2012 10/17-10/23

Northern California's largest Filipino American newspaper in circulation since 1990, the Manila Mail is the Bay Area's most read Fil-Am weekly publication distributed free in major cities of Northern California. Community is a B Section page that contains the weekly column of Bradford Adkins 'SCENES in the city'. The column features include: the issues and events, the individuals and organizations moving the community.

Veteran actor Eddie Garcia and a dog named Princess as "BWAKAW." The little film written and directed by Jun Robles Lana is big in the New York Film Festival critics' eyes.

After making waves at New York Film Festival, Awards Circuits rank # 6 (Oscar Awards Best Foreign Language Category) the Philippine movie "BWAKAW," a friendship movie about an old man and his dog. The well-liked film is written and directed by Jun Robles Lana.

Jun Robles Lana, writer/director of "BWAKAW" gets interviewed by New York Film Festival Media, as moderated by Associate Director of Programming, Scott Foundas via Skype, a week before his arrival in New York City.

Directed by Rory B. Quintos Thai Superstar Mario Maurer and Filipina young actress Erich Gonzales pair up in ABS-CBN's Star Cinema's latest movie offering, "Suddenly It's Magic," showing end of this month in the Philippines.

Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire, Jr. knocks down Japanese boxer Toshiaki Nishioka winning by TKO last Saturday at sold-out The Home Depot Center last Saturday in Carson, CA. Photo by Peter Dumaual

Dindi Gallardo (unknown to her New York employers is 1993 Miss Philippines-Universe) made front page headlines when she recently filed a lawsuit claiming discrimination, among others, against her employer ("Batman" writer Frank Miller) & his girlfriend (Hollywood actress Kimberly Cox).

Happy birthday (October 15) to San Jose's Florence Vitug-Pena, photographed here during last Saturday's Public Square Rosary Rally held at St. Maria Goretti Parish.

Belated Happy Birthday, The Honorable Mayor Jose Esteves, who celebrated at Murphy's Park in Milpitas, CA last October 7, 2012 with followers and supporters. Don't forget to register to vote this coming November and re-elect Jose Esteves for Mayor of Milpitas, anew!

Belated Happy 3rd Birthday to Meliza Jeanna Oribio (shown here with Mom, Riza Oribio) who jointly celebrated with Dad, Melvin Oribio (not pictured) at their newly-blessed house in San Jose, CA.

Belated Happy Birthday to Mrs. Teresita Ventura, left, who turned 80 recently and was feted with a lavish party by her son, San Pablo's George Ventura at The Podesto Center in Stockton, CA.

Conrado & Teresita Ventura, husband and wife, during her 80th birthday celebration in Stockton, CA recently. Belated Happy Birthday!

Rosary Rally Captain, Richard Lao thanks the organizers & supporters of last Saturday's record-breaking Public Square Rosary Rally held at St. Maria Goretti Parish. Congratulations!

“BWAKAW” IS

OSCAR-WORTHY

(Jun Robles Lana’s latest movie is now ranked # 6 favorite to win an academy award

for Best Foreign Language Feature)

TO-BE SEEN IN THE CITY

“BWAKAW” is the name of the dog (literally, it’s Tagalog slang for crocodile or figuratively, a greed) and the title of the little movie from the Philippines (written and directed by UST graduate Jun Robles Lana) that took the recently concluded 50^th New York Film Festival by surprise and consistently made the critics’ and audience’s favorites list (its last 2 screenings were both sold-out!). The movie stars Eddie Garcia as a grumpy old man and his dog, Bwakaw (her screen name is Princess; she has her own teleserye now), the man’s only best friend. The movie is also this year’s official Philippine entry to the 85^th Oscar Awards (Best Foreign Language Feature Category).

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Washington Post, CBS News, The Republic, San Francisco Chronicle, Canada's Brandon Sun and Singapore's Straits Times have taken notice of the movie’s selection as this year’s Philippine Oscars entry. Film critics from Variety.com. Slant Magazine, AwardsCircuit.com hailed the merits of the movie. The Hollywood Reporter likes "Bwakaw" which it called "a captivating charmer from the Philippines."

Film Critic Kenneth Broadway (he has dual bachelor degrees related to film, therefore he knows what he’s talking about) writes: “Bwakaw is a movie full of quiet surprises, and the great pleasure of watching it results from the matter-of-fact way the script leisurely unfurls its secrets and piles layer upon layer on what initially appears to be an uncomplicated story….He adds: “Bwakaw comprises a hundred amazing little details, the sum of which equals something quite unique and wonderful. The strength of the script resides in the nimble way it fluctuates between sincere meditative drama and outrageous comedy.” Whoa!

The glowing reviews are pushing “BWAKAW” to greater heights and is making this tiny film into something bigger than it actually is. Can you even imagine “BWAKAW” battling for New York Film aficionados’ attention in the middle of Hollywood giants like Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln,” Nicole Kidman’s and Zac Efron’s “The Paperboy,” Ang Lee’s “The Life of Pi,” Denzel Washington’s “Flight,” among others? "Bwakaw" was listed alongside the films of Ang Lee, Robert Zemeckis and Brian de Palma in Time's "10 Films to Watch" at the New York Film Festival -- the only Asian film to make the prestigious list.

