PH actress in HK Oscars

Homegrown Filipino actress Crisel Consunji

clinches 2 noms at HK Oscars

Rito P. Asilo

Philippine Daily Inquirer

15 February 2019

Two hours after learning that she was nominated for best actress in the 38th edition of the Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA), Filipino actress Crisel Consunji still couldn’t believe her luck.

Crisel Consunji

Consunji (right) with Anthony Wong in “Still Human”

It is the first time a homegrown Pinoy performer is nominated for a top acting plum in the former British colony’s version of the Oscars.

Crisel’s impressive feat is made more significant by the fact that she’s nominated in two categories: She’s also up for best new performer.

“I’ve been teaching all afternoon, so it’s only sinking in now,” the 34-year-old actress-educator told Inquirer Entertainment on Tuesday.

Crisel, last seen on the Philippine stage in New Voice’s 2007 adaptation of “Into the Woods,” teaches preschool kids at Baumhaus, where she is head of learning and development.

The actress has been singled out for her portrayal of a nurse-turned-domestic helper in Oliver Chan Siu-kuen’s thoughtfully limned drama, “Still Human,” opposite veteran actor Anthony Wong, who also merited a nod for best actor.

The film is nominated in eight categories, including best film, best director and best new director (for Siu-kuen).

While it is Crisel and Siu-kuen’s first time to get nominated at the HKFA, it is already Anthony’s 12th nomination.

In 2003 alone, he was nominated for his supporting performances in three films (“Infernal Affairs,” “Just One Look” and “Princess D”) and won for the former. He triumphed again in the same category three years later, for “Initial D.”

Anthony also has two best actor awards from the HKFA: In 1994, he won over Jackie Chan (“Crime Story”) for his performance in “The Untold Story.” Five years later, he bested Jackie (“Who Am I?”) again, for “Beast Cops.”

For her part, Crisel says she’s “overwhelmed” by the career-boosting turn of events. “Who knew I’d get this far when I auditioned for the role of Evelyn Santos after answering a casting call on Facebook?” she quipped. “I know it’s just a nomination, but I feel like it’s such a big honor to be recognized for our efforts.”

She says she doesn’t just see the nomination as a personal achievement—she’s only too happy to share the good news with her fellow Filipinos and “Still Human” colleagues.

“I was surprised that I got two nominations. But more than anything, I love the fact that my joy is genuinely shared by so many people,” she told us just before midnight last Tuesday, when we asked what was going through her mind the first time she heard about her feat.

Other trivia about the HKFA: Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu-wai (“In the Mood for Love”) have both been awarded best actress and actor five times already.

Cecilia Yip, Crisel’s costar in “Still Human,” has three wins (“Let’s Make Laugh” and “This Thing Called Love” for best actress, and “Beyond the Sunset” for best supporting actress).

Chow Yun-fat has the most number of acting nominations (13), with three wins (“A Better Tomorrow,” “City on Fire,” “All About Ah-Long”). Trailing him is Anthony Wong, the lead actor of “Still Human,” with 12 nominations.

Other Chinese cinema luminaries who have won acting prizes at the HKFA include Jet Li, Andy Lau, Gong Li, Sammo Hung, Leslie Cheung, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Aaron Kwok, Shu Qi, Anita Mui and Zhang Ziyi.

What about Jackie Chan? He has the most number of nominations without a win: 10. Well, hope springs for the lithe, fit and limber 64-year-old action superstar, as demonstrated by his gravity-defying stunts in his current starrer “The Knight of Shadows: Between Yin and Yang,” which opened in Philippine theaters last week.

After all, our very own Eddie Garcia is already 89 years old, but that hasn’t stopped him from being productive. Last year alone, he won three best actor awards—for “ML” at Cinemalaya, “Hintayan ng Langit” at QCinema, and “Rainbow’s Sunset” at the Metro Manila Film Festival.

The winners of the 2019 Hong Kong Film Awards will be announced at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui on April 14.

R& B Grammy Awardee

Filipino-American R&B singer bags two Grammy awards 

CNN Philippines                                                                                                                                   12 February 2019

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) — Filipino-American R&B rising star H.E.R. brought home two awards from the prestigious Grammy Awards on Monday. 

