By Joey B. Ting, film-theater critic for Manila Times

Cinemas all over the country opened with the much-anticipated Metro Manila Film Festival last December 25, 2008. Float parades within the metropolis prior to its opening date became one of its attractions for cinema goers. Stars from various studio networks and big studios of the film industry marched up in their respective floats to promote their most formulaic movie ever produced.

Three films were named the top three best pictures for the year by its festival jurors. "Baler" was Viva films entry and this year's first best picture. Star Cinema's word-conjugation sequel "Ang Tanging Ina Ninyong Lahat" starred in by Ai-Ai De las Alas and directed by Wenn Deramas bagged the second best. Twenty years after, release from Octoarts films, "Iskul Bukol" had its third best picture with of course the established Pinoy three stooges - Tito, Vic and Joey.

will be held at the Philippine Women's University Manila on January 22 & 23, 2009.

This inter-collegiate festival is open to all college student filmmakers from any school or university, with a vision to promote cinematic talent, and the enthusiasm to share one's creativity.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts' National Committee on Cultural Education (NCCA-NCCEd) announces the convening of a series of island-clustered Forum on Informal, Non-Formal and Alternative Cultural Education (INFACE) on January 8-9 (Cebu City); January 19-20 (Davao City); and January 22-23 (Manila).

The two-day forum series is part of a nationwide constituency- based consultation on previous and current INFACE efforts by community-based artists, cultural workers, educators, local government units, NGO arts councils, and culture-oriented people's organizations. As conceived, the project hopes to mainstream, replicate and support best practices in INFACE program initiatives through the NCCA's Philippine Cultural Education Program (PCEP).

Sapagka't ako'y naparito upang papagalitin ang lalake laban sa kaniyang ama at ang anak na babae laban sa kaniyang ina...* - Jesucristo

UNA ko siyang nakita, isang tag-araw, na nakatindig sa harap ng pintuan namin. Nakaakbay sa kanya si Papa. Sa unang tingin ko pa lamang, alam kong magiging masalimuot ang darating pang mga tag-araw at tag-ulan.

"Si Tita Leny mo. Siya ang magiging asawa ko." Patungkol sa babaing halos, sa tantiya ko, ay hindi lalampas sa 25 edad. Siya, isang babaing balingkinitan, may taas na higit sa limang talampakan at anim na pulgada, may mayamang dibdib, may mapupungay na mga mata at may mapupulang labi ang siyang papalit sa babaing halos naging karamay ko sa mga bata kong pangarap.

Hindi siya mapakali. Para siyang sinisilihan.

“Bakit kaya wala pa s’ya?” sabay tingin sa lumang orasang nakasabit sa dingding ng kanilang kubo. Alas-10:30 ng gabi ang rehistro ng orasan.

Tanging ang huni ng kuliglig ang kaniyang naririnig. Tulog na tulog si Manuel, ang bunso nilang anak. Wala sa loob niyang napagmasdan ang kanyang munting anghel. Wala ang kanyang Ate Minda. Nasa Maynila. Doon naisipang makipagsapalaran kasabay ng planong mag-aral ng kolehiyo. Sa huling sulat niya, sinabi nitong nakapasok siya sa call center – kung ano man iyon. Nakapag-aabot ng padala-dalawang libo samantalang patuloy ang ginagawang pag-iipon.

We are inviting you... Yes you! to be a OBRA.PH partner or "ka-obra"!

Do you have a website? Do you want to get additional traffic by displaying your website here in theOBRAwebsite? Then follow the simple steps and we will be happy to display your banner with a direct link back to your website!

Or if you dont have one, just grab that image or copy the code below to put on your forum signature/posts.
[URL=http://obra.ph][IMG]http://obra.ph/images/banners/obra.gif[/IMG][/URL]

theOBRAwebsite wants to expand our network of world renowned Pinoy artists... So go out and spread the word!

Good day!

Models (pref. females with background in dance) needed for China RUSH!

• Female Models must be at least 5'4 in height.
• With background in hiphop dancing
• 2 months contract as usherettes to fly in various sites on china.
• 40k net gross per month plus commission.( you will bring home 80k++)
• With passport na dapat kasi ang alis sa Dec 19, 2008!

Email your scanned passport and pics at aniphreak@gmail.com

For immidiate questions, you may contact
Nash at 0920-828-2222

Umaalingawngaw ang mapanglaw na tunog ng tambuli. Isang anak ng angkang Pilipinong may dalisay na dugo ang pumanaw. Tumatangis rin ang kordilyerang tahanan ng mga ninuno... 'di pa tupad ang tadhana.

Ganito ko gusto isipin kung anong aral ang maaaring kunin sa maagang pagpanaw ng isang batang batang alagad ng kontemporaryong kulturang si Marky Cielo.

'Di ko kabisa ang tinakbo ng kanyang maikling panahon sa larangan ng pag-arte, bagaman isa rin ako sa mga manggagawang pangkultural na nasiyahan sa tinamong estado ng aktor na isang katutubong Pilipino, ilang taon pa lang ang nakalilipas.

My teacher asked me to draw something, for our Arts subject when I was still in elementary, I would then draw two mountains with the sun rising up between them. And I would draw the sun, as if it had facial features. **as if a heavenly body was impossible to have a smiling face.

But last December 1, 2008 around 6 in the evening...