MYNP Announces Winners for 2nd Sine Nanay Short Film Festival

The Make Your Nanay Proud (MYNP) Foundation Incorporated is proud to announce the winners for the 2016 Sine Nanay Short Film Festival. Now on its second year, the Sine Nanay Short Film Festival is led by TV, movie and theater actor Mr. Arnold Reyes as Festival Director. It aims to develop and discover the creative talents of students from different schools, colleges and universities in the Metro, while staying true to its Mission and Vision of making our Nanays Proud by being the best of what we can be.

This year, the theme is open, so as long as it highlights mothers. Dr. Boy Abunda, Founding Chairman of MYNP stressed that motherhood should not be limited to traditional biological mothers- they can be LGBT Mothers, spiritual mothers, adoptive mothers, so as long as they play a maternal role in the lives their children.

The response was overwhelming. MYNP received a record breaking one hundred twenty (120) entries in its initial call. A panel of experts conducted round table discussions and deliberations, a very tedious process, to come up with a short list of twenty seven entries. From there, further deliberations were conducted and a final list of ten films was chosen.

The winners for the 2nd Sine Nanay Short Film Festival are the following:

Best Ensemble Performance
Life in Videos (Angelicum College)

Best Cinematography
Uyayi
De La Salle-College of St. Benilde

Best Sound
Uyayi
De La Salle - College of St. Benilde

Best Production Design
Uyayi
De La Salle-College of St. Benilde

Best Supporting Actor
Miguel Medenilla
(PaskilniInay)

Best Supporting Actress
No winner


Best Screenplay
Dawn Capales
(Life in Videos)

Best Actor
JeremieRaizen
(Silent Hope)

Best Actress
Christine Calawod
(TataynasiNanay)

Best Director
AldaDalisay
(Uyayi)

Best Film
Life in Videos
Angelicum College

The Final Board of Judges was composed of respected film and movie personalities and mentors in the industry which includes Direk Hannah Espia, Ms. Moira Lang, Mr. Ronald Arguelles, Direk Mac Alejandre, Mr. Sid Lucero, Ms. AngeliBayani, Direk Mikhail Red and Ms. Tara Illenberger.

Ms.Angeli Bayani, jury member, has this to say about the Best Film LIFE IN VIDEOS

“This film is my number one choice, for the sheer sincerity of the filmmaker.  The filmic language is simple and clear, the shots capture the relationship between the mother and her children and grandchildren.  The story, simply told, is beautiful because even as the mother suffers from progressive mental deterioration, her heart remembers.  And as shown in the film, her children will not tire of taking care of her and reminding her who and what she is to them.  The filmmaker shows that a mother's love goes beyond infirmity, disease or disability.”

Ms.Bemz Benedito, Managing Director of MYNP and Festival Secretariat head is very happy with the huge turn out and the variety of talents and materials submitted this year. “It only goes to show that MYNP is making a difference and indeed, inculcating the value of love for our mothers through our activities especially the Sine Nanay Film Festival. While it might just be in its infancy, considering it is only our second year, we are hopeful that this will grow bigger year after year. The imagination and talent of Filipino students are simply boundless. Maternal love is the cornerstone value that the Filipinos should never ever forget. We hope we can continue to improve Sine Nanay Festival in the years to come.

The 2nd Sine Nanay awards ceremony was held on December 16, 2016, Friday, 7:30PM at the Philippine Women’s University Concert Hall.

The 2nd Sine Nanay Film Festival was made possible by the generosity and support of Festival Patron and MYNP Council of Advisers member Mr. Tony Tuviera. Other sponsors were Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office; SEAOIL Foundation, Inc.; Mother Lily Monteverde; Ms. Rica dela Merced; AdGarlic; Great Image; Dannon Clothing; Philippine Star; IntermatrixKatipunan; FLM Creatives and Productions; BDO T. Morato-Kamuning; Offices of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian; Sen. Francis Pangilinan; Sen. Cynthia Villar and Sen. Loren Legarda.

For further details, please visit www.makeyournanayproud.com and FB fanpagewww.facebook.com/MYNP.OfficialFanpage or email makeyournanayproud@yahoo.com. #30

Pinay transgender Bemz Benedito receives award by True Colors Fund

Filipina transgender Bemz Benedito was honored by True Colors Fund, an LGBT organization based in New York,  as one of four Global Transgender Heroes in celebration of International Women’s Day this March.

