JinGGoy Moves For CreaTion oF PHL FiLM PreservaTion FaCiLiT y, body

THE Senate has set in motion public hearings for the legislative measures filed by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada promoting the growth and development of the local film industry.

Estrada expressed hope that his proposal for the establishment of the National Film Archive of the Philippines (NFAP) will gain momentum during the Second Regular Session of the 19th Congress.

“Two decades have passed since the enactment of Republic Act 9167, the law that directs the FDCP [Film Development Council of the Philippines] to establish a film archive, but the permanent facility for film preservation with sufficient storage space and proper equipment has yet to materialize,” said the senator, who was the first to file a bill in the upper chamber for the creation of the NFAP.

Stressing the need for the approval of his Senate Bill 1033, Estrada pointed out that many films, which serve as snapshots of the nation’s history and social realities, have not survived the test of time and have been left to decay and degrade over the years.

“In addition, notable works by our renowned filmmakers, including our National Artists for film, have also been neglected and improperly cared for,” he lamented.

Citing data from the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Estrada revealed that approximately 65 percent of the country’s vast cinematic heritage has been lost or destroyed.

“Whatever remains unarchived are exposed to daily damage and deterioration. It is also estimated that out of the more than 8,000 movies shot on film, only around 2,000 have surviving copies,” the senator said. “This bill aims to address this problem by creating NFAP which will ensure the protection and preservation of Filipino films that are part of our historical and cultural heritage,” Estrada said.

SB 1033 was scheduled to be discussed in a hearing on July 10 by the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, alongside two other bills authored by Estrada: Senate Bills 1032, and 2250.

SB 1032, or the proposed World-Class Filmmakers’ Incentives Act, aims to promote and support the production of high quality and globally competitive Filipino films through the provision of incentives and tax exemptions. On the other hand, SB 2250 proposes the institutionalization of a physical and online festival for new quality genre films and free screening of classic movies every September.

TWO films surprised me this week: one was a South Korean series and another was a totally unexpected warm production of an old novel. The contexts: I have not developed a fondness for South Korean series, where men are pale and fragile and the women are horrendously harrigans at young age; the other is my taste for old-fashioned storytelling, amid the more ponderous obsession with non-linear narratives, a predisposition that seems to promise a production of art in the garden of mystification. So, there is my bias.

Celebrity is a South Korean TV series. With an inyour-face title, expect therefore in-your-face drama. With characters always in spitting distance from each other, in hysterical confrontations or during quiet romantic scenes. The story is about Seo A-ri, a door-to-door saleswoman who finds herself in the presence of a coterie of influencers. Among these rich, bored, brand-crazy housewives is a former classmate who remembers Seo A-ri during her affluent days. Apparently, she was born rich until her father’s company went bankrupt.

Seo A-ri is bullied by these women who are called princesses but possess terrible complexes. But our protagonist is a wise woman, intelligent. She is, however, more fashionable than the rest of the group. Where are the men in this tale? Some are so into the obsessions of their wives; some are distant, their toxic masculinity shrouded in silence and gentlemanly nonchalance.

Then our character becomes an influencer, the only way to show these women how fake they are, most of them ingrained with just the right amount of fashion psychosis. Seo A-ri discovers the cheat code. And she becomes the celebrity Numero Uno.

As with any modern Cinderella, shaming happens to our poor girl. But instead of two stepsisters and one stepmother, Seo A-ri faces thousands online. But as these other characters all have a past, Seo A-ri discovers them one by one. And the comeuppance happens when one by one the sordid back story to these fashion victims is disclosed in the most sordid manner. We applaud. Why not? These women are just evil to the good in Seo A-ri? But wait, our woman finds out along the way that anyone who joins the world of influencers (a dirty label by this time) becomes evil herself.

One thing that amused me no end about the series is the predictability of the shots (and the performance) of the actors. Empty pauses. Close-up shots. Look down. Look up. Quiet. On the one hand, you have three lead actors whose delivery of dialogues barely rise above the level of whisper; on the other, you have the entire cast of viragos whose duty is to scream their heads off. They are our catharsis to this tragicomic narrative about how social media has been used as an excuse for people to be mean to ourselves and others. The truth is we all have been organically horrid from the start. Celebrity is written by Kim Yi-Young and directed by Kim Cheol-kyu. Park Gyu-young is one sophisticated actress. She is joined by Kang Minhyuk, Lee Chung-ah, Lee Dong-gun and Jun Hyoseong.

