Is there a future without the forests?

Security Bank plants 2,000 trees at La Mesa Watershed as part of five-year reforestation commitment

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Nov 3, 2023 07:30 PM

  

---

AT A GLANCE

• Notably, 94 percent of the 2,000 malapapaya and lago seedlings planted by SBFI last year survived, surpassing the National Greening Program base rate of 85 percent as validated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

---

PLANTING THE FUTURE Security Bank employees head to the planting site at La Mesa Watershed hand in hand with ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Kalikasan Program

Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI), along with 200 dedicated volunteers from the bank, marked the second year of its 10,000-tree, five-year reforestation commitment at La Mesa Watershed. Volunteers trekked three hours to plant 2,000 sandalwood and white lauan seedlings, in partnership with ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Kalikasan Program in its mission to protect the largest rainforest and water source of Metro Manila.

 

Notably, 94 percent of the 2,000 malapapaya and lago seedlings planted by SBFI last year survived, surpassing the National Greening Program base rate of 85 percent as validated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). A quarter of the participants that attended the second year of the tree planting activity were also former participants, displaying a commitment to sustainability as they reused the planting gear kept from last year.  

 

Security Bank’s five-year pledge to reforest La Mesa Watershed encompasses 45 percent of ABS-CBN’s targeted reforestation efforts. Through this initiative, Security Bank helps to curb carbon emissions, prevent floods during rainy seasons, maintain vital water levels during summers, and offer sanctuary to the native wildlife.

 

“Security Bank’s steadfast commitment to this reforestation project plays a pivotal role in advancing ABS-CBN Foundation’s critical mission of maintaining Metro Manila’s water reservoir within safe levels, which is crucial for supporting the day-to-day water consumption of the region,” said Sarah Agcaoili, operations manager of ABS-CBN Foundation. 

 

“We want this activity to serve as a platform for channeling the passion and energy for community development of our employees. We want them to feel and take pride in knowing that they’ve helped reforest the La Mesa Watershed, something they’ll be proud to tell their children or the next generation,” said Melissa Aquino, SBFI trustee and corporate secretary. 

 

SBFI’s projects are made with the bright future of the next generation in mind. Beyond its five-year tree planting pledge, it also champions education. To date, SBFI has donated 715 classrooms to public schools, granted more than 2,000 scholarships, and trained more than 36,000 teachers and principals. www.securitybank.com

Noli de Castro returns to ‘TV Patrol’ starting on Jan. 9

by Manila Bulletin Entertainment

Noli de Castro

Veteran broadcast journalist Noli de Castro will mark his comeback as news anchor of TV Patrol starting on Jan. 9.

Noli will be anchoring live from the Quirino Grandstand for the latest news and updates on the celebration of the ‘Nazareno 2023’.

“Magkita-kita tayo sa Lunes. Live ho ako sa Quirino Grandstand para sa TV Patrol,” Noli said in his TeleRadyo program “Kabayan” today (Jan. 6). 

Noli will join TV Patrol anchors Henry Omaga-Diaz, Karen Davila and Bernadette Sembrano in delivering the news to Filipinos anywhere in the world. He will also continue hosting his public service show “Kabayan” and the morning newscast “TeleRadyo Balita” with Joyce Balancio on TeleRadyo.

“TV Patrol” airs on weekdays at 6:30 pm while “TV Patrol Weekend” airs on weekends at 6 pm with Alvin Elchico and Zen Hernandez. It is available on A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, iWantTFC, youtube.com/ABSCBNNews, news.abs-cbn.com/live, and other ABS-CBN News digital platforms.

 

MOVIEGOER: Landmark deal between ABS-CBN, GMA-7

by Nestor Cuartero

Jodi Sta. Maria (Facebook)

A landmark deal, a first in Philippine TV, is the recent agreement between ABS-CBN and GMA-7 in the production of a new tele-series to combine artists and creative talents from their respective camps.

“Unbreak My Heart” reunites the beloved loveteam between Jodi Santa Maria and Richard Yap, the couple who scored a major daytime, long-running hit out of an ABS-CBN series, Be Careful with My Heart. Joining them are Joshua Garcia and Gabbi Garcia, and other cast members coming from both sides of what used to be a network war.

Dreamscape, represented by its head, Deo Endrinal, is producing the series. 

