Here is an article that went national today in the Philippines.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view_article.php?article_id=169577
Friday, October 31, 2008
Another article
‘Aswang’ catches interest
of Canadian filmmaker
By FELIPE V. CELINO
ROXAS City – To raise funds for the poor island of Olotayan here and patients of dystonia parkinsonism in Capiz, a young filmmaker from Canada is doing a documentary on the “aswang” myth.
High Banks Entertainment Ltd. filmmaker Jordan Clark hopes to make his documentary a definitive material on the myth that has put Capiz in a bad light for decades.
Olotayan is 30 minutes by boat from this city. Eighty percent of its 985 inhabitants are poor. Their main source of livelihood is fishing, but the catch has not been good due to years of destructive fishing methods.
On the other hand, dystonia parkinsonism is a progressive movement disorder endemic to Panay Island, particularly in Capiz.
The 36-year-old Clark is now in the thick of his research. This is his fifth visit to Roxas City and Capiz.
“Roxas is the cleanest and safest city in the Philippines. The hospitality of its people is second to none,” Clark said.
No, he said, he does not believe in “aswang.” But he wants to know how the myth started and how it had affected the province’s way of life.
Clark said he had also consulted with acclaimed Filipino director Peque Gallaga of Bacolod City.
Gallaga had directed successful horror flicks such as “Shake, Rattle and Roll” (Part 1-4), “Aswang” and “Sa Piling ng Aswang.”/PN
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The Moonlit Window
I recently met a gentleman named Percival Biadora through YouTube. He maintains a blog regarding Filipino folklore and myths. His latest entry 'Thoughts on Myth and Reality' is a great read - as some of you may remember, 'myth vs. reality' was the main theme of 'Aswang: A Journey Into Myth'. We were able to sit down over coffee and share some of our thoughts regarding the aswang. We have planned an on-camera interview so he can share some of his knowledge in the film. In the meantime, please check out his blog:
http://themoonlitwindow.blogspot.com/
It is also on my 'blog list' at the bottom of the page.
http://themoonlitwindow.blogspot.com/
It is also on my 'blog list' at the bottom of the page.
Panay Island News Article
The following was published in 'The News Today', which serves Panay Island. It was also picked up nationally by GMA-7. To save the questions later, I mentioned holding a mini-aswang festival, and no, I did not say I was a TV host - I guess they just assumed that because of my devilishly handsome looks :P
It came about as I was interviewing two local news correspondents, Joel E. Capundun and Felipe Celino, regarding the Aswang festival being shut-down.
2 days ago I had the pleasure of interviewing acclaimed horror director Peque Gallaga for the new documentary. He has directed films like, 'Shake, Rattle & Roll 1-4', 'Aswang' and 'Sa Piling Ng Aswang'. He has also directed the award winning Filipino cinematic masterpieces 'Oro, Plata, Mata', and 'Scorpio Nights'.
Anyways, more on that later. Here is the article:
Canadian filmmaker to bring Aswang Festival to Canada
BY JOEL E. CAPUNDAN
ROXAS CITY – A Canadian filmmaker and international T.V. host wanted to adapt this city's controversial Aswang Festival and hold it in their country.
The project would be for the benefit of Destonia victims and the Save Olotayan project.
Olotayan is an island barangay, about 30 minutes travel from the city, with white sand beaches.
Jordan Clark, 36, told The News Today (TNT) that he also is not a believer of the existence of witches but he wanted to make a documentary on the subject of which this writer was one of his sources.
"I love Roxas City, the cleanest and friendliest place to go. It's now my fifth time to visit here that's why I thought of making a documentary regarding the Aswang forklore," Clark said.
He said, he has also interviewed actress Maricel Soriano who plays a role in Sa Piling Ng Aswang in Filipino movies.
Clark's interview with this writer show that there is no such things as Aswang in Capiz and it's only in the mind of the people and has spread through gossips and stories from other people.
