Manila is a two-part indie film inspired by Ishmael Bernal’s 1980 film Manila by Night and Lino Brocka’s 1979 film Jaguar. It is divided into a “Day” and “Night” episode directed by Raya Martin and Adolfo Alix, Jr., respectively.

Manila was first exhibited at the 61st Cannes Film Festival and the 31st Moscow International Film Festival and it is set to be screened in 6 more international film festivals.

Now, Filipinos will finally have the chance to watch this black-and-white film at the following theaters, released by Star Cinema: SM North Edsa, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Manila, SM Fairview, Robinsons Ermita, Robinsons Galleria, Gateway, Trinoma, Glorietta 4, Sta. Lucia, SM Davao, SM Cebu, SM Pampanga, and SM Taytay.

An MJM Production and Bicycle Pictures production, Manila also stars Rosanna Roces, Jay Manalo, Alessandra de Rossi, Baron Geisler, Iza Calzado, Angelica Panganiban, Jiro Manio, William Martinez, Anita Linda, Marissa Delgado, Menggie Cobarrubias, John Lapus, Katherine Luna, Aleck Bovick, and Jon Avila.

VIDEO LINK: Manila – Full Trailer

The starstruck princess personally filed her complaint before the PNP Women’s Crisis and Child Protection Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Yasmien said that Baron harrassed her on May 21, the first day they met at the taping of GMA’s mini-series “Suspetsa” where they’re both lead stars.

At first, Yasmien alleged that Baron talked dirty stuff on her. Then the actor showed indecent gestures with his hand at her. Yasmien finally cried foul after Baron embraced her.

The actress said the harassment occurred in front of the production staff. She also disclosed that Geisler had allegedly sent her lewd text messages.

This is the second time that Geisler has been accused of sexual harassment. The first incident was with the daughter of William Martinez and Yayo Aguila, in which the case hasn’t been resolved as of yet.

Video Link: 24 Oras: Yasmien Kurdi files charges of acts of lasciviousness against Baron Geisler

The breakthrough actor of the multi-award-winning indie film “Jay” will now be seen on GMA shows.

His first project in the kapuso network is via the mini-series “Suspetsa” of “SRO Cinemaserye” every Thursday night.

Baron will join Paolo Contis, Jennylyn Mercado, Yasmien Kurdi, Ryan Eigenmann and Nadine Samonte in the said 8-episode telemovie.

Baron became controversial when he was accused for act of lasciviousness by the daughter of Yayo Aguila and William Martinez in an incident in a bar last year.

When asked by Chika Minute regarding the negative publicities surrounding him, he said:

“It makes me understand kung ano ang industriyang ito. Sometimes kailangan yung mga ganyan, nakakatulong din pero sana naman this time yung mga kontrobersya magaganda naman,‘wag naman puro negatibo,” he said.

No. 86 – Marvin Agustin
(2008 ranking: 75)

No. 87 – Josef Elizalde
(new entry)

No. 88 – Mart Escudero
(2008 ranking: 35)

No. 89 – Jommy Teotico
(new entry)

No. 90 – Baron Geisler
(new entry)

Photo Credits:

Marvin Agustin – www.igma.tv
Josef Elizalde – Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus
Mart Escudero – GMA Artist Center
Jommy Teotico – Bubum Melgar Photography
Baron Geisler – Metro Magazine

A Breaking the Box production, Padyak stars Jay Aquitania (Roxxxane), Irma Adlawan (Pusang Gala), Rita Avila, Katherine Luna (Babae sa Breakwater), Mcoy Fundales, Angel Jacob, Emilio Garcia (Selda), Arnold Reyes, Bodjie Pascua, Sabrina Man, Hazel Ann Mendoza, Mercedes Cabral (Serbis) and Baron Geisler (Jay).

