Talent Management Virtual Playground ventures into Music Production with three original compositions to be released globally thru Enterphil Entertainment under Ivory Music as its initial offering.
Erik Allen’s original composition, “Langoy”, was released last Saturday and right away hit the trending list on YouTube where the official music video was aired. “Langoy” is a jazzy song about learning to let go of the pain accumulated throughout our lives and to instead find happiness from romance, family, friends and positive experiences. Erik is a second year BioChemistry student at the University of Sto. Tomas whose passion for writing songs about painful life experiences started in 2017.
“Asia’s Got Talent” Season 1 finalist Gwyneth Dorado’s original song “Tulala”, meanwhile, will be released this Saturday. Inspiring and motivational, it is an optimistic acoustic pop track about moving on. Gwyneth was also part of the Philippine runs of international musical plays “Annie” and “The Sound of Music”. Most of her earlier compositions was used as OST in the movie “Pansamantagal” and Upstream Originals’ “Happy Times.”
Then there’s national volleyball team captain-turned-actor, model and host John Vic de Guzman who recorded his first song “Mahal Kita Pero Teka Muna” – an original by award-winning composer Joven Tan – which is set to be released this month. The song talks about not being ready to fall in love again as the wounds of the past still lingers. John Vic is currently working on projects with GMA Network.
Aiming to make a mark in the Philippine music industry, Virtual Playground promises to produce more music from its very talented roster that are very relatable and current.
***
Singer-actor Ronnie Liang added another feather to his illustrious cap. The Army reservist and licensed private pilot is now a Master’s Degree holder.
On August 28, Ronnie shared a picture of him wearing a toga on his social media account. He said that after a year, he is now graduate of Master’s Degree in Management, Major in National Security and Administration from the Philippine Christian University.
“From my perspective as an artist, I realized that obtaining a higher education is an empowering tool that will provide us with many opportunities. It amplifies our self-worth and dignity because it gives us a sense of pride. It also bestows us with sophisticated language that saves us from being underestimated. It is also like a torchlight to another career path or a foothold to reach high places because people respect the knowledge and the knowledgeable,” he shared.
Ronnie’s first love is singing and his childhood dream is to become a commercial pilot. He said that having a Master’s Degree is a good safety net since we don’t know what is going to happen in our life.
What he had accomplished is very inspiring. Even if he is busy with his career as a singer and being an army reservist, he believes in the importance of education.
***
In celebration of the second Philippine Film Industry Month (PFIM), the annual month-long fete honoring the heritage and legacy of Philippine Cinema, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will be holding a wide array of local and international events for the whole month of September including free film screenings, networking events, book launch, workshops, and many more.
This year’s PFIM theme, “Tuloy Ang Kuwento: Ang Pagbabalik ng Pelikulang Pilipino,” aims to gather the different stakeholders, especially the film community and film audiences, and rally the nation behind the Philippine film industry as it regains its momentum upon the easing of pandemic-related restrictions, and as cinemas and theaters become fully operational. Most of the events will be held in-person.
This month will consist of main events such as the Tuloy Ang Kuwento: PFIM Opening Ceremony, PFIM Gala, and the Filmmakers and Shakers Night: PFIM Closing Event, where special screenings of Filipino gems, live performances, and special announcements will take place.
In honor of their significant contribution to the industry, films of National Artists for Film Fernando Poe Jr. and the three new National Artists, Nora Aunor, Ricky Lee, and late director Marilou Diaz-Abaya, will be screened for free under the Archive Focus event and the FDCP banner Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) Classics in TriNoma Mall and Cinematheque Centres nationwide, respectively.
PPP will also be returning for this year’s edition to offer fresh perspectives from the youth and regional narratives featuring the finalists from Sine Kabataan Short Film Lab and Festival and Sine Isla: LuzViMinda Short Film Competition.
Since its inauguration last year by former President Rodrigo Duterte through the Presidential Proclamation 1085, s. 2021, declaring September as the Philippine Film Industry Month, the FDCP, as the lead agency in observing the PFIM, has organized programs and activities to recognize and celebrate the invaluable achievements of all the stakeholders and sectors of the film industry.
Sept. 12 marks the birth of Philippine Cinema as the first Filipino-directed and produced feature film, “Dalagang Bukid” by Jose Nepomuceno was premiered on this day in 1919.