Former supermodel Bessie Badilla is now the producer of acclaimed indie film Bakal Boys. This Ralston Jover film is currently being screened in the following cinemas: SM Megamall, SM Manila, SM North Edsa, SM Fairview, SM Southmall, and Robinsons Galleria.
 

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Video docu on Bessie Badilla, '80s Filipina supermodel, competes in 1st New York Hell's Kitchen Film Festival September 17, 2011 11:17 AM
Gina Pareño defends acting of Kris Aquino in Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo March 10, 2010 07:14 PM
Gina Pareño takes her hat off to the real-life metal divers of Bakal Boys March 8, 2010 08:37 AM

Thank you gimikera!

Yes please, pass the word around. BAKAL BOYS need good people like you.

Salamat ng marami!

Bessie

Maraming salamat Starbelle,

You have great hopes, but it is very difficult to have mainstream Pinoy producers follow the direction of small Indie Film producers like me. They prefer commercial films because this is what makes money : I am very happy the film BAKAL BOYS have touched the hearts of many and opened their eyes on the children metal divers' issues. With their donations, screening fees and cash awards from international film festivals, we are able to help the young divers one child at a time.

Clearly, my involement in the local film industry is to GIVE BACK to my kababayan. I am happy I am able to provide work for a number of talented up and coming film makers of our country. Receiving all the awards and accolades are simply a bonus from telling a good story through the eyes of director Ralston Jover.

Salamat for your kind words!

Bessie

Ms. Bessie, I hope that the big-time producers here would have the same mindset. They should capitalize on what the medium can do. Hindi yung puro pa-cute or pa-tweetums. Gwad! Even our horror films are geting worse.

Blonde_Skinny_Bitch, stop blabbing. Trash your insane ideas.

Back to Ms. Bessie, more power to you!

...btw you really want Hollywood attention and distribution of your film??? ...what about an artsy Scavullo like photo of you with the Bakal boys swimming in Pasig River during early morning heavy toilet rush hour!!! ...like that would really be intense,
dramatic and will show the message of the film! uh huh!

...i hear an Oscar entry for next year, already! ...finally your dream to rub elbows with Brangelina! uh huh!

...OMG! imagine these poor kids swimming in germ and feces infected waters just to make ends meet! ...like Yuks! ...what a harsh reality this innocent children undergo that will forever change their outlook in life forever! ...I say give them hope and donate some of the proceeds of film or dvds to them and their families!
...Slumdog millionaire got worldwide attention and made millions coz of the children in the movie! ...it's a pity some of the kids who acted in the film are still living in poverty! ...tsk tsk tsk Oh well
...get IFC films to distribute your films here in the Hollywood!

I got to watch the film and since then, I have made it my mission to spread the word about the plight of children metal divers. I hope more people do watch the socially relevant film Bakal Boys.

Hi sweetdecember,

Sana nga panoorin ng mga politicians ang BAKAL BOYS, but I doubt if they will do anything about it. May kanya-kanyang agenda sila, ang helping the poorest of the poor in our country is not one of them.

We cannot depend on our politicians, talagang lahat tayong ordinaryong mamamayan ang pwedeng gumawa ng pag-babago. Gaya ni director Ralston Jover, tumutulong siya sa kapwa sa pag bigay ng mga napanalunan niya sa Cipputti Award sa Italy para sa mga Bakal Boys. Kahit pa-unti-unti at kahit na isang bata lang ang matulungan....may mapaparoonan tayo kung lahat tayo ay mag-iisip na tumulong. ONE CHILD at a TIME....KAYA NATIN!

Salamat,

Tita Bessie

Hello jemsky,

Naku naman, bata pa rin ako nung pinapanood mo ako sa quot;Eh, Kasi, Babae.quot; Siyempre iba na ang itsura ko ngayon na 51 years old na ako! Hahahaha!

Lola mo,

Bessie

Salamat Stellathestar,

Wala akong balak mag-balik TV, masyadong marami ang ginagawa ko ngayon bilang isang ina sa akng mga anak at producer pa ng Bakal Boys.

