ABS-CBN’s official statement regarding the issue:

In the spirit of self-regulation, ABS-CBN removed Rosanna Roces as a judge in SHOWTIME after she made statements against the teachers in the January 7 live show (CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO). But despite this, MTRCB still imposed a 20-day preventive suspension for the program.

A preventive suspension is issued to stop further violations, if there were any committed, or for the interest or welfare of the public. Thus, the network questions the need for said preventive suspension when Rosanna Roces has already been removed from the program.

SHOWTIME is a highly entertaining show watched by many Filipinos. It helps promote and showcase the creativity and talent of kapamilyas nationwide, uplifts their spirit and provides opportunities to improve their lives.

According to reports, Showtime will be temporarily replaced by a new show called “Magpasikat” where celebrities will showcase their talents.

ABS-CBN Releases Statement on Preventive Suspension of ‘Showtime’ originally appeared on Starmometer on January 11, 2010.

A mystery-drama-thriller about a lonesome religious woman whose mystery has something to do with the disappearances of her borders, Wanted: Border of writer-director Ray Defante Gibraltar swept the top awards in this year’s 5th Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival Awards at the Dolphy Theater of the ABS-CBN. It won the Best Production Design for Alf Alacapa, Jeffrey Lazaro and Amanda Nava; Best Music for Malek Lopez and Erwin Romulo; Best Original Screenplay for Ray Gibraltar who also won the Best Director award. Overwhelmed with the triumph of his movie, Gibraltar who thanked his wife, cast and crew simply ended his short thank you speech with “To God be the Glory! Thank you po!” But it was Wanted: Border’ main star Rosanna Roces who made her own moment upon receiving the Best Actress Award for playing the silently sinister Mama Saleng in the movie. The spunky actress told the audience it was great to win another award “since pitong taon na po ang dumaan nung huling manalo ako ng Best Actress.” In her long speech, Osang stressed that pagkatapos ko pong pag-aralan ang dialektong Hilagaynon, sasabihin sa akin ng director ko ‘Osang, I want bad acting from you.’ Ano yun? Ka’ko. Hindi ko po akalain na magiging formula iyon para ikapanalo ko ang award na ito!” Osang made another scene-stealing action, to the delight of several audience when she jumped on stage from her seat instead of walking on stage when Wanted:Border was proclaimed Best Film.

A mystery-drama about people looking for refuge which ironically became a nightmare, Wanted: Border also stars Kristoffer Rhys Grabato, Saunshine Teodoro, Marisol Alquizar and Raffy Tejada. It centers around a religious fanatic named Mama Saleng who owns a boarding house and an eatery. The mystery starts when people who start living in her boarding house disappear one by one. Does she have anything to do with their disappearance? Is she what everybody accuses her of, an aswang?

Do not miss Cinema One Originals’ Best Picture for 2009 and discover the real creature behind Mama Saleng when Wanted: Boder screens at the IndieSine of the Robinson’s Galleria from November 25 to December 1.

Wanted: Border is produced and owned by CPI (Creative Programs, Inc.) through its yearly Cinema One Originals movie film festival.

‘Wanted: Border’ to be Screened in Robinsons IndieSine originally appeared on Starmometer on November 24, 2009.

Directed by Ray Gibraltar, and starring Rosanna Roces, Kristoffer Rhys Grabato, Sunshine Teodoro, Marisol Alquizar, and Raffy Tejada, here is a ‘dark comedy’ that follows lost people to look for refuge that eventually becomes a nightmare.

Religious fanatic Mama Saleng owns a boarding house and eatery. When she was a child living with her grandmother, they were both suspected of being aswangs. Her thirst for humanity was quenched when she met undercover agent Jessie Beltran during the Martial Law, whose task was to terminate activists in Panay. Mama Selang grew to enjoy the face of death in her hands and totally embraced her childhood epithet of being an aswang. Now her boarders are disappearing one by one. Should her mysterious character be described what she has become can be rooted from traumas she sank into. So does she have something to do with the disappearance of her boarders? Does she butcher them? Is she a carnivore? No one will really know at first. But with a plotline too irresistible, Wanted: Border makes viewers aware what its message is. “Kung dati, nag-aapakan lang tayo ng paa…ngayon tayo tayo na ang nag kakatayan at nagkakainan—tulungan natin ang mga sarili natin na wakasan ang cycle of violence…sa ating sarili…sa ating pamilya…sa ating komunidad,” states Gibraltar.

After completing his Philosophy studies at the Saint Vincent Ferrer Seminary in Jaro, Iloilo and the University of La Salle in Bacolod, Ray Defante Gibraltar attended filmmaking workshops at the Mowelfund Film Institute in 2001. His experimental short film Makinilya was screened at the Pelikula’t Lipunan Film Festival and the Singapore International Film Festival in 2002. His full-length documentary Syokoy placed 3rd and even became the Best Regional Choice at the Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula 2007. But it is his famous documentary narrative When Tamaya Meets Delgado that placed the director-writer-editor in the limelight. It premiered at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival in 2007. Made its Asian Premiere at the Singapore International Film Festival in 2008. Had its European premiere in the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival. At the 31st Gawad Urian last year When Tamaya Meets Delgado was nominated for Best Editing.

Wanted: Border will send shivers when the festival kicks off from November 13 to 17 at the Gateway Cinema at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City in part of the 15 Year Anniversary Celebration of Cinema One for being the top movie cable channel in the Philippines. The Awards Night will be held on November 15 at the Dolphy Theater of the ABS-CBN.

The other competing movies in the festival are Maximus & Minimus, Paano Ko Sasabihin, Bala Bala at Si Baning Si Maymay at ang asong si Bobo.

Cinema One Originals 2009 – Wanted: Border originally appeared on Starmometer on November 11, 2009.

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

Piolo Pascual’s ‘Manila’ to be Released by Star Cinema originally appeared on Starmometer on July 8, 2009.

The reviewers from the Movie Television Review and Classification Board or MTRCB ruled twice saying that the controversial rape scenes in the movie are not fit for public viewing. Director Adolfo Alix, Jr., on the other hand, stands by his cut of the film and is currently appealing the decision to Malacañang.

Alix, who also wrote the script for Aurora, was known for critically-acclaimed indie films such as Tambolista, Donsol (RP’s entry to the 2006 Oscars), Batanes and Adela.

Aurora stars Sid Lucero, Kristofer King, Angeli Bayani and Rosanna Roces. The film explores an intimate portrait of a captor and a captive as they both struggle to survive in the depths of a jungle.

A social worker named Aurora (Rosanna Roces) is kidnapped by members of the Lost Command. After a military raid in the middle of the night, she gets lost in the forest. She walks aimlessly in the thick forest, hoping to find her way out to freedom. She is found by Fadi (Sid Lucero), one of her captors. Aurora tries every way in order to run away. Will she see the break of dawn alive?

Video link: Aurora Movie Trailer

Aurora: A Double X-Rated Indie Film originally appeared on Starmometer on January 7, 2009.