Rica Arevalo has been in the film industry for over 20 years taking the role of director, producer and writer.
She won best documentary in Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video for her thesis film, “Nag-aalinlangang Ina.”
She was awarded best director and Carlos Palanca for Literature at the first Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival for her film “ICU Bed #7.”
She also won Mient’s Pick at the SoHo International Film Festival for the film “Ganap na Babae” in 2011 alongside Ellen Ramos and Sarah Roxas. She received other local nominations like Best Screenplay at the 56th FAMAS Awards and 29th FAP Awards for Eddie Romero’s Faces of Love, Best Documentary for her documentary film “The Privileged Migrants” at the 37th Gawad Urian Awards and Digital Movie Director of the Year for “ICU Bed #7” at the Star Awards for Movies.
She teaches at De La Salle University and De La Salle College of Saint Benilde and is a columnist (Zoom In) for the Arts and Culture section of the Manila Bulletin.
“Vahay The Ivatan House” is the story of the stone houses that have characterized Batanes for the past hundred years. For the large part of their history in the country’s northernmost province, the Ivatans lived in houses made of cogon grass. Called jinjin, these gave way to stone houses when 18th-century Spanish Dominican missionaries taught the local population how to use lime to bind stones for dwellings now collectively called nigadagada. Today, very few of the nigadagada houses in Batanes are regularly maintained.
Directed by Rica Arevalo and written by Gary Mariano, the 33-minute documentary record for posterity the remaining stone houses in Batanes. It illustrates the strength of native intelligence and skills to build houses that can withstand typhoons.
Produced by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) through the De La Salle University Social Development Research Center, “Vahay” is a collaboration of professors from the DLSU Communication and History departments, the University of the Philippines Anthropology department and the UP Los Baños Engineering-Science department.
“Vahay” is one of the documentary finalists in the Sinag Maynila 2020 Independent Film Festival. Watch all the six documentaries in select cinemas from March 17 to 24.
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After his challenging role in “Kalel, 15” where he earned critical acclaim, Elijah Canlas plays another important role in “He Who is Without Sin,” directed by Jason Paul Laxamana. It is one of the five full length features in competition at Sinag Maynila 2020.
This is his first film under Direk Jason and he said he was challenged by the role of a student turned broadcaster.
“I have lengthy dialogues together with Enzo (Pineda) and Direk Jason has long takes that made playing the role even more difficult,” said Elijah at the press conference of Sinag Maynila 2020 on Monday at The Podium Hall in Ortigas Center.
He considers “He Who is Without Sin” as one of the most challenging roles he has done but he put his trust in his director that he can pull it off and give a good performance.
He also had a good collaboration with Enzo and that helped make his performance better.
Sinag Maynila 2020 starts on March 17.
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Also featured in Sinag Maynila is the multi-awarded actor Allen Dizon who plays the male lead in “Latay (Battered Husband)” under BG Productions International.
This is Allen’s third entry in Sinag Maynila which is on its sixth year now, spearheaded by Wilson Tieng and famed director Brillante Mendoza. Playing Allen’s wife in this film directed by Ralston Jover is Lovi Poe.
“One cause of conflict between me and Lovi is that we don’t have a child. In this situation, it is a challenge for us as a couple to make our relationship work no matter the conflict we have,” said Allen of his role in “Latay (Battered Husband).”
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Young actor Micko Laurente’s favorite actress is Alessandra de Rossi so imagine his excitement when he got to play her son in the movie “Watch List” which opens today in cinemas nationwide.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” Micko shared. “I have always admired her as an actress. She’s a natural.”
He auditioned for his role in “Watch List” and he was overwhelmed when he passed. “I was so happy but I was also inspired because I am working with my idol. I know that I have to keep up with her (Alessandra) when it comes acting so I won’t be eclipsed,” Micko said with a laugh.
Their American director Ben Rekhi was impressed with Micko although at first he had misgivings in getting him for the role because he is frail and thin.
“But I knew I did the right thing in choosing him because he delivered,” said the director of “Watch List.”