Vilma Santos topbills indie film “Ekstra: The Bit Player”

All roads lead to the Cultural Center of the Philippines on Sunday when the much-talked about “Ekstra: The Bit Player,” topbilled by no less than the Star for All Seasons and Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto holds its gala premiere.

We heard that a lot of celebrities, including the stars who appeared in the movie like Piolo Pascual, Marian Rivera, Cherry Pie Picache, Cherie Gil, Richard Yap, among others, had been invited to the premiere so we expect a star-studded event when “Esktra: The Bit Player” is finally presented to the public.

Directed by Jeffrey Jeturian (of the award-winning “Kubrador” and “Foster Child”), “Ekstra: The Bit Player” is the first ever indie film project of Gov. Vi  who had long express her desire to do an indie film but could not find a good script that appeals to her until “Ekstra” came along and she fell in love with the story. The film was shot for 12 days while Gov. Vi was also busy with the campaign trail, giving up her Saturdays for the chance to do this project with Direk Jeffrey.

Gov. Vi was elated with the overwhelming response that the trailer of “Ekstra” received when it was uploaded on the Internet. This made her even more nervous and she even requested her producer, Atty. Joji Alonso if it is possible for her to have a private screening of “Ekstra” before the film is presented at Cinemalaya. We don’t know if Gov. Vi’s request was granted but we do know that there is a mad clamor for tickets.

According to the official Facebook page of “Ekstra,” there are only two screenings of Ekstra in Cinemalaya. There are few tickets left for balcony seats on the gala night on Sunday at 6 p.m. Unfortunately, the cp number posted on the Ekstra FB page is allegedly not working or the one holding the cp is not answering the calls.

In case you miss “Ekstra: The Bit Player” at the Cinemalaya, it will have its theatrical run on August 14 to be released by Star Cinema. It will be shown in more than a hundred theaters nationwide.

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Senator Loren Legarda, in partnership with SM Cinemas, on Wednesday led the launch and special screening at the Podium Cinema 2 of  “Ligtas”, an instructional video on disaster preparedness, which she produced and was directed by internationally-acclaimed filmmaker Brillante Mendoza.

Sen. Legarda, the United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, said that “Ligtas” aims to give valuable instructions and precautionary information to families and communities during typhoons, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis.

“Most natural hazards turn into disasters because of the lack of preparedness. This instructional video aims to inform everybody what to do before, during and after a natural hazard occurs. This is the audio-visual version of the Disaster Preparedness and First Aid Handbook,” she explained.

“This video is part of my continuing advocacy to educate our people on disaster prevention and preparedness and increase awareness on climate change and dangers it poses to the community and the need for the public to adapt,” she added.

“Ligtas” is Sen. Legarda’s second team up with Direk Mendoza, the first being “Buhos,” a documentary that explains the science of climate change and the impact on everyday lives.

“Ligtas” will be shown for free in SM Cinemas all over the country. You may also get a copy of the video once it is uploaded on You Tube and you may share it so that more people could get vital information that would be of great help in times of emergencies.

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It’s confirmed: Ogie Alcasid is no longer a Kapuso and will soon be a Kapatid, pending his signing a contract with his new home, TV5.

GMA 7, thru Mr. Butch S. Raquel, consultant on GMA Corporate Communications has issued a statement which reads:

"As Ogie Alcasid moves on to explore new grounds, GMA Network, his home for almost two decades, wishes him all the best. We thank him for being a part of the Network's success all these years.

His achievements as a singer, songwriter, comedian, host and actor make Ogie the icon that he is now. And the Kapuso Network is proud to have been with him throughout this journey."

There was no bad blood in the parting as Ogie formally talked to his former bosses to make “paalam.” In good faith, GMA expressed their intention to help promote Ogie’s forthcoming 25th anniversary concert even if it’s not yet sure if GMA would be the carrying station of the event.