Synopsis:

Noel inherits a pedicab vehicle after the sudden death of his father, a pedicab driver. Unable to pursue his dream of going to college, Noel takes up the job his father left. Everything & everyday then become a cycle of routine with the people he knows and the perfect strangers he takes into his vehicle to pedal them to their destinations. In the middle of Noel’s story come three other vignettes that are totally unrelated to him. Or so it seems. A maid has an affair with her employer’s lover & is caught. A child wants to throw his father a birthday bash. A law graduate literally encounters another side of himself tempting him to do something. A series of tragedy takes Noel’s life into its own spin. A beautiful woman he befriends is found dead, his best friend Baste is killed, there’s the tragedy of the woman he loves, Nadia, falling into the claws of prostitution, and lastly, his own mother succumbing into a diabetic coma. Noel is left questioning his own existence… Will the world be a different place without a pedicab driver like him? Does his life really matter? Padyak will be shown beginning March 4, 2009 at the Robinson’s Galleria Indiesine.

Video Link: Padyak – Movie Trailer

Here is the complete list of winners:

Best Picture:
Jay

Jury Prize:
Brutus

Best Director:
Chris Martinez for 100

Best Screenplay:
Chris Martinez for 100

Best Actress:
Mylene Dizon for 100

Best Actor:
Baron Geisler for Jay

Best Supporting Actress:
Eugene Domingo for 100

Best Supporting Actor:
Yul Servo for Brutus

Best Production Design:
Cristina Honrado for Baby Angelo

Best Editing:
Francis Pasion for Jay

Best Musical Score:
Joey Ayala for Brutus

Best Sound Design:
Lito Cruz for Ranchero

Best Cinematography:
Jay Abello for Brutus and Huling Pasada

Audience Choice Award:
100

SHORT FILM CATEGORY

Best Director:
Mark Reyes for “God Only Knows”

Audience Choice:
“God Only Knows” (directed by Mark Reyes)

Best Screenplay:
“Andang”

Special Jury Citation:
“Angan Angan (Dreams)”

Best Special Jury Citation:
“My Pet”

Photo Credits: Cinemanyak

Young director Francis Pasion summarizes his film as follows:

“Baron Geisler’s role as a gay TV producer personifies my commentary on Philippine media.” Jay is the name of two protagonists in the film. Jay Santiago is a gay TV producer documenting the family of a gay hate crime victim who happens to be his namesake, Jay Mercado. In the process of producing for his TV program, Jay Santiago intrudes into the private grief of the other Jay’s family and he is drawn to the secret life and love of his subject. Direk Francis issues a warning for his film, “Do not believe everything you see as truth.” Aside from Baron, this film also stars indie Prince Coco Martin as Edward.

Jay – Movie Trailer:

The former PBB celebrity housemate reasoned out that Patricia Martinez, the daughter of Yayo Aguila and William Martinez, has no basis for the acts of lasciviousness case charged against him and the complaint was made to destroy his image.

Another defense of Baron is that Patricia was constantly going near him while they were in Fiamma Bar in Makati City. He said that he was forced to push Patricia that led him to “accidentally” touch her breasts.

Last April 28, Baron’s original defense was that he came from the workshop for his “rapist” role (could be for ABS-CBN’s upcoming series ‘Eva Fonda’) and that he was still unconsciously in the workshop mode that time wherein he was “acting out” the said role.

He said, “Ako, mahilig ako na kapag may bago akong role like bading, ginagawa ko to my friends and asking for their approval. Ito bagong role ko na manyak. Siguro she [Patricia] took it a wrong way. Di ba, parang kapamilya? So akala ko ay maiintindihan niya na naglalaro ako as a character. E, galing ako sa workshop, so yun lang.”

On a separate interview, Baron’s former girlfriend Jodi Sta. Maria defended the young actor saying that in real life Baron is a nice guy.

Baron’s co-star in the upcoming movie “Torotot”, Precious Aldana, also has good things to say about him. Precious, who became an FHM covergirl last April, said Baron was just misunderstood.

Patricia is accusing Baron of touching her chest and asking her to have sex with him last weekend in a bar at Quezon City. With the helf of his father William Martinez, they filed the case at the PNP Women and Children’s Desk in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Baron and Patricia’s mom, Yayo Aguila, became housemates in Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition 2.

Baron denied the accusations.