This recent tie-up between GMA-7 and ABS-CBN speaks well of growing cooperation in our television industry. It can result in improved quality in programming and fresh casting requirements that can eventually raise the bar for excellence, excitement and entertainment among viewers and advertisers alike.

Some might say said collaboration between the two giant networks couldn’t have occurred had not the pandemic happened, or had not ABS-CBN lost its franchise to operate. Be that as it may, what’s important is the end-result such collaboration can bring to the table of our consumers. “Unbreak” isn’t the first collab between the two major networks. Earlier, ABS-CBN assigned airing of Star Cinema movies to GMA. Network also airs some of its programs on TV5 and on its various digital platforms. 

Five months after its theatrical run with not much success, Ngayon Kaya, is now being hailed, with sweet vindication, as the No. 1 Filipino movie on Netflix.

On a Facebook post, producing company T-Rex Entertainment thanked the public “for catapulting the romantic film on top of the universe and in your heart.”

Paulo Avelino and Janine Gutierrez co-star in Ngayon Kaya, directed by Prime Cruz and written by Jen Chuaunsu (the creative pair behind Isa Pa With Feelings and Can We Still Be Friends).

It tells the story of college buddies AM and Harold, an unlikely pair between a shy probinsiyano and a rich city girl who are college buddies-turned-band mates.

Harold had a crush on AM, but he never had the guts to tell her. Even after college, they stayed friends and continued pursuing their music dreams. Harold stifled his feelings for fear of losing her friendship. Eventually, time runs out for Harold when he’s forced to choose stability and work in Canada, leaving AM to wonder what could have been if Harold had stayed.

Ngayon Kaya features songs by Mayonnaise, Typecast, Ang Bandang Shirley.

ABS-CBN Film Restoration brings restored Filipino classics to Netflix

by Manila Bulletin Entertainment

celeb

ABS-CBN Film Restoration continuously makes Filipino cinematic classics accessible through various platforms for today’s audiences as it brings forth some of its digitally restored and remastered titles streaming on-demand via Netflix.

Up until the end of 2022, ABS-CBN Film Restoration and its Sagip Pelikula initiative will introduce an array of restored Pinoy films of all genres on Netflix—from drama, romance, comedy, and horror.

The first title introduced is the digitally restored version of the revered 1982 war-drama classic “Oro, Plata, Mata” directed by Peque Gallaga and written by Jose Javier Reyes, starring Sandy Andolong, Liza Lorena, Ronnie Lazaro, Joel Torre, and late Cherie Gil.

More award-winning Filipino classics will make their way to the on-demand streaming platform, among them are Nora Aunor’s cinematic masterpiece “Himala” and one of Dolphy’s iconic films of all time, “Markova: Comfort Gay.”

Viewers can also watch the restored versions of Star Cinema’s all-time romantic hits, such as “One More Chance,” “Now That I Have You,” “Dubai,” and “Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit.”

Comedy fans are also in for a treat with “Ang Cute Ng Ina Mo!” and the Judy Ann Santos-Ryan Agoncillo starrer “Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo,” while thrill-seekers can watch the digitally restored horror blockbuster “Feng Shui.”

Today’s audiences can watch all these remastered classics from ABS-CBN Film Restoration on-demand via Netflix for subscribers in the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asian territories.

Also, Pinoy viewers can continue watching these restored films on KTX.ph with special pre-show interviews before every screening.

Now in its eleventh year since digitally restoring its first title, Sagip Pelikula continues to remaster films from directors and writers of note for today’s viewers to appreciate. These efforts have earned multiple recognitions from award-giving bodies worldwide, including the prestigious Gold Quill Award given by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Gawad Pedro Bucaneg from Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL), and most recently the Gawad PASADO sa Pagsisinop ng mga De Kalibreng Pelikula distinction from the 23rd Gawad PASADO organized by Pampelikulang Samahan ng mga Dalubguro (PASADO).

For more details on its upcoming film showings, follow ABS-CBN Film Restoration on Facebook (facebook.com/filmrestorationabscbn), Twitter (@ABS_Restoration), and Instagram (@abscbnfilmrestoration).

ABS-CBN, GMA Network sign historic deal

(Top row from left) Gilberto R. Duavit Jr., Felipe S. Yalong, Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes, Jose Mari R. Abacan. (Bottom row from left) ABS-CBN’s Mark Lopez, Carlo L. Katigbak, Cory V. Vidanes, Ricardo B. Tan Jr., and Olivia Lamasan

by Stephanie Bernardino, Manila Bulletin

GMA Network hosted a historic contract signing with ABS-CBN to license some of Star Cinema’s most popular and well-loved movies.

