Kylie’s homecoming; 2 films win abroad
MANILA, Philippines – Wearing a Francis Libiran violet gown, 2016 Miss International Kylie Verzosa was warmly welcomed by her kababayan in Baguio City last Nov. 27, during a motorcade where she rode in a flower-laden, Miss International crown-inspired float that traversed on the major streets of the city, along the Upper Session Road and culminating at the Baguio City Hall.
The Pinsao National High School students performed traditional Cordillera dances while following the float.
A homecoming and charity dinner was held at the Baguio Country Club, with the proceeds channeled to the following beneficiaries: UNICEF, Childhood Cancer International and Variety Club, the children’s charity.
Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan honored Verzosa along with other natives of Cordillera region, two world-class athletes who recently won in international competitions: Edward Folayang, a UFC lightweight belt champion, and Divine Wali, a wushu gold medalist. Both are from Sadanga, Mountain Province.
Meanwhile, the People’s Jury of the 10th Five Flavours Film Festival in Warsaw, Poland awarded the Main Award (2,500 euro) to Apocalypse Child, directed by Mario Cornejo, “for the affectionate portrayal of Filipino identity in its global, local and individual dimensions; for a humorous yet complex confrontation with the micro legacies of colonialism, and for its universal thematic and visual appeal.” The Main Award was founded by Magdalena Sroka, director of the Polish Film Institute.
Shot entirely in the surfing town in Baler, Aurora, Apocalypse Child “is a fictional drama about Ford (Sid Lucero), a surfing instructor who has been told all his life that his Filipina mom, Chona (Ana Abad Santos) was impregnated by director (Francis Ford) Coppola. While his mother petitions the director to acknowledge Ford as his son, Ford is seemingly unfazed, content with his beach bum lifestyle, until the return of his childhood best friend, Rich (RK Bagatsing), now a local congressman, threatens his dreamlike existence. Conflict is brewing as Ford teaches Rich’s fiancee, Serena (Gwen Zamora) to surf, which upsets Fiona (Annicka Dolonius), a visiting Fil-Am who has a secret love for Ford.”
At the same event, the Special Mention was awarded to Pamilya Ordinaryo (Ordinary People), directed by Eduardo Roy Jr., “for its moving and thrilling portrayal of individual determination, for the effective creation of empathy through its distinctly cinematic language, and its electrifying portrayal of Manila.”
Apocalypse Child, written by Cornejo and Monster Jimenez, also won the Fasken Martineau Best Feature Film Award, with $4,000 cash prize, at the 20th Reel Asian International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, on Nov. 13. The film debuted in the 3rd QCinema International Film Festival in October last year and won Best Picture, Best Director, Achievement in Technical Excellence for Editing, Best Supporting Actress for Dolonius.
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