Director Lav Diaz received the Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Award for his 8-hour opus, “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis” (A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery), (Photo courtesy of Berlinale)

Philippine entry to this year´s Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), Lav Diaz´s “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis” (Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery), won this year´s Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Award. The award— in memory of the Festival Founder — is given to a feature film that opens new perspectives on cinematic art.

Diaz´s 8-hour epic which was set during the Philippine revolution (1896-1898) had its world premiere on 18 February at the Berlinale Palast with a sold-out screening. Well-known Filipino actors Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz, Bernardo Bernardo, Angel Aquino, Cherrie Gil, Alessandra di Rossi, Susan Africa, Hazel Orencio and Joel Saracho, as well as producers Paul Soriano and Bianca Balbuena, were all in attendance during the film’s premiere which started at 9am.

The cast and producers at the press conference following the premiere screening of the film. (Photo courtesy of Berlinale)

The script for Hele was written in 1998, but it was only in 2012 that funding for the film was secured. The film was shot in 6 weeks in time for its Berlin premiere. The film followed the journey of Gregoria de Jesus´ 30-day search for the body of missing hero Andres Bonifacio, which featured encounters with fictional characters from the two novels of Philippine national hero Jose Rizal. Rizal wrote the remaining chapters of his first novel, “Noli Me Tangere” in Berlin which is said to have inspired the Philippine revolution against colonial Spain.

The man of the hour Lav Diaz with Ambassador Melita S. Sta. Maria-Thomeczek

The movie caught the attention of media, festival participants and the public for its unique length. It was shown for two days with sold out tickets, which, in a way, exposed hundreds of movie goers to the Philippines for 8 hours. One German viewer said, during the lunch break, “Now I have to read on the Philippines and its history!”

When festival media partner Radio Eins RBB asked Director Lav regarding the length and format of the film, he pointed out, “The power of cinema, once immersed in this alternative world… time becomes immaterial. There´s no short or long film, there´s just cinema. I grew up watching cinema in black and white. It is my habitat, for me, cinema is black and white. “

Actor Bernardo Bernardo described their filming as a memorable experience, “We had a big party in the jungle. When you enjoy what you are doing, you don´t notice the time and that´s exactly how it is. Time is not important, you just go through the immersive experience. Sometimes the director would add to the script and write something in the evening and we´ll have to memorize it and film the next day. There was complete trust, we trusted the director and the director trusted us.”

Actor John Lloyd Cruz and Director Lav with Jury President Meryl Streep and Member Clive Owen at the dinner after the awarding ceremony (photo from the facebook account of producer Bianca Balbuena)

“Hele” was among the 19 films included in this year´s main competition. The Golden Bear for best film was awarded to Gianfranco Rosi´s “Fuocoammare” (Fire at Sea), a documentary about refugees in the island of Lampedusa. END

Kay Alave (L), Minette de Asis (R) and their assistant Helena Friebel (center) take a quick break in between meal preparation and dinner service

Berlin-based Filipino students Minette Flora de Asis and Kay Alave successfully conducted their first Filipino cooking class at the kitchen of Goldhahn & Sampson in Prenzlauer Berg. The sold-out class drew in an all-German audience, save for two who were Filipino-Germans.

Enthusiastic participants were divided into sub-groups and were hands on during meal prep, with supervision by Kay and Minette.

The course aimed to introduce students to the flavors of Philippine cuisine and cooking techniques that are basic in the Philippine kitchen. The dynamic duo Kay and Minette engaged their students in a culinary experience from meal preparation to dinner service. An explanation of the genesis of Philippine cuisine was given by Kay, with participants learning how the cuisine is very much a unique fusion of Malay, Muslim, Chinese and Western influences. This was followed by a brief orientation on how to maneuver in the kitchen. Participants were then divided into sub-groups, each assigned to prepare a dish from the 4-course menu. The cooking class package included Fried Spring Rolls with Mango and Pineapple Salsa, Shrimp Sinigang (shrimp in tamarind soup), Chicken Adobo with Steamed Rice and Safflower, Squash Stew with Coconut Milk, Pickled Cucumber, Avocado Ice Cream and Maruya (banana and coconut fritters), plus wine and beer.

Minette grew up in a northern Philippine coast city with access to a rich selection of fish. Her cooking skills are influenced by her father, a passionate chef. Minette has worked as a consultant for international organizations and has lived eight years in Berlin. She is about to finish her doctoral dissertation in Agricultural Science and Economics at the Humboldt University.

Very much influenced by her mother, Kay developed a passion for cooking at six years old. She grew up in Manila and worked as a journalist for ten years. In 2012, she moved to Berlin to pursue graduate studies in MSc Global Change Management at the Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde (University for Sustainable Development Eberswalde).

Kay and Minet will have another cooking class on 30 March 2016 at the Goldhahn & Sampson branch in Wilmersdorfer Str. 102/103, 10629 Berlin. Goldhahn & Sampson is a shop of international spices, wine, homemade bread, cheese and chocolate. It also offers an impressive collection of German and English cookbooks and has a kitchen that regularly holds international cooking classes. END

A concelebrated mass started the celebration of the Feast of Sto. Niño.

The Philippine Embassy joined the Filipino Community in Berlin in celebrating the Sinulog, an annual religious festival in honor of Santo Niño. This year´s festivities started with a concelebrated mass led by Filipino chaplain Fr. Jun de Ocampo at the Heiligeist Kirche in Bayernallee.

A reenactment of the first Sinulog was presented during the program following the mass.

“Sinulog” roughly translates to “like water current movement” in Cebuano, describing the forward-backward movement of the Sinulog dance. The program prepared by the Santo Niño Devotees featured a re-enactment of the first celebration of Sinulog commemorating the Filipinos´ acceptance of Christianity. Minister and Consul General Donna Rodriguez delivered her remarks and gave an inspirational talk on the devotion to the child Jesus. Everyone was invited to dance the Sinulog in grand street parade style just as it is done in Cebu. To bookend the event, an abundant spread of local dishes greeted the Filipino community at the church reception hall for the salu-salo. END

Minister and Consul General Donna Rodriguez delivered the inspirational message before the Filipino community in Berlin.