Bea Alonzo, Vanessa Valdez mark firsts in TFC’s milestone A Second Chance virtual press con

DUBAI, UAE - Dec. 4, 2015 - PRLog -- While their movie delved on subsequent opportunities in love, A Second Chance’s lead actress Bea Alonzo and one of its creators Vanessa Valdez met the members of the international press and Filipino community in Europe and the Middle East for the first time via an online press conference held this week by premier network The Filipino Channel (TFC).

For the first time, TFC held a three-way press conference that brought together
This Generation’s Movie Queen Bea Alonzo, and writer Vanessa Valdez to meet the members of the international press and the Filipino community in Europe and the Middle East.

The online press conference was organized to mark more milestones for TFC and the already record-breaking A Second Chance: the 10^th anniversary of TFC’s first screening of a Filipino film in the Middle East via the movie via ‘Dubai,’ and TFC in Europe’s first venture into the mainstream film circuit via Vue Cinemas and other major cinemas across Europe.

According to ABS-CBN Managing Director for Middle East, Europe and Africa Kai Rodriguez, “There is a lot to celebrate about the renaissance of the Philippine movie industry.  This movie is breaking all records. The audiences in the Philippines are coming out to watch movies again and that’s not only of because of the audience but because the Philippine industry is making more movies, and number two, better movies - better movies that tell real stories.  Because of technology, we’re also seeing now that it’s easier to make a movie.  But even the writers are also getting way better about being realistic about the stories they are telling.  And because of this, a milestone like this is really worth-telling.”

Alonzo and Valdez express their gratitude to TFC for bringing A Second Chance to worldwide audiences via TFC@theMovies, specifically in the two continents.

Valdez said, “First of all thank you to TFC.  We appreciate it so much.  We invite all of you to come join us as you make the story of Popoy and Basha as your own.  It’s not just our movie but your movie as well.”

The movie A Second Chance is the sequel to the modern classic One More Chance which tells the story of the iconic characters Popoy and Basha now married, after having given each other just that – one more chance.

Valdez admitted to the press and the Filipino community that making the movie was a challenge but the core team composed of herself, Bea, Director Cathy Garcia Molina and co-writer and creative producer Carmi Raymundo stood up to the challenge mainly because of their love for the fans.

“I don’t think we ever really considered that we’d want to do it again up until we started working the novel, ‘One More Chance,’ novel (written by Juan Miguel Sevilla).  It was received so well and people were constantly asking us, ‘Does the story of Popoy and Basha have a sequel?’

Valdez further shared: “We were all pressured that you know we needed to meet people’s expectations because it such a well-loved movie.  But at some point, the rest of the team, were saying, you know what, forget the expectations.  This is what’s going to happen.  This is the reality.  Be brave to take the risk.”

Valdez defined this.  “It’s said in the movie.  ‘It’s brave to ask what is but it’s even braver to accept what is.’ How do we tell a story that is truthful to us?  What is a good story to tell?  Simply, it was something they (fans) can relate with.”

The press and Filipino community asked if Alonzo believed in second chances herself to which the award-winning actress replied: “Of course (I believe in it) because everyone deserves a second chance...I believe in a lot of chances.”

To end, Rodriguez said: “We in TFC are relentless in our mission of being in the service of the Filipino.  We are in the service of the Filipino when we think of the Filipino talent.  And we show the true galing ng Filipino when we show it beyond the Filipino audience and bring it to the world stage for others to appreciate.”

Rodriguez added “We’re all in the service also when we tell our stories and proudly tell them to the world – Filipino values on life and love.  These stories will help us let the world understand what we are about.  We are in the service of the Filipino when we are able to bring communities together.”

The virtual conference was attended by members of the press from Europe and Middle East and the management team of ABS-CBN Middle East FZ, LLC and Europe including News Bureau Chief Danny Buenafe and HROD Director Bernard Bandonell.  “A Second Chance is now being shown in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait in the M.E. and will be seen Birmingham, Leeds, Greater London and East London starting December 5 and 6; Milan, Rome, Messina and Padova on December 6; in Paris on December 5; in Madrid on December 6; and in Vienna on December 5 at 6.

Interested parties can visit www.myvue.com; +33676998115 in Paris, France; +393385480378 in Milan, Italy; +393731100012 in Rome, Italy; 393890535164 in Padova, Italy; +34911434351 in Madrid Spain; and +436763573492 in Vienna, Austria.  For more screening details, visit facebook.com/TFCEurope, facebook.com/TFCMiddleEast or visit http://emea.kapamilya.com.