“The story revolves around Horton the Elephant, who finds himself faced with a double challenge – not only must he protect his tiny friend Jojo (and all the invisible Whos) from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must also guard an abandoned egg, left to his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. ”

Watch a fantastic ensemble cast including Filipino singing diva Bituin Escalante bring to life a well-loved story. For ticket inquiries and reservation, contact Butch Buenaventura at 0916-7687790 or email brb8976@yahoo.com.

This year’s I-Witness Docufest was held at the Gateway Cineplex last       October 10 and 17.  Eight documentaries were screened in three two-hour slots. We arrived in time to catch the first four,  which were screened from 11AM to 1PM. After that, grabbed some popcorn and lined up again for the for the screening of the next four, from 2PM to 4PM. From 5PM-7PM, the first set were shown again, but this time it was followed by an open forum. The winning documentary at the Student Docu was also featured. I wanted to watch again, just so I could get a chance to ask Howie Severino some questions about his documentary, Don’t English Me. When I stepped out of the cinema to line up again, however, the line was already long and I thought I would’t be able to sit. “I’d just email Howie,” I thought.

Here are the documentaries featured this year:

AMBULANSIYANG DE PAA – Kara David travels to a remote town in Oriental Mindoro and witnesses the dismal state of healthcare in the area. With only hammocks for an “ambulance”, residents bring their sick from the mountains to the nearest health center.

LABORATORYO NI MANG DOMENG – Documentarist Jay Taruc follows the work of Mang Domeng, a man who makes a living by buying animals and killing them, in order to sell skeletal displays and stuffed animals to medical schools.

PAG-IBIG SA MAGKABILANG DAIGDIG – Sandra Aguinaldo shares the joy and anticipation of two Filipinas who have found their partners through the Internet, and shows how technology has opened the doors to interracial marriages. (My own cousin, in fact, met her husband through chat–help with grammar coming from me.)

DON’T ENGLISH ME! – On board his bike, Howie Severino travels the streets of Manila and discovers errors in English usage. This documentary elicited occasional laughter from the audience.

HINGALO NI BUNSO – Known for her documentaries about children, Kara David delivers yet another heart-wrenching documentary about children suffering from tuberculosis and the vicious cycle of poverty and malnutrition.

KALABAW - What was intended to be a merry Carabao Festival turns tragic when one carabao runs amuck. I wonder what Howie Severino initially wanted to portray. Surely he did not predict that the carabao would go berserk? What was the original flow of the documentary, I wonder?

BOOK TO SCHOOL – Sandra Aguinaldo witnesses the joys and the hope brought to remote schools by a new supply of textbooks. She says that she traveled to help inspire the pupils in these schools, but ended up being inspired herself.

PAC-MOM – Jay Taruc veers away from his “immersion” style documentaries, and follows a day in the life of Dionisia Pacquiao, mother of Filipino boxing phenomenon Manny Pacquiao.

Watch out for GMA7′s newest I-Witness documentaries.

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Repertory Philippines will be staging Sweeney Todd from November 14 to December 13 this year. Veteran stage actor Audie Gemora will play the character of Sweeney Todd, a man who returns to his London village after years in a penal colony, and opens his barbershop as the stage on which to exact his revenge on the judge that raped his wife.

Sweeney Todd was made into a film in 2007 by director Tim Burton, starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. They were the same team that gave life to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The musical will be performed by Filharmonika, and will be conducted by renowned conductor Gerard Salonga.

I invite you to watch the musical. By watching the show, you will be able to support the less fortunate as we will be partnering with a charitable organization. Also, ticket holders will have a chance to enter Ascend for an “after party” in Bonifacio High Street for free. Ticket prices are P400, P700, P800 and P 1,000. (P400 and P700 are free seating while P800 and P1,000 are reserved seating).

Visit Repertory Philippines’ site for more details.

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“I have carefully weighed the virtues and the faults of the FILIPINO,
& I have come to the conclusion that the he is worth dying for!”
- Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino, Jr.

August 21, 2009 will mark the 26th anniversary of Ninoy Aquino’s assassination. He was shot on the airport–it was Manila International Airport in those days–after returning from the US, where he had medical treatment. He was believed to be Marcos’ most vocal critic. His assassination caused nationwide protest that culminated to what is now known as The 1986 EDSA People Power revolt. The rest, as they say, is history.

Where were you then? What were you doing during that fateful day? I wonder. As for me, I don’t remember much; I was in Grade 1 then. It was a Sunday, so probably I had been outside playing. I know from History how the funeral had looked like, how many people mourned his death on the streets. I got a more vivid image recently when Cory Aquino died.

Did You Know…?

…that to protect his identity on his return to the Philippines, Ninoy Aquino used the name Marcial Bonifacio on his passport. Marcial is supposedly for Martial Law and Bonifacio is for Fort Bonifacio, where he was imprisoned.

…he made a public appearance where he showed the bulletproof vest he was going to wear on his return, and said that as for the head, there was nothing they could do. He returned to the Philippines despite the fact.

…that he made a phone call to a man named Steve Psinakis, a prominent figure in the anti-Marcos era, in which he expressed his knowledge of what he was coming home to and his plans if he got back alive.

