Sunday, January 2, 2022

Stories that stayed with us from 2021

By Leo Udtohan

In 2021, miraculously effective vaccines showed up, people cared thru community pantries, and more familiar and colorful faces for the May 2022 elections.
What a year it has been. 2021 began with the hope that we would turn the corner on the pandemic. And while things did take steps toward returning to normal, there were spectacular finales making 2021 has been anything but.

2021 was a year with many history-making moments. 

VRS takes a look back at all of the important news and characters we can't forget that captivated much of our attention.


Caring for others 
Giving has surged during the coronavirus crisis.  In Bohol, several community pantries have sprouted in Tagbilaran, Alona Beach in Panglao, Jagna and Talibon towns. 

Mercy Tapia had to endure the long que during the opening of the Bohol Community Pantry at the St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral in this city.

At least 2,000 beneficiaries hoped to get some foods and goods for their families.

Tapia, 42, a wife of a fisherman, said the inclement weather in the past days due to typhoon Bising left her and her family struggling for food. 

The Church’s pantry is providing free rice, eggs, instant noodles, vegetables, fruits and other basic necessities. There is also free porridge and pancakes from "Gugma Tagbilaran Mobile Kusina," a project of Tagbilaran's First Lady Jane Yap. 

Tapia was able to get rice, eggs, vegetables and fruits.  She also received free porridge and pancakes. 

Bishop Uy said community pantries not only provide the needs of our less-fortunate countrymen but it also unite people to share the love of G-d. 

He said pantries also build empathy by engaging meaningfully with others, being aware of other people's needs, and being kind to others and ourselves. 

"There will be a big impact not only  to the poor but also to the rich people who are given the opportunity to help and share the blessings they have. This is also an eye- opener that we need to help each other in order to survive the pandemic," he said. 

Businesswoman Meg Raynaldo, owner of the D'Box in Tagbilaran City, also set up her own Paw Pantry to give free food to cats and dogs. 

Charity is not limited to gifts of money. Sharing time, expertise, or even a kind smile are all forms of charity. Nothing in your pocket? Show some empathy. 

No matter how much you were blessed with, you can always share with others.

It makes sense: you take care of others, and G‑d takes care of you.


Get vaccinated 
A year ago, vaccine drives against COVID-19 were just beginning. Now, more than 382,000  people have had one or more dose. 

The vaccination has saved huge numbers of lives and is a triumph for science and research.

Sadly, the vaccines have not been shared or taken up equitably across the world, nor even, sometimes, within nations. 

Bohol has accomplished 40% vaccination of the 70% of the population which authorities identified as needing to get full protection against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its mutation strains

Heath authorities have reported that as of December 9, 2021, vaccination teams in Bohol have reached out to some 382,492 Boholanos who were given the necessary two doses of the COVID-19 vaccines administered at least about a month apart. 

In Tagbilaran, together with their parents, children trooped to vaccination sites in this city inoculation program for children 12 to 17 years old.

Tagbilaran has the highest vaccination rate in Central Visayas, where 64.09% of its target population had been vaccinated.

The city government was helping vaccinate non-Tagbilaran residents.

Local leaders have been encouraging eligible minors to get vaccinated against the virus.

The pandemic isn't over and there's no way to tell who's been vaccinated on the street. 

Understandably, there are inoculations that are produced by multiple pharmaceutical companies, but for the past months these vaccines have been safely tried and proven.
Meta-analysis readings confirmed that therefore, once a vaccine’s reliability is firmly established, there is no worry. 

Encourage your loved ones to get vaccinated.  The more people in our community get vaccinated, the better everyone will be protected.

Do not set yourself apart from the community.


COC filing lures more aspirants
Familiar faces, and even obscure personalities, flocked to local COMELEC offices last October to formally throw their hat into the 2022 national elections ring. 

In Tagbilaran City, the vicinity of the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) office exploded with a riot of colors on the last day of filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs). 

Two colors — green and white — dominated the area. Drumbeats and loud cheers echo the crowd’s excitement (of course, with social distancing). 

Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso filed his COC for mayor. His running-mate is Councilor Augustinus Gonzaga. Familiar face in his slate was Councilor Jonas Cacho who is seeking reelection. 

"This is my last term as Vice Mayor and I have been supporting the programs and activities of the city. What is the best for the city, we will continue. We will improve and expand the programs especially for the youth, senior citizens and education and healthcare," said Veloso.

He said while the city progresses the residents should follow the same and not only for some few families. 

"Ang Tagbilaran usa ka dakbayan, dili gingharian (Tagbilaran is a city, it is not a kingdom)," he said.  

Jane Yap, a former national youth leader and wife of outgoing mayor John Geesnell "Baba" Yap II, filed her COC for mayor. 

If she wins, she will be the first elected lady mayor of Tagbilaran.

Lawyer Adam Relson Jala, who is in his last term as councilor, is her runningmate. In her slate, familiar faces were Ondoy Borja, who is seeking reelection, and Charles Borja who is running for councilor. 

Yap said she will continue the projects and brand of service of her husband to better serve the city residents.

"Our priority is to keep our city more progressive. We all know that there is still a pandemic, and the next three years will be very critical for Tagbilaran City. It is also critical that the pandemic will hinder the progress but we will continue what Mayor Baba has already started," she said. 

Yap became Sangguniang Kabataan (SK president in Bohol. She was elected president in the National SK Federation and  Ex-Officio Commissioner of the National Youth Commission (NYC).

She also founded the charitable organization "Gugma Tagbilaran" which helps the different sectors in the city. 

Earlier, Councilor Vicente "Agalon" Polinar filed his COC. He rode a pedicab going to the city's COMELEC.  He said his running is a liberation for Tagbilaran City from the bondage of high prices of commodities. 

"Liberation has begun in Tagbilaran! Liberation from the bondage of expensive fish, petroleum products, water, and most of all liberation from the bondage of illegal clamping," he said. 

Big names include Gov. Art Yap (for reelection), Vice Governor Rene Relampagos (for reelection), senior board member Victor Balite (for vice governor) , Reps. Edgar Chatto (for reelection), Erico Aristotle Aumentado (for governor) and Alexie Besas-Tutor (for reelection). 

"It is our hope that we can continue to pursue our plans, programs, and activities, including important legislation, towards more growth and development for Bohol," Chatto said. 

If elected, Aumentado said he would work towards strengthening the economy of Bohol by establishing the economic zone. 

"This is to give more job opportunities," Aumentado said. 

Tutor said she would work towards strengthening agriculture, tourism, healthcare and infrastructure like multi-purpose building and road concreting. 

She would also continue her personal advocacies like her ongoing pabahay program and patient transport vehicle in her district. 

"I will never be tired of what I am doing. When you are happy with what you are doing, it should not be considered as work," Tutor said during a mediacon. 

More popular candidates – who have had years of experience working in the legislature –who filed their candidacies were Inabanga Councilor Jono Jumamoy (for  mayor), outgoing Inabanga Mayor Roygie Jumamoy (vice mayor),  outgoing Candijay Mayor Christopher Tutor for vice mayor, lawyer Tomas Abapo Jr for board member, Balilihan Mayor Pureza Chatto for reelection, outgoing Garcia Hernandez Mayor Tita Baja (for board member in 3rd district),  former board member Jaja Jumamoy for 2nd district representative, Dauis Mayor Marietta Sumaylo (for vice mayor), Getafe Mayor Casey Shaun Camacho (for vice mayor), board member Jed Bautista (for mayor in Garcia Hernandez, Panglao Mayor Leonila Montero (for councilor), Lila Mayor Arturo "Jed" Piollo for reelection, and Lila Vice Mayor Regina Salazar (for reelection) 

Jade Bautista, who is running with her slogan “Team GHugma", said the overwhelming support has strengthened and inspired her to strive even harder to pursue her dreams for Garcia Hernandez and the people.  

Bautista said Garcia Hernandez has untapped opportunities and sectors needing further development to realize full potential.

Since Lila is a small town with a population of 12,000, Piollo said he would focus to improve the economic enterprise, health, education and social services.  

Piollo said he wants to develop the giant bamboos as part of the environmental protection effort which was not realized due to the pandemic. 

