Congratulations to first-time movie producers Boy Abunda and Boy So. Their initial venture, “Astig,” was the topgrosser in the recently concluded Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. It was also the winner of the most number of awards – Best Director (GB Sampedro), Best Supporting Actor (Arnold Reyes), Best Editing (Charliebebs Gohetia), and Best Sound (Ditoy Aguila).

As Best Director, GB received the Balanghai trophy and a Canon XHG1 Kit Pro Video Camera worth P350,000. “Astig” is GB’s first movie. The movie tells of the story of four young men trying “to survive the sexual squalor, seductive filth and emotional perversity of the city.”

Arnold Reyes, known as the “independent actor” for having made no less than 16 indie movies, won the award “for his powerful portrayal of stillness and stoicism amidst the ghosts of his past and the chaos of street life in Manila, even as it is brought to a tragic breaking point” in the movie “Astig.” In the movie, Arnold plays Ronald, a Chinese mestizo from
Zamboanga who goes to Manila to sell a decrepit building which he inherited from his father. After giving in to the seduction of a gay man who bought his property, he reaffirms his sexual identity by hiring a prostitute not knowing that she’d run away with his money.

Arnold is originally a singer and theater actor. He appeared in his first indie movie, “Huling Araw ng Linggo,” in 2006. He is going mainstream with his appearance in the Star Cinema movie “A Mother’s Love,” starring Vilma Santos, John Lloyd Cruz and Luis Manzano. Arnold is a Mass Communication student at Centro Escolar University (CEU).

Arnold takes pride in having worked with some of the top actors of the country, among them Ms. Anita Linda, Ms. Boots Anson-Roa, Ms. Perla Bautista, and Piolo Pascual among others. Two of his indie films, “Independencia” and “Manila” were shown in the 62nd Cannes Film Festival.

Aside from Arnold Reyes, “Astig” boasts of a stellar lineup of actors, among them Backroom artists, which included Ai-Ai delas Alas, Pooh, Bianca Gonzalez, and Mariel Rodriguez; Sitti Navarro, Jhong Hilario, Vhong Navarro, Chanda Romero, Rustica Carpio, Keanna Reeves, Glaiza de Castro, Angellie Urquico, Gardo Versoza, Emilio Garcia, Kim Atienza, Paolo Paraiso, Mhalou Crisologo, Angeli Bayani, Armand Reyes, Patricia Ismael, Whitney Tyson, Romano Vasquez, Lotlot Bustamante, Mark Chavez, Haziel Ann Fabro, Mark Fresco, Felbert Go, Ivy Guy-ab, Rita Iringan, Miah Isabelle, Jayden Javier, Lorraine Lopez, Enrico Reyes, Paolo Rivero, Rocky Tan, Alex Tiglao, Josie Torres, Cris Valdez, and Boy Abunda.

Another Backroom artist, Ina Feleo, won the Best Actress award “for the quiet expressiveness, vulnerability, and sheer honesty of her portrayal of a young woman who meets her high school crush while working in a pawn shop” in the movie “Sanglaan.” In last year’s Cinemalaya Film Festival, Ina also won the Best Actress trophy for her role in the movie “Endo.” If Ina has shown outstanding skill in her craft, it’s because acting is in her genes being the daughter of two talented showbiz personalities: Awarded actress-director Laurice Guillen and awarded actor Johnny Delgado.

Congratulations too to the other awardees in the festival’s full-length category: “Last Supper No. 3,” Best Picture (Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel); “Colorum” (Jon Ballesteros) and “Ang Panggagahasa Kay Fe” (Alvin Yapan), Special Jury Award in the same category; Lou Veloso, Best Actor (“Colorum” which also starred Alfred Vargas); Vic Acedillo, Best Screenplay for “Nerseri;” Tessie Tomas, “Best Supporting Actress (“Sanglaan”); Pao Orendain, Best Cinematography (“24K”); Benjamin Padero, Best Production Design (“Mangatyanan”); Francisbrew Reyes, Best Original Musical Score (“Dinig Sana Kita”).

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Why Dyan is super healthy

Popular sports enthusiast and TV newscaster (it seems she is the only woman sports newscaster in the country) Dyan Castillejo is petite and thin but you see in her an amazing strength. Well, considering that she has always been a health buff, it’s not surprising that Dyan should exude strength and personify perfect health.

Her current state of health has something to do with her lifestyle and health regimen. In battling the disadvantages to good health, Dyan says one should “get enough sleep, exercise regularly, maintain a positive mind-set and eat lots of fruits, vegetables and super food Easy Pha-max wheatgrass!”

Yes, Dyan attributes her strength to Wheatgrass which she now endorses. But according to Dyan, she was first a user of Wheatgrass (which was introduced to her by a friend) before she was asked to endorse the product. She first heard of wheatgrass while she was in the US. Skeptical at first of its claims, Dyan was only fully convinced after her trip to the INS Bioscience Center in Kuala Lumpur where the product emanates.

“They use the entire leaf and root to make the powder, making sure you get all the complete benefits of the wonder food. They have developed an innovative way of growing wheatgrass called Indoor Organic Acroponic Cultivation, cultivating wheatgrass in a sterile, air-conditioned environment with no use of soil so it’s pollution-free,” Dyan says.

She also learned that wheatgrass has the highest chlorophyll content among all green vegetables and grasses. Per studies made, chlorophyll intensifies blood production, improves its quality and helps prevent anemia and other blood disorders. Being oxygen-rich, chlrophyll also promotes proper oxygenation of cells and better blood circulation. “As a result, the brain functions better and sharper which I need in my work if I am to stay creative and retentive of detail,” Dyan says.

During a recent meeting with the press, Dyan stressed that what one gets after taking wheatgrass is a feeling of calm wellness or a calm good feeling. The sports enthusiast takes two sachets of Easy Pha-max’s Pure Wheatgrass Powder everyday. She also takes three tablets of Skywheat Wheatgrass Tablets thrice a day. She has also encouraged her son to be health-conscious by taking wheatgrass but the one with honey.

Other benefits from taking Easy Pha-max are the promotion of weight loss, detoxification of the digestive tract, prevention of illnesses (particularly cancer) and youthful looks.

For more information about the product, visit their website http://dyanhealth.easyphamaxbiz.com.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Aug. 6, go to Sen. Antonio Trillanes, Ambassador Baby B. Puyat, Gary Valenciano, Consul Evie Costa, Danny Javier of the APO Hiking Society, Dr. Benjamin Tayabas, former Mayor Adelina Rodriguez, Audie Gemora, Say Alonzo, Tara Tambunting, Linda Bertol, Francis Montinola, Noli Veridico, Mafae Verdarero Yumon, and UK-based Sophia Celine Roxas...