The DFA press corps is invited to cover the following:
|
| |
WHAT : CELEBRATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP WEEK – PHOTO EXHIBIT AND MUSICAL
REVUE
WHEN : 7 JULY 2009, 3:00 P.M.
WHERE: DFA LOBBY AND AUDITORIUM
|
| |
Two Filipino Films Win Praise at the 31st Moscow International Film Festival
|
| |
2 July 2009 - The Philippine Embassy in Moscow reported that the films by avant-garde Filipino directors
Adolfo Alix Jr. and Raya Martin won praise from Russian audiences and critics at the 31st Moscow
International Film Festival (MIFF).
“Manila”, an independently-produced twin bill film that pays homage to Filipino cinema classics released two
decades ago; and “Adela”, a tender portrait of a former radio star played by veteran actress Anita Linda, was
screened five times for the general public and the media in the “Films Around the World” category at the
Oktyabr Cinema Multiplex and the Khudozhestvenny cinema.
“Cannes festival, followed by the Moscow festival, considers the Philippines as a new and intriguing cinematic
territory, which is imperative for European audiences to discover,” said Gazeta.ru critic Ekaterina Chen. She
added that the monochrome style gave the film “a particular chic.”
In an interview in the leading newspaper, Izvestia, MIFF program director Kirill Razogov named “Manila” one of
the most interesting films among those screened of the competition.
The MIFF which will run for ten days is the second oldest film festival in the world and one of the top 12
competitive film festivals recognized by the Paris-based International Federation of Film Producers
Associations (FIAPF).
Launched in 1935, the MIFF was held biannually without interruption from 1959 and annually since 1995. This
year was celebrated as the 50th anniversary of the regularly scheduled festival.
Filipino films are not strangers to the MIFF, Gil Portes’ “Saranggola” (The Kite) and Jeffery Jeturian’s
“Kubrador” (The Bet Collector) were nominated for the MIFF’s Golden St George Prize in 1999 and 2006,
respectively.
“Kubrador” represented at the festival by Jeffery Jeturian, producer Joji Alonso and veteran actress Gina
Pareño, gained popular acclaim among Russian audience.
Bloggers who felt that the film should have won bigger recognition than the FIPRESCI (International Critics’
Award) Prize it had received.
Portes, who first visited Moscow with Ricky Davao and Jennifer Sevilla in 1999, returned to present “Mga
Munting Tinig”, (Small Voices, 2002) at a full-house audience at the Muzei Kino (Cinema Museum) in June
2003 using the original track, with a reader simultaneously interpreting the subtitles in Russian.
Alix Jr., who directed “Adela” and the Night segment of “Manila”, inspired by Lino Brocka’s “Jaguar” (1979), told
Philippine Ambassador to Russia Victor G. Garcia III at the screening last Monday in Moscow that the MIFF
sought him out after both films, produced by MJM Production and Bicycle Pictures, were selected out of
competition at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2009.
The first half of “Manila” – its Day segment directed by Raya Martin – was inspired by Ishmael Bernal’s “Manila
by Night” (1980). Both parts were starred in and co-produced by popular actor Piolo Pascual.
The 31st MIFF concluded on Saturday with a total of 40,000 viewers seeing 500 films, including 16 in
competition. The main competition in jury, led by Russian director Pavel Lungin, awarded the Golden St
George to compatriot Nikolai Dostal’s “Pete on the Way to Heaven”.
The “Perspectives” competition jury, led by Austria’s Rovert Dornheim, selected “Conflict Zone” by Georgia’s
Vano Burduli as the winner.
Russian films were also featured at the 10th Cinemanila International Film Festival in Quezon City last
November 2008: Karen Shaknazarov’s “The Vanished Empire” in the competition category and Andrey
Tarkovsky’s “The Mirror” in the Retrospective category. END
|
| |
Rizal and Blumentritt Bastion opens In Litomĕřice, Czech Republic
|
| |
2 July 2009 – Philippine Ambassador to the Czech Republic Regina Irene P. Sarmiento marked the official
opening of the Rizal and Blumentritt Bastion at Dominikanska Street in Litomĕřice, Czech Republic.
Ambassador Sarmiento and officials and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Prague attended the event last
June 30 at the invitation of Litomĕřice Mayor Ladislav Chlupac. Also in attendance were the members of the
Knights of Rizal chapter in Prague.
The bastion, which was made possible through the efforts of Mayor Chlupac, the Philippine Embassy in
Prague and the local chapter of the Knights of Rizal, houses a memorabilia on the friendship between Dr.
Jose Rizal and Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt. It also features a collection of pictures and documents about
Philippine-Czech relations and a number of Philippine cultural items.
The bastion is the first site in the Czech Republic that is specifically built for this purpose.
In her remarks, Ambassador Sarmiento said that the opening of the bastion “is yet another step in our
collective desire to preserve an important aspect in the common history of the Philippines and the Czech
Republic as exemplified by the friendship of two men, who in spite of the distance between them, were united
by their belief in freedom and democracy.”
She added that the collection of the bastion should inspire people from around the world to follow the
footsteps of Dr. Jose Rizal and Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt and contribute to a free world, prosperous and at
peace.