There were new comers. They were Roman "Amoi" Bullen for mayor in Dauis town and Edgar "Boy" Arcay for mayor in Panglao.
 
Bullen said he wants to improve waterworks, tourism, health, and livelihood in the town. 

"I will eradicate dynasty in Dauis," said Bullen.

In Sevilla, a former SK president Marie Karen Joy Digal-Asoy filed her certificate of candidacy for town councillor. 

Goldie Herrera, daughter of former Vice Gov. Julius Cesar Herrera, Lucille Lagunay were running for 1st district board members, while lawyer Jiselle Rae Aumentado Villamor filed her COC for board member in the second district. 

"This is a big opportunity for me to serve the Boholanos. What I can offer to the Sanggunian, I will be a consensus builder and having conscience. Being a lawyer I am cautious," said Villamor who is a pro-bono lawyer. 

Maria Vanessa Cadorna-Aumentado---a former beauty queen, registered nurse, and entrepreneur---filed her certificate of candidacy for Bohol 2nd District congressional post. 

She aims to continue her husband's public service for the second district through representing the province in Congress. 

"I believe I have the capacity to serve the people especially the second district with competence, commitment, passion and dedication.  I am for the continuity of what has been started by my husband. We all know how he nurtured and served the second district. His good programs are what we will continue," Cadorna-Aumentado said. 

A number of media personalities were seeking elective posts at stake in the 2022 general elections. They were dyRD's Rey Tutas (for Lila councilor), dyTR's Dodong Libatona (for reelection in Balilihan councilor), dyRD's Anthony Aniscal (for Jagna councilor), Bohol Balita Daily News BBDN's Wilson Subrio (for Trinidad councilor), Noel Cagol (for city councilor), and publisher-editor (of BBDN) Jhonny Orioque for mayor in Trinidad.

Oriqoue said he would focus on the town’s agriculture, which is often neglected. 

Fighting discrimination and striving for greater rights for the LGBTQIA+ community, Lovely Anzano, a transgender woman, is seeking political empowerment as she filed her certificate of candidacy  in Inabanga town. 

Anzano, 43, from Barangay Sua, will appear on the ballot under her given name of Fernan Suhayon Anza as an independent candidate. 

She said if elected, Inabanga would have an LGBTQIA+ member on its council — possibly a province's first.

“For many years, we are silent and it is high time for us to speak out and be empowered,” Anzano said.

Benjie Oliva, former commissioner of the National Youth Commission and chairperson of the  Cooperative Development Authority,  has one more dream. He wants to be the “father” in the Halls of Congress for cooperatives, farmers and fisherfolks through KOOP KAMPI Partylist by providing policies and programs that would uplift their lives and their living conditions.

KOOP KAMPI stands for Kooperatiba Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma ug Mangingisda sa Pilipinas. 

Two colorful characters filed their intentions to run for the May 2019 midterm polls. They are Concepcion Flores, a self-acclaimed "billionaire", who is running for governor and Santos Amaga Abella who is running for second district of the provincial board. 

With P500 in his pocket, Abella, took a public bus to provincial COMELEC office to file his candidacy for board member of the 2nd district on Tuesday, Oct. 5. 

But Abella was not usual candidate, he was in clad-suit with an umbrella to match when he filed his candidacy.

Abella, 59, said he is faithful and willing to serve the people even he has no money. 

"It's just true service from my heart," said Abella, a native of Barangay Candelaria in Dagohoy town. 

He ran for the same position in 2016 and 2019 elections.

"I will never give up. If you will give up you don't believe in your dream," he said when asked if he was tired for losing twice. 

Before he left the COMELEC, he performed a song dedicated to the Boholano farmers to the amusement of spectators and other filers. 

Aspiring for public office is a political right.


1st Mister Bohol
After delays, the Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) was held in Bohol on September 30 at the Henann Resort Convention Center in Panglao. 

Beatrice Luigi Gomez, an openly gay model-athlete from Cebu, was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2021. She bested 27 other candidates for the prestigious crown.

In the final Q&A, Gomez was asked: “If during your reign as Miss Universe Philippines, things happen in your life that make you sad and uninspired, how would you be able to continue inspiring others?”

Gomez answered: “It is very evident that all of us went through difficulties during this pandemic, but it is also true that we are able to rise to the occasion. And if anything happened to me during my race, I will not give up and inspire others by rising to the problems that I am encountering, and whatever you’re going through, you will be able to overcome it.”

For its first edition, Mister Bohol crowned Arneil Kadudale of Trinidad town as the winner. 

Kadusale, 24, who also won the Best in Interview and Barong Tagalog, bested other 26 other aspirants from different towns of the province's first "no audience" male pageant. 

"To be a Mister Bohol 2021 is someone who can carry responsibility with passion and dedication," Kadusale said after the pageant. 

As a licensed professional teacher and as a Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson at the same time, he said he joined the competition to bring his advocacy on education in order to encourage bigger audience of youth to value and prioritize their education.

"Education is really the thing that I am advocating (with) because I am firm believer that it is a doorway to success and it serves as our strongest and the most power weapon in life to get victory and success," he added. 

Kadusale is presently a college teacher at BIT-International College in Tagbilaran. 

Dan Joshua Olaco of Panglao town was declared Mister Bohol Tourism and Jeff Nheil Usaraga of Inabanga town was proclaimed Mister Bohol Ambassador. 

Paul Pegi of Calape who finished first runner-up, and John Michael Eyo of Alburquerque placed second runner-up. 

According to Gerry Lugod, the pageant director, Mister Bohol was conceptualized by the late  Boholano acclaimed film and TV director Maryo de los Reyes in 2018.  De los Reyes was known for award-winning movies Magnifico and Naglalayag. 

"It's a tribute to Direk Maryo," Lugod said. 


'Ripa' scam 
I was one of the thousands of Boholanos duped by people behind a new scam- ripa/repa. 

It was so late to notice some warning signs to watch out for - "too good to be true",  the resellers have no personality or capacity to refund the money, and pressure to "buy" the slots for a limited time. 

It's not about "phantom riches" but 
unscrupulous people who will try to take advantage of people’s needs this pandemic. 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned the public to be cautious in putting their money in investment instruments like "ripa" or “paluwagan,” an informal group money-lending system.

“Do not invest in schemes that are not registered, because you might find yourself on the losing end,” the agency said.

“If it is too good to be true, and the transaction is done in a discreet manner, the people should suspect [the legitimacy of the scheme],” it added.

The SEC has been raising alert over schemes, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic when people are looking for immediate sources of income.

A help center supervised by the provincial government, the police, NBI and the CIDG was put up to assist the victims. Local officials have urged other investors to file their complaints. 

The scam takes off from the paluwagan, a traditional money-saving practice among groups whose members know one another, either because they are officemates or friends or they belong to a clan or family.

What lured many of the investors was the high returns received by those who joined the scheme earlier.

Members usually contribute to a pot of money that each of them will receive when their turn comes. The rotation is usually decided by drawing lots (ripa). 

As practiced, ripa is built on trust and that no profit is promised because the total amount of the pot at a given time is the same that one will contribute over the entire life of the scheme. 

In Bohol, the scheme has many “administrators” who are usually hiding from its investors. 

A woman went to the provincial police headquarters at Camp Francisco Dagohoy last week, asking policemen to help her recover P35 million which was set to be returned to her clients whom she called “buyers.”

She said she failed to release the payout to her “buyers” when the administrators and coordinators disappeared.

“I have been receiving death threats from my buyers. If I can’t return the money or even the capital, they said they will kill me,” she said.

The woman said she didn’t know the “administrators” since she just remitted the money to a “coordinator.”

It was estimated that the "ripa" scheme duped over 1,000 Boholanos and amassed over P2 billion.

Remember, “if it sounds too good to be true," it usually is.

Sa Bisaya pa, "Di na gyud ko muusab, kausa nalang..." 



Homeless at Christmas 
Visayans who survived the fiercest typhoon in 2021 are struggling to find water, food, fuel and cash, days after Typhoon “Odette” (Rai) ravaged the region last Dec. 16, 2021. Many areas still do not have electricity and telecommunication services are still intermittent.

