it's all about leadership. EnvironMakati spearheads tree-planting activities in Makati City.
















EnvironMakati Infomercial/30sec:
Rotary official, Me(Camera/Lights), Mayor Jejomar Binay, Jake(EnvironMakati), Ma-an(Producer/Director), Caloy(Audio), Hector(Camera Caretaker), Mr. MIna(EnvironMakati)

BALiW

BALiW - Crazy.

a Digital Movie by New York Based-Filam Redd Ochoa.

Impressive Production values and processes.

I get to shoot someone with gusto. Or rather impulsively.

Point blank. Dream come true.













Reminds me of "Fight Club". I sort of tried to emulate film icon Edward Norton. No, I didn't get to hurt someone with my fists. Next time maybe.









* BALiW is coming out January 2007. You have to watch it. Evil might be rising inside your heart or head.

* It wasn't hard to shoot someone point blank when your motivation exercise reminds you of betrayal. I had a good one month to prepare. But it was draining physically and emotionally.

Rome & Juliet, Cinema One Originals 2006

with:
Honey Cruz, Direk Connie Macatuno and Kooky Tuason

photos by:
SYKE Dolero



















































SEQ. 3

BUS
samahan mo kaya ako
sa paglakbay sa mundong ito?
abutin ang mga pangarap
lumangoy sa mga ulap
o kaya’y magtampisaw sa baha ng Cubao
magmeryenda ng isaw
mangdaot ng tao
habang kumakain ng halo-halo ni aling
rosario
isusulat ko ang lahat
dito sa aking aklat
parang ang bus na ito
may mga bagahe
may kuwento
pero ayoko din namang magsumamo
na sige na, subukan natin’to
ang gusto ko’y manggaling din sa ‘yo
lambingin mo ako
bigyan ng mga rosas
mahalin ng walang kupas
sananga ganito ang bukas
isang pagsasamang wagas
nguni’t basbas ng Maylikha
ay hindi ko pa nakikita
kailan kaya malalaman
na ikaw na nga ang walang hanggan
hayaan mong namnamin ko muna ang bawat araw
na ang kapiling ay ikaw




SEQ. 32

BISPERAS

malamig
ito ang masarap sa ganitong oras
nag-aagaw ang kahapon at bukas
pananabik at saya
ang iyong madarama
lalo na kung marami kang kasama
para kumain ng noche Buena
o buksan ang mga sorpresa
pero higit pa sa lahat nang ito
ang Pag-ibig na nadarama ko
para sa taong katulad mo
nararamdaman ang ligaya
nawawala ang pangungulila
dahil alam kong nandiyan ka na
kasalo
sa Bisperas ng Pasko




SEQ. 16-A

PAGSUMAMO

aba Ginoong Maylikha
buksan iyong mga mata
dinggin ang dasal ng iyong nilikha
haplusin ang pusong nangungulila
hinihintay ang kabiyak ng aking kaluluwa
makakasama hanggang sa pagtanda
sa mundong iyong itinakda
kung inyong mararapatin
ako at siya
magiging isa




SEQ. 36-A

iSA KANG PANAGiNiP

isa kang panaginip
nakikita, nadarama
naririnig ang iyong tawa
kaunti na lang
at ikaw ay mahahawakan ko na
nakapagtataka
hindi maiwaksi ng isipang balisa
ito ba’y ang tadhana
nang bukas na hindi pa makita?
isang panaginip na walang kasagutan
nanunuot sa aking kaibuturan




SEQ. 44

PARU-PARO

ilang araw na nakalambitin
umiindayog dala ng hangin
nagtitiis
nagninilay
ayaw nang humimlay
sa paghihintay
umaasang makaalpas
mahanap ang tamang landas
makita ang maraming kulay
ng mundong dalisay
gamit ang hibla ng buhay




SEQ. 48

SANGANDAAN

sangandaan, sangandaan
ituro ang tamang lansangan
tahakin ang karimlan
kung nasaan ang liwanag ng walang hanggan
naliligaw sa katanungan
naghihintay ka ba sa huling hantungan?
o mag-isa akong maglalakad sa kawalan?




