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 ...

For Immediate Release 23 November 2010 Media Contact: David J. Nolan +1 202 986 6093 Pope's Clarification Reveals Significance of Condom Statement Jon O'Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, issued the following statement on the most recent news from the Vatican on condom use. "The Vatican's acknowledgement that Pope Benedict's acceptance of condom use to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections relates to everybody shows how significant the pope's comments are. "This morning, the Vatican's spokesperson, Rev. Federico Lombardi, said: I personally asked the pope if there was a serious, important problem in the choice of the masculine over the feminine. He told me no. The problem is this ... It's the first step of taking responsibility, of taking into consideration the risk of the life of another with whom you have a relationship. This is if you're a woman, a man, or a transsexual. We're at the same point. "Conservatives...

PRESS STATEMENT GENEVA, 20 November 2010—UNAIDS welcomes the reported statement of Pope Benedict XVI calling for “a humane way of living sexuality” and that the use of condoms are justified “in the intention of reducing the risk of HIV infection”. “This is a significant and positive step forward taken by the Vatican today,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. “This move recognizes that responsible sexual behaviour and the use of condoms have important roles in HIV prevention.” UNAIDS has worked closely with the Vatican. In 2009, Mr Sidibé held far-reaching discussions with Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski on HIV prevention issues, including the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, protecting young people and reducing sexual violence against women and girls. “This will help accelerate the HIV prevention revolution, in promoting evidence-informed and human rights-based approaches to achieve universal access goals towards HIV prevention, treatment, care and support,” said Mr S...

By Danton Remoto Remote Control www.abs-cbnnews.com 29 October 2010 After May 10,2010, when Ang Ladlad Party List ran on sheer adrenalin and campaigned for only three weeks –when the other party lists campaigned for three months – and lost, I quietly returned to part-time teaching. But let me tell you the odyssey of finding a part-time teaching job. In all humility, I took the grammar and writing test in a State University so I could teach part-time in its Department of English and Comparative Literature. But after a month and no word came from its esteemed chairperson, I called her up and asked about my chances. “Well, you passed the grammar and writing test!” she enthused, for which I thanked her. “But we don’t have a slot for you as a teacher.” “I’m only applying for a part-time teaching position,” I said. “Yes, we have no slots for full-time teachers.” I repeated my answer and she repeated hers. Now, I do not know why some state universities have English Department chairpersons wit...

Danton Remoto Remote Control Ang Ladlad says ‘no’ to separate restrooms I am back after a short absence, since I have retired from teaching and now working for an international development organization. I would like to publicize Ang Ladlad’s stand on separate toilets, an ordinance filed by a Provincial Board Member in Cebu. Cebu Provincial Board Member, Arleigh Sitoy, recently filed an ordinance requiring business establishments in the province to designate a separate restroom exclusively for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTs). The ordinance's explanatory note says, "Separate restroom is the solution to end the confusion of what public restroom should a member of the LGBT avail for them to feel safe, comfortable and convenient wherein there are only male and female comfort rooms." While Ang Ladlad lauds and appreciates the intent of Mr. Sitoy to address the needs and concerns of LGBTs, its members, especially from the Cebu chapter, have expressed strong rese...