In Bohol, major streets in the capital city of Tagbilaran are experiencing gridlocks as residents packed grocery stores to buy bottled water while others queued at automated teller machines (ATMs) and money remittance centers.

Nearly 4 million people in Visayas and Mindanao were affected by Typhoon Rai, according to the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

In Bohol, thousands remained displaced during Christmas and New Year -- one of the most important holidays in the Catholic-majority nation.

The province was still plunged in darkness.

But typhoon evacuees still celebrated the coming of the new year with simple gatherings.

“We just slept,” said Ma. Rosa Batuan whose house in Barangay Calanggaman was destroyed by the typhoon. 

While the New Year celebration was met with fireworks, these were significantly fewer and shorter duration compared to previous years.

The death toll in Bohol has climbed to at least 109 people. 


Those we lost in 2021: A remembrance
Comedian Inday Ruping, whose real names was Rizalino Torralba, drifted into an eternal sleep last Saturday night (March 27). He was 45. 

Simply Titon to his the family, friends and the entertainment industry, the famous DJ loved for his hearty laughter. 

In 2006, when a radio program "Bisaya" was vacated in by Inday Cristala (who's in Taiwan now), Titon tried to apply just for fun. He chose the screen name DJ Ruffa, but the name wasn't a click and was changed into Inday Rufing/Ruping.  As manghuhula would say, he was destined to become a star who carved a name in the airwaves; it was written in the stars.

And the rest was history. Inday Ruping became an household name who tickled our funny bones. 

Titon was fun to be with...witty, well-read and without any air or superiority complex.

In the entertainment industry, he was the real "Mother." With his passion and knowledge, he made sure that the industry was constantly improving. He made sure other talents were given an oportunity to shine and earn. He was admired and respected in the industry. As a person, he was very thoughtful, generous and compassionate.

My most unforgettable interview with Titon was in May 2008 while writing for the defunct Bohol Sunday Post. Among the biggest bombshells: He was raped by a woman, and, he had a son! And that explosive revelations that shocked the world are still the talk of the town 13 years later. 

Titon was an open book, an exciting interviewee who fielded every question you threw at him, even the most personal ones, and did it with wit and humor. Maybe that’s one thing the new breed of entertainers can learn from Titon — not to be over-protective of themselves, not to be onion-skinned and not to flaunt any symptoms of star complex. Until the very end, Titon remained accessible, humble and lovable.

On Christmas Day, Ferome Jusgorge Almine, the "The Big Man with a Big Voice", also left us. He was a dedicated public servant who served as Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chair and Barangay Kagawad of Barangay Mansasa, Tagbilaran City.  He was also a popular figure in Bohol's events industry which included government activities, festivals, talent competitions, concerts, beauty pageants, birthdays, and weddings. 

He had exhibited remarkable talents in hosting, organizing, and designing.

We also lost our media colleagues: Jessie Bantugan, Nilo Sapong, Prof. Reinerio Augusto Real, and former editor and DJ June Blanco. 

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





Friday, July 2, 2021

The Academy invites 395 to membership

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 395 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures.

Membership selection decisions are based on professional qualifications, with representation, inclusion and equity remaining a priority of Academy Aperture 2025.  The 2021 class is 46% women, 39% underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 53% international from 49 countries outside of the United States.  There are 89 Oscar® nominees, including 25 winners, among the invitees.

Eight individuals (noted by an asterisk) have been invited to join the Academy by multiple branches.  These individuals must select one branch upon accepting membership.

To enable steady future growth and to ensure the necessary infrastructure, staff resources and environment to support all Academy members, the number invited to membership was limited to roughly half that of recent years.   

The Academy’s Board of Governors voted on branch-specific guidelines to be applied in determining this year’s new membership invitees.  Oscar winners and nominees were considered without limitation by applicable branches.  Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2021.

The 2021 invitees are:

Actors
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II – “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” “Us”
Maria Bakalova – “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” “XIIa”
Vidya Balan – “Tumhari Sulu,” “Kahaani”
Nicole Beharie – “Miss Juneteenth,” “42”
Kingsley Ben-Adir – “One Night in Miami...,” “Noelle”
Hugh Bonneville – “Downton Abbey,” “Paddington 2”
Jesse Borrego – “Colombiana,” “Con Air”
Carrie Coon – “The Nest,” “Gone Girl”
Laverne Cox – “Promising Young Woman,” “Bad Hair”
Andra Day – “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” “Cars 3”
Clea DuVall – “Argo,” “Zodiac”
Henry Golding – “A Simple Favor,” “Crazy Rich Asians”
Eiza González – “I Care a Lot,” “Baby Driver”
Kimberly Norris Guerrero – “The Glorias,” “Hidalgo”
Nicholas Guest – “Big Hero 6,” “Rango”
Ye-ri Han – “Minari,” “Worst Woman”
Vanessa Kirby – “Pieces of a Woman,” “Mission: Impossible – Fallout”
Nathan Lane – “The Producers,” “The Birdcage”
Jonathan Majors – “Da 5 Bloods,” “The Last Black Man in San Francisco”
Luis Gerardo Méndez – “Charlie’s Angels,” “Murder Mystery”
Wagner Moura – “Sergio,” “Wasp Network”
Ramsey Nouah – “’76,” “The Figurine”
Leslie Odom, Jr.* – “One Night in Miami...,” “Harriet”
Robert Pattinson – “Tenet,” “The Lighthouse”
Clarke Peters – “Da 5 Bloods,” “Harriet”
Paul Raci – “Sound of Metal,” “No Ordinary Hero: The SuperDeafy Movie”
Issa Rae – “The Lovebirds,” “The Photograph”
Stephen Root – “Get Out,” “Office Space”
Jurnee Smollett – “Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn,” “The Great Debaters”
Isiah Whitlock, Jr. – “Da 5 Bloods,” “BlacKkKlansman”
Steven Yeun – “Minari,” “Burning”
Yuh-Jung Youn – “Minari,” “The Housemaid”

Casting Directors
Domnica Circiumaru – “God’s Own Country,” “Charlie Countryman”
Sarah Crowe – “The Personal History of David Copperfield,” “The Death of Stalin”
Leah Daniels Butler – “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” “Lee Daniels’ The Butler”
Kim Davis-Wagner – “Her,” “Being John Malkovich”
Kei Kawamura – “Legend of the Demon Cat,” “Silence”
Jessica Kelly – “Midsommar,” “Hereditary”
Esther Kling – “Asia,” “Aladdin”
Liz Mullane – “The Lovely Bones,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
Susan Shopmaker – “Sound of Metal,” “First Reformed”
Patrícia Vasconcelos – “Mysteries of Lisbon,” “Absurdistan”

Cinematographers
Manuel Alberto Claro – “Hope,” “Melancholia”
Christine A. Maier – “Quo Vadis, Aida?,” “Life Guidance”
Tobie Marier-Robitaille – “Night of the Kings,” “Nitro Rush”
Erik Messerschmidt – “Mank”
Andrey Naydenov – “Dear Comrades!,” “Euphoria”
Marcell Rév – “Malcolm & Marie,” “White God”
Piotr Sobocinski, Jr. – “Corpus Christi,” “I Never Cry”
Martin Strba – “Charlatan,” “Sekal Has to Die”
Pablo Valdés – “The Mole Agent,” “Los Reyes”
Nicolás Wong – “La Llorona,” “Muñecas Rusas”
Jing-Pin Yu – “Leap,” “Better Days”

Costume Designers
Lea Carlson – “The Broken Hearts Gallery,” “Room”
Shirley Chan Ku Fang – “Kung Fu Hustle,” “A Chinese Ghost Story”
Beatriz De Benedetto – “The Two Popes,” “The Motorcycle Diaries”
Cindy Evans – “The Way Back,” “Atomic Blonde”
Charlese Antoinette Jones – “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Ride”
Muriel Parra – “A Fantastic Woman,” “Neruda”
Kari Perkins – “Boyhood,” “Mud”
Christopher Peterson – “The Irishman,” “Dark Waters”
Marci Rodgers – “Lost Girls,” “BlackKkKlansman”
Catherine Rodríguez – “Birds of Passage,” “Embrace of the Serpent”
Margot Wilson – “The Nightingale,” “The Dressmaker”
Kenneth Chung-Man Yee – “The Wasted Times,” “Curse of the Golden Flower”