SEQ. 71

UMAGA NA

ginising ako ni Bathala
sa pagdampi ng umaga
sa aking mukha
o, anong ligaya
nang araw na pinagpala
kapiling ka na
aking sinta
para akong nasa ulap
namumukadkad na mga rosas aking nalalanghap
matingkad ang mga kulay
wala nang sasaya pa
sa ganitong buhay
tapos na ang paghihintay




KANTO

Sa Kanto ng Langit at Lupa
Hinihintay si Tadhana
Dapat ba akong umasa
O ‘di kaya’y mangamba?
Maraming naging kaibigan
Pero iilan lang ang maaasahan
Ang iba’y nang-iiwan
Pupulutin ka sa kangkungan
Pati ang mailap na Pag-ibig
Bibihira ang masasabing inibig
Lalo na kung panandalian
May hangganan ang Pagmamahalan

*poetry by Miguel Pancho

NEW YORK FILIPINO FILM FESTIVAL 2006

New York Filipino Film Festival 2006

Presented by: The Smithsonian Institute, The Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the Philippine Consulate of New York.

Tickets: $10 for general admission $8 for group purchases (10 tickets or more purchased for the same screening. Available at the box office only) All ticket sales are FINAL.


FRIDAY OCT 6
3:00 Lasponggols , Directed by Sigfried Barros-Sanchez
6:30 Opening Night Reception
7:30 Sandaan
9:00 Forum, presented by Philippine Consulate
10:00 Biyaya ng Lupa (preceded by short film, Mansyon)

SATURDAY OCT 7
2:00 Sarong Banggi , Directed by Eman dela Cruz
2:15 The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros , Directed by Aureos Solito
4:30 Two Bells/Two Cities (Balangiga)
6:00 Q&A with Two Bells/Two Cities (Balangiga) filmmakers Bernie Stone, Sonny Sampayan 7:00 Merika, writer Gil Quito and actress Nora Aunor in attendance
9:30 Himala, actress Nora Aunor in attendance

SUNDAY OCT 8
12:00 Room Boy , Directed by Aloy Adlawan
3:00 The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros
5:15 Closer To Home , director Joseph Nobile in attendance
8:00 Big Time , Directed by Mario Cornejo
10:30 ICU Bed #7 , Directed by Rica Arevalo

MONDAY OCT 9
3:30 Mga Anak ni Brocka , Directed bySigfried Barros-Sanchez
6:45 Tinimbang Ka, Ngunit Kulang, dir. by Brocka
9:15 Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa, dir. by Brocka

TUESDAY OCT 10
3:30 Baryoke , Directed by Ron Bryant
6:30 Himala, dir. by Ishmael Bernal
9:15 Manila By Night, dir. by Ishmael Bernal

WEDNESDAY OCT 11
3:30 Isnats , Directed by Mike Dagñalan
6:30 Itim , dir. by Mike De Leon; writer Gil Quito in attendance
9:00 Kisapmata , dir. by Mike De Leon

THURSDAY OCT 12 MIDWAY BREAK NO FILMS AT THE IMAGINASIAN ON THIS DATE special film event at Perlas Ng Silangan restaurant

FRIDAY OCT 13
3:30 Memories of a Forgotten War preceded by assorted short films
5:45 The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros
8:05 The Debut
10:10 Slow Jam King with director Stephen Mallorca in attendance

SATURDAY OCT 14
2:30 Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang, dir. by Brocka with Hilda Koronel
5:00 Tatlo Dalawa Isa, dir. by Brocka with Hilda Koronel
7:30 Angela Markado, dir. by Brocka with Hilda Koronel
10:30 Tubog Sa Ginto, dir. by Brocka with Hilda Koronel

SUNDAY OCT 15
1:00 Himala, with Nora Aunor
3:30 Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, with Nora Aunor
6:00 Minsa'y Isang Gamu-Gamo, appearance by writer Marina F. Gonzalez
8:30 Merika by Gil Portes, appearance by writer Gil Quito

MONDAY OCT 16
3:30 La Visa Loca
6:30 Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos
9:30 Insiang

TUESDAY OCT 17
3:30 Cavite
6:30 Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon, dir. by Eddie Romero
9:15 Passionate strangers, dir. by Eddie Romero

WEDNESDAY OCT 18
3:30 Ang Balikbayan, dir. by Kidlat Tahimik
6:00 Mababangong Bangugot (Perfumed Nightmare), dir. by Kidlat Tahimik
8:30 American Adobo with cast members in attendance

THURSDAY OCT 19 5:00 DOUBLE FEATURE: An Untold Triumph & Sandaan 7:30 Forum with filmmaker Noel Izon in attendance 8:00 Closing Night Reception 9:05 Rigodon, filmmakers Sari Dalena & Keith Sicat in attendance

Independent's Night!

