Jasmine Curtis, Myke Liwag and Nico Locco for CULION

Spent the morning at Black Maria Pictures for the private screening of Culion. The movie is set to impress audiences this coming December 25 as part of the Metro Manila Film Festival. Before we watched the film, we got to talk to Jasmine Curtis, Mike Liwag and Nico Locco who are also part of the film. These three had their own character conflicts, one that will shock you on cinemas because yes, it is worthy to find out this MMFF season (let's not spoil it for the others). For starters, they're like an unlikely love triangle which I think is going to stir things in the lives of the three women, and their community.

Jasmine says "I am already happpy just to be in the ranks of actors who have done so much great work in the industry. I already felt good making it with top caliber actresses. I am more in indie, not loud on TV, low key, simple and happy that I am working with those who I were all just watching on screen. I wanted to work with Iza and Meryll and it already happened. We got along real good, it was just a dream to do this and I was inspired to share the same work ethics and enjoy it. We had the same mindset at work, and it's good."

Nico Locco, who recently won Best Actor at the Gawad Sining Film Festival adds "The difference between this and my Sabado film is the character, a little similar, but unique as I didn't know anything about it at first. My role in Sabado is interesting but Culion has historical drama, I had to do a different preparation for it."

Mike Liwag says "Physically, mentally it is a challenge, I haven't tackled anything of this magnitude and I am excited to watch it come gala night together with my parents. I hope they would be proud of me."

Here is our short interview with them before the screening.

Direk Alvin Yapan will be entering this to other film festivals but will probably enter a different version than this commercial release. It will run around 2 hours, I'll have a separate article for the review and a short feature on Mike Liwag. Stay tuned! Make sure you make this a part of your MMFF list this Christmas day!

Christmas Happens Every Month with Phildex Industries and Development Corporation

Phildex Industries and Development Corporation has been in the business of PPR Pipes, Tools and Fittings, Electrical Conduits, PP Faucets and construction materials since 2016. The men and women behind Filipino owned company have always been committed quality, employing the strictest standards in every merchandise they put out in the market.

Phildex PP-R hot and cold water pipes and fittings use imported raw materials which makes the product turn out tough and impact resistant. It goes beyond the traditional pipe connections that uses hot-melt socket and sets it up with new concepts following “One welding, lifelong connection, zero leakage, no hidden trouble.” That alone is reassuring. It solves the defects of metal pipe rust, scaling, blocking and water pollution and more. It’s also capable of reducing the energy of water transportation by 50% compared with conventional metal pipes.

Phildex Electrical Conduit Fittings are known for quality electrical accessories. All durable and tough, providing non-metallic protection for cables and conductors, providing good insulation little to know power loss or heating.  Likewise, Phildex quality faucets are durable and made from 100% virgin food-grade materials, staying away from toxins which could harm people and the environment.

In July 2019, they have started a promo entitled “Buwan Buwan Pasko sa Dami ng Pa-premyo” as a way to give back to their customers. At stake were over 500,000 worth of prizes. In order to qualify, each consumer should garner 7,500 pesos worth on a single purchase receipt of Phildex products to get one raffle ticket. They have invited mostly Architects, Engineers, Plumbers, Contractors and Store owners to join this promo as they their main consumers.

Promo winners are drawn monthly through FB Live broadcast hosted by Ms. Joy Monterola and Toni Delos Reyes, both Product Specifiers. Initially, they gave away 30 PPR Cutters, 30 Fusion Machines and 30 Pressure Test Machines for the month of July, August, and September. They also included 10 Redmi Note 8 Pro’s last October and November. And recently, they gave away 3 Lenovo IdeaPad 220-14IGM last December 6, 2019.

The grand draw this December 21, 2019, they are set to give more! For the 3rd Prize, a 42” Devant Smart TV, for the 2nd Prize, a new Sharp Refrigerator. For the Grand Prize, a brand new spanking Yamaha X Max. Now that’s just amazing!

The grand draw will be held at their showroom located at Blk 1 Lot 16 Galatia St. Brgy. Moonwalk Multinational Village in Paranaque City. It will be drawn by endorser and PBA Player, Brgy. Ginebra’s Mr. Scottie Thompson. Stay tuned for updates on their Facebook page as this happens very soon!

