Favorite hymns & songs to celebrate Easter Sunday

By Leo Udtohan 

For Christians, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the assurance that God can overcome every fear we have, including death itself. The risen Christ at God the Father of All Mankind in Inabanga town, Bohol. 

“Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.” - Psalm 96:1-2

For Christians, the first witnesses to the reality of the empty tomb were women. 

Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James started early because they wanted time to cherish the memory of Jesus, who had died two days earlier.

Their journey to the tomb was motivated by love and faith they had in Jesus. 

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here..." 

Eyewitness testimony of the resurrection is the basis of faith in Jesus as Christ. 

Among Jesus' disciples, there were 500 other witnesses. And the Jewish Law of Moses required at least two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6).

God made his risen Son known first to women, and only later to the Apostles.

Women were given the honor of passing on the best news ever transmitted—Jesus is alive!!! 

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What better way to honor the sacrifice Jesus made, and celebrate the hope He offered to mankind through His sacrifice, than with songs of praise and love!

Because He Lives

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow

Because He lives, all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth a living just because He lives

Oh Happy Day

Oh happy day (Oh happy day)

When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed)

Oh when he washed (When Jesus washed)

When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed)

He washed my sins away (Oh happy day)

Oh happy day (Oh happy day)

Washed by the Blood of the Lamb

We are washed by the blood of the Son on the cross

We are washed by the blood of the Lamb

All our guilt, all our shame

Were his wounds and his pain

We are washed by the blood of the Lamb

How Great Thou Art

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Blessed Assurance

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God

Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood. 

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

Christ Is Risen! Hallelujah!

Christ is risen! Hallelujah!

Risen our victorious Head!

Sing His praises! Hallelujah!

Christ is risen from the dead.

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Passover seder 

Jews observe Passover (Pesach) around the same time as Holy Week and Easter. 

Passover begins this year on the evening of Friday, April 15, and ends on the evening of Saturday, April 23.

It retells and celebrates the story of the Israelites being freed from slavery in Egypt. It is a favorite holiday. At its heart is the seder, a special dinner with intricate ritual and meal filled with songs. 

I thank my sister Arlene who baked unleavened bread for our seder. My other sister, Rowena, also made kosher lumpia and spaghetti. 

This year's first seder night was joined by my nephews, nieces and cousins. 

And we said these prayers: 

Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

Blessed are You, G-d, our G-d, King of the universe, who, in His goodness, feeds the whole world with grace, with kindness and with mercy. Because His loving-kindness is infinite. 

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.

 

Holy Week, Passover reflections

By Leo Udtohan 

The San Antonio de Padua Chapel in Barangay Tinibgan in Calape, Bohol where it houses the miraculous image of San Anthony  of Padua, patron saint of lost and stolen articles. Photos: Leo Udtohan

The current week is holy to both Jews and Christians—the celebration of Pesach (Passover) for Jews and of Holy Week, the commemoration of Jesus’ death and resurrection, which started today, Palm Sunday.

The Holy Week and Passover would traditionally bring a time of gathering with families, friends, and faith communities.

For Christians, the week allows the faithful to commemorate the events of Jesus’ Passion, to mourn his death on Good Friday, and to celebrate his rising from the dead on Easter Sunday. 

Passover brings Jewish families together to share in the Seder, the ritual dinner that consists of storytelling of their exodus from slavery in Egypt, prayers, and symbolic food items. And appreciate their identity and heritage.

* * * 

This week, dust off your Bible and discover the words of the Lord.  There are Bible verses detailing promises and examples of God’s love and protection.

What are your favourite verses? 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. - John 3:16

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.- Jeremiah 29:11

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.- Philippians 4:19

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.- Deuteronomy 31:6

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.- First Peter 5:7

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.- Isaiah 41:10

The Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting … -Psalm 100:5

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. -Nahum 1:7

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. - Psalms 61:3

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.- Lamentations 3:22-23

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.- Proverbs 3:5-6

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.- Jeremiah 17:14

Inside the Saint Vincent Ferrer Church in Calape town, Bohol where it is a popular pilgrimage site. Photo: Leo Udtohan

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The Church said Holy Week was supposed to be a time “to be with God” in silent prayer and reflection.