EKSENA, An Independent's Night!

October 19, 2006
9pm onwards
Php100 Entrance Fee(with one FREE beer)

Purple Haze Bar and Cafe
37 Tomas Morato Avenue cor E.Rodriguez, QC
"Where Rock n' Roll Lives"

For Inquiries:
+639166129774 / m_pancho@yahoo.com

iSNATS, Cinemalaya 2005

Staff and Crew
(Aren Adao, Lawrence Fajardo, Jobin Ballesteros, Anjoo Afed Archi Adamos, Joel Olaño, Mike Dagñalan, gaffer, Jun Aves, Charisse, Armand Samonte)






Rudy's Gang
(Nick Milligan, Lili Chu, Philipp Harth)










cover design by Ma-an Asuncion








Mike Dagñalan
writer-director










Crew









Joel Olaño as Sam









Blocking









Bonsai Gang
(Anthony Nabor, Ronald Tupas, Sig Sanchez, Reinier Laiño,
Bombi Plata)






Cultural Center of the Philippines

CCP Cinemalaya showroom

iSNATS Director @CCP

iSNATS comments

********
Ang galing ng "iSNATS"! it's like a good book, compelling me to keep turning the page -- unable to stop reading -- anticipating what next?. it has scenes that seems so painfully real my heart feels like imploding! but maybe it's just me. then again, i'm only speaking as the next regular ardent movie-goer, who when watching a film hopes to be treated with something more than entertainment. "iSNATS" is well-researched to give us a personal look inside the world of snatchers and gangstas, not to justify their actions but to make us understand and be aware of such lives other than our own. that we all have our addictions, and we merely try to get through each day satisfying them. such as the lead character J, whose addiction to the almighty gadget that is the cellphone takes him and his loyal friends to a chaotic web of drama and violence that spins out of control. (little did he know that his latest acquisition was jinxed!) and because this is the Philippines, there is humor and laughter amidst all the mess.in "iSNATS" the characters are competently portrayed, the dialogues superbly realistic, the entire atmosphere magnificently Pinoy. the chosen background music enhanced the pacing and color of the action. the story is brilliantly told, with details here and there that you shouldn't miss. the open-minded viewer (and listener) would find not-so-hidden meanings in between. I shall say no more. just watch the film... and CONGRATULATIONS, MIKE!
-Joyce Morrison

********
iSNATS (Snatch) is probably one of the best examples to debunk the common attribution to the life-changing impact of technology in the so-called information age. The story revolves around the life of a small-time snatcher of cellular phones -- a small-time crime gone big, a cellphone snatcher who got involved into the myriad of crimes that led to loss of friends after snatching the cellphone of a motorist who turned out to be part of a drug syndicate (synopsis here). It wasn't just a snatch of reality, but a snatch of the status symbol, a depiction of how life is replicated in the realms of a kind of living for the deprived.While the cinematography portrays so much of the rather quite often-used shots of railways life, of that old Philippine National Railways, the shantytowns and the dark streets in contrast to baywalks, promenades and the city lights. To me, it almost made a documentary of Manila's famous and infamous streets where all sorts of things have happened -- from protests to massacres, it nonetheless showed how poverty breeds the kind of system working for its own. But the treatment was given a twist by showing how snatchers weren't committing crimes just to augment the need of the stomach, but rather, an obsession to things one doesn't have. The film also showed how life is enjoyed by and how dreams are not even articulated, instead just moments enjoyed, existential to a point. Being the independent film that it is, the leading roles where acted by actors hardly seen on TV. In fact, I doubt if they ever appear in local television shows, but they acted as good a s any actor, faces as ordinary as the circumstances they render. The story was careful to present the character without having to condemn and yet without attempts to moralize -- just a sheer presentation of how a culture of crime and consumption leads to an inevitable existence of the basic need to survive. The cellphone was used as a symbol of advancement, the changes in society, that people keep coming and going in the decaying streets of the city, yet the institutions and structures remain the same, also a witness to the perpetration of cultures and subcultures it doesn't care about at all.The film didn't win awards, but at least it was an honest film, faithful to what it can only give and what it can't. I am just so proud I know the guy who made this one. I just realized it makes a lot of difference to appreciate an art piece when you know where it is coming from than just being a clueless spectator.
- BLiNKiNG SENSES

