Film Review: Rosario Love's many faces By Danton Remoto (The Philippine Star) Updated December 29, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (1) MANILA, Philippines - I remember those days when one went to the Metro Manila Film Festival to see the likes of Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Marilou Diaz Abaya, Celso Ad. Castillo, and Mike de Leon compete for the December prizes with their amazing films. It’s in this spirit that I went to watch the film fest on its first day, and I chose Rosario, the first film offering of CineMabuhay and Studio 5. I was not disappointed. Duty and love are the twin poles that Rosario (Jennylyn Mercado) had to contend with in 1920s Philippines. Back from studies in New York and stuck in a tobacco hacienda in Isabela, she meets her match in the bright but poor Vicente (Yul Servo), the administrator of their vast estate. Duty and love are also the twin poles confronting Vicente, who was sent to school by Rosario’s parents. Bright thought he may be, he will always be at the b

December 22, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Person: Clara Rita “Claire” A. Padilla, JD Executive Director EnGendeRights, Inc. Telefax: (+632) 3762578 Mobile Landline: (+632) 6645696 Mobile: (+63)918-2182682 Email: engenderights@pldtdsl.net; padillaclara@yahoo.com Website: www.engenderights.org Blog: http://clararitapadilla.blogspot.com Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders Won Vote in the UN General Assembly Resolution Protecting Against Extrajudicial Executions Based on Sexual Orientation Manila , December 21, 2010 – Yesterday, Tuesday, December 22, lesbians, gays, bisexuals and trangenders (LGBTs) won the inclusion of a provision in a resolution on extrajudicial executions protecting them from extrajudicial executions based on sexual orientation at the United Nations General Assembly. “This a very important resolution for LGBTs especially since there are countless extrajudicial executions made on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. It is the only U

Dr. Isagani Cruz of the Manila Critics Circle is one of my good friends. Congratulations, Gani, for winning the TOFIL. I am reprinting his wise words on how writers shaped -- and gave a habitatin and a name -- to our country. Then and now, our writers are public intellectuals who never shirked from their roles as voices and commentators in our quotidian lives. *** Response to TOFIL MINI CRITIQUE By Isagani Cruz (The Philippine Star) Updated December 23, 2010 12:00 Here are excerpts from the response I prepared for the awarding ceremonies last Dec. 9 of The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL), which had the theme “Of Hopes and Heroes” (I have translated the Filipino portions into English): Thank you very much for the great honor you gifted me with this Christmas season. I cannot possibly repay your kindness. Please allow me to use my three minutes of fame to appeal for outstanding writing and outstanding reading. You gave the TOFIL to Dionisio Salazar in 1994 for “Drama and Literature” and