The 21-year-old singer bagged the Best R&B album and Best R&B Performance for her song "Best Part," featuring Daniel Caesar. She won two out of her five nominations.

"So first thing I wanna say is this is unbelievable and second it's not even an album, it's an EP" she said after accepting her golden gramophone. "I'm speechless right now, I'm holding back tears."

H.E.R., born Gabriella Wilson, is the daughter of a Filipino mother and an African-American father, who was a musician. She said her love for music stemmed from the Filipinos' love for karaoke and growing up around her father's music.

Her stage name means "Having Everything Revealed."

Asia's new Talents

Filipino talent shines anew in Asia’s Got Talent Season 3

Nathalie Tomada
The Philippine Star
09 February 2019


MANILA, Philippines — After giving the previous seasons of Asia’s Got Talent (AGT) winning acts, the Philippines continues to field strong contenders in Season 3 of the regional version of the Got Talent franchise.

Getting the nods of celebrity judges David Foster, Jay Park and Anggun to move to the next stage of the contest were a father-daughter tandem, singing siblings and a dance crew who practiced every day in the last four years for their AGT dream, as seen in Thursday’s premiere episode.

One of the Pinoy acts to receive three “yes” votes was HK Sisters, who got a standing ovation after singing Phantom of the Opera’s Think of Me. When asked what it would mean to them if they won the $100,000 prize, the Castillo sisters — Harrah Kaym 16, and Hannah Korin, 17 ­— said “our father is a seafarer so we only see him for about two months and he works on the ship for six to nine months.



If we win this, we get to spend more time with him.” Prior to AGT, the sisters won awards at the World Championships of Performing Arts as individuals and as duo.

Another Pinoy talent who stood out was Zianne Angierein Garcia a.k.a. Zeexhie. When she was a toddler, she became an Internet sensation for her cheer stunts with her choreographer father Renier.

She also nearly won Eat Bulaga’s Hype Kang Bata Ka contest last year. The child wonder charmed the AGT judges who all gave her cheer dance performance with her father a resounding “Yes!”

Junior Good Vibes, a 15-member dance crew from Sampaloc, also received three yes votes for their audition. Foster told them, “There’s 15 unique stories, and all those stories came to life and I felt everything that you guys are feeling and I’m very proud of you.”

Though failing to make it to the next round, Pinoy stand-up comic/singer ZooDiva left audiences in stitches by incorporating animal sounds to his song.

In the same episode, crazier acts included a Japanese with a farting talent who amused the judges so much they made him stay on. Jay Park also made AGT history by pressing the Golden Buzzer for TK Jiang, a digital magician from Singapore. The Golden Buzzer sends a contestant all the way to the semi-finals.

The STAR previewed the episode ahead of its premiere, which was followed by a presscon with DMX Comvaleñoz, the dance group from Compostela Valley who was a runner-up in the past AGT season.

Asked how the show has changed their lives, a member happily shared, “Actually, artista na kami sa aming lugar.” The gigs came one after another, bringing the group to Indonesia and Malaysia. Such good news earned applause during the presscon for the members, who once struggled with getting passports because they either didn’t finish school or never had any valid IDs in their life until they joined AGT.
The group has pieces of advice for fellow dance group Junior Good Vibes, other Filipino talents in the current edition and those who want to join AGT in the future.

For one, contestants have to jazz up routines. “Actually, nakikita ko (I always see Junior Good Vibes) practicing near National University, sa may kalsada. Mahirap kasi ilang taon silang nag-training para makuha ang pangarap nilang makapag-compete sa Asia’s Got Talent. My advice is don’t maintain routines but level up always. Don’t focus on one genre.”

Second is to use their God-given talent to the best of their ability. “Never stop dreaming. To all Pinoy performers, todo lang. Bigay lang lahat (give it your all) even in the auditions. Huwag kayong panghinaan ng loob (don’t lose hope). Do your best in dancing, singing or beat-box or kung anong tanging alam ninyo (whatever unique talent you have). Don’t stop because it’s God’s gift to you.”

Third, to enjoy the whole AGT experience, win or lose. “Kung may hahadlang na magulang, trabaho o pera (if there are obstacles, be it your parents, work or money, don’t worry) darating din ang panahon para sa ‘yo. Just sit down and wait, rehearse, practice, enjoy… Don’t be afraid to lose.”