VRS has picked some places to make your activities meaningful.

There are many old churches for Visita Iglesia. They provide space for meditation and prayer during Holy Week for your spiritual journey.   

You can visit the Saint Vincent Ferrer Church in Calape town. With its Gothic-style façade with sharp arches, spires, crockets, and a pediment with floral window, indeed it is a faith destination. 

In March 2020, the National Museum declared the Church Complex, and the adjoining municipal plaza as a National Cultural Treasurer. 

From the town proper, you can visit San Antonio de Padua Chapel in Barangay Tinibga. It houses the miraculous image of St. Anthony of Padua, one of the Catholic Church’s most popular saints. Saint Anthony of Padua is the patron saint of lost and stolen articles.  If you want to ask the saint, Claudata Astronomo and Billy Urbuda would assist you. 

Virgen sa Kaluoy in Calape is also a popular destination. The image of the Virgin is believed to be growing from an empty giant shell. From a mere obscure figure, the image now is very visible, showing the beautiful virgin with the giant shell in the background.

The shrine of the Madonna of the Miraculous Blessed Virgin Mary in barangay Buenavista in Carmen town was built sometime in the early 1940s. There is a concrete chapel, a spring and a souvenir shop. Spiritual recollection becomes more enhancing on top of this hill where one can look at the wide plains of Carmen and Sierra-Bullones. Don’t forget that it is holy and quiet. Burn a candle and pray.

The Village of the Compassionate God the Father in Barangay Fatima in Inabanga town provides a unique place for quiet, restful, meditative prayer during the remembrance of the final days before Jesus’ death and resurrection. There are life-size structures of the 14 Stations of the Cross with a big figure of the God the Father of All Mankind at the top of the hill. 

Krus Daku and the Statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Loboc  is one of the favorite destinations of the pilgrims during the Holy Week. A huge white cross 80 feet in height is on top of the highest hill. In the next hill, one can visit the giant image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe. Here, one can view the towns of Loay and Loboc.

The Shrine of San Pedro Calungsod in Barangay Malbog, Jagna town, is a popular pilgrimage site. It has a five-foot tall statue of Blessed Pedro Calungsod, the only statue dedicated to Pedro Calungsod in Bohol. Tourists and pilgrims pray before the statue and leave written prayers at the foot of the statue.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.

#BoholIsPink: Over 80k supporters show up for Leni-Kiko in Bohol rally

By Leo Udtohan 

Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo speaks before a crowd of about 80,000 pink-clad supporters during a campaign rally dubbed “Dilaab: Bohol People’s Rally” in Tagbilaran City, Bohol on Friday, April 1, 2022. Photo: VP Leni Robredo FB

 

 

 

 

It was not fiesta month but Boholanos on Friday, April 1, welcomed Vice President Leni Robredo and running mate Senator Kiko Pangilinan during the "Dilaab: Bohol People's Rally". 

Speaking before 80,000 people at old Tagbilaran Airport, Robredo vowed to help the province's tourism recovery and stable power supply. 

"Ngayong pandemya isa po ang turismo sa mga sektor na pinaka-apektado. At ramdam na ramdam ito ng mga Boholano. Ang nawala na kita sa probinsya dahil sa pandemya bilyun-bilyon na," said Robredo who wants a  sustainable tourism development to draw more visitors and hasten tourism recovery. 

The pandemic brought the global tourism industry to its knees last year. The sector in Bohol was not spared.

On Panglao Island, the tourism jewel of Bohol, resorts, hotels, cafes and restaurants were closed with only a handful few were operating during the pandemic.

Tourism makes up 15% of Bohol economic output. Bo­hol hosted 1.5 mil­lion for­eign and do­mes­tic tourists in 2019, with Chi­nese visi­tors lead­ing the ar­rivals, fol­lowed by Kore­ans, records from the Bo­hol Tourism Of­fice showed.

These tourists dis­ap­peared when prov­inces started clos­ing their bor­ders as strict quar­an­tine guide­lines had to be fol­lowed in March 2020 in a bid to con­trol the spread of COVID-19.

There were 85,000 tourists from January to February 2020 before the lockdown in 2020.