Previously, it won the 8th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival's Directors' Showcase Audience Choice Award, NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Awards and Eddie Garcia as Best Actor. "Bwakaw" was recently screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. Its presence in festival circuits continues as “BWAKAW” is headed next to Hawaii and Tokyo, Japan after the New York Film Festival.

This Columnist recently interviewed writer/director Jun Robles Lana (I love his work in ‘Muro Ami’) and learned that while his movie directing mentor is the deceased Marilou Diaz-Abaya (of “Brutal” and “Moral” fame), “BWAKAW” was inspired by his deceased teacher and mentor playwright, Rene Villanueva. The movie was to remember, honor and not to forget him (his greatest fear).

No Filipino film has ever made it as an Oscar’s finalist for Best Foreign Language Film. No Filipino film has ever made a pre-Oscar buzz at this stage of the competition – 19 weeks before the Oscars in February 24, 2013.

Only now – for BWAKAW.

Bring it on, BWAKAW! Bring home the Oscar bone!

SEEN IN THE CITY

A Beauty Queen battles anew

It made the front page headlines of The New York Post. The 1993 Miss Philippines-Universe titlist Dindi Gallardo’s latest battle is outside the pageant competition this time. It’s inside the courtrooms of New York City after she filed a serious discrimination complaint against her former employer (Frank Miller, best known for producing the Hollywood movie ‘300’ and writing Batman: The Dark Knight Returns) and his young girlfriend (Hollywood actress Kimberly Cox). According to published reports, the Filipina ‘thank you’ girl at the Miss Universe competition was offered a hefty sum to settle but she said ‘No, Thank You’ and instead hired a powerful lawyer to defend her honor and her (past, present and future) wages with punitive damages. The charges include, the not so pageant-friendly words like ‘ugly,’ ‘feces,’ ‘soiled underwear’ and ‘used sanitary napkins’ – all used to torment Dindi by the producer’s girlfriend at their place of employment, the lawsuit alleges (available online after it was filed). There goes the award for “Most Ideal Place To Work For”.

Shorts and Briefs

Global Rosary Rally exceeds target

During depressing economic times, some go to the movies. The others go to the comfort of prayers. Last Saturday, around noontime, October 13, 2012, there were 9,077 documented simultaneous Public Square Rosary Rallies (exceeding the 8,000 initial target) held all around the United States, joined in by 22 other countries. In 2007, there were 2,107 rallies. In 2008, 3,500. In 2009, 4,337. In 2010, 5,963. In 2011, 7,515.

On the local front, in San Jose, CA, hundreds gathered at the St. Maria Goretti Church along Senter Road, led by Rosary Rally Captain – Richard Lao and ably supported by organizers & participants - Lou Concepcion, Florence Vitug-Pena, Elizabeth Chua-Drechsler, Rhuddee Vitug, Alexandra Drechsler, Tiffany Alcantara, Alex Cardenas, Veronica Kalinawan, Erlie Vitug, Bernard Peña , Elvie Teodoro, Christian Pena, Mathew Alcantara, Agnes Burruel, Mark Alcantara, Carmon Buno (who came with her mom), among others.

Why October 13? Well, according to the short speech of Mr Lao, it was to remember ‘the day God worked the Miracle of the Sun in Fatima, Portugal in 1917.” He furthers, “ Our goal is to ask God to guide every aspect of our society. Human efforts failed to solve America’s key problems. We ask God His immediate help for our nation. Without prayer, we may not find the solutions.” Amen to that.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I can’t understand your funky accent. Speak f--king English,” by Hollywood actress Kimberly Cox, according to The New York Post quoting the discrimination lawsuit tiled by Miss Philippines-Universe 1993, Dindi Gallardo (she has lived in the United States for over 20 years and is fluent in English).

This article also appears online at www.BradfordAdkins.com, www.ScenesInTheCity.com, www.FilAmnation.com and http://sites.google.com/site/adkinsmmcevents/Home/ with readership in 160 countries now (& still counting!) according to the latest Google Analytics report.

Do you have any personal or community events you want announced or published? Just email them to bradford_adkins@yahoo.com

Add me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/jb.adkins

Follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/bradford_adkins)

"Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary,

Pray for us who have recourse to thee."

Public Square Rosary Rally 2012

A public square Rosary Rally was held successfully at the garden of the St. Maria Goretti Parish Church located at 2980 Senter Road, San Jose, CA last October 13, 2012.

It was sponsored by the America Needs Fatima, and it was one of the 8,000 rallies that took place all accross the United States on that day at exactly 12:00 noon. 22 other countries also joined the rallies.

Our Virgin Mother Mary will always be grateful to all her children for their selfless support in making her PUBLIC SQUARE ROSARY RALLY a successful one.

Together with our Virgin Mother Mary, Florence Pena, James Bradford Adkins, Lou M. Concepcion, and Richard Lao acknowleged the selfless assistance provided by ElizaRica Anderson, Elizabeth Chua Drechsler, Alexandra Drechsler, Rhuddee Gaudinez Vitug, Tiffany Alcantara who helped in registrations; Veronica Kalinawan who led the rosary and Erlie Vitug led Divine praises; Bernard Peña, Christian Pena, Mathew & Mark Alcantara who helped organizing chairs, tables and drinks. Thank you also for the generosity of those who brought pastries and cases of waters.

Our Lady Of Fatima may bless you always. Our Virgin Mother Mary revealed to us her gratitude when She showed us the dancing of the sun before our rosary began.

God bless you all!