In the debut season of Asia’s Got Talent in 2015, the Pinoy shadow play group El Gamma Penumbra emerged as the grand winner. Among other Filipinos who shone in the last two editions of the talent show were classical singer Gerphil Flores, beat boxer Neil Llanes, as well as dance crews Junior New System and Urban Crew.

PH First Hybrid Train

First Filipino-built train rouses pride, offers commuter relief


Art Fuentes
ABS-CBN NEWS
05 February 2019

MANILA -- Air-conditioned, big enough for 880 passengers and running on similar technology that powers Toyota's Pruis hybrid cars, the first Filipino-built train will be deployed in the first quarter, giving relief to thousands of commuters.

The Hybrid Electric Train (HET) built by the Department of Science and Technology is tested on the tracks of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) in Calamba, Laguna, Jan. 30, 2019. Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News

Built by the Department of Science and Technology, the Hybrid Electric Train (HET) took 5 years to develop and test and before the locomotives can be deployed on the Philippine National Railway (PNR) tracks, which stretches from Metro Manila to Laguna.

"Nakita namin na safe and reliable yung train natin kaya we are proud na pwede natin sabihin na comparable na yan sa imported ones na binibili natin na trains," said Pablo Acuin, a senior science research specialist at the DOST who headed the HET project.

(We saw that our trains are safe and reliable and we can say they are comparable to the imported ones that we buy.)

Currently, only 6 to 7 of the PNR's 11 train sets work on any given day, as 5 others undergo maintenance. Ideally, the PNR should have 15 trains, said the railway's spokesperson, Joseline Geronimo.

"Kami naman, syempre excited din kami kasi makakadagdag yan sa aming fleet," Geronimo said.

(We are excited to add more trains to our fleet.)

The PNR ordered 7 new train sets from Indonesia but these will not arrive until the middle of 2019. Acuin said the DOST-built trains could be in service by March.

The HET cost P120 million to develop, compared to the $47.4 million (P2.37 billion) cost of the Indonesian-made locomotives.

HOW IT STARTED

The hybrid electric train was conceived in 2012, according to Acuin. Back then, the DOST was helping PNR retrofit its fleet of locomotives. 

“But we decided to develop a new train instead of retrofitting (the trains),” said Acuin. 

To do this, the DOST assembled a team of engineers from various fields, as no one in the department had any experience working with locomotives, he said.

In 2013, the team came up with a design for a hybrid electrical train because they saw it as more energy efficient and environment-friendly.

The design called for a diesel-powered generator, an electric motor, a bank of electrical batteries, and what the engineers call regenerative braking technology.

Like Toyota’s Prius, the Filipino-built train taps kinetic energy normally lost when the train slows down or stops, and converts it to electricity which is then stored in 260 lead-acid batteries. 

This stored energy can then be tapped to help propel the HET as well as power its automatic doors, aircon and onboard CCTV security system.

After coming up with the design, the team started looking for a local fabricator who can make the train coaches. While the engine, motor, and bogie (the train’s chassis, axle and wheels) will have to be sourced abroad, the coach could be made locally. 

Fil-Asia Automotive and Industries Corp, which makes bus bodies and special trucks won the bidding to fabricate the train coaches.

The train's 5 coaches took less than a year to make, said Davie Ang, production manager for Fil-Asia. It took 2 years to integrate the train's different components and by the end of 2015, the trains were ready for testing.

It took another 2 years and 5,000 kilometers of performance tests to determine the HET’s reliability, availability, maintainability and safety before the DOST was ready to turn over the train to the PNR in 2018.

Unlike the trains of the MRT and LRT which run on elevated tracks, PNR trains face more challenging environments such as floods, said Geronimo, the PNR spokesperson.

POTENTIAL BUSINESS

With the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte actively promoting railways for mass transport, Acuin sees potential in tapping local engineers and fabricators to supply trains to these massive infrastructure projects. 

The government’s infrastructure portal lists 5 major railway projects aside from the subway and light railway systems that have already broken ground or are under construction. These are the PNR North 1, PNR North 2, PNR South Commuter, PNR South Long Haul and the Mindanao Railway projects.

“We just need na magkaroon ng demand kasi, para yung industry mag-invest sila dun sa mga facilities na gagawa ng mga components o systems ng train,” Acuin said.