KALEL, 15 Shows On Theaters Today

Fresh from their win at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival for Best Director, the film Kalel, 15 will be shown on theaters today on theaters nationwide. Elijah Canlas is the young lead actor for this project and yes, he has gotten the admiration of several members of the jury and the audience during their premiere night at the same festival. The story revolves around a 15 year old student who is  a Son of a priest and is HIV positive. 

“Working with a large cast of mostly very young actors he has made a film which feels deeply -rooted in the everyday lives of its characters. His film pulls away from the sticking-plaster from the wound of the AIDS epidemic among young people of the Philippines and exposes the terror and violence that this crisis imposes on them. It’s a passionate and concerned film about lives we never see in the West.” – Jury comment, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival

They let us in on some things that happened during the shoot, Elijah shared “The production made an alter account for me and it had tons of followers the next day. It had my body shots but it had stickers so it didn’t show me. I had to lose weight, no abs, just an ordinary boy. I had to eat two apples for two or three weeks. If the scrip calls for it and I trust the director, I will do anything. If Direk Jun is shooting it, I am good. I just finished “He who is without sin” with Enzo Pineda and that will show soon. I am thankful Ms Jaclyn has been so good to me, also Tito Eddie Garcia. They are on a different league and caliber, it was just an honor to have been able to work with him. He advised me to always be early, learn the script and always be kind to everyone on set. It’s what I do now as an actor, I will forever be grateful for that advise.”

Director Jun Robles Lana also shared some of his future plans and adds “We are talking about a movie, perhaps a modern version of macho dancers. For now there are no plans yet, maybe with the same cast and a different script. We’ll have to see how it materializes soon. I am so honored to have been able to win the Best Director award in Estonia. I hope this resonates with people, but it was an entirely different audience and I was so surprised about their reaction. You would need to understand the reaction of his parents, his community and how society accepts him. He will tell his story, his secrets, if it comes out or not. I am grateful to have the honor of working with Eddie Garcia, I have had many opportunities to work with him and I haven’t seen anyone of his caliber.”

He adds "From the time I presented this project at the 2014 Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum, the story has evolved into a more complex narrative.  After years of research and interviews, what started out as a mere tale of secrets and scandal became an examination of youth culture, particularly young people in peril, and a society that cares so little about them… On the surface, the movie is about a young boy’s struggle to belong and embrace life’s complications. But on a deeper level, it is about all of us, our search for meaning in a world where the very institutions we’re supposed to look up to are weighed down with hypocrisy, dishonesty and deception.”

Here’s a short interview we did a few days ago.

Kalel, 15 will interest you about the plight of teens with HIV, their lives and the stigma attached to the condition. It is something that teens should watch, to educate, hopefully even the generations who still think and take things lightly. Go watch it on theaters today December 18. This is under Cignal Entertainment, Octobertrain Films and The IdeaFirst Company. Cast also includes Elora Españo, Cedrick Juan, Sue Prado and Gabby Padilla. Go see it for its merits!

UNIQLO's Give The Gift of LifeWear

It's the holidays and what better way to spend it than shopping right? Well no, our friends from UNIQLO had a different idea. Today we were with kids from Bantay Bata 163 and the SOS Children's Village so they could experience the same, shop for their own gifts provided for by Uniqlo as they Give the Gift of LifeWear. Funny as it sounds, I haven't heard of it until today. Apparently, they have been doing this since they have set up shop in the Philippines (around seven years) and they bid this as an annual event. A pretty way to give back to the community.

I kinda snooped in on their activity, seeing them choose essentials such as shirts, shorts, sweats, underwear and socks had me felt so happy they are doing this. As you may know, some of them are neglected, abandoned or victims of violence and these organizations are helping them live normal lives. To ultimately be productive and independent. Good thing there are private corporations that are helping them too.

Kids were all super happy about their hauls, I could imagine, they have new clothes now which they can wear not just for the holiday season, but the whole year round! 

As part of the treat, lovely Lea Salonga sang a few Christmas songs for them. Jose Mari Chan followed suit and gave a duet with the Disney princess, ahh it was just like listening to a concert, I'm sure the kids felt so loved!

Thanks to the volunteers, the Uniqlo staff who helped them to choose their outfits. There were about 120 of them but it was organized, I'm sure next year there would be more. Keep this going UNIQLO! It warms my heart knowing you are also doing this in different communities in the country but you're not even saying you do. Bless your heart!

Oh and for those who would like to help, Uniqlo also collects old but usable clothes which they give to far flung communities, you should do that if you have extras. It goes to good people.