HUBO Productions: 6 Years and Counting

Established in 2006, HUBO is a group of people who pursue ways to expose the complexity of the individual.  HUBO hopes to ignite or reinvigorate humanity’s self-perspective through the arts, thus the use of the slogan “Raw Artistry Exposed”.

HUBO, as a collective, is focused, innovative, compassionate and committed to explore creativity and test the limits of known boundaries and forms of expression.  HUBO encourages artistry through practical means, and dedicates its art to stimulate the mind however unconventional and unfamiliar.

To date, HUBO has released three full-length films—COMPOUND (2006), SA PAGDAPO NG MARIPOSA (AT THE TOUCH OF A BUTTERFLY, 2008), and GANAP NA BABAE (GARDEN OF EVE, 2010).  GANAP NA BABAE is the end product of a mentorship program whose aim was to cultivate women directors of the next generation. In post-production stage are N.A.S.L (NAME-AGE-SEX-LOCATION) and IN NOMINE MATRIS (IN THE NAME OF THE MOTHER).

N.A.S.L. explicitly deals with the dangers of internet and cell phone sexting, a common occurrence now among teenagers and technophiles. IN NOMINE MATRIS celebrates women’s passion through love, life, and dance against a background of Filipiniana-Flamenco interplay.  It is scheduled to be released later in the year.

Aside from its core film ventures, HUBO extends itself in other artistic pursuit that it finds consistent with its mission. HUBO has managed to release BRAVE NEW MUSIC (2008), the accompanying soundtrack to SA PAGDAPO NG MARIPOSA.  To promote both film and music, HUBO embarked on an ambitious radio and city bar tour over a three-month period.  In theatre, HUBO supported works and collaborations that include: the world premiere of CHAGRIN (written by Michael Ross Albert, directed by Adam Levi; 2011) and the first major New York revival