11th International Silent Film Festival at Shangrila Plaza

Have you seen a Silent Film? 

I have, and it all started when I was a kid when Charlie Chaplin was part of the reruns on TV and film showings in school. The whole thought of actually watching a movie without any dialogue must be mind boggling in this generation but it has been in existence since the start of film, more polularized in the 40's and has been treasured by countries across the world as part of their culture. To which I am not actually surprised. In our country though, it's pretty hard to actually preserve films and archiving has been non existent up until a few years ago. Generations upon generations wouldn't be able to watch it anymore if this isn't done and it's importance is indeed priceless, I am envious how other countries were able to keep theirs and watch it up until now. On August 31 to September 3, 2017, we would all get the chance to do this on the 11th International Silent Film Festival happens in Manila, particularly in Shangrila Plaza's Shang Cineplex in Mandaluyong City.

Films were restored courtesy of the film institutes of their respective countries. It constitutes the great film work, even music.

They will be featuring a few films including this one from France called L'Inhumaine (The New Enchantment) which was first shown on screens on the year 1923. Music will be done live during the screening scheduled 9:30PM on September 1 and will be performed by artists HeloiseLaHarpe. According to Diane Roblin and Martin Macalintal (from the French Embassy), he says "We looked for a film that would showcase films that would tell about how passionate France is doing it. It's very hard to do this since the French are really strict in licensing, and we are making this with new music to accompany this film. Ellouise performed in the French week two months ago and I was charmed, we needed to bring onstage how she could portray the actress in the movie and we hope you would be there."

Ms. Heloise adds "I am a harpist and a singer and have performed in Manila and I have French and Vietnamese roots. I was happy when they contacted me, this was the start of an era where women were slowly getting their independence, to love, to show how electronic sound with jazz in it's soul. I sang it in French, but it's like world language in the image and visual. My harp is electronic, so it's a little contemporary even if the film is from the 20's, I hope you get to experience the 1 and a half hour film like what we intended it to be."

For the Italian film "A Perfect Family" (Una Famiglia Prefetta), a familiar face Ruben Maria Soriquez and Alessandro Milani (from the Philippine Italian Association) was there to introduce the film. The musical scoring is also going to be done live by Tom's Story (instrumental rock trio of Gabba Santiago, Tom Naval and Christer de Guia. According to Ruben "This year we want to present something that would be able to bridge cultures, some iconic characters and musicians. The advantage of a contemporary film is that I don't have to talk about it that much. It's called Una Famiglia Perfetta. This film is an experiment, I shot it with my first HD camera 10 years ago, a footage that I shot in a span of 3 years not knowing where it would take me. It's not an ordinary film, with me, my wife and my son. I don't know if this has historical value, but I hope you like what we've done. The musical scoring has been done by a Filipino Meth rock band called Tom's Story, and I've met them just today. But I found them similar to what I used to do with my old band. My son, my whole family enjoyed it so much. There is a psychological touch in the film and you'll see that, I hope you find that interesting."

Jo Andrew from FDCP introduced this Taglish film called TAGLISH. He starts "The musical score is from Kapitan Kulam and they are quite famous in the indie scene. I hope you get to watch it Festival wide."

He adds "We thought it would be interesting to show a love affair by four people, in a cafe known for non conservative things in Vienna. It's interesting and this wasn't a power house cast, but Austrians know them now. It's called Cafe Elektrik. We brought in Rivermaya to live score the film and it shouldn't be bothering the plot, a foreign film would need no introduction since Rivermaya already knows what Filipinos listen to."

Pandoras Box on the other hand is one of the big 20's films in Germany, made by an Austrian. The main character is a woman, and she's very interesting once you get to know how how the story unfolds. Sandwich will be providing musical scoring, we found them good for the film and this is also the first time they are scoring a film and she says "we hope to see you on September 3."

The Cultural attache for the US Embassy also joined in and said "Thank you for letting us participate year after year, we are doing The General which is also directed by the star in the film, an epic comedy, a southern confederate train and it's recovery will be seen and it's said to be one of the greatest films of all time. Also had stunts with full sizes trains and presenting a Filipino soul band scoring a 1920's film set in an American Civil war."

Bing Austria adds "We will try to sound 1920's and be soul, where we will have soul and funk music, try to not make you dance, hopefully this closing number will be a party."

