Ground Zero: Sa Gitna ng Nagbabagong Mundo (May 1, 2011 SNBO)

A GMA News and Public Affairs Special

In a country situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, laden with volcanoes, earthquake faults and trenches, disaster preparedness is a timeless issue. And yet, with all these realities surrounding us, is the Philippines prepared for natural disasters?

Vicky Morales and a team of GMA's senior reporters travel from Luzon to Mindanao to find out which cities and provinces are exposed to natural hazards. In this Sunday's SNBO, "Ground Zero: Sa Gitna ng Nagbabagong Mundo," GMA News and Public Affairs endeavors to give the public a better understanding of one of nature's big events -- earthquakes.

From San Francisco , California , Kara David reports on the world-famous San Andreas Fault . Together with the United States Geological Survey or USGS, Kara David examines the science behind earthquakes and the steps Filipinos in the U.S. are undertaking to prepare for the next "big one."

Like the U.S. the Philippines has been described as "overdue" for a big earthquake. Experts are now studying major faults in Luzon . Chino Gaston takes a look at Baguio City , once devastated by the 1990 earthquake. More than a decade after the tragedy, it seems many lessons still need to be learned. Today, Baguio is overpopulated, with structures built on unstable ground where sink holes have been discovered.

In the Visayas, Cesar Apolinario reports from the landslide-prone province of Leyte to assess potential damage should an earthquake happen here. In the Bicol region, Mariz Umali takes a look at how Bicolanos, survivors of many natural disasters, are preparing for a tsunami scenario. Bicol is one of several provinces facing the massive Philippine Trench, known as the Philippine Deep. GMA's top divers, Doc Ferds Recio and Kiko Rustia take us to Davao and Mindoro for a survey of the underwater terrain to provide information on how trenches work.

And in major cities in Metro Manila, traversed by the deadly Valley Fault System, Vicky Morales reports on communities identified as danger zones in the event of a big earthquake. Buildings and other structures are also assessed for earthquake-preparedness.

In times of natural disasters, "ground zero" refers to the epicenter of a quake or an area with the greatest devastation. But with an increased understanding of natural threats and how our communities might be affected, it is hoped that the toll on lives and livelihood can be minimized.

"Ground Zero: Sa Gitna ng Nagbabagong Mundo" airs this Sunday, May 1, on GMA's SNBO.

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GMA News & Public Affairs' Historic Royal Wedding Coverage This Friday!

GMA News and Public Affairs – the only broadcast news organization in the country to win the prestigious Peabody Award – brings the world’s most-awaited royal event to Filipino homes this Friday, April 29, with a very special, comprehensive coverage of the royal wedding of Prince William of Wales to Kate Middleton.

The formidable GMA News and Public Affairs team will cover the royal wedding as it happens – with veteran news anchors Jessica Soho, Vicky Morales and Connie Sison delivering special features and live reports on the most-awaited nuptials. 

GMA-7’s special coverage begins at 5:45 pm and segues to a royal wedding-focused episode of 24 ORAS, GMA’s flagship newscast, from 6:30 to 8 pm. Live reports and special updates on the wedding will also be made available via GMA-7’s FLASH REPORT and late-night newscast SAKSI.

GMA News TV Channel 11’s live wedding coverage, on the other hand, starts promptly at 3 pm with the pre-wedding coverage. From 5 to 9 pm, it will broadcast live footage of the wedding by the BBC via Reuters. 

Also this Friday, GMA News TV’s BALITANGHALI, NEWS TO GO and STATE OF THE NATION will feature royal wedding segments; GMA News TV’s BALITANGHALI will stretch to 2 hours – from 12 to 2 pm – for a newscast packed with royal wedding details; and the documentary WILLIAM AND KATE: INSIDE THE ROYAL WEDDING will air from 2 to 3 pm on GMA News TV. 

GMA News and Public Affairs has all the key spots in London covered, documenting activities along the wedding route including Goring Hotel, where the Middletons will be staying on the eve of the wedding, and Westminster Abbey where the wedding service will take place. 

