The Philippine Online Chronicles

FILM

Cinemalaya bares winners

The increasingly popular Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival announced its winners at the awarding ceremony at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

“Ang Babae sa Septic Tank” received top awards with its lead Eugene Domingo winning as Best Actress. Its director Marlon Rivera and scriptwriter Chris Martinez also won the Best Director and Best Screenplay Award for the New Breed Full Length category.

The Best Actor Award went to Edgar Allan Guzman for “Ligo na U, Lapit na Me.”

For the Director’s Showcase Category, Jeffrey Jeturian’s “Bisperas” won the Best Film Award. Its actresses Julia Clarete and Raquel Villavicencio both won as Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress, respectively.

Bembol Rocco won the Best Actor Award for the same category as a man who fathered a fish in the film “Isda.” While Joel Lamangan’s “Patikul” won the Audience Choice and the Best Film for Children Awards. “Patikul” actor Jaime Pebangco won the Best Supporting Actor award for the category.

Meanwhile, Emerson Reyes’ “Walang Katapusang Kwarto” won Best Film, Best Screenplay and Audience Choice Award for the New Breed Short Film category. However, it was Milo Tolentino, director of “Ninobonito,” who won as Best Director.

VISUAL ARTS

Amorsolo painting restored by expert

A restoration expert from Italy worked on National Artist Fernando Amorsolo’s painting of President Manuel Roxas as part of an exhibit organized by the Italian Embassy, the Philippine Italian Association, the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts and the Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts.

Exhibiting the Italian excellence of restoration methods and research, Dr. Maria Teresa Castellano, an expert from the prestigious Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione e il Restauro in Rome, besides restoring the Amorsolo painting, also conducted a hands-on conversation workshop.

The exhibit, dubbed “Restoration: Methods and Instruments of Italian excellence in Art, Science and Technology,” will run until August 5 at UP Diliman’s Theater Lobby.

Artist criticized for use of religious figures

Mideo Cruz, a performance and mixed media artist, was criticized by Archbishop Oscar Cruz for his “sickening” exhibit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

The exhibit featured photographs of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary adorned with various objects.

According to ABS-CBN News, a crucifix was decorated with a piece of wood shaped like a phallic symbol. Another figure of Jesus had rabbit ears.

“The ones who did those things are sick. They are not only sick, what they did was also sickening. No one in his right mind with the proper values system would even think of doing such a thing. I wonder if those who did those desecration would allow me to do those things to them… Meaning to say, to put those items on their faces and bodies and to desecrate them with all those items, like a used condom,” Archbishop Cruz said.

Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez said the public should not patronize the exhibit.

However, the artist said it his ideas will not always please everybody. He is also said to have received death threats because of his art.

PAA call for entries

The prestigious Philippine Art Awards (PAA) organized by the National Museum, Asian Tigers Philippines and PMFTC Inc. is still accepting entries and is currently holding its regional selection for the year. Artists should submit their entries to the respective collection centers nearest them. Once completed, regional level judging will be made. Each of the four Collective Regional Areas (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and Metro Manila) will have 10 winners who will receive P40,000 each. These finalists will then compete for the grand price and the 7 Jurors Choice awards.

For more details, visit www.philippineartawards.org or email ask@philippineartawards.org.

Remaining submission schedules are as follows:

• July 26, Cebu, at Asian Tigers Lane Moving and Storage Lane Archive Technologies, Landmark Plaza, M. Logarta St., Subangdaku, Mandaue City, Cebu, contact Arcelie Abcede at (032)3548799/(0917)8326228 and arcelieabcede@yahoo.com, or Joel Martil (032)3438601/(0918)6040840 and Joel.martil@asiantigers-philippines.com;

• Aug. 1, Legaspi, at Legaspi City Museum, Legaspi City, contact Darlito Perez at (052)8205972;

• Aug. 2, Naga, at Developmental Institute for Bicolano Artists, 106 Jacob St., Naga City, contact Amelita Zaens at (054)4739949;

• Aug. 3, Baguio, at Baguio Mt. Provinces Museum DOT Complex, Gov. Pack Rd., Baguio City, contact Gemma Estolas at (074)4447541/(0915)6550668 or Baguio_museum@yahoo.com;

• Aug. 4, Angono, at Atelier Orville D.R. Tiamson, 85 Tiamson Rd., Brgy. Pag-asa, Binangonan, Rizal, contact Orville Tiamson at (0917)6613522;

• Aug. 5, Pampanga, at JDN Center for Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, Santo Rosario, Angeles City, Pampanga, contact Joel Mallari at (0927)3309746/(045)8882514;

• Aug. 5, Bulacan, at Museo ng Hiyas ng Bulacan, Gusaling Gat Blas Ople, Sentro ng Sining at Kultura ng Bulacan, Provincial Capitol Compound, Malolos City, Bulacan, contact Ruel Paguiligan at (044)7916604/(0917)7577768;

• Aug. 6, Manila and the rest of Luzon, at Asian Tigers Lane Moving and Storage, N-4 JY & Sons Compound, Veterans’ Complex, Taguig City, contact May Lopez (02)8384946, the PAA secretariat, or Jax Mariano (0918)9109581.