Chevron donates P1 million to Red Cross for rebuilding communities damaged by Typhoon Lando

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Photo above shows PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang (second from left) receiving the cheques from CPI General Manager for Philippine Products Peter Morris (rightmost), CHPI General Manager Kee Teek Hong (third from left), and CMLLC Asset Manager Sabino Santos (leftmost).

As communities in northern and central Luzon struggle to get back on their feet more than a month after being ravaged by Typhoon Lando, Chevron companies in the Philippines recently donated a total of P1 million to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to help in the rehabilitation efforts.

Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants gave P400,000; Chevron Malampaya LLC (CMLLC) P450,000; and Chevron Holdings Inc. (CHPI) P150,000 respectively. The donation will go to PRC’s post-Landodisaster recovery and rebuilding efforts in Chevron’s host communities such as San Fernando City, La Union; Baguio City; Kalinga; and North and Northwest Palawan.

“Chevron and Philippine Red Cross have a long history of partnership in disaster response and volunteerism, which becomes stronger especially during disaster management efforts. We are very grateful for this latest donation from Chevron as this will come a long way in providing assistance to a large number of the population which are still in need,” said Pang.

Chevron companies have donated millions of dollars to the PRC which helped in the rebuilding efforts caused by the most destructive typhoons to hit the country such as Frank, Ondoy, Pablo, Sendong and Yolanda. Chevron employees also support PRC blood donation drives.

HOOQ up with Metro Manila Film Festival’s indie entries for the very first time

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This 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival in partnership with HOOQ, Asia’s largest video-on-demand service, presents the entries under the New Wave category and will be simultaneously available in theaters and online, exclusively through HOOQ.

For the first time in the 41-year history of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), and now the exclusive presenter for the 41st, MMFF New Wave category has a new Short Film Competition for amateur and professional filmmakers.

It's open-themed and for films ten-minute films. The Metro Manila Film Festival New Wave category features progressive works of independent and student filmmakers to express themselves through the powerful medium of film.

“Some of the most inventive techniques are shown in short films,” said Jane Walker, HOOQ Philippines Country Manager. “We’re very proud to showcase this and the creativity and talent of Filipino filmmakers.”

A partnership geared towards promoting quality Philippine entertainment, HOOQ and MMFF to address the growing needs of the digital natives to consume content at their own time; through streaming and download of the finalists’ animation and short film entries.

The MMFF New Wave category has been around since 2010 to give the opportunity to independent filmmakers to showcase their entries and the chance to take home prize money that could potentially be used to fund future film projects.  

This year’s finalists were selected by a jury out of hundreds of national submissions which was then trimmed down to five finalists each. 

There are five finalists from the short-film medium and another five from the animated genre. 

The complete list of entries are listed below.

Short-film finalists:

Daisy (Bryan Reyes of Colegio De San Lorenzo)

Ding Mangasyas (Justine Emmanuel Dizon of Kayumanggi Pictures)

Lapis (Maricel Cariaga of Center Stage Productions)

Momento (Jan-Kyle Nieva of UP Film Institute

Mumu (Jean Cheryl Tagyamon of UP Diliman)

These entries for short film feature:

Daisy, a story about a wife and mother Barbara who orders a Proxy Daisy robot to take care of household duties, only for Barbara to have a growing realization that there may be something very wrong with the robot that she has let into her families’ lives.  Written and directed by Bryan Reyes of Colegio de San Lorenzo, this is his first film competition that he joined on a whim and shot two days prior to the contest deadline.

Ding Mangasyas

Ding Mangasyas (Tough Guys) centers on 2 brothers who have had a lifelong love-hate relationship filled with violence. They’re faced with the emotional reality of separation as one of them packs up to work in the US. The film was directed by Justine Emmanuel Dizon and written by Jason Paul Laxamana of Kayumanggi Pictures, who was initially discouraged by the rejection of this same film in another competition. This is his first national competition, and he is proud to show off the “homegrown” talents of his team who are from Pampanga like him.

Lapis 

Lapis follows the career shift of a pencil artist in his 50s as he applies for a job as a graphic artist only to be confronted by the realization that his medium of expertise is defunct in a modern world.  This moving film that addresses the conflict of analog vs. digital artistry was inspired by real stories of unemployment in the country.  Written and directed by Maricel Cariaga of Center Stage Productions, this is her third competition after UP POV 11 and Sinkwento International Film Festival, wherein she placed top 3 for both.

Momento

Momento features an ageing couple, Teresita and Ronaldo, as they celebrate their 50^th wedding anniversary--despite Teresita having made a terrible discovery earlier in the film that “marks the darkest hour of their relationship.”  Written and directed by Jan-Kyle Nieva of the UP Film Institute, Nieva states that he enjoys disturbing films and made this film to challenge himself into delving into a genre that he has not previously explored.

