Spreading the Cinema (One) word!

Having a son who’s hellbent on pursuing film studies and becoming a dictatorial film director or the most didactic of film commentators, I made the invitation of Cinema One’s Ronald Arguelles — to fly down to Cebu and attend the Cinema One Originals Festival — a welcome opportunity to see what’s happening with our local film community at the grassroots level. Held at the SM Cinemas at the sprawling Mall, and with the adjacent Radisson Blu as official hotel, the weekend was an enjoyable eye-opener — that mixed meeting old and new friends, with an impressive showcase of what the Cebu indie film community is out to accomplish, and how the whole city is ready to support its own!

The opening night was a nice mix of Cebu film school students and their professors, filmmakers and actors, and the local media and society. Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria, directed by local boy Remton Zuasola and starred by Donna Gimeno, was the first film screened for the festival. Other Visayan indie films screened included My Paranormal Romance, Confessional and Di Ingon ‘Nato. Especially flown in from Manila was Lilia Cuntapay, the renowned supporting actress of horror films, who starred in 6 Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay. Zee Lifestyle magazine’s publisher Eva Gullas and the likes of former basketball star Ramon “El Presidente” Fernandez, graced the occasion.

It was enlightening to see a diversity of support that the Cebu indie film garners, and how Cinema One is one of the leading lights in giving the film community’s efforts the recognition it fully deserves. The creativity of the Filipino filmmaker, despite meager resources, is a joy to behold — his or her storytelling prowess, the depth and talent of the actors and actresses they can tap, and how the challenges they face are just another “bump in the road.”

Island Souvenirs and Sun Cellular also gave their invaluable support to the event.

Going Med-eat-terranean at the Fort

The dining landscape here in Manila is in constant flux, with Bonifacio Global City being one of the prime areas of activity. In the last couple of weeks, dining out with my three sons has meant trying new places and finding that they now have new favorites, and we have to schedule return trips. With Mediterranean cuisine as today’s focus, two new eateries come to mind, the true Italian cuisine of Aria, and Relik Tapas Bar and Lounge, where Spanish standards are given a novel twist.

(From left) Eva Gullas, Alice Woolbright, Cinema One channel head Ronald Arguelles, Katsy Borromeo and the author Philip Cu-Unjieng.

For those who hie to Bora and seek good cuisine, Aria is a known entity; as are the names behind the eatery, Juan Elizalde and Paolo Occhionero. Along with executive chef Marino Leonardis, Juan and Paolo have brought Aria to the Fort (Boni High Central, 7th Street corner 30th Avenue). With cool interiors courtesy of Anton Mendoza, Aria maintains its sunny, relaxed ambiance, while feeling right at home with the bustling, upwardly-mobile environment that is BGC. The boys loved the spinach and mushroom pizza and gave the rolled pizza with Parma ham and tons of dripping mozzarella their collective thumbs up! The lamb cutlets were excellent; and leave room for dessert, with selections that are specialties of Chef Marino. On the day we had lunch, Bianca Araneta-Elizalde was around, making the place feel like “home” — hanging out with friends, while enjoying a great repast.

Relik can be found on the second floor of the Commerce Building (4th Street corner 31st Avenue) and has rapidly gained a reputation as a late night lounge, a favorite young society hangout. A victim of its own runaway success, the kitchen has taken a back seat, and that’s a shame. Timo Roxas-Chua and the other stockholders of Relik persuaded Benjo Tuason to leave Melbourne, and take over Relik’s kitchen — and whether for lunch or dinner, it’s really worth the visit! Among the appetizers, you have to order the mussels and chorizo, big succulent New Zealand green mussels sautéed in garlic cream (my son Matteo’s number one choice). Other immediate favorites were the baked Australian brie, wrapped in Jamon and glazed with honey, and Benny’s certified Angus, 350 g. of tender beef with burnt butter sauce. Its garlic steak rice is a “killer siding” (this according to Luca).

So that’s two new dining options for us. Exploring and trying out new places is fun again, thanks to establishments like Aria and Relik!