Filipino produces Aussie Idol film clip
LUKE Torrevillas, a Filipino filmmaker based in Sydney, Australia, has produced the promo film clip for Australian Idol Guy Sebastian’s latest single, “™h Oh.”
The film clip is now being aired on Australian television.
In late February, Torrevillas was invited by Sony/BMG to bid for the project. After conferring with twin directors Jon and Josh Baker, Torrevillas’ production company, A7 House, had 24 hours to submit their treatment.
The team pitched against a few other companies, including a high-profile director from L.A., but won the contract. They were given five days to prepare for the shoot, and one week to edit before delivery.
On top of this, A7 House was in mid production for a DVD of the FHM Girl Next Door competition, and in preproduction for an Australia Post TV commercial. The latter was being co-directed by Filipino designer and animator Robertino Zambrano.
His company had produced commercials and film clips for other talents, Torrevillas said, but the clip for Guy Sebastian had put his production company in good stead with the record company.
Since the clip went on air, he said, he had heard only good, if not great, reports. “Guy Sebastian loves it, his management loves it and, most importantly, the record company and the fans love it,” said Torrevillas. [source]
April 13, 2005
Inquirer News Service
Also published on page A30 of the April 14, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Archive for April, 2005
Pinoy Film Clip for Aussie Idol
Thursday, April 14th, 2005Don’t Laugh Willie
Thursday, April 14th, 2005No longer a laughing matter this time for Willie Revillame
WILLIE Revillame, the comedian and game show host notorious for making off-color jokes, is in hot water again.
This time, the noontime TV host was charged with acts of lasciviousness by a tabloid columnist.
In a criminal complaint filed in the Quezon City prosecutor’s office yesterday, Ma. Salvacion Asis, entertainment columnist of Pilipino Star Ngayon and Pang Masa, accused Revillame of making inappropriate sexual advances in March 2002.
Recounting the incident, Asis said she and Ma. Lillian Fariñas, People’s Journal Tonight columnist, were invited by the TV host to his home in Capitol Hills, Quezon City late in the night.
On their way back, Revillame, who was seated in the back seat of his pick-up with Asis, allegedly touched her breasts and forced her to hold his private parts, according to Asis. He also kissed her forcibly on the lips, ears and cheeks, she added.
Revillame allegedly continued his assault even after they reached Mindanao Avenue and had transferred to Fariñas’ van. He kept the columnist in the van for 20 minutes while Fariñas pleaded with him to allow Asis to get off the van, said Asis.
The next day, Revillame begged for her forgiveness, saying: “Have pity on me. If only for my daughter, forgive me,” Asis said. Revillame has a daughter, Meryl, with Vicky Soriano, the sister of actress Maricel Soriano.
Asis said she let it go because she wanted to forgive him, and only broke her silence after three years because Revillame “had not changed,” Asis said. She also did not want Revillame to think of her as someone who could be paid to remain silent, she added.
Revillame yesterday told entertainment reporters he was “shocked” when he heard Asis had filed a case against him. On the news program TV Patrol last night, his lawyer Marie Fajate said the complaint was “malicious and a case of harassment.”
The TV host earlier threatened to file a libel case against Asis and Fariñas after the two wrote about the incident in their columns “Baby Talk” and “Big News,” respectively. Revillame, however, retracted his statement last week.
In her column last April 2, Asis said she decided to write about the incident after she heard a 19-year-old member of the dance group Go Girls also accused Revillame of making inappropriate sexual advances. But in Fariñas’ column last April 4, she said ABS-CBN had asked the Go Girls member to sign a waiver, saying there was no such incident.