Mumu

Mumu is about a fresh grad named Kara who resists pursuing a nursing career despite her nagging mother and pressure from witnessing the success of her friends.  She also finds herself being haunted by a ghost – a character she had played in a blockbuster horror film. Mumu is directed by Cheryl Tagyamon from UP Diliman, who also wrote the film.  Mumu has thus far won 3rd place in the National Digital Arts Awards 2014 Motion Graphics Category for Students, and in the UP Film Institute’s Black Beret Film Festival it won the Audience Choice Award, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Performance.

The short films and animations under the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival’s New Wave category will be shown simultaneously on the country’s biggest subscription video-on-demand platform. Anyone with a HOOQ subscription can watch the shorts on just about any screen they own, on the same day the films are being shown in theaters.

Each film is under 10 minutes  and screened started December 17 and up to 24 at Glorietta 4, Robinsons Movie World Ermita and SM Megamall.  All ten entries will be available on HOOQ from December 18.

HOOQ has the largest collection of Pinoy movies and TV series, which includes close to a hundred winners and finalists of the Metro Manila Film Festival such as “Baler”, “Tanging Yaman”, “Mulawin the Movie, “Pedro Penduko” and many more.

New users can enjoy a 30-day trial by signing up at www.HOOQ.tv.  

Monthly subscription is available at only  P149 and can be charged on your Globe mobile bill or via credit card, or it comes free with Globe Home Broadband plans P1,299 and up.

Catch these Animation finalists too! 

Animation finalists:

8 (Johanna Kaye Boncodin of Ateneo De Naga)

Geo (John Arthur Mercader of Puppeteer Animation Studio)

Little Lights (Rivelle Mallari)

Buttons (Marvel Obemio, Francis Ramirez, Jared Garcia of De La Salle College of St. Benilde)

Marvino’s League of Superheroes (Ja Marti Escandor of Ateneo De Naga)

Francis Kong shares tips to financial freedom at Avida’s Homepossible: Live Free! Conference

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Most hard-working millennials today aspire to grow their savings and achieve financial independence, if only to prepare for a better future and to quickly realize their dreams such as building their early retirement fund, starting their own business, or simply buying their own house and other investments.

Avida Land recently held the Homepossible: Live Free! conference at the Grand Ballroom of Fairmont Hotel in Makati City to inspire millennials to take charge of their finances and achieve financial freedom.

Financial management wizard, published writer and thought leader Francis Kong made the seminar more meaningful as he shared valuable insights on how to develop the right perspective when it comes to savings as well as how to cultivate discipline and control cash flow, towards becoming debt-free.

“The way you spend your money, time and energy is reflective of the way you spend your life, and your future depends on how you manage these,” Kong said as he reminded the audience of mostly single millennials and young parents on the importance of keeping track of money, time and energy spent on everyday things. To help change their financial perspective, Kong challenged the participants to replace “spending” with “investing”.

Kong talked about the different concepts of money to provide the audience a deeper understanding of how to appreciate its value.

Francis Kong

“Money is just an idea that represents a tool for exchange. When you exchange money for the things that you consume, those things represent value. Price is what you pay for, value is what you experience,” said the financial guru, illustrating another example closer to home.

“Our friends from Avida are offering different beautiful units, you pay for it and you experience it because of its value.”

Kong also warned about another nature of money that can become a hindrance to achieving financial freedom. “Mysteriously, expenses always rises up to the level of your income. Kung kelan lumalaki ngayon ‘yung kinikita mo, sumasabay naman ang expenses mo.”

The financial consultant also stressed the importance of developing discipline in managing finances.

“When we master the basics such as saving money and tracking our expenses, and we discipline ourselves, the moment when we are faced with emergencies and crises, we don’t have to bother with the financial basics anymore because it has become second nature. We only have to focus on coming up with creative financial solutions.”

During the conference co-presented by The Philippine Star, in partnership with Cinema1, Kong also shared a financial advice especially for those who want to make their dream homepossible. “Live within your means but improve your means by increasing your income.”

The financial guru also addressed concerns about having debts. “Not all debts are bad. There are also good debts (which you incur) when you buy something that increases in value.” Kong said these could include investments such as houses, lots and other properties.

As part of Avida’s Homepossible series, Homepossible: Live Free! conference gave participants a better understanding of how to take back control of their finances towards achieving financial independence, and how to finally make their dream homes a reality. 

Watch out for details of upcoming Homepossible events from Avida.

Disney On Ice presents Magical Ice Festival at Araneta

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Celebrate Christmas with your family and Disney favorites Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy, together with Ariel, Belle, Rapunzel, and sisters Anna and Elsa in the enchanting world of Disney on Ice presents Magical Ice Festival at Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City.

For everyone, young and old, kids and kids at heart, Christmas is never complete without the colorful, magical show that makes Christmas dreams and fantasies come to life —Disney on Ice. And this holiday season, the awe-inspiring Disney On Ice returns for another spectacular performance on ice. 

