One mystery, eight stories

World mobile phone leader Nokia’s new smartphone N8’s hugely popular TV commercial had television viewers intrigued by a good-looking man who woke up along the Pier on Roxas Boulevard with no recollection whatsoever of what happened to him the past eight days. All viewers knew that his name was Pier Roxas and he appealed to the public, through TV and print advertisements, to help him recover his memory based on the clues left in his possession. The public responded to help Pier Roxas discover his true identity, the reason why he lost his memory, and what those clues meant.

Hundreds of participants submitted their versions of the Pier Roxas story and eight finalists were chosen to have had their versions filmed in High Definition using the Nokia N8, dubbed the world’s best entertainment smartphone. The Nokia N8, the first in the series of smartphones based on the new Symbian software, allows users to create high-quality photos and shoot HD-quality video in supreme clarity with its 12 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and Xenon flash, while also allowing them to edit photos and video on-screen. I use the N8 and swear it takes the clearest pictures!

In a special screening held at the Rockwell Power Plant Cinema, the eight Pier Roxas short films under the Nokia N8 Project geNer8 (that’s “generate”) campaign were unveiled before finalists and guests. The short film entry by 29-year-old scientific journal editor Paul Pineda won the hearts of online and text voters and judges Paul Soriano, Star columnist and award-winning director Pepe Diokno and Lilit Reyes to emerge the grand prize winner in the short filmmaking competition helmed by Nokia Philippines and Smart Gold. 

Pineda’s entry titled Phobia tells the story of Pier Roxas, who has a terrible phobia of commitment that keeps him from proposing to his girlfriend. To overcome his extreme fear of commitment, he submitted himself to a scientific experiment that allows him to forget his baseless fear but left himself with eight clues that will help him reach his goal of finally proposing to his girlfriend. Pineda won P50,000 in cash.

The seven other short films were Unanswered Question by Ray de Leon; Triple Dare by Mia Buenaventura; Hypno-Pier by Cyrus Pasamba and Glynis Lee; F8 by DK Codera; Blue Pill by Andrei Guarin; Covert Ops by Albert Torralba; and Behind the Scenes by Juanita Bantay.

Nokia Philippines head of marketing Aveline Siy said: “We are overwhelmed by the response that we received from the participants who joined and sent in their stories. From these entries, eight stories indeed stood out and now only one emerged that successfully brought to the silver screen Pier Roxas’ life in HD. But more than showcasing the latest technology from Nokia, these films are a celebration of the creativity of Filipinos.”

Running for a cause

Students, administrators and friends of San Sebastian College-Recoletos (SSC-R) see running as a healthy hobby as well as a vehicle to positively transform the lives of others. Recently, they launched the first ever Stags Run 2011, a running event aimed at raising funds for SSC-R’s local and overseas missionary works and charity events.

Running and fitness enthusiasts can choose to join any of the following race categories: 3K, 5K and 10K this Sunday, Jan. 16 at the SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City. Those interested can register by logging on to www.sscrmnl.edu.ph and download the application form. The race fee is P500 and participants get a singlet and bib number. 

SSC-R vice president for academics Fr. Leander Barrot, OAR says, “Funds collected from Stags Run 2011 will go a long way towards helping the Recollect missions in Sierra Leone, Africa. We have already started significant changes to benefit the different areas in Kamabai by establishing eight chapels, three new schools, 22 deep wells, four houses for volunteers, dental chairs and medical aid to thousands of Africans as well as free education for the youth.”

Fr. Barrot adds that in Kamalu, Kamaranka, Rogbin and Kamawuni, the Recollect missions have already provided 39 centers with 12 catechumens and two volunteer catechists in order to serve 3,000 Catholics. These areas were presented with 43 primary schools with 120 teachers and three secondary schools with over 30 teachers. Locally, SSC-R is active in its Social Outreach Foundation, Inc. (SOFI), where students visit adopted communities, to conduct spiritual, social and educational programs. SOFI also shares material resources to the needy as it participates in personalized services for the sick and the disabled. It also offers scholarships and tutorials to poor but deserving students, as well as income-generating livelihood seminar.

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(For more details, call the race secretariat at 734-8931 local 204 or e-mail [email protected])

Chinese brushstrokes

In celebration of the Chinese New Year, Chinese Brushstrokes, in partnership with Shangri-La Plaza, welcomes the Year of the Rabbit with a Chinese painting exhibit by the Chan Lim family and Chinese Brushstrokes members. This will be held in the Grand Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall with the opening on Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. The exhibit will run until Feb. 4.

Chinese Brushstrokes members will be doing a live painting session on Jan. 30 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. A free Chinese painting workshop will also be conducted on Jan. 30 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Interested parties may register at Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Customer Service, Level 1.

To get a preview of the works, check out these two photos above, one by Dr. Alex Chan Lim and the other by my good friend Vicky Zubiri.