The provincial government created programs to lure tourists. In November 2020, Bohol reopened to local visitors who arrived by plane, ending the travel ban in hopes of reviving a lockdown-devastated tourism industry that has fed many Boholano workers in the different tourism services.

“Ang pangako ko po sa mga Boholano na palakasin at paunlarin ang buong industriya at lahat na bahagi nito-mga empleyado, mga negosyo pati komunidad mismo. Sisiguraduhin natin na turismo ay hindi lang safe kundi sustainable,” said Robredo.

Power supply remains a big problem in Bohol as brownouts are frequent in the province.

“Naalala ko ang tagal ninyo nawalan ng kuryente. Ang pangako ko po sa inyo ang Bohol personal kong tututukan ito para masiguro ang suplay ninyo bukod na sapat ito dapat lagi ninyong maaasahan,” said Robredo.

Even as a prime tourist destination, Bohol still does not have a sufficient in-island power supply and has been largely dependent on energy sources in Leyte to meet its daily power requirement.

The daily power requirement for Bohol is 90 megawatts (MW).

When a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit Leyte Province on July 6, 2017, it damaged the geothermal plants.

After Typhoon Odette hit the province on December 16, 2021, it affected the province’s power supply.

Robredo’s rally in Tagbilaran was one of the three rallies her team held in Bohol.

Earlier in the afternoon, Robredo and Pangilinan visited Jagna town where 3,000 people showed up in the rally inside the Jagna gymnasium past 1:30 p. m. 

She urged supporters to choose leaders who are “visible” not only during elections.

Robredo said she had visited Bohol for several projects through her Angat Buhay program. When Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) devastated the province last Dec. 16, 2021, she visited the province the following day and came back twice.

After Jagna, they proceeded to Talibon town for another rally. 

But it was in Tagbilaran where the crowd was at its biggest.

At least 80,000 people filled the more than half of the 1.7-kilometer long runway of the old Tagbilaran City Airport.

Robredo likened the rally to a fiesta celebration, which Boholanos would celebrate in the whole month of May.

Even before Robredo took the stage at around 8 p.m, pink-clad supporters already trooped to the venue where they watched the performances of artists such Yeng Constantino, Gab Valenciano, Sponge Cola and Ben & Ben. 

In between chants of “Leni!” and “Madam President,” Robredo thanked Boholanos for voting for her in 2016 elections. 

She won by just 283, 589 votes against her rival, former Senator Ferdinand "BongBong" Marcos Jr who had 79,729 votes. 

Bohol has 949,791 registered voters, making it 20th vote rich-vote province. 

A supporter waves the rainbow flag to celebrate LGBTQIA+ rights during the “Dilaab: Bohol People’s Rally” in Tagbilaran City, Bohol on Friday, April 1, 2022. Photo: VP Leni Robredo FB

She asked for the same support. 

"Makasalig ba ako sa maong suporta? Nga maangkon nato ang mas labaw pang kadaugan?" asked Robredo. 

Amid cheers, Robredo said she and Kiko offer a governance where people are inspired to help and contribute.

"Ang inyong yangungo atuang paminawon, kung aduna moy problema atuang sulbarun. Paningkamutan nato. Ito po ang totoong unity, hindi pagkakaisa ng mga pulitiko, kundi pagkakaisa ng mga Pilipino. Pagkakaisa ng pagmamahal, pagkakaisa ng pangarap, pagkakaisa ng pag-asa," Robredo said. 

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.

Oscars 2022: Full List of Winners

And the Oscar goes to...

During Sunday's 94th Oscars, The Academy, hosts Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes and a who's who of celebrity presenters announced this year's winner. Heading into the evening, The Power of the Dog led the Oscars pack with 12 total nominations, followed by Dune with 10.

The ceremony took place on March 27, at the Oscars' traditional home at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and airing live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.

Below, find all the winners from the 2022 Academy Awards:

Best Picture

"Belfast" (Focus Features)

A TKBC Production

Laura Berwick, Kenneth Branagh, Becca Kovacik and Tamar Thomas, Producers

"CODA" (Apple Original Films)

A Vendôme Pictures/Pathé in association with Apple Original Films Production

Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi and Patrick Wachsberger, Producers

"Don't Look Up" (Netflix)

A Netflix/Hyperobject Industries Production

Adam McKay and Kevin Messick, Producers

"Drive My Car" (Sideshow and Janus Films)

A C&I Entertainment/Culture Entertainment/Bitters End Production

Teruhisa Yamamoto, Producer

"Dune" (Warner Bros.)

