Cinema One has extended the deadline for submission of a full narrative feature script for the 2010 Cinema One Originals Digital Movie Festival. New and final deadline is set on March 17 (Wednesday).

Parties who are interested to join Cinema One’s digital movie competition, whether professional, amateur or veteran filmmakers, are required to submit a full narrative feature script. Entries may also include character and story descriptions as well as a detailed production team line-up.

Entries should be in hard copy or CD, sent via snail mail or submitted in person to the Cinema One Office at the 8th floor of the ELJ Communications Center, along Eugenio Lopez Drive, Quezon City.

Please look for Lani de Guzman from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6pm. Contact Lani at 4152272 local 3166 for details, guidelines and for entry forms.

Entry forms are available online at www.cinemaone.tv.

Cinema One Originals has produced critically-acclaimed, award-winning independent movies such as Confessional, Yanggaw, Rome & Juliet, Imburnal, Altar and Sa North Diversion Road, among many others which move beyond the boundaries of the mainstream and have earned , for Philippine cinema the global attention it deserves through awards from various international film festivals from the likes of Cinemanila International Film Festival, Singapore International Film Festival, Pusan International Film Festivals, New York International Independent Film and Video Festival and 10th Jeonju International Film Festival (IFF) in Korea, among others.

Popular website and film experts’ online haven, www.hollywoodreporter.com has in fact acknowledged Cinema One’s significant contribution to the upturn of the Philippine filmmaking industry which has made a strong comeback. In October 2009, well-known online international film critic Patrick Frater published an article titled “Manilla in it’s Moment”, where he wrote that a major influence in the “current boom” of Philippine filmmaking is ABS-CBN’s Cinema One movie cable channel which shows Filipino classics as well as commerical films from the past.

Since Filipino indie cinema has long been in what is described as a “dark tunnel”, the channel has also been noted to help emerging filmmakers through Cinema One Originals. It has also nurtured talents who have gone on to bigger projects and wider audiences and has contributed to closing the gap between commercial filmmaking and the more adventurous arthouse/indie approach.

Create your dream movie and be part of this year’s Cinema One Originals. Tune in to Cinema One for more details and updates. The Cinema One Originals project is an annual event of Cinema One owned by Creative Programs, Inc (CPI).

Hosted by Karen Davila and TJ Manotoc, this two-hour special narrates the stories of past winners of the Gawad Geny Lopez: Bayaning Pilipino Awards, ABS-CBN’s annual search aimed at recognizing existing heroes who have rendered service to the Filipino people, from the time the awards were first held in 1995.

The eight featured awardees currently reside in different parts of the Philippines, mostly in rural areas, continuing their noble acts.

One of them is Erlinda Cabañal, Bayaning Pilipino Awardee for 2003, who selflessly offered her time and gave up her family life to be able to teach a native group of kids called Blaan in Sarangani province.

Purificacion Viernes of Cebu City (Bayaning Pilipino Awardee for 2001), on the other hand, still opted to be a “peace advocate” in Iligan and mediate between the warring Christians and Muslims even though her selfless intentions of helping the community claimed the lives of her husband and one of her children as their efforts were linked to the rebel group New People’s Army.

Mercedes “Ka Merced” Castro, Bayaning Pilipino Awardee for 2000, also served as an inspiration when she passionately fought for poor people’s rights in the city and successfully upheld anti-illegal squatting laws.

Other awardees to be featured are Norma Gohetia, Herminia Ibarra, Soledad Katy, Dr. Arthur Tansiongco, and Dr. Editha Cañete-Miguel.

ABS-CBN’s Gawad Geny Lopez: Bayaning Pilipino Awards are still on the lookout for this year’s nominees for the Bayaning Pilipino, Bayaning Kabataang Pilipino, and Bayaning Samahang Pilipino categories. For inquiries please call 426-6496 or 426-6001 loc 4873 or email bayaningpilipinoawards@yahoo.com. Deadline is on March 15.

Don’t miss the special documentary “Bayaning Pilipino: Ako ang Simula ng Pagbabago” this Sunday (Feb 28), 10 PM, on ABS-CBN.