Directors
Muhammad Al Darraji – “The Journey,” “Sons of Babylon”
Michael Almereyda – “Tesla,” “Marjorie Prime”
Kaouther Ben Hania* – “The Man Who Sold His Skin,” “Beauty and the Dogs”
Wayne Blair – “Top End Wedding,” “The Sapphires”
Lizzie Borden – “Working Girls,” “Born in Flames”
Janicza Bravo – “Zola,” “Lemon”
Craig Brewer* – “Black Snake Moan,” “Hustle & Flow”
Lee Isaac Chung* – “Minari,” “Munyurangabo”
Cherien Dabis – “May in the Summer,” “Amreeka”
Nia DaCosta – “Candyman,” “Little Woods”
Andrew Dosunmu – “Mother of George,” “Restless City”
Sean Durkin – “The Nest,” “Martha Marcy May Marlene”
Emerald Fennell* – “Promising Young Woman”
Johnathan Glazer – “Under the Skin,” “Sexy Beast”
Nicole Tristan Kassell – “A Little Bit of Heaven,” “The Woodsman”
Shaka King* – “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Newlyweeds”
Darius Marder – “Sound of Metal,” “Loot”
Nina Menkes – “Phantom Love,” “Queen of Diamonds”
Alexander Nanau* – “Collective,” “Toto and His Sisters”
Derek Kwok-cheung Tsang – “Better Days,” “Soulmate”
George C. Wolfe – “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Lackawanna Blues”
Cathy Yan – “Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn,” “Dead Pigs”
Florian Zeller* – “The Father”

Documentary
Karen Akerman – “The Trial,” “Simonal – Nobody Knows the Hard I Had”
Raney Aronson-Rath – “For Sama,” “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail”
João Atala – “The Edge of Democracy,” “The Daily Death”
Philippe Bellaiche – “Advocate,” “The Settlers”
Julie Cohen – “My Name Is Pauli Murray,” “RBG”
Charlotte Cook – “Do Not Split,” “The Gospel of Eureka”
Heino Deckert – “Aquarela,” “Human Flow”
Alice Elliott – “Miracle on 42nd Street,” “The Collector of Bedford Street”
Rodney Evans – “Vision Portraits,” “The Unveiling”
Kristin Feeley
Bryan Fogel – “The Dissident, “Icarus”
Nick Fraser – “The Lovers and the Despot,” “Man on Wire”
Jacqueline Glover – “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality,” “Jim: The James Foley Story”
T. Griffin – “Boys State,” “Life, Animated”
Maya Daisy Hawke – “Janis: Little Girl Blue,” “Cave of Forgotten Dreams”
Wolfgang Held – “All In: The Fight for Democracy,” “Children Underground”
Kathy K. Im 
Judy Karp – “Dick Johnson Is Dead,” “Citizenfour”
Lesli Klainberg – “Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema,” “In the Company of Women”
Susan Margolin – “A Crime on the Bayou,” “The Rape of Recy Taylor”
Ousmane William Mbaye – “Président Dia,” “Mère-Bi (Mother)”
Lucila Moctezuma – “Living Los Sures,” “The New Americans”
Bill Morrison – “Dawson City: Frozen Time,” “The Great Flood”
Alexander Nanau* – “Collective,” “Toto and His Sisters”
Xan Parker – “Rebuilding Paradise,” “Tigerland”
Kellen Quinn – “Time,” “Midnight Family”
Brenda Robinson – “The Great American Lie,” “United Skates”
Kim A. Snyder – “Us Kids,” “Newtown”
Kathryn Townsend – “Cold Case Hammarskjöld,” “Shirkers”
Angela Tucker – “Belly of the Beast,” “(A)Sexual”
Betsy West – “My Name Is Pauli Murray,” “RBG”
Justin Wilkes – “Rebuilding Paradise,” “What Happened, Miss Simone?”
Peter Yam – “Lost Course,” “Yellowing”

Executives
Byron Allen
Ashley Brucks
Darlene Caamaño Loquet
Bob Chapek
Matt Dentler
Amy Dunning
David Ellison
Jamie Erlicht
Taylor Friedman
Ellen Goldsmith-Vein
Katie Goodson-Thomas
Ryan Jones
Tilane Jones
Wendy Lidell
Naketha Mattocks
Lorenza Muñoz
Nicholas Nesbitt
Peter Oillataguerre
Pilar Savone
Christopher Shaw
Scott Strauss
Tristen Tuckfield
Zack Van Amburg
Kiyoshi Watanabe
Jiafeng Janet Wu
Negeen Yazdi

Film Editors
Debbie Berman – “Love and Monsters,” “Black Panther”
Dana Bunescu – “Collective,” “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days”
Matthew Friedman – “Palm Springs,” “The Farewell”
Jamie Gross – “Booksmart,” “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping”
Catherine Haight – “Troop Zero,” “Afternoon Delight”
Gesa Jäger – “Tiger Girl,” “Love Steaks”
Brian A. Kates – “We the Animals,” “The Savages”
Justin Krish – “Blinded by the Light,” “Bend It Like Beckham”
Yorgos Lamprinos – “The Father,” “Xenia”
Mikkel E. G. Nielsen – “Sound of Metal,” “A Royal Affair”
Kristan Sprague – “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Newlyweeds”
Frédéric Thoraval – “Promising Young Woman,” “Sinister”
Harry Yoon – “Minari,” “Detroit”

Makeup Artists and Hairstylists
Nacho Díaz – “The Endless Trench,” “While at War”
Carla Joi Farmer – “Coming 2 America,” “Dolemite Is My Name”
Morten Jacobsen – “Into the Darkness,” “The Square”
Eryn Krueger Mekash – “Hillbilly Elegy,” “The Prom”
Kristyan Mallett – “Artemis Fowl,” “The Theory of Everything”
Adrien Morot – “The Glorias,” “Barney’s Version”
Mia Neal – “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Uncut Gems”
Francesco Pegoretti – “Pinocchio,” “The Happy Prince”
Nadine Prigge – “The Dark Tower,” “Invictus”
Pepe Quetglas – “Musarañas ,” “Pan’s Labyrinth”
Kimberley Spiteri – “Mank,” “Palm Springs”
Megan Tanner – “A United Kingdom,” “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
Anna Van Steen – “Bingo – The King of the Mornings,” “City of God”
Scott Wheeler – “One Night in Miami…,” “Star Trek: First Contact”
Louie Zakarian – “Vampires vs. the Bronx,” “Framing John DeLorean”

Marketing and Public Relations
David Michael Bloch
Ginger Chan
Rita Cooper Lee
Megan Crawford
Mary T. Daily
Clare Anne Darragh
Josh DuBois
Venessa Fraguio
Johanna Fuentes
Michelle Anne Hagen
Carol McConnaughey
Billy Mikelson
Joanna Miles
Chad Miller
Christian Parkes
Sara Reich
Graham Retzik
Daniella Haile Robinson-Asfaw
Kevin Shelby
Angela Smith
Tamar Teifeld
Victoria Treole
Denny Tu
Christina Zisa

Music
Jon Batiste – “Soul,” “Red Hook Summer”
Amanda Brown – “Babyteeth,” “Red Obsession”
Len Calvo – “Finding Agnes”
Dernst Emile II – “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “The Photograph”
H.E.R. – “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “The Photograph”
Janet Jackson – “Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too?,” “Poetic Justice”
Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum – “In Case of Emergency,” “Remember Me”
Aska Matsumiya – “I’m Your Woman,” “Selah and the Spades”
Emile Mosseri – “Minari,” “The Last Black Man in San Francisco”
Meshell Ndegeocello – “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” “love jones”
Leslie Odom, Jr.* – “One Night in Miami…”
Lolita Ritmanis – “Blizzard of Souls,” “Wild Daze”
Lisbeth Scott – “All My Life,” “The Passion of the Christ”
Adam Milo Smalley – “Missing Link,” “The Town”
Tiara Thomas – “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Pinar Toprak – “Captain Marvel,” “The Angel”
Amelia Warner – “Wild Mountain Thyme,” “Mary Shelley”

