<![CDATA[TWIMedia

<![CDATA[TWIMedia - News]]>Mon, 27 Feb 2023 22:19:58 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[A filmmaker's Christmas wish]]>Mon, 26 Mar 2018 04:49:20 GMThttp://twimedia.org/news/a-filmmakers-christmas-wishMark Z. Saludes
Published 4:00 PM, December 21, 2014
Updated 6:23 PM, December 21, 2014

'It shouldn’t be just an emotion of compassion. That compassion has to be propelled into action, we need to act.'

LUNETA MINERAS. Balanag (left) with the women miners of Sitio Luneta in Benguet. Photo by Mark Saludes/Rappler

BENGUET, Philippines – A Baguio-based filmmaker is appealing to all those who are willing to share their blessings this yuletide season to send a miner’s ailing son to a specialist in Metro Manila for medical examination and treatment.

Ferdinand John L. Balanag, 43, is an artist and independent documentary filmmaker who has created 9 independent films since 2003. Balanag studied Theater Arts and Speech Communication in UP Baguio and started doing experimental productions while in his college days. His exposure in theater arts influenced him a lot in doing movies with real life stories and actors.

He was given 8 recognition and international awards for his film “Walking the Waking Journey (An Epic Voyage to Awaken Humanity and Open a Door to the Future)” which he did in the Himalayas, including Best Director–South Asian Filmmaker Category in Silent River Film Festival, in Irvine, California, in 2011.

MORNING BREAK. Miners take a break outside of their tunnel between their daily 8 to 12 hours shift of collecting gold ores. Photo by Mark Saludes/Rappler

In January 2014, Balanag received a grant from GMA Network's Sine Totoo – The First Philippine International Documentary Film Festival to do another project he calls "Agbalbalitok" (The Gold Prospector). The film was launched last September 27 during the Sine Totoo Festival in Metro Manila.

"Agbalbalitok" was shot in Sitio Luneta, Barangay Loacan in Itogon, Benguet. An old and abandoned large-scale mining pit of Benguet Corporation, Sitio Luneta now is a refuge for small scale miners and 140 families.

“When we were doing the pre-production for "Agbalbalitok,'' my scriptwriter asked me why and for whom we are doing the film. And I said, it is for Sitio Luneta, for its people and the environment. And then we find John Rey Guinapon, a yound Ibaloi miner trying to support his family, making difficult choices. We met his family and his son, Kirk John "KJ" Guinapon. KJ is only 12 years old and he is very sick. That was the time I told myself and my crew, we will do this film for KJ, his family and for all of Luneta,” said Balanag.

KJ. Kirk John Guinapon (center) with his siblings. Photo courtesy of Glenn Pat-ogan

Kirk John was diagnosed with mild hypochromia with mild anisopoikilocytosis, an anemic condition in which the percentage of hemoglobin in red blood cells are abnormally low and the presence in the blood of erythrocytes of varying sizes and abnormal shapes.

“KJ was advised to go to Metro Manila to undergo further testing and medication. We were instructed to visit Philippine General Hospital or University of Sto. Tomas Hospital and ask for medical opinion. The doctor told us that he really needs more examination to determine if it is from a bone marrow problem, which may lead to something worst. Also, they have a conclusion that KJ’s condition might be a problem caused by his exposure in Mercury and other toxic chemicals that we can find in a mining site,” added Balanag.

“He also has an enlarged spleen – this serves as a blood filter. Our initial plan is to bring him to Metro Manila on January of 2015. But we can’t do this without raising funds for his medication. So I decided to donate all the income that the film Agbalbalitok will generate from ticket sales, and of course to seek help from friends and other people who might want to give KJ a Christmas present.” said Balanag.

“This film really changes my life and affects me so much. My relationship with my subject and the whole community of sitio Luneta deepens as the time goes by. My goal is to help them build what is lost because of the large-scale mining. I want to show everybody that we must act on something, especially today that the environment and natural resources are exhausted and pushed to its limits," he said.

"We can be compassionate about something but it should not end there. It shouldn’t be just an emotion of compassion. That compassion has to be propelled into action, we need to act.” Balanag said. – Rappler.com
https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/movies/78570-filmmaker-balanag-christmas-wish-agbalbalitok

]]><![CDATA[New ad campaign takes Baguio by storm]]>Tue, 22 Sep 2015 02:44:33 GMThttp://twimedia.org/news/new-ad-campaign-takes-baguio-by-stormAward winning indie film director Ferdinand Balanag of The Workshop for Infinite Media (TWIMedia, Inc.) directs “Walk Happy! Baguio City!”, a tourism campaign that advocates for an orderly and disciplined City of Pines during the celebration of Panagbenga Festival and all holidays henceforth celebrated within the city and its neighbouring tourist spots.