The news was confirmed by the two media giants via simultaneous reports on “TV Patrol” and “24 Oras” on April 5.

Present during the virtual event were GMA Network President and Chief Operating Officer Gilberto R. Duavit Jr.; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong; GMA Network Films, Inc. President and Programming Consultant to the Chairman and CEO Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes; First Vice President for Program Management Department Jose Mari R. Abacan; Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angel Javier-Cruz; Assistant Vice President For Program Management Department Mitzi Garcia; and Assistant Vice President for Corporate Communications Jojo Aquio.

In attendance from ABS-CBN were Chairman Mark Lopez; President and Chief Executive Officer Carlo L. Katigbak; Chief Operating Officer for Broadcast Cory V. Vidanes; Group Chief Financial Officer Ricardo B. Tan, Jr.; Managing Director of ABS-CBN Films Productions Olivia Lamasan; Head of International Sales and Distribution Pia B. Laurel; Vice President of Corporate Communications Kane Errol C. Choa; PR Director Christelle Belmonte; and PR Manager Tonichi Tataro.

“Every storyteller’s dream is to have as many people as possible experience their creations. And now, because of the kindness of our friends at GMA, we have the special opportunity to bring our Kapamilya stories to a new audience. We hope the Kapuso find joy and inspiration in viewing our Star Cinema movies, and we also look forward to a new era of friendship and cooperation within our small industry,” said Katigbak.

Duavit said: “Because the significance of our partnership today ushers in the possibility of a far broader set of conversations, potential partnership, and cooperation that will have the benefit not only neutrally to GMA and ABS-CBN but as importantly, if not, perhaps, more importantly to the benefit of the public we both serve, the Filipino viewer. Looking forward since we have, as they say, broken the ice. There’s great optimism that these conversations will continue or start and continue, and we look forward to the possibility of this type of opportunity again, moving forward.”

Some of the notable movies that will air on GMA-7 include “Alone/Together,” “How to Be Yours,” “Till My Heartaches End,” “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank,” “Ang Cute ng Ina Mo!,” “It Takes a Man and a Woman,” “Just The Way You Are,” “Fantastica,” “Can We Still Be Friends?,” “Finally Found Someone,” “No Other Woman,” “Won’t Last A Day Without You,” “Must Be…Love,” “The Panti Sisters,” “Isa Pa With Feelings,” “James & Pat & Dave,” “Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay,” “Feng Shui,” “Suddenly It’s Magic,” and “I Love You, Hater.”

Prior, GMA teased about the historic collaboration.

“Ang mga pelikulang napapanuod sa GMA, madadagdagan. Dahil ang dating impossible, mangyayari. Abangan ngayong Abril,” said the voice-over, while the logos of GMA Pictures, Regal Entertainment, Viva Films, and OctoArts Films were being flashed on screen. “The START of new age of television,” this text also appeared,  emphasizing the word “STAR.”

This is not the first time that GMA and ABS-CBN have joined forces.

In 2020, Kapamilya star Kathryn Bernardo worked with Kapuso actor Alden Richards on the highest-grossing Filipino film “Hello, Love, Goodbye,” directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina and produced by Star Cinema.

ABS-CBN says sorry to Duterte

ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak apologizes to President Rodrigo Duterte for airing a political advertisement in the 2016 elections which offended the former mayor.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24) — A TV network at the middle of a franchise controversy apologized to President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday for airing a political advertisement of the opposition in 2016 which offended the former mayor.

"We are sorry if we offended the President. That was not the intention of the network. We felt that we were just abiding by regulations that surround the airing of political ads,” said ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak during the Senate inquiry on the network’s franchise renewal.

Duterte's former personal aide, now Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, questioned during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Services why ABS-CBN agreed to air an opposition-funded video which he said was meant to tarnish the reputation of the former mayor of Davao City. The commercial questioned if a tough-talking, cursing politician would be a good fit for president.

