Chicago, IL — Celebrating the 45th year since its founding, the Chicago International Film Festival shines its spotlight on two independent films from the Philippines.

Cinemalaya Special Jury Prize winner, The Rapture of Fe (Ang Panggagahasa Kay Fe) was selected for the After Dark Program, while the gay-themed, The Thank You Girls was picked for the World Cinema and OUTragegous categories.

“Chicago is a great global society. We live in a great immigrant community and we are very diverse. It [festival] represents the whole world,” Chicago Mayor Richard Daley Jr., said during the opening night, where he also welcomed actress Uma Thurman, the Career Achievement Award recipient. Thurman also came for the premiere of her new movie, Motherhood.

Film festival founder Michael Kutza praised the participation of young Filipino filmmakers at the festival, the oldest in North America. “We have two great movies at the festival. One terribly, terribly dramatic ghost story, and the drag film which is a riot,” he said.

A the same interview, Kutza recalled how he helped former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos organize the Manila International Film Festival.

Kutza stayed in Manila for two years, including the time that the controversial Manila Film Center was built. “I love her [Imelda]. She’s fun. We had a lot of fun with Marcos, the family and everybody. We brought a lot of stars and directors there,” he said.

“I love the Philippines. I’ve been there in some amazing monsoon, so I’ll never forget that,” Kutza added.

At the international premiere of Ang Panggagahasa Kay Fe, the film’s executive producer Alem Ang, dedicated the work to the typhoons victims in the Philippines.

“The film is a testament to the Filipino people’s resiliency,” Ang said during a short presentation.

In an earlier interview Ang said that they wanted to present a “world-class” film that does not only center on poverty. “There’s so much more about Filipino culture that needs to be discussed. So we thought of adding a new element to our story about battered women, which is Philippine folklore,” Ang explained.

“We’re very, very excited when we received the news,” Ang recalled after hearing from the Chicago Film Festival committee. The next stop for the Alvin Yapan-directed film is Egypt for the Cairo Film Festival.

Meanwhile, The Thank You Girls, a story about drag beauty pageant contestants, had its Chicago premiere Monday, October 12. The Visayan-language film is directed by Charliebebs Gohetia, and backed by Brooklyn Park Pictures.

The festival runs until October 8 to 22, and will feature an estimated 91 films from around the globe. An Oscar buzz is already swirling around its festival centerpiece, Precious, a story of a 16-year old African American girl who defied the odds of poverty and personal tragedies. The film is backed by Chicago-based Oprah Winfrey.

The Chinese box-office hit, Red Cliff was featured in the Gala Presentation, attended by Director John Woo.

Last year, the eventual Oscar Best Picture winner, Slumdog Millionaire, premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival. Earlier this year, Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds was also featured at its Summer Gala.

(“Letters from Chicago: 45th Chicago International Film Festival puts spotlight on 2 Filipino directors”. Photos and story by Ted Regencia)

The adrenalin rush of a being in warfare without the mortal risks, these big boys play like toy soldiers. (Photography: Aleksi Mari B. Gumela)

We started playing airsoft way back early 2004, we started only a few avid players around 8-12 players at dat tym as we slowly grow n grow d number of players is increasing so we decided to make our group official. Wardogs Dipolog Airsoft team was formally organized last June 2005. Right after the OPERATION: FULL CIRCLE the 1st HUDYAKA ZANORTE Airsoft Competition in our province of Zamboanga del norte hosted by DYC AIRSOFT TEAM. We decided to form WARDOGS DIPOLOG AIRSOFT TEAM to accommodate the rapid growth of airsoft fanatics in the city. As of today, the team is composed of 50 members( including inactive members ).

WARDOGS Dipolog Airsoft Team had participated various airsoft invitationals/tournaments in the VISAYAS and MINDANAO area. Also successfully hosted OPERATION: KALAW 08 and OPERATION: KALAW 09′ Airsoft World War. Both tournaments were in coordination with the Provincial Government Of Zanorte through the Provincial Tourism Office.

Website: http://gowardogs.conforums.com/index.cgi
E-mail: wardogsdipolog101@yahoo.com.ph

Set of Officers YR 2009:
Board of Directors:
Chris Bengua
JC Lee
Marvin Barrientos
Ivo Regencia

President: Wilfredo Kent E. Velasco, Jr.
Vice-president: JV Aguilar
Secretary: Jasper Cajocon
Treasurer: Ephraim Vargaso
Sgt. at Arms: Bryan Keith Go

VIEW THE SPECIAL FLICKR ALBUM HERE
WATCH AS A SLIDE SHOW

Name: John Mar Rodriguez
Birthday: June 9, 1981
Mother: Florentina Onyong
Father: Mercedario Rodriguez
School: Andres Bonifacio College
Course: Hotel and Restaurant Management
Year: Second Year College

Five things about John Mar:

-still dreams of becoming a hiphop dancer.
- wants to experience skydiving
- Loves to eat pizza
- Wants to become a chef
- Prefers to listen than talk

Photographer: Aleksi Mari B. Gumela
Wardrobe: Archie Regencia
Locations: ABCollege Graduate School Bldg.
ABCollege campus
Feeder Port Galas, Dipolog City

Special Thanks to:

Mr. Sancho Amatong- President, ABCollege
Mr. Armand Amatong
WARDOGS Dipolog Airsoft Team

View John Mar’s photos at the FACES GALLERY starting HERE

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