behind the scenes

The Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival is just around the corner. By the end of the month all eight finalists in the New Breed Category, myself included, have to hand in a copy of our films. My film is entitled Limbunan. Set in 1989, the film captures the ritual motions of the women in a family preparing for the wedding of 16-year-old Ayesah who has been betrothed to a man she barely knows. As Maguindanaon tradition dictates, she will be kept from public view in her private quarters –limbunan— where she will be prepared, readied, and pampered for her wedding.

As preparations for her union is underway, Ayesah is reunited with her childhood tutor Maguid who returns to the village as a militiaman after an absence of five years, reawakening Ayesah’s past memory of childhood infatuation.

Throughout Ayesah’s confinement her precocious and rebellious eight-year-old sister Saripa becomes her eyes to the world beyond her room. Her mother Amina keeps her composure despite the fact her husband sleeps with his second wife half of the time, finding solace in the belief that it is both her religious and familial duty to be an obedient wife.

Ayesah’s aunt Farida is tasked to ensure that she is prepared for the wedding. However, Farida’s dark past challenges Ayesah’s resolve finding herself choosing between love and loyalty to tradition and family.

The film stars Tetchie Agbayani (Farida), Joem Bascon (Maguid), Jea Lyka Cinco (Ayesah), Jamie Unte (Saripa) and Mayka Lintongan (Amina). Here are few behind the scenes photos.

fat people are threat to national security

First it was the Russians and the Chinese, next came the Arabs. Now, U.S. national security is being threatened by its own fat people.

In an Agence France-Presse article: "Obesity rates threaten the overall health of America and the future strength of our military," generals John Shalikashvili and Hugh Shelton, both former chairs of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote in a commentary.

The two generals urged Congress to adopt legislation that would ensure better nutrition in schools, offering children more vegetables, fruits and whole grains while cutting back on foods with high sugar, sodium and fat content.

"We consider this problem so serious from a national security perspective that we have joined more than 130 other retired generals, admirals and senior military leaders in calling on Congress to pass new child nutrition legislation," wrote the commanders, part of a non-profit group called "Mission: Readiness."

The warning came amid growing concern that childhood obesity has turned into an "epidemic," affecting a staggering one in three American youngsters."