El Presidente NY Fest winner; Gov. Jun has time for family

Days before sweeping the 61st FAMAS Awards Sunday night, Laguna Gov. E.R. Ejercito scored a victory at the just-concluded SoHo International Film Festival in New York which named El Presidente, the Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo biopic that he produced and stars in, Best World Showcase Award. The filmfest celebrated independent filmmaking worldwide.

According to Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre, El Presidente bested finalists from Canada (Assault on Wall Street), Austria (Body Complete) and Germany (Tim Sanders Goes To Hollywood).

“The filmfest’s panel of jurors, as well as critics, were all impressed by El Presidente’s technical brilliance and memorable performances,” Edmund quoted festival founder and president Jorge Ballos as saying.

The SoHo screening served as El Presidente’s world premiere. Its all-star cast includes Nora Aunor, Christopher de Leon, Cristine Reyes, Baron Geisler and Cesar Montano. Of the major cast, only Baron made it to the Big Apple, accompanied by his manager Arnold Vegafria and El Presidente executive producer Maylyn Enriquez.

The US-based Filipino guests included Consul General Mario de Leon Jr., his wife Eleanor and their daughter Joyce.

Now on its fourth year, the SHIFF has been named as one of “Top 50 Festivals Worth the Entree Fee” by MovieMaker, America’s leading resource on the art and business of making movies and the world’s most widely-read independent movie magazine. MovieMaker noted that many of the films shown at the SoHo festival get picked up for distribution.

“We are thrilled to have broken so many records this year such as screening films from the most countries ever, as well as including the most women and young filmmakers,” said Sibyl Santiago, executive director and head of marketing for the festival, who is the daughter of veteran and award-winning actress Lorli Villanueva.

“We also had more celebrities attending like Julia Stiles, who came in support of producer Julie Pacino’s film, Billy Bates, and beloved character actor Luis Guzman, who went undercover as a homeless person for his docudrama The NIMBY Experience, part of a larger project that has celebrities going undercover to expose the underbelly of causes they are passionate about,” Santiago added.

Sweden’s En Hemlighet by Dennis Petersen was adjudged Best World Short Film; The Lepidoctor by Jonathan Barenboim, Best Showcase Short Film; The Silent Thief by Jennifer Clary, Best Showcase Feature Film; Running For Jim by Dan Noyes and Robin Hauser Reynolds, Best Documentary; and Concrete Jungle by Steven Cartoccio, Best Animated Film.

 Wet Behind The Ears by Sloan Copeland won the NYC Audience Award; Junction by Tony Glazer, Special Jury Award; and West End by Joe Basille, SoHo’s Pick for 2013.

 The festival was made possible by its partners: NiteTables, AnestasiA Vodka, Domaines Barons de Rothschild’s Los Vascos Wines, Flatiron Hotel, Ayala Land Premiere, OKVenue and Greenhouse NYC. Giveaways were also provided by Illyissimo, New Era Caps and Mercy Energy Drink with official festival photography by Champion Eye Media.

Once he assumes office (you know, if and when) as Mayor of Antipolo City, Gov. Jun Ynares assures everybody that he will always have time for his family.

That’s Gov. Jun’s response to inquiries how he will divide his time between work and home as he faces the hands-on task of running a city (as compared to running the whole province).

His wife Andeng Bautista-Ynares, sister of Sen. Bong Revilla, can attest to Jun’s being an ideal husband and father to their daughters Cassandra and Via.

“Never siyang nawalan ng time para sa amin no matter how busy he is,” says Andeng who is a plus factor in Jun’s campaign. “I can’t ask for more.”

During his term as governor (which ends in June this year), Jun steered Rizal into being a topnotcher in terms of wealth, health and peace and order. In 2010 and 2011, Rizal was declared “Province with the best road network” by the Department of Public Works & Highways (DPWH) and the Seal of Good Housekeeping (as far as transparency and accountability) from the Department of Interior & Local Government (DILG).

Jun was also hailed as “champion of CALABARZON” by the Department of Health (DOH) for his Universal Health Care project and credited for building the most number of schoolhouses and municipal halls in various towns of Rizal.

“My husband has his achievements to stand on,” adds Andeng.

What’s up?

Correction, please: 2013 Miss Universe-Philippines Ariella Arida is from Alaminos, all right, but it’s the town in Laguna and not the one in Pangasinan. Thanks to readers Noreen Belen and Romeo Faylon for making the correction. Part of Laguna’s third district, Alaminos is famous for sweet lanzones and rambutan, and as the gateway to the Hidden Valley Spring. Incidentally, Ariella said that her Binibini role model is Venus Raj. Good choice.