Bessie Badilla: October 2008

BAKAL BOYS, produced by Bessie Badilla and Albert Almendralejo

Here it is...my very first venture as a movie co-producer! My participation comes with a lot of excitement and a lot of pride. I am honored to work with my idol, my good friend and multi-awarded screen giant, GINA PARENO. I am excited to work with writer Ralston Jover who is also making his directorial debut in Bakal Boys. Albert and I share the same dream for our local artists to be recognized in the international scene and we also share the same sentiment for the metal scavengers of Baseco, Tondo. As early as mid-October, organizers from the Cannes Film Festival expressed great interest in BAKAL BOYS for inclusion in next year's festival! MABUHAY ANG PINOY!

Gina Pareño leads the cast of Bakal Boys (Children Metal Divers) as a Muslim woman in search of her missing 10-year-old grandson. The cast also includes Simon Ibarra, Jess Everdone, Cherry Malvar and Joe Gruta.
First – time actors will star in an indie film documenting the lives of Tondo boys scavenging iron and metal scraps in Baseco compound. This will be focus of the upcoming film Bakal Boys (International title: Children Metal Divers) produced by Apogee Productions.
Follow the story of children in Baseco, Tondo who scavenge for iron and metal scraps in the murky waters of Manila Bay. Bakal Boys (Children Metal Divers) is the directorial debut of writer Ralston Jover, based on the screenplay he co-wrote with Henry Burgos. Mr. Jover is the award-winning scriptwriter of the internationally acclaimed films Kubrador, Tirador, and Foster Child.
Auditions were held at the Baseco compound where real-life children metal divers aged 6 to 16 were chosen to play key roles in the film,
Bakal Boys (Children Metal Divers) is the first full-length venture of Albert Almendralejo and Ms. Bessie Badilla, in cooperation with the National Commission on Culture and Arts and the PLDT – Smart Foundation.
“The discipline and business orientation of mainstream movies make a good synergy,” asserts Almendralejo. Badilla adds “There is a bright future for Filipino films and in the International market"
Director of photography is Ruben dela Cruz, line producer is Celso de Guzman, and creative consultant is Bing Lao.
Bakal Boys (Children Metal Divers) is scheduled to premier at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in February 2009.

IT'S OFFICIAL! QB will return to CARNAVAL 2009!

RAINHA DE PANTANAL for NENE 2008

DESTAQUE for VAI VAI 2008 CARNAVAL CHAMPIONS

QB has accepted invitations to return to Sao Paulo as Emperatriz for 2 escolas de samba! Carnaval Champions 2008-Escola de Samba VAI VAI and Escola de Samba NENE, will have QB on their ABRE ALAS (opening float). Four other escolas invited QB as their Destaque namely, Mocidade Alegre (2008 2nd place), Vila Maria (2008 3rd place), Mancha Verde and Perola Negra, but QB had to decline their invitations as the escolas' desfile on the passarela are too close to one another. NENE will parade on Friday, February 20 and VAI VAI on Saturday, February 21. This is an event you should not miss...see you all in Sao Paulo, BRAZIL!