Aga may commitment sa mga deaf

Back to bold si Joyce Jimenez via Ang Galing Galing Mo Babes with Albert Martinez under Imus Productions. Pero tulad ng first bold movie niyang Scorpio Nights 2 with Albert din, nagkaroon din sila ng problema sa Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. Ilang beses din kasing na-X ang kanilang trailer. Pero as of presstime, na-approved na ang trailer nila. "We’re willing to compromise naman basta alam lang namin kung anong gusto ng MTRCB," said Direk Ed Palmos na nagbabalik after four years of absence sa paggawa ng pelikula.

Pakiramdam ni Direk Palmos, kulang sa communication between them kaya nagkaroon sila ng problema sa MTRCB na later on ay ni-rate ng R-18.

Anyway, hindi naman pala totally nawala si Direk Palmos dahil during the time na pahinga siya sa pelikula, nagtuturo naman siya sa graduate school ng PUP. Nagla-landscape rin siya na noon pa niya gustong gawin.

Last movie niya ang Karinyosa starring Daisy Reyes. At sa kanyang comeback movie, nagka-problema agad siya. "Talagang makikipag-away ako sa MTRCB. Saka siguro naman pag nakita nilang wala ng Magnatech at wala nang nagta-trabaho sa LVN, mari-realize nilang wala ng industriya," he said. May mga ilang eksena kasi sa pelikula na pakiramdam niya ay hindi puwedeng tanggalin - "like butt exposure because it’s integral part of the movie."

Pero sa part ni Joyce, willing siyang pa-cut ang ilang scene nila ni Albert although nanghihinayang siya. "Kasi mahirap ‘yung scene, tapos hindi pala puwedeng panoorin."

Going back to Direk Palmos, definitely mas malaki ang magiging problema niya sa next project niya sa Imus Productions pa rin. Sa title pa lang - X-Rated baka mag-protesta na ang mga reviewer ng MTRCB. "Kuwento ‘to ng mga pene actress na ngayon ay matatanda na," he said. Kasama rin dito si Ruby Moreno na malaki ang role sa Ang Galing Galing Mo Babes. "Marami kasing sobrang footages sa Ang Galing Galing... at puwedeng gawan ng isa pang movie."

Hindi kasi ini-expect ni Direk na ganoon kasikat si Ruby sa Japan. One time nga raw kasama siya ni Ruby sa Japanese Film Festival, lahat nang nakakita sa kanila, nagpapa-authograph sa actress.

Pero there was a time na nabalita na nagtatago si Ruby dahil sa utang sa Japan. Pero it looks like hindi ‘yun totoo base sa kuwento ni Direk Palmos.

At any rate, tuloy ang showing ng Ang Galing Galing Mo Babes sa original playdate on July 31.

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Naospital ang kambal nina Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzales - Atasha and Andres dahil sa lagnat. Ayon kay Aga, si Atasha ang unang nilagnat, pero since magkasama ang dalawa sa room, nahawa si Andres. Pero ngayon daw, okey na ang dalawa.

At kahit may fever ang kambal, nag-attend pa rin ang actor ng 1st Case Conference on Mainstreaming Deaf Youths na may theme na "Reflections of Facilitating Deaf Training and Employment" na dinaluhan ng Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Ruth Pearce, AusAID Counsellor Peter Smith, DOLE Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman, STEAMDPFI Executive Director Rose Vergara, managers from Jollibee Foods Corporations and representatives from the deaf community.

Bilang honarary chairman ng Special Training, Employment, Advocacy and Management for Deaf Persons Foundation, Inc. (STEAMDPFI), nag-share si Aga ng ilang bagay tungkol sa foundation at kung paano nila natutulungan ang mga deaf. "Traditionally, the disabled society has been treated as objects of charity: left to the care of institutions, subject to public dole-outs and perpetually the objects of pity. The situation is particularly severe for the deaf, who are at least visibly but are in fact the second largest group - around 4.5 million people - of persons with disability (deaf) in this country. Like most disabled, they have been marginalized, their potential contributions to society ignored and wasted. This is because of the belief by many people that the deaf are incapable of anything but the most menial tasks," sabi ni Aga sa kanyang speech.

Sinabi ni Aga na hindi naniniwala ang STEAMDPFI sa ganoong paniniwala. Base sa kanilang pananaw, nawalan lang sila ng hearing, pero katulad ng karamihan sa atin, normal din silang tao. "They have talents and interacting with them proves that their needs are not extravagant but simple. They need respect and dignity, and the opportunity to develop themselves into productive members of society’s mainstream, either as workers or entrepreneur. Those who have employed deaf persons have generally found them to be very loyal and dedicated," he added.

Kaya umapela si Aga sa mga business establishment na mag-open for employent of the deaf. "There are jobs that the deaf can do very well, as we have seen from the STEAMDPFI experience. The deaf are not asking for pity or for dole-outs, but for the opportunity to contribute positively to society instead of being burdens to it. Given the proper training and management, they will prove themselves to be assets to your business."

Tanging Jollibee Foods Corporation and Wendy’s ang nagha-hire ng deaf employees sa kasalukuyan.

Sana nga pakinggan ng mga business establishment - na bigyan ng chance ang mga deaf na magkaroon ng job. May mga advantages actually. Like hindi puwedeng makipag-tsismisan ang mga deaf person kaya tuloy-tuloy ang trabaho nila. Hindi rin sila puwedeng magkuwento in case na may confidential sa isang office.

Nagsisimula pa lang ang STEAMFPFI sa kanilang commitment na makatulong sa deaf community.