IDEA. U.S.-based film director Dandin Ranillo says he is amenable to my idea to do a campus tour of his movie Palad Ta Ang Nagbuot starting June so as to enable the students to watch it. I also suggested that the same flick be shown in select cities and municipalities with the local government units getting a certain percentage from the ticket proceeds. To me, it’s one way of screening the Visayan movie outside the traditional cinemas, thus reducing the ticket prices which are understandably higher in theaters.
DELIGHTFUL. So last week, Palad was finally screened in a mall cinema after it was filmed in 2012. Sadly, the crowd turnout was not that impressive and encouraging, simply because the movie was shown after just four days of radio and newspaper plugging. What can we expect from such short notice? However, those that watched the screening were one in saying that Palad was a truly delightful production as it had a good mix of action, light drama and comedy.
ORMOC. Last week, I was in Ormoc City to attend the afternoon seafront wedding of Keith and Diane Velasquez (nee Montesclaros) and emcee the reception party at the Sabin Hotel Resort. It was actually songbird Hildigrace Montesclaros a.k.a. Ate Ging of As Time Goes By fame who invited me to join her during the Ormoc sojourn. She also stood as one of the wedding’s principal sponsors. Our Ormoc trip gave me the chance to tour around the city and see the rapid development it is enjoying.
PLANTATION. Ate Ging’s nephew Lito del Rio and his lovely wife Yangyang were so warm in accommodating us, as well as Doming and Irene, Ate Ging’s other nephew and niece.
Lito brought us to the massive Sabin pineapple plantation that covers over 400 hectares and two barangays (Biliboy and Bagaswi). The entire plantation is so huge that we can safely say that it is as far as the eyes can see.
CONTESTS. Dr. Paulus Mariae Cañete, president of the original Mandaue City College based in Barangay Basak, has commissioned me to come up with the mechanics on two contests that he is spearheading.
The first is the jingle writing competition and the second is the logo design contest, both featuring dyPC 91.9 FM, the radio station of public concern. This broadcast outfit is owned and operated by the Mandaue Broadcasting Center, whose studio and transmitter are situated within the college’s compound. I still have to finalize the mechanics of both competitions that I shall announce here soon.
WORKSHOP. I’m glad to know that my long-lost friend, Gina Prohhorov (she is happily married to an Estonian), is coming to town to conduct a summer workshop for kids, teens and ladies. We used to work together at dyLA before I left the radio station in 1995 to work at the Capitol as consultant on media affairs. The summer workshop that she’ll conduct from April 27 to 29 at Robinsons Fuente activity area is for kids from two to 12 years old (Fashionista Course), 13-20 years old (Gorgeous Girls) and Teens’ Modeling. Gina told me that the summer workshop is designed to help interested participants improve their poise, projection, as well as listening skills and focus.
Those interested may call her cellphone number 0999-786-4709.