A Legendary Pictures Production

Mary Parent, Denis Villeneuve and Cale Boyter, Producers

"King Richard" (Warner Bros.)

A Star Thrower Entertainment/Westbrook Production

Tim White, Trevor White and Will Smith, Producers

"Licorice Pizza" (Metro Goldwyn Mayer/United Artists Releasing)

A Ghoulardi Film Company Production

Sara Murphy, Adam Somner and Paul Thomas Anderson, Producers

"Nightmare Alley" (Searchlight)

A Double Dare You Production

Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale and Bradley Cooper, Producers

"The Power of the Dog" (Netflix)

A See-Saw Films/Bad Girl Creek/Max Films in association with Brightstar/The New Zealand Film Commission/Cross City Films/BBC Film Production

Jane Campion, Tanya Seghatchian, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning and Roger Frappier, Producers

"West Side Story" (Walt Disney)

A 20th Century Studios Production

Steven Spielberg and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers

Actor in a Leading Role

Javier Bardem in "Being the Ricardos"

Benedict Cumberbatch in "The Power of the Dog"

Andrew Garfield in "tick, tick...BOOM!"

Will Smith in "King Richard"

Denzel Washington in "The Tragedy of Macbeth"

Actor in a Supporting Role

Ciarán Hinds in "Belfast"

Troy Kotsur in "CODA"

Jesse Plemons in "The Power of the Dog"

J.K. Simmons in "Being the Ricardos"

Kodi Smit-McPhee in "The Power of the Dog"

Actress in a Leading Role

Jessica Chastain in "The Eyes of Tammy Faye"

Olivia Colman in "The Lost Daughter"

Penélope Cruz in "Parallel Mothers"

Nicole Kidman in "Being the Ricardos"

Kristen Stewart in "Spencer"

Actress in a Supporting Role

Jessie Buckley in "The Lost Daughter"

Ariana DeBose in "West Side Story"

Judi Dench in "Belfast"

Kirsten Dunst in "The Power of the Dog"

Aunjanue Ellis in "King Richard"

Animated Feature Film

"Encanto"

Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino and Clark Spencer

"Flee"

Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen and Charlotte De La Gournerie

"Luca"

Enrico Casarosa and Andrea Warren

"The Mitchells vs. the Machines"

Mike Rianda, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Kurt Albrecht

"Raya and the Last Dragon"

Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada, Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho

Cinematography

"Dune" — Greig Fraser

"Nightmare Alley" — Dan Laustsen

"The Power of the Dog" — Ari Wegner

"The Tragedy of Macbeth" — Bruno Delbonnel

"West Side Story" — Janusz Kaminski

Costume Design

"Cruella" — Jenny Beavan

"Cyrano" — Massimo Cantini Parrini and Jacqueline Durran

"Dune" — Jacqueline West and Robert Morgan

"Nightmare Alley" — Luis Sequeira

"West Side Story" — Paul Tazewell

Directing

"Belfast" — Kenneth Branagh

"Drive My Car" — Ryusuke Hamaguchi

"Licorice Pizza" — Paul Thomas Anderson

"The Power of the Dog" — Jane Campion

"West Side Story" — Steven Spielberg

Documentary (Feature)

"Ascension"

Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy and Nathan Truesdell

"Attica"

Stanley Nelson and Traci A. Curry

"Flee"

Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen and Charlotte De La Gournerie

"Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent and David Dinerstein

"Writing with Fire"

Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh

Documentary (Short Subject)

"Audible"

Matt Ogens and Geoff McLean

"Lead Me Home"

Pedro Kos and Jon Shenk

"The Queen of Basketball"

Ben Proudfoot

"Three Songs for Benazir"

Elizabeth Mirzaei and Gulistan Mirzaei

"When We Were Bullies"