A Quezon City court banned the airing of the ad upon the request of Duterte's running mate, now House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

"Hindi mababaw ang rason ng Pangulo sa kanyang grievances against the network. Nasaktan ang Presidente, nababoy ang Presidente. Hindi vindictive ang Pangulo but it is clear that someone went overboard to malign him," Go said. "For me, this is very troublesome. Media networks are supposed to be neutral. Fair reporting, that's all the President wants... Kung masama ka kay Pangulo, mas magiging masama siya sa iyo at kung mabait ka kay Pangulo, mas mabait siya sa iyo."

[Translation: The President's grievances against the network are not superficial. The President was hurt, his image has been tarnished... If you are mean to the President, he will be meaner to you and if you are kind to the President, he will be even kinder to you.]

Katigbak said the network initially rejected the first version of that ad, but it was eventually cleared for airing after changes were made on what the two kids were doing in the video. "Any politician who comes to our station with an ad that is legal and legitimate must be accommodated," he added. "We continue to improve on our shortcomings. We hope we do a better job in the succeeding elections."

"ABS-CBN does not and will not have its own political agenda," Katigbak added.

Duterte has been publicly ranting against ABS-CBN since assuming office, saying that the network refused to carry his campaign commercials even if they have been already paid for.

Katigbak clarified why the network could not air some of Duterte's ads. He said the President's camp bought a total of ₱182 million in commercial spots, split into ₱117 million for national ads — which were all aired — and ₱65 million in local ads, which would target audience in a specific province.

"Our policy on all our ads is first-come, first-served. Many of these spots were ordered on May 3, and May 7 was the last day of the campaign period. There had been many previous telecast orders that came in ahead," the company's chief executive said.

He went on to explain that slots for local ads were limited to just two minutes per hour, so the network could not find airtime for Duterte's content by then. Katigbak said ABS-CBN refunded about ₱4 million to the President, but got delayed in returning some ₱2.6 million to his camp. He said the President's camp refused to accept the delayed refund.

Duterte went on to win the 2016 elections.

Senators Migz Zubiri and Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan also said that they have their own ads which did not air during previous elections. "May hinanakit din kami, pero hindi natin dadalhin sa usapin na mawawalan ng trabaho ang 11,000 na kababayan natin," said Pangilinan, the husband of ABS-CBN star Sharon Cuneta.

[Translation: We also have our gripes, but we would not bring that to the point that 11,000 Filipinos would lose their jobs.]


'Nothing illegal'
Meanwhile, Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV believes that there is "nothing illegal" with the "offensive" advertisement he ran in 2016.

"Duterte/Bong Go’s assertion that the airing of my advertisement is the reason why the ABS-CBN franchise should not be renewed is a lie. First, there’s nothing illegal about the ad itself and the airing of the ad," he said in a statement.

He also argued that the said advertisement was also aired in the rival network.

"Second, the same political ad was aired in GMA7 and yet Duterte never complained about it when its franchise was renewed. So, definitely there is another ulterior motive in the blocking of ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal," Trillanes added.

Apology accepted
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo welcomed the apology, saying that the President will "consider" Katigbak's statement.

"It's personal to him," Panelo said. "I'm glad finally ABS-CBN admitted its shortcomings to the President. Dapat noon pa nila ginawa [They should have done it a long time ago]."

Duterte has vowed since late 2018 to block the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise. Last year, he told the Lopezes to just sell the network to a new owner as he would make sure that the TV station is out by 2020.

CNN Philippines' Multi-Platform News Writers Melissa Lopez and Vince Ferreras contributed to this report

Jacob Benedicto Finds Career an 'Emotional Roller-Coaster"

By Amadis Ma. Guerrero (The Philippine Star)

 0  0 googleplus0  1 

Jacob Benedicto learned discipline in theater and coping with irregular hours from his TV work

MANILA, Philippines - The moment he appeared on stage, the screaming among his fans, mostly girl students, began. It was hard to follow the dialogue, although the plot was familiar.

The venue was SM Southmall in Las Piñas City, and the young singing actor was Jacob Benedicto, 23, ABS-CBN talent. The production was Gantimpala Theater’s Kanser the Musical by Jomar Fleras, a take-off on Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere. Jacob was playing Crisostomo Ibarra, the idealistic hero of the novel who sought to uplift his hometown through education and, in the process, rekindle his romance with Maria Clara (played by Myramae Meneses).

The love scenes were tame (remember this is the 19th century), but even these set the fans screaming. A dramatic highlight of the play had Ibarra, all alone on the stage, singing and emoting, down on one knee, agonizing on whether to continue with his reforms or to call for a revolution against the cancerous state (“reporma ba o rebolusyon”).

