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PHILIPPINES
FEBRUARY 2012
FEBRUARY 2012
PLANET
PHILIPPINES
Edmonton Edition
Edmonton Edition
PLANET
PHILIPPINES
FEBRUARY 2012
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FEBRUARY 2012
O X I N G champ manny pacquiao says he got rid of his vices after an encounter with God changed him. “Pagsusugal, yung pag-iinom, yung mga pambababae. Kung ano mga kalokohan mga barkada. Kung anong ginagawa diyan...” he told aBS-cBN correspondent Dyan castillejo in an interview. “If I had died last year or in the last two years, I am sure I would’ve gone straight to hell,” he said. “my faith in him is there one hundred percent but behind it, I was still doing evil.” The Sarangani congressman said his renewed faith in God came from a dream he had after his fight with Juan manuel marquez last November. In his dream, he said, he was walking in a forest when a bright light shone on him and a voice asked, “Son, why are you going away from me?” “I woke up crying,” pacquiao recalled. “I remember I was crying in my dream and when I touched my pillow, it was wet.” he said he looked for the meaning of the dream and found answers in the Bible. “Noong unang panahon, kinakausap ng Panginoon ang tao sa pamamagitan ng panaginip. So sabi ko totoo yung panaginip ko na kailangan magbagong buhay na ako at yun siguro ay tawag sa akin ng Panginoon na siyempre alam niya yung puso ko na nananalig ako sa kanya pero sa likod niyan ay gumagawa pa rin ako ng mga masamang bagay at yung mga hindi niya ikakatutuwa,” he said. The change in his lifestyle came slowly and surely. he said he now reads the Bible regularly and spends more time with his family. he has also lost his appetite for his old vices, and gave away all his fighting cocks.
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PACQUAiO: i’M A CHANGED MAN NOW
Manny and Jinkee: We’re now closer to God.
The change in his lifestyle came slowly and surely. He said he now reads the Bible regularly and spends more time with his family. He has also lost his appetite for his old vices, and gave away all his fighting cocks.
“’Di ko naman sinabi na o, magbagong buhay ako. Hinto na ako sa pagiinom. Hinto na ako sa pambababae ko, sa pagsusugal ko. Kumbaga, binago lang siya. Binago ng Panginoon. Dumating yung panahon na ayaw ko na gawin yung mga bagay na iyon. Dahil because tinanggap ko na si Hesukristo sa katawan ko, Jesus Christ, and siguro yung Holy Spirit ang nagsabi sa akin na iwanan ko na iyon. ” his wife Jinkee couldn’t be happier. In past interviews she admitted to having running feuds with her husband over his reported woman-
Pacman’s Christmas gift to his family: a P25-million yacht.
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PLANET PHILIPPINES is the leading Filipino newspaper in Edmonton. As the only Filipino publication that is truly based in the city, our focus is serving the Filipino community in the Edmonton area. This means that ALL our copies – 4,000 of them every issue as certified by our printer -- are distributed in Edmonton ONLY. Topnotch editorial content, attractive layout, long shelf life, wide circulation and affordable rates make us the top choice of readers and advertisers.
izing, among other vices. On her 33rd birthday last Jan. 12, pacquiao gifted her with a private island no less, which she plans to turn into a world-class resort. Jinkee acknowledges her husband’s conversion. “Yung pagiging closer namin to the Lord, yung lagi kaming nagba-Bible study kasama yung mga anak namin,” she said in a separate interview. “And then yung quality time niya sa mga anak niya, iyon, ginagawa na niya ngayon.” Last December, pacquiao bought a p25-million yacht as a christmas gift to his family. The “gift” was seen by some quarters as pacquiao’s way of making amends with Jinkee for his alleged womanizing. There were reports that Jinkee had planned to seek an annulment of their marriage but these were denied by pacquiao. Jinkee now maintains that their problems are already a thing of the past. n
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PLANET PHILIPPINES Worldwide Leandro MiLan .............................................................................. PePPer MarceLo ........................................................................... arneL rivaL.................................................................................... roMY FLorante.............................................................................. diana PaMeLa triste ....................................................................
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HAVING FUN WITH THE NEW SLOGAN The big idea was implemented in a way that it didn’t only say that it’s more fun in the Philippines -- the Filipinos are enjoying the campaign too, and that’s great proof that it is more fun in the Philippines.
