Serna: Cebuanos in Rome

WHILE many Filipinos and yes, Cebuanos, are now in Rome or on the way to Rome, those of us who are left behind or chose to stay behind will have to content ourselves with live and delayed telecasts of the canonization ceremonies of the new saints of the Catholic church including our own Blessed or St. Pedro Calungsod.

Some of us might even go to the southwest town of Ginatilan where many Calungsods are residing and where a festive atmosphere is prevailing right now until the canonization proper on Sunday. A parish in Toledo City is also abuzz with activities.

Hopefully, this event will help make our faith and belief in the Almighty grow and flourish even more with the intercession of St. Pedro Calungsod.

Unfortunately, during the sendoff of the image of the soon-to-be saint, some media personalities, in the delivery of their news and commentaries, and others who were interviewed, gave me the odd feeling that these people think it’s the image that was brought to Rome that will be canonized.

I even posted my insight in my Facebook account. Hopefully, they’ll realize their mistake sooner.

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Last weekend, a few members of the E-Group met Ms. Bambi Beltran and Marlon Hofer who are involved with the Visayan movie Di Ingon Nato.

They excitedly divulged that the movie has been given the chance by the SM City management to be shown commercially not just in Cebu but nationwide as well starting Oct. 31, the eve of Kalag-kalag.

We shared the excitement being true-blue Visayans and Cebuanos. At the same time, all of us also saw the need for SM management to show Visayan movies.

That way, subsequent Visayan productions will not have a hard time penetrating the theater circuit. By the way, Di Ingon Nato boasts of a stellar cast including Manila-based artists Mercedes Cabral, Rez Cortez and Franco Reyes plus Visayans like Donna Gimeno, Gregg Tecson and Daday Melgar of Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria fame. The latter is also an award-winning Visayan movie.

Di Ingon Nato was one of the most watched movies when the Cinema One film festival was brought to Cebu earlier this year and also enjoyed SRO (standing room only) attendance in Manila and other places where it received positive reviews. It even won an award in a filmfest of horror movies in Mexico.

I guess it’s not so much to ask from you to watch the movie in support of the dying Visayan movie-making industry as well as to make the Kalag-kalag celebration more memorable.
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Congratulations to the winners of the recent 6th Halad sa Kabataan grand finals held at the CICC last Saturday. For the guitar duet competition, the winners are Rondoe Abonales and Rodger Cotillas (Mandaue City), first prize; Ian Mark Belocura and Allan Barcoma (Barili), second prize; and Jason Herebias and Jose Jacob Melliza (Toledo City), third prize.

Winners of the singing competition are Mariel Minglanilla (San Fernando), first prize; Mariel Montellano (Tabogon), second; and Rhett James Malazarte (Aloguinsan), third.

Rondalla winners are: Pooc National High School Rondalla (Talisay City), first prize; Sisters of Mary – Girls Town Rondalla, second prize and Argao Municipal Rondalla, third prize.

Gov. Gwen Garcia personally handed the cash prizes and beautiful trophies. Guest performers were the Toledo City Children’s Choir and last year’s winners: Jennylyn
Tapuyao and Kier Mata, Jaime Duterte III and Garbo sa Sugbo awardee Maria Donna.

Halad sa Kabataan is a project of the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children headed by Governor Garcia herself.

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While watching the trailer of Star Cinema’s next offering Suddenly It’s Magic, I couldn’t help but notice the striking resemblance of hot Thai young star Mario Maurer to one of local entertainment industry’s current hot properties, Enchong Dee.

Playing female lead and love interest of Mario is another sought-after young star, Erich Gonzales. Suddenly It’s Magic will be shown in movie houses nationwide starting Oct. 31.

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Congratulations to Kim Panaguiton, a former Mr. Mandaue candidate, for winning best in casual, best in talent, Mr. Cut Visayas and People’s Choice awards in the recent Manhunt Philippines male pageant.

Kim is also in the indie movie Flora Mae Ang Biktima, which will be shown in no time at all.