Why Pomeranz loves the Philippines so much

Since the early ‘80s when he first performed here, David Pomeranz has been coming so many times that he has lost count.

“The Philippines is virtually my second home,” admitted David during a recent presscon. “In fact,” he added in jest, “Philippine Airlines has a seat with my name on it. I love the loveliness of the Filipinos and their sweetness. They also love the same music that I’ve grown up with.”

To kick off the merienda presscon at a restaurant in Resorts World Manila where he’s mounting a concert tomorrow (Nov. 29, 9 p.m.) at Bar360, David sang three songs — Born For You, an only-slightly-accented Pasko Na Sinta Ko and Now and Forever which is the carrier single of his just-released repackaged deluxe album distributed by MCA Universal.

“I’ve been singing since I was four years old,” recalled David. “I would be on the floor listening to Broadway songs. I remember weeping to songs like Maria and Somewhere. The first song I’ve ever learned to sing was called Queen Cleopatra.”

David was supposed to have a concert in Tacloban City last Nov. 23, set long before Supertyphoon Yolanda hit the city, but he had to scrap it.

“When I heard about the devastation,” said David, “it struck me the way the 9/11 did. I’m writing a song for Yolanda victims.”

During his four-in-one benefit concert tomorrow, free drinks will be served and a special album courtesy of ETalent Management & Entertainment (headed by Annabelle Regalado-Borja, which is also David’s manager). The album consists of 11 tracks and four bonus instrumentals (You’re The Inspiration, Now and Forever, The Search Is Over and What Matters Most). Part of the concert’s proceeds will be donated to the Yolanda victims.

Metro Manila screened for Yolanda victims

Vue Entertainment, a well-known developer of modern state-of-the-art multiplex cinemas in the United Kingdom, is doing its share of helping victims of Supertyphoon Yolanda by holding a nationwide charity screening of the highly-acclaimed crime thriller Metro Manila in Great Britain.

“Metro Manila will be shown at 12 Vue cinemas starting Nov. 28, with the entire proceeds going to the Philippine aid appeal, following the United Nations estimate that about 11 million Filipinos are in urgent need of food, water and emergency shelter,” said Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre in a report.

The independently-produced British-Filipino movie, directed by Sean Ellis, is UK’s most important film this year as it has been selected as the British entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar at the 2014 Academy Awards.

As we all know by now, this major motion picture is a gritty thriller set in the Philippine capital — filmed in Filipino with English subtitles — and it opened to widespread international acclaim this year.

 â€œThe people of the Philippines were tremendously supportive during the making of Metro Manila, and it’s only right that we should now use the film to raise money to help the victims of this terrible disaster,” Ellis said.

Edmund quoted Tim Richards, CEO, Vue Entertainment, as saying, “We’ve all been shocked and horrified by the tragic stories and scenes coming out of the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan (international name). We would love to play a small part in helping out by showing Metro Manila, which is a seriously good movie, in aid of the appeal.”

According to Edmund, 100 percent of the proceeds from the screenings will be donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Philippines Typhoon Appeal (www.dec.org.uk).

 The DEC brings 14 leading UK aid charities together in times of crisis: Action Aid, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, Care International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Plan UK, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision; all collectively raising money to reach those in need quickly.

Metro Manila won the Audience Prize at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, and earlier this month was nominated for five British Independent Film Awards: Best British Independent Film, Best Director (Sean Ellis), Best Supporting Actor (John Arcilla), Most Promising Newcomer (Jake Macapagal) and Achievement In Production.

The charity screening will take place Nov. 28 (at 7:30 p.m.) at the following Vue cinemas: Piccadilly in Central London, Bristol Cribbs, Cardiff, Edinburgh Omni, Leeds Light, Manchester Lowry, Newcastle UL, Portsmouth, Reading, Watford, Camberley in Surrey and Thanet, Kent. Tickets are £10 each.

The nationwide screenings are being additionally supported by UK distributor, Independent Distribution, with materials supplied by Arts Alliance Media.

(To donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee [DEC] Philippines Typhoon Appeal, visit: www.dec.org.uk)

Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent among 10 Fil-Am ‘Movers/Shakers’

Congratulations to Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre who was among 10 Filipino-American movers and shakers honored by the New York Life Insurance Company (New Jersey General Office) for making an impact in the Fil-Am community. The event was held last Nov. 14 at the elegant Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel in South Iselin, New Jersey and was attended by Deputy Consul General Zaldy Patron and various Fil-Am leaders and New York Life officers.

Edmund, a long-time news editor of The Filipino Reporter, the leading Fil-Am newspaper in the New York-New Jersey area, was honored for his contributions to the large Filipino community “that are exemplary and have had such a positive impact,” according to John T. Baier, managing partner of New York Life. Edmund has written exceptional and exclusive stories on immigration, politics, criminal justice and community affairs that helped shape the community for the better.

Edmund finished journalism at the University of Santo Tomas where he was a staff member of The Varsitarian. He worked as information writer at the Department of National Defense in Camp Aguinaldo, and later as Senate beat reporter and segment producer with IBC 13 News & Public Affairs in Quezon City before moving to New York in the mid-’90s.

Also honored along with Edmund are some of the Fil-Am community’s respected leaders that include Larry Albano, Carlos Sinnung, Ramon Villongco, Yves Nibungco, Oscar Bathan Jr., Edwin Dava, Jaime Recabo, Esq.; and Delle Sering Fojas.

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