Producers
Mo Abudu – “Ã’lòturé,” “The Royal Hibiscus Hotel”
Miranda Bailey – “Being Frank,” “The Diary of a Teenage Girl”
Paula Barreto – “João, o Maestro,” “Reaching for the Moon”
Rosemary Blight – “Top End Wedding,” “The Sapphires”
Caroline Bonmarchand – “Spring Blossom,” “Head above Water”
Philippe Carcassonne – “The Father,” “Ridicule”
Darren Dale – “Deep Water – The Real Story,” “The Tall Man”
Kylie du Fresne – “The Invisible Man,” “Upgrade”
Fernando Epstein – “Monos,” “Whisky”
Ainsley Gardiner – “Boy,” “Two Cars, One Night”
Fabiano Gullane – “The Traitor,” “Querô: A Damned Report”
Dan Janvey – “Nomadland,” “Beasts of the Southern Wild”
Ekta Kapoor – “Dream Girl,” “Once upon a Time in Mumbai”
Shobha Kapoor – “Udta Punjab,” “The Dirty Picture”
Emilie Lesclaux – “Bacurau,” “Aquarius”
Jean-Louis Livi – “The Father,” “Wild Grass”
Nadine Marsh-Edwards – “Been So Long,” “Bhaji on the Beach”
Amanda Marshall – “Don’t Think Twice,” “Swiss Army Man”
Paula Mazur – “Let Him Go,” “Corrina, Corrina”
Muriel Merlin – “The Truth,” “Slack Bay”
Ben Odell – “Overboard,” “How to Be a Latin Lover”
Christina Oh – “Minari ,” “The Last Black Man in San Francisco”
Inna Payán – “The Golden Dream,” “Lucia Lucia”
Tim Perell – “Wolves,” “Shortbus”
Katrin Pors – “Wildland,” “Birds of Passage”
Andrea Barata Ribeiro – “Xingu,” “City of God”
Alex Saks – “The Glorias,” “The Florida Project”
Shrihari Sathe – “The Sweet Requiem,” “It Felt Like Love”
Peter Spears – “Nomadland,” “Call Me by Your Name”

Production Design
Grant Armstrong – “Spider-Man: Far from Home,” “Les Misérables”
Matt Callahan – “The Descendants,” “Get Smart”
Tina Charad – “Once upon a Time...in Hollywood,” “La La Land”
Cathy Featherstone – “The Father,” “Supernova”
Peter Francis – “The Father,” “The Children Act”
Beat Frutiger – “Avengers: Endgame,” “Dolemite Is My Name”
Trish Gallaher Glenn – “Mank,” “Frost/Nixon”
Charles Harrington – “Knives Out,” “Detroit”
Alan J. Hook – “Black Panther,” “Syriana”
Elizabeth Keenan – “News of the World,” “Selma”
Sebastian Till Krawinkel – “A Hidden Life,” “Inglourious Basterds”
Alan E. Muraoka – “I Hate Kids,” “Little Miss Sunshine”
Susan Ogu – “The Big Short,” “Party Monster”
Vicki Pui – “Black Panther,” “Pacific Rim”
Jean Rabasse – “Vatel,” “The City of Lost Children”
James Rothwell – “The Lion King,” “Free Birds”
Diana Stoughton – “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Dogma”
Warren Alan Young – “Harriet,” “Twin Falls Idaho”

Short Films and Feature Animation
Rita del Rosario Basulto – “Eclosión,” “Rain in the Eyes”
Ossama Bawardi – “The Present,” “Haneen”
Will Becher – “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon,” “The Pirates! Band of Misfits”
Jerry Beck – “Wicked City,” “Robot Carnival”
John Bryant – “The Wild Thornberrys Movie,” “Rugrats in Paris”
Réka Bucsi – “Solar Walk,” “Symphony No. 42”
Clara Chan – “Over the Moon,” “Storks”
Peilin Chou – “Over the Moon,” “Abominable”
Sharon Colman – “The Croods,” “Badgered”
Anca Damian – “Marona’s Fantastic Tale,” “Crulic – The Path to Beyond”
Philippe Denis – “Trolls,” “Megamind”
Travon Free – “Two Distant Strangers”
Andrew Gent – “Isle of Dogs,” “Frankenweenie”
Michael Govier – “If Anything Happens I Love You,” “Space for Rent”
Gísli Darri Halldórsson – “Yes-People,” “Kókó the Killer Whale”
SungHo Hong – “Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Sky Blue”
Joey Horvitz – “Game,” “Friday Night”
Brenden Hubbard – “The Helping Hand,” “Cul-de-Sac”
Jeanette Jeanenne – “Departures,” “Trusts & Estates”
Sebastian Kapijimpanga – “Over the Moon,” “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation”
Sara Koppel – “Embraces & the Touch of Skin,” “Seriously Deadly Silence”
Christophe Lautrette – “The Croods,” “Bee Movie”
Carolina Markowicz – “The Orphan (O Órfão),” “Tatuapé Mahal Tower”
Will McCormack – “If Anything Happens I Love You,” “Toy Story 4”
Adrien Mérigeau – “Genius Loci,” “Song of the Sea”
François Morisset – “Bonobo,” “Sin Cielo”
Dana Murray – “Soul,” “Lou”
Farah Nabulsi – “The Present,” “Nightmare of Gaza”
Erick Oh – “Opera,” “The Dam Keeper”
Gennie Rim – “Over the Moon,” “Dear Basketball”
Martin Desmond Roe – “Two Distant Strangers,” “Buzkashi Boys”
Madeline Sharafian – “Burrow,” “Onward”
Tomer Shushan – “White Eye,” “Inside Shells”
Lisa Stewart – “Turbo,” “Monsters vs Aliens”
Ross Stewart – “Wolfwalkers,” “The Secret of Kells”
Erez Tadmor – “Sirens,” “Dear God”
Charles Williams – “All These Creatures,” “Home”
Nate Wragg – “The Croods: A New Age,” “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie”
Carlos Zaragoza – “The Emoji Movie ,” “Gnomeo & Juliet”

Sound
Kristian Eidnes Andersen – “Into the Darkness,” “The Hunt”
Maurizio Argentieri – “The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se),” “All the Money in the World”
Christopher S. Aud – “The Way Back,” “The Disaster Artist”
Jaime Baksht – “Sound of Metal,” “I’m No Longer Here (Ya No Estoy Aquí)”
Christopher Barnett – “Come Away,” “Icarus”
Nicolas Becker – “Sound of Metal,” “The Summer of Sangaile (Sangailes Vasara)”
Phillip Bladh – “Sound of Metal,” “The Little Hours”
Onnalee Blank – “Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn,” “If Beale Street Could Talk”
Vince Caro – “Soul,” “Toy Story 4”
Carlos Cortés – “Sound of Metal,” “Our Time (Nuestro Tiempo)”
Marko Anthony Costanzo – “Greyhound,” “BlacKkKlansman”
Michellee Couttolenc – “Sound of Metal,” I’m No Longer Here (Ya No Estoy Aquí)”
Valérie Deloof – “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” “BPM (Beats Per Minute)”
Coya Elliott – “Soul,” “Toy Story 4”
Steve Fanagan – “Room,” “Albert Nobbs”
Dominic Carl Gibbs – “The Gentlemen,” “Aladdin”
Paul Hackner – “Trolls World Tour,” “Crawl”
Andy Hay – “One Night in Miami…,” “American Woman”
MirosÅ‚aw Makowski – “Cold War,” “Ida”
Isabel Muñoz – “Miss Bala,” “Backyard (El Traspatio)”
Nathan Nance – “Mank,” “Toy Story 4”
Whit Norris – “Hillbilly Elegy,” “Godzilla: King of the Monsters”
Erin Oakley – “Charlie’s Angels,” “Zombieland: Double Tap”
Barry O’Sullivan – “Brooklyn,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”
David Paterson – “I, Tonya,” “Drive”
Bjørn Schroeder – “Roald Dahl’s The Witches,” “Kajillionaire”
Marlowe Taylor – “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “The Marksman”
Juli Vandenberg – “Fiela se Kind,” “Otelo Burning”
Thomas “Tommy” Vicari – “Moonlight,” “Bridge of Spies”
David Wyman – “Greyhound,” “Deepwater Horizon”
Ken Yasumoto – “Climax,” “Love”

