This year’s FAMAS best child actress Elia Ilano of “Ghost Tales” and best child actor Euwenn Mikaeli of “Firefly.”

GMA Network’s ‘Firefly’ wins silver in Content Asia Awards ‘24

BROADCAST media giant GMA Network earned top honors for the Philippines at the Content Asia Awards 2024.

“Secret Slaves: The Jessica Soho Special Report on Human Trafficking” won the gold award in the Best Current Affairs Program Made in Asia for Regional Asia and/or International Markets category. Produced by GMA Public Affairs, the documentary examined the global issue of human trafficking through survivor testimonies and investigative reporting. The program was presented by the Philippines’ most awarded broadcast journalist Jessica Soho.

The critically acclaimed film “Firefly” added another win to its growing list of accolades with a silver award in the Best Asian Feature Film/Telemovie category. Produced by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs, the film is about a young boy who searches for the mythical island of fireflies described in his mother’s bedtime stories. It stars Euwenn Mikaell and Alessandra de Rossi and is directed by Zig Dulay.

Winning the bronze award in the Best Variety Program category is “All-Out Sundays.” The musical variety show is known for its non-stop entertainment every Sunday, giving Kapuso viewers dynamic musical performances and fun games led by various Kapuso talents.

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Vince M. Tañada’s “San Vicente, Isang Sarsuela” will be staged at Adamson University on Sept. 24-26.

Excerpt from a review by Robert Manuguid Silverio of “Juan Luna: Isang Sarsuela”: “No doubt about it, Vince Tanada and Johnrey Rivas once again stole the show in their great performances… And a writer who watched gave them both a standing ovation.

“Vince gave a very sensitive and enduring performance as the ‘alter-ego’ of Juan Luna. His delivery of the character was multi-dimensional, offering a wide variety of scopes and interpretations which was very hard to do, and a writer who watched gave him a solid salute. His character’s own version of killing his wife Paz and his mother-in-law was the one that the audience believed. Thus, he was more credible than the ‘real Luna’ himself in that certain scene of violence. But Johnrey Rivas, who portrayed the real Luna, was so perplexing in many of his scenes, challenging the hearts and minds of the viewers, with his juicy angst, superb attacks and proper nuances. Johnrey was indeed a wonder.

“Malena Leonard as Nellie Bousted, coming from GMA Sparkle Artist Center, somehow convinced the followers of independent-minded people that mainstream artists, given a chance to perform in an independent performance setting, could also awe and impress. Her singing prowess was exquisite, like a nightingale singing at Berkeley Square.”

Soon, the Philippine Stagers Foundation will stage “San Vicente: Isang Sarsuela,” written and directed by Atty. Vince M. Tanada and music by Pipo Cifra on September 24, 25 and 26, 2024 at Adamson University Theater.

 

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Sen. Imee R. Marcos (right) with son Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc.

Metropop, or the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival, was held every year from 1978 to 1985. It was the country’s pioneering songwriting competition which launched the careers of many Filipino singers and songwriters, including Freddie Aguilar, Ryan Cayabyab, and Odette Quesada, among others. Its main objective was the advancement of Filipino music, and its main proponent was Sen. Imee Marcos who steered the competition together with the late Teodoro “Ka Doroy” Valencia.

Many of the songs featured during the Metropop years are now considered Filipino music classics. “It is said that music can evoke emotional responses to relax or stimulate people or help them heal. During difficult times, people take refuge in music that brings back happy memories and raises their spirits,” says Senator Marcos, who hosts “At the Moment with Imee” every Sunday at 5 p.m. over One PH, Cignal TV Channel 1, SatLite TV Channel 1 and Cignal Play App.

 

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At classy Villa Caemilla Beach Boutique Hotel in Boracay’s Station 3, some celebrities who have been there are Ron Poe, Tom Taus, Antoinette Taus, Rita Avila and director FM Reyes. I was fortunate to meet some of their kind staff (Christy Reyes, Alden Moralda, Benjie Doydora, Gio Emmen, Razel Penaroyo, Drigs Oquendo, and supervisor Paul Panagsagan) who attended to my brief stay there. I will surely return to this place.

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Guia Cruz Buenaventura (left) of Coffee Tea on MHE and Rogelio Medina.
Photos courtesy of Rogelio C. Medina

Peoples Television Network’s Audrey Gorriceta won as the best male host/anchor in the recent 2nd Philippines Finest Business Awards and Outstanding Achiever 2024, while Jamin Lim won as the best event photographer. Guia Cruz Buenaventura, host of Coffee Tea on MHE, represented the Media House Express, the first internet TV in the Philippines.

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Awards Committee Chairman Nirro Marcelo said that the recent Sovereign Seal of Business Triumph & Remarkable Achievers Award 2024 at luxurious Dusit Thani Hotel Manila, was organized to recognize exceptional achievers and business leaders. Likewise, he also emphasized that the 2nd Philippines Finest Business Awards and Outstanding Achievers at The Hexagon Events Place in Quezon City was to celebrate the finest in the Philippine business community and acknowledge their exceptional contributions.

On December 8 at the Winford Resort and Casino in Manila, the 2nd Southeast Asian Premier Business and Achiever Awards will be held to recognize the accomplishments and contributions to the business sector, which will honor deserving individuals as well as companies.

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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

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