If it's about stars getting workshops, there's no other reliable organization to do that in the Philippines and in some parts of the world than Star Magic Workshops. This year, there's going to be a huge change because they've gone the mile, made it even BIGGER... and now call it STAR MAGIC SCHOOL FOR THE CREATIVE & PERFORMING ARTS. This means they'll be catering to folks, kids to adults and hone them in multiple disciplines, including acting, singing, dance and more.
What I've learned from the press conference is that they've managed to already do good in the workshops, but wanted to improve and grow. This is why they made sure to get different subject matter experts so that they wouldn't be boxed up in just the ABSCBN grounds. They wanted folks who are excellent in their fields and have them instruct in the workshops too including master classes, character building, music production, and train more directors for live events too.
The launch was graced by Star Magic and Production Head Direk Lauren Dyogi, Business Unit Head Raymund Dizon, acting coaches HB Benitez III, Alecx Lorica and Marcel David, theater coach Meann Espinosa, ABSCBN Show Director Jon Moll, Kirby Balagtas, Dale Recina, Troi Bautista who are producers from You Me Us MNL, plus veteran Voice Coach Julie Anne Reyes. They also had coaches of BGYO and BINI Anna Graham, Jerwin Nicomedes, plus dance coaches Mickey Perz, Reden Blanquera, Matthew Almodovar, Aennon Tabungar and Josh Junio. They also had the very talented Talia Concio, BGYO perform on stage so we could have a taste of what could happen if we have undergone their workshops. It was a sight for sore eyes!
If you want to be part of this, they have onsite enrollment on March 29 and 30, April 5 and 6. Just fill up the form at this website forms.abs-cbn.com/starmagicscpa and follow the directions. You may also follow their social channels at facebook.com/starmagicscpa or @starmagicscpa on IG. Come prove your talent is world class by joining one or more of their classes. Information about the courses are also there. I'm so interested in the Music Production and the Directors course.
Saying Khalil Ramos is on a roll is an understatement this first quarter of 2025. For starters, he was given the Puregold Cinepanalo Film festival's BEST ACTOR award for the film Olsen's Day, a film directed by JP Habac (who also won as the Best Director). I've had the the impression of him being an "actor's actor", someone who's been able to do it successfully.
His stellar filmography, unquestionable knack for doing acting pieces, have taken the nod of film critics. The chance to talk to him today was certainly, an opportunity to pick his brain a little. He was capable, even impressed us by the way he answered questions. It felt he was on his toes the whole time, very eloquent, albeit being a semi-introvert.
Winning this award doesn't mean he's going to be picky, he's always about the script, about the craft, and when asked, he didn't even expect this at all. He says "I don't think about it being a competition at all, even though it is a festival. This was something very personal for the Director JP Habac, and it's a big thing to be trusted with this kind of material. I felt my duties as an actor became bigger because of it. You want to tell this story the way he wanted it to. The process had to be more open when we made Olsen's Day. I was already happy that Direk JP was happy about my performance, but during the awards night, a few of us were only there. We were there to celebrate with everyone. Then I won, and even Direk JP Habac won too, so we were just ecstatic. This goes to show that when you pour your heart into the story, a lot of people would connect and relate to it."
Rest certainly is a luxury for both Khalil and Gabbi. Khalil was working on three platforms at the same time. Aside from Olsen's Day, he was doing a Neflix series called "How to Cheat Death" with Gabbi, and "One Hit Wonder" with Sue Ramirez on the same platform. He's also in the 9 Works Theatrical production of "Liwanag Sa Dilim" as Elesi, a very interesting character trying to find his roots. He felt it was 2023 all over again because yes, he did a lot tooo during those times in different mediums.
He feels energized as an artist that he could do all these roles, working with different people, saying he loves what he's doing, tired but definitely fulfilled in artistry and passion. Here's our interview with him this afternoon:
If he feels he resonates with the character and the script, he would do it no matter how big or small the production is. If he likes the story, that gets precedence over other things. His schedule is super packed for sure that he had to decline a few opportunities, that's the only time he needs to decide. He was doing three characters in one week (in January), which was crazy but did it by studying characters individually saying "At a certain point, you have to be as real as possible in your pursuit with the film. Sometimes your body doesn't know you're already doing it. You're commanding it, and your body just follows. If it's tired, then you've got to pull other tricks in the bag to finish it. I need to find another technique to be more effective. Your co actors especially in Liwanag Sa Dilim will influence your performance, and they've all been a breeze to work with."
Khalil is still in "Liwanag Sa Dilim" at the RCBC theater til April 13th, and watch out for "How to Cheat Death" on Netfilx this April 2. "One Hit Wonder" will premiere around May. Khalil is just starting, I bet he's bound for more accolades with Olsen's Day as they plan to also put it in streaming platforms soon.
While the rest of the world is trying to solve the various international crises, I'm witnessing something good in my own turf. See, this isn't a common occurrence in this side of Quezon City, but the 1st District Congressman is telling us the state in his area. He's Arjo Atayde, and I think he's in a whole different league.
Communication of his current projects, accomplishments and those that he's still working on was the topic during this event. Sadly, I don't see this happen in other districts so it was refreshing that he really made an effort to do so especially when people are asking for accountability.
The State of the District Address' call was still his priority projects in the matters of health, education, livelihood and his promise of doing it with the "Aksyon Agad" spirit in the 3 years he served here. He also is pushing for more reforms with regards to current mental health efforts, ways in youth development and social welfare for the most affected individuals in the barangays he carries out duties on.