Visual Effects 
Lance Baetkey – “Avengers: Endgame,” “Avengers: Infinity War”
Peta Bayley – “Dolittle,” “Shazam!”
Dennis Berardi – “Shazam!,” “The Shape of Water”
Daniele Bigi – “Aladdin,” “Ready Player One”
Axel Bonami – “Artemis Fowl,” “Godzilla”
Genevieve Camilleri – “Love and Monsters,” “Velvet Buzzsaw”
Raymond Chen – “Alita: Battle Angel,” “The Meg”
Yeenshi Chen – “Over the Moon,” “Life of Pi”
Santiago Colomo Martinez – “The One and Only Ivan,” “The Jungle Book”
Michael Joseph Conte – “Terminator Genisys,” “Elysium”
Michael Cozens – “Alita: Battle Angel,” “Pete’s Dragon”
Ferran Domenech – “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” “Alien: Covenant”
Benoit Dubuc – “Missing Link,” “X-Men: Days of Future Past”
Scott Edelstein – “Avengers: Endgame,” “Avengers: Infinity War”
Matt Everitt – “Love and Monsters,” “Skyscraper”
Pawl Fulker – “Dolittle,” “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”
John Haley – “Hellboy,” “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”
Sherry Lynn Hitch – “Mank,” “The Irishman”
Nick Hsieh – ‘Monster Hunt,” “Looper”
Chia-Chi Hu – “Soul,” “Incredibles 2”
Steve Ingram – “Mulan,” “Pete’s Dragon”
Ben Jones – “The One and Only Ivan,” “The Lion King”
Shannon Justison – “Spider-Man: Far from Home,” “Captain Marvel”
Matthew Kasmir – “The Midnight Sky,” “Paddington”
Michael Kennedy – “The Jungle Book,” “Prometheus”
Ryan Laney – “Welcome to Chechnya,” “Ant-Man”
David Lee – “Tenet,” “John Carter”
May Leung – “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Star Trek Beyond”
Viktor Muller – “Voyagers,” “Gemini Man”
Max Solomon – “The Midnight Sky,” “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw”
Sheldon Stopsack – “Gemini Man,” “Terminator: Dark Fate”
Damien Stumpf – “Cruella,” “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”
Stephen Unterfranz – “Shadow in the Cloud,” “Rampage”
David Watkins – “The Midnight Sky,” “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”

Writers
Kenya Barris – “Coming 2 America,” “Girls Trip”
Peter Baynham – “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” “Borat Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan”
Kaouther Ben Hania* – “The Man Who Sold His Skin,” “Beauty and the Dogs”
Paul Mayeda Berges – “Blinded by the Light,” “Bend It Like Beckham”
Craig Brewer* – “Black Snake Moan,” “Hustle & Flow”
Lee Isaac Chung* – “Minari,” “Munyurangabo”
Will Collins – “Wolfwalkers,” “Song of the Sea”
Emerald Fennell* – “Promising Young Woman”
Anthony Hines – “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” “Borat Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan”
Jon Hurwitz – “American Reunion,” “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle”
Brad Ingelsby – “Our Friend,” “The Way Back”
Shaka King* – “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Newlyweeds”
Lam Wing Sum – “Better Days,” “Soulmate”
Li Yuan – “Better Days,” “Soulmate”
Dan Mazer – “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” “Borat Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan”
Tarell Alvin McCraney – “High Flying Bird,” “Moonlight”
Kemp Powers – “One Night in Miami…,” “Soul”
Hayden Schlossberg – “American Reunion,” “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle”
Alice Wu – “The Half of It,” “Save Face”
Xu Yimeng – “Better Days,” “Soulmate”
Florian Zeller* – “The Father,” “Florida”

Members-at-Large
Cameron Bailey
John Buzzetti
Jennifer Jo Caputo
Giovanna Fossati
Craig Gering
Kari Grubin
Eugene Hernandez
Chung Chi Li
Peter Mavromates
Ann Murphy
Loren Nielsen
Nikki Penny
Darin Read
Alice Taylor
Jeremy Zimmer

# # 

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Benjie Oliva: A father in many ways

Just like great moms, Bohol is filled with famous dads who never shy away from doting on their children. These men are generally better known for their contributions to politics, engineering, music, and more.

Case in point: Benjie Sanchez Oliva who seriously takes his role.

Married since 2013, the former youth leader and community builder has two children with lawyer Joan. 

"I love being a father; it’s one of the joys of life," said Benjie, also known as "Bobong" to his friends and relatives. “My greatest achievement is my children and my family.”

The smart and talented Edelle Rose “Edroe”, 6, and bubbly and intelligent Ven Victor “Vin”, 4, are blessed to have a hardworking and dedicated man to be their father. Notwithstanding his busy schedule, he makes it a point to spend quality time with them.

Student leader

Benjie, 39, was born to Ben Segundino Cabillanes Oliva, a native of Barangay Baang in Catigbian, Bohol and Rosita Camiguing Sanchez of Misamis Occidental. His father passed away when he was four years old. His mother who was then a jobless widow was to get a job as a day care teacher in Catigbian to support and sustain his two growing children.

He finished his elementary education at Central West Elementary School, Poblacion Weste, Catigbian, Bohol with honors and secondary education at Immaculate Mary Academy also in Catigbian as first honorable mention.

He finished his Bachelor in Agricultural Technology degree as cum laude at Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry and Technology (CVSCAFT)- Bilar town now Bohol Island State University (BISU).  He also finished his Master in Agricultural Development, summa cum laude, at the same university. Currently, he is on dissertation of his Doctor of Philosophy in Community Development in the same institution.

Benjie rose from being a committee secretary and legislative staff assistant III at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Bohol in 2002 to Commissioner of the National Youth Commission (NYC) in 2005 and administrator of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) in 2015 until his term ends in February 2020.

At present he is the chairman of the YO Prime Construction and Realty Corporation based in Tagbilaran City, Bohol; managing partner of the Pasion, David, Oliva, Durias and Associates based in Quezon City; and vice president of the Institute of Budget and Governance Studies, (IBGS) Inc. also in Quezon City.

 

‘Father’ to many youth organizations in the country

At 22, Benjie was appointed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Commissioner of NYC on December 19, 2005. He holds the record as the first and only Boholano commissioner at NYC.  

At the time of his appointment, he was considered as the youngest national government official in the Arroyo administration with an equivalent rank of an Assistant Secretary.

For almost six years in NYC, Benjie played as a “father” figure to many campus, church based and community youth organizations in the country whom he supported in many ways. He travelled in every corner of the country from Batanes to Tawi-tawi promoting values formation and character building to various youth leaders and youth organizations in partnership with the Presidential Commission on Values Formation and Good Citizenship Movement as well the advocacy programs on restorative justice of children in conflict with the law with the support of Consuelo Foundation and Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council.

He also managed to secure the computer literacy education and livelihood programs of the out of school youth and youth with special needs with the support of the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). He also served as the NYC point person for the job generation program together with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) through the Out of School Youth Serving Towards Economic Recovery (OYSTER) Program wherein out of school youths (OSYs) are employed as road maintenance workers.

He helped push for the passage of the Local Youth Development Council, SK Reform Bill, Magna Carta for Student Rights and the Free Higher Education Bill.

Benjie is also a ‘father’ to many youth organizations in Bohol. He was elected president of the Bohol Alliance of Student Councils (BASC), a conglomeration of student councils/governments in all colleges and universities in the province; federated president of the Supreme Student Government Federation of Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry and Technology (CVSCAFT) now Bohol Island State University (BISU); member, CVSCAFT Board of Trustees representing the Supreme Student Government Federation of the five campuses of Tagbilaran, Bilar, Calape, Clarin and Candijay; president, Supreme Student Government, CVSCAFT Bilar Campus; provincial president, Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) Bohol Chapter; vice chairman, Campus Ministry-Student Catholic Action Diocesan Council; president, Campus Ministry-Student Catholic Action (CM-SCA) CVSCAFT Bilar Campus; board of rirector, Parish Youth Ministry (PYM) Diocesan Youth Council; Vicarial Youth Coordinator, Mt. Carmel Vicariate; parish coordinator, Parish Youth Ministry (PYM) Immaculate Conception Parish, Catigbian, Bohol ; youth leader, Youth for Christ (YFC) Catigbian Chapter; and president of CVSCAFT Bilar Student Cooperative.

