LOS ANGELES—In the wake of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ announcement that “Ploning” is indeed one of the official entries vying for the Best Foreign Language Film prize, we have noticed that the folk behind the Philippines’ entry are actively pushing for the film to make it as one of the nine finalists and then, hopefully, as one of the five nominees.

Director Dante Nico Garcia and producer Guia Gonzales are in LA, holding screenings of the film that stars Judy Ann Santos, doing media interviews and seeking advice from some Fil-Ams in Hollywood on how to plot a good Oscar nomination campaign. As in years past, the Foreign Language Film category competition is very tough. The list of entries includes films that have earned rave reviews and won awards in film festivals. France’s bet, for example, is “The Class,” recipient of a Palme d’Or from Cannes.

To our recollection, this is the first time that the talents behind a Philippine entry to the Oscars are making an aggressive effort to snag a spot in the short list.

Amusing misadventures

Young, bright and savvy, Guia and her generation just might help revive the moribund Philippine movie industry. Over Starbucks coffee, she shared her amusing misadventures so far to get an Oscar nod for “Ploning,” which she produced along with Judai herself, Jourdan Sebastian and Raymund George Fernandez.

When we met Guia for the second time, she brought Dante with her. Not every first-time director gets to see his work chosen as his country’s Oscar contender. That’s Dante’s achievement in his cinematic ode to his hometown—Cuyo, Palawan—stunningly captured by cinematographer Charlie Peralta. With his work here, Charlie makes a very valid argument for 35mm film instead of digital media. While we ate lunch, Dante shared stories and anecdotes about his beloved island in the Sulu Sea which were as hypnotic as his Cuyonon-accented Tagalog. Deep in “Ploning’s” story of a man’s search for a woman in his past is Dante’s yearning to capture the remote island of his youth on film.

The UP alumnus admitted crying as he told the good news on the phone to Judai, his close friend, that their labor of love prevailed over Sharon Cuneta’s “Caregiver” in a close 3-2 vote by a special committee of the Film Academy of the Philippines. “Naiiyak ako hanggang ngayon,” Dante said. “Parang na-validate ako.” Trying to avoid being misty-eyed, Dante chuckled when he revealed that some of his town mates mistook his movie’s flashbacks and slightly non-linear telling of the story as the result of a budget problem. “Akala nila naubusan kami ng budget kaya nagka-problema sa editing,” he shared with a smile. “Laktaw-laktaw kasi.”

‘Dolphy @ 80’

Oct. 11 was a hectic date for many Filipinos in the LA area. After the screening of “Ploning” at the University of Southern California, Pinoys had a choice of either heading out to the nearby Shrine Auditorium for the “Dolphy @ 80” extravaganza or the “Jazzmopolitan” benefit concert of the Filipino American Library (FAL) at the Aratani Theatre in LA’s Little Tokyo.

This was one instance where we wished we had the power to be in two places at the same time. We missed what we heard was a jam-packed, entertaining show put on by the octogenarian King of Philippine comedy, Dolphy, and his traveling band of singers, dancers and family members.

As expected, at the “Jazzmopolitan,” Becca Godinez, Mon David, Charmaine Clamor, 3 of a Kind (Annie and Ed Nepomuceno and Gelo Francisco), all backed by the excellent Tateng Katindig and an equally solid line-up of musicians —Abe Lagrimas, Ner de Leon, Myke Gonzaga and Dominic Thiroux—were engrossing performers.

But it was saxophonist Michael Paulo (later joined by his father, pianist Rene Paulo) who brought the house down and the audience to its feet. It was our first time to watch Michael, who has toured and recorded with such talents as Al Jarreau, Rick Braun, David Benoit, Johnny Mathis, Patti Austin and Kenny Loggins. With his passion-filled sax playing and showmanship, Michael got everyone in the audience, especially former Bayanihan dancer and Fil-Am arts supporter Zen Lopez, dancing and clapping along to his contemporary jazz numbers.

Role Model Award

Not to be outdone, Michael’s father, Rene, who is in his late ’70s, played Filipino standards with youthful dynamism and unerring musicianship. Michael watched proudly on the side as his father also earned the audience’s rapturous ovation.

“I am drunk!” joked Alec Mapa when he finally clambered up the stage to receive FAL’s Role Model Award after waiting in the wings during these extended musical numbers. But leave it to the irrepressible Fil-Am comedian to entertain the audience just by his acceptance remarks (watch our amusing pre-show chat with him, caught on video, in our blog, “The Nepales Report” on inquirer.net). Other honorees were Asian Journal (president Cora Oriel accepted the award while her husband, publisher Roger Oriel, attended the Dolphy show—now, that’s teamwork!), the late Ester Soriano-Hewitt and Macy’s.

Congratulations to director Ted Benito, who told us that this was his last stint as director of FAL’s annual show, which is always one of the best Fil-Am productions in LA.

Tina Turner show

To cap our musical week, we caught the first of legendary Tina Turner’s shows at the Staples Center. Picture this: Toward the end of the show, a strip from the stage floor rose to become a ramp which extended high above the audience—the 68-year-old icon not only did her famous shimmy but she also walked to the other edge of this floating catwalk! While she was energetically singing a number, of course.

Vocally, Tina had some rough moments in several songs but overall, she can still belt and growl a tune like how, especially in her unplugged set. In this section, she was unbeatable in her emotional, impassioned version of the Beatles’ “Help.”

E-mail the columnist at rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com and read his blog, “The Nepales Report,” on http://blogs.inquirer.net/nepalesreport.