Coming Soon: ABS-CBN's "Habang May Buhay"

With Claudine Barretto leaving the Kapamilya network, Judy Ann Santos is now unrivaled as ABS-CBN's rightful "Teleserye Queen." Juday returns to primetime drama via "Habang May Buhay," the Philippines' first nurse-serye which airs in the first quarter of 2010.

"Biyaheng Lupa" showing on December 2

After writing Cannes-nominated films Serbis and Kinatay and supervising a horde of other internationally acclaimed indie movies, Armando “Bing” Lao brings us his first directorial film Biyaheng Lupa, an ambitious chronicling of the Filipino subconscious during a bus trip from Manila to Bicol. On board as passengers are Pinoy cinema’s finest actors: Jaclyn Jose, Julio Diaz, Allan Paule, Angel Aquino, Shamaine Buencamino, Andoy Ranay, and Mercedes Cabral. And to complete the film’s stellar cast there’s “Tayong Dalawa”’s Coco Martin, Bench Model Search winner Carlo Guevarra, and Kimmy Dora star Eugene Domingo.

While Bing Lao is known for having mastered the “real time mode” in filmmaking, he breaks new ground for Filipino cinema as he employs the “poetic time mode” thru the stream-of-consciousness device in Biyaheng Lupa. In the film, we hear the passengers’ thoughts and thus partake in their subtle comedies, hidden dramas, and personal tragedies.

This is not another film on sex or poverty and definitely not your ordinary road movie. Combining mainstream charm with high art, Biyaheng Lupa is all at once a portrait of the Filipino in his many struggles that are too familiar and real.

Produced by Quantum Films, the movie won the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Cinemanila International Film Festival. The public now has a chance to witness this unique film experience—and to especially watch for its seat-bracing, controversial ending—as Biyaheng Lupa holds its commercial run in SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM Cebu, Gateway, Glorietta 4, Robinsons Galleria, and Robinsons Ermita on December 2.

Teaser: ABS-CBN's "Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo"

In celebration of the Philippines' 60th year of soap opera, ABS-CBN brings its most star-studded teleserye for 2010, Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo.

Efren Penaflorida is CNN's Hero of the Year

Pinoy pushcart educator named CNN Hero of the Year

Call for Entries: ANC's amBisyon2010

In amBisyon2010, the ABS-CBN News Channel brings together twenty independent filmmakers who will tackle their version of the state of the nation. Corruption, Democracy, Economy Education, Environment, Health, Justice and Human Rights, Population, Poverty and Security: these are the issues that will determine who will take on the national leadership in the elections of 2010.

This is ANC's answer to the uncertainties and promises of the 2010 elections. The twenty short films to be produced under amBisyon will be about the dreams of a nation, about hope, possibility, truth—through the lenses of those who tell its stories.

Each filmmaker receives a shoestring grant of thirty thousand to produce a short film (four to eight minutes long) on one of the ten issues. ANC intends to show the 20 short films in a theater premiere at the opening of the 2010 campaign season.

In the following weeks, ANC will air four one-hour specials, each featuring five of the short films with interviews of filmmakers, as well as interviews with veteran journalist Cheche Lazaro on ANC's media affairs show Media in Focus.

Fifteen of these filmmakers represent some of the most powerful and distinct voices of Philippine independent cinema. Many have seen their work celebrated in film festivals all over the world. Many too have offered their lenses to various advocacies. AmBisyon2010 is the latest of a long tradition of artists declaring their stake in the national interest.

Five slots are open for competition, and will be selected by a panel to be announced on December. We encourage filmmakers, amateur and professional alike, to send in their entries for the chance to be part of the film community's voice in 2010. The five will receive the same production grant, and will premiere in both theater and television with interviews on ANC's various platforms.

For those interested, send in your CV, your concept for a short film based on your 2010 vision, and a link to your film reel to amBisyon2010@abs-cbnnews.com. Deadline is DECEMBER 7.

Or visit amBisyon2010's official site.

(amBisyon2010 concept by Paolo Villaluna and Emmanuel Dela Cruz)

5th CinemaOne Originals Digital Film Festival

Now celebrating its 15 years of leadership in the movie cable viewing landscape, Cinema One has enflamed its winning streak since its inception in 1994.

Continuing its 15th grand anniversary since this May, Cinema One has gone back through the history of featured movies and program blocks that reminisced the most memorable movie scenes! It has led everyone down memory lane for the most talked about movie dialogues and immortalized characters and inspired every movie fan with the most popular love teams.

This November, Cinema One continues with the highly anticipated 2009 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival as it kicks off on November 13 to 17 at the Gateway Cineplex Cinema at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City with its five finalists : Si Baning Si Maymay at ang Asong Si Bobo, Bala Bala, Paano Ko Sasabihin, Wanted:Border and Maximus & Minimus.

Here's the festival program schedule of the 2009 Cinema One Originals Digital Movie Festival:

CINEMA ONE ORIGINALS 2009
FESTIVAL PROGRAM

November 13, Friday

11:50 AM YANGGAW Best of Cinema One Originals
2:00 PM DEAR HEART Tribute to Philippine Cinema Original:
DANNY ZIALCITA
4:30 PM KINATAY Tribute to Philippine Cinema Original: Brillante
Mendoza
7:00 PM MAXIMUS & MINIMUS Premiere, Official Entry
9:20 PM WANTED: BORDER Premiere, Official Entry

November 14, Saturday

12:30 PM DOSE Best of Cinema One Originals
2:30 PM GAANO KADALAS ANG MINSAN? (Tribute to Philippine Cinema
Original: DANNY ZIALCITA)
5:00 PM SI BANING, SI MAYMAY, AT ANG ASONG SI BOBO
Premiere, Official Entry
7:30 PM PAANO KO SASABIHIN?
Premiere, Official Entry
9:15 PM BALA BALA
Premiere, Official Entry