(We need demand so that there will be investments in facilities that build train components or systems.)

The DOST filed 4 patents during the course of developing the HET, underscoring how much local engineers learned while working on the project, he said.

Mass production will help bring train building costs further down, said Fil-Asia's Ang.

"Actually yun ang ina-eye namin. Kung mag mass produce si PNR, why not?" Ang said, adding that a train-building industry will also provide a lot of jobs for locals. 

(Actually, that's what we are eyeing. If the PNR will mass produce, why not?)

If such an industry takes off, the DOST will no longer be involved as its mandate ends with research and development and transferring this technology to the private sector.

"Ang plano namin before, magbuo sila ng consortium o joint venture para in case na magpagawa ng PNR or any local government unit ng local train na ginawa natin, they have the materials, the financial capacity and manpower to create the train," Acuin said.

(Our plan before, was for a consortium or joint venture to be formed in case the PNR or any local government unit will want trains built, they will have the materials, the financial capacity and manpower to create the train.)

Miss Vietnam visits PH

Miss Universe Vietnam fuses Filipino terno with own national dress

ABS-CBN News
04 February 2019

MANILA – Vietnamese beauty queen H’hen Nie wrapped up her short visit to the Philippines on a high note, showcasing the cultures of both Southeast Asian countries in one unique dress.

On Instagram, Nie shared a photo of her wearing a white dress, which is a mix of Vietnam’s and the Philippines’ traditional garments – the ao dai and the terno, respectively.

“This is a special dress for me, it’s mixed between the traditional costume of Vietnam ao dai and [the] Philippines’ terno designed by Aodai Kinzu (Song Toan). I love this,” she said.

“It’s time to say goodbye. Thank you so much, Philippines. I will never forget your love and warm welcome. I love all of you.”

Nie arrived in Manila last Friday and was reunited with her Filipino pageant coach, Anjo Santos.

She was invited to a youth congress in Naga and also had the opportunity to meet the Philippines’ own Venus Raj, who finished fourth runner-up in Miss Universe 2010.

The two were photographed wearing the terno and baro’t saya, another traditional Filipino dress.

Nie finished in the Top 5 of Miss Universe 2018, which was won by the Philippines’ Catriona Gray.

World"s Top Internet User

Philippines tops world internet usage index with an average 10 hours a day

South-east Asia has three countries in the top five, while Japan comes in last 

Kate Lamb| The Guardian

01 February 2019

South-east Asia is one of the most internet-addicted regions on the planet, with the Philippines topping the global list with an average 10 hours and 2 minutes of screen time every day.

The Philippines topped the internet usage index, with two other south-east Asian nations in the top five. Photograph: Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images

The country was joined in the top five by Thailand and Indonesia, according to findings in a new report on online habits released by HootSuite and We Are Social.

Ranked third, people in Thailand were found to spend an average 9 hours and 11 minutes online each day, while those in neighbouring Indonesia also devoted more than a third of their day to screen time, clocking in at 8 hours and 36 minutes on average.

Developing nations from south-east Asia and Latin America dominated the internet usage index, with Brazil and Colombia ranked second and fourth, respectively.

Asia also featured at the other end of the spectrum, with people in Japan spending the least amount of time online – at an average of 3 hours and 45 minutes.

The report reveals 57% of the global population is now connected to the internet, spending an average 6.5 hours online each day, leading its author, Simon Kemp, to calculate that the “world’s digital community will spend a combined total of more than 1.2bn years using the internet in 2019”.

The findings from the Digital 2019 report show that most time spent online is done via mobile devices, with the greatest portion of that time spent on social media. It also charts an exponential increase in the number of new internet users.

“The big story in this year’s data is the accelerating growth in internet users,” Kemp wrote, “More than 360 million people came online for the first time in 2018, at an average rate of more than one million new users every day.”

The country that experienced the biggest jump in internet usage in 2018 was India, which also struggled to counter the violent repercussions of viral fake news – with false rumours about child kidnappers spread on the messaging service WhatsApp leading to mob lynching and the murder of more than two dozen people.

The south Asian nation saw the number of internet users jump by almost 100 million last year, nearly doubling the same growth in China, with internet penetration in India now at 41%.