Gay-themed indie filmmaking in the Philippines is probably one of the most thriving in the world. In 2009 alone, there are probably more gay-themed movies that were shown in the big screen than mainstream ones and it also marked the year that a gay-themed movie surpassed the P100 million mark at the box office for the first time courtesy of Star Cinema’s “In My Life.”

This month of hearts, gay-themed movies will be celebrated once again via a film festival called “Queer Lovefest.” The event is being organized by the Philippine Independent Filmmakers Cooperative, in cooperation with Robinsons Movieworld. Movies that will be shown in the week-long festival include those that have been commercially and critically hits within the last two years (from 2008 to 2009) like Ang Laro ng Buhay ni Juan (directed by Jay Altarejos), Boylets and Quicktrip (Cris Pablo), Daybreak (Adolfo Alix), Dose (Senedy Que), Heavenly Touch and Walang Kawala (Joel Lamangan), Rome and Juliet (Connie Macatuno), Boy (Aureaus Solito), and The Thank You Girls (Bebs Gohetia). The first public screening of Ben and Sam, a gay love story starring Ray An Dulay and Jess Mendoza, and under the direction of Mark Shandii Bacolod will have its premiere in said film festival.

Here is the complete schedule of Queer Lovefest screenings:

Ben and Sam: Feb 17 @ 10pm

Dose: Feb 17 @ 12nn, Feb 20 @ 7:30pm, Feb 22 @ 2:30pm

Daybreak: Feb 17 @ 2:30pm, Feb 19 @ 10pm, Feb 20 @ 12nn

Walang Kawala: Feb 17 @ 5pm, Feb 18 @ 2:30pm, Feb 20 @ 2:30pm, Feb 22 @ 7:30pm

Boylets: Feb 17 @ 7:30pm, Feb 19 @ 5pm, Feb 20 @ 10pm

The Thank You Girls: Feb 18 @ 12nn, Feb 19 @ 7:30pm, Feb 21 @ 5pm

Quicktrip: Feb 18 @ 5pm, Feb 21 @ 2:30pm, Feb 22 @ 10pm, Feb 23 @ 12nn

Rome and Juliet: Feb 18 @ 7:30pm, Feb 19 @ 2:30pm, Feb 21 @ 10pm, Feb 23 @ 10pm

Laro sa Bahay ni Juan: Feb 18 @ 10pm, Feb 21 @ 7:30pm, Feb 23 @ 2:30pm

Boy: Feb 19 @ 12nn, Feb 20 @ 5pm, Feb 22 @ 12nn, Feb 23 @ 5pm

Heavenly Touch: Feb 21 @ 12nn, Feb 22 @ 5pm, Feb 23 @ 7:30pm

For more information about Queer Lovefest, you may e-mail indiefilmcoop@gmail.com.

The 2009 People of the Year honorees are the following:

Jessica Soho – GMA 7’s Vice President for News, a multi-awarded broadcast journalist whose popular program “Reunions” has reunited so many missing persons with their families

Charo Santos-Concio – host of the longest-running drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya and the first female president of giant network ABS-CBN

Rico Hizon – the only Filipino anchor for the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC World News)

Emil Jurado – a veteran journalist and Manila Overseas Press Club chairman emeritus who has been wielding his pen to amuse, exasperate and deliver exposes from the time of President Elpidio Quirino up to the present

Efren Penaflorida – 2009 CNN Hero of the Year who has given hope to thousands of Filipino children by providing them with basic education and diverting their attention from joining street gangs and petty crime groups

Nedy Tantoco – Rustan Marketing Corporation president

Kaye Tinga – Taguig City First Lady

Agnes Devanadera – Department of Justice Secretary

Bernd Schneider – Former General Manager of Sofitel Philippine Plaza

Fr. Bienvenido Nebres – Ateneo de Manila University President

Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro – Presidential Candidate, 2010 Elections

Inno Sotto – Renowned fashion designer

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao – The first and only boxer in the world to win seven world titles in seven different weight divisions

Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino – Presidential Candidate, 2010 Elections

Mita Rufino – Art patron/florist

Nonito “The Flash” Donaire – Boxing champion

People Asia also handed out special awards to “Ondoy” heroes: Quezon City Judge Ralph Lee, the “jetski judge;” and actors Jericho Rosales and Gerald Anderson, who risked their lives to rescue flood victims. A posthumous award was given to Muelmar Magallanes for giving his life to save his family and neighbors during the flood.