By jERRicho reynaldo
HE PHiliPPinEs may not have seen so much online hype over a slogan in many years, not even during the launch of 'WOW Philippines' by then Tourism secretary Richard Gordon. Everything is attributed to the rise of social journalism through websites like Facebook and Twitter. And the recent failure of the proposed slogan, 'Pilipinas, Kay Ganda!' may, in fact, have prompted the online community to keep watch and be critical of every move the government made regarding tourism. Blogger and movie buff Jay-R Trinidad said that the launch of ‘it’s More Fun in the Philippines’ has “gathered a lot of notice from both sides of the spectrum. But this time, it feels that the pogi points have final-
ly outdone the lame.” Within hours of the launch of the new slogan, recreations started sprouting across the web as Filipinos in the country and abroad accustomed themselves to a whole new approach in Philip-
PHILIPPINES
pine tourism, picking up on the first internet meme the country has seen this year. Most of the more popular versions target a number of soft spots among Pinoys. Foodies, for example, will enjoy a laugh over a photo of a perfect lechon featured in ‘Planking. More Fun in the Philippines,’ while ‘Anatomy’ displays an array of street food led by the famous isaw. ‘Dead Ends,’ meanwhile, shows the sandy White island in Camiguin as a fun place to get lost in. Movie fans, of course, will never get tired of featuring Bohol’s local tarsier as our version of ‘Yoda’ and a group performer during the Walis Tambo Festival as the wizarding sport of ‘Quidditch,’ while the iconic Quezon Memorial Circle, according to fans, reminds them of a couple of towers from the epic “lord of the Rings” series. in one blog post, Trinidad shared some of
his own renditions of the promo using an online meme maker. He instructs that using www.morefunmaker.com, one can make their own ‘it’s More Fun’ images because it’s “as simple as ABC. A – look for an awesome image of the Philippines (that you probably took), B –think of a witty exaggerated state-
FEBRUARY 2012
ment that could go with the picture (probably a description), and C –insert the idea along with the slogan ‘More fun in the Philippines’ using Harabara as a font.” According to Joy Reynaldo, a marketing consultant, “The tag line alone shows that the campaign taps a very marketable strength of tourism in the Philippines. But, in addition to that, the big idea was implemented in a way that it didn’t only say that it’s more fun in the Philippines -- the Filipinos are enjoying the campaign too, and that’s great proof that it is more fun in the Philippines. “i’m pretty sure the swiss aren’t nearly as fun as we are, or else they wouldn’t be a first-world country,” she adds jokingly. Despite the initial criticism and allegations of copying a similar swiss tourism slogan in the 50s, Tourism secretary Ramon Jimenez has pulled through one of the challenging aspects of life in government - engaging the Filipino people. We’ve yet to see more from the Department of Tourism, including the fruits of their new campaign. But so far, everything’s turning out ‘more fun’ than we expected. n
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FEBRUARY 2012
PHILIPPINES
‘We are not playing here’
ADIO AnD television personality Grace Lee has confessed that her current constant date, President Benigno Aquino III, makes her happy. Asked about the chances of the bachelor president, the Korean celebrity said, “I think he’s in the forefront. He’s first in the line.” “He’s one of the many aspects in my life right now that’s making me happy,” she said in a talk with reporters last Feb. 8. Grace said that she feels flattered that the Pnoy publicly admitted last Feb. 1 that he is seeing her, adding that among the qualities she likes about him is that he is “considerate.” In a separate interview, the 29year-old TV and radio host said she and the President did not get a chance to hang out on his 52nd birthday last Feb. 8 because he spent his birthday visiting victims of the deadly quake that rocked negros and Cebu on Feb. 6. “I greeted him, but as we all know, he had to fly to the Visayas to visit the victims of the earthquake,” she said. “I understand. He belongs to the people first.” Grace finds the presidential style of courtship normal. “Yes, very normal like any other guy. I received a couple of chocolates and flowers. He’s very sweet.”
‘I didn’t want so many people having so much to say about what’s going on between us.’
Edmonton Edition
“I think he’s in the forefront. He’s first in the line. He’s one of the many aspects in my life right now that’s making me happy.”
The Korean radio-TV personality admitted the age difference between them sometimes bothers her. But she quickly added, “We are not playing here,” a remark viewed as an indication that they are seriously dating.
