, they’re doing the same thing through the KUMU App. It’s called STARHUNT The Global Showdown. It is premiering today 7PM but you have to download it before you can watch. What’s in it you say?

MayWard Overload!

They’ve got 25 Global Star Dreamers and they would have to battle it out every Wednesday night til the Grand Finals on December. They would have to perform via the KUMU app and perform according to theme, and ask for votes from friends and fans. 50% of scores will come from Judges, then 50% will also come from gifts of KUMU users in app. Two weeks for votes so they need to get a lot from you. If you want them to win, you’ve got to participate! Who knows, one of these men or women would be the next idol!

Oh and yes, this will get them a recording contract, lots of money and a sure fire way of making it in the industry as the first ever STAR HUNT winner via the KUMU App!

Happy ba #MayWard? Hehe