iSNATS, First Philippine Independent Film Festival

*****
my film, iSNATS, is an entertaining and educational "barkada" movie on the phenomenon of cellphone snatching. shot in the gritty streets of Manila and Cubao. it has comedic scenes courtesy of TEDDY CORPUZ( from GMA-7's SUGO/IDOL KO SI KAP/ROCKSTEDDY), BERTING LABRA and indie actor ARCHI ADAMOS. JOURDAN SEBASTIAN (SALT Host/studio 23) and JOEL OLAÑO plays the main roles.

*iSNATS is a Finalist and Fund Grantee of the 1st CINEMALAYA INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last July 12-17, 2005.

*Cinemalaya is the First Philippine Independent Film Festival.

*iSNATS was also screened at the UP Cine Adarna which was sponsored by the UP Film Institute last July 20, 2005

*iSNATS is a 2002 DON CARLOS PALANCA AWARDEE FOR LITERATURE.
FIRST PRIZE WINNER in the SCREENPLAY CATEGORY.

*iSNATS is also a Fund Grantee of THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS (NCCA).



SYNOPSIS:
iSNATS, dubbed as neo-realist, is a story of a cellphone snatcher-collector ( J ) who got into trouble when he steals SAMs cellphone (a former cop - drug dealer). J thinks he hits it big-time when he gets a drug delivery through the snatched phone. but drug lord RUDY wants his drug money and so orders/threatens SAM to get it back. but then again, local gangster BONSAi gets in the way and pushes J and SAM into deeper trouble. SAM and J team up to survive and eventually escape on a rusty PNR Bicol Express Train. the duo then DECIDES TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES as they reach the province. drug lord RUDY eventually gets caught by the police when he throws the cellphone away that caused them all this trouble. shot in the gritty streets of Cubao and Recto Manila, the film portrays man's attachment to material things thatleads him to bad decisions/situations.



production company:
NATURAL LIGHT PRODUCTIONS

genre:
ACTION/COMEDY

running time:
120 minutes (NTSC)

actors:
JOURDAN SEBASTIAN as J
JOEL OLAÑO as Sam (munich-based german actor of filipino descent)
IDA RAMOS as Girlie (hot legs dancer)
TEDDY CORPUZ as Gani
BERTING LABRA as Mang Jun
ARCHI ADAMOS as Rudy
RONALD TUPAS (aka Wacky Tupas) as Bonsai
MAUI MANALO as Dennis
OZ MENDOZA as Gino
PHILIPP HARTH as Rudy's gangster (munich-based pinoy-german actor)
NICK MILLIGAN as Rudy's gangster (berlin-based german actor)
LILY CHU as Rudy's Gangster

director of photography
JUN AVES

associate director
BOMBI PLATA

production manager
ANJOO AFED

assistant director
LAWRENCE FAJARDO

editor
MILOS CURAMENG

music
JOBIN BALLESTEROS

production design
ARMAND SAMONTE

costume design
JELLIE TAN

actor's workshop director
BOMBI PLATA

casting
ACTNOW STUDIOS

storyboard artist
LANCE SALVOSA

trailer editors
SYKE & JOBIN BALLESTEROS

poster design
MA-AN ASUNCION

original music
MIKO PEPITO
SYKE
JOBIN BALLESTEROS
MALEK LOPEZ
POETIKAST
LA MARGA
RADIOACTIVE SAGO PROJECT


producers
MIKE DAGÑALAN
JUN AVES
JAY GUEVARRA

writer & director
MIKE DAGÑALAN

www.culturalcenter.gov.ph/cinemalaya-isnats.htm

In Consideration!