Malaking karangalan na i-celebrate ang achievements niya: Fil-Am singer na si H.E.R., cover girl ng VOGUE Philippines

ANG Grammy and Oscar winning Filipino-American singer na si H.E.R. ang cover ng VOGUE Philippines para sa buwan na ito.

Isang malaking karangalan kay H.E.R. (Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson in real life) ang maging cover girl ng naturang magazine na sine-celebrate ang kanyang mga naging achievements sa larangan ng musika.

“The fact that I’m a Black and Filipino woman on the cover of Vogue. You don’t see people like me on magazine covers, so it’s just amazing to see. I’m so grateful,” sey pa niya.

Ayon pa sa singer, nag-iba na ang tingin ng maraming tao ngayon sa mga tulad niyang mixed-race Pinay.

“I think the standards have changed. I feel like the way that I felt about myself has evolved. And I’ve grown more confident in my skin and who I am. You have to accept yourself and love yourself, and the rest will follow. Being on the cover is the beginning, I think, of a new era and a new acceptance for what a Filipino woman looks like and what a black and Filipino woman looks like. So this is a huge milestone for me, and I think for little girls everywhere.”

Bukod sa mga naging panalo ni H.E.R. sa Grammy at Oscar awards, siya rin ang kauna-unahang Black Filipino-American na Disney princess nang gampanan niya ang role na Belle sa ‘Beauty and the Beast’ TV special. Kasama rin siya sa cast ng musical film adaptation ng ‘The Color Purple’.

***

GAGAWIN ng pelikula ang GomBurZa na tungkol sa tatlong Catholic priests na in-execute noong 1872 dahil sa kinaso sa kanilang subversion.

Ang mga gaganap na tatlong pari ay sina Dante Rivero as Padre Mariano Gomez, Cedrick Juan as Padre José Burgos, and Enchong Dee as Padre Jacinto Zamora. Napili sila noong magkaroon ng open call and audition ang Jesuit Communications (JesCom) para sa naturang film project.

“I love my role as Padre Gomez. Pinag-aaralan ko na sa bahay. I want to engage the audience. I want to make it memorable for them. This is going to be epic!” sey ng award-winning veteran actor na si Dante Rivero.

Sey naman ni Cedrick Juan: “I said ‘yes’ right away when I got the offer; it was a no brainer… Kailangan todohan ng effort, time and puso.”

Masaya naman si Enchong Dee sa binigay na role niya bilang si Zamora: “Yes, he is a hero but you can’t take away the human part of him: the temptation, the weaknesses but those are the things that will bring him closer to the audience. There’s a certain level of pressure and inspiration. But I have faith in the people who are behind the camera. So it’s only right and just for me to give the same level of professionalism towards my character.”

Kasama rin sa GomBurZa project sina Epi Quizon, Jaime Fabregas, Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, Khalil Ramos, Elijah Canlas, Neil Ryan Sese, Paolo O’Hara, Tommy Alejandrino, Gerry Kaimo, Anthony Falcon, Dylan Tay Talon, Jomari Angeles, Bon Lentejas, and Piolo Pascual as Padre Pédro Pelaéz.

Si Pepe Diokno ang magdidirek ng GomBurZa na mula sa screenplay ni Rody Vera. Nakilala si Diokno sa mga critically-acclaimed indie films niya na Engkwentro, Above The Clouds at Kapatiran.

(RUEL J. MENDOZA)