UFC Reel Life short film competition names finalists

UFC’s first-ever Reel Life: Nagsasama-samang Sarap Short Film Competition has officially selected thirty (30) finalists from the vast field of submitted entries. 

Launched as part of UFC’s 50th anniversary celebration, the competition seeks to provide a platform for gifted Filipino artists to showcase their filmmaking potentials and tell their stories. 

The Filipino creative spirit was on full display by the entrants for this contest, making it incredibly difficult to narrow down the entries to only 30 finalists. 

The finalists are as follows: “Almusal” by John Renz Cahilig, “Anana” by Quentin Tolentino, “Ang Pagsibol” by Ramil Lantican, “Asam-asam” by Michael Angelo Hernandez Valencia, “Bato-Bato Pik” by Alejandro "Bong" Ramos, “Budjoy” by Marco Paolo Castro, “Byahe Natin” by Rusty Palacio Guarin, “Cancelled” by Crismel Gida, “Crush” and “New Normal” by Niokz Arcega, “Gift Box” by John Kenneth Paclibar, “How's My Driving?” by Ken Leviste, “Ina'Ko” by Michael John Tuclaud, “Kambal” by Yves Publico, “Ma,” by Dexter De Jesus, “Mabote Na Lang” by John Verlin Santos, “Magpadayon” by Jose Carlo Gloria, “Module Legends: Papa Sir” by Renel Ian Gacayan, and “Modules (Info Sheet)” by Marienel Calma. 

PhilPop announces finalists from Visayas and Mindanao clusters

PhilPop, the country's premier songwriting competition, has officially unveiled its top 6 finalists from the Visayas and Mindanao cluster. With #MusicBreakingBorders as its newest tagline, the music institution sets its sights in promoting top-notch Filipino compositions on a scale that’s never been done before: by going global and forging regional ties.

Carefully handpicked from thousands of submissions, the first batch of finalists from PhilPop Songwriting Festival 2020 recently graced the online media presentation last August 24, 2020 (Wednesday).

In no particular order, the finalists from the Vis-Min cluster include: 

Visayas:

• Jerika Teodorico – “Ayaw Na Lang” (Cebu City, Cebu)
• Noah Alejandre and Reanne Borela – “Suyo” (Ormoc City, Leyte)
• Michael Catarina – “Hinungdan” (Cebu City, Cebu)

Mindanao:

• John Cadeliña  – “Akong Bililhon”(Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur)
• Christian Chiu – “Kasadya” (Corandal City, South Cotabato)
• Sherwin Fugoso – “Pahuway” (Jabonga, Agusan del Norte)

According to PhilPop Executive Director Dinah Remolacio, the entries underwent multiple rounds of selection process until Top 3 per clusters were handpicked. “We wanted our process to be inclusive so the decision making involved local and international representatives from Warner Music, representatives from our regional partner for each cluster, and representatives from PhilPop,” Remolacio shares in a statement. 

The selection committee is headed by Festival Chair and PhilPop Musicfest National Artist Ryan Cayabyab, as well as Foundation Board Members, adjudicators, partners, and Warner Music Philippines Executives such as PhilPop Musicfest Foundation President Victorico P. Vargas, Festival Co-Chair and PhilPop Musicfest Foundation Board Member Noel Cabangon, PhilPop Musicfest Foundation Executive Director Dinah A. Remolacio, PhilPop Musicfest Foundation Lead Adjudicators Jungee Marcelo and Trina Belamide, Warner Music Philippines Managing Director Ian Monsod, MinPop Musicfest Director and Mindanao Cluster Partner Jeremy Sarmiento, and Kadasig Founder and Visayas Cluster Partner Jude Gitamondoc.

PhilPop is currently wrapping up its adjudication process for the remaining clusters namely: North Luzon, South Luzon, and Metro Manila. The finalists representing the remaining regions will be announced next month.

In terms of the selection of finalists from the Mindanao Cluster, MinPop Musicfest Director Jeremy Sarmiento takes pride of how the top three finalists took inspiration from various sources, yet their songs sounded truly ‘Mindanaoan’ in terms of cultural context and identity. Sarmiento also cited the importance of regional representation, and how this platform helps in introducing different stories and diverse experiences through music. “There's no better way to achieve that than giving an opportunity to those in the regions to tell their own stories. Representation provides a reflection of each of their languages, ideals, feelings and that's what we ultimately need to understand each other better, the uniqueness of the Filipinos, expressed through songs.”

Kadasig Founder and Visayas Cluster Partner Jude Gitamondoc is also optimistic about their official picks for the Visayas cluster, citing diversity and universal appeal as two of main reasons that make these songs a standout in the competition. “I think the songs chosen to represent the Visayas are a great representation of the region,” says Gitamondoc. “We have an electronic-infused track, another one that's soulful, and another that's folksy. That pretty much shows how varied the musicality is in the Visayas. We are at the center of the country. We are a melting pot of cultures, influences, and ideas.”

PhilPop Songwriting Festival 2020 is an initiative of the PhilPop Music Foundation, chaired by Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan. This year's PhilPop is co-presented by SMART, MERALCO, and MAYNILAD, with official partners, Warner Music Philippines, Kadasig, and MinPop.

ART IS A BANG: Cinemalaya 2014 Director Showcase and New Breed Categories Revealed!

Here are the Finalists for Cinemalaya 2014 - Year 10 -- DIRECTORS SHOWCASE Category, based on the posts and tweets of award-winning scriptwriter-director Joey Javier Reyes, one of the screening committee of our favorite indie filmfest in the country: 

1. JOEL LAMANGAN -- "Hustisya"

2. JOSELITO ALTAREJOS -- "Kasal"

3. CARLOS SIGIUON-REYNA -- "Hari ng Tondo"

4. MICHAEL TUVIERA -- "The Janitor"

5. LOUIE IGNACIO -- "Asintado"

REEL DEAL Movies and Television: Protégé reveals Top 3 Finalists

After weeks of live performances and nerve-wracking elimination nights, Krizza Neri, Lirah Bermudez and Lovely Embuscado are headed for the Grand Finals of GMA’s hit reality singing search, PROTÉGÉ.

Following the elimination of Jensen Teñoso and Nomer Limatog, Jr., the competition is now down to the Top 3 finalists who will compete to clinch the much coveted prizes in the program’s finale on December 18 to be held at the Centerstage of SM Mall of Asia.