ABS-CBN corporate PR head Maloli Manalastas said an investigation was conducted and that Revillame was exonerated, Fariñas said in her column. [source]
April 14, 2005
By DJ Yap, Marinel Cruz
Inquirer News Service
Also published on page A23 of the April 14, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
Multiple intelligence school
Thursday, April 14th, 2005Multiple intelligence educator reaps multiple successes
By Cecile G. Garcia, ContributorTHIRTY-FIVE year-old Mary Joy Abaquin introduced the first multiple intelligence schools in the country and in the process, multiplied her successes. In 1996, Abaquin founded Child’s Place, a preschool. Five years later, she established The Multiple Intelligence International School (MI), a grade school. Both are progressive and nontraditional and are anchored on the theory of multiple intelligence. “Child’s Place and MI are the first multiple intelligence schools in the country,” claims Abaquin, a staunch advocate of the theory. She serves as directress of both schools.
Abaquin started her career in education with a simple goal: to make the most difference, particularly in the field of early childhood education. She says, “I’ve always wanted to be with children and to make a difference in their lives. And I’ve always wanted to put up a school.” Today, she has achieved her simple goal and made an impact on the educational system in the country.
Credentials
Abaquin took up AB Psychology and graduated with honors (magna cum laude) from the University of the Philippines. She earned a master’s in Early Childhood Education from Boston University where she graduated with a summa cum laude. Prior to leaving for the US, she taught at UP, Department of Psychology and following graduate studies, at Bright Horizons, a preschool in Boston. Abaquin also pursued special studies in Programs in Professional Development at Harvard Graduate School of Education and in Programs in Continuing Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Though she did not really plan her career, Abaquin says she set a direction for herself early on. “I set certain goals.” At this point, of course, her achievements speak for themselves. “It’s a pleasant surprise how the schools have grown,” she remarks. Child’s Place and MI have a total enrollment of 500, with 20 to 25 students per class. “What makes us different, aside from our approach, is that we make a lot of decisions that are not good for business, but are good for the students. But then, this is not really a business with profit as the primary objective. This is a vocation.”
Startup pains
Putting up her first venture, Child’s Place, was fraught with the usual birth pains, recalls Abaquin. “We had to find the funds and the facilities. But the biggest challenge we faced was educating parents and changing their mindset,” she discloses. Parents had to be taught to appreciate their children for what they are, recognizing and understanding their strengths and weaknesses. They had to be familiarized with the theory of multiple intelligence, which submits that we possess different kinds of intelligence. Abaquin points out, “We had to make them see that we don’t define intelligence in the usual narrow way. Child’s Place is a school that discovers and develops a child’s multiple intelligence.” MI uses the same method. According to Abaquin, they have touched and changed the lives of many families through these learning institutions.
Today, she faces another kind of challenge-that of sustaining growth. There’s also the challenge of training teachers. “Teachers can be very powerful agents of change. They can mold children in the right direction. They can be critical in nation-building,” contends Abaquin.
Belief in the child
An educator or teacher like herself needs infinite patience, she adds. “You have to truly believe that every child is worth working on. You have to believe in the child. Your role is to hone the child. Love for kids does not necessarily make a good teacher. You have to study because child education is scientific.”
As owner and directress of Child’s Place and MI, it is part of Abaquin’s job to make decisions. “This is crucial to my position,” she says. She admits it’s not easy because whatever decisions she makes could affect the lives of others and could have repercussions. A child advocate, Abaquin, incidentally, is very hands-on in running the schools. As far as this educator is concerned, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as seeing the progress and development of a child. She adds, “It’s very motivating when kids are happy going to school, when they’re constantly curious, when they’re active learners.”
Lifelong learner
It is not surprising to discover that learning is Abaquin’s singular passion. She says she learns by reading, traveling and by meeting people who share her passion. “I hope to be a lifelong learner. I would like to think that there would always be questions I would want answered.” In keeping with this passion, every now and then, she goes to the US for special studies and frequently invites consultants from the US and Canada to come and visit her schools.
A recent visitor and a role model for Abaquin is Dr. Howard Gardner, a psychologist and a professor at Harvard University and proponent of the theory of multiple intelligence. Expressing admiration for the man, Abaquin says, “Dr. Gardner is continuously thinking. As he himself puts it, he has a synthesizing mind.” Needless to add, her schools are grounded on the theory he is espousing.