Ingat,

Bessie

To Showbizdak,

Sana mag dilang anghel ka! Sana nga mapanood ito ng mga kapwa Pilipinong nasa ibang bansa. Tiyak magugustuhan nila ang Bakal Boys.

Salamat,

Bessie

Continuation:

To cover the daily allowance for each child so we can keep them in the classrooms, director Ralston Jover and I have decided to give ALL screening fees from International Film Festivals and cash prizes from International Awards. A number of foreigners who were touched by the plight of the Bakal Boys have stressed their desire to give monetary donations toward the education of the boys. We are now in the middle of starting a Trust Fund for the boys where anyone can send in their donations which will be used for education, food and other needs of the boys and their families.

Thank you for your inquiry,

Bessie

To Blonde Skinny B,

Haha, I like your name....anyway, to answer your questions, first, as producer, I DO WANT to win in International Festivals especially to win in categories with cash prizes. I'll tell you why and the reason will answer your inquiry on scholarships for the 15 metal divers in the film.

My co-producer Albert Almendralejo through his alma mater San Beda College, was able to secure scholarships for the 15 metal divers. But providing education is not enough. Remember, the boys still have to earn a living to provide food for their families. To solve this issue, we need to give them money each day they attend school and completely avoid diving for scrap metal which is severely dangerous. It is not a lot, it only takes P30 for these young boys to quit diving for a day and be able to bring home money for food. Sad isn't it?

To cover the daily allowance for each child so we can keep them in the classrooms, director Ralston Jover and I have decided

Hello Bataanmatamit, salamat sa comment mo! Sana nga tangkilikin ng Pilipinong manonood ng pelikula ang Bakal Boys. Tama ka, mahirap labanan ang mga pelikulang gawang comersiyal tulad ng Star Cinema, Regal atbp. Pero kung lahat ng manonood ay mag-iisip ng tulad mo, marahil may pagkakataong mag-bago ang paningin ng lahat at mabigyan pansin ang mga Indie Films na tulad ng Bakal Boys.

Nakaklungkot talaga na sa ibang bansa pa nagwawagi ang mga pelikulang dapat ay tankilikin ng kapwa Pinoy.

Salamat muli,

Bessie

*** This comment has been deactivated due to inappropriate content ***

Sana kumita kahit si aling Gina lang ang kilalang artista dyan. Knowing fanatics, pag di gawang Star Cinema, di nanonood ng movies.

Pinapanood lang nila ay yaring Star Cinema.

Sana po tangkilikin ng mga matatalinong manonood. Sayang po ang pelikula at pagkakataon.

...I hope the producers and directors are not fishing international accolades for themselves but to raise awareness to eliminate poverty in third world!

...those kids who acted in the film should be given lifetime scholarship for education coz without them the heart of the film wouldn't be possible, am I right
Bessie?

sana maipalabas rin ang indie films abroad for a wider audience para mapanood ng pinoys abroad. maiba from movies with song titles manufactured by star cinema. tried and tested love story formula na kinakagat ng nakakaawang homesick pinoys kahit walang kwenta. ano kayang kanta ang susunod?

...why is it that it's gay or poverty theme movies producers presents in international film competitions! ...dontya think the world might think your elected president is not doing a good job coz art imitates life! uh huh! ha ha ha!

...political corruptions???

...this is the kind of films international critics loves in film competitions! ...the truimph of the human spirit against all odds! ...we're already in the 21st century an man has not conquered human poverty! tsk tsk tsk

...how ironic, how much money the presidential candidates spends that could feed half of the poor population in Metro Manila in a year! ...the irony of it all! ha ha ha!

I remember her as Tita Bessie in Eh Kasi Babae. She was so funny! Sosyal na babaeng bakla. Maganda pa rin siya in fairness. Sana she makes a comeback in comedy. By the way she tells her story, parang cool and funny mom siya.

Ibang-iba na ang hitsura nya. I remember bata pa ako during e kasi babae kwela talaga cia dun. Congratulations.

Wow she's quite an achiever as an artist and homemaker. I heard this is a very good film, sana panoorin toh ng mga polotician natin para makita nila that this is one of the most important task they have to do. natitiis nila mangurakot at magshopping at mag-abroad and these kids had to be bakal boys para may makain.

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