Monday, November 27, 2006 Costanilla: Carlo’s moment By Sam Costanilla Spotlight
THE large crowd applauded when he proudly declared that his ever supportive wife is “my inspiration and spirit behind my humble success as a filmmaker and comics writer.” Topnotch movie and television writer/director Carlo J. Caparas made this declaration after receiving his Gusi Peace Prize award in fitting ceremonies at Meralco Theater in Pasig city last Wednesday. I was there to witness the event in response to Direk Carlo’s personal invitation when he and true-blue Cebuano wife Donna came to town a few weeks back. Their other invitee, Governor Gwen Garcia, could not make it due to her very hectic schedule.
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DIREK Carlo was honored for his achievements in the field of entertainment with stress on cinematicexcellence. Writing over 800 novels and turning more than 200 of them into hit movies have been the basis for the Gusi Peace Prize Foundation to pick the famous filmmaker and comics writer to deserve the accolode. “This honor is not mine alone for without my wife’s full support, I would not have been here in front of you,” Direk Carlo intoned. It was at this point that he called Donna to join him onstage. She was hesitant to do so but she had no choice.
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DONNA, in her brief message, stressed that as his wife, she is just supporting him in all his endeavorsas a filmmaker and comics writer. Donna emphasized that all of Direk Carlo’s novels and comics stories have been about societal peace, harmony and understanding. “That elusive peace is the best gift we Filipinos can give our country,” she emphatically remarked. Thunderous applause followed Donna’s impromptu message.
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THIS writer would like to commend the organizers of the 1st Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish theme song writing competition in celebration of 150 years of the Minglanilla parish’s service to the community. Event coordinator Erick Cañas Pagar says the contest is open to all composers. I also gathered that the lyrics of the entries must be in Cebuano and should reflect the spiritual as well as the socio-cultural growth and development of Minglanilla through the years.
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ERICK also informed me that each participating composer may submit as many entries as possible. It is through this column that he is challenging local songwriters to submit their entries to the office ofMinglanilla Mayor Eddie Selma before January 2007. I also laud the competition organizers for stressing that all songs for the grand finals in February should be sung by talents who are actual Minglanilla residents at least six months before the big event. Prizes at stake are P20,000, P15,000 and P10,000 for the grand winner, 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up, respectively. Erick also announced that all songwriters whose entries could make it to the grand finals will receive P3,000 each.
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THIS self-proclaimed commentator is being assailed by his club colleagues for not remitting the proceeds of a fund-raising project that they organized. He has been sent a demand letter but the guy is making himself scarce. No, don’t talk about credibility; he has long lost it.
