By NESTOR CUARTERO
JUST A THOUGHT: “Where there is love there is life”. – Mahatma Gandhi
* * *
LOVING LOLITA: Ai-Ai de las Alas was deep at work taping an episode of “Sunday Pinasaya” when she was declared Best Actress in the recently held Cinemalaya Awards Night.
The veteran actor, who won for her work as a portrait of cruelty in “School Service,” says her win is a validation of her decision to do only the right things in life.
A papal awardee, Ai-Ai chose to get married to formalize her relationship with her long-time boyfriend, Gerald Sibayan.
“It’s like God is telling me I’m doing the right thing, that’s why He keeps blessing me,’’ she tells us.
Inspired by her latest win, from the prestigious Cinemalaya no less, Ai-Ai wants to do more off-road film projects that she may even produce herself.
“Now, I’m beginning to feel that I’m really an actress, just like Lolita Rodriguez, an idol of mine.’’
Fellow “School Service” actor, Therese Malvar, won Best Supporting Actress at the Cinemalaya. Both Ai-Ai and Therese are GMA contract artists.
* * *
CHILDREN’S VILLAGE: With so much wealth of material to draw from, it is commendable that ABS-CBN doesn’t resort to mining the stories of abused children for use on their TV programs.
Newly proclaimed Bantay Bata 163 program director Jing Castaneda-Velasco says it is their duty to protect the interest of their wards. If at all a story is to be told on TV, it has to have the written permission of concerned parties.
Bantay Bata 163 is celebrating its 21st anniversary with reopening of a new, improved Children’s Village.
The Village, says Jing, is now more equipped to help victims of child abuse.
“Through the kindness of our donors and partner organizations (local government of Quezon City), Bantay Bata 163 is able to provide a better home for abused children,” says Jing.
The Children’s Village, located in Norzagaray, Bulacan, can house and provide holistic healing for 120 abused children through physical and psychological means, in a structured, therapeutic family-like environment.