WE’VE stored the parka, mittens, thermal underwear and snow boots in the closet. But this moment remains fresh in our mind. Following the second screening of Filipina filmmaker Joanna Vasquez Arong’s (in pink) “Neo-Lounge,” which was in Slamdance 2008’s Documentary Feature Competition, she was toasted by new and old friends.

Among those celebrating Joanna’s achievement in Park City, Utah are Pinoy filmmakers Ramona Diaz (left, in green) and Marty Syjuco (beside Joanna).

Cheers indeed to the Philippines’ rising crop of indie filmmakers! They’re making waves in the international film scene. Best of all, they are invigorating the moribund Filipino movie industry.

Editor’s note: Photo by Ruben V. Nepales

PARK CITY, Utah–This is the most snow we’ve seen here since covering the Sundance Film Festival in recent years but as usual, the Filipino residents’ friendliness keeps us warm.

The Pinoys we meet, from Edgar David and the rest of the staff at China Panda Restaurant on Park Avenue (the generous Asian food servings are always welcome, in contrast to the Western finger food being served at most parties), Albertsons (where everybody, including the stars, shops for groceries) to the buses, are eager to smile, help or talk.

There’s nothing like a friendly kababayan’s face to brighten the gray winter landscape and ward off the chilly weather. These hospitable Pinoys instantly make us smile too and temporarily forget the insanity of our screening and interview schedule and the daily trudge through the snow that’s piling up faster than you can exclaim, “Salamat sa mga Pinoys sa Park City, Utah!”

PARK CITY, Utah–Robert Redford welcomed the opening night crowd of Sundance 2008 last night (Thursday) with an extemporaneous speech.

The theme of change was on the mind of Sundance Institute’s founder, who took over this festival in the late 1980s. He told the crowd before Colin Farrell’s dark comedy, “In Bruges,” began: “Artists are really agents of change. They are the first responders. They document change as it is occurring in the world around us.”

Editor’s note: Photo by Ruben V. Nepales

GUESS we won’t have to haul the tux from our baul.

Instead of the usual glitzy, star-studded Golden Globe Awards dinner show, we will announce the winners in a press conference that will still be telecast by NBC.

The following press release was issued by our press group:

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) today announced that the recipients of Golden Globe Awards in 25 categories will be revealed during an hour-long HFPA press conference at The Beverly Hilton to be covered live by NBC News beginning at 6:00 pm PST on Jan. 13. “The 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards” NBC telecast and champagne dinner in The Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom is officially cancelled.

“We are all very disappointed that our traditional awards ceremony will not take place this year and that millions of viewers worldwide will be deprived of seeing many of their favorite stars celebrating 2007’s outstanding achievements in motion pictures and television,” said Jorge Camara, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. “We take some comfort, however, in knowing that this year’s Golden Globe Award recipients will be announced on the date originally scheduled.”

ARE we going to wear our tuxedo or not next Sunday afternoon, Jan. 13?

The Golden Globe Awards, one of the few events of the year that make us take the tux, vest, tie, cummerbund, suspenders, cufflinks and patent leather shoes (just listing them makes us tired already) out of the very back of our closet, is affected by the ongoing strike by the Writers Guild of America (WGA). Dick Clark Productions and NBC, which produces and telecasts the show, respectively, are struck companies.

In solidarity with the striking Hollywood writers, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) recently announced that all of the 70-plus nominated thespians will not cross the WGA picket line at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where the Globes will be held.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which votes on and gives out the awards, is caught in the middle of this conflict. A non-profit organization of journalists from around the world, the HFPA gets the budget for its annual grants for scholarships, schools, film festivals and restoration projects from the license fee that NBC pays for the right to telecast the highly-rated annual show.

Faced with the prospect of absent stars, the HFPA, NBC and Dick Clark Productions are caught in a dilemma – should the show go on or not? Abangan. NBC and HFPA will announce a decision on the fate of the Golden Globes on Monday.