Special awards were also given to the province of Camarines Sur, led by Gov. LRay Villafuerte as the “Top Destination of the Year;” Nivat Chantarachoti, general manager of Thai Airways; Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, whose programs have been helping uplift the lives of farmers; Spanish Ambassador Luis Arias Romero; Sarah Geronimo, who will be given special recognition for her achievements in the field of entertainment; and the Singapore Airlines A380, the “Oasis in the Sky.”

Out of 198 entries, 10 finalists were picked to compete in the annual full length feature category. In alphabetical order by film title, the finalists are:

“Halaw”
by Sheron Dayoc

“Limbunan”
by Gutierrez Mangansakan II

Mayohan
by Dan Villegas and Paul Sta. Ana

“Magkakapatid”
by Kim Homer C. Garcia

“Rekrut”
by Danny Añonuevo

“Sampaguita”
by Francis Xavier Pasion

“Sheika”
by Arnel Mardoquio

“Si Techie, Si Teknoboy at si JuanaB”
by Art Katipunan

“Siya ang Mayor Ko (Vox Populi)”
by Dennis N. Marasigan

“The Leaving”
by Ian-Dean S. Loreños

Each finalist will receive a P500,000 production grant from the Cinemalaya Foundation.

Meanwhile, an “Open Category” is being introduced this year. It is an an initial venture of the festival to feature works by veteran Filipino directors. According to Cinemalaya Foundation Board of Director Laurice Guillen, those who have directed at least 3 full-length feature films that have been released commercially qualify in this category.

From out of the 20 or so entries, only 5 got to the final round. These films are:

“Ang Paglilitis ni Bonifacio”
by Mario O’Hara

“Isang Pirasong Buhay”
by Mark Meily

“Pink Halu-Halo”
by Joselito Altarejos

“Sigaw”
by Joel Lamangan

“Two Funerals”
by Gil Portes

Finalists in the Short Film category to be announced.

This year’s festival will run from July 9 to July 18, 2010 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. P200,000 prize awaits the Best Full-Length Feature Film entry while P100,000 prize awaits the Best Short Feature Film entry.

“AmBisyon2010,” conceptualized by directors Emman Dela Cruz and Paolo Villaluna and produced by ANC executive producer Patricia Evangelista, aims to show the state of the nation from the eyes of 20 bright Filipino filmmakers.

Each film will tackle issues that will decide the 2010 elections such as corruption, democracy, population, health, education, and human rights.

Accomplished indie filmmakers Ditsi Carolino, Emmanuel Dela Cruz, Kiri Dalena, Henry Frejas, Jade Castro, Ellen Ramos, Jon Red, Jerrold Tarog, John Torres, Villaluna, TV and movie directors Jeffrey Jeturian and Erik Matti, and Cannes Film Festival winners Brillante Mendoza and Raymond Red are participating in the project.

The remaining six slots were given to amateur directors Anna Matutina, Pam Miras, Aissa Penafiel, Emerson Reyes, Gym Lumbera and McRobert Nacario, who were chosen from a field of over 80 entries by the panel of ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs head Maria Ressa, Philippine Independent Filmmakers Cooperative chairman Dr. Clodualdo del Mundo, and publisher and critic Erwin Romulo.

“AmBisyon2010” will culminate in a series of grand theater and television premieres before the Philippines national elections.

Visit www.abs-cbnnews/ambisyon2010 for the latest on “ambisyon2010.”

Filmmakers Ditsi Carolino, Emmanuel Dela Cruz, Kiri Dalena, Henry Frejas, Jeffrey Jeturian, Jade Castro, Jim Libiran, Erik Matti, Brillante Mendoza, Ellen Ramos, John Red, Raymond Red, Jerrold Tarog, John Torres, and Paolo Villaluna will each receive a small grant from ANC to produce a four to eight minute short film on their ambition for 2010.

