Int’l celebrities who care for the Phl

Let’s not bid the old year goodbye without acknowledging the good-heartedness and kindness of international celebrities who took time to ask for support for and actually visited the survivors of Yolanda in Tacloban (just like many local celebrities), among them:

• One Direction who led a telethon in UK that raised 35M pounds.

• Paul Walker who died in a car crash minutes after he hosted a fund-raising event in California for his Reach Out Worldwide Foundation.

• Alicia Keys who visited kid survivors and gave them toys and school paraphernalia at an evacuation center in Villamor Airbase before she performed at her second concert in the country.

• Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra (who is half-Filipino) and hardcourt superstar Pau Gasul who appeared in a UNICEF appeal to raise funds for the victims.

• Justin Bieber who flew to Tacloban and played basketball with kiddie victims.

• Power couple David and Victoria Beckham (who auctioned their clothes and shoes).

• Allan Pineda (apl.de.ap) who went to Tacloban personally.

• David Pomeranz who held a free concert at the Rizal Park to encourage the audience to give whatever they could.

There were others and to them…Thank you and may your tribe increase!

More Pinoy int’l filmfest awardees

Here are more Filipino talents who shone in 2013 international filmfests (also compiled by Celso De Guzman Caparas):

• Oros (The Coinbearer) by Paul Sta. Ana, Best Feature, 14th DC Independent Film Festival, Washington, USA, March 10; and Honorable Mention Best Narrative Feature, 7th Landlocked Film Festival, Iowa City, USA, Aug. 18;

• Mamay Umeng by Dwein Baltazar, Woosuk Award for Best Picture, 15th International Film Festival, South Korea, May 3.

• Thy Womb by Brillante Mendoza, Special Mention Jury Prize Alhambra de Oro, 7th Cines del Sur-Festival de Granada, Spain, June 15. (Note: Mendoza won two Best Director Awards and a Special Mention for the same movie in 2012 in Australia and Italy.)

• Nuwebe by Joseph Israel Laban, Special Mention Citation, 4th Internacional de Cine de Puebla, Mexico, Oct. 5; and Youth Jury’s Mention of Honor, 3rd Festival Internacional Lume de Cinema, Brazil, Dec. 1.

• Transit by Hannah Espia, Special Mention (New Current Awards), 18th Busan International Film Festival, South Korea, Oct. 12; and Student Jury Prize, 14th Tokyo FILMeX, Japan, Dec. 1.

Passing notes on MMFF

 Three cheers to KC Concepcion for her all-consuming, derring-do performance in Boy Golden in which you see not KC the daughter of Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion, but KC the dancer (her role). No offense to Sharon but at KC’s age, she didn’t do such an indelible performance and, because she was caged in a wholesome image, couldn’t and wouldn’t have done it. At the rate she’s going, KC might surpass her parents’ acting record. Keep up the good work, KC!

 And why should Maricel Soriano return her Best Actress Award (for Girl Boy Bakla Tomboy) as a basher has been texting everybody? Maricel didn’t ask for it, the judges gave it to her and the judges’ decision is final and irrevocable. To the bashers, here’s Maricel’s manager Shirley Kuan: “Bakit, sino ba dyan ang gusto ng second-hand award? Naka-sealed na ang trophy ni Maricel. Tulungan na lang nila si Maricel na maka-Hall of Fame para may chance na silang manalo ng Best Actress.” Taray, ‘no? Hahaha!!!

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