Madame Imelda Romualdez Marcos with fellow Sangyaw Achievement Awardee Aster Amoyo (2nd from right) and Tacloban City Mayor Alfredo Romualdez and wife Councilor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez

Former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos led outstanding Leyteños and Samareños who were honored recently by the Tacloban City government, headed by City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, via the Sangyaw Achievement Awards. The awarding ceremony coincided with Tacloban City fiesta in honor of its patron saint Sr. Sto. Niño de Tacloban and was held at the city’s Balyuan Amphitheater.

Mrs. Marcos, together with Tacloban Foundation Pres. Alex Montejo, was honored for her contribution for the upliftment of Philippine arts and culture.

Former Tacloban City Mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez and Hon. Benjamin T. Romualdez were the awardees in the field of Leadership and Governance.

Other personalities who made strong impact and distinguished themselves in their respective fields of endeavor were also honored. In the fields of entertainment, media visual arts and directing, the honorees were Al Claude Evangelio, Jesus de Paz, Aster Amoyo, Leo Almeria, Leo Vilaflor, Boy Abunda, Ricky Lo and Kim Chiu. Evangelio and de Paz are internationally renowned and awardwinning directors, while Amoyo is a well-known entertainment columnist and successful entrepreneur.

In the fields of visual arts and literature, the awardees were Dr. Victor Sugbo, a noted poet and playwright, and Prof. Merlie Alunan, a literary genius from the University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban Campus (UPVTC).

Also honored were four outstanding men and women in the field of Performing Arts & Music: Choreographer Teresita Veloso-Pil, Ma. Victoria Diaz, Cielo Tibe Northington and Atty. Roman Christina Reposar, a widely acclaimed artist who is more popularly known as “Boling-ling.”

In presenting the plaques of recognition, Mayor Romualdez was assisted by his beauteous wife, Councilor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez and Atty. Ramon Santiago. Mayor Romualdez said, “The giving of these awards is our way of honoring and recognizing the stellar achievements made by these individuals in their respective fields. Their achievements and contributions in one way or another touched and inspired not only Taclobaños, but also people in other parts of Eastern Visayas and the country as well.

This is the second edition of the Sangyaw Achievement Awards. Last year, several distinguished Taclobanos were also honored for their contribution in the field of arts and culture. Leading them was famous choreographer Douglas Nierras.

Special guests

Among the special guests who graced the Tacloban City fiesta included Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Sen. Manuel Villar, former Rep. Imee Marcos, former Rep. Gilbert Remulla (host of the “Swak na Swak” TV show), ex-Rep. Rempee Manotoc, and Santiago, Isabela Mayor Amy Sison Navarro.

Delighting the crowd were Kapuso actor Dingdong Dantes and Kapamilya stars Karylle, Luis Manzano and Christian Bautista.
Contingents for this year’s Sangyaw Festival were Surigao City’s Bonok-Bonok Festival; the 27th Lancer Band of Makati City; the Baga Sambal Festival Halad sa Birhen of Naval, Biliran; the Beringan Festival of Samar’s Calbayog City; the Tribu Tarakluban of Tacloban City; the Banigan Festival of Basey, Samar, and the Pattaraday of Santiago, Isabela.

The atmosphere was indeed very festive and thousands of people from Eastern Visayas, tourists and balikbayans lined up the streets of Tacloban City to watch the performers while competing contingents engaged in their street dancing numbers along the way and had their finales at the Balyuan Amphitheater.

By the way, winner was the Bonok-Bonok Festival who brought home a cash prize of P500,000. The Banigan Festival got 2nd place with P300,000 cash prize, and 3rd place was Santiago City’s Pattaraday who won P200,000 cash prize.

In the Community and School-based category, the winners were the EVSU with a cash prize of P200,000; followed by the Holy Infant College, with a cash prize of P150,000 and Villa Dolina with P100,000 cash prize.

For those who don’t know, sangyaw is a Waray word meaning to pronounce or proclaim.

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GB Sampedro directs ‘Astig’

The much-touted indie movie “Astig” has for its director GB Sampedro who currently directs “Ruffa & Ai,” the daily morning show of Ruffa Gutierrez and Ai Ai delas Alas on ABS-CBN. GB Sampedro, an MTV, and commercial director has also directed for the Kapamilya network some defunct shows such as “Real Pinoy Fighter,” “Homeboy” and “Boy & Kris.”

“Astig,” a finalist in the forthcoming 2009 Cinemalaya Film Festival, is GB Sampedro’s first full-length indie movie. The movie is an episodic tale of tough young men trying to live and survive the sexual squalor, seductive filth and emotional perversity of Manila. It stars Dennis Trillo, Edgar Allan Guzman, Arnold Reyes and Sid Lucero.

What made him decide to direct “Astig?” GB Sampedro answered: “I studied in Manila for 10 years and I had encountered all sorts of people in the area. Manila is a place very close to my heart. Manila taught me so much about life, love, pain, struggle and survival.”

GB, who is a Backroom artist, says directing is both tough and cool just like life. With “Astig,” he says, “This is what I want to do in life. I want to be a film director. I like the works of great directors like Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen and Quentin Tarantino. Steven is a trend-setter while Woody is ahead of his time. I like Tarantino’s style of storytelling. I also like Joyce Bernal.”

GB is blessed to have a successful career despite having no formal studies in directing. “I started as an assistant director to Direk Louie Ignacio. I am thankful to have worked with him and I am eternally grateful to him. A few years ago, I was given the chance to direct corporate events and concerts. After which work just poured in and I was directing TVCs, TV shows, and brainstorming with prominent artists for their major concerts.”

GB won the Aliw Awards Best Concert Stage Director award for Sarah Geronimo’s “Sarah Geronimo… The Other Side” in 2006. Other concerts he directed were “Catch Me… Toni Gonzaga,” “Sarah Geronimo… In Motion,” “Bituing Walang Ningning Pasasalamat Concert,” Rufa Mae Quinto’s “Bombshell Unleashed,” “Jaya… Overjoyed,” Mark Bautista’s “Pop Heartthrob,” Ogie Alcasid’s “Power of Luv” and “Best By Request,” Rachelle Ann Go’s “The Ultimate Champion,” and “Kyla… Not Just Your Ordinary Girl,” “Upclose” and “Recall.”

As MTV director, GB has directed the MTVs of Lani Misalucha, Erik Santos, Rachelle Ann Go, Christopher de Leon, MYMP, Jinky Vidal of Freestyle, Sheryn Regis, Mark Bautista, Luke Mejares, Martin Nievera, Kyla, Jaya, and Gary Valenciano among others.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings om July 15 go to Julius Babao, Kakai Brosas of K and the Boxer, Ms. Tessie M. Gozon, Tony Ocampo of Ivory & Vicor Records, Norma Virtucio, Amelia Miranda, Mrs. Amy Santos, Dan Christian, Angelene Aguilar, Jon Jon B. Nuesca, Evelyn Diga, Pol Suarez, Clarence Lovely B. Clariño, Edna Briva, Jonathan Valdez, Erick V. Macahindog, John Paul T. Villarin and Robina Gokongwei-Pe… Happy wedding anniversary to former Pres. Joseph and Sen. Loi Ejercito-Estrada… Welcome to balikbayans Maria Gallagher and children Ryan and Sean.