INTRAMUROS Administration Launches Summer Festival and Tourism Passport

It's going to be a lot different at the walls of Intramuros in Manila as they celebrate their 46th Anniversary and the 2 initiatives, the Intramuros Summer Festival and their exciting Intramuros Passport.

Atty. Joan Padilla says "We are on our 46th year of the Intramuros Administration and as a testament for our commitment, I am thrilled to announce the two initiatives the Intramuros Summer Festival and the Intramuros Passport. This will happen on April 26th, aimed to showcase history, vibrant culture, deepening Filipino identity in one day. We have programs, projects, activities to enjoin everyone in the development of the walled city. We have partner schools who made this possible, and we are also excited to launch the Intramuros Passport. This will unlock access to key locations, allowing you to collect stamps to remember your experience here. If you avail of it, you get free access to the Summer Festival and Sinag Concert in the evening. This is an opportunity to strengthen our partnerships, together with the CCP and Ballet Theatre, to perform here as this will be a commitment to the future of Intramuros. Mabuhay ang Intramuros!"

Head of Tourism Promotions Rhea Kristine Cy says "The Intramuros Summer Festival is taking place at the Plaza Moriones in Fort Santiago, and will have activities in other locations too. The local businesses, schools and residents will also have collaborations with them on this day. Domestic and International tourists are encouraged to come."

7:30 Zumba Session at the Plaza Moriones, 8am Street Parade to Plaza San Luis, Performers from schools of zletran, Manila, Mapua, PLM and Lyceum will also be there. UST will have a medical mission at the same time til 12 noon. Centro de Intramuros will have Storytelling Sessions from 2:30pm, Living Museum at 2pm in Centro de Turismo, Pop Up Markets at General Luna along the Riverwalk. The grand Sinag Concert will happen at 6-10pm at Plaza Moriones inside Fort Santiago. Artists like The Itchyworms, Earl Agustin, Over October and students will perform in the concert. This will be hosted by Zephy Francisco and Boobay. 

Intramuros is currently vying for Asia's Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards, so if you have time, go vote for them!

About the Intramuros Passport, Head of Business Management Dan Mendoza says "This is a milestone, a creative tourism initiative to position Intramuros as a vibrant tourism destination. To get it, you need to purchase it at ticket booths at managed sites and this will get you to Fort Santiago, Casa Manila, Baluarte de San Diego (8 sites) for only 350 pesos. It's non transferrable, seniors and pwd's will be given discounts. You get to earn passport stamps at each site, a rewarding cultural journey. It will be memorable, and there will be perks on pre selling starting April 26, because you get free tram rides, and the Summer Fest Sinag Concert. Discounts will be given to passport holders in participating partners like Barbara's, Tesoros, coffee shops and a whole lot more. There will be more things to come back to in Intramuros. You can scan the qr code for more information."

There will be FREE regular performances to be done by Philippine Ballet Theatre as they also partner with the Intramuros Administration, (they did this too in the 90's but it stopped in 2021 for various reasons) now they are forging shared visions to life!

Now that's just the start, there's a lot more that is going to happen in the walled city soon. More shows will be scheduled this year as they partner up with CCP and Philippine Ballet Theatre. Go get the Intramuros Passport today!

A Look at Jodi Sta. Maria's Psycho Horror Thriller "UNTOLD"

Regal Entertainment's scary movie offering "UNTOLD" was just given an advanced screening and scream party at the SM City North Edsa's THE BLOCK. It was witnessed by Regal Entertainment head honchos Keith Monteverde and Roselle Monteverde. While Jodi Sta. Maria is out of the country filming an international project, actresses Sarah Edwards and Kaori Oinuma attended the screening to say hi to lucky students, fans and media covering the event.

Jodi plays Vivian Vera, a reporter/anchor for a TV station. The film was easy to absorb at first, but it is a psycho thriller, full of jump scares and g0re. It was also very claustrophobic because much of the entities come from different directions. This is also about PTSD, mental health, and family.

Keith and Roselle Monteverde, Regal Entertainment Inc. is personally working on this film

This seems like a huge experiment for Jodi, and the film is full of things that would make you question realities. You get scared for a while then end up being in a flashback, or immerse in a supposed alter reality then see it being true. You also won't be able to invest too much on characters because one minute they're goody two shoes, the next day they're going to the underworld. Her involvement with all of them is consistent though, which again, made this story line cerebral, it makes you think and question every time what is true, what is happening now, and what's not.

The entertainment value certainly is enough for a Jodi Sta Maria film, and if you doubt her capability to scare, I've seen several people in my row screaming at times. Much of the content is psychologically heavy, and you'll feel the struggle on why the characters are doing what they are doing, even after the "afterlife". The narrative is stressful, so make sure you are ready for this horror film because by any standards, Jodi did justice with hear character. You'll also love some not so serious things that JK brings, which gives relief despite the heavy plot.  

Director Derrick Cabrido may have had a field day doing this with an actress that is capable of playing complex personalities. She did phenomenal, and the script certainly has been researched well. If you are practicing witchcraft (not that I'm insinuating you are), you'll also be seeing a lot of clues why we say that. This is another layer that you should discover when you watch it on theaters on April 30.

