Will 2011 MMFF hit P600M target?

The P540M gross of last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) surpassed that of the previous year’s.

In this year’s (37th) MMFF, the MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority) under chairman Francis Tolentino aims at a P600M target and, knock on wood, it’s easily attainable because of the very commercial eight entries which were announced at yesterday’s presscon, chosen out of the list of 10 submitted scripts by the MMFF screening committee.

They are:

• Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow (drama), a joint venture between Regal Films and TV5, directed by Rodolfo “Jun” Lana Jr., and starring Dennis Trillo, Carla Abellana and Ritz Azul;

• Segunda Mano (horror) by MJM Productions, starring Kris Aquino and Dingdong Dantes;

• Enteng Ng Ina Mo (comedy-fantasy) by ABS-CBN Film productions, Inc., M-Zet TV Productions, APT Productions and OctoArts Films, directed by Tony Y. Reyes, and starring Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai delas Alas;

•Hototay (comedy) by Regal Entertainment, Inc. and SMDC, directed by Joel Lamangan, and starring John Lapus, Ruffa Gutierrez, Andi Eigenmann, Lovi Poe and Melai Cantiveros;

• Panday 2 (fantasy-action) by Imus Productions and GMA Films, directed by Mac Arthur Alejandre, and starring Bong Revilla, Marian Rivera and Iza Calzado;

• Shake, Rattle & Roll 13 (horror) by Regal Entertainment, Inc., directed by Chris Martinez (Lunod episode), Richard Somes (Tamawo) and Jerrold Tarog (Parola), starring Paolo Avelino, Albie Casiño, Eugene Domingo, Kathryn Bernardo, Maricar Reyes and Lovi Poe, among others;

• Mr. Wong (action-adventure) by RP Studios, directed by Trina Dayrit and Richie del Carmen, and starring Robin Padilla with (probably) Angelica Panganiban; and

• My Househusband (romantic-comedy) by OctoArts Films, directed by Joey Javier Reyes, and starring Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos.

Among the jurors in last year’s MMFF were a bus driver, a student and a teacher.

According to chairman Tolentino, this year, they are inviting an OFW to sit among the jurors.

The 2011 MMFF will be kicked off by the Parade of Star on Dec. 24 and will officially start on Dec. 25 and last until first week of January 2012.

Alba Romeo & Co. has been chosen once again as the official auditor of the MMFF.

Leah still in US hospital, slowly recovering

Just when friends and colleagues of Leah Salterio were asking how she’s doing so far at the Glendale Adventist Medical Center in Glendale, California, where she has been confined at the neuro-ICU after suffering inter-cerebral hemorrhage last June 5 a few hours after she arrived in L.A. to attend to the opening of Dr. Vicki Belo’s first clinic in the US, Funfare got the following letter last Thursday (June 16) from hospital’s guest relations manager.

Here it is:

Hi Ricky,

I read your article and felt compelled to write you immediately. My name is Teryl MacDougall; I am the Guest Relations Manager for the Healthcare Foundation at Glendale Adventist Medical Canter. One of my responsibilities is to steward patients and family members that may be in a unique situation. I was notified about Leah on Friday, June 10th. I had the opportunity to visit her and leave my card for her and any of her visitors. I am on call 24/7 with a cell phone to offer any assistance to the patient or family members. We are offering this service to all of Leah’s family and friends.

I have had a chain of e-mails daily from associates of Leah. When I receive a letter from one of them I read it aloud to her. I do believe she recognizes me especially when she reaches for my hand and squeezes it when I ask her to. I visit her twice a day, once in the morning and once before I leave.

I have asked that family members and friends to send letters and photos to her through my e-mail. I will be posting the photos to a board so she can see them. I will also be reading letters from her loved ones to her.

I have not been in direct contact with any of her immediate family. Please feel free to forward this information to them so I can be of any assistance to them especially if they can e-mail photos or letters. I imagine she would love to see pictures of her son and daughter.

As timing has it, I will be in Indianapolis, Indiana all of next week. I have asked Kerry Nelson, a colleague to take over for me with regards to Leah. Kerry has been visiting Leah with me the past two days. It was important to me that Leah recognizes Kerry especially in my absence next week. I am copying Kerry on this e-mail along with my personal e-mail to ensure all communication gets us.

The cell phone I can be reached at is 818-914-8803

I will be checking my e-mail several times a day and will be in contact with Kerry daily next week.

I cannot imagine what you, your colleagues and especially Leah’s family must be going through. From the limited amount of time I have been with her I sense a very strong, feisty and yet compassionate young woman. The one thing I can assure you is that she has a large chain of people sending her prayers and well wishes daily.

I look forward to further communication with you and her family members.

We will be with her providing the support, love and compassion needed to help facilitate her recovery.

Our family at Glendale Adventist sends our heartfelt well wishes for you, Leah and her family.

With Sincerity,

Teryl MacDougall

Manager, Guest Relations

Healthcare Foundation

Glendale Adventist Medical Center

818-409-8321

(Note: Yesterday noon, Bulletin’s Ivy Mendoza sent me the following text message: Just now from Nimfa Rueda who is still in the hospital —“Very good news. Leah was just transferred to the neurotelemetry unit, which means that she’s in stable condition. Straight from Ruth, who talked to the nurse, as of last week, the intra-cranial bleeding has ceased as shown in CT scan results. No active bleeding, so that’s really good news. She definitely responds to verbal communication by moving her head and the left shoulder. The nurse is saying they will start physical therapy soon. Please ask for more prayers, para tuluy-tuloy na ang progress. She is still unable to speak and swallow. She is being fed Glucerna through a naso-gastric tube. The nurse said she has aspiration risk which can cause pneumonia.”)

(E-mail reactions at [email protected] or at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare.)