Israeli government also helping Ondoy victims

Enthrem Beligan-Bagtas of the PR Department of the Embassy of Israel sent me a note to say that the Israeli government has been actively involved in relief operations in areas affected by Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in Laguna, Metro Manila and Northern Luzon.

Enthrem writes, In addition to the medicine donation of the State of Israel to support the medical needs of the typhoon victims, an Israeli organization called Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid (IsraAID) sent a team of medical experts to help affected families of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

The Israeli experts, six volunteer doctor, nurses and paramedics from IsraAID, arrived in the Philippines last Oct. 10. They will stay in the country for two weeks to offer medical assistance and medications to the typhoon victims. 

To date, they have already started their free medical assistance to victims in the Laguna area in coordination with “Operation Blessing,” a Filipino Christian organization. In the next two weeks, the Israeli experts are set to visit affected communities within Metro Manila and Northern Luzon.

Thank you.

Dolores in Cinemanila fest

Lito Casaje’s full-length independent film, Dolores, is one of the six finalists competing in the Digital Lokal Section of this year’s Cinemanila International Film Festival at the Market! Market! Cinemas of Global City in The Fort, Taguig City.

My friend Lito writes, “Dolores is about a young adolescent torn between the love and desire of his family members. Having been raised in a cocooned world where everyone turns a blind eye on each others’ self gratification, Dolores’ sense of innocence begins to warp until it eventually breaks into a childlike kind of self-destruction.”

Dolores stars Dido de la Paz, Mailes Kanapi, Amante Pulido, Conrad de Guzman, Keith Cabanez, RJ Maximo, Joseph Garcia, Redentor Esguerra and introducing Lara Buenaventura as Dolores. A matinee is scheduled on Oct. 21, Wednesday, 4 p.m., also at the Market! Market! Cinemas. For tickets, reservations and student discounts, please call/email the Cinemanila Secretariat at 3927935 / 8429672 / [email protected]

Libera’s Ave Maria

Libera’s Filipino fans are excited to hear the group sing Ave Maria, Sanctus and Adoramus, as well as the You Tube favorite Orinoco Flow, an Enya original, in its concert at the PICC on Oct. 25. Libera, composed of boys aged seven to 16 who come from various backgrounds and attend local schools mainly from South London, became famous for its unique renditions of the classics, as well as some contemporary songs such as Love and Mercy (composed by Brian Wilson of the Beachboys). Libera’s hit songs include Always With You, Far Away, Going Home, How can I Keep from Singing and Sing Forever.

The PICC performance is the highlight of the RP-UK Friendship Week 2009. Libera will perform on Oct. 28 at the Waterfront Lahug in Cebu. The group’s albums have topped both mainstream and classical charts in many countries, and its recordings are in the Top 10s alongside major artists like Andrea Bocelli. Its album, Eternal, reached number one in the charts, the first time ever for a boys’ choir to achieve that.

Libera will be here as Ambassadors of Goodwill to help the British Alumni Association ([BAA], in partnership with the British Chamber of Commerce, the British Council, and British Embassy, Manila), to raise funds for BAA’s Foundation for the Disadvantaged Children, as well as for the Children’s Hour.

For inquiries, please call 891-9999 or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph. VIP tickets are available at the BAA Secretariat; just call 0918-9181367 or 568-0638 for details. For tickets to the Cebu performance call Arts Council office at 233-0452 and 0917-3287917. Or e-mail [email protected]

Health and beauty showcase

Vangie Kua says The Power Plant Mall at Rockwell celebrates health and beauty in a showcase (until Oct. 25), top-billed by brands like MAC, Shisheido, Shu Uemura, The Body Shop, Jurlique, GNC and Osim.

There’s also a “She’s Got The Look” workshop where participants will be made-up and photographed like a model, and consultations with top fitness experts on exercise and dieting tips.