She said she does not want to share every detail of their budding romance. “One of the reasons why I wanted this to be more private was because we’re at the stage of getting to know each other,” she said. “And I didn’t want so many people having so much to say about what’s going on between us.” Grace admitted the age difference between them sometimes bothers her. But she quickly added, “We are not playing here,” a remark viewed as an indica-
tion that they are seriously dating. She denied reports that the President is spending hours talking to her on the phone. “The very few times that I get to see him with his very busy schedule we have dinner and, of course, you can’t have it for 30 minutes,” she shared. “Nagkukuwentuhan kami, we catch up, that’s it. . . And no, we don’t have time to talk for three hours on the phone. So many people need him. Things like that, when it comes out, I think people should not believe it.”
In spite of the undue media interest, she insisted that dating the President has not really turned her world topsy-turvy. “My life hasn’t changed much,” she said. Grace is a news presenter on GMA-7’s Balitanghali and 24 Oras Weekend. She is also a co-host of the radio program Good Times with Mo, Mojo and Grace Lee together with Mo Twister and Mojo. Grace’s real name is Kyung Hee-lee. Born and raised in Seoul, she had since been “Filipinized” after moving to the Philippines at age 10 because of her father’s business. She went to high school at St. Paul College in Pasig City and earned a degree in interdisciplinary studies at Ateneo de Manila University. She is fluent in Korean, English and Filipino. Grace first caught the President’s eye during the inauguration of a Korean power plant in naga, Cebu last June. They met again months later when she served as official interpreter of the Korean president when he called on the President in Malacañang. Last December Grace interviewed Pnoy at the Palace for her radio show. The latest tale in Pnoy’s romantic saga came a few days following the wedding of his former girlfriend, Shalani Soledad, to Pasig Congressman Roman Romulo last Jan. 22. Although he was invited, the President skipped the affair and chose to spend a “quiet time” in Baguio. After he and Shalani split in September 2010, Pnoy had been linked to several women, including Liz Uy, his former stylist; Len Lopez, a stockbroker; and Bunny Calica, a teacher. n
Edmonton Edition
By michAEl josh villanueva
S if tipping a hat to the country’s new tourism campaign, “it’s more fun in the Philippines,” the filipinos’ hospitality and ability to have fun stood out in the recentlyreleased 2011 Hong Kong Shanghai Bank inc’s (HSBC) Expat Explorer Survey. The Philippines came out as the best place for foreigners living away from their home countries to work and play. it was voted the Number 1 country in the world in terms of feeling welcome at work; second in the world in terms of having a social life, establishing a work/life balance, and making friends; and fourth in the world in terms of entertainment. More than 3,000 expats living in 100 countries around the world took part in the survey and they voted the Philippines as fourth in the world in terms of “overall experience.” This takes into account ease for expats to settle in, integrate with local life and culture, and quality of life once they have assimilated. Of the 100 countries included in the survey only Thailand, Canada, and South Africa placed better in terms of overall experience. But none of these countries did as well in terms of having fun. The country’s 2011 placement is a large improvement from our 15th place ranking in 2010.
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PHILIPPINES
PH IS WORLD’S 2ND BEST TO MAKE FRIENDS – SURVEY More than 3,000 expats living in 100 countries took part in the survey and they voted the Philippines as fourth in the world in terms of “overall experience.” This takes into account ease for expats to settle in, integrate with local life and culture, and quality of life once they have assimilated. 22nd 26th 26th 27th 30th
Sports Organizing health care Local culture Getting used to local food Local shops and markets
It’s fun going out Sam Yu, a Chinese working for a construction company in the Philippines agrees, “People here have the tendency to care about others even for
strangers and foreigners. They are willing to help and are very hospitable.” Yu, who has worked in the Philippines for the last five years and has assimilated quite nicely, also says going out is more fun in the Philippines, “it is very fun going out with the locals, much more fun compared with going out with people in my own
SUB-CATEGORIES WHERE WE RANKED HIGHEST (out of 31 countries) 1st feeling welcome at work 2nd Social life 2nd Work/life balance 2nd Making friends 3rd finding accommodations 4th Entertainment 4th Making local friends 4th Local work culture 7th integrating with community 8th Health diet 8th Quality of accommodation 9th Working environment 9th fitting in the new culture 9th Organizing finances SUB-CATEGORIES WHERE WE RANKED LOWEST (out of 31 countries) 21st Setting up utilities 22nd Local transport
The Philippines is voted No. 2 in terms of making friends.
