SEN. LOREN LEGARDA with director Brilliante Mendoza. (Photo by Enie Reyes)

Sen. Loren Legarda and Director Brilliante Mendoza’s documentary on climate change entitled “Buhos (Downpour)” will have its first TV showing Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on QTV.
On this same day last year, Typhoon Ondoy showed us how natural disasters brought about by climate change can destroy lives and properties.

“Buhos” was first shown at the Cinema 3 of SM Mall of Asia last Sept. 13.

“It had to take Ondoy, Pepeng and Basyang for us to realize that climate change is not just a scientific and enviromental issue, but an all encompassing threat to our basic human rights – food, potable water, shelter, decent livelihood and life itself,” the chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change told the guests that filled the theater.

Senator Loren who has always said she grew up in flood-prone Malabon, made the worsening flood situation central to the theme of her new documentary on climate change. She collaborated with acclaimed Filipino filmmaker and 2009 Cannes Film Festival Best Director Brilliante Mendoza.

Beyond her call of duty, Senator Loren runs a nationwide awareness and education campaign on climate change. She produced the docu-drama “Ulan sa Tag-araw,” children’s animation movie “Ligtas Likas,” a UN docu “Now is the Time.” She also implements an extensive tree-planting program through Luntiang Pilipinas and mobilizes humanitarian aid to disaster-affected and poverty-stricken communities through “Lingkod Loren.”

“Buhos” was launched with the support of SM Cinema and will have additional special screenings in select theaters and schools in the coming months.

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Barbie and Joshua topbill ‘Tween Hearts’

The young loveteam of Joshua Dionisio and Barbie Forteza, dubbed the Tween Royalties of GMA-7, is back on TV. They topbill GMA Network’s newest afternoon show Reel Love Presents “Tween Hearts.” They are joined by their fellow Kapuso group of young stars known an Tweens.

Beginning Sunday, Sept. 26, the Tween Royalties of GMA including Bea Binene and Jake Vargas together with Joyce Ching, Kristoffer Martin, Lexi Fernandez, Louise de los Reyes and Derrick Monasterio, are all set to grab the limelight in the network’s newest youth-oriented drama series shown every Sunday afternoon.

Barbie is excited about “Tween Hearts,” her latest project after “Pilyang Kerubin” which ended about a month ago. The 13-year-old Barbie said she could hardly wait for the show to start. “Parang ang tagal na kasing natapos ang ‘Pilyang Kerubin’ kaya tuwang-tuwa ako na may project na ulit na ako.” She will also star in a forthcoming movie, she said.

So what did she do while waiting for another project? Barbie said she concentrated on school work, and took it also as a much needed vacation. When she has free time, she goes to the mall for shopping, “sometimes window-shopping lang,” Barbie laughed. But when at home, she watches TV and listens to music, preferably pop.

Barbie’s hobby is writing, she said. She writes about her experiences and thoughts in a diary. “But sometimes when I get so tired, I can’t write everyday,” Barbie said she prefers writing to reading, but when she reads, she likes ghost stories. “But I do it in the morning, hindi sa gabi kasi baka matakot ako,” she giggled. She also likes watching horror films, but again during daytime.

Barbie’s favorite actress is Cherie Gil who’s a very good kontrabida, she said. “Gusto ko rin subukan in the future ‘yong mga roles na ginagawa niya. I’d like to try all kinds of roles. Tingnan ko kung hanggang saan ang kaya ng powers ko,” she laughed.

In “Tween Hearts,” Barbie plays a young girl who after many years of separation, she finally reunites with her mom Irene (Sylvia Sanchez) and younger sister Belinda (Bea). She lived a simple life with her father Ted (Emilio Garcia) in the province while Belinda experienced a luxurious lifestyle with Irene in the city.

In preparation for their roles, the entire cast underwent extensive workshops facilitated by the episode’s director Gina Alajar. Rounding up the cast are Sylvia Sanchez as Irene, Emilio Garcia as Ted and Roxanne Barcelo as Rose.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Sept. 26 go to art patron Danny Dolor, Susan Castrence of the Dept. of Foreign Affairs, Lizza G. Nakpil, Polie Aquino, Christine Villar-Pineda, Canada-based former broadcast journalist Jojo T. Taduran, Cecille B. Salonga, Dolores Perez Quiambao, Marieliese Evaristo, Rudy Guevarra, Dr. Rainelda Jarin, Florseliza Belen Beraquit, Dr. Socorro M. Bartolome, Angelica Tashiro, Marie Grace Chua, Brian Tenorio, Pilie Barrenechea, Armand Cruz and Pearl Villa-Real...