Oro - Blood is the Luster of Gold

A community of miners will be infiltrated by an armed group masquerading as environmentalists. The story will center on the efforts of their barangay captain (Irma Adlawan) to secure a permit allowing them to keep their livelihood in mining. In the meantime, the lives of Elmer and Linda who are planning to get married (Joem Bascon and Mercedes Cabral) and their fellow miners (Sandino Martin, Sue Prado, Biboy Ramirez) will be put in danger as the armed group (Arrian Labios, Cedrick Juan) takes over the mining operations and establishes a reign of terror in this remote island that the miners have long considered their home. Which has more weight: human rights or environmental rights? The film tries to capture a topsy-turvy reality much more complex than stereotypes characterizing mining as evil and advocacies for environmental protectionism as the font of goodness.

It has been one of the quality films that were selected to be part of the 8 best entries of this years controversial Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF 2016). This film is political in nature which made Director Alvin Yapan hesitant at first but since he was given the full rights of creativity for the film then eventually he agreed. Based from what I've watch, I can say that this movie should be part of your list to watch.

'Sunday Beauty Queen' a Reality Film for the Whole Family

BabyruthVillarama’s “Sunday Beauty Queen” is one of the biggest surprises in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival. The film is the first ever documentary to make it in the festival’s history. For Villarama, the inclusion of this heartwarming reality film in MMFF could never be more perfect.

“Christmas is for the family and we feel that this is the kind of movie that everyone in the family would truly appreciate. Mulakaylolahanggangkaybunso, patisiyaya, there is something in ‘Sunday Beauty Queen’ that would touch the lives of every Filipino,” she happily shares.

The film is Rated-G by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), deeming it suitable for audience of all ages. It was also Graded-A by the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB). All ten CEB reviewers bestowed a rare unanimous vote for “Sunday Beauty Queen”.

Shot over the period of four years, “Sunday Beauty Queen” follows the real life stories of Hazel Perdido, MylynJacobo, Cherry Bretania, Leo Selomenio, and Rudelie Acosta, five women among the thousands of OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) in Hong Kong working as domestic helpers. Every Sunday, these Filipino maids transform themselves into dazzling beauty queens, entertaining their fellow Filipinos and raising funds for distressed OFWs in need of help.

The MMFF Selection Committee cites the film as a “precious [documentary], well-researched, well-crafted, insightful and engaging” and possesses “as much power as a feature film to move audiences”.

“Sunday Beauty Queen” is produced by Voyage Studios and TBA (Tuko Film Productions, Buchi Boy Entertainment, Artikulo Uno Productions), the same team behind last year’s box-office and critical hit “Heneral Luna”.

“Sunday Beauty Queen” opens on December 25 in cinemas nationwide.