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The country ranks fourth in the world in terms of “overall experience.” SUB-CATEGORIES WHERE WE RANKED HIGHEST (out of 31 countries) 1st Domestic helper/staff 2nd More than one property 3rd Nice/bigger property 3rd Swimming pool
It is very fun going out with the locals, according to expats. country.” But work and play aren’t everything. And the news isn’t as good. in terms of Expat Economics, the country dropped to 18th in the world in 2011, down 10 points from our 8th place finish in 2010. While the country was the best place in the world to find domestic help, it was, according to those surveyed, one of the worst places to access good healthcare.
SUB-CATEGORIES WHERE WE RANKED LOWEST (out of 31 countries). 19th Disposable income 29th Healthcare Put together in terms of economics and experience, the Philippines ranked 8th in the world, but lagged behind other Southeast Asian neighbors Thailand (1st), Singapore (3rd), and Malaysia (7th). Switzerland, where it’s also more fun, ranked fifth. Malacañang said it was elated about portions of the HSBC survey results which reflected positively on the country. (Rappler.com) n
FEBRUARY 2012
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Edmonton Edition
PHILIPPINES For the last few years, apl.de.ap has been coming home to the Philippines to give some of his blessings back to the land of his birth. His education advocacy campaign, “We Can Be Anything,” is a perfect fit for the man who once said: “dreaming big and doing something about it can get you really far.” ITH HIs trademark Mohawk hairdo, and pimped out in an all black outfit and black, knee-high biker boots, Black Eyed Pea apl. de.ap a.k.a. Allan Pineda Lindo Jr. stands out in a sea of white barongs. The cream of corporate Makati, mostly bank executives and their staff, have gathered together in a Legaspi Village penthouse ballroom to honor apl who has been chosen one of the Bank of the Philippine Islands’ BPInoy awardees for 2011. The annual accolade goes to Filipinos who have done their country proud in the international arena. apl has been chosen not only because of his member-
Born to a poor family, the “GI baby” wants to share his blessings with less fortunate Filipinos.
ship in the Black Eyed Peas, a massive global pop franchise that has sold more than 56 million albums worldwide, but also because for the last few years, he has been com-
apl pays a courtesy call on President Aquino during one of his regular visits to the country.
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ing home to the Philippines to give some of his blessings back to the land of his birth. Last August, he donated a computer lab and library to his old school, the Sapang Bato National High School in Pampanga through his apl.de.ap Foundation. He also built a music studio at the Holy Angel University, also in Angeles City, where young Filipinos can hone their talents. But apl has set his sights beyond his hometown: he plans to take his mission nationwide. In partnership with the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation, which has appointed him a “special ambassador for education,” he has chosen to focus his efforts on an education advocacy campaign called “We Can Be Anything.” It is a perfect fit for the man who once said: “dreaming big and doing something about it can get you really far.” To help drive the message home, apl composed and recorded the single “We Can Be Anything,” complete with inspirational music video. “I think that with an education, you can be anything. It’s really important for me to give the youth an equal opportunity. I want Filipino kids to compete around the world, with technology and computers and stuff.” H e plans to
continue building more computer labs and music studios. “I want talented kids that are into music to have an outlet, to have a place to go to and record demos, and practice,” says apl. “In the future I want to be able to discover talents from the Philippines, and that’s why it’s important for me to provide technology and music studios and library. You never know, I might find the next Black Eyed Peas.” He has also pledged to help in building 10,000 new classrooms in the next two years, to help the Department of Education put a dent in the estimated shortfall of 68,000 classrooms throughout the country. “I’ve also been talking to companies in the US like Google,” he says. “There’s a Filipino team in Google who are planning to teach kids computer science and technology via the Internet. Now that we’ve built these computer labs, we have to teach the teachers how to teach kids to work with these computers.” Despite the Christmas rush, apl also took time out to visit calamity-
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Now that the Black Eyed Peas are on a hiatus, apl’s advocacy work has gone to the forefront. stricken Cagayan de Oro, and to spend time in La Huerta, the underprivileged community in Parañaque where the video for “We Can Be Anything” was shot. Like other celebrities who are driven to give back, he seems to be motivated by a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunities he has been given, and the realization that things could very easily have turned out differently. Sapang Bato, where Allan Pineda Lindo Jr. was born on Nov. 28, 1974, lies on the hilly outskirts of Angeles City, near Clark Air Base. His biological father, a black American airman, aban-
