Film on Aeta teacher makes rounds in film fest competitions

From the director of Masahista and Kaleldo, Brilliante Mendoza comes up with Manoro (The Aeta Teacher), which tells the struggles of a 13-year-old Aeta named Jonalyn, who teaches middle-aged and elderly townsfolk to read and write in order for them to cast their votes in the national elections. BRILLANTE MENDOZA'S THIRD FEATURE FILM "MANORO (THE AETA TEACHER)" IS COMPETING IN THREE FESTIVALS THIS NOVEMBER. "MANORO" IS ONE THE SIX FILIPINO FEATURE FILMS SHOT IN DIGITAL FORMAT VYING FOR THE LINO BROCKA AWARD IN THE DIGITAL LOKAL COMPETITION IN THE CINEMANILA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, WHICH BEGINS TODAY, NOVEMBER 3 AND RUNS UNTIL THE 15TH OF THIS MONTH.

DIRECTOR MENDOZA WILL ATTEND THE 23RD TORINO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (NOVEMBER 10-18) IN ITALY WHERE THE FILM IS COMPETING IN THE INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM COMPETITION. THE FILM WILL SCREEN ON NOVEMBER 13, 14 AND 15. "MANORO" SCRIPTWRITER RALSTON JOVER WILL BE COMPETING FOR THE INVITO ALLA SCUOLA HOLDEN FOR THE BEST SCREENPLAY.

FROM ITALY, "MANORO" WILL BE IN THE DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION SECTION AT THE 28TH FESTIVAL OF 3 CONTINENTS IN NANTES, FRANCE, WHICH RUNS FROM NOVEMBER 21 TO 28. LINO BROCKA'S "ANGELA MARKADO" WAS GIVEN THE GRAND PRIX AWARD IN 1983. THE FILM WAS SHOT ON LOCATION AT SITIO TARGET IN SAPANGBATO, ANGELES CITY. IT FEATURES AN ALL AETA CAST LED BY JONALYN ABLONG AND HER FATHER EDGAR. THE STORY OF "MANORO" PARTLY TAKES INSPIRATION FROM JONALYN, WHO GRADUATED FROM ELEMENTARY LAST APRIL FROM THE SAPANGBATO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. "MANORO" IS THE FIFTH FILM PRODUCED BY CENTERSTAGE PRODUCTIONS AFTER "MASAHISTA" (2005 GOLDEN LEOPARD AWARD, LOCARNO), "TWILIGHT DANCERS" (TORONTO, CHICAGO FILM FESTIVALS), "KALELDO" (ROME, VIENNA, HAWAII, CAIRO FILM FESTIVALS) AND "SIQUIJOR (MYSTIC ISLAND)" SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN JANUARY 2007. "MANORO" IS CO-PRODUCED BY THE HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR KAPAMPANGAN STUDIES AND ROADRUNNER NETWORK. THE OTHER FILMS COMPETING IN CINEMANILA ARE BRICCIO SANTOS' "ANINO NG SETYEMBRE," ATO BAUTISTA, JASON DONATO AND SHUGO PRAICO'S "GAMOT SA PAGKAKABAGOT," ROBERTO BONIFACIO JR.'S "NUMBALIKDIWA," LAWRENCE FAJARDO'S "RAKET NI NANAY" AND KHAVN DELA CRUZ' "SQUATTERPUNK."

Pinoy actor wins award in int'l gay beauty pageant

Got this information from the Internet. Robby Tarroza, who landed in the papers because of a controversy involving Rudy Fernandez and Alma Moreno, ironically won for the Philippines the Mr. Congeniality title in the recently concluded Mr. Gay International in California, USA.

Mr. Gay Israel won the crown with Mr. Gay USA and Mr. Gay Netherlands as runners up. It's the second year in a row that the desert community of Palm Springs hosted the Mr. Gay Competition, where Mr. Gay Israel was selected to take over the title Mr. Gay International.

The event, hosted by Bruce Vilanch, attracted a lot of participants, needing a Friday competition of 19 cities that crowned Sacramento's Grant Ermis, Mr. USA, moving him into the Saturday night International event that included representatives from Australia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Sweden, Vatican City, and Mexico.

On the International night, the title for Mr. Congeniality, voted on by his fellow contestants, was awarded to Mr. Gay Philippines. You guessed it right, it"s Robby Tarroza.

According to producer Don Spradlin, these kinds of competitions have been popular in Europe for years and they are thrilled to now have a U.S. based component looking for the "boy next door" to represent the broader gay community. The winner will serve as a spokesman to raise the visibility of gay men, humanize gays in the media, create a positive role model and confront homophobia in today's culture.

Gary V works with newbie director for his latest single's MTV

We dropped by the MTV shoot of Gary Valenciano at The Studio located in Riverbank at Marikina City last week. He was leaving the next day for the second leg of his US concert tour but still found the time to shoot the MTV of his newest single titled You Gave Me Reason, lifted from his "Relevance" album under Universal Records.

For his MTV shoot, Gary worked with a new director named Paul Soriano, the son of Jeric Soriano (who directed Gary's debut film "Hotshots" 22 years ago). After getting the chance to work with the father, Mr. Pure Energy was handled by the son.

So how was it working with a new director? "To be honest with you, it's very scary to work with a new director," said Gary V "Even with the experienced directors which I haven't worked with, it feels scary to work with them since I don't if our ideas would jive. I am open when it comes to creativity. I am serious when it comes to excellence but I am very open to new ideas. We can discuss what we want to do with something. If our ideas click, then fine. If not, then let's try something else. But with Paul, we work very well together."

The two collaborated in Gary V's most recent concert titled "Gary V@ 23" where Paul did the music videos used in the show. Gary V is looking forward to working with Paul in a major concert in the future.

First horror flick for Kristine

"Wag Kang Lilingon" is Kristine Hermosa's first horror film and happily, she didn't encounter any ghostly or horrifying experience while doing the movie, in real life or while on location shoot for the film jointly produced by Star Cinema and Viva Films.

Before she shoots for any scene in the horror film, Kristine makes sure she prays. She wouldn't want any spirit to come with her when she goes home. That would be scary indeed! But since they've finished shooting the movie, there's no reason for Kristine to get scared over restless spirits tailing or hounding her. But she agrees with her director Jerry Lopez Sineneng (who directs the episode titled Salamin) that doing a horror film is a different kind of experience.

While she says they are not competing with the box-office gross of "Sukob," the highest grossing local horror film to date, Kristine recognizes that the box-office take of "Wag Kang Lilingon" would certainly be compared with that of "Sukob," since both films were produced by Star Cinema.