"The fact that we are competing is national honor enough worthy of recognition," says the visibly elated Jacky Atienza, chairman of the FDCP. "The last time we competed in Cannes was 24 years ago when Lino Broka’s opus "Bayan Ko (My Own Country)" made it to the prestigious film festival." He adds FDCP is giving over a million pesos for the subtitling, print of the movie and for the airfare and accommodation of the actors/actresses and production cast attending the festival. The FDCP and film makers behind Serbis are truly grateful to our President GMA for her magnanimous support to the local film Industry.

The 35 mm movie was one of the 21 films chosen for the highly coveted main competition of the Cannes Filmfest. Out of 1,792 entrees from 96 countries, the 35-mm "Serbis" is one of the "cream of the crop" films chosen to compete for the prestigious Palme d’ Or.

Mendoza is up against the likes of Oscar winners Clint Eastwood, Steven Stoddenberg (director of "Traffic," "Ocean 11" and "Erin Brokovich") and Wim Wenders (who received his Palm d’ Ore in 1984 for "Paris, Texas").

Heading the jury is Sean Penn and also includes Natalie Portman, Italian director-screenwriter Sergio Castellitto, German actress Alexandra Maria Lara, Thai director Apichatpong W-rur for me to be with Brilliante Mendoza and his cast and crew as his film is officially screened in Cannes next month. "Serbis" being nominated in the competition category is extremely overwhelming"

PFESO chairman Digna Santiago and FDCP Executive Director Lali Suzara, both members of the Festival Committee, shared that the FDCP is very proud of Brilliante Mendoza for this significant milestone in Philippine Cinema.

The film was written by Armando Lao and co-produced by Didier Costet of Swift Productions in France and Ferdinand Lapuz for Centerstage productions.

Mendoza says the central story of "Serbis" is about a family living in a rundown movie house in Angeles City. Gina Pareño plays the matriarch of the film who owns the movie house and employs her family as employees. Jaclyn Jose, Dan Alvaro and newcomer Roxanne Jordan are her children. Julio Diaz is Jaclyn’s husband while Kristofer King is the projectionist and Coco Martin is the painter. Mercedes Cabral plays Coco’s girlfriend and Bobby Jerome Go is the son of Jaclyn and Julio.

Mendoza is the first Filipino director to have two films to be shown in Cannes consecutively. "Foster Child" was shown at the Director’s Fortnight last year where it received a standing ovation and was bought by Ad Vitam, a French distributor.

"Serbis" won a script funding in the Asian Cinema Fund of the 2007 Pusan International Film Festival and participated in the 2008 Hong Kong Asian Film Forum.

"Serbis" has been acquired by Fortissimo Films for world distribution outside the Philippines and France.

In Serbis’selection to the main section, the Daily Variety says "Prolific, but relatively new to the limelight, director Brillante Mendoza from the Philippines also gets a promotion, with his latest pic, "Serbis," in Competition, after "Foster Child" played Directors’ Fortnight last year."

His first feature film Masahista (The Masseur) won a Golden Leopard award (co-winner) in the video section at the 2005 Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland, Interfaith Award in Brisbane 2006 and Audience Award in Turin 2006. It was sold to eight territories.

His subsequent films won international awards. "Manoro (The Aeta Teacher 2006)" won the CinemAvvenir in Torino 2006 and Best Picture and Director awards in Cinemanila 2006. "Kaleldo" (Summer Heat) won the Netpac Award in Jeonju 2007 and the Best Actress Award in Durban 2007.

"Foster Child" won the Best Actress award in New Delhi 2007, Special Jury award in Kazakhstan 2007 and the Signis Award in Las Palmas 2008.

"Tirador" won the Special Jury award in Marrakech in 2007 and the Caligari Award in Berlin 2008. It was also given the Best Film, Director and Netpac awards in the 2008 Singapore International Film Festival. Both Foster Child and Tirador were acquired for distribution in France and United Kingdom.

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Ate Vi talks about nutritional value of milk in new TVC

Batangas Governor and multi-awarded actress Vilma Santos-Recto joins leading powdered milk product Bear Brand in promoting the nutritional importance of milk through her new educational commercial that is being aired on television.

The TVC is part of the milk product’s Laki Sa Gatas Campaign, which seeks to encourage parents to nurture their children with "not just one, but two glasses of milk everyday."

"I know how important milk is to the health of children during their growing-up years," Gov. Santos-Recto relates.

Since health is one of the top priorities of the busy governor, she feels that Bear Brand’s advocacy can help solve the milk consumption problem in the Philippines through education.

"Supporting Bear Brand in its "Laki Sa Gatas" campaign is one way of convincing mothers to get their kids back to the habit of drinking milk," says Gov. Santos-Recto.

The new TVC informs televiewers that Bear Brand helps in meeting the daily nutritional requirements of kids and that it can be a great source of different vitamins and nutrients present in different kinds of food.

In the commercial, the governor shows that two glasses of Bear Brand is as nutritious as one and a half cups of rice (200g) in terms of energy, one chicken leg (50g, edible portion) in terms of protein, and 1 cup of vegetables (220g, boiled, non-leafy) in terms of vitamins and minerals.

Bear Brand has all the natural goodness of milk which is a rich source of protein, Iodine, Vitamins A, B Complex and E.

Bear Brand is now also fortified with Zinc and Vitamin C, which help improve the immune system and support normal growth.

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Rizcheel Datuin in concert at Wallen’s Resto Bar

The new singing wonder Rizcheell Datuin stars in her first concert billed as "Rizcheell To The First Power," at Wallen’s Resto Bar on May 16.

The live concert guesting Joselito Guevarra and Merry Mia Bernardo, is directed by former EMI recording artist Archie Consunji, with Vic Reyes as musical director.

Rizcheell started singing when she was only three years old. She has won several singing contest in her school and in her home province pangasinan.

A world class talent, Rizcheel will perform popular ballads made popular by singing world’s diva like Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion.

Those who will watch her debut concert will surely enjoy her interpretations of current hits.

Her powerful voice has such a magnificent range, that she can sing almost every type of song.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, May 12, go to Dennis Trillo, Onemig Bondoc, QC Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, Carmen Espino, Armi Escolar, Marita Nuque, May Neri, Mila del Sol, Mario Joson, Florence Defensor, Carl Rigg Buenaseda, Pin Antonio, and LA-based Atty. Francis Padina-Papica...