Work-life balance
Abaquin values her family more than anything. She has been married to husband Raymond for nine years and they have two girls, ages seven and four. Raymond, a businessman, has recently taken over the financial and marketing aspect of the schools. Says Abaquin, “I’m glad I have daughters because I can serve as a role model for them. They appreciate what I do. It has certainly helped me in raising and empowering them.”
Last year, Abaquin was named Working Mom of the Year by the popular monthly publication, Working Mom. Also last year, she was given the Ilaw ng Tahanan Award (Light of the Home) by Meralco. The educator was given recognition by the two bodies for having achieved perfect balance between career and family.
Underlining her commitment, Abaquin says she will always be a teacher and an educator. “I might go into adult education later on, possibly teacher training,” she discloses. Her ultimate goal, however, is to develop an ideal school campus.
Abaquin, a consultant for the Department of Education, hopes to make a difference in national development. She avers, “I would like to do my part in improving our educational system. Early childhood education is very important. I believe school reform should start at the grass roots level.” [source]
Abunda declares war
Wednesday, April 13th, 2005A declaration of war?
ON LAST Sunday’s edition of ABS-CBN’s “The Buzz,” host Boy Abunda made pointed pronouncements that could be interpreted as a declaration of war against rival network GMA 7.
He unleashed a barrage of shockers after an exclusive one-on-one with Piolo Pascual, the actor implicated in a gay sex video aired by GMA 7’s “Star Talk.”
In the course of the interview, Abunda asked questions that had long lingered in the gossip mills concerning the star’s sexuality, his close friendship with Yul Servo, the failure of his movie “Dreamboy” (which had been pitted against GMA Films’ “Let the Love Begin”) … and the purported sex video.
Wrapping up the segment, Abunda recounted the series of unfortunate events that had led to this boiling point: sex-video exposé employed by both networks in the bid to win the ratings game.
The award-winning host’s shocker No.1: “Itinataya ko ang aking maliit na pangalan na totoo ang sex video ni Ethel Booba (I hereby put my humble name on the line to say that Ethel Booba’s sex video is real).”
He made a hypothetical statement that could very well translate into a veiled warning.
“Kung sakaling totoo na may cyber-sex video si Paolo Bediones, ito’y aming pag-aaralan at iimbestigahan (If it’s true that Paolo Bediones has a cyber-sex video, we will study and investigate this.”)
Bediones and Booba are talents of GMA 7.
Defense
Abunda has refused to grant interviews since the Sunday bombshell. Close associates said he actually avoided the crew of “TV Patrol” right after “The Buzz.”
But to Inquirer Entertainment, he said a few things.
“I am not declaring war against anybody,” he said in a phone interview. “I am merely defending talk shows.”
Abunda’s associates revealed that he was bothered by his own observation that talk shows had become the “whipping boy” for all the ills of the entertainment industry.
Referring to the most recent eruption of the networks’ feud, an insider said: “It is disturbing that the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has taken a hands-off policy in the Pascual sex-video case. Moreover, the Pami (Professional Artist Managers, Inc.) cannot do anything. Their hands are tied since they don’t have policing powers. They cannot sanction the erring networks.”
But since last week, when ABS-CBN wrote a protest letter to Pami regarding the offending “Star Talk” episode, the managers’ group has issued a strongly worded official statement, stressing that its members would remain “relentless” in pursuing the cause of “ethical entertainment journalism” on TV.
In the response addressed to Johnny Manahan, ABS-CBN senior vice president for Star Magic, the network’s talent arm (who wrote the protest letter), Pami said on Saturday:
“It is high time [the whole industry got its] act together. Pami … will continue to seek the cooperation of various groups in the community to achieve its objective.”
Ed Instrella, a Pami founding member, described the situation as “ominous,” one that merited “quick and decisive” action from all sectors concerned.
Option
Inquirer Entertainment asked Instrella whether the matter could be elevated to the Advertising Board. In the past, advertisers have been “persuasive” in dealing with shows that required a little discipline.
“Yes, that is an option,” Instrella said.
