4
4
Philippine Showbiz Today
March 8 - 21 , 2017
Cover Story
Vilma Santos , Grace Poe join MMFF execomm
Senator Grace Poe and actress-turned-politician Vilma Santos have been added to the executive committee of the Metro Manila Film Festival ( MMFF ), chairman Tim Orbos announced Tuesday .
Orbos said the decision to include the two industry veterans , in addition to other new names , was part of a move to create a more diverse committee that will hopefully strike a balance between indie , mainstream producers , and theater owners .
Poe is a former head of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board ( MTRCB ), while Santos is widely considered to be a pillar of the local movie industry .
During the opening of the film festival yesterday , Orbos said the appointed members of the MMFF Executive Committee , aside from Santos and Poe , are Taguig City Mayor Laarni Cayetano representing the Metro Manila mayors ; Police Director Oscar Albayalde , chief of the PNP-Metro Manila ; Rachel Arenas , chairwoman of the Movie , Television Review and Classification Board ; Mary Liza Diño , head of the Film Development Council of the Philippines ; Wilson Tieng , president of the Movie Producers and Distributors Association of the Philippines ; Jun Romana of
the Bureau of Broadcast Services ; Jesse Ejercito of the Philippine Motion Picture Producers Association ; Marichu Maceda , chair of the Mowelfund ; actress Boots Anson-Rodrigo ; film distributor Victor Villegas ; Edgar Tejerero , president of the SM Lifestyle Inc .; and lawyer Rolando Duenas , assistant general manager of the Ayala Cinemas .
Completing the MMFF Execomm are Christina Caparas , general manager of Vista Mall Cinemas ; Evylene Advincula , operations manager of Robinsons Movieworld ; movie directors Jose Romero IV and Mel Chionglo ; Prof . Rolando Tolentino of UP Diliman College of Mass Communication ; Ed Lejano , executive director of the Quezon City Film Development Commission ; scriptwriter Ricky Lee ; journalist and documentary producer Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala ;
professor and multimedia practitioner Noel Ferrer ; and Atty . Anselmo Adriano , chairman of the Optical Media Board .
Last year the MMFF only had 13 Execomm members .
Orbos said the MMFF Execomm members were thoroughly screened , adding they added members to include those from the academe , government , media , and private sector . He denied the revamp was caused by the stir last year when the MMFF allowed Alvin Yapan ’ s “ Oro ” to be screened even if it allegedly showed canicide .
The previous executive
Gov . Vilma Santos committee changed the rules in selecting the eight finalists in 2016 . Orbos said the best practices from last year will be adapted and further improved for a better film festival this year .
“ After the success of the 2016 MMFF where artistic quality became the main focus , this year ’ s MMFF would want to move forward with a crop of entries that would combine quality and box office potential . We will never abandon the artistic gains we had last year but we need to push forward in this direction ,” he also said . ●
- Evan Orias , Malaya , ABS-CBN
Sen . Grace Poe
Iconic Canadian café and bakeshop Tim Hortons has finally arrived in the Philippines .
Tim Hortons opened its first outlet on February 28 in Uptown Bonifacio Global City in Metro Manila .
“ Filipinos already have a taste for quality coffee and baked goods , making the Tim Hortons ® brand a welcomed addition to the city of Manila ,” said Enrique Y . Yap Jr ., CEO of TH Coffee Services Philippines Corporation , the master franchisee of Tim Hortons .
Named after its founder , who was a national hockey league player , Tim Hortons first opened in Ontario in 1964 and , since then , has expanded within Canada and overseas .
Tim Hortons is the first personal coffee shop investments of Yap , whose cousin and sibling also run another coffee brand , Café France .
“ Tim Hortons ® restaurants are well-known for their fast and friendly service , which will be no
Tim Hortons finally opens in Manila
different for our Guests here in the Philippines ,” he said .
After opening its flagship Tim Hortons ’ coffee shop in Uptown Bonifacio Global City , the local master franchisee is now working on a number of locations , including The Link , UN Square in San Marcelino , Eastwood , Net Quad , Insular Life , Venice Grand Canal , Bluebay at Edsa Extension , BF Homes , One Central and across the RCBC Plaza .
“ We are still working on other sites ,” Yap said adding they will definitely expand outside of the metropolis and into the provinces .
According to Yap , the company only sources its coffee from the best places from Brazil , Colombia and Indonesia , but he also welcomes local coffee supplies to help local coffee farmers .
“ We ’ re having the best coffee and we have a cozy ambiance ,” he said noting that its products cater to all market segments .
Miss Universe Canada Sierra Burchell returned to the Philippines to formally open the first branch in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia of Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons .
The beauty queen was joined by executives from Tim Hortons International and the Philippines , as well as a representatives of the Department of Tourism at a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony , ahead of its opening on February 28 .
Tim Hortons offers premium coffee , freshly baked goods , delicious sandwiches and wraps , and other food products .
“ With a strong economy and fast growing quick-service market , the Philippines is a great
On Feb . 24 , Miss Universe Canada 2016 Siera Bearchell was back in Manila for restaurant ’ s ribbon-cutting ceremony . With her were Department of Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo , the executives of TH Coffee Services Philippines Corporation , and Tim Hortons President Elias Diaz Sese . place to expand the Tim Hortons brand ,” said Elias Diaz Sese , President of Tim Hortons .“ We look forward to being part of the Manila community where Guests can enjoy our one of a kind coffee and fresh food .”
Tim Hortons plans to expand to over 100 outlets over the next two decades .
“ We believe in the economy of the country , and so we ’ re here to spread our wings and reach out to as many neighborhoods as we can ,” Yap said . ●