The ad campaign soars online through the hashtag #WalkHappyBaguioCity. Helping spread the word of the project, a surprisingly infectious whirlwind of goodvibes has taken over its Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/718206274958902/). Everyone, from locals and past and present visitors to Baguio City, is invited to share their own experiences and photographs taken during their walks and escapades in the City of Pines.

Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. exec-committee chairman Anthony De Leon of the Baguio Country Club revealed last month that the infomercials will encourage visiting tourists to explore other spots and outdoor destinations in Baguio-Benguet-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) that otherwise would not gain exposure.

“Walk Happy! Baguio City!” is a joint venture of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB), Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI), Baguio Conventions and Visitors Bureau (BCVB), Baguio Country Club, and the production team of The Workshop for Infinite Media, Inc headed by indie film director Ferdie Balanag.

“My most cherished memories occurred in this city, and it continues to charm and enchant me. It is a privilege to be tapped for this project and be able to show people all the ways one can fall in love with Baguio over and over again. While enjoying the popular sights on foot, it is our hope that people will take closer notice of our city’s beautiful environment and experience its natural allure, know and remember it not just for its strawberries and commercial souvenirs, but discover its rich cultural roots and artful heritage safeguarded as well as embodied by its wonderful people. A re-discovery of Baguio in this way will inspire a deeper, more personal appreciation and respect for our home,” were Mr. Balanag’s sentiments on the campaign’s bold mission.

Mikey as the “Face of the Campaign”

Top international performer, YouTube sensation, and ardent promoter of Filipino culture Mikey Bustos is the “Face of the Campaign”. Mikey started his career as a singer, and has now budded into an exceptional talent celebrated both locally and internationally. In addition to his actively documented travels all over the Philippines, he has made a name for himself by promoting the vibrant Filipino culture through his numerous video performances uploaded over the worldwide internet which are as informative as they are entertaining. His undeniable appeal has earned him an impressive following in the country and abroad.

Mikey’s concert, a challenge for TWIMedia

Mikey Bustos has chosen Baguio City to be the first stop for his series of concerts called “Pinoyboy World Tour” which is set to include concerts in USA, Guam, Europe, Australia and other parts of the Philippines this year.

The concert will be a Filipino-themed mix of comedy and musical performances. Mikey shall perform many of his popular musical YouTube parodies combined with video, costumes, props and fun gags in between songs. It will include back-up dancers and choreography to create a very visual musical spectacle that will run anywhere between thirty minutes to one and a half hours.

Mikey Bustos will perform on-stage for Baguio City in the heat of the Panagbenga 2015 celebrations. The concert shall serve as the grand launching of “Walk Happy! Baguio City!” It is scheduled on March 4, 2015 at 9:00 PM.

The Workshop for Infinite Media, Inc. are looking for sponsors for this upcoming concert event. Please contact Ems Guerrero (09175681304) or visit twimedia.org if your company is interested to be a partner.

Mikey’s concert, a challenge for TWIMedia

Mikey Bustos has chosen Baguio City to be the first stop for his series of concerts called “Pinoyboy World Tour” which is set to include concerts in USA, Guam, Europe, Australia and other parts of the Philippines this year.

The concert will be a Filipino-themed mix of comedy and musical performances. Mikey shall perform many of his popular musical YouTube parodies combined with video, costumes, props and fun gags in between songs. It will include back-up dancers and choreography to create a very visual musical spectacle that will run anywhere between thirty minutes to one and a half hours.

Mikey Bustos will perform on-stage for Baguio City in the heat of the Panagbenga 2015 celebrations. The concert shall serve as the grand launching of “Walk Happy! Baguio City!” It is scheduled on March 4, 2015 at 9:00 PM.

The Workshop for Infinite Media, Inc. are looking for sponsors for this upcoming concert event. Please contact Ems Guerrero (09175681304) or visit twimedia.org if your company is interested to be a partner.