Jay Rosenblatt

Film Editing

"Don't Look Up" — Hank Corwin

"Dune" — Joe Walker

"King Richard" — Pamela Martin

"The Power of the Dog" — Peter Sciberras

"tick, tick...BOOM!" — Myron Kerstein and Andrew Weisblum

International Feature Film

"Drive My Car"

Japan

"Flee"

Denmark

"The Hand of God"

Italy

"Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom"

Bhutan

"The Worst Person in the World"

Norway

Makeup and Hairstyling

"Coming 2 America" — Mike Marino, Stacey Morris and Carla Farmer

"Cruella" — Nadia Stacey, Naomi Donne and Julia Vernon

"Dune" — Donald Mowat, Love Larson and Eva von Bahr

"The Eyes of Tammy Faye" — Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram and Justin Raleigh

"House of Gucci" — Göran Lundström, Anna Carin Lock and Frederic Aspiras

Music (Original Score)

"Don't Look Up" — Nicholas Britell

"Dune" — Hans Zimmer

"Encanto" — Germaine Franco

"Parallel Mothers" — Alberto Iglesias

"The Power of the Dog" — Jonny Greenwood

Music (Original Song)

"Be Alive" from "King Richard"

Music and Lyric by DIXSON and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter

"Dos Oruguitas" from "Encanto"

Music and Lyric by Lin-Manuel Miranda

"Down To Joy" from "Belfast"

Music and Lyric by Van Morrison

"No Time To Die" from "No Time to Die"

Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell

"Somehow You Do" from "Four Good Days"

Music and Lyric by Diane Warren

Production Design

"Dune"

Production Design: Patrice Vermette, Set Decoration: Zsuzsanna Sipos

"Nightmare Alley"

Production Design: Tamara Deverell, Set Decoration: Shane Vieau

"The Power of the Dog"

Production Design: Grant Major, Set Decoration: Amber Richards

"The Tragedy of Macbeth"

Production Design: Stefan Dechant , Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh

"West Side Story"

Production Design: Adam Stockhausen , Set Decoration: Rena DeAngelo

Short Film (Animated)

"Affairs of the Art"

Joanna Quinn and Les Mills

"Bestia"

Hugo Covarrubias and Tevo Díaz

"Boxballet"

Anton Dyakov

"Robin Robin"

Dan Ojari and Mikey Please

"The Windshield Wiper"

Alberto Mielgo and Leo Sanchez

Short Film (Live Action)

"Ala Kachuu - Take and Run"

Maria Brendle and Nadine Lüchinger

"The Dress"

Tadeusz Łysiak and Maciej Ślesicki

"The Long Goodbye"

Aneil Karia and Riz Ahmed

"On My Mind"

Martin Strange-Hansen and Kim Magnusson

"Please Hold"

K.D. Dávila and Levin Menekse

Sound

"Belfast" — Denise Yarde, Simon Chase, James Mather and Niv Adiri

"Dune" — Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Theo Green, Doug Hemphill and Ron Bartlett

"No Time to Die" — Simon Hayes, Oliver Tarney, James Harrison, Paul Massey and Mark Taylor

"The Power of the Dog" — Richard Flynn, Robert Mackenzie and Tara Webb

"West Side Story" — Tod A. Maitland, Gary Rydstrom, Brian Chumney, Andy Nelson and Shawn Murphy

Visual Effects

"Dune" — Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, Brian Connor and Gerd Nefzer

"Free Guy" — Swen Gillberg, Bryan Grill, Nikos Kalaitzidis and Dan Sudick

"No Time to Die" — Charlie Noble, Joel Green, Jonathan Fawkner and Chris Corbould

"Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" — Christopher Townsend, Joe Farrell, Sean Noel Walker and Dan Oliver

"Spider-Man: No Way Home" — Kelly Port, Chris Waegner, Scott Edelstein and Dan Sudick

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

"CODA" — Screenplay by Siân Heder

"Drive My Car" — Screenplay by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe

"Dune" — Screenplay by Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth

"The Lost Daughter" — Written by Maggie Gyllenhaal

"The Power of the Dog" — Written by Jane Campion

Writing (Original Screenplay)

"Belfast" — Written by Kenneth Branagh

"Don't Look Up" — Screenplay by Adam McKay , Story by Adam McKay & David Sirota

"King Richard" — Written by Zach Baylin

"Licorice Pizza" — Written by Paul Thomas Anderson

"The Worst Person in the World" — Written by Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier

Will Smith issues apology to Chris Rock

'I am embarrassed'. 