 

‘Father’ of creativity and innovations

At his stint at CDA, its employees considered him as the "father" of creativity and innovations.

Foremost, the new Cooperative Development Authority Charter is a landmark legislation in cooperative regulation and development in the country. There were many doubtful Thomases among the many officials and employees of the CDA starting from its inception until in the last stage of the approval of the two houses of congress. 

Benjie’s strong determination and bold move of pushing the agency’s reform bill is purposely to respond to the current challenges, opportunities and realities in the 21st century on cooperative regulation and development. The agency was strengthened in terms of its regulatory powers, additional manpower support, more developmental functions and a much closer partnership with the cooperative sector in terms of policy and program coordination through the organization of the national cooperative alliance.


The strong leadership of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri as chairman of the Senate Committee on Cooperatives Development was instrumental for the overwhelming approval in Senate with the support also of Deputy Minority Leader Senator Bam Aquino and Senator Risa Hontiveros who is the Vice Chairperson of the said committee. 

House Deputy Minority Leader Congressmen Anthony Bravo and House Committee Chairman on Cooperative Development Congressman Ben Canama were the champions at the lower house in advancing for its approval. And of course, under the leadership of Benjie in CDA together with the strong support of the cooperative sector and stakeholders, the new CDA Charter was enacted into law by virtue of Republic Act 11364.

Benjie is also the "father" of the creation of the Credit Surety Fund Department of the CDA Central Office, the creation of the CDA Region 4-A composed of the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan also known as the MIMAROPA Region. And the man responsible in securing the Three Hundred Five Million Pesos budget under the GAA 2021 for the Construction of the new CDA Office Building in Cubao, Quezon City.

He is known as an iron hand executive of CDA by initiating the Run Against Fraudulent Cooperatives (RAFC) to go after erring cooperatives used for illegal rice importation, investment scams like Ponce scheme, tax evasion, among others. RAFC was an inter-agency coordinating platform that includes the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Anti-Fraud Unit, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), PNP-Crime Investigation and Detection Group, and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

His last innovation before his term ended at the CDA was the Coop Film Festival. A documentary program together with GMA 7, Inc. to produce short films of successful cooperatives and members in the Philippines.

 

Father of Catigbian’s community development

In Catigbian town, barangay officials considered Benjie as the ‘father’ of Catigbian’s community development.

Catigbian has been known as one among the center of insurgency in the province from the 60’s to the 90’s. At present, intel reports showed that there are still sightings of their presence in the remote barangays but military operatives are there to ensure that insurgency will no longer thrive again in Catigbian. It can be recalled that it was in Catigbian when the CPP-NPA-NDF Regional Spokesperson and Secretary General Silvino “Ka Bino” Clamucha was killed in a running gun-battle with government troops in the hinterlands between barangays Liboron and Maitum in 2004.

Since then, Benjie reach out to the people and the insurgency affected communities to find out the root cause of the problem.

“Unsaon man intawon Sir nga nakalimtan naman me sa gobyerno amoang kalsada guba kaayo mao ang mga taw mahaylo gyud sa NPA. In an adjacent barangays Cang-iras and Liboron, the same sentiment was raised on the road problem. A woman, once approached and told him in barangay Cang-iras, pirteng paita Sir wala me tubig mainum hilabi ug ting-init ut ting-ulan usab ma lubog ang among mga tubod. Kanus-a pa kaha me malingi ug matabangan sa atong gobyerno,” a resident in Barangay Maitum told him.

With his connections in Manila, Benjie moves heaven and earth to secure the funding of the P50-million road concreting of Triple Union-Maitum-Kang-iras Road, the P60-M concreting of Baang-Liboron Road and the P13-M Waterworks Project for LGU-Catigbian. 

When he inspected the project during the construction stage, a mother approached him and said, “Sir wala jud me magtu-o nga ma semento ang amoang lugar. Abi namo ug pareha ka sa uban nga miari lang ug gipangsaadan ming tanan. Salamat kayo Sir. A grandmother also said to him, wala jud me magtoo nga usa ko motaliwan sa kalibutan makabutan me ug hinlo nga mainum nga tubig.”

To date, an additional P35-Million Waterworks project in on-going in barangays Kang-iras, Mahayag Norte and Bagtic courtesy of Bohol 1st district Rep. Edgar Chatto with the strong lobby of LGU-Catigbian under Mayor Elizabeth Mandin.

Benjie is not yet done with these barangays, he initiated the proposal for the construction and opening of new roads like the Kang-iras-Mahayag Norte Road, Baang-Sitio Binaliw (Liboron) Road, Maitum-Liboron Road, Catigbian (Maitum)-Batuan (Behind the Clouds) Road to further advance the development of the area. Alongside with the infrastructure development is a social preparation for the proposed livelihood support program on coco sugar and cacao production in the community.

He was instrumental also in several infrastructure projects in Catigbian with the help of several senators and partylist congressmen like the covered courts of barangays Baang, Ambuan, Bagtic, Candumayao, Bongbong, Causwagan Norte, Mahayag Norte and Catigbian National High School in Poblacion and multi-purpose buildings like the Poblacion Barangay Hall and Catigbian Slaughter House with a total of more than P40-M.

His efforts in Catigbian started during the time of former Mayor Boy Lurot with the full support of then Rep. Rene Relampagos and continues today.

Yet, Benjie has one more dream. He wants to be the “father” in the Halls of Congress for cooperatives, farmers and fisherfolks through KOOP KAMPI Partylist by providing policies and programs that would uplift their lives and their living conditions.

KOOP KAMPI stands for Kooperatiba Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma ug Mangingisda sa Pilipinas with Rep. Anthony Bravo as its first nominee.

"Fatherhood is the best thing that could happen to me, and I’m just glad I can share my voice," he quipped.

 

*   *   *

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

 

Monday, June 21, 2021

The Academy elects 2021-2022 board of governors

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced its newly elected 2021–2022 Board of Governors.  The governors will take office at the first scheduled board meeting of the new term. 


Elected to the Board for the first time:

Rita Wilson, Actors Branch
Kim Taylor-Coleman, Casting Directors Branch
Paul Cameron, Cinematographers Branch
Eduardo Castro, Costume Designers Branch
Jean Tsien, Documentary Branch
Pam Abdy, Executives Branch
Terilyn A. Shropshire, Film Editors Branch
Laura C. Kim, Marketing and Public Relations Branch
Lesley Barber, Music Branch
Gary C. Bourgeois, Sound Branch
Brooke Breton, Visual Effects Branch 
Howard A. Rodman, Writers Branch

Incumbent governors reelected to the Board:

Susanne Bier, Directors Branch
Jennifer Todd, Producers Branch
Tom Duffield, Production Design Branch
Bonnie Arnold, Short Films and Feature Animation Branch

Returning to the Board after a hiatus:

Bill Corso, Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch

They will join returning governors Kate Amend, Craig Barron, Howard Berger, Charles Bernstein, Jon Bloom, Rob Bredow, Ruth E. Carter, Kevin Collier, Laura Dern, Teri E. Dorman, Dody J. Dorn, Ava DuVernay, Linda Flowers, DeVon Franklin, Rodrigo García, Donna Gigliotti, Whoopi Goldberg, Lynette Howell Taylor, Mark Johnson, Larry Karaszewski, Laura Karpman, Christina Kounelias, Ellen Kuras, David Linde, Isis Mussenden, Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Jan Pascale, Stephen Rivkin, Eric Roth, David Rubin, Steven Spielberg, Wynn P. Thomas, Nancy Utley, Mandy Walker, Roger Ross Williams, Janet Yang and Debra Zane.

As a result of this election, the number of women Academy governors increases from 26 to 31 and the number of governors from underrepresented racial/ethnic communities increases from 12 to 15.

The Academy’s 17 branches are each represented by three governors, who may serve up to two three-year terms (consecutive or non-consecutive), followed by a two-year hiatus, after which eligibility renews for up to two additional three-year terms, for a lifetime maximum of 12 years.  The Board of Governors sets the Academy’s strategic vision, preserves the organization’s financial health, and assures the fulfillment of its mission.

