Alice is back but not for long

Vancouver may now be her home but the Philippines will always be in her heart. No wonder Alice Dixson flies back even for a short visit everytime she gets a chance to.

"I wish I could stay longer," Alice told Funfare. "But maybe I would when I come back towards the end of the year – that is, if my movie by Creative Productions, Kumain Ka Na Ba?, will qualify for the CineManila Film Festival."

Alice left two years ago after finishing her contract with GMA. Her last soap was Kung Mawawala Ka with Christopher de Leon and Richard Gomez. She has always put her marriage before her career.

In Vancouver where Ronnie runs a computer graphics business, Alice isn’t exactly a lady of leisure. (The couple is childless.) A Masscom graduate from San Sebastian College, Alice has gone back to school and recently took her finals at the British Institute of Technology.

"One of the most memorable projects I’ve done was going out with my instructress, Julia Foy on a news assignment," said Alice. Foy is also a producer and field reporter for CTV News. "Together with her cameraman, we went to the BC Provincial Court in Surrey to cover a hit-and-run verdict. We went to Abbotsford (near the US border) where we interviewed one of the relatives of the victims. I assisted Julia in editing the footage in one of the station’s microwave vans. At the scene of the crime, Julia did a ‘live’ feed for the six-o’clock news."

Although recognized as a fine actress, Alice has been keeping an eye on a broadcasting career. She said that she actually applied for two internship positions in March, one at the CTV News Department and the other for The Vicky Gaberau Show (a national talk show, Canada’s version of Oprah). Put "on hold" by CTV News, Alice did internship with TVGS by helping in the week-long shoot for the show’s finale season slated for airing soon.

"It was fun," said Alice, who’s finding new happiness in working behind the cameras.

She got a "surprise" treat while they were in the guest rooms.

"As a production assistant intern, you are asked to do anything and everything for the show. I didn’t have any idea who the guests were that day because the associate producer didn’t give me their names. They were supposed to be ‘surprise’ guests. I saw them enter the room but I didn’t have any idea who they were. So, I briefed them, told them their cues and what to expect onstage."

How pleasantly shocked Alice was when she confirmed after the shoot who the guests were – yes, Jann Arden, David Usher, Michael Buble, Diana Krall and Elvis Costello.

"If I only knew..." Alice now said.

But she felt sad that the show would end just as she was starting her stint on it.

"It was an enriching experience. I was able to meet many interesting and key people in the network. Sana I could work again for another multi-cultural channel."

When not busy with her studies and internship, Alice was also able to trace her family roots, requesting records from Vital Statistics, Social Security and military records’ making timelines and writing letters, etc.

"So far," said Alice, "I have gotten to pre-World War I. I have also traced the birth date (in 1905) in Portland, Oregon, of my grandfather who’s a US veteran. I’m now doing a research on my grandmother who was born in Alcoy, Cebu. Her last name is Benolirao."

The good news, according to Alice, is that last Easter, she got a call from the Union of British Columbia Performers (UBCP) about her application for membership. The UBCP is the Canadian equivalent of the US’s Screen Actors Guild. Alice has been admitted as a full member under the guidelines of Professional Reputation.

"As far as I know," said Alice, "I’m the first Filipina to be recognized solely on Asian credentials. All I have to do now is go out, audition and get a part. Sounds easy, ’no? Well, with over a hundred actors going after one role, it’s quite a challenge."

While here, Alice and Ronnie are meeting up with relatives and friends. (She’s also promoting Bigen Speedy and Saranggani products.)

Asked if she would stay longer if she got a juicy offer, Alice simply said, "My doors are still open."

Mutya Runner-Up Vying For Miss Intercontinental Title In China

Namkeen Soller Hameed, 2005 Mutya ng Pilipinas fourth runner-up, is representing the country at the 2005 Miss Intercontinental Pageant which will have its grand finals on July 30 at the Municipal Stadium in Huangshan, China.

Here’s a backgrounder on Namkeen by Funfare’s "beauty experts" Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib:

Namkeen Soller Hameed, 2005 Mutya ng Pilipinas fourth runner-up, will represent the Philippines at the 2005 Miss Intercontinental Beauty Pageant which will be staged at the Municipal Stadium in Huangshan, China on July 30.

Namkeen, or Nimki as she is fondly called, will be among 65 contestants worldwide who will vie for the coveted crown currently held by Catalina Valencia of Colombia. She left for Shanghai on Philippine Airlines flight PR 336 on July 9.

Nimki was chosen by the Miss Asia Pacific Quest, Inc. (MAPQI) to be our country’s bet to the annual international beauty tilt after her impressive showing at the 2005 Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant finals held at the PTA Clamshell 2 in Intramuros, Manila last June 11.

Representing Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, 19-year-old Nimki impressed the Mutya panel of judges when she gave the smartest reply to the final question "What makes you proud of being a Filipina?" She answered: "Filipinos are resilient and responsible to the problems facing our society..."

Born on October 15, 1985 in Mandaluyong City, Nimki is the only child of Veqar Hameed, a Pakistani national from Manila, and the former Amelia Soller, a retired nurse from Cabugao, Ilocos Sur. Nimki is currently a second year Mass Communications student at the Institute of Creative Computer Technology (ICCT) in Cainta, Rizal.

Prior to her Mutya stint, 5-foot-5 Nimki has joined and won several local and campus pageants; she was Mutya ng Cabugao 2002, Xtreme Faces runner-up 2002, Miss ICCT 2003 and Miss Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) 2004-2005.

Nimki says she is overwhelmed, and at the same time, honored to have been chosen to represent the Philippines at the prestigious Miss Intercontinental pageant. Although her international assignment came on very short notice, she managed to undergo a crash training on the basic rudiments of beauty pageantry under renowned beauty experts Renee Salud, Rodgil Flores and Jojo Mangalino.

"My pageant campaign in China is a challenge I welcome and will carry on my own," Nimki said during a pre-departure interview at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City. "A big thank you to my family, handlers and supporters...I shall do my best to be a worthy representative of our country in China."

Incidentally, we can vote for Nimki in the Photogenic competition by visiting the pageant's official website: missintercon-tinental.com

Cesar Will Attend The Great Raid Preem In US

As Funfare reported a few issues ago, Cesar Montano will attend the premiere of his first Hollywood movie, The Great Raid, on Aug. 9 in Washington DC, together with the other members of the cast including Benjamin Bratt, Joseph Fiennes, James Franco and Connie Nielsen. The movie’s regular screening across the US will start middle of August.

In the movie, Cesar plays Capt. Juan Pajota, the guerilla leader who helped the American soldiers liberate the more than 500 prisoners of war (POW) from a prison camp in Cabanatuan.

Cesar will leave for Washington on Tuesday, July 26, with his wife Sunshine Cruz, his brother Rommel (who plays a bit part in the movie) and his manager Norma Japitana.

The Great Raid will be distributed in the Philippines by Pioneer Films under Wilson Que.

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