Camille Villar (photo by LEONARDO Q. BELEN)

Camille Villar, the 25-year-old youngest child and only daughter of Sen. Manny Villar and Rep. Cynthia Villar of Las Piñas City, emotionally revealed how much her family has been suffering due to the false accusation being hurled by detractors at her father, even picturing him as a corrupt person.

Camille made the revelation during a recent luncheon mini-press conference held at the Laurel Mansion along Shaw Blvd. in Mandaluyong City.

On the verge of tears, she added that “my father is very sad about it, and so with the entire family.”

Camille also explained why the country’s top comedian, Dolphy, was endorsing his father. She said that when the senator was still a poor, young kid working in a fish mart in Tondo, the top comedian has already been his idol and he remains to be until now. Villar finally met his idol and since then they have become close friends.

“Dolphy’s endorsement of Senator Villar for the presidency is more out of their friendship and not for anything else,” Camille stressed. “There are other endorsers who came to us, also on the same principle with the top comedian.”

Camille also decried why detractors always hit his father every election campaign, particularly now that Senator Villar is running for the presidency and his rating in the latest survey is increasing and almost closing the gap between him and the top presidential contender.

“It is not fair at all,” Camille stressed. “Since my father became a political figure, he has undertaken an unprecedented public service, mostly benefitting the poor!”

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Megastar Sharon Cuneta to induct Enpress new officers

Taking time out from her hectic schedule, megastar Sharon Cuneta has graciously accepted the invitation to induct the new set of officers of the Entertainment Press Society (Enpress). The induction ceremony is slated on Feb. 3 at the Imperial Palace Suites.

Enpress is the writers’ group that gives out the annual Golden Screen Awards.

To start the event is a mass to be officiated by Fr. Larry Faraon that will be held at 6 p.m. The induction rites, to be led by Sharon, will follow.

The seven-year-old Enpress, established in 2003, is headed by Jun Nardo who was voted president during the election held last Jan. 14. He was also chosen as Chairman of the Board.

Jun was also the president of Enpress from 2004 to 2007. He was succeeded by Ricky Calderon who served as Club President for two years.

The other officers of Enpress are Dinno Erece (Vice President), Lotlot Antazo (Secretary), Lito Manago (Treasurer), and Rohn Romulo (Auditor).

Elected as members of the Board are Ricky Calderon, Rose Garcia, Archie de Calma, Alwyn Ignacio, Roland Lerum, Boy Borja, Nonie Nicasio, Maricris Nicasio, and Danny Vibas. The new officers will serve for a term of two years.

Incidentally, the Enpress members have started reviewing movies for the 7th Golden Screen Awards to be held on the first or second quarter of the year.

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180 Microcinema Film Festival winners bared

The winners of the 180 Microcinema Film Festival were recently announced by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) as reported by Abi Portillo.

The films that garnered top online votes were “Habilin” by Carlo Alvarez (Narrative), “Musika sa Dilim” by Shobert Hallig (Documentary), and “Konsiyerto ng Karapatan” by Geraldo Jumawan (Experimental). Geraldo Jumawan got the 2nd place spot in all categories with “Takbo” (Narrative), “Bagyong Ondoy” (Documentary), and “Sa Laot ng Pangarap” (Experimental). Real Florido’s “Mr. Perfect” (Narrative), Geraldo Jumawan’s “Entablado” (Documentary), and Joseph Mangubat’s “Homeboys: The Road Not Taken” (Experimental) placed 3rd.

The project, a brainchild of Vicente Nakpil-Roxas, was launched on Aug. 30, 2009. It aimed to encourage aspiring Filipino filmmakers to explore a unique, unorthodox approach to filmmaking – telling a story in concisely 180 seconds. Contestants were to submit their entries as any of the following categories – Narrative, Documentary, or Experimental – to the 180 Microcinema Festival website, where viewers may vote for their videos.

In each category, 1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place winners were awarded P30,000, P20,000, and P10,000, respectively.

On the other hand, a deciding body was pooled to select what they perceive to be the best film from each category. The Jury consisted of Jeremy Segay of Paris Cinema; Ms. Manet Dayrit, the managing director of RoadRunner Network, Inc.; and award-winning Director Francis X. Pasion.

On Jan. 21, 2010, at the FDCP office and with correspondence with Segay in Paris, the Jury decided which films would be awarded: “Breakfast with Lolo” by Steven Flor for Narrative, “Modelo” by Mel Rose Aguilar for Documentary, and “Ebolusyon ni Kasalanan” by Emerson Reyes for Experimental. They were each awarded P30,000.

Carlo Alvarez’s “Habilin” and Jet Leyco’s “Untitled Manila” both received Special Mention awards and a prize of P10,000 each for their technical excellence. Jet Leyco’s other entry, “The Discovery of Random Truth in Four Years of Madness” received another Special Mention award for its Artistic Merit.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Feb. 3 go to Ms. Malou Santos of Star Cinema, Dulce Lucban, Rafael Dulalia, Marilou Cayton, Jojo “Jude” Digao of the Office of Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Tinay C. Lopa, Lorna Victa-Molina, Ety Farinas, Virgie Fantilagar, and Timmy Boy Sta. Maria of Star Magic.