]]><![CDATA[‘Walking the Waking Journey’]]>Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:00:00 GMThttp://twimedia.org/news/walking-the-waking-journeyBy: Bayani San Diego Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 08:47 PM April 05, 2011

BAGUIO CITY—Walking down Session Road, filmmaker Ferdinand Balanag bumped into a friend who assured him, “We are supporting and promoting your film.”

Balanag is one of two Baguio-born and bred filmmakers—the other being Kidlat Tahimik—featured at the recent edition of the traveling Sineng Pambansa festival here in the country’s summer capital.

He feels it’s important, Balanag said, to show his documentary, “Walking the Waking Journey,” to fellow Baguio residents.

The docu tells of Tibetan Lama Tenzin, now 36, and the 11 children, now 9 to 13 years old, that he rescued from abject poverty from their remote mountain village in Upper Dolpo, Nepal, seven years ago. He’s been sending them to school in India.

Harrowing

“Walking …” captures in harrowing detail the kids’ 30-day trek to visit their families for the first time since they left home with their intrepid benefactor seven years ago. Lama Tenzin made his wards promise they would someday go back home for good to help other children.

In the docu, Lama Tenzin explains, “These children seem to belong nowhere, living near the borders of India, Nepal and Tibet.” Not one of the three governments seems to want to take responsibility for them. “They have to be helped to help themselves.”

Lama Tenzin has been a monk since age 14. He chanced upon the children when he got lost on a trek to his mother’s Tibetan village. He was appalled by the kids’ apparent hopelessness. In a previous interview, he was quoted as saying, “I could stay in a monastery, close my eyes and meditate; or I could open my eyes and do something.”

The docu was shot in 2008. Producer/narrator Ilonka Harezi, an advocate of children’s rights, led Balanag to the story.

Our story, too

Balanag said the plight of the Tibetan children made him realize “the value of education [and] empowering people through education.”
He noted that the film could in fact be about Igorot children who still walk for miles daily to their schools in the Cordilleras. “It happens everywhere,” he said. “It is also the story of our people in the interiors. It’s just that life in Upper Dolpo is made much more difficult by nature itself.”

Baguio audiences have been responding positively to the film. Balanag recounted, “I noticed that the audience became more and more quiet as the film climaxed. I always feel their emotions in the silence. Some end up in tears. With this docu, I am sharing with the viewers the awakening I experienced during the shoot.”

Ultimate reward

He said the film’s Golden Ace Award from the Las Vegas Film Festival last year was a bonus. “I think the best award, the ultimate reward that I’ve received from making the docu is really the experience.”

The complete title—“Walking the Waking Journey: An Epic Voyage to Awaken Humanity and Open a Door to the Future”—reflects the filmmaker’s own journey. He recalled: “It was tough. We would have only one bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, then walk for six to 10 hours. It made me realize how lucky I’ve been, and taught me to transform compassion into action.”

Despite their preparations, he said, he and his crew—cinematographers Regiben O. Romana and Jordan Arabejo and production assistant Pusongbughaw Romana—got close to being intimidated by the gruelling shoot.

When the group reached the trek’s highest point at 18,000 feet above sea level, Arabejo wanted to quit, Balanag recalled. “He started crying from sheer exhaustion. He asked us to leave him behind.” Balanag refused and held Arabejo’s hand until he recovered.

One of the children got sick, too, as did Lama Tenzin’s sister, Penpa, who went along to look after the kids.

Pure faith

“We had only two weeks for preproduction,” Balanag recalled, adding that the only thing that sustained the crew was “pure faith” in the project.

He proudly pointed out that postproduction was done in Baguio, with Arabejo and Kidlat de Guia (son of Kidlat Tahimik) as editors. Screenplay is by Padmapani Perez, daughter of Butch Perez, who directed “Mumbaki” (which was shown in the “Sine ng Masa” component of Sineng Pambansa here).

“We are all childhood friends,” Balanag said. “I was part of Kidlat Tahimik’s ‘Magellan’ film.”

Balanag has kept in touch with Lama Tenzin and the kids via Skype. “I spoke with Lama Tenzin just two weeks ago. We are shooting another docu in May.” His memories of the harsh trek are still fresh, needless to say, but Balanag is raring to scale the Himalayas once again.

He said, “We are shooting some footage to continue our ‘Waking Journey.’ This time it will be about disabled women living in Upper Dolpo.”

Read more: http://entertainment.inquirer.net/505/%e2%80%98walking-the-waking-journey%e2%80%99#ixzz54zPV0exH
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