From the Japan Foundation who will show DRAGNET GIRL, Hirowa san says "We promote cultural exchange between Japan and the Philippines and we have Espejo Rondalla doing musical scoring. This was released in 1933 and is a gangster film, it is unique, done by a narrator. Japan does it not only with music, but with live performers standing beside it. It was once popular in Japan and is embedded in culture like Japanese performing arts. Like in Kabuki, in puppet arts, we have narrators to explain it all and the Japanes audience is used to that system in Japanese silent movies. Sometimes the performers are more popular than the movie itself, so this is a unique artform still alive in Japan. I hope the Philippine music will provide good accompaniment during the festival."

The 11th International Silent Film Festival is harnessing young, up and coming artists and musicians. They also support spoken poetry and dance. They are also mounting 2 part programa in the grand atrium, done by young film makers. Also on September 3 there will be animation of Filipino folklore called Marianing and more works of art by Filipino film makers and musicians. So there's more to really see at the Shangrila Plaza. 

For the Schedule:

August 31 - 8pm is El Golfo from Spain

September 1 - 7:30pm is Underground from UK. 

9:30pm is The New Enchantment/L'Inhumaine from France.

September 2 - 3pm is A Perfect Family (Una Famiglia Perfetta) from Italy.

5pm is Dragnet Girl from Japan

8pm is Taglish from Philippines

September 3 - 3pm is Cafe Elektric from Austria

5pm is Pandoras Box from Germany

8pm is The General from the US

Make sure you catch the films during this weekend which includes Para Sa Sining side events like The Silent Film Exhibition from August 31-September 3 and Musika X Pelicula at 3pm, 7:15pm and 9pm on September 3. 

I'll be there too. :)

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During the Disaster Resilience forum where I was invited by Cebuana Lhullier, their President and CEO Jean Henry Lhullier mentions "The country has been affected by natural disasters and has bothered the lives of 80% of the local economy. We need to work together to inform, empower and protect millions of Filipinos that are in the midst of these disasters. This is our second year on the Disaster Resilience forum and we want to reach more vulnerable sectors in the society so they become financially included and protected. This is part of Cebuana Lhullier's advocacy which we have started in 2016 tied in with our products like Alagang Cebuan Plus Gold (launched last year), Cebuana Alerto App and National Pilipino Protektado Day which aims to provide one million FREE micro insurance coverage to Filipinos across the country."

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Now that's good news. 

KUMAGCOW

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The Giving Cafe

My resting "I need a cup of coffee!" face.

What does a coffee cup carry nowadays? 

We all know the usual things like caffeine, sugar, cream, but whenever you drink a cup do you even ask where it came from? What beans they used? Or who planted it? Most often than not, we don't and a few days ago I got to see a thriving business that's been doing this for a combined 50 years. We were not there to boast about their achievements, but to spread the word that this business has been helping farmers in little ways that they can. It's why they put up an establishment called The Giving Cafe.

This coffee shop was conceptualized by Henry & Sons, a coffee solutions company. They've been supplying the country's best coffee shops with world class premium luxury coffee (via Conlins Coffee) and coffee equipment that has its origins in Malaysia (via RICMAS Philippines). The company imports and processes coffee beans from over 20 countries (like  Ethiopoa, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Kenya, Indonesia, Vietnam among others) and even provide training, support to coffee shops and companies in the Philippines. They also supply customized blends for their clientele and has been able to do so as a business. They felt they had to give back to an industry that has been so good to them all these years.

Under the Henry & Sons Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence, they want to put the Philippines back in the world map as legitimate source and stalwart of sustainable coffee farming. It is a tall order, but the vision is to start things and keep the ball rolling. This is a great example of social enterprise and the proceeds of operating The Giving Cafe will go to the projects they have lined up for the Filipino coffee farmers from Benguet. Soon, they will have projects in coffee producing farms and provinces but they decided to start where the majority of their beans are grown (Cordillera Range). 

I've known how much care they put in on producing Robusta, Excelsa and Premium Arabica beans in this region and it has gotten attention around the world already. These beans are hand picked, all drawn from plantations in the northern part of the Philippines, dried for a few days, processed and roasted in their plants to get the best the country could offer. The Giving Cafe sells off food items, coffee products and other items that has its proceeds go to these causes.

The Interiors

I'd like to actually compare this to a palette called shabby chic but they do have elements that are very eclectic, a hodge podge of different items from the owner's travels and books that they've managed to read through the years. The place is apt for around 20 - 30 people, more if you include the outdoor seating which sits across their RICMAS plant (See the light across the window?) where you can park since they own both places. The coffee shop is located at the corner of Pines and Sheridan streets. It's a couple of minutes away from EDSA and is accessible from that route. Here's the map!

