Allen Dizon wins again for ‘Magkakabaung’

The indie film “Magkakabaung” (The Coffin Maker) which has Allen Dizon in the title role continues to make waves and garner accolades not only in the Philippines but also in film festivals abroad.

Allen just won the best actor award at the 3rd Silk Road Film Festival which was held in Dublin, Ireland last Sunday evening, with the movie directed by Jason Paul Laxamana also winning best picture.

He has won quite a number of best actor trophies for his role of a coffin maker who accidentally killed his daughter after administering the wrong medicine to her. If we are not mistaken, he has won six awards for “Magkakabaung,” three of which are from international festivals. Locally, he won at the MMFF New Wave Section last December and also from Gawad Tanglaw and Pasado Awards.

And just last Saturday, he snagged another best actor trophy at the Sinag Maynila Film Festival for the movie “Imbisibol” directed by Lawrence Fajardo.

His manager Dennis Evangelista happily shared in his Facebook account the latest triumphs of the actor who can be called as the most-awarded indie actor to date.

“The winning streak of Allen Dizon is unstoppable. After winning best actor unexpectedly at the 1st Sinag Maynila Film Festival for his performance in Lawrence Fajardo’s ‘Imbisibol,’ I got this great news that Allen won best actor and our film ‘Magkakabaung’ (The Coffin Maker) directed by Jason Paul Laxamana bagged the best film at the recently concluded 3rd Silk Road Film Festival held in Dublin, Ireland. Proud Filipino!!!” was Dennis’ post on his Facebook.

Before he left for Ireland, Allen was able to talk to some members of the press and said he didn’t expect the good things coming his way. “But I really worked hard for the movies that I have done and getting recognized for my work is an inspiration for me. There is no such thing as overnight success. And I’m glad that my efforts are paying off,” he said.

Allen personally accepted the award in a gala ceremony held in The Sugar Club. He bested Sofi Jikan (“Men Who Save The World”), Iwase Ryo (“Midsummers Fantasia”), Mohammad Javad Ezzati (“Angels Descend Together”) and Gerard Depardieu (“The Voice of Steppe”).

This is Allen’s third international best actor award for the same film after the 3rd Hanoi (Vietnam) and 9th Harlem (New York) international film festivals last year.

It feels good to win awards for it’s an affirmation of a job well done. It adds prestige and honor, not only to the actor but to the country as well if the award came from abroad. But is also sweet to win awards that came from your fellow Filipinos. And we are sure that Allen is wishing to be recognized by other award-giving bodies here in the country.

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Kids and kids-at-heart now have more reasons to love the PLDT Home Telpad. The world’s first and only landline, tablet and broadband in one is now an official digital hub for Disney Interactive, following a groundbreaking partnership that will give PLDT Home subscribers access to an extensive array of digital content featuring well-loved Disney stories.

With Disney on the PLDT Home Telpad, children will surely find creative ways to not let it go as they explore the exciting digital worlds of Cinderella, Queen Elsa, Mickey Mouse, the Avengers and Luke Skywalker, among other Disney favorites.

Kids and even adults can play games as two premium games are automatically available each month to subscribers who will upgrade to a Disney package. Kids will surely enjoy movie spin-off games like the Frozen Free Fall and Toy Story Smash It.

They can also read stories through the interactive e-books. Relive the magical moments of all-time favorite Disney Princesses in its classic collection of fairy tales.

To bring the Disney experience to life, subscribers who upgrade also get limited edition Disney-themed skins for their Telpad which come in a DIY application kit. This DIY activity will definitely make for a great bonding activity at home. Subscribers can choose from regularly updated batch of skins featuring well-loved characters such as Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and Avengers.

Even celebrity moms Danica Sotto-Pingris and LJ Moreno-Alapag can attest to how Disney on the PLDT Home Telpad is keeping their young ones entertained at home.

“Our favorite bonding activity is to play games on Telpad,” said Danica. “Marc and I are confident that the kids are playing with kid-friendly and educational games so we’re really glad that there’s Disney on Telpad.”

For LJ’s young brood, the Telpad adds fun and excitement to bed time, with its wide selection of Disney stories to choose from. “Bed time has become extra special for us. Even Jimmy listens to the stories.”

Log on to www.pldthome. com/telpad to enjoy the Disney experience.

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Coco Martin says he is kind of worried of the chances of “You’re My Boss,” his first movie with Toni Gonzaga, when it opens in cinemas on April 4 (Black Saturday). Doing a rom-com is something new for the award-winning actor who is noted for his dramatic portrayals. Besides, Toni is coming from the blockbuster movie “Starting Over,” the top-grossing film where she was paired with Piolo Pascual. It was the biggest hit of 2014.

“I will be very happy if ‘You’re My Boss’ makes money kasi para hindi naman nakakahiya kay Toni,” said Coco of their film that marks his first time to work with box-office director Antoinette Jadaone (who was at the helm of ‘That Thing Called Tadhana,’ the highest grossing indie film to date).

“I am nervous because baka mag-fail ang movie sa box-office pero we are all praying that we will have a hit. Masaya lang kami sa set at ayaw namin isipin ang pressure. We are doing everything to make sure that ‘You’re My Boss’ is going to be worth the money you will pay,” added Coco.

“So whatever it takes to make this movie a big hit, I will do it. Even if I need to remove my clothes, no problem with me,” said Coco who did several sexy movies in the indie film circuit. So even he loses sleep in the process or has to bare himself, for the sake of “You’re My Boss,” Coco is willing to take the risk.

For her part, Toni said that working with Coco was part of her bucket list. She was even the one who presented her movie concept to Star Cinema and told them it is Coco whom she wants as her leading man, to which the actor readily agreed.

And with Direk Antoinette behind the camera, there is no room for failure. Black Saturday is a very good playdate and Star Cinema has proven this many times in the past.