Being a strong advocate of cruelty against animals, GMA Artist Center talent Yasmien Kurdi has expressed disgust over the plan of a rich businessman (reportedly supported by a senator and a congressman) to introduce and implement in the country what is called the Greyhound Dog Racing.

When we chanced upon Yasmien in Cebu during the recent GMA Kapuso Fans’ Day, she told us how disappointed she was about this development and that was why they at the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) intended to go to the Senate to rally against the Greyhound Dog Racing.

“Imagine, from what we were told, they are going to bring over dogs to be raised here and then will be used for racing. These dogs will be trained to be ferocious kasi paglalabanin nga sila. Parang survival of the fittest. At wala man lang pasabi sa PETA ang gagawin nila na eto.” Yasmien is a PETA endorser.

Yasmien is currently taking up Foreign Service at New Era University where she is a regular sophomore student. After this, she intends to take up Law “para tuloy-tuloy ang mga advocacy ko.” Determined to finish school, Yasmien is a diligent student, having a weighted average of 1.5, and earning the highest grade of 1 in Eco. Her lowest grade, she said, was 2.

Did you know that Yasmien doesn’t eat meat and dairy products? She just eats rice, vegetables and fruits. And yet, she looks so healthy and strong.

Yasmien is in the cast of “SRO Cinemaserye Presents… Suspetsa” together with Jennelyn Mercado, Nadine Samonte, Paolo Contis and Ryan Eigenmann among others.

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FDCP awards finalists to Cinemalaya 2009

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) recently awarded the 10 finalists of Cinemalaya Cinco 2009 at the FDCP Office in Ortigas Center.

In simple ceremonies, FDCP Chairman, Rolando S. Atienza together with Cinemalaya President, Nestor O. Jardin, awarded the 10 Cinemalaya Cinco finalists. The following directors received their R100,000 each: Ana Agabin for “24k,” Vic Acedillo Jr. for “Ang Nerseri,” Giuseppe Bede “GB” Sampedro for “Astig,” Jon Steffan Ballesteros for “Colorum,” Michael “Mike” Sandejas for “Dinig Sana Kita,” Jose Lorenzo “Pepe” Diokno for “Engkwentro,” Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel for “Last Supper #3,” Jerrold Tarog for “Mangatyanan,” Alvin Yapan for “Pangangahasa kay Fe,” and Milo Sogueco for “Sanglaan.”

This is the second year that FDCP has partnered with Cinemalaya. Now on its fifth year, Cinemalaya, has achieved so much and is a testament to the pioneering vision of its organizers, the consistent support of its sponsors and audience and the courageous commitment of the new Filipino filmmakers.

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Star-studded J23 opening

The recent formal inauguration and blessing of J23 Salon and Spa (located at 66 Timog Ave. in Quezon City) was star-studded. Among those who graced the occasion were loyal patrons of the salon led by singer-actress Jamie Rivera, Yayo Aguila, Tess Bomb, and Katrina Halili who made it although she came late because she had a taping in Bulacan. Katrina’s effort to catch up with the event was of course very much appreciated by the owners of the salon, Neojin and Jessica Evangelista and their daughter Jacquelyn and partner Ellen Velasco-Gerapusco. Katrina is a regular customer at J23 Salon and Spa.

Neogin is commercial director of Stiefel Philippines, Inc. His daughter, who studied in a university in Wales, welcomed the guests and she said they are so happy that they have realized their one big dream, to have their own beauty parlor. “We’ve always dreamt to have our own beauty salon,” Jacquelyn told the guests, “and now that we have one, I hope you’ll still support us.” The Evangelista family has been a longtime customer of Ellen even when she was still working at Salon de Manila and later in other salons. They, like most customers of Ellen, go where she is.

Among the showbiz celebrities who go to Ellen for haircut include Lorna Tolentino, Ronnie and Mariz Ricketts, Ara Mina, Gladys Reyes, Charise Solomon, and Cheryl Cosim among others.

Also a special guest was beauty expert Fanny Serrano who was heard talking about the PGMA-TESDA scholarships of which his parlor is also a school participant. Fanny now has several classes (in haircutting, make-up, body massage, hair-coloring, facial and others) ongoing at his shop in Sct. Rallos in Morato, QC. Fanny enjoins all out-of-school youth, unemployed wives and mothers to take advantage of these PHMA-TESDA scholarship grants.

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DEAFinitely… A very special dinner

Today, July 23, the Philippine Institute for the Deaf (PID), the pioneer and premier Oral School for the Deaf in the country teaching the deaf to speak, is hosting a fund-raising dinner which celebrates classic Filipino cuisine from renowned Via Mare founder Glenda Barretto and renowned artist chef Claude Tayag at the TOP SHELF (Atop Fully Booked), Serendra, Fort Bonifacio, Global City.

All proceeds from the dinner will benefit the PID Scholarship Fund to reach out and rescue more deaf children from their silent world and provide them the “gift of speech.” PID is the only institution which supports teaching our deaf brothers how to speak, instead of the traditional sign language, in order to improve their confidence level and assimilate more smoothly into the mainstream of society.

The dinner will showcase timeless Filipino recipes of Ms. Barretto and Mr. Tayag featured in their best-selling cookbook “Kulinarya.” The PID chairpersons of the event, Tunde Fafunwa and Gari Palmani, share that highlights of the evening include performances by the NeoClassic Strings Quartet and touching song numbers from PID deaf students. Board Chairman Cynthia Romero Mamon will present the organization’s mission and charity milestones in a special video and will render a special song number for the audience’s delight. Past PID Chairman Cesar V. Campos, and Past President of the Rotary Club of Makati, with its committee – “Teach The Deaf To Talk,” has enjoined his fellow Rotarians in the District to support this very special dinner event.

For more information, e-mail escataga@gmail.com.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on July 23 go to former OWW Administrator Wilhelm Soriano, JCI Senator Jose B. Jimenez III, former actor Joseph Siytangco, singer Pol Toledo, Suzie Lazo, Walter Bucher, Pinichi Tanopo Lim, showbiz columnist Cristy Fermin, actor Rayver Cruz, Marlyn Hernandez of design craft and MB’s External Affairs head Barbie Atienza.