Work at the bastion started in the last quarter of 2008. The site, which used to be a part of the old city
fortifications, was donated by the office of the mayor. The Philippine Embassy in Prague provided some of the
books and Philippine cultural items that are now part of its collection.
The bastion is open to the public and also provides a space for researchers who are interested in conducting
studies on the life of Dr. Jose Rizal. END
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| |
RP Embassy in Mexico Marks 111th Anniversary of Philippine Independence
|
| |
2 July 2009 – Ambassador Francisco M. Ortigas III reported on the activities undertaken by the Philippine
Embassy in Mexico City to celebrate the 111th Philippine Independence Day Anniversary.
Floral Offering before the Monument of Dr. Jose Rizal
The Embassy of the Philippines personnel, led by Ambassador Francisco M. Ortigas III and Ms Susana Bayot
Ortigas, offered flowers before the monument of Dr. Jose Rizal in Avenida Reforma on June 12 to kick off the
celebrations in Mexico.
The group then proceeded to the official residence where the flag-raising ceremony, the recitation of the
Panunumpa sa Watawat ng Pilipinas, as well as the video presentation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’
s Independence Day message were held.
The Ambassador and Ms Ortigas hosted a sumptuous breakfast of rice, tocino, tapa, itlog na maalat, daing,
paksiw na isda, and champorado with tuyo.
Vin d’ Honneur
The Vin d’Honnuer was held at the residence in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato of Mr Romeo Tabuena,
world-renowned Filipino painter, last June 13.
Mr. Tabuena welcomed the guests to his home and said that he was especially honored to host the
Independence Day Celebration.
In his address, Ambassador Ortigas traced the history of the bilateral relations between the Philippines and
Mexico beginning with the rediscovery of the Philippines by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, the Royal Decree
establishing the Philippines as a province under the Viceroyalty of Mexico, and founding of the Galleon Trade
which lasted for more than 250 years. He said that this long history allows a Filipino like himself to feel very
much at home in Mexico.
A performance of the La Jota Moncadeña and the song Kataka-taka by Embassy staff completed the short
program. Some 100 guests from the diplomatic corps, Mexican government and art enthusiasts attended the
event.
Cultural Program
In coordination with the Centro Historico of San Miguel de Allende, the Embassy of the Philippines mounted a
cultural show on June 13. The show composed of performances of the Jota Moncadeña, Cariñosa, Tinikling,
Paru-parong Bukid and Kataka-taka, a fashion show of Philippine costumes and a power point presentation
on selected Philippine colonial churches.
The performers were Embassy personnel, members of their families and close Mexican friends. There were
also video presentations on Philippine tourism and doing trade in the Philippines.
Mr. Guillermo Gonzales, general manager of the Tourist Board of San Miguel de Allende, expressed
appreciation for the presence of the Embassy of the Philippines on their town.
Ambassador Ortigas stressed in his address that relations between the Philippines and Mexico has been in
existence almost three centuries beginning with the Galleon trade.
The historic Galleon trade united the east with the west through religious, economic and cultural exchanges.
Ambassador Ortigas said he aims to awaken the audience’s interest to know more about the Philippines and
its ties with Mexico.
The Deputy Chief of Mission, Atty. Pedro C. Santizo, in his closing remarks emphasized that Philippine-
Mexican relations have existed for a very long time, spanning more than 250 years and maybe seen in its
architecture, commerce, religion, culinary arts, fashion and even in its flora and fauna.
The audience stayed after the program for drinks and engaged in animated conversations with the
Ambassador and members of the Embassy staff.
Filipino Community Get-Together
The Filipino community get-together was held at the new embassy premises in Rio Rhin at Colonia
Cuauhtemoc on June 20. Some 120 individuals attended the event.
The get-together began with a mass officiated by Fr. Gilberto Chavez Flores, the Dean of the 10 churches
found in the environs of Colonia Cuauhtémoc where the Embassy is located.
After the mass, a video presentation of the Independence day address of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
was shown, followed by a program of dances and songs performed by Embassy personnel and their families
and members of the Filipino community. A Filipino arnis master and his Mexican students also performed
martial arts.
The guests enjoyed various dishes like pansit, adobong baboy at manok, kalderetang kambing, callos,
menudo, lumpiang gulay, molo, fruit salad, among others. There was also a variety of cakes and sweets. END
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| |
Philippine Independence Day and RP-US Friendship Celebration in Jersey City
|
| |
2 July 2009 - The Filipino-American community and Jersey City government officials commemorated the 111th
Philippine Independence and Philippine-American friendship day through the raising of the Philippine and US
flags at the Jersey City city hall on June 12 and a parade on June 27.
The Philippine flag will stay hoisted in the city hall for one month. Among those in attendance during the
flag-raising were New Jersey Filipino World War II veterans, the Honorable Jeremiah Healy (5th from left),
Mayor of Jersey City, 2009 Parade Grand Marshal, Dr. Lorie D. Lizardo (4th from left) of the Phil-American
Friendship Committee, Inc. (PAFCOM), Consul Zaldy Patron (3rd from left) and Mr. Hector Magno, PAFCOM
Over-all Chairperson. END
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
|
