Miss Universe - Philippines

Mary Jean Lastimosa, 27, PHILIPPINES !!!

or it could be:

Mary Jean Lastimosa, Tulunan, North Cotabato, PHILIPPINES !!!

Im sure madaming sangkabadingan ang magffile ng leave sa office para mapanood ang Miss Universe 2014 pageant sa TV on January 26 ng umaga (Philippine time).  Kulang na lang siguro magpropose ng bill ang lahat ng bakla na gawing holiday ang mga dates na may international beauty contest para mapanood nila.  In any case, inaabangan na rin talaga ang Miss Universe ngayong January.

Si MJ, as what lotsa people call her, ang magrrepresent ng PHILIPPINES sa Miss U sa Florida ngayong taon.  Alam naman ng lahat na 3 times siya sumali sa Bb. Pilipinas: nanalo as isa sa mga runner up sa unang sabak, nagfeeling, sumali ulet, umuwing luhaan, umulit - nagwagi!  Try and try ang peg. Nagbunga naman, in fairness.  Pero this time kaya, siya na talaga ang hinihintay na maguuwi ng 3rd Miss U crown?

Sa ngayon sumasabak na siya sa mga kung anu-anong mga activities sa Doral (Florida, USA).  There is a certain "Latina Vibe with a  twist of Asia" so to speak.  We'll never know how she will end the beauty conquest but for sure she will put up a good fight.

May chance nga kaya?

Para sa akin, hindi ko masyado naaaninag ang korona sa kanya.  Hindi ako nagpapakanega, nagsasalita lang based sa aking nararamdaman. Parang may kulang sa kanya para maiuwi ang korona.  Maganda siya, oo, pero di masyado katangkaran.  Pero ang height naman di naman yun assurance na magpapapanalo sa isang kandidata.  Facially, she has the makings of a Miss Universe - malaki ang bibig para sa isang ear-to-ear smile, makinis, pero ang mga mata niya parang hindi masyado expressive.  Parang kulang sa connection.  Based lang yan sa pictures na nakikita ko.  Then again, hindi natin masasabi kung ano ang magiging performance niya sa preliminaries at sa finals.  Importante ang magiging performance niya sa Prelims dahil dito malalaman ang pasok sa top 16 or top 12 or kung anong top man maisip ng MUO.

Kung hindi man masyado kagandahan ang performance niya sa Preliminaries, anjan ang Fan Vote that will propel her to the Semifinals.  Jan kelangan ng supporta ng buong madla na may email address.

Basta lang ba papasok siya sa Top 10 or Top 12 or Top 15, sa tingin ko makakaya na niyang makapaguwi ng isa pa ulit na Runner Up or, fingers crossed, ang Miss Universe crown.  Support support din pag may time.

Hullabaloo ng MMFF 2014 ?

The 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival movies.

I heard there were people who are not in favor of the MMFF 2014 winners. I wonder why. Bakit nga ba?!

- dahil ba di nanalo si Vice Ganda as Best Actor?
- dahil ba di rin nanalo agn Feng Shui?
- dahil maganda daw ang Benjamin movie ni Vice Ganda?

Ang iba naman nagtaka bakit nga di nanalo ang movie ni Vice at Kris Aquino when in fact both movies are reaping in the box office.

Humay Ghawd naman to the people! Such things are not really new in this country - that whoever wins are said to have won because there were polical moves or motives behind.

That winners win not for their own merit but for some behind-the-scenes action. That is such a sad feat for any winner. But then again, nobody really knows what happened behind the scenes. A lot of people over react. A lot of people claim that their favorite movie or actor/actress was robbed of the rightful award. Whew. Who are these people anyway?!

Sorry if there are people who might be offended, but, i guess, these are the people who don't think a lot and people who either do not believe or are not contented with explanations; people who are "die-hard" fans who are blinded by fanaticism and therefore do not think logically.  Hey, I am not saying I am perfect, I am logical, I am intelligent. I just happen to look at things in a different light - and shut up if need be.

The MMFF Committee and Judges have set criteria when looking at the entries. They may look at the storyline, the technicalities of the movie - from the lights, the editing, the set/production design or what have you, or maybe historical significance. The winners clearly at the calibre that may have fallen under such technical excellence among the entires this year. While some movies go for the technical aspect, some may be after the Box Office returns. In the case of Bossing, Lotus Feet and Benjamin, they have their rightful places in the Box Office. They are winners in that category. What else can the fans ask for?

Wether one agrees with me or not, some MMFF movies are really trashy, tasteless, corny - expecially the comedy movies. Yet it so hard to make people laugh (so actors may be considered for an acting award), admittedly, there are things that are just way better than making people laugh - perhaps convincing people that they are indeed living in the life that they are portraying.

In any case, the success of the MMFF 2014 is unstoppable. With or without those complaints and controversies, this film fest remains to be the only event that livens up the seemingly dying Filipino Film Industry.

MMFF2014 Winners

BIG Winners in the recently concluded MMFF 2014 Awards Night

Natapos na naman ang Metro Manila Film Festival.  Wala pa akong napapanood na movie kahit isa.  Ayan nga may mga nanalo na ng mga awards. See list below1.

• New Wave Student Short Film Special Jury Prize: Kalaw
• Best Float Award: Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo
• Youth Choice Award: Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo
• Best New Wave Film: Magkakabaung
• New Wave Best Supporting Actor:Kristopher King, Maratabat (Pride and Honor)
• New Wave Best Supporting Actress:Gloria Sevilla, M. Mother's Maiden Name
• Best New Wave Film Director: Jason Paul Laxamana, Magkakabaung 
  
• New Wave Best Actress: Zsa Zsa Padilla, M. Mother's Maiden Name
• New Wave Best Actor: Allen Dizon,Magkakabaung 
  
• New Wave Special Jury Prize: M. Mother's Maiden Name
• New Wave Best Picture: Jason Paul Laxamana, Magkakabaung
• Best Child Performer: Ryzza Mae Dizon,My Big Bossing
• Best Festival Sound Engineering: Wild Sound, Bonifacio, Ang Unang Pangulo
• Best Musical Score: Von de Guzman,Bonifacio, Ang Unang Pangulo
• Best Original Theme Song: Bonifacio, Ang Unang Pangulo
• Best Makeup: Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2
• Best Visual Effects: Mothership Inc., forKubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2
• Production Design: Ericsson Navarro,Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2
• Best Editing: Marya Ignacio, English Only, Please
• Best Cinematography: Carlo Mendoza,Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo
• Celebrity face of the night, sponsored by Erase: Nadine Lustre
• FPJ Memorial Award for Film Excellence: Bonifacio, Ang Unang Pangulo
• Best Original Story: English Only, Please
• Best Screenplay: English Only, Please
• Best Director: Dan Villegas, English Only, Please
• Best Supporting Actor: Joey Marquez,Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2
• Best Supporting Actress: Lotlot de Leon,Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2
• MFFF Highest Commemorative Award:Joseph Estrada
• Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award: Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo
• 3rd Best Picture: Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2
• 2nd Best Picture: English Only, Please
• Best Picture: Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo
• Best Actor: Derek Ramsay, English Only, Please
• Best Actress: Jennylyn Mercado, English Only, Please