November 15, Sunday

2:30 PM NAGALIT ANG BUWAN SA HABA NG GABI
Tribute to Philippine Cinema Original: DANNY ZIALCITA
5:00 PM SERBIS
Tribute to Philippine Cinema Original: Brillante Mendoza
7:30 PM LOLA
Tribute to Philippine Cinema Original: Brillante Mendoza
9:55 PM MAXIMUS & MINIMUS Official Entry

November 16, Monday

12:30 PM TAMBOLISTA Best of Cinema One Originals
2:30 PM PALABRA DE HONOR
Tribute to Philippine Cinema Original: DANNY ZIALCITA
5:00 PM TIRADOR
Tribute to Philippine Cinema Original: Brillante Mendoza
7:15 PM WANTED: BORDER Official Entry
9:10 PM PAANO KO SASABIHIN? Official Entry

November 17, Tuesday

12:15 PM ALTAR Best of Cinema One Originals
2:00 PM BAKIT MANIPIS ANG ULAP?
Tribute to Philippine Cinema Original: DANNY ZIALCITA
4:30 PM MASAHISTA
Tribute to Philippine Cinema Original: Brillante Mendoza
5:50 PM HIMPAPAWID Special Screening
8:00 PM BALA BALA Official Entry
9:50 PM SI BANING, SI MAYMAY, AT ANG ASONG SI BOBO
Official Entry

Movie Ticket Price: P120.00

For block screenings and discounts, please contact Jeng Encabo at jeng.encabo@gmail.com or PM us.

Awarding ceremonies on Nov 15 Sunday at 4pm Dolphy Theater Studio 1 ABS-CBN Main Building

NBDB celebrates Pinoy literature this month

This November is all about our talented Pinoy writers, and the publishers of these talented Pinoy writers! Join the National Book Development Board (NBDB) in a month-long celebration of Philippine Book Development Month. If you haven't picked up a Pinoy book recently it's about time you know that ang GALING PINOY, ay dapat BASAHIN!

I. The Writers, Their Works

How to Read… the next generation: A series of readings and intimate talks with young writers in the context of their literary genres and specific works

Venue: Filipinas Heritage Library

1. For poetry (November 10, 9am)
Featuring: Conchitina Cruz, Mikael Co, Mesandel Arguelles, and Joel Toledo
Moderator: Gémino Abad

2. For fiction (November 11, 1pm)
Featuring: Tara FT Sering, Edgar Samar, Dean Alfar, Angelo Lacuesta
Moderator: Jose Dalisay

3. For non-fiction (November 12, 9am)
Featuring: Luis Katigbak, Vlad Gonzales, Rica Bolipata Santos, Louie Cano, Carljoe Javier
Moderator: Antonio Hidalgo

II. Reading Nick Joaquin (November 16, 2009)

A discussion of Nick Joaquin as historian, novelist, poet and his contributions to the literary art form and the Filipino way of life.

1. NJ and his non-fiction
A lecture by fictionist Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo

2. NJ and his poetry
A lecture by poet Afred Yuson

3. Transforming NJ's works into film
(Lecturer to be announced)

4. A film viewing of NJ's work turned into a movie
Tentaive Venue: Greenbelt 3's My Cinema

III. Global Pinoy Literature (November 24, 5pm)

Coffee and conversation with three Man Asian Literary Prize winner / finalists Miguel Syjuco, Jose Dalisay, and Alfred Yuson and Gémino Abad, recipient of the Prize Premio Feronia – Citta di Fiano 2009.

Venue: Filipinas Heritage Library, by invitation only
Moderator: Isagani Cruz

IV. El Filibusterismo (November 25, 2009)

A sequel to the reading of Noli Me Tangere, the El Filibusterismo performance reading will be a showcase of talent from different fields of the art as artists and celebrity performers read / perform chapters of this historic and tumultous novel.

Venue: Greenbelt Park

V. Pinoy Story Writing Contest

A month-long story writing contest open to all writers, focusing on specific topics such as Pinoy romance, chick lit, horror fiction, literary fiction. Four winners will be selected and will be awarded P15,000 to be announced during the Books and Art Festival at the Greenbelt Park . Winners also have a chance of being published by Precious Pages, Summit Books, Anvil and PsiCom.

VI. Books and Art Festival (November 23 to 26)

A festival that will showcase the best of Filipino literature and art in one venue. For five days, Greenbelt becomes a haven for artists (literary and visual) and art lovers where they will get to experience this unique mixture of the arts at the heart of the city.

VII. Writing about Philippine Culture, Art, and Food (November 7 to 8 2009)

An overnight adventure for those who want to sample the native culture of Southern Luzon . This will involve a tour to local art galleries, native restaurants, and Ugu Bigyan's pottery shop.

VIII. Davao Academic Publishing Seminar (November 19 to 21, 2009)

An academic publishing conference for Mindanao-based publishers and universities, with Google's Erik Hartmann, De La Salle's Dr. Isagani Cruz, UP Press' Dr. Luisa Camagay, and ADMU Press' Maricor Baytion among others.

Venue: Ateneo De Davao University
IX. Tulaan sa Tren 2 launch

The much-loved Tulaan sa Tren is back with more poems and the winners of the Tulaan sa Tren 2 Poetry Contest, judged by no less than the country's top poets National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera, Feronia Prize winner Gemino Abad, and Man Asian Literary Prize finalist Krip Yuson.

Venue: The LRT2 Cubao Station, by invitation

For details, visit www.nbdb.gov.ph!

Kapamilya Christmas station I.D. 2009

Cathy enters Big Brother Finland

Videos courtesy of iABS-CBN: