Maniolas

MANILA, Philippines – Seven short films take the spotlight as the Colegio de San Juan San Juan de Letran-Manila stages this year’s CinemaKnights. Now on its 15th year, CinemaKnights, formerly known as PelikuLetran, is an annual film festival that showcases the filmmaking prowess of senior Communication students of Letran. The Colegio has been consistently bagging recognition and merits from several award-giving bodies inside and outside of the country. Rainbow X, an official entry for CinemaKnights 2014, recently received the highest award of excellence for this year’s Philippine Student Quill Awards. CinemaKnights’ lineup this year consists of seven short films, all of which tackles about societal issues concerning Pinoy values, traditions and culture. One of the films to be exhibited is Selda, written and directed by Alyssa Delfin. Sandbox Films, the people behind the film, was also the team that produced Ms. Edited, a dark comedy short film that bagged several awards, including Best Film Poster, Best Original Soundtrack, Best Supporting Actress (Michelle Ababao), and 4th Best Short Film in the CineMapua Intercollegiate Film Festival held last February 4. Selda is a story about two persons from different backgrounds who recount the biting realities of their lives while serving time inside two separate prison cells. It tackles the poor justice system in the Philippines, aiming to empower the Filipino people to close the gap that they created between the rich and the poor. Entertainment ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The film stars two of the most sought-after artists Read More …

Roselle Nacino, widow of Special Action Force member PO2 Nicky Nacino, looks at a painting honoring the 44 SAF men who died in Mamasapano that was unveiled at the 35th Philippine National Police Academy’s Grand Alumni Homecoming on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at Camp Gen. Mariano Castaneda in Silang, Cavite. DANNY PATA The 44 elite Special Action Force commandos who died in the Mamasapano clash on January 25 were remembered during the Philippine National Police Academy’s 35th Grand Alumni Homecoming on Saturday at Camp General Mariano Castaneda in Silang, Cavite. According to a report on GMA News TV’s Balitanghali, a wreath-laying ceremony and a 21-gun-salute were conducted at the Kalasag Memorial located at the grandstand of the PNPA. The report added that the six fallen commandos, who were PNPA alumni, were awarded the Lakan Distinguished Award, while the rest were awarded the Lakan Recognition Award. The six PNPA alumni were: Sr. Insp. Ryan Ballesteros Pabalinas (class of 2006)Sr. Insp. John Garry Alcantara Erana (class of 2009)Sr. Insp. Max Jim Ramirez Tria (class of 2009)Sr. Insp. Gednat G. Tabdi (class of 2009)Sr. Insp. Cyrus Paleyan Anniban (class of 2010)Insp. Rennie Tayrus (class of 2011) Their trophies were awarded to their relatives in a ceremony, the report added. Meanwhile, the report quoted PNPA Alumni Association Inc. Chairman Thomas Rentoy III as saying the SAF troopers who were not alumni were adopted by different classes. The class would be in charge of looking into the needs of the family members of the slain Read More …

President Benigno Aquino III may not have made strong statements about resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima’s liability in the Mamasapano bloodbath, but Malacañang on Friday said the friendship between the two has nothing to do with the omission. At a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Usec. Abigail Valte also said Aquino is not being blinded by close ties with Purisima in assessing the January 25 carnage that left more than 60 people dead, including 44 elite police commandos. “Nagiging objective naman ang Pangulo sa malalaking issues tulad nito,” Valte told reporters when asked if the President’s friendship with Purisima is affecting the way he looks at the bloody incident. The Palace official also assured the public that Purisima will not be treated with kid gloves when Malacañang reviews the PNP Board of Inquiry (BOI) report on the Mamasapano mission. “Lagi naman pong malinaw ang Pangulo. Doon po tayo pumunta kung saan tayo dadalhin ng ebidensya. So far, wala naman po tayong nakikita na iilagan dahil lang po sa sinasabi ng iba,” Valte said. Earlier in the day, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said Purisima has the primary liability for the botched police operation, which the former PNP chief supervised despite being under suspension due to graft charges. Purisima’s role President Aquino, however, has yet to make any categorical pronouncement about Purisima’s accountability for the Mamasapano fiasco. When he first faced the nation about the incident, Aquino admitted that he tapped Purisima – then under suspension – to explain the Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – The latest high-octane action movie starring Academy Award winner Sean Penn in his first action role in The Gunman that pits him against Academy Award winner actor Javier Bardem where Penn headlines as Jim Terrier, an ex-special forces government contractor who is betrayed by the organization he once worked for and goes on a relentless cat-and-mouse game across Africa and Europe. Helmed by director Pierre Morel,  the director of the Taken films where Liam Neeson was catapulted to full action star status, Pierre once again launches and elevates the action genre and takes on Penn as his latest action hero to beat. The Gunman is a dynamic and exciting action film produced by Silver Pictures that reinvented Hollywood blockbuster action movie with Lethal Weapon and Die Hard franchises,  with Matrix that pushed the genre even further. Now, with The Gunman, the producers, director and actors create a whole new challenge upping the action genre a notch higher than its predecessors.  Based on the bestselling novel The Prone Gunman by Jean-Patrick Manchette, The Gunman follows Terrier on a wave of rush on a nearby beach of an African village. He runs Jim Terrier rides a wave on nearby beach of an African village. He runs towards the NGO office where he’s assisting with providing clean water to the villagers. Soon the piercing sound of a bullet exits a sniper’s rifle. Shortly after, news reports flood the TV with images of the assassination of the minister of mining. Genocide Read More …

Coco Martin and Julia Montes (MNS Photo) BUSY work schedules have kept Kapamilya talents Coco Martin and Julia Montes from entertaining romance at this point. Julia, who is turning 20 this March, said in the press launch of “Wansapanataym Presents: Yamishita’s Treasures” that she still has a lot of plans with her showbiz career. Coco, on the other hand, shared he is focused on providing a better life for his family. “May mga bagay na hindi dapat minamadali at iba’t iba ang proseso ng tao. Marami pa kaming priorities and ayokong mag-take advantage na pag nasa soap or magkasama kayo ay mangliligaw ka,” Coco said. “Ako ang gusto ko, if ever lang, ang gusto ko, kung ano man ako, yun ang magugustuhan niya sa akin. Walang pretentions na parang gentleman ka lang.” But if the time comes that they have something to share to their fans and supporters, Coco said they will not hide anything from the public. “Oo naman (aaminin ko). Honestly from my indie days ko, wala namang naitago. Ang importante lang ay nagta-trabaho ako para din sa pamilya ko. Hindi naman ako showbiz. Kung wala naman akong dapat itago at wala naman akong ginagawang masama, anong reason para itago,” he said. Julia said she is happy that Coco remains a very dear friend. “Magkakilala na talaga kami. Ilang taon pa lang kami and wala pa siya sa ABS and hindi pa siya Coco Martin. Siya din yung pinaka-close kay lola,” she said. “Kami naman ni Julia, ang Read More …