Now on its 33rd show worldwide, Disney On Ice presents Magical Ice Festival will once again capture the hearts of the Filipino fans, both parents and their children, who will watch the show at the Big Dome.

This year’s grand production will wow viewers as it features Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Tangled, Beauty and the Beast, and – for the first time – the Academy Award winning and number one animated feature film of all time, Frozen!

“We are taking a fresh new spin on how we’re presenting the Disney stories. We are weaving together the four worlds of royal sisters Anna and Elsa, Ariel, Belle and Rapunzel as they each embark on their own epic journey,” says producer Juliette Feld.

Disney on Ice presents Magical Ice Festival showcases a medley of splendid set elements, impressive light display and costume pieces, along with show-stopping performances by a cast of world-class skaters!

Sure to amaze and delight kids and young at heart, Disney On Ice will take you to an unforgettable magical journey as you get whisked away into the wintry world of Disney movie’s Frozen! 

“Everyone will be in awe as they watch Ariel slowly pulled upwards and then rapidly twirl above the ice. This is the first time that we’ve captured her transformation like this in a production. That’s what makes Magical Ice Festival different, we selected scenes we’ve never done before and then took our time on the details to make them truly special,” says director Patty Vincent. 

“In our more than 30 years of producing Disney On Ice shows, Feld Entertainment has been waiting for a film like Frozen,” says producer Nicole Feld.

“By pulling together moments from classic Disney stories to the newest feature film sensation Frozen and combining them with elements of comedy and music, we developed a truly unique way to re-tell each fairytale,” says producer Juliette Feld.

The show runs from December 25 to January 3. Tickets are now on sale. 

For more information, visit TicketNet website or call 911-5555.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens at Gateway Dolby Atmos Cinema

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The biggest Dolby Atmos Cinema in the country located at Gateway Mall, Araneta Center was launched last Wednesday December 17, the perfect time with the advanced screening of perfect movie “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

Featuring a revolutionary audio platform that creates powerful, moving audio using audio objects and overhead speakers, Gateway Mall’s Dolby Atmos Cinema boasts of sounds that come from all directions, the dialogue and music of the onscreen story move all around the audience in three-dimensional space, transporting them into the scenes and putting them in the middle of the action. Definitely the most suitable venue for the much-awaited movie, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. 

Araneta Group CEO Jorge Araneta shared that this will definitely be a fantastic and world-class movie experience not just for Star Wars fans but for the whole family.

“We are very excited to screen Star Wars: The Force Awakens at Gateway Dolby Atmos Cinema 5. With its revolutionary sound technology, the theatre will be filled with breathtaking audio and the audience will feel like they are inside the Star Wars universe. This will definitely be a fantastic and world-class movie experience not just for Star Wars fans but for the whole family,” says Araneta.

Compared to regular theatres, Dolby Atmos Cinema has the most number of speakers with a 53.5 sound system (53 individual surround channels and 5 subwoofers). Each speaker is powered independently and gets its own separate audio feed. In effect, the movement of every sound in the scene is reproduced in all three dimensions.

The Dolby Atmos technology gives content creators unprecedented control of the placement and movement of sound within the movie theatre. Sounds can be placed and moved anywhere in the cinema’s three-dimensional space. The Dolby Atmos Cinema processor then determines which of a cinema’s huge array of front, back, side, and overhead speakers it will use to recreate this lifelike movement. 

With sounds coming from all directions, the cinema is filled with astonishing clarity, richness, detail, and depth. This creates a multidimensional sound system that makes audiences feel as if they are inside the film and not just watching it.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the seventh installment in the Star Wars film series and the first to be directed by J.J. Abrams.

Thirty years after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, the galaxy faces a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and the First Order. When a defector named Finn crash-lands on a desert planet, he meets Rey (Daisy Ridley), a tough scavenger whose droid contains a top-secret map. Together, the young duo joins forces with Han Solo (Harrison Ford) to make sure the Resistance receives the intelligence concerning the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the last of the Jedi Knights.

Set around 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi, the sequel follows the adventures of new lead characters Finn (John Boyega), Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) as they join forces with original characters Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) to fight Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and his broadsword lightsaber. The film also features Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma, Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux, Andy Serkis as Supreme Leader Snoke, and Lupita Nyong’o as Maz Kanata.

The Force Awakens is the first film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, announced after The Walt Disney Company's acquisition of Lucas film in October 2012. The film is produced by Lucas film president Kathleen Kennedy, Abrams, and his long-time collaborator Bryan Burk.

Don’t miss the chance to have a 360-degree experience of the glorious Star Wars saga.

Catch Star Wars: The Force Awakens at Gateway Mall’s Dolby Atmos Cinema!

For more details and the latest updates from Araneta Center, visit their official website at www.aranetacenter.net and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AranetaCenter.