The Coffee

Now as I mentioned earlier, they're all experts in the coffee business and that includes roasting. I was almost dumbfounded because when I asked what beans they used they answered back with the connotative answer like they've used them all. They import some of them, and most are sourced locally so if you see their blends, it makes our beans at par with the rest of the world. Maybe even better. They let us experience first hand at how to be a barista, well not so much but the thought of making a coffee cup with latte art was just so hard to pass.

This is their work, so perfect the heart no? It looked so easy when they were making it. Did I ace it? Well that's another story LOL.

This is one of their best sellers. and this chicken is pretty tasty.

They showed me how to make the latte art which were comprised of two shots of espresso and a whole lot of milk and froth. You have to move your wrist or else your latte art would look like fluff LOL!

They have guides you can follow, but really, it was hard!

They also had samples of the coffee beans we used and you can smell the samples when it's grounded. I wanted to stay here but I remembered I have to make that latte thing haha!

Now this is my first attempt, ever, in my entire life. Although they said it was good for a first timer like me, I still think it looks like a heart with tons of fat strands haha.

The Giving

One of the main projects of under the foundation who also handles The Giving Cafe is the selling of BLOOM COFFEE. Now you can see they have different designs on them which also connotes different blends. It also signifies the different causes that they help. From the scholarships they give out to the kids of coffee farmers, to the free coffee seedlings they give to farmers, to high tech water producing machines they donate to farmer organizations (one of which they just gave to Benguet farmers recently), the proceeds from these coffee beans would go those causes. 

My family owns a small parcel of land in Tagaytay that is used for coffee plants but is already old to produce really good beans; I kinda understand you need to replenish them every couple of years; so I understand how these things sort of in more ways than one had been able to help local farmers in their goal to be as competitive as they can be in the market. To see them achieve this soon is what would make Henry & Sons happy, hopefully your support to this social enterprise would be the start. If you're around the area and looking for a place to hang out and read, The Giving Cafe would be the perfect place for that. Buy a can or more of the coffee while you're at it.  

I've never seen a man so enthusiastic about their CSR projects. Michael Harris Conlin the President and CEO of Henry & Sons Manufacturing & Trading Company Inc. says "I hope we would be able to help more farmers and inspire them to become better producers so we could get Philippine coffee back into the international market by next year. The Giving Coffee is already serving a lot of special things. This, hopefully, would be something we would be more proud of until the next decade."

Thank you so much to Henry & Sons and The Giving Cafe for having us in their event. I'd be really happy to get a cup or two of your brew when I'm in the area and perhaps take some of it to my relatives in EU who digs these stuff the most. You're genuinely helping an industry that is connected to your business and aside from that, you're caring for their families which I am so impressed with. Congratulations, I hope this goes a long way!

UnionBank Continues <|U|>Hack & Pl@y Series

It's a little daunting to talk about this but to put it simply, they want to discover talents, to discover ideas to improve their banking services. In the process, they also have created partnerships by letting them use Unionbank's API's (Application Programming Interface) and improve them even more. They want to push the envelope to find out how to do things even better. They are sponsoring hackathons and you would be amazed at what people offer, no matter what age and show us how their project works. They call it UNIONBANK Hack, going on their 5th one in this series. 

UnionBank's SVP for Human Resource and Director Michelle Rubio says "We have this soul behind the digital transformation, to have people with really good capabilities and harness UnionBank's resources. We want to progress it more and not just be the financial corporation of choice. We want to get apps and API's to deliver technology for nation building. We have been doing this since last year and we are working with the academe and their schools to improve what we have, enjoin more students, professionals and perhaps next year even a hackathon next year, hopefully to attract them to also work later on with us as we are a digital bank. Our objective is also simple, we do not agree that our talented people are being used by other nationalities because we can do it here."

She adds "Last year we thought of wicked problems, this year we want to focus on AI, VR, authenticating identity and things that are related to us as a financial institution. We were surprised that each of the groups that did good in the past are also joining us as institutions, partners or offer even freelance work. "

Not to confuse this with black hat, they're into making things that could spark positive change in the lives of Filipinos. They will also be providing the platform, possible future development of their work if they win the competition. Some cash prizes also await winners. Most of the winners have already worked with Unionbank and have worked with them over the years. If you've got bright ideas and can do code, then this would be a great opportunity for you. They will be roaming around the schools nationwide to choose the best talents, including those recommended by their professors and see how this will grow. I could see the optimism in their eyes, and they are right, why should we be outsourcing these things when we know we could do it ourselves? We've got tons of programmers and leaders in the country who can spark change, and that's a good thing. Congratulations to Unionbank for spearheading this, I can't wait to join your caravans too in the near future. :)

KUMAGCOW
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