The award was given by the True Colors Fund, an LGBT organization based in New York. True Colors, is co-founded by international pop star Cyndi Lauper, “is working to end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth by creating systemic change”

Benedito learned about the award when an article appeared on the True Colors website (https://truecolorsfund.org) announcing conferment of it on her and three other global transgender heroes: Lohana Berkins of Argentina (who passed away last February 5), Cecilia Chung of the US and Hong Kong, and Liesl Theron of South Africa.

The award’s primary criteria was how a certain individual challenged the status quo and as well as the ways and means of stereotypical boxes for the LGBT. Next to that, says Benedito, is how the awardee struggled to uplift the condition of her community to be recognized and respected.

The award made this year’s International Women’s Day more significant for her, says Benedito, “because I was affirmed as a woman and my small contribution for equality in my country was recognized”.

“Just like what I always say in my interviews, I am not the  best and there are others who are doing better than I do, but please be it remembered that there was a transgender woman who worked hard fearlessly in her little ways to represent the Filipino LGBT community as one sector fighting for equal rights."

The recognition, says Benedito, is a reminder to her that despite being elected into public office in 2010 and 2013, “the ray of light comes shining like it never was before, to continue with fight and to keep up with the challenges that cripples our dignity as human beings and citizens of our country.”

The award does not come with any monetary recognition, but according to the LGBT activist, it is more than enough for her and others working to advance the cause of LGBTs and keep them in the thick of the fight despite sometimes feeling that they are doing a thankless job and in the long run allowing even personal relationships and personal ambitions suffer.

“We owe it to the next generation that being LGBT must be kinder and dignified.”

In her own case, the award is encouragement to keep pursuing equal rights and recognition not just for other transgendered women, but for all members of the LGBT community.

“We (LGBTs) are only tolerated and our dream and our goal is to be accepted,” says Benedito. Because if we are indeed accepted, policies and laws must be present to protect and uplift us. Hindi na sana second-class citizens ang tingin sa amin at sana may kinatawan na rin sa Kongreso ang sektor ng mga Pilipinong LGBT. At higit sa lahat wala na sanang mambabatas at boxing superstar na hahamakin kami at tatawaging mas masahol pa sa hayop. We are not exaggerating our struggles, we are here giving a face and voice to the oppression that dehumanizes us every day of our lives while living the truth in our being.”

Their biggest goal is the basic right to self-determination. “Then there is our common fight with our lesbian, gay and bisexual brothers and sisters for the passage of the anti-discrimination bill that has languished in Congress for 18 years. Imagine a human rights bill, the only one for that matter, that will protect LGBT Filipinos ay nabubulok sa Kongreso habang naghihirap ang maraming LGBTs sa diskriminasyon at opresyon. In an egalitarian society that has passed the Magna Carta for Women, Indigenous Peoples Rights Act, Violence Against Women and Children, the LGBT community is ignored and discriminated.”

Benedito recalls what the struggle was like for her as a transgendered woman.

“It was difficult especially for me growing up in my province in Abra, which is laid-back, backward-thinking and conservative. While growing up, I would cry whenever I would see my naked body as a young child in the mirror because my anatomy was incongruent to what I thought and felt about myself. It took me a long time to realize that I am not a simple case of a girl trapped in a man's body. I found out about transgender people when I did my research during my college days. It was then that I found out that I am not an effeminate gay or thepa-girl nabakla but I am a transgendered woman. That is why, as in all journeys, the wrong has to be righted, the flaw corrected. In my mind, in my heart and in my soul, I am a woman, a Transpinay, the other Filipina.”

Finally, says Benedito, if there is a message that she, as a transgendered woman, would like to put out there, it would be this:  “Stereotypes are like cardboard cut-outs; they do not form the complete picture. Not even a fragment of who we are. Our genitalia should not be the basis of one's right to self-determination and gender identity. We should not be defined by our bodies nor our sexual orientation and gender identity defined our capabilities, skills and strengths.”

MYNP foundation held the first Best Nanay Awards 2014

Make Your Nanay Proud Foundation held its first circle of the Best Nanay Awards last October 29 at Windmills and Rainforest Restaurant QC. MYNP recognized the 10 deserving mothers for their accomplishments and sacrifices, regardless of educational attainment and popularity.

“I’m happy with the result,” MYNP founding chair Boy Abunda expressed, “Pulido ang pagkakapili ng mga winners and through them we can proudly say that MYNP is truly here to pay tribute to mothers and acknowledge the noblest job in the world: motherhood.”

