MAE Trono, marketing activations manager of GMA Pinoy TV, recently hosted the Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour’s 15th Anniversary dinner program at Seda Manila Bay, welcoming some 250 balikbayan delegates from New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Texas, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, and Washington, D.C. who were scheduled tours of Manila, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Malaybalay, and Iligan cities.
In full support were Philippine Consuls General Senen Mangalile of New York, Neil Frank Ferrer of San Francisco, Emilio Fernandez of Honolulu and Rosario Lemque of Agana as well as Acting Heads of Post Maria Alnee Gamble and Gilbert Segarra of Houston. Also giving support to the 2024 VIP Tour were Foreign Affairs Secretry Enrique Manalo, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez, Assistant Secretary for DFA’s Office of American Affairs Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga, and Tourism Promotions Board Philippines Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles.
In the private sector, giving a helping hand were GMA Pinoy TV, Rajah Tours Philippines, Ayala Land International Sales Inc.(thanks to its Regional Director Hazel Gendrano for the overview of the Philippines’ progress during the first day and sharing opportunities with Ayala Land’s Residential property developments), Napa Valley Distribution, and Liberty Insurance Corporation (LIC), a non-life insurance company that is endorsed by actor-TV host Dingdong Dantes and is headed by its president Josefina M. Salvador.
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Arienne Calingo has been selected to serve as a member of the Junior Board of Directors of the Children’s Place Association, which is based in Chicago, Illinois in the United States.
“We support Chicago’s most vulnerable children and their families who are challenged by poverty, health disparities, and racial injustice,” says Calingo, 1st runner-up (1st Princess) to 2016 Miss World Philippines Catriona Gray, Miss Universe 2018 winner.
Her artwork “Rise” is on display at an ongoing exhibit at the South Bend Museum of Art until the end of August. “Rise” is an artwork inspired by Iranian women protesting against the compulsory hijab. Previously, her creative works in mixed media, photography, and poetry have been featured in exhibitions at Harvard University, the St. Joe County Public Library, and the University of Notre Dame. “In general, I seek to use my artwork as a vehicle to raise awareness of international human rights and social justice issues.”
In 2023, she was one of 15 Filipino Americans selected nationwide to serve as a 2023 delegate of the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO), a joint initiative of the Philippine Embassy, Consulates General in the United States, and the Ayala Foundation. “Through FYLPRO, I aim to carry out projects that advance education, youth development, women empowerment, and the arts in the Filipino and Filipino American communities,” she says.
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“Pulang Araw” tells stories during World War II (WW2) and the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. It expounds stories of courage, sacrifice and hardships.
This is the first family drama of GMA that brings together Barbie Forteza, Sanya Lopez, David Licauco, Aldren Richards and Dennis Trillo in a very special role.
It also stars Abraham Lawyer (beauty queen Michelle Dee’s brother), Japanese film director-actor Jacky Woo, Japanese model and former pornographic film actress Maria Ozawa, Epy Quizon, Rhian Ramos, Angelu de Leon, Rochelle Pangilinan, Julie Anne San Jose, Aidan Veneracion, Ashley Ortega, Mikoy Morales, Derrick Monasterio, Jay Arcilla, Neil Ryan Sese, Robert Sena, Isay Alvarez, Sef Cadayona, Tyro Dylusan, Zephanie Dimaranan, Billy Ray Gallon, and beauty queen Rabiya Mateo.
Under the helm of brilliant director Dominic Zapata and award-winning writer Suzette Doctolero, “Pulang Araw” airs on GMA Prime beginning July 29.
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Before noted Filipino illustrator-writer Jim M. Fernandez, a product of University of Santo Tomas (in 2019 he was awarded as one of the UST’s outstanding alumni) and a CPA, migrated to Canada, he left me a copy of his works years ago. My uncle wanted me to be a comics writer, just like him, but I turned out to be a journalist-writer-columnist.
In 1946, after WW2 ended, he got to read comics books which featured Captain America, Green Lantern, Superman, Batman and Robin, Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman. He credited his elder sister Gilda Fernandez-Perez who supplied him books of Tarzan during his teenage years. Then he got to read first Filipino comics magazines. He had dreamed that one day he would be part of the Philippine comics industry.
