(L-R) Ambassador Mary Jo A. Bernardo-Aragon; Professor Chavanee Tongroach, Vice Minister of Thailand Tourism & Sport; Ms. Aruna Vasudev, President of NETPAC; and Director Brillante Mendoza at film showing night.

Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand, Mrs. Mary Jo A. Bernardo-Aragon, attended the film screening of “Foster Child” at the Foreign Correspondent Club of Thailand (FFCT) on 12 October 2015.  The event was organized by Centre Stage Productions to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC), an international body composed of filmmakers, artists and critics. 

Starring Ms. Cherry Pie Picache, “Foster Child” is a simple but moving story of a poor urban family hired by a local foster care facility to provide temporary home for abandoned babies until they are formally adopted.  The film was shown in the Philippines and at the Director’s Fortnight section of the Cannes Festival in 2007 and won a NETPAC Jury Award at the Brisbane International Film Festival.

Director Mendoza was especially brought in from the Philippines by the organizers. NETPAC President Ms. Aruna Vasudev joined him in the open forum that followed the screening.  Associate Professor Chavanee Tongroach, Vice Minister of Thailand Tourism & Sport, gave the welcome remarks and presented Director Mendoza with a token of appreciation.