By the time my first name “Rogelio” was being chanted musically at the Philstagers’ PSF Blackbox Theatre in Manila late on the night of July 6, 2024, something good was happening on the other side of the world: my new column PEP (People, Events, Places) for Asian Journal was about to be published in print in the Asian Journal LA Weekend edition in California. That, to me, is a blessing.

* * *

The highest rated show on GMA is “Kapuso MoJessica Soho” and the July 7 episode scored an unprecedented 18 points, the highest score of any show in 2024.

Maria Jessica Aspiras Soho, born in San Fernando, La Union, is the host of GMA Network’s news magazine program Public Affairs “Kapuso MoJessica Soho” since 2004. In 1998, she became the first Filipino to win the British Fleet Street Award for Journalism. In 1999, she and the I-Witness team received the Philippines’ first Peabody Award for producing the documentaries “Kidneys for Sale” and “Kamao.” Her story of a hostage crisis in Cagayan Valley made her the first Filipino to win at the New York Film Festival.

Soho went to the University of the Philippines Diliman to study Mass Communication. One of her professors was Luis Beltran who inspired her to finish her studies and pursue journalism in Manila.

Meanwhile, the highest rated show on GTV is Pinas Sarap, hosted by Kara David. The show has more than double the ratings of its TV5 counterpart (which happens to be a drama).

Kara Patria Constantino David-Cancio, winner of the TOYM and TOWNS awards, is an assistant professor at UP Diliman and currently chair of the Department of Journalism at the UP College of Mass Communication.

She is the founder and president of Project Malasakit, a foundation that helps the people she has shown in her documentaries. She has won a Peabody Award, the second Filipina to win this award.

She is the daughter of Professor Randy David of UP Diliman and Karina Constantino-David, former chairwoman of the Civil Service Commission.

* * *

The 2nd Philippines Finest Business Awards & Outstanding Achievers 2024 will be even more exciting this year as it recognizes extraordinary individuals and companies that have made a difference and impacted society.

One sector is the entertainment industry. Among those receiving awards are Sparkle GMA artists Ken Chan, Julie Ann San Jose, Rita Daniella, Rayver Cruz, Anthony Rosaldo, Ruru Madrid, Miguel Tanfelix, Bianca Umali, Barbie Forteza, Ashley Sarmiento, Marco Masa, Allen Ansay, Sofia Pablo, Boobay, as well as Sparkle GMA Artist Center and UP College of Law lecturer Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes, president of GMA Worldwide, Inc. and GMA Network Films.

Also from the news and information industry are the following award winners: Annabelle Surara, Wej Cudiamat, Dennis Antennor Jr., Braggy Braganza, Earlo Bringas, Audrey Gorriceta, DJ Mama Colleen, Papa Marky, DJ Kuya Machete, Usec. Robert Rivera, Nerlyza Eliza Francisco Rivera, 97.9 Home Radio, Aliw Channel 23, DWIZ-AM, Media House Express, The Metropolista, Rise and Shine Pilipinas, Light TV and Win Radio.

In music, the winners are Lae Manego, Dylan Menor, Merjohn Lagaya, George Sison-Tagle, The Flippers (3rd generation), Carmela Betonio, The Voice Academy of the Philippines Inc. and RTU Himig Rizalia.

Others working in business, entrepreneurship and professionalism are Salvacion Paparon, Bhinky Reyes, CPA Shirley Belangel, photographer Miller Daniolco, Jamin Lim at Bhon Jheo Exconde, Janice Israel Delima Tentler, Judge Tarcelo Sabarre Jr., Jeffrey Dy and Sara Luningning Medina.

The PFBA is organized by La Visual Corporation and SIRBISU Channel. The awards ceremony will be held at The Hexagon Events Place in Quezon City on September 8, 2024.

* * *

Museo Orlina in Tagaytay City celebrated its 10th anniversary with the opening of the exhibition “Eskultura III: Crystal Clear” featuring some of the Philippines’ finest glass sculptors such as Marge Organo, Raisa Luz, Jinggoy Salcedo, Anna Orlina, Michael Orlina and Presidential Medal of Merit Award winner Ramon Orlina.

The highlight was the blessing of the house, presided over by Father Tito Caluag, and both the museum and the new space that was developed were blessed.

“Eskultura III: Crystal Clear” runs until August 18, 2024. For questions or catalog requests, please contact +63917-107 -5958, landline (+6346) 413 2581, email: (email protected).

* * *

Rolando Inocencio, a seasoned actor who recently appeared in the musical film “A Thousand Forests,” was invited as one of the three judges (the other two were actors Mon Confiado and Eric dela Cruz) in the recent Philstagers’ PSF Theater Festival for two Saturdays. (Writer Ymman Jake Biaco and PX Ilano helped me with the updates there.)

Inocencio started as a workshopper in the CCP Student Drama Workshop in 1981. Since then, he has joined the Bulwagang Gantimpala, Teatro Pilipino, Repertory Philippines, PETA and Tanghalang Pilipino.

He also appeared in dozens of Jose Javier Reyes films. “He runs a tight ship. There’s no time wasted,” Rolando said of Joey’s directing style.

He was artistic director when Dulaang Talyer performed at the 2003 Festival Off d’Avignon at the Theatre du Balcon in Avignon, France.

It is a spontaneous space for creation that was created in 1966 in connection with the Festival d’Avignon. The ‘festival Off Avignon’, also called the ‘festival In’, is today in its own right one of the largest performing arts festivals in the world. The Festival Off means more than 1,500 shows during the 3 weeks of the festival in July, which turns Avignon into a single big festival, thanks to the thousands of artists and performers who take over the streets, and the more than a hundred theatres in the city. A unique structure, built on the independence of the theatres that participate in the festival off, the ‘Festival Off Avignon’ welcomes all the rich diversity of French and international artistic creation.

* * *

The talents of Sparkle GMA Artist Alden Richards, Rayver Cruz (who once came to my house to film ABS-CBN’s “All of Me”), Julie Anne San Jose, Boobay, Ai-Ai de las Alas and Isko Moreno (who told me he’s not sure if he’ll enter the political arena next year) are all looking forward to the Sparkle Goes to USA performance in Anaheim, California on August 9. The day after, they will perform at the South San Francisco High School Auditorium in San Francisco, California.

* * *

Navarro Jr., son of the late comedian Rod Navarro Sr., reunited with the FAMAS ladies led by President Francia “Cheche” Conrado and members Christina Aliada and Teresita Tolentino Pambuan (a retired school teacher in Hayward, California who appeared in Romm Burlat’s Manang) during the first anniversary celebration of a beauty wellness and spa in Binondo, Manila. They were all invited as VIP guests by top podcaster Cali Manzano.

* * *

On July 21, a month before Ninoy Aquino’s death anniversary on August 21, a public holiday in the Philippines, a group from the August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) will leisurely walk, run, jog and cycle along Ayala Avenue at 6:30 a.m. during their ROAR (run on against revision) campaign. Regular runners Kiko Aquino Dee (Aquino family spokesperson), Emilio Aquino (son of former senator and actor Butz Aquino), historian Xiao Chua, Volt Bohol and Jose Francisco Kawada of the Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardees Inc. are expected to be present.

* * *

The opinions, beliefs and positions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and positions of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * *

(e-mail address)