Thursday, June 17, 2021

The Latin Grammy Awards return to Las Vegas


Photo: Latin Recording Academy
The Latin Recording Academy announced today that The Biggest Night in Latin Music, the 22nd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. The three-hour telecast will air live on Univision beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central), preceded by a one-hour pre-show starting at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
 
"This past year was full of unknowns but also new opportunities for those who adapted quickly," said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. "Drawing from our strength in music, we welcome our resilient community of Latin music lovers back to Las Vegas for a 13th year to celebrate our culture, ethnicity and diversity, and to honor excellence in music; the force that helps us heal and continues to unite us."
 
The Latin GRAMMY Awards are the preeminent international honor and the only peer-selected award celebrating excellence in Latin music worldwide. Nominees for the 22nd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will be announced on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021.  
 
"We are thrilled to bring back the 22nd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards to Las Vegas to honor musical excellence," said Jessica Rodriguez, Chief Marketing Officer and President of Entertainment at Univision. 

"Music is a powerful force in our community. It binds us together as a culture, inspires us and move us, and this year's show will celebrate our shared love of music with the brightest stars, unforgettable performances, and special moments that will entertain our audience," she added.
 

Photo: Latin Recording Academy


The Latin Recording Academy and Univision Communications Inc. will continue to exercise careful precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of all attendees.
 
Chris Baldizan, MGM Resorts' Executive Vice President of Entertainment, said, "MGM Resorts has had a long-standing, successful partnership with The Latin Recording Academy.

 As a leader in Entertainment, we look forward to once again hosting The Latin GRAMMYs at MGM Grand, providing music fans worldwide the opportunity to celebrate Latin music's biggest night in the Entertainment Capital of the World."
 
The previously announced gala tribute for the 2021 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year™ honoring Rubén Blades will take place Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. 

For information on purchasing tickets to the 22nd Latin GRAMMY Awards and the 2021 Latin Person of the Year event, please contact The Latin Recording Academy's ticketing office at 310.314.8281 or ticketing@grammy.com. Additional details about ancillary events occurring during Latin GRAMMY® Week will be communicated at a later date.
 

 


Academy launches 50th year of ‘Gold Rising’ program

The Academy Gold Rising Program is a talent development, diversity and inclusion initiative designed to enhance internship experiences under the Academy brand. The initiative ultimately helps cement, strengthen and clarify long-standing but independent efforts to address concerns of accessibility and opportunity for underrepresented communities throughout our country.

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is proud to announce commitments from 25 partner companies in the fifth year of its Academy Gold Rising program.  Gold Rising, formerly called Academy Gold, is an entertainment industry internship enhancement and mentorship program for students and young professionals from underrepresented communities.  The summer program will be virtual for the second time, enabling interns to participate from anywhere in the world.

Alongside the Academy, participating partners include AMC Networks, Annapurna Pictures, The Black List, BRON Studios, Circle of Confusion, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), DTS (part of Xperi Corporation), The Walt Disney Company, Dolby Laboratories, Evolve Entertainment Fund (Mayor’s Office), Formosa Group LLC, FotoKem, Fremantle, Illumination Entertainment, Monkeypaw Productions, Moving Picture Institute, NBCUniversal Filmed Entertainment Group, Paradigm Talent Agency, Paramount Pictures, Participant, Shout! Factory, Streamland Media, United Talent Agency (UTA) and WarnerMedia.

“Over the past five years, the Gold Rising program has steadily evolved and grown, ushering hundreds of alumni into the start of their careers.  We are eternally grateful to our incredible partners who help open doors to a more inclusive field and bring dreams closer to reality for this talented group of young people,” said Academy governor and Education and Outreach Committee chair Wynn P. Thomas.  “Along with my fellow members of the Academy, I look forward to meeting and mentoring this new class as they begin their journeys.”

“During a time with so many unprecedented challenges for artists, filmmakers and young professionals looking to explore their futures, the Gold Rising program will continue to offer participants meaningful, relevant and hands-on experiences to help them find their way in our industry,” said Academy COO Christine Simmons.  “As we continue to push towards equity and inclusion across all aspects of the Academy and greater film community, we’re excited to support new and past Gold Rising interns throughout their careers and can’t wait to see how they make their mark on the future of filmmaking.”

This summer, 100 students (including six interns placed within the Academy and the Academy Museum) from across the United States and abroad will participate in Gold Rising.  The eight-week program, which concludes with a graduation ceremony on August 7, offers participants networking opportunities with Academy members and industry professionals, a variety of panel discussions on every aspect of filmmaking, and career preparation sessions.

Each of the partners will sponsor up to three of their interns for the program, which kicks off today, June 16, with a two-day orientation that includes Academy governors, members and other industry speakers, studio and agency panels, virtual tours of the Academy’s Film Archive, Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, and a look into the Oscars® and Scientific and Technical Awards.

The program also has a production track with online technical workshops and masterclasses for students interested in cinematography, costume design, film editing, production design and sound.  The 35 participants in this track are from California State University Northridge, Exceptional Minds Academy, Los Angeles Film School, Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, New York Film Academy and select local community colleges from the Academy’s Community College Film and Media Arts Consortium.

Gold Rising interns will hear from more than 120 panelists and speakers over the course of the program. Highlights include:

Social Justice in Film
Panelists: Arthur Dong (writer-director), Laura Kim (EVP Marketing, Participant), Dawn Porter (director-producer), Marjan Safinia (director-producer)
Moderator: Rosalina Jowers (Senior Manager, Social Impact Communications, Participant)

Authentic Storytelling in the LGBTQIA+ Space
With GLAAD’s Associate Director of Transgender Representation and documentary film producer Alex Schmider

Getting to the Soul of “Soul”
Panelists: Matt Aspbury (cinematographer), Pixar Animation Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter (director-writer), Ian Megibben (cinematographer), Kevin Nolting (editor), Kemp Powers (writer-director), MontaQue Ruffin (animator)
Moderator: Audrey Cleo Yap (multimedia journalist)

Let’s Talk About It: Hollywood and Mental Health
Presented by Shaina Gonzales (licensed clinical social worker and founder of Therapeutic Bridges) 
Moderator: Dana Richie (filmmaker, producer, and founder of Backlot Productions)

Upon completion of the program, all Gold Rising interns will be paired with an Academy member for an eight-month mentorship.  This past year, members from every branch volunteered their time and support to the program, including such mentors as Khadija Alami, Ruth Carter, Nicolás Celis, Jon M. Chu, R.J. Cutler, Hugh Jackman, Yong Duk Jhun, Meg LeFauve, Tom McCarthy and Virgil Williams.

Gold Rising affords top film entertainment, technology, production services and digital media companies an opportunity to recruit and educate a nationwide pool of diverse talent.  To date, there are 365 past Gold Rising program participants.  The 2021 class is from 45 universities and is composed of 78% underrepresented racial/ethnic communities, 61% women, 43% LGBTQ+ and 17% with disability.

Gold Rising, led by program directors Bettina Fisher and Niti Shah, is a part of Academy Gold, a global talent development and inclusion initiative that provides creative individuals of diverse backgrounds with access and resources toward achieving their career pathways in filmmaking.  Programs under the Academy Gold umbrella also include Gold Fellowship for Women, the Student Academy Awards, and the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting.  All past participants and award recipients of these programs become a part of the Gold Alumni Program, which provides networking opportunities, access and career advancement services and offers affinity groups for Black and African American, Latinx, Asian American and Pacific Islander, LGBTQ+ and women alumni to network with others who share similar identities, backgrounds and experiences.  The program also tracks participants’ career progression and successes through a database, offering a diverse talent pipeline for the industry.

Academy Gold Rising is supported by a grant from The James Irvine Foundation.  Additional support is provided by The Walt Disney Company, Gucci Changemakers, and the Ruderman Family Foundation.

The Academy Gold Rising Production Track is made possible in part by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation and the Dwight Stuart Youth Fund.

Other funding is provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, Critics Choice Association in honor of Chadwick Boseman, and Leon Silverman.

For more information about the Gold Rising program, visit https://www.oscars.org/gold-rising.