Clark's interview with this writer and colleague Felipe Celino was facilitated by Mrs. Cheche Lastimoso, wife of Board Member Rommel Lastimoso, at their residence in Brgy. Mongpong this city.
It can be recalled that Dugo Capiznon, Inc., a private organization, organized Aswang Festival here for three consecutive years but it stopped after several public officials and religious sectors particularly the Catholic church opposed it in 2006.
Public officials opposed it because they said that holding Aswang Festival has negative effect to the economy of Capiz considering that this province is a Seafood Capital of the Philippines exporting marine products.
Religious sector also said that holding Aswang Festival is an act of adoring the devil spirit which is against the stand of the church.
Indignation rallies were held against the holding of Aswang Festival and when City Mayor Vicente Bermejo assumed office, the controversial festival was scrapped.
Dugo Capiznon Inc, on the other hand, claim that holding Aswang Festival does not mean adoring evil spirits, but to promote tourism in Roxas City and Capiz.
They said that the Aswang Festival intend to manifest that Capiz is not haven of Aswang as branded in Manila and instead, it's only stories and in the mind of the people that never existed. They instead said that Aswang are those people who are corrupt public officials, drug lords and addicts, and other bad elements of the society.
Aswang festival is usually held last week of October before the Halloween celebrations.
It came about as I was interviewing two local news correspondents, Joel E. Capundun and Felipe Celino, regarding the Aswang festival being shut-down.
2 days ago I had the pleasure of interviewing acclaimed horror director Peque Gallaga for the new documentary. He has directed films like, 'Shake, Rattle & Roll 1-4', 'Aswang' and 'Sa Piling Ng Aswang'. He has also directed the award winning Filipino cinematic masterpieces 'Oro, Plata, Mata', and 'Scorpio Nights'.
Anyways, more on that later. Here is the article:
Canadian filmmaker to bring Aswang Festival to Canada
BY JOEL E. CAPUNDAN
ROXAS CITY – A Canadian filmmaker and international T.V. host wanted to adapt this city's controversial Aswang Festival and hold it in their country.
The project would be for the benefit of Destonia victims and the Save Olotayan project.
Olotayan is an island barangay, about 30 minutes travel from the city, with white sand beaches.
Jordan Clark, 36, told The News Today (TNT) that he also is not a believer of the existence of witches but he wanted to make a documentary on the subject of which this writer was one of his sources.
"I love Roxas City, the cleanest and friendliest place to go. It's now my fifth time to visit here that's why I thought of making a documentary regarding the Aswang forklore," Clark said.
He said, he has also interviewed actress Maricel Soriano who plays a role in Sa Piling Ng Aswang in Filipino movies.
Clark's interview with this writer show that there is no such things as Aswang in Capiz and it's only in the mind of the people and has spread through gossips and stories from other people.
Clark's interview with this writer and colleague Felipe Celino was facilitated by Mrs. Cheche Lastimoso, wife of Board Member Rommel Lastimoso, at their residence in Brgy. Mongpong this city.
It can be recalled that Dugo Capiznon, Inc., a private organization, organized Aswang Festival here for three consecutive years but it stopped after several public officials and religious sectors particularly the Catholic church opposed it in 2006.
Public officials opposed it because they said that holding Aswang Festival has negative effect to the economy of Capiz considering that this province is a Seafood Capital of the Philippines exporting marine products.
Religious sector also said that holding Aswang Festival is an act of adoring the devil spirit which is against the stand of the church.
Indignation rallies were held against the holding of Aswang Festival and when City Mayor Vicente Bermejo assumed office, the controversial festival was scrapped.
Dugo Capiznon Inc, on the other hand, claim that holding Aswang Festival does not mean adoring evil spirits, but to promote tourism in Roxas City and Capiz.
They said that the Aswang Festival intend to manifest that Capiz is not haven of Aswang as branded in Manila and instead, it's only stories and in the mind of the people that never existed. They instead said that Aswang are those people who are corrupt public officials, drug lords and addicts, and other bad elements of the society.
Aswang festival is usually held last week of October before the Halloween celebrations.
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