ALFRED VARGAS To Pay Tribute For Superstar NORA AUNOR

I distinctly remember watching the film "PIETA" during its advanced screening a couple years ago at Sine Pop in Quezon City. If memory serves me right, it's the last film released prior to a horror flick "Mananambal" which was also done by prolific director Adolf Aix Jr. last year. ALFRED VARGAS played her son Isaac who least wanted to be recognized but it was a bit too late because of her mental state and the mystery surrounding their affinity with another character played by Direk Gina Alajar. That was iconic compared to the same movie with the same title done in 1983.

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In recent events and her passing, Alfred says "My dear Ate Guy (Nora Aunor's moniker), working with you has been one of the greatest honors of my life. You have touched my heart in so many ways and have also given me so much without uttering a word. You have inspired and mentored me through our scenes and I won't forget about our time in PIETA, and I won't forget you. Her humility and generosity is only what true stars possess. I only felt this with you Ate Guy. Thank you for accepting me wholeheartedly, and to have the chance to work with you, to know you as the one and only SUPERSTAR, may you rest in peace and I love you!"

And as a tribute to the SUPERSTAR Nora Aunor, Alfred Vargas will be doing a screening of PIETA in SM.Cinemas nationwide later this year so that her adoring fans would be able to get a glimpse one of the last films of Ms. Nora.

A worthy tribute for a National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts!

Peaceful settlements of dispute with China: Is it Possible?

There is tension in the West Philippine Sea and it can't be denied that it has further soured relations between our two countries. While it's maddening to even hear things like bullying and physical harm to fishermen and coast guard personnel, we were able to hear from the Chinese side as some of their educators from different universities were in the country to tell their side and how the Chinese psyche works. 

This is part of Kamuning Bakery Cafe's Pan de Sal Forum which was moderated by Rod Cornejo. Former Senator Nikki Coseteng and Professor Rommel Banlaoi the President of the Philippine Society for International Security Studies and Director of the Center for the Study of Philippines-China Relations was also there to explain things about the Philippine action and challenges. For the Chinese side, they had Dr. Lei Xiaolu the Vice Director of the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (also a Professor from the  China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies in Wuhan University), Dr. Zheng Zhihua the Associate Professor and Head of East Asia Marine Policy Project at the Center for Japanese Studies in Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dr. Yan Yan the Vice Director of the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative and also the Director of Research Center for Oceans Law and Policy, National institute of South China Sea Studies, Professor Hu Bo the Director of the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative and Director of the Center for Maritime Strategy Studies and Research Professor of the School of International Studies in Peking University.

Nikki Coseteng says "It is very dangerous to be guided by propaganda. Peace is a necessary ingredient for a future we can depend on, for opportunities, and the establishment of it that is based on justice."

She adds Those who make money from war are not winners. Does everyone want peace in Asia? We do. We read the Philippines is purchasing F16 jets, but those are almost obsolete. We saw Ukraine, Gaza, and support coming from abroad but the people who perished in millions are inside the country. We in Asia have an economy 3-4 times bigger than EU, why would you want to destroy that? We want that for our children. We have to sit down, don't kid yourselves on settling it now. That won't happen. It might take one or two hundred years, but it would benefit generations thereafter."

Professor Rommel Banlaoi says "Peaceful settlements of dispute with China is the topic for today. I need to cite the work of a good friend from the US Taylor Fravel who mentioned 23 territorial disputes of China since 1949. In his dissertation, he has indicated how China has been able to resolve disputes where China gets less of the contested territory. In more cases than one, China offered a generous compromise of the disputed land, and give more to the neighboring countries. This is a finding from an American, and not from Chinese."

Professor Hu Bo says "We should peacefully resolve the South China Sea issues. It is difficult to resolve it with maritime disputes and 5 parties. In our lifetime we would not see the resolution of it. No other party will give up maritime claims. In the last year , there is progress even if there is tension. It is important for both countries, the China policy is consistent. Foreigners ask what the next step is, China has no plans, but remain status quo."

Dr. Yan Yan says "In the long run, how do we prevent crisis? It is self restraint. We already have bilateral relations and talks, any of the communication is being done, and in the long run we want to solve the disputes. If you look at it objectively, we don't want to do it by force but by peaceful resolution. This is what we are trying to achieve."

Dr. Zheng Zhihua "Three facts to choose, justice, respect and peace in the China sea dispute. We also need to know the understanding of China with regards to international law. Giving the capability to resort to defend territorial integrity, it is not possible for them to give up sovereignty."

Dr. Lee Xiaolu says "Every dispute has a peaceful solution, to not jeopardize the final solution. Member states should talk to other member states to prevent future disputes and not other non claimant states. Mutual negotiation and agreements through bilateral efforts should manage and handle it. Peace and stability should be a priority for people. We need to sit down to create an economic development for everybody."

Here's the forum on video to give you more context about the things they wanted to say about recent conflicts;

We got the impression that they'd rather have this be sat down with just two parties rather than involve others to resolve it. Is it possible to have a peaceful resolution? That still remains to be seen, but here's hoping it becomes a non violent process because war is NEVER an answer.