At the curtain call, all the cast members were applauded, of course, but Jacob was clearly the crowd favorite (along with the actors who played Sisa, Basilio and Crispin), maybe because there were more girls than boys or because they recognized him from his TV projects.

Finally, as they left the stage, Jacob let loose with a flying kiss; and pandemonium reigned.

The play was the singing actor’s first starring role in theater, and in classic Tagalog at that. He had to ask the help of colleague Michael Pangilinan (the other Ibarra) to improve his Tagalog, and the latter was happy to oblige. Thus, Jacob was able to acquit himself in the challenging role.

Entertainment ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

“I really internalized my character, my role,” he recalls. “Ako talaga si Crisostomo Ibarra. I learned the message he was trying to convey. I really wanted to be authentic before the audience (no trace of a foreign accent) and give them my interpretation of the songs and the role of Ibarra. I really felt the character.”

Of Visayan-Tagalog parentage, Jacob (real name is Josemari Jacob Gayanelo) was born in Manila but at the age of five, his family moved to Jakarta, Indonesia because his father, a Unilab official, was assigned there.

He and his siblings studied at the International School in Jakarta. All their teachers were Americans and Europeans, so the young Gayanelos acquired an American accent. They stayed there for 10 years and Jacob returned to Manila a teenager, starting a career in theater with English-language companies like Trumpets and Repertory Philippines. “Michael Williams gave me my start in professional theater,” he says. “I owe a lot to him.”

A memorable experience for him was appearing for a year in Resorts World Manila’s The Sound of Music by Rodgers and Hammerstein, in which he was with the ensemble, playing a young Nazi, a dancer and even a baron.

After that, he was ready for showbiz, appearing on TV5’s Baker King and Kanta Pilipinas and then in a slew of ABS-CBN shows and teleseryes like Ningning, Dream Dad, Ipaglaban Mo’s Akin Ka Lang episode, Maalaala Mo Kaya’s Manika episode, the Pure Love series, Pinoy Big Brother: All in and The Voice of the Philippines.

Last year, he appeared in Star Cinema’s Past Tense with Daniel Matsunaga, and is now preparing for a role in an indie film. Jacob as a singer is into pop, soul and OPM, has cut an album Pagka’t Ikaw, with songs by Jeffrey Hidalgo and is a Star Records talent. In between these commitments, he managed to finish Communication Arts studies (TV production, films and radio) at De La Salle University. He is also an events host.

“I learned discipline in theater,” he says. “And in TV, I learned to cope with the irregular working hours. My life is an emotional roller-coaster!”

Marion Aunor Inks Star Deal

 

After winning second runner-up in the song writing competition "Himig Handog P-Pop Love Song" for her composition "If you ever changed your mind," Marion Aunor is now an official recording artist as she recently inked a deal with Star Recording, Inc. Marion's debut album will be released by the end of this month. 

"My album will include some songs that I composed and the other songs were composed by my mentor, Mr. Vehnee Saturno," she said. She will also be part of the world tour of ABS-CBN's top-rating daytime drama series "Be careful with my heart". Marion Aunor is a nice of great star Nora Aunor, which I was able to meet already personally during the 1980s, when she visited Berlin during the International Movie Fest.

 

Angelica Panganiban Named Top Comedy Actress

Angelica Pangaiban won the Outstanding Performance by an Actress award in a Gag or Comedian Program for the show "Banana Split" in the Entertainment Press Society Golden Screen TV Awards. She first received this award in 2011 for thr same show. Angelica also appears in the newly launched "Banana Nite", the nightly serving of the gag show where they feature new gags and talents. "Banana Nite" airs Monday to Thursday after "Bandila" on ABS-CBN.

Toni Gonzaga to Host The Voice of the Philippines

Ultimate Multimedia Star Toni Gonzaga is officially the host of "The Voice of the Philippines", the country's edition of the worldwide hit singing competition. Toni shared to give viewers a glimpse on what to expect on her new show: "It's a singing competition with a different concept. We will showcase the best singers in the Philippines, you have never seen before."

The Voice is a unique singing competition where auditions are based solely on vocal ability. In the first stage called the "blind auditions", all four coaches must listen to the artist without facing him or her and must their buttons if they want the artist to be part of the team they will mentor.