From population to education to health and human rights, these are the voices of the nation’s best storytellers sharing their dreams for a nation in crisis.

Meanwhile, ANC also opened the project to the public by offering the five remaining slots to aspiring directors. Since Tuesday’s (Dec 15) deadline, more than 80 aspirants have submitted their entries for the chance to join fifteen of the country’s best filmmakers in theater and television premieres of amBisyon2010.

ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs head Maria Ressa, Philippine Independent Filmmakers Cooperative chairman Dr. Clodualdo del Mundo, and publisher and critic Erwin Romulo will choose the five winning entries, which will be announced on January 2010.

Video Link: Ambisyon 2010 TV Plug

For her role in raising awareness of the abuse and exploitation of animals, supermodel and longtime vegetarian Isabel Roces has been named People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia’s Person of the Year. Roces, who has graced the pages of numerous fashion magazines—including Marie Claire, Women’s Health, UNO, Rogue, Preview, and Cosmopolitan—is an outspoken critic of cruelty to animals and is widely considered to be the country’s most public proponent of vegetarianism. The following are just a few examples of her animal rights activism:

· In the wake of Typhoon Ondoy, she donated her time and services to The Philippine Animal Welfare Society’s rescue operations for abandoned dogs and cats. In addition to reminding people not to leave their animal companions behind during emergencies and natural disasters, she coordinated the donations of bottled water for dehydrated and exhausted animal evacuees.

· She solicited donations from sponsors for the Palawan Animal Welfare Association (PAWA) to assist in their efforts in rescuing stray animals and improving standards in slaughterhouses.

· From publicly advocating a vegetarian diet to educating people about how animals killed in the fur industry are often electrocuted, bludgeoned, or gassed, she takes every opportunity to speak out about cruelty to animals.

· She chooses not to lend her image or name to commercials, print ads, or high-profile events that promote meat or dairy products.

· In her newspaper column, she shares her beauty secrets and promotes cosmetics and body-care products that were not force-fed to animals in laboratories or smeared on their raw, shaved skin.

· In recognition of her commitment to animal rights, Lifestyle Network recently named her one of the Philippines’ Top 10 Outstanding Women. The award is given to the countries most inspirational women.

“Isabel Roces continues to impress us with her commitment to promoting vegetarianism and drawing attention to the plight of animals,” said PETA Asia Director Jason Baker. “Her exceptional, unending fight against cruelty to animals sets an example for us all.”

For more information, please visit PETAAsiaPacific.com.

Following are this year’s winners:

A. Print and Online Category:

Best in News Reportage Writing

Winner: Purple Chrystyl S. Romero (Newsbreak)
Runners-up: Florian Balmes, Karen Tiongson-Mayrina, Aedrianne Acar, Brenda Barrientos, Agatha Guidaben, Jamaica Pascual, Mary Ann Señir, Jake Soriano, Allan Vallarta (GMANews.Tv)

Best in Investigative Reporting

Winner: Claire Delfin (GMANews.Tv)
Runner up: Claire Delfin (GMANews.Tv)

Best in Opinion Writing

Winner: Rene Ezpeleta Bartolo
(The Mindanao Times)
Runner up: Juan L. Mercado (Sun.Star Cebu)

Best in Feature or Magazine Article Writing

Winner: Ronnie M. Halos (Pilipino Star Ngayon)
Runner up: Mark Joseph Holandes Ubalde (GMANews.Tv)

B. Broadcast Category

Best in Radio Program

Winner: Aurora J. Zialcita (DZMM Radyo Patrol)

Best in TV Documentary

Winner: Abner Mercado (ABS-CBN, The Correspondents)
Runner up: Nowell Cuanang (GMA, I-Witness)

Best in Magazine Program or Talk Show

Winner: Marielle Gaceta-Catbagan (ABS-CBN)

C. Photojournalism Category

Best in Single Photo

Winner: Jes Aznar (Human Rights Reporting Project)
Runner up: Jonathan C. Vicencio (Philippine Star)

Best in Photo Essay

Winner: Jes Aznar (Human Rights Reporting Project)

The Awarding Ceremony was held on December 2, 2009, at the Mandarin Oriental Suites, 4th Floor Gateway Mall, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City.