Actor  Will Smith has issued an apology for striking presenter Chris Rock at Sunday's Academy Awards.

In a post on Instagram on Monday afternoon, Smith called his behavior "unacceptable and inexcusable."

Chris Rock had earlier made a joke about Pinkett Smith being in “G.I. Jane” because of her bald head. Pinkett Smith announced last year she shaved her head after struggling with alopecia. After smacking Rock in the face, Smith yelled at him, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!” The Oscar audience, and viewers on social media, were stunned by Smith’s slap, which seemed like a comedic skit at first. The incident took place during the presentation of best documentary feature, which was a few categories before best actor. Smith addressed the slap immediately upon taking the stage to accept the award.

Here's the full statement: 

Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.

I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.  

 

I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us.

 

I am a work in progress.

Sincerely,

Will

The Academy says it "Does Not Condone Violence" after Will Smith smacks Chris Rock

 

The Academy took to social media to address Will Smith and Chris Rock Oscars Altercation. 

"The Academy does not condone violence of any form," the Twitter statement, posted early March 28, read. 

"Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world."

The award show moment, which left viewers around the world stunned, instantly went viral online, even leading some to speculate that it had been planned.

Later on during the telecast, a tearful Will apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees after being awarded the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Venus Williams and Serena Williams' father, Richard Williams. With a report from EOnline

Will Smith apologizes to the Academy for slapping Chris Rock

 

As viewers were still processing an incident in which Will Smith walked onstage at the Oscars and slapped Chris Rock for making a joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith, the King Richard star was announced as the night’s Best Actor winner.

Will Smith apologized to the Academy and his fellow best actor nominees in his winning acceptance speech, shortly after he went onstage and slapped Chris Rock for making a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith. He did not address Rock in his speech.

“I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees. This is a beautiful moment and I’m not crying for winning an award. It’s not about winning an award for me. It’s about being able to shine a light on all of the people. Tim and Trevor and Zack and Saniyya and Demi and Aunjanue and the entire cast and crew of ‘King Richard,’ Venus and Serena, the entire Williams family. Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams,” Smith said in his tearful acceptance speech.

Rock had earlier made a joke about Pinkett Smith being in “G.I. Jane” because of her bald head. Pinkett Smith announced last year she shaved her head after struggling with alopecia. After smacking Rock in the face, Smith yelled at him, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!” The Oscar audience, and viewers on social media, were stunned by Smith’s slap, which seemed like a comedic skit at first. The incident took place during the presentation of best documentary feature, which was a few categories before best actor. Smith addressed the slap immediately upon taking the stage to accept the award.

“ Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family. In this time in my life, in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world. Making this film, I got to protect Aunjanue Ellis, who is one of the strongest, most delicate people I’ve ever met. I got to protect Saniyya and Demi, the two actresses that played Venus and Serena,” he said, as he began to tear up. “I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people. I know to do what we do, you got to be able to take abuse. You got to be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business you got to be able to have people disrespecting you. And you got to smile and you got to pretend like that’s okay.”

After the incident with Rock, Smith’s publicist Meredith O. Sullivan, Oscar producer Will Packer and best actor nominee Denzel Washington came by to talk to Smith during the commercial breaks. In his speech, Smith revealed what Washington said to him.

“Thank you, Dee. Denzel said a few minutes ago, ‘At your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the Devil comes for you,'” Smith said.

Despite the shocking moment that had just taken place, Smith kept the end of his speech light and joked about being invited back to the Oscars.

“To my mother — a lot of this moment is really complicated for me — but to my mother, she didn’t want to come out. She had her knitting friends; she has a knitting crew that she’s in Philly watching with. Being able to love and care for my mother and my family, my wife — I’m taking up too much time. Thank you for this honor. Thank you for this moment. And thank you on behalf of Richard and Oracene [Price] and the entire Williams family. Thank you. I hope the Academy invites me back,” Smith said before exiting the stage.