MANILA, Philippines -- In connection with the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage last Oct. 27, Senator Loren Legarda hailed the creation of the National Film Archives of the Philippines (NFAP), stressing that Filipino-produced films and other audiovisual recordings form part of the country’s rich heritage.

Senator Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities, said that Filipino films not only show a glimpse of the country’s history and culture but they also showcase the rich talent of Filipinos like Atang dela Rama, Gerardo de Leon, Lamberto Avellana, and Ishmael Bernal, who are among the Philippines’ National Artists for Theater and Cinema.

“Film is a huge part of our cultural and national heritage. Many of these works of art depict the Filipinos’ way of life. It is also a medium of communication which our talented directors, screen writers, actors, and film-related professionals use to narrate parts of our history,” she explained.

“It is therefore lamentable that many of these Filipino films are no longer extant, which is why we welcome the effort of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to push for the establishment of the NFAP,” she added.

The senator noted that according to the archiving officer of the NFAP, of the estimated 8,000 Filipino films produced since 1919, only about 3,000 are extant, some of which are even in poor condition.

Incidentally, Senator Loren was the special guest at the recent SM Megamall-held “A Pink Day Celebration,” the annual breast cancer awareness event conducted annually by Woman Today, the magazine for empowered women.

Highlight of the event was the awarding of the Bessie B. Legarda (BBL) Memorial Foundation Award and Woman Today’s Pink Ribbon of Hope award. The BBL awardee for 2011 was Cebu’s very own Mary Anne Alcordo Solomon, a member of the breast cancer support group “I Can Serve,” who is very active in breast cancer awareness-related activities in her native Cebu. The Pink Ribbon Awardee was Ms. Mons Romulo-Tantoco, co-founder of “Pink for Life.”

Aliw controversy

Aliw Awards Founding President Alice H. Reyes claims she has not been included in the activities of the foundation and she felt so bad about it. “I am the founder and now I’ve been arbitrarily relegated to a mere adviser of the Foundation which I nurtured since its creation 35 years ago...”

It is for this that she wrote a letter to the current president of Aliw Awards Foundation, Atty. Jeatte Palabrica. Part of the letter said: “I trust that you will understand my concern, for Aliw Awards Foundation is my baby, so to speak, and nothing and no one, especially you whom we installed into power two years ago, can take that away from me.”

Ms. Reyes also reminded Atty. Palabrica of the AAFI Bylaws, Article V, Section 2 of which states: “The affairs and business of the Foundation shall be conducted under the direction of the Board of Trustees, which shall primarily be the governing body of the Foundation, directly responsible to the members thereof.”

She claims that Atty. Palabrica refused to call a meeting which should include her as founding president and ex-officio member of the board, to discuss preparations for the 24th Aliw Awards Night (scheduled on Nov. 8). Alice also questioned why new awards categories were added without board approval.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Nov. 1, go to singer Nina, Sharmaine Arnaiz, Dr. Ronaldo Asuncion, Col. Jimmy A. Tiu, Jun Pena, Ret. Fiscal Dick Escueta, Atty. Crisanto Saruca, Atty. Norberto Capistrano, Cora Perez, Mrs. Mina N. Reyes, Marifil Nina Girado. Lina Misa, Gladys Maningding-Armas, Winnie Cordero of “Umagang Kay Ganda,” and awarded actor Coco Martin of Star Magic… Happy wedding anniversary to Augusto and Pilarica Abaya…