Category Archives: The Media

TAGALOG VERSION OF CESAR CHAVEZ FILM TO BE RELEASED FRIDAY

imageHollywood, California – Moviegoers wanting to see  ‘Cesar Chavez’ have the option to see the film in English or dubbed in Spanish, a brilliant marketing strategy by the producers. There was some initial confusion last weekend when non-Spanish speakers mistakenly bought tickets to the Spanish language screenings, but theater management was quick to better label their marquee signs to avoid confusion.

Initial reaction to the film was mixed, with Filipino moviegoers crying foul for the inaccurate representation – or lack thereof – of Larry Itliong and other Filipino farm leaders who, in actuality, started the Delano farm labor strikes which the film totally attributes to Cesar Chavez.

To appease the angry protests, the film’s producers announced today that a new, all-Tagalog (Filipino) version of the movie will be released in theaters in Daly City and South San Francisco starting this Friday. If the new version is well received in these two cities, the Tagalog version will be released nationwide.

Calls by The Adobo Chronicles to the offices of the Filipino American National Historical Society which has been in the forefront of the film protests, have not been returned.

Moviegoers are advised to closely look at theater marquee signs to make sure they are purchasing the correct tickets.  The films are labeled “Cesar Chavez,” “Cesar Chavez en Español” and ” Sesar Tsabes.”  The latter is the Filipino version.

MISS PHILIPPINES FINALIST CRIES FOUL OVER Q&A

Pia Wurtzbach (Photo: Francis Malasig/European Press Photo Agency)
Pia Wurtzbach (Photo: Francis Malasig/European Press Photo Agency)

Quezon City, Philippines – In most beauty pageants, the answer to the final question can often make or break even the most  beautiful of contestants. The 2014 Binibining Pilipinas (Miss Philippines) pageant held last weekend in Quezon City was no exception.

One finalist, in responding to a judge’s question: “Name one thing that you would sacrifice for a (Binibini) crown,” confidently answered: “I think one thing that I would sacrifice for Binibini crown is my shoes.  You know it’s very hard for me to find shoes because I have this very big shoe size.  But for Binibini I will sacrifice this precious thing that I have just to have the crown. Thank you.”  The rest, of course, is history for this aspiring beauty queen.

But the big controversy of the evening came from a complaint from one of the 15 finalists — Contestant No. 8, Pia Wurtzbach.  She happened to pick a senator, Juan Edgardo Angara, to ask the question which he did in Tagalog.  The other 14 finalists were asked their respective questions (and responded) in English.

Wurtzbach who was born in Stuttgart, Germany, didn’t win any of the crowns at stake for the night, and she attributed it to the fact that the senator had asked the question in the national language. “I’m glad that despite my German-sounding name, I proved to all that I am a true Filipina and that I can speak Tagalog quite fluently.”  “However,” she added,” it was not fair that all the other finalists were asked their questions in English.  I’m sure I could have done much better than all the other girls had I been asked the question, and responded, in English.”

Wurtzbach said she has engaged the services of an attorney to see if she could file a lawsuit against Senator Angara for discrimination.

Here is a transcript of the Q&A portion of the pageant.

BEAUTY PAGEANT BAN FOR PHILIPPINES IS PERMANENTLY LIFTED

photoQuezon City, Philippines – Last November, The Adobo Chronicles reported that the Philippines has been banned from participating in international beauty pageants for the next two years.  The decision to disqualify Filipina candidates from pageants like Miss Universe, Miss International, Miss World and Miss Supranational was made by the Association of Beauty Pageant Franchise Holders (ABPFH) because of the enormous advantage of Filipina beauties who have won the crown in all major beauty contests.

Just in time for the crowning of the 2014 Binibining Pilipinas (Miss Philippines) title holders, the ABPFH announced that it has permanently lifted the ban on Filipina beauties, thanks to the advocacy efforts of reigning Miss Universe Gabriela Isler of Venezuela.  Isler was one of the judges in the 2014  Miss Philippines pageant held last night at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines.

Isler reportedly convinced the ABPFH that the ban was unfair and that she commiserates with the Philippines for having been banned from international beauty pageants.  Like the Philippines, Venezuela has also won the crown for all major beauty pageants, along with Brazil.

Reigning international beauty pageant title holders automatically become voting members of ABPFH.  Isler asked for a vote to permanently lift the ban on the Philippines, and majority voted in favor of Isler’s proposal.  Also voting in favor of lifting the ban were reigning Miss World Megan Young, Miss International Bea Rose Santiago,  Miss Supranational Mutya Johanna Datul  and Miss Tourism International Angeli Dione Gomez — Filipinas all.