doned the family right after Allan was born, leaving his mother Cristina Pineda to support him and six other siblings. “We were poor, but my mom is like a superwoman—she’s just a great entrepreneur,” apl recalls. “We used to have a store in front of the house, and she was great with turning money around.” Being a “G.I. baby,” apl was eligible for assistance from the Pearl S. Buck Foundation, a US-based NGO founded by the author of The Good Earth and dedicated to helping Amerasian children. Through the Pearl S. Buck Foundation, the young boy found a sponsor in Joe Ben Hudgens, a children’s rights attorney, who sent money for tuition and school supplies. Eventually, his mother arranged for Hudgens to legally adopt her son. apl had mixed feelings about being adopted: he was grateful for the opportunities that being in the US opened up for him, but he was also homesick and missed his family. Going from Angeles, Pampanga to Los Angeles, California was a culture shock for the 14year-old boy. Music proved to be his salvation. Back in Angeles, the year before he left for
FEBRUARY 2012
the States, he had gotten into break dancing after seeing youngsters at school doing the old school popping and locking moves. William lived in East LA, in the ghetto, and apl liked hanging out there, perhaps because it reminded him of home. In any case, the pair got deeper and deeper into music, eventually forming a group called Tribal Nation. It was a struggle, specially in the early days when hip hop was dominated by gangster rap and the whole East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry. Music business types didn’t know what to make of the multicultural stew that would become the Black Eyed Peas. Now that the Black Eyed Peas are on a hiatus, apl’s advocacy work has gone to the forefront. “I’m going to focus on ‘We Can Be Anything,’” he reiterates. “We’ve got two years to build 10,000 classrooms and I’m going to focus on that. I’m also going to build my next computer lab from the apl Foundation.” For all his globe-trotting, home for apl will always be here. “I’m made in the Philippines all the way,” he says proudly. (Excerpted from an article by Eric Caruncho in the Philippine Daily Inquirer) n
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FEBRUARY 2012
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Edmonton Edition
PINOY MOVIES ARE
ALIVE AND KICKING
The resurgence of the local film industry is attributed to various factors, among them: the popularity of the lead stars, aggressive promotion, anti-piracy campaign, and fierce competition among theatre operators. By jEFFREY o. valisno
UST A few years ago, many people predicted the death of Philippine cinema. With the continued dominance of Hollywood blockbusters and the influx of pirated videos, not a few wondered if the local movie industry could ever bounce back to life. But if the long queues over the last year for movies like No Other Woman, The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin, and Enteng ng Ina Mo were any indication, there are reasons to believe that the local film sector is getting back on its feet. The comedy Praybeyt Benjamin, starring comedian Vice Ganda, broke all box office records when it became the top-grossing local movie to date, with gross revenues hitting P331.61 million when it was shown in October. The feat came just weeks after the adult drama No Other Woman -featuring Anne Curtis, Derek Ramsay, and Cristine Reyes -- earned P278.39 million after it opened nationwide in September. Then, just before 2011 ended, the fantasy-comedy Enteng ng Ina Mo -- top billed by Vic Sotto and Ai Ai delas Alas -- grossed P183.21 million since it opened on Christmas Day. This figure is expected to rise further as the movie continues
The lead cast of No Other Woman: Anne Curtis, Derek Ramsay and Cristine Reyes. movie of 2010 with P157 million. National Cinema Association of the Philippines representative and former film producer Dominic Du said the resurgence in ticket sales is welcome news for the local movie industry, which has been hobbled by the domination of Hollywood movies, rampant piracy, and overtaxation. Du attributed the rebound to a strong slate of movies released in 2011, coupled by producers getting more aggressive with publicity and promotions.
Power of stars
The comedy Praybeyt Benjamin is the top-grossing local movie to date. to be shown this month. Journalism professor and entertainment editor Nestor Cuartero said 2011 was indeed a banner year for local movies. “The very strong performance at the box office of these movies can only mean that things are looking up in the local
movie industry,” Mr. Cuartero said in an interview. Indeed, box-office revenues overall are estimated to have increased in 2011 by 30-40% from the previous year’s figures, when Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To!) became the highest grossing Filipino
For instance, Du noted that much of the box-office success of Praybeyt Benjamin and No Other Woman could be attributed to the popularity of the lead actors. “Vice Ganda and Anne Curtis are very popular among the young crowd. They have a lot of Facebook and Twitter followers. They have a lot of fans,” he said. Ganda became the first person in the country to have more than a million followers on Facebook, while Curtis earned the distinction of being the first Filipino to have a million followers on Twitter.
