Event Geek

DISCRIMINATING Cebuanos have begun lapping up tickets for the special showing this Saturday at SM Cinema 7 of a star-studded independent film set during the dark yet exciting martial law years titled “Sigwa: Rage of Perils and Hopes.”

Spanning four decades, the movie was brought to life as a masterpiece by Director Joel Lamangan, Scriptwriter Boni Ilagan, and a power cast led by Dawn Zulueta as Dolly, Zsa Zsa Padilla as Cita, Tirso Cruz III as Oliver, Gina Alajar as Azon, Jaime Pebangco as Rading, and their younger counterparts, Megan Young (Dolly), Paulynn Luna (Cita), Marvin Agustin (Oliver), Lovi Poe (Azon), Jay Aquitania (Rading) and the hunk Allen Dizon as Eddie, among others. The movie’s original soundtrack is by Danny Fabella, weaving the struggles and triumphs of the Filipinos in his crafted songs.

The special screenings at SM Cinema 7 starting at 4 pm is part of an international road show for the much talked about independent film recognized as the #1 box-office record holder of the prestigious Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. “Sigwa: Rage of Perils & Hopes” has been rated “A” by the Cinema Evaluation Board and is an official entry to the 2010 International Film Festivals in Brussels, Montreal and Cairo.

The road show mounted by Inno-Philip Nonpareils, Inc. (IPN), one of the select official screeners recognized by film producers, Twenty Plus, Inc. and Star Express, first showed the film in Manila last August 21 at UP Film Center. )

The Cebu leg set on September 11 (notably the birth date of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos) will be followed within the last quarter of 2010 by red carpet movie premieres in Hollywood, Las Vegas, New York City, Sydney, and Melbourne. The international road show gives the Filipinos and other nationals here and abroad the special opportunity to view this significant, world-class independent film, showing Philippine history where the youth of the 1970s, a period dubbed as the “First Quarter Storm”, put their prime and their lives on the line for the love of freedom and country.

In Cebu, there will be two screenings: First Screening at 4:00 to 5:45 PM and Second Screening at 6:15 to 8:00 PM. There will be an intermission program at 5:45 to 6:15 PM where viewers will enjoy prizes and surprises and the presence of the actor Tirso Cruz III, who garnered Cinemalaya’s acting award for his stellar performance in SIGWA. Moreover, since the event is intended by IPN as a benefit show to support the movement to FREE the 43 Health Workers, illegally arrested last February 6 in Morong, Rizal and are detained to this day, the viewers get a chance to stamp their support as well.

The Cebu screenings are organized by IPN, in cooperation with USC-STAND ALUMNI, PRO-RIGHTS, and the League of Filipino Students. Ticket outlets in Cebu are: (1) MonsterBT radio 105, (2) UP Political Science Society (3) USC-STAND Alumni, (4) VIRLAC Cellshop Outlets in Gaisano Metro Ayala, Metro Mandaue, Gaisano Mactan, Foodarama in Mango and Foodarama in Consolacion, (5) CLUMACS Law Office, Rm. 305 K and J Bldg., J. Llorente St., Capitol Site.

IPN is open to partnerships and special sponsorships locally and abroad for the special screenings of SIGWA, a co-venture to bring to the world the best of Filipino cinema. Interested parties can go to the IPN website at www.sigwa.innophilip.com, or send email atjoel.sigwa@innophilip.com or rosan.sigwa@innophilip.com. IPN expresses much thanks for all the support it has garnered from these events, and looks forward to rock Cebu City this September 11 for the SIGWA screening there.

The Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) held cervical screening activities in Pilar, Camotes Island, Cebu last July 24 and at the International Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IPI) in Mabolo, Cebu City last July 27.

The activity in Camotes was in response to the invitation of the Junior Chamber International Philippines-Zugbuana to offer free cervical cancer screening, free medical check-ups, and free laboratory tests during the group’s medical mission there. EJACC also responded to the invitation of the IPI Foundation to hold similar screening for the IPI employees.

These series of activities are part of EJACC’s advocacy on cancer awareness, detection, and prevention.
Based on the Cebu population-based Cancer Registry of EJACC, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Metro Cebu, after breast cancer.

In the recent Cancer Registry report, the average number of cervical cases in Metro Cebu is at least 331 from 2003 to 2009. The mortality rate of the registered patients within the period is 53 percent.

The common cause of cervical cancer is strongly linked with sexual activity and is most probably caused by the transmission of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). All women who have had sexual intercourse are at risk of this disease.

Risk factors of cervical cancer include sex at a young age, multiple sexual partners, promiscuous male partners, history of sexually transmitted disease, smoking, use of oral contraceptive pills for more than 5 years, and reduced access to health care or no screening.

Some symptoms of cervical cancer are abnormal vaginal bleeding, serosanguinous discharge usually with a fish odor, pelvic pain, and pain during sexual intercourse, but some are asymptomatic until quite advanced, especially in women who are not sexually active.

Cervical cancer is preventable with early detection and treatment. One can take preventive measures by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and nutrition, exercise, proper hygiene, avoiding stresses and vices, using barrier contraceptive, maintaining monogamous sexual relationships, and undergoing HPV vaccination.
Cervical cancer can be detected through various screenings such as pap smear, visual inspection with acetic acid, colposcopy, HPV testing, and single visit approach (SVA).

Early stages of cervical cancer can be treated through surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. For more information about cervical cancer and EJACC’s active screening program, please contact Gina at 254-6351 or 256-3287.