Abunda said this did not sit well with him.
In his monologue last Sunday, he enumerated the “inspiring” stories “The Buzz” had done-like Klaudia Koronel’s graduation from college; JC Parker’s devotion to her incarcerated mother; and Jodi Sta. Maria’s romance with Pampi Lacson.
Even GMA 7’s “S-Files” had aired similarly positive reports.
The TV insider, however, pointed out that talk show producers traditionally had a hard time finding viewers for good news.
“It’s the TV landscape,” the source explained. “We’ve been doing all these ‘good news’ stories, but the market is not responding. The best thing to do right now is to plead with the public to ignore spectacle and sensationalist TV, and to patronize empowering, inspiring television.”
In short, the ball is now in the viewers’ court.
“We are posing a challenge to televiewers,” the TV insider said. “If they find anything offensive on TV talk shows, they should switch channels.”
Or at least press the mute button.
Pami member Norma Japitana shared that exact sentiment with Inquirer Entertainment in a previous interview. “Everyone should be vigilant,” Japitana said. “Most especially televiewers.”
“I just wanted to speak out,” Abunda said of Sunday’s outburst. “I acknowledge that talk shows have frailties and excesses, but we are still in the middle of this journey of educating and correcting ourselves.” [source]
INQUIRER EXCLUSIVE
April 12, 2005
By Bayani San Diego
Inquirer News Service
Also published on page A2-1 of the April 13, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
GMA Pinoy TV in Frisco by July
Wednesday, April 13th, 2005GMA Pinoy TV, the international channel of GMA Network Inc., is set to debut in San Francisco, United States between May and July this year.
The move is aimed at expanding its market by tapping the Filipino audience overseas.
GMA’s international channel is now being shown in Japan and Guam.
Jimmy Duavit, GMA executive vice president and chief operating officer, said GMA Pinoy Tv would be launched in other overseas markets — such as Singapore, Malaysia and the Middle East — in the first semester of next year.
The network spent about $4 million to upgrade its facilities in preparation for the international operations. Duavit said another $1 million was earmarked for marketing and promotions, admitting that GMA had a lot of catching up to do in the international arena.
In 2004, GMA posted a net profit of P1.5 billion, which was 42 percent higher than the previous year’s level, while rival ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. suffered a 25-percent drop in its net income to P758 million.
Early indications showed, according to Duavit, GMA 7 registered a significant increase in its profit in the first quarter of the year. He said January and February showed strong results.
“The intention is to go where there is a critical mass of Filipino audience abroad,” said Duavit in an interview. There are more than eight million Filipinos working overseas.
GMA Pinoy TV carries most of the network’s highest-rating shows, including news and public affairs and general entertainment programs.
The international channel line-up includes 24 Oras, Eat Bulaga, Bubble Gang; Mulawin, Imbestigador; and S.O.P.
GMA is using the satellite facilities of Malaysian firm Measat Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. to support the network’s international operations. Duavit said GMA Pinoy TV was being carried on Measat-2 spacecraft.
“The signal is down-linked at the new Measat Teleport and Broadcast Center in Kuala Lumpur, re-transmitted via fiber optic to the United States where it would be uploaded again to a satellite before GMA Pinoy TV would be distributed to cable and satellite operators in the US,” explained Duavit.
In the US, GMA had tied up with a major cable operator that would distribute GMA Pinoy TV initially in San Francisco. [source]
‘Encantadia’ starts April 25
Monday, April 11th, 2005
The four stones of Encantadia
Internet authority designates .jobs, .travel extensions - INQ7.net
Sunday, April 10th, 2005nternet authority designates .jobs, .travel extensions
Posted 07:52am (Mla time) April 09, 2005
Agence France-Presse
WASHINGTON—The Internet’s authority for Web addresses said Friday it officially designated .jobs and .travel to be used on the Internet, with discussions continuing on other extensions including .asia.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) said in a statement that it adopted the new so-called top-level domains (TLDs) at its 22nd international conference in Mar del Plata, Argentina.