Wilson L. Flores, editor-in-chief of the magazine Inside Showbiz, said the surge last year could be due to the fierce competition among movie theater operators, which tried to outdo each other by opening better cineplexes and offering competitive admission prices. “Instead of patronizing pirated videos, many [people] returned to watch the movies in the cinemas for the ‘big screen’ experience of watching the movies in cinemas,” Flores said. For his part, Optical Media Board (OMB) chairman Ronnie Ricketts said the agency’s efforts against intellectual property violators helped in boosting the movie’s industry’s box-office results. Aside from conducting raids, Ricketts said the OMB is busy advocating the protection of intellectual property rights in schools and universities.
What people want A 2010 study from the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), entitled “Information Cascades as Social Learning: The Case of Box-Office Ticket Sales in the Philippines”, said Filipino audiences
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11 PHILIPPINES
All-TimE HigHEsT gRossing locAl moviEs
prefer watching pleasant, family entertainment movies created by reputable producers, and featuring popular actors. “Aside from advertising in different media channels, and renting more theater screens, producers are encouraged to use brand names such as employing veteran actors, producing movie sequels, and/or utilizing the reputation of, or partnering with, a major producer as marketing strategies to perform well in the box office,” the study indicated. “In terms of film creativity, local producers are encouraged to make movies that are in line with the comedy genre since most of these films are feel-good movies sought by many. Moreover, they are encouraged to make films that cater to a wider range of audiences,” it added. The study’s findings could probably explain why Enteng ng Ina Mo led the box office race in the recent Metro Manila Film Festival.
1. The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin (2011) - P331.61 million 2. No Other Woman (2011) - P278.39 million 3. You Changed My Life (2009) - P225.21 million 4. Enteng ng Ina Mo (2011) - P183.21 million 5. A Very Special Love (2008) - P179.25 million 6. Ang Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat (2008) - P171 million 7. Si Agimat at Enteng Kabisote (2010) - P159 million 8. Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na ‘To!) (2010) - P157 million 9. One More Chance (2007) - P152.78 million 10. My Amnesia Girl (2010) - P144.82 million 11. Miss You Like Crazy (2010) - P142.97 million 12. Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo (2006) - P140 million 13. A Love Story (2007) - P139.63 million 14. Caregiver (2008) - P139.53 million 15. In My Life (2009) - P135.74 million
Sequels score big “Filipino audiences seem to prefer a template for the movies that they patronize. They want the familiar, the stars well known to them in roles they had played several times before,” Cuartero said. Enteng ng Ina Mo is a cross between Sotto’s Enteng Kabisote series and De las Alas’s Tanging Ina series. Sotto has played the role of Enteng Kabisote since 1987, starting in the TV sitcom Okay Ka Fairy Ko, which spawned at least six movie versions over the years. De las Alas has played the role of widowed mother Ina Montecillo in three previous movies, starting with the top-grossing movie of 2003 Ang Tanging Ina, which earned P178 million, followed by 2009’s Ang Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat which earned P197 million, and 2010’s Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ’To!) which earned P157 million.
which helps inform more audiences [so they would] go out and watch the movie,” Gloria said.
Production cost
Enteng ng Ina Mo was the top grosser in the 2011 Metro Film Festival.
“Filipino audiences want the familiar, the stars well known to them in roles they had played several times before,” said Nestor Cuartero.
