Riza’s persistence pays off

“Di ba si ano ‘yun?” visual artist Alvin Hipolito blurted upon seeing a familiar figure enter Max’s restaurant at the entrance to Malacañang Palace compound once we had a late Monday afternoon snack of arroz caldo and halo-halo there.
It turns out to be women and children causes advocate Riza Hontiveros in familiar yellow and black shirt and black slim fit jeans who is making her third senatorial bid. She arrived last of her female and male assistants who have taken an inconspicuous side table ahead of her.
This half-recognition turned out as a clue to Riza’s popularity as she was instantly recognized by me, other diners wanting selfie opportunities as soon as she could settle on her table for snack and the wait persons who shook her hand. She ordered halo-halo, the favored heat buster of the season.
Riza must have been to the Truth Covenant event with Cardinal Tagle at Manila Cathedral where Vice President Jejomar Binay and Secretary Mar Roxas were the only two presidential candidates who signed an agreement for a clean and honest elections on Monday.
Her trips to the comfort room and her order of halo-halo were tell-tale signs she was on the campaign trail. She is such a hard-working lady who knows how to handle its demands. She seems to operate systematically.
This is Riza’s third shot at the national elective position. And based on pre-election surveys, she is likely to enter the magic 12 number, one of the newbies to do so. When I told her about it, she was humble about the possible win, “Sana nga.”
Persistence sure pays for Riza. She fought for the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill, a highly controversial, that she did not let go until it was a law.
No wonder Alvin who supports Rodrigo Duterte decided to have a selfie opportunity with the Liberal Party candidate. Picking up in their chat that he is a Freemason, Riza volunteered that her brother, David Hontiveros, is also a Freemason.
If you know Freemasons, brotherhood is a primary concern, and that established the link between her and Alvin. No wonder he expressed his desire to do her portrait that she expressed would be “an honor.”    

THIRD BAKUNAWA FILMFEST WINNERS. Visual shows filmmakers of Mentis, winner of the 3rd Bakunawa Film Festival’s Best Short Film and Best Director with guests of honor director Peque Gallaga, assistant mall manager, SM City Bacolod Julia Javellana, winner Gkie Erebaren and co-festival director Elvert Bañares.  
Held on April 29, 2016 at the Main Atrium of SM City Bacolod as graced by USLS president, Brother Manuel Pajarillo, FSC, PhD, with Masscom Department chairman Hannah Mariveles. Helen Strong’s sci-fi entry, Mentis, won Best Film and Best Director for Strong, Best Actor for Bryce Jareño and Best Supporting Actor for Kurt Soberano, now a two-time Bakunawa winner.
Mentis also received the Audience Choice Award and Imaginarium Award, a special Jury Prize.
Renzo Grijaldo’s science fiction short film, DTH 60606, won highest award, the Best Director of the Summer Film Challenge,
DTH 60606 won Best Actress for Lorje Singson and the technical awards: Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Use of Sound. It also swept the Instructor's Choices, winning Best Short Film and Best Director. Mary Jane Quilisadio’s Tinion (Time and Remembrance), a period romance directed by Reniel Botnande, won Best Supporting Actress from both the Jury and the Instructor's Choice. Tinion also won for Best Use of Music.
Best Screenplay went to the film Handum Kag Dumot (Passion & Hatred) by Caryl Fritze Macaya and Shaina Gemina while Best Use of Music went to Laragway (Portrait).
This year's board of juries was headed by NCCA OIC-head of the Committee on Cinema Teddy Co with production designer/visual artist Adrian Torres, filmmaker Sari Dalena and cinematographer Yoke Weng Ho of Singapore.
Co-festival directors was theater director Tanya Lopez.

TOP FOUR OF THE SENATORIAL RACE. If former senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan and reelectionists Sen. Ralph Recto are among the leaders of the Senatorial race along with Sen. Vicente Sotto III and former Sen. Panfilo Lacson, that is in recognition of their meritorious performance as the country’s topnotch lawmakers and servants.
Pangilinan and Lacson served during the administration of Pres. Noynoy Aquino. Despite the problems, they were able to deliver expected results with Pangilinan contributing immensely to the agricultural development of the country.
Sotto and Recto stood their ground during crucial national issues like corruption and the passage of important legislations and laws.

SURE WINNER. When the botched romance between Kris Aquino and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Tates Gana, his estranged partner for 20 years and the mother of two of his off springs. Athena and Harvey, largely kept her peace. And her widely praised handling of the domestic issue is paying off big time.
Tates is running for councilor of District 6 of Quezon City and she is turning out a sure winner, leading the candidates. I met Tates only once and she impressed as a substantial woman in control of her life. I am sure District 6 will benefit from her tested people-friendly and family-driven service.

SENIORS SUPPORT EDWARD MACEDA’S CONGRESSIONAL BID. Marichu “Manay Ichu” Maceda hosted lunch for her and former Sen. Ernie Maceda’s son, Manila Councilor Edward Maceda, with senior citizens at the family-owned Sampaguita Events Place on Valencia Street, Quezon City.
They have nothing but good words for the Vera-Perez family and Edward who is running for congressman (#3) of Manila’s Fourth District after serving three terms as its councilor. Senior citizens support him including stars of Sampaguita Films that Edward’s clan once managed.

MOTHER LILY STOPS ENDORSING CANDIDATES. Except when she attended the Christmas party tendered by Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez-Roxas for the entertainment media, Mother Lily Monteverde had not sponsored a press conference for her favored candidates in this campaign season. This is a big change as she had always endorsed candidates until the 2013 senatorial elections.
What made her do that is not widely known but it must be a tell-tale sign she is bowing out of the entertainment industry. She had passed it on to daughter Roselle Monteverde-Teo who must put less importance to such gratitious acts.