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