ABS-CBN power Star Cinema -- which was the co-producer with Viva Films for Praybeyt Benjamin and No Other Woman -- also hinted at the possibility of producing sequels for the two blockbuster movies. Star Cinema has produced 14 of the 15 highest-grossing local movies of all time (the exception being the 2010 fantasy-comedy Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote by GMA Films which earned P155 million). ABS-CBN said that in 2010, Star Cinema defied the supposed declin-
FEBRUARY 2012
Zombadings: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington earned P32.28 million. ing movie patronage in the country by producing 12 films grossing a total of over P1 billion in the box office. “Four movies (I Love You Good-
bye, Miss You Like Crazy, Here Comes the Bride, and My Amnesia Girl) grossed upwards of P100 million, the local film industry’s unofficial benchmark for a blockbuster hit,” ABS-CBN said. Film producer Tony Gloria said ABS-CBN’s media machinery en-
Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank earned P30.27 million. sures the blockbuster success of its movies. “TV airtime is significant in promoting the movie. ABS-CBN can provide unlimited TV exposure
On the average, movies are produced for between P20 million to P50 million. Big-name actors, as well as elaborate costumes and special effects can inflate the budget further. Promoting the movie -- which includes paying for TV spots to air movie trailers -- costs between P10 million to P20 million. Meanwhile, independent movies also earned big at the 2011 box office. Films with production budgets of just P1 million, Zombadings: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington (which earned P32.28 million) and Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank (which earned P30.27 million), were definite box-office winners. “Box-office ticket sales are unpredictable and uncertain. But with the success of independent movies, we can say that audiences now support quality movies, even from outside mainstream producers. This is a good sign of how the industry will fare in the coming months,” Mr. Cuartero said. (Business World) n
FEBRUARY 2012
By pEppER marcelo
ESPITE a terror warning from President Benigno aquino III himself, millions of devotees descended upon the streets of Manila to join the yearly procession of the Black Nazarene. Celebrated every January 9, the 405th Pista na Itim na Nazareno commemorates the feast of the traslacion (transfer) of the Black Nazarene image from the Recollect Church in Intramuros to the Quiapo Church in 1787.
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DEVOTION DEVOTION OR OR ‘EXCESS ‘EXCESS FANATICISM’? FANATICISM’?
The Filipinos see themselves in the image of the suffering and struggling Black Nazarene, says a Catholic priest. The day before, President aquino appeared on television to discourage the devotees from joining the event due to an intelligence report of a possible terror plot from unnamed individuals or groups. The presidential advisory did not deter the devotees and fortunately the feared attack did not materialize. Various estimates put this year’s attendance between five and eight
‘The Filipinos see themselves in the image of the suffering and struggling Black Nazarene. [It’s] a snapshot of Jesus rising again after the fall... we will see there the resilience of the Filipinos, they never lose hope.’ million. authorities were on full alert two days before the event – with about 15,000 policemen, backed by a battalion of army troops, securing the procession route. The ceremonies began the night before as devotees attended a Mass
by Manila archbishop Luis antonio G. Tagle at the Quirino Grandstand at the Luneta, where the Nazareno was displayed. The following day at 8 a.m., the procession started from the grandstand through a threemile (five-kilometer) route, ending
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finally at the Quiapo Church. Despite the short distance, this year’s march is said to have been the longest in the history of the annual procession – about 22 hours – due to the number of people crowding and trying to touch the ropes attached to the gilded carroza (carriage) carrying the statue. Crowned with thorns and bearing a cross, the charred image of Christ is believed to have the power to perform miracles, heal ailments, bring good luck, or bring about protection, which explains why many devotees risk their safety to get as close as possible to it. Wearing maroon shirts, legions endured heat, hunger, and pushing, while many walked barefoot along the route as a sign of their devotion. Female devotees in front of the procession were allowed to help pull the ropes, which they believe have healing powers. One of the women, Aling Rosa, prayed for good luck in the new year. “Sana wala nang dumating sa akin na sakuna at magkaroon ako ng piece of mind.” Other believers were there to thank the Lord for past miracles.“Mga kasama namin na babae na baog, ngayon buntis. Yan ang isang himala na binigay sa amin,” said Ramon Villanueva,
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Despite the short distance, this year’s march is said to have been the longest in the history of the annual procession. from Novaliches. Those who could not get near the icon waved white handkerchiefs or hurled towels to the marshals guarding the Black Nazarene, which in turn were wiped on the statue (wiped totems are said to bring luck) and thrown back to the devotees. The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) reported over 100 injuries during the event, while other rescue units and volunteers treated more than 500 injuries. Most of them suffered from foot ailments, high blood pressure, and exhaustion caused by people pushing and shoving to get near the image. Injuries, lost or stolen valuables, loss of consciousness, and even deaths, are common occurrences.
Risking life and limbs, millions of devotees join the procession to fulfill a vow and show gratitude for blessings received. In 2010, two people died while 450 were injured. The Catholic priest in charge of the procession admitted that the devotees displayed an “excess of fanaticism that needs to be corrected.” “It’s our task to slowly form
and educate the faithful about their devotion and the right way of expressing such devotion that will not harm themselves and others,” said Msgr. Clemente Ignacio, Rector of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo.
“The Filipinos see themselves in the image of the suffering and struggling Black Nazarene. [It’s] a snapshot of Jesus rising again after the fall... we will see there the resilience of the Filipinos, they never +16 lose hope.”
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