Arjo says "With the regular talk with our residents, we get to act on things, their needs and the Aksyon Agad movement has resulted in actions that directly benefit our constituents. Life became easy for tax payers, it also saved government resources and improved health care systems. With our specialized centers, people from different regions now have access to it . We also want to stop those who manipulate prices, to provide affordable food. We imposed Student Loan Payment moratorium especially during calamities, ensuring academic recovery and to support them from elementary to college. We have also the Expanded VAWC act to give more protection for women and children. We also tackled the Eddie Garcia Law, Quezon City General Hospital to become a medical hub."
He adds "We want to make sure people have food on their table and a brighter future. We are always ready to share our blessings to help more people. Aksyon Agad was aimed to help people with their lives, with training, with the help of government agencies, start expanding businesses and increase earnings. In health, we conducted medical and dental missions, it helped over 75 thousand individuals, 60 patients a day in our dialysis center, some free eyeglasses, guarantee letters for payments and on the go services for communities too. 4598 students have received support with the help of CHED, receiving scholarships, funding Senior High School students through the governments AKAP program. We are supporting sports programs like in the recent inter barangay sports meet. We will soon add other sports programs. We also are partnering with Gardner College to have 100 college scholarships and 200 for Senior High. We also participated in Kyusiklaban and it has expanded city wide, thank you to QC Mayor Joy Belmonte for that. We also have seasonal events, Passport on Wheels and government services, plus several barangay and SK council events. This sets 400 thousand people helped in 3 years, this makes sure that it directly affects you, from your taxes. Each of them to make you feel better, to make sure the city has a bright future with more efficient facilities. Education remains a top priority which is why we built several buildings for elementary and high schools in the district. We also had the rehabilitation of bridges, roads, to help in traffic and floods in our part of the city. We also have on going infrastructure developments in various barangays, improving accessibility for social services. We also aligned it with the QC flood control program, and also soon, our barangays will have Solar Energy. There will be more construction of Barangay Halls, Public Library, and Sports Facilities. This includes Culiat Bridge, Pasong Tamo, West Riverside Pumping Stations too. We want District 1 to be done fast, no drama, effective and have programs that directly serve our people. They shouldn't wait, it has to be resolved now without prejudice. I will not stop, we are data driven and it will change lives. We still have so much to do, but I promise to continue these in District 1. Seeing you all here, I am overwhelmed. Thank you for putting your trust in me. Thank you!"
An emotional Arjo Atayde during his speech
There is flooding in parts of his district and appropriation of funds for the G Araneta Avenue detention basin, Talayan Flood Interceptor, he also took measures for a more sustainable solution for it. He took notice of needed infrastructure upgrades and sensible urban planning. He also sought stricter enforcement of environmental laws in his district. As of date, he has over 46 republic acts, 65 house bills co-authored, 174 House Bills filed as Principal Author and 78 resolutions passed in these past 3 years. He also has worked with several government agencies to implement sustainable livelihood programs, for those displaced workers, scholarships for his constituents, and those who are in crisis. He also took initiatives for free livelihood programs and created food carts to benefit MSME's. He also has taken action on matters that involve the youth, and did it with industry help with music, sports programs and various events for the community.
This is just his first term, and with the changes and initiatives he's set in his side of the world, it would be remarkable to see him transform his district to a better one with the laws passed with his Aksyon Agad principles set. I envy you folks in the 1st District. You've got Juan Carlos "Arjo" Atayde by your side!
It's the weekend and after the really fun Puregold Cinepanalo Film Festival Awards Night, we took time to watch the student short films this Sunday afternoon before they end screenings.
Short films are, short. If you couldn't get your point or story across, I would feel it would fail, I think the few ones I saw were actually good. Super happy about how Puregold Cinepanalo Film Festival became a great platform for regional film makers to showcase what they can do despite the odds. I didn't even need to read the subtitles in order to understand them.
Dito, Dati was about memories. They had a short film made on VHS recorded tapes but in the end they lost it all. Then they reminisced where it all happened, how it happened. It played on family ties, filial love and what lengths you would go for them.
Ritche Films Production on the other hand offered Sine Sine, a short film about friends in the Bicolano dialect. A supposed date plan was about to go into shambles because the local movie house called Obet's Sine Sine was closing down. It was cute, mostly about puppy love. When the plan to watch a movie didn't pan out, they made their own film. Obet's Sine Sine was back in business, and the date continued. It made the folks inside the cinema giggle. No wonder this won awards. Their soundtrack was fun and catchy too.
Daog/Pildi was another regional short film. In Cebuano, they get to tell the adventures they had in arcade gaming (a thing I adore). It was old school, had a little cute and romantic story line.
SAMPIE was eye candy. It's a coming of age film that had elements of a cartoon (in 2D) about a mermaid, a gay one. It's also about family and the little joys of life. It is also about acceptance. Pretty good short film, no wonder it won awards too.
"Our One and Only Baboy" was about an elderly couple, one stricken with cancer but chose to give up and just enjoy his vices. The lone pig was opted to be sold for money, for his medical needs and finances... But they treated it like their child (they didn't have kids). His wife was not so keen in doing it. The film has flaws, the panning shots made me dizzy, but it was certainly a touching film. It's about dreams, the idea of true happiness, love and what matters most.
If you can catch the other films today, go do it. Or maybe wait for a future release in platforms, because from the looks of it, they've got a lot of people out there that would really appreciate it.
Thanks to Puregold who's doing this annually, the ones who made it possible to showcase regional films in actual cinemas. I loved the shorts!