The article is entitled “The rise and rise of Starmometer” and it appeared on the Technews section of the Manila Bulletin October 26, 2009 issue. It’s actually an interview by Annalyn S. Jusay, for the “blog-o-rama” column of the said spreadsheet.

Here’s the scanned image of the article from the Manila Bulletin:

And here’s the snippet of the said interview which also appeared minutes ago on the official website of the Manila Bulletin, MB.com.ph :

You can read the full article here.

Thank you very much to Ms. Annaylyn Jusay of the Manila Bulletin. It’s an honor to be featured both in print and website of the nation’s leading newspaper. Truly, there’s good news in MB.

It’s neither the flickering lights nor the colorful parols, but it’s our beloved ‘Bro’ who will make this Christmas season shine and sparkle the brightest.

With the theme “Bro, Ikaw ang Star ng Pasko,” ABS-CBN will soon kick off its Christmas campaign this coming November 4 with simultaneous Parol lighting ceremonies to be held in ABS-CBN’s compound in Quezon City, key areas in the Regional Network Group stations, and select ABS-CBN Global offices worldwide.

Kapamilyas across the world will gather in this special event to light parols which will serve as symbols of hope and sharing, especially these past months when the country faced various challenges and calamities.

The light of Christ, symbolized by the Parol, will give warmth that heals all wounds and provide light that brings back hope. The light is passed on to us and, in turn, we kindle the heart of one another. So, we become one in picking up the pieces, rebuilding and moving on.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN already started selling specially-made Christmas lanterns called “Parol ni Bro,” which was inspired from the hit primetime teleserye “May Bukas Pa,” still in line with their yuletide campaign. This project aims to gather proceeds for the benefit of ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bayanijuan and Sagip Kapamilya programs.

The “Parol ni Bro” lanterns are available at SM Kultura and SM Department store outlets in Las Pinas, Fairview, North EDSA, Mall of Asia, Megamall, and Makati. Kapamilyas may also opt to order online via http://abscbnstore.multiply.com and the Starry Starry Store at http://www.starrystarry.com.

ABS-CBN, through its Creative Communications Management group, is also set to launch its annual Christmas Station ID this November featuring the network’s biggest stars and news anchors. What will its theme be? Who will be singing its theme song? Who are the Kapamilya stars who will grace this highly anticipated music video? Find out very soon on ABS-CBN.

This November, ABS-CBN will hit the malls and celebrate early Christmas with you as they bring your favorite Kapamilya artists to SM Fairview on Oct 25, SM Southmall on Nov 7, and SM San Lazaro on Nov 14.

Watch out as the whole campaign culminates December in ABS-CBN’s Christmas Special which will be held for the very first time at the Araneta Coliseum. Keep watching ABS-CBN for details on how to watch this ultimate Christmas gathering.

Aside from Starmometer, our celebrity blog PHStars.com was also selected as one of the finalists in the same category this year.

We are honored to be listed among the following blogs which are also vying for the Best Blog – Entertainment category:

CONUNDRUM
Film-Otaku
Lessons From the School of Inattention
Music Picks
Pop Reviews Now
Reel Advice Movie Reviews
SHELU89
SHOWBIZCHISMAX
SUGARFREE

On the other hand, the organizers of the Philippine Blog Awards announced the winner of their Sponsor Award – Chikka Media “Readers Choice” for Luzon. The winning blog is Good Times Manila for getting 7,566 SMS and online votes.

The 2009 Philippine Blog Awards is happening tonight at the Peta Theater in Quezon City.

Thank you so much to the organizers of the Philippine Blog Awards for the recognition of being selected as one (or two) of the finalists in the Entertainment category. We are deeply humbled and inspired to make Starmometer.com and PHStars.com more entertaining to Filipino blog readers nationwide and outside the country.

And to the avid readers of Starmometer, maraming maraming salamat po!