I want to share this video, which was uploaded on YouTube by user NinoyAquinoTv.

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Yes, in this age of iPod and iTunes, and Pussycat Dolls and hiphop, I am one of the few who find beauty in Kastilyong Buhangin. The songs of Basil Valdez are simply timeless, beautiful and full of poetry. The songs of Joey Albert, on the other hand, are enduring love songs. Today’s Pinoy teens can sing Beyonce or Fergie—but let them have a heartbreak, and they’re sure to come back, singing Tell Me or Iisa Pa Lamang. Hehehe.

They were guests on GMA7’s SIS, and they were made to sing a few notes from their songs. Joey Albert’s voice has changed, but still beautiful.

Anyway, the concert is going to be at the SM North EDSA Skydome this August 15. Tickets are at P2,750 and P1,750. A little expensive, I know. I just hope it’s going to be incomparable indeed.

You can get your tickets at Ticketnet at 911-5555 or Viva Concerts & Events office at 687-6181 locals 627 and 620.

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However, every Pinoy can do some things to help the Philippines.

Which is why I decided to write about a little book entitled 12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country, which was written by Alex Lacson. Cory Aquino wrote the Foreword, in which she quoted Kennedy, reminding the Pinoy reader to ask what one can do for the country.

A little book of twelve noble ideas.

In this book, the author gives twelve “nugget-size” advice that are practical and realistic. To summarize Alex Lacson’s tips, here are the twelve things:

1.      Obey the laws, especially traffic rules, which are the simplest  laws of a society.

2.      When you buy something, ask for an official receipt.

3.      Don’t buy smuggled goods. Buy Filipino.

4.      Speak positively about the Philippines , especially to foreigners.

5.      Respect the traffic officer, policeman and soldier.

6.      Dispose your garbage properly.

7.      Support your church.

8.      During elections, do your solemn duty.

9.      Pay your employees well.

10.   Pay your taxes.

11.    Adopt a scholar or a poor child.

12.    Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and love our country.

These are simple steps. But imagine, really imagine, the kind of change it could create if Pinoys are to follow them.

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Almighty God, most merciful Father
You alone know the time
You alone know the hour
You alone know the moment
When I shall breathe my last.

So, remind me each day,
most loving Father
To be the best that I can be.
To be humble, to be kind,
To be patient, to be true.
To embrace what is good,
To reject what is evil,
To adore only You.

When the final moment does come
Let not my loved ones grieve for long.
Let them comfort each other
And let them know
how much happiness
They brought into my life.
Let them pray for me,
As I will continue to pray for them,
Hoping that they will always pray
for each other.

Let them know that they made possible
Whatever good I offered to our world.
And let them realize that our separation
Is just for a short while
As we prepare for our reunion in eternity.

Our Father in heaven,
You alone are my hope.
You alone are my salvation.
Thank you for your unconditional love, Amen.

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Corazon Aquino, a woman of courage. (SFS, blusparks.wordpress.com)

Today, former President Cory Aquino, wife of statesman Ninoy Aquino and restorer of democracy in the Philippines, passed away.

Her son, Sen. Noynoy Aquino composedly made the announcement: “Our mother peacefully passed away at 3:18 a.m., August 1, 2009, of cardio-respiratory arrest. She would have wanted to thank each and every one of you for all the prayers and your continued love and support. It was her wish for all of us to pray for one another and for our country.”

Cory would be best remembered perhaps for leading the Filipino people in the 1986 EDSA “People Power” revolt, which brought and end to more than two decades of dictatorship by Ferdinand Marcos. This was a fight she carried on after her husband, Senator Ninoy Aquino, was assasinated in 1983 for opposing the dictatorship. She ran for president in 1986 and won, restoring democracy, and press freedom in the country. I really believe that the People Power movement inspired people in other countries to oppose dictatorship, especially the former Soviet Union and Germany. I distinctly remember a news footage (in Russia, I think) showing civilians lying on the street to stop military trucks and tanks. That was what thousands of Filipinos did in 1986 to show their support for Cory.

Her government was criticised for doing little to alleviate poverty. But how does one undo in six years the social evils committed in the past 20 years? Her goverment survived seven coup d’etat attempts and transitioned peacefully in 1992. She continued to be active in the political scene, along with religious institutions, fighting for truth and transparency in the governent. Before she was diagnosed with colon cancer last year, she was an active supported of Jun Lozada in his crusades against corruption in the present administration.

With the life she lived, she’s leaving the Filipinos a strong message: courage, faith in God, and love for country.

…Looming from the battle her courage will never fade.
Amidst the hardships she has remained
Undaunted and unafraid
She is calm and composed. She is God’s lovely maid.

- from a poem to Cory written by Ninoy

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Well, guess what? I explored the Philippine terrain and found a heart shaped basin south of Manila.  I thinks it’s the Laguna de Bay, bordered by the towns of Rizal and Metro Manila. If you zoom into the south of Manila, you should be able to see it.

The heart of the Philippines? Who knows?

Google Earth image shows this heart-shaped part of Luzon.