The .jobs extension will be administered by US-based Employ Media LLC, which proposed the new extension with the Society for Human Resource Management for organizations involved in job recruiting and human resources.
The .travel addresses will be managed by New York-based Tralliance Corp. and was created at the best of The Travel Partnership Corporation, which includes US and global travel organizations.
ICANN said it was in technical discussions on the addition of other extensions including .mobi (for the mobile phone industry), .cat for the Catalan language, and .post for postal organizations.
ICANN, a non-profit organization set up in 1998 at the initiative of the US government to respond to requests to do business on the Internet, said it also was evaluating top level domains including .asia, .mail, .tel and .xxx.
Internet authority designates .jobs, .travel extensions - INQ7.net
Nora’s immigration lawyer speaks up - INQ7.net
Sunday, April 10th, 2005Nora’s immigration lawyer speaks up
Posted 11:18pm (Mla time) April 09, 2005
By Bayani San Diego Jr.
Inquirer News Service
Editor’s Note: Published on page A2-1 of the April 10, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
DUE to her recent arrest at the Los Angeles airport,singer-actress Nora Aunor’s status in the United States has become the subject of much speculation.
A tabloid recently declared she was facing immediate deportation. A contrary report said she could not leave the US until after her April 21 arraignment.
Inquirer Entertainment interviewed by e-mail Aunor’s immigration lawyer, Lourdes Tancinco, based in San Francisco, California.
How would the incident affect Nora Aunor’s O1 visa application?
The fact that she was detained does not necessarily mean that [she] is guilty of an offense. She has the right to a hearing. The prosecution has to prove its case and, pending resolution of the charges, she is [presumed] innocent … thus, it shall have no impact on her O1 visa application.
What happens if she’s found guilty? If she’s exonerated?
It would be premature to determine … without the actual documentation from the court. I am working closely with her defense attorneys in LA to ensure that she gets adequate legal representation. In her current situation, Ms Aunor may continue to stay and work legally in the US.
What exactly is an O1 visa?
Generally, the O1 visa enables people with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, athletics, motion picture or television industry to enter the US for temporary periods of time. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s regulations loosely define this category.
To be considered an outstanding individual, one should be highly regarded in his or her field, and can work in the US only in that area of expertise.
What was your initial reaction to the news?
I was disturbed, but confident that she would get out of the situation legally.
What can you say to people spreading inaccurate news?
We have no control over the opinions that other people hold of my client. What is important is that [news be heard] directly from her spokesperson [and manager] Nori Sayo.
Is your client open to your advice?
She is very receptive and cooperative.
What are your hopes with regard to the case?
I hope she will be able to get out of [this] predicament as soon as possible.
To what extent are you working to see this happen?
[We will] do our best and … continue to protect her best interests as permitted by pertinent immigration laws and regulations.
‘All About Eve’ starts April 11
Sunday, April 10th, 2005
Cast of ‘All About Eve’
ABS-CBN lower after 2004 net profit falls
Friday, April 1st, 2005ABS-CBN lower after 2004 net profit falls
Posted: 10:23 AM | Apr. 01, 2005
Cecille Yap
XFN-Asia
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp was lower in early trade after the company reported that its net profit for the past year fell 25 percent to 757.9 million pesos from 1.008 billion pesos in 2003 as growth in expenses outpaced higher sales and advertising revenues, dealers said.
ABS-CBN was down 0.25 pesos or 1.64 percent at 15.
In a statement released after the market closed Thursday, the television and broadcasting firm said consolidated net airtime and other broadcasting-related revenues increased slightly to 9.26 billion pesos from 9.08 billion in 2003.
Net sales rose 21 percent to 4.31 billion pesos from 3.56 billion in 2003 due to the expansion of its international unit ABS-CBN Global, which accounted for 71 percent of total net sales.
Cost and operating expenses rose 20 percent to 12.05 billion pesos due to higher production costs and other expenses.
Earnings per share declined to 0.985 pesos from 1.31 in 2003.
(1 dollar = 54.95 pesos)