Soon he showed his first samples of his drawings to Tony Velasquez, the Walt Disney of the Philippines. Later, he got paired with No. 1 comics writer Mars Ravelo (who said that “Jim M. Fernandez would be my successor as a comics writer”). He got to draw Darna and Captain Barbell for him.
Eventually Fernandez turned to writing in 1969. In 1974, he created Zuma (the Zuma series became the first twice a week circulation comics novel) and Galema, characters that brought comics circulation to phenomenal levels. They were featured in two movies in 1985 and 1987 and were featured in TV series by ABS-CBN in 2013-2014.
During the end of the 1970s, he started writing and illustrating his own novels. His first novel was “The Fighting Priest” in Hiwaga Komiks. Some of his novels were adapted into film. Among them were “Nunal sa Balikat,” “Farida,” “The Dormitory,” “Life Everlasting,” “Kingpin,” “Brutus,” “Kambal sa Uma,” and “Anak ni Zuma.” His brother Rolly became his illustrator assistant when Jim’s volume of illustrated novels doubled.
“His novels elevated the comics readership intelligence,” says Judy Garcia, wife of Uncle Jim.
While in Canada, Jim Fernandez made his last novel. He and his brother Federico had a plan to publish Jim’s novel but Jim passed away on June 13, 2022. But I hope his brother Federico, president of a huge semi-conductor company, will publish Jim’s novel in honor of his memory.
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Butchoy Ubaldo is a freelance actor with over 35 years of experience in stage and screen. He performed in various classic Filipino literary works, such as Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, Ibong Adarna, and Florante at Laura. He also won several awards for his
work, including Best Actor from CinemaTech-Student-Digital-Film-Festival for the film “Kwentong Barbero.” He is also a versatile performer who can act in various genres, as well as play the piano and the guitar, dance and sing.
He did a superb performance recently in the musical film “A Thousand Forests” (thanks to Ema Trinidad for the invitation), enacting the role of a father to child actress Ramjean Entera (who will soon be part of “The Miracle of Fatima The Musical”).
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For Lapu Films director-creator Mike Isip, it has been his passion and aspiration to capture fleeting experiences and spontaneous moments, through wedding photography and videography, that enable him to share with friends and family. He sees to it to provide each couple an authentic wedding experience and deliver a photo album and film they can truly call their own.
His primary goal is to bring timeless and elegant wedding photos and films which allow couples to relive their special day. Having a great and professional team dedicated and committed to capturing every important detail and moment in its raw and honest form, and translating those moments into a cinematic masterpiece is something to be proud of.
“As a team, we are in a relentless quest to raise the bar higher, having a group of dedicated artists who thrive in love stories,” he says with enthusiasm as he is making a name for himself after leaving California to be based in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Interestingly, he has 5-star reviews in Yelp and Instagram.
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GMA Network president and CEO Gilberto R. Duavit Jr. welcomed recently Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya at the GMA Network Center.
Accompanying Ambassador Endo were Director of Japan Information & Culture Center Matsuda Shigehiro, Press Officer Shigeyoshi Rintaro, and National Staff members Angela de la Rama and Dyan Lamando. Meanwhile, Duavit was joined by GMA Network executive vice president and CFO Felipe S. Yalong and senior vice president and Head of GMA Integrated News and GMA Regional TV and Synergy Oliver Victor B. Amoroso.
“GMA has been a remarkable storyteller showcasing the beauty and wonder of Japan to Filipino audiences,” Duavit said, citing the network’s live-action series adaptation of the iconic Japanese anime “Voltes V” as a shining example of this collaboration. “These anime stories aren’t just shows; it’s a cultural phenomenon that has captured the imagination of generations of Filipinos, and particularly the generations of ours. Through these adventures and triumphs, Voltes V has become a symbol of hope, * courage, and unity, and values that resonate deeply in our culture.”
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Congratulations to Richard Hinola for holding a successful 1st People’s Legacy Awards for persons with disabilities. Among the awardees were Jo Berry of GMA’s TV series “Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law” and Dagul Pastrana of ABS-CBN’s “Goin’ Bulilit.”
Helping him were Cris Pablo of GMA Network, Inc. as well as Nancy Deocareza of NobleLife that will participate in the July 28, 2024 Perlas ng Silangan Basketball League grand opening at Araneta Coliseum.
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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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