If predictability is the bane of Celebrity, then it becomes the boon for this lovely, magical film about fate and, well, fashion. The film is Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, said to be the third film adaptation of the 1958 novel Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico. Mrs. Harris is a woman who works as a cleaning lady for rich households. It is wartime and she has been waiting for word from her husband. But tragedy strikes. For each tear, a hope; for each drizzle, a sunny day. Mrs. Harris, through some quirks of fate, receives money out of a sad event. She decides to fulfill her dream: to buy a lovely dress. She travels to Paris, for the dress is by Dior himself. She arrives in Paris when all the city cleaners have gone on strike. Against the romance of the place, debris and trash are all over the city. But romance is also all over this place. She makes it to the fashion show of Dior and befriends the Face of Dior, Natasha, a young lady who reads Sartre. Romance is relentless: the financial man of Dior is hopelessly in love with the model. Why not! André is also into existentialism!

The director of the House of Dior, Isabelle Hupert as Claudine, deliciously wicked but hiding her own romantic secret, tries to stop Mrs. Harris everytime she is about to do something good for anyone. With the economy bad, and the communist strikers winning their battle, Mrs. Harris (of course, this is a fairy tale) comes up with a way to save the House of Dior. She goes home with her dress but something menacing happens to it. All’s well that ends well: a package from Dior arrives and Mrs. Harris arrives at a ball, a real Cinderella.

The story may be old but the narrators—the actors—are all imbued with this old-fashioned candor and sincerity. Or, at least they come across as such. Alba Baptista, the model, only needs to look at the camera and that is all for the romance to happen. She is paired with Lucas Bravo, the Gabriel in Emily in Paris, who, despite the eyeglasses or maybe because of them, has the capacity to turn on and off his charm effortlessly. But, at the center of it all is Lesley Manville as Mrs. Harris. She is not young but we root for her because she is the embodiment of hope that springs eternally. Jason Isaacs also stars in the film. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is directed and produced by Anthony Fabian, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Carroll Cartwright, Keith Thompson, and Olivia Hetreed. The House of Dior is credited in the film.

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris and Celebrity stream on Netflix. n

GMa Pinoy T v pays tribute to Filipino seafarers at seafarer Fiesta

GMA Network’s international flagship channel, GMA Pinoy TV served as the media partner of the recently concluded Seafarer Fiesta on June 24 in Sofitel, Pasay City, in a day of celebrating the Filipino seafarers’ undeniable contribution to the world’s economy.

The Seafarer Fiesta, which gathered nearly 2,000 seafarers and their families, also highlighted the sacrifice of the maritime professionals for the country and their loved ones.

During the event, GMA Pinoy TV’s booth attracted a large number of seafarers who eagerly lined up for the chance to win exciting raffle prizes and complimentary giveaways and get exclusive Votes V: Legacy shirts. The enthusiastic response demonstrated the genuine appreciation and enthusiasm of the attendees toward GMA Pinoy TV’s involvement in the event.

In addition to the festivities, GMA Pinoy TV also organized a contest specifically tailored for the seafarers in attendance. The competition provided an opportunity for the participants to engage in games, fostering camaraderie and a lively atmosphere among the seafaring community.

Dingdong Dantes, who banners GMA’s primetime series Royal Blood, led the celebrities who gave their heartfelt greetings to the seafarers. Also sharing their messages were the rest of the Royal Blood ensemble as well as the cast of Abot Kamay na Pangarap. Sparkle stars Kyline Alcantara, Sanya Lopez, Andrea Torres, and Rita Daniela imparted encouraging words, as well.

Organized by the Propel Me app, the Seafarer Fiesta coincided with the International Day of the Seafarer, which emphasized the global significance of the profession. GMA Pinoy TV’s participation in the event further underscores its commitment to championing the aspirations and well-being of the Filipino seafaring community. exhibited by Filipino seafarers around the world. GMA Network, through GMA Pinoy TV, remains dedicated to supporting and uplifting the Filipino spirit, both at home and abroad.

“GMA Pinoy TV reaffirms its commitment to honoring the indomitable spirit and invaluable contributions of Filipino seafarers. We take pride in being the media partner for this event, which allowed us to amplify their stories and extend our support to the maritime community. Together, let us celebrate our modern-day heroes and their unwavering dedication to their families and our nation,” said GMA first vice president and head of international operations Joseph T. Francia.

GMA Pinoy TV’s digital team also produced a series of inspiring videos, each focusing on a different aspect of the seafaring profession.