New chair of the Film Development Council of the Philippines Liza Diño-Seguerra visited
Iloilo City to conduct a film forum and talk to filmmakers from all over Western Visayas.
“For years, the Western Visayas Filmmakers Network (WVFN) has partnered with FDCP under different leaderships and has worked with the dynamic team led by Ms. Daniella Caro of Cinematheque Iloilo on so many programs to help filmmakers, artists and audiences in our region including screenings, events, forums, workshops and exhibitions (at the Iloilo Cinematheque Gallery),” stayed director Elvert Bañares, president of the Western Visayas Filmmakers Network and the Festival Director of CineKasimanwa, now the largest regional film festival in the country.
“We continue this partnership and cooperation under the leadership of chairman Liza Diño-Seguerra, who sincerely reaches out to filmmakers and film audiences outside NCR,” he added.
Short workshop films shot and edited by participants of director Tara Illenberger’s editing workshop were screened prior to the forum. The event was well-attended with representatives from filmmakers all over the region including its stakeholders led by Atty. Helen Catalbas, Regional Director of the Department of Tourism-Region VI, and Banares.
“We, from Western Visayas, have been throwing our support to film agencies, with or without financial help from them. So we truly appreciate chairman Diño-Seguerra’s enthusiasm to work hand-in-hand with the regions, and we warmly embrace this as we give our usual support to FDCP’s plans and visions for Filipino cinema.
“We value that our little voices are heard and we are grateful for the warmth extended by the chair to all our local filmmakers during the Film Forum. We are thankful for lending us an ear and for vowing to take actions on issues relevant to us all,” concluded Banares.
The attendees included old and new filmmakers from Iloilo, Guimaras, Aklan, Antique and Capiz. The following were representatives from different groups that had been invited by WVFN to be part of the forum: Filmmakers Illenberger, Joenar Pueblo and TM Malones, representing Rock Drilon, honorary adviser to WVFN and CineKasimanwa; Ruth Borja Pequiera, representing August Andong and Tanya Lopez of the Negros Museum; Skim Gueverra, president of Guimbal Film Society with former presidents Mesdames Malu Nalupano and Eden Gilpo; Irene Magallon, representing Sta. Barbara student filmmakers; Noel de Leon, representing Guimaras; Prof. Alfredo Diaz, representing UPV Cinematheque (and Prof. Martin Genodepa); Emmanuel Lerona of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas; Jo Andrew Torlao of Dakila; Eric Divinagracia and Liby Limoso of USASC and USA Filmfest filmmakers, representing University of San Agustin; Dean Menchie Robles and the winners of the WVSU Short Film Festival, representing West Visayas State University; Allyn May Canja, representing Casa Real Gallery; and Momo Dalisay, this year’s selected artist to make CineKasimanwa’s collaterals.
A position paper was presented to the FDCP chair by WVFN Bañares, which contained a five-point agenda the Western Visayan filmmakers had agreed on even before the FDCP chairman called for a forum. Bañares’ style is consultative and he was able to get wide support from his kasimanwa.
After the issues were presented to the FDCP chairman, an open forum was also held, allowing all filmmakers to ask questions and make recommendations on issues related to Western Visayas and the country as a whole. (Photos by ATMOS.PH)
JOHN LENNON’S LUCKY NUMBER STILL WORKS. John Lennon’s well-acknowledged lucky number — nine — maintains it mystical power.
For the ninth time, the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision denied pardon to John’s assassin, Mark David Chapman, ruling that his “personal efforts to study and educate” himself would be “incompatible with the welfare of society and would so deprecate that seriousness of the crime as to undermine respect for the law.”
Mark shot John four times in front of The Dakota apartment in New York City on December 8, 1980 where he lived with wife Yoko Ono and son Sean. He was returning from a recording session. He was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital on 9th Avenue, Manhattan, but was proclaimed dead on arrival. After pleading guilty to second-degree murder, Chapman was sentenced to 20 years in the slammer in 1981.
Nine people prominently figured in John’s life from birth, October 9, 1940, to death, which is a 9 given the time difference of Liverpool and New York City.
Fact is, John even made a Beatles song, “Revolution No. 9,” that repeatedly recites the number. Paul McCartney and record producer George Martin rejected it for inclusion in the The Beatles album, the quartet’s ninth original UK album, but Lennon had his way and it stayed.
He lived at 9 Newcastle Road, Wavertree, Liverpool where he later wrote “One After 909.” Business manager Brian Epstein first saw the Beatles perform on November 9, 1961. Their first appearance at the Cavern Club was on February 9, 1961. The group’s contract with EMI was confirmed on May 9, 1962. John claimed he first met Yoko on Nov. 9, 1966. Sean was born on October 9, 1975. “#9 Dream” from Walls And Bridges album is his ninth non-Beatles album issued in September 1974 the ninth month.
And many other connections with the number nine. Will John’s lucky number still work when Chapman gets his 10th parole hearing in 2018?
A SOCIAL CAUSE FOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION. The Escuela Taller is a global network of vocational schools-training centers that started in Spain and is all around Latin America, Morocco and since 2009, here in the Philippines. It started here through the efforts the Spanish Embassy, AECID, NCCA etc.
Mainly what it does is train members of the youth from poor communities as scholars and give them skills in conservation-restoration work, trade skills like carpentry, plumbing etc. that are necessary in conservation-restoration.
So after the training, they get employed in heritage-related projects rebuilding old churches and other old structures of cultural relevance. In a way the social cause is to provide skills among disadvantaged young people and at the same time actively addressing the conservation of important heritage sites.