At 5:10 pm this Friday, Prince William and Prince Henry of Wales leave Clarence House (Philippine Time) and are expected to arrive at Westminster Abbey by 5:15 pm. By 5:42 pm, The Prince of Wales (Prince Charles) and The Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla) are expected to be at the Abbey, followed by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. 

The bride, accompanied by her father, Michael Middleton, is expected to leave Goring Hotel for the Abbey by 5:51 pm. At exactly 6pm, the marriage service begins. 

Special updates on the Royal Wedding will also be posted on GMA News Online. And on Saturday, April 30, GMA-7’s 24 ORAS WEEKEND and KAPUSO MO, JESSICA SOHO will air more stories on the wedding that has captured the imagination of the world. 

Catch the special royal wedding coverage of GMA News and Public Affairs – the most trusted broadcast news organization in the country – this Friday and Saturday on GMA-7, GMA News TV Channel 11 and GMA News Online.

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April 27, 2011

Hollywood acting studio trains Kapuso stars

MANILA, Philippines -- In its continuing effort to give its stable of artists quality and worthwhile training to hone their talents and further their craft in the entertainment industry, GMA Artist Center (GMAAC) management pulled out all the stops to bring the expertise of an international acting studio in Hollywood right here in the Philippines.

Ron Burrus, master acting coach of the famed Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York, visited Manila recently to specifically host an acting workshop for Filipino actors. GMA Artist Center talents were among the privileged few in attendance.

The Kapuso stars, along with veteran actors from other groups, who have been privileged to join the esteemed group of students under coach Burrus were Iza Calzado, Kris Bernal, Bela Padilla, Rocco Nacino, Bianca King, Enzo Pineda, Victor Aliwalas, Sarah Lahbati, Gino dela Pena, Ian Batherson, Sef Cadayona, Rita Iringan, Jayanne Bautista, Justine Ferrer, Diva Montelaba, Marvin Kiefer, Luane Dy, Gretchen Espina, Bodie Cruz, Stef Prescot, Steven Silva, and Stephanie Henares, among others.

These GMAAC talents now share the distinction with some Hollywood greats who have been tutored and trained under the Stella Adler school of acting. These Hollywood alumni include Robert De Niro, Kevin Costner, Benicio del Toro, Martin Sheen, Melanie Griffith and the late Marlon Brando, who is often considered the greatest actor of all time.

The week-long workshop was held last month in Arts in the City, Taguig. Burrus shared his expertise in on-camera acting to local stars, with character actor Nanding Josef of Tanghalang Pilipino serving as Filipino facilitator.

"Filipino actors are underused. They have more skills than what they are actually using.” Burrus remarked in an interview after one of the sessions.

The acting technique was developed by Stella Adler, who studied under acting icon Constantin Stanislavsky. The institution of the Acting Studio ensured that its secrets would be passed on from one generation of actors to another—and across continents as well. The seminars have been brought from New York to France, Italy, Germany, Japan, and now, to Manila.

According to Tata Nanding, the studio is planning to set up a branch here in the Philippines. This is great news for Filipino actors—they may be given opportunities in Hollywood now that Burrus has seen the potential in Filipino talent.

Iza Calzado, already considered one of the best actresses in Philippine cinema, acknowledges the great privilege she just got in this workshop. "I wanted to study acting abroad and further push my craft. But I can't be gone too long. So being in a Stella Adler workshop is worth like going abroad na rin," she said. Iza, who is not new to Hollywood projects, having starred in the American version of the Yam Laranas thriller "Echo" and acted opposite Jesse Bradford, says she is learning a lot about real acting even without the use of words and movements.

Stephanie Henares, for her part, says this workshop is integral in her growth as an actress especially now that she is dabbling more on character acting (first in the just-concluded “Machete” and soon in the indie film “Paglipad ng Anghel”). She said, “to get into a character is perhaps the most challenging task for me yet. But I’m finding out that it’s not a world of difference in hosting. Hosting is being who you are in front of the camera. Acting is hosting but not as yourself."

mb.com.ph

April 27, 2011