Members of the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd) are all adrenaline-charged for the second The Eddys, the group’s annual choices for outstanding achievement in the local film industry.
Prior to the actual The Eddys in July, there will be a series of activities that are intended to drum up interest in the event. The editors’ group has sealed a partnership with Globe Telecom and Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) for the workshops on May 26 and 27 at the Cinematheque Center Manila. A two-day filmmaking seminar-workshop, it is in line with the telecommunication company’s “play it right” anti-piracy campaign.
May 26 (9:00 a.m.- 12 noon) is devoted to Musical Score with resource speaker Teresa Barrozo. SPEEd will screen two best film nominees during the two-day workshops. TBA’s Birdshot and T-Rex Entertainment’s Deadma Walkingwill be shown at 6:00 p.m. on May 26 and 27 also at the Cinematheque Center Manila.
The screenings are free.
There will be a gathering of nominees before the second Eddys at The Eddys Nominees Night, again in partnership with FDCP.
SPEEd officers and FDCP Chair Liza Diño will give the special certificates during the event on June 3, 5:00 p.m.”¬, at 38 Valencia Events Place, Quezon City.
The 2nd Eddys is slated early July and will be held in partnership with FDCP and Globe, represented by Senior Vice President Yoly Crisanto. Paolo Valenciano will direct the awards show.
An after-awards party will be held later called The Eddys Mega Party. It will be hosted by OneMega Group, publisher of the fashion and lifestyle magazine.
The 2nd Eddys is being presented by telecom giant Globe and produced by the fastest-growing FM station, Wish 107.5.
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After a month in the US, I am back in sunny and warm, rather hot, Manila. I went to visit my elder brother, Fr.Armando Red, a priest in the diocese of Seattle. Along with the pastor and another priest, he makes the rounds of three other Catholic churches in Sedro-Wolley, Burlington, La Conner and another one, where he says mass in either English or Spanish (for the growing Mexican Catholic faithful in the parish).
I also reconnected with my high-school classmate at St. Gregory the Great Seminary, now a pastor in Seatlle—Fr. Felino Paulino and two other classmates who like me also left the seminary—Alfred Aquino and Teofanes Madrid(who has settled down in Oregon). Fr. Lines, as he is known now, made it possible for us to experience the once-in-a-lifetime ride on a four-seater plane to see downtown Seattle from high in the sky. The sight was fabulous, thanks to the Vietnamese American that piloted the plane.
My brother’s friends in Marysville, Washington, particularly retired US Navy servicemen Abner Canda and his wifeYoly, and Mike and Priscilla Regala, along with Jovi and Arnida Estella apart from sharing with me their homes, also provided me company. My heartfelt gratitude to them for making me feel at home in Washington.
I also saw former movie writer in Manila Rod Samson, now a resident of Tulalip in Washington. He has chosen to take care of his daughter.
And I also bumped into Bessie Barredo and her daughter Concon in QuilCeda Casino. According to my friends, the former movie star would frequent the Bingo and Casino in Marysville especially during weekends.
On my way back to Manila, my classmates at the UPIMC has a small gathering at Kit Samson’s place in Sylmar in California. I went to see some of them that I have not seen for the last decades or so. It was Cinco de Mayo, a popular festival to mark the independence of Mexico, so everyone was in Mexican or Mexican inspired outfits. After lunch prepared by Kit’s wife, Iris and daughter, Marlon Yap and wife, Ivy osio and Nonoy, Marichie Juliano, Cecile Ochoa sang the afternoon away, mostly ‘70s and ‘80s hits. Thanks to YouTube.
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While in the US, some Filipinos I met were still interested in Philippine showbiz…and the first thing they asked me if John Lloyd Cruz and Ellen Adarna were for real as a couple. I asked them where did they get their showbiz news, and all of them answered …YouTube. Apparently, they are able to connect with Philippine showbiz via the social media.
Most of them also get their dose of Philippine entertainment from TFC, ABS-CBN’s service in the US. While some of them said they also have GMA Pinoy TV, their preferred channel was still TFC.
Lest, I be accused of being biased, I also found out that some of them as well said they had their TFC and GMA Pinoy TV disconnected. They said the shows on both channel were repetitive and they get in the way of their chores at home.