Donna, naga-adjust bilang writer

Nag-a-adjust ngayon bilang writer sa Cebu si Donna Cruz-Larrazabal.

Two Sundays ago, nagsimula na siyang magsulat for The Freeman, one of the biggest local paper sa Cebu na kamakailan lang ay nag-celebrate ng 87th anniversary.

Kwento ng manager ni Ms. Donna na si Ms. Shirley Kuan, sinasabi rin ni Donna na naga-adjust siya sa pagsusulat ng column niya titled Pieces of Donna, which comes out every Sunday in the entertainment section.

Sa kanyang maiden column sa The Freeman, nakwento ni Donna ang kanyang simula sa Cebu after she got married kay Dr. Yong Larrazabal na ikinabigla in a way ng showbiz.

"It has been exactly seven years, ten months and 14 days when I came home to Cebu as a young bride to my husband, Yong," she wrote sa kanyang column.

Although aminado siyang sa simula, nahirapan siyang mag-adjust, naging madali naman sa kanya dahil naging napakabuti ng pamilya ni Yong at sa pagiging warm ng mga Cebuano. "The day Yong and I arrived in Cebu from our honeymoon from Hawaii, we went to her house (her mother in law) she immediately corrected me when I called her "tita" and said "O bakit tita pa, mommy na dapat." Do’n niya naramdaman na very much welcome siya.

At mas nakumpleto ang nararamdaman nang magkaanak na sila ni Yong - si Belle who’s six years old now and Cian, now three years old.

"Who would not like living in Cebu? The traffic is not that bad, the people are very warm and friendly, the food is great and cheap, and everything is so near, the beaches are beautiful and the weather is great! It is indeed a great place to raise a family," she added.

Ngayon ay natupad sa Cebu ang marami niyang pangarap. Matagal na niyang pangarap na maka-graduate ng college at dito ‘yun natupad. In September 2003, she graduated - Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Siya na ang naka-create ng official website ng kanyang husband.

Sa Cebu din niya nakita ang dalawa niyang kaibigan na sina Arlyne and Carla.

Masaya na ang buhay ni Donna sa Cebu ngayon. Malayo sa intriga at higit sa lahat, masaya sa piling ng kanyang pamilya.

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Si President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ang tumawag sa Department of Budget para i-approve ang P25 million film fund ayon sa source. Kaya naman, madali itong na-approved at kung magiging maganda ang nasabing project, malamang na mas malaki pa ang ire-release ng gobyerno sa film industry. "It’s a big boost for the film industry," sabi ni Rolando "Jacky" Atienza, chairman ng Film Development Council of the Philippines. "We will use the money in co-production ventures. The amount of investment shall be up to forty percent of the total project cost and should not exceed P5 million," paliwanag ni Mr. Atienza na isa sa pinakamasipag na entertainment official sa kasalukuyan.

Ang National Artist for Film na si Eddie Romero ang chairman ng selection committee ng mga film companies na maga-avail ng film fund.

Priority ng Film Development Council ang mga movie outfits na hindi nagpo-produced ng 35 mm sa loob ng isang taon. Marami-rami ring film outfits ito kung tutuusin. "Active producers, however, who have better scripts will also be considered," dagdag pa ni Mr. Atienza.

Si Ms. Digna Santiago ng Premiere Films naman ang naatasan para maging head ng monitoring committee ng nasabing project.

Ayon naman kay Christine Dayrit, Vice Chair of the Film Fund, kailangan munang i-approve ang script, director and cast before they can ink an agreement with the producer. "We also have to make sure that the film will be commercially viable," say pa ni Ms. Christine na chairperson din ng Cinema Evaluation Board and the International Film Festival Commission.

Sa September ang target date ng FDCP para sa kanilang first three projects. Upon approval of the funding, ang mapipiling film outfits should start shooting sa loob ng six weeks. "Recovery of the FDCP investment shall be through the assignment of local and international ancillary rights including video, free TV and cable TV," sabi ni Mr. Atienza.

Kukuha rin ang FDCP ng 25 percent sa kikitain ng pelikula sa takilya.

Para sa mga producer na interested, please call Ms. Christine Dayrit, at unit 1001-1002 Pacific Center Condominium #33 San Miguel Ave. Ortigas Centers, Pasig City, with telephone nos. 6332204, 6329512, telefax no. nos. 6382739 and 6346984. Puwede rin kayong mag-log-on at www.filmdevcouncil.com

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Salve V. Asis’ e-mail: [email protected]