International award is a Vindication of sorts for 'Donsol'

Independent films crafted by Filipinos are getting the recognition they deserve in competitions abroad. Just recently the movie "Donsol" won the Special Jury Prize in the 2nd Asian Marine International Festival in Chiba City, Japan.

"Donsol" had been invited to join the competition. Director Adolf Alix, executive producer Ricky Gallardo and the film's stars Sid Lucero and Angel Aquino flew to Chiba without much fanfare.

Angel made heads turn around with her looks and Sid also merited not a few glances among the delegates. Angel in fact got a special citation from the jury for her portrayal of a breast-cancer survivor who fell in love with someone younger than she is. The prize elated Direk Adolf;

"Donsol" is his first feature film. It also boosted his stock as a director. I understand he has gotten offers to direct from Star Cinema and Unitel.

The prize was also a vindication of sorts for the director after "Donsol" was practically snubbed by Kidlat Tahimik and the other judges in the last Cinemalaya festival.

But I guess that's the way thing turn out sometimes. Your work doesn't get appreciated in your own country until it makes it big abroad.

The "Fish Fall", a film from Iran, bagged the Grand Prix, besting not only "Donsol" but entries from Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan which had won awards in other international film festivals.

Donsol's prize was an appropriate gift for Congressman Gilbert Remulla, which according to Ricky Gallardo celebrated his birthday last Tuesday.

The film also had the backing of Congressman Remulla's friends Mujib Hataman, Joel Villanueva, Bembem Noel, Chiz Escudero, Armando Ilano, Sunil Shah and Justin Chipeco.

But wait, there's more. I just received news that "Donsol" has been selected as an entry in the prestigious Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival in Florida in October!

I'm dying to watch "Donsol" when it is shown in commercial theaters. It would be a shame if it weren't.

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Jessica Rodriguez wants to correct the impression that she's undergone a lot of beauty enhancing procedures. She hasn't tried any, she says, not even botox. Maybe the word got around that she's a retokado because of her friendship with beauty doctors Vicky Belo and Manny and Pie Calayan.

Jessica says she consults with both Dr. Belo and the Calayans. Dr. Belo stood as sponsor during her wedding with David Bunevacs, while Dra. Pie Calayan is her co-host in her new beauty show on QTV 11, Extreme Makeover.

What she's tried are fitness workouts and exercise machines. You'll hear a lot more about Jessica the beauty specialist because she's opening a franchise of the classy Beverly Hills Surgical Center on Monday. The center is famous for its Hollywood clientele.

She says she's been negotiating for almost a year with some of the country's best beauty doctors to join the local center. "We need the best doctors in the country because we're promoting tourism here. Instead of having a treatment in Thailand, they should have it here."

The center will be situated in the penthouse (with a private elevator) of a Makati building. It will offer a vacation-cum-treatment package, which is the trend nowadays.

The main Beverly Hills Surgical Center in California is near the Los Angeles International Airport and world-class hotels, restaurants, and shopping.

Jessica thought of opening a surgical center because as a talent manager, she often hands out advice to her wards about how to develop self-confidence, which is crucial in their career.

With Extreme Makeover, Jessica returns to television after seven years. The show is on every Tuesday, 8:40 p.m. on QTV 11.

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Bernard Palanca and Meryll Soriano tied the knot last Friday afternoon in simple ceremonies in the office of San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito. At the rites were Bernard's siblings Mico, Pita Revilla Jocson, Dr. Jocson, and Maritess Revilla.

Only her friends attended on Meryll's side. Her family is reportedly against the marriage. The interfamily rift took an ugly turn after one of her relatives claimed Meryll went through drug rehab.

Meryll is the daughter of controversial comedian Willie Revillame by Becbec Soriano.

Incidentally, Revillame has made the gossip columns again after his present wife Liz Almoro, reportedly left him. Late last week, I learned that Liz was planning to file for annulment and will hire a very prominent woman lawyer to represent her. Villame's camp has denied the rumors.