JUST A THOUGHT: Moments we waste in anger and worries are actually moments of happiness we steal from ourselves.

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SEEN: Robin Padilla has been charming girls and women of all ages on his stint as guest co-host on “Wowowee.” The action king is proving to be a suitable replacement to Willie Revillame, whose fate on the show remains uncertain as of this writing. The fact that Robin is back to sporting a clean look that becomes him adds up to his appeal as noontime show host. All he has to do is to keep all that money flowing into the hands of those contestants!

HEARD: The interrupted filming of the romance-comedy “Hating Kapatid” by Viva Films is said to resume shortly what with the targetted July 28 opening of the movie. Three days are all it takes to wrap the film. “Hating Kapatid” stars for the first time together, Judy Ann Santos and Sarah Geronimo.

HEARD: Speaking of Sarah, is it true there are current negotiations for her transfer to GMA Network? The singer-actress’ contract with ABS-CBN expires in 2011. Mark Bautista and Rachelle Ann Go, Sarah’s siblings under Viva’s management agency, are reportedly quite happy in their new home. Mark, in fact, was assigned a solo opening number during a “Party Pilipinas” airing last Sunday from Camsur Water sports Complex in Pili, Camarines Sur. That wouldn’t have happened if he had stayed forever a starlet on “ASAP.”

SEEN: By this time, Mark Bautista would have flown to the US where he’s been contracted to do a series of shows with former constant partner, Sarah Geronimo. Mark says while he has moved to 7, he remains in close contact with his barkada from 2, including Erik Santos, Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby and Christian Bautista. “They check up on me, asking if I’m happy in my new home, or if the network is taking good care of me,” he told us at the Pili airport in Camsur on our way back to Manila last Monday.

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The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) recently awarded the fifteen (15) finalists of the Full-length and the Director’s Showcase categories of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival and Competition 2010 with a cash prize in a simple ceremony held at the FDCP office.

Each finalist received One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000) from FDCP Executive Director, Lali F. Suzara and Cinemalaya Foundation, Inc. President Nestor O. Jardin.

Competing in the Director’s Showcase Category are: Joel Lamangan for “Sigwa,” Gil Portes for “Two Funerals,” Edward Mark Meily for “Isang Pirasong Buhay,” Mario O’Hara for “Ang Paglilitis Ni Andres Bonifacio” and Joselito Altarejos for “Pink Halo-Halo.”

In the Full-length category the finalists are: Gutierrez Mangansakan II for “Limbunan,” Ian Dean S. Loreños for “The Leaving,” Dan Louie Villegas and Paul Sta. Ana for “Mayohan,” Sheron Dayoc for “Halaw,” Kim Homer C. Garcia for “Magkakapatid,” Francis Xavier E. Pasion for “Sampaguita,” Dennis Marasigan for “Siya ang Mayor Ko,” Danny Añonuevo for “Rekrut,” and Arthur Katipunan for “Si Techie, Si Teknoboy at Si JuanaB.”

It is the third time that the FDCP has given the cash prizes. Suzara said such an act is a continuing testament to the pioneering vision of its organizers, the consistent support of its sponsors and audience, and the foundation’s courageous commitment to the new breed of Filipino filmmakers.

Now on its sixth year, the Cinemalaya Competition and Festival is a project of the Cinemalaya Foundation, FDCP, Cultural Center of the Philippines and Econolink Investments, Inc. It is an all-digital film festival and competition that aims to discover, encourage and honor the cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers.

(nescuar@yahoo.com)