Most of the winners came from provinces, namely, Abucay, Bataan natives Gloria Baltar (57) and Rosa Balana (90), Ilocos Norte pride Carmen Ragonjan (68), Josefina G. Olorocisimo (53) of Taytay, Rizal, Angelita Guiteng (61) of Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay, Palo, Leyte’s Lorna Garnace (43), and Magdalena Aquino (78) from Batangas.

Two awardees came from Marikina City --- Zoraida Motil (63) and Cecille Sibunga (62), while Pasig City’s Leonarda Camacho (90) completed the list.

Nominators were also given plaques of appreciation for their initiative to help MYNP in finding the deserving women. They were led by former First Lady Imelda Marcos who attended on behalf of Governor Imee Marcos.

The Best Nanay Awards, according to MYNP, chose “10 exemplary mothers who have made significant achievements and thereby made positive impact on their families and communities." 

The recipients’ ‘claim to fame’ are as follows: Baltar leads an organization for mothers and women in the town of Abucay, Bataan while her town-mate Balana, founder of Kundirana, made a living and raised her seven children by conducting private piano lessons.



Leonarda Camacho, established the Metro Manila Council of Women Balikatan Movement, Inc.

A retired public school teacher, Ragonjan is an active member of the federated Senior Citizen Association of Pagudpod while Olorocisimo is head writer of “Tinig ni San Juan Bautista”, the newsletter of St. John the Baptist Parish in Taytay, Rizal.

Three had interesting stories as Guiteng made a living by selling metal scraps, newspapers and other junk materials, Aquino sold movie tickets in a local theater as well as worked as meat vendor in a public market, and Motil collected “kaning-baboy” in the neighborhood.

Garnace made waves recently when she served as coordinator of an evacuation center that housed around 3,000 evacuees after Typhoon Yolanda’s wrath. Sibunga, on the other hand, often serves as a DSWD Volunteer in evacuation centers when typhoons and floods in Marikina City occur.

The event, which served as part of Tito Boy’s birthday celebration, also saw people raving over and getting copies of the MYNP Book that was recently launched at the 2014 Philippine Literary Festival.

The said book, published by ABS-CBN Publishing, comprises of testimonials on their mothers by some of the most remarkable figures in business, entertainment, politics, and sports. Some of the personalities who shared stories include Kris Aquino, Alan Peter Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Kiefer Ravena, James Yap, Herbert Bautista, Ai-Ai delas Alas, Coco Martin, Luis Manzano, Nancy Binay, among many other noted names.

MYNP managing director Bemz Benedito said it aptly in explaining the content of the book, “Much time and effort were devoted to the collection of quotations, essays, and artworks of people who uniquely responded to the question, ‘How do you make your Nanay proud?’’

MYNP also tightened its hold to stronger grounds with Selfie with Nanay and Sine Nanay. The former is a yearly nationwide photo contest that encourages participants to submit ‘true mother and child self-photo’ with caption embracing the theme “This is how I make my Nanay proud.” The latter is a short-film festival that will take off in schools.

WHO IS YOUR BEST NANAY?

“Every mother is always the best nanay in her own right,” said Ms. Bemz Benedito, Managing Director of Make Your Nanay Proud (MYNP) Foundation. She further said that all mothers deserve recognition. “And the Best Nanay Awards 2014 is the right venue to acknowledge their enormous contribution in molding their family,” Benedito added.


The Best Nanay Awards 2014 is one of the projects of the foundation for 2014 which will be conferred to ten (10) exemplary mothers nationwide who have made significant impact on her family and community.

According to MYNP, they will invite reputable panel of judges who will evaluate and score each nominee based on her inspiring story whether it is happy or a challenging journey; integrity and character of a mother that influence her child; and a mother’s positive influence on family, friends and people in general.

MYNP said the nomination is still on going until September 30, 2014. The nomination form can be downloaded at www.makeyournanayproud.com or at the MYNP official FB fan page.

The 10 awardees will each receive Php10,000 cash, products from SM, gift certificate and mother and child  trophy handcrafted by Ifugao sculptors.

“I am inviting everyone to nominate your mother or someone you know that has an inspiring story of simply being the light of every home,” Benedito stressed.

MYNP Foundation is founded by Mr. Boy Abunda solely dedicated to mothers with the simple mantra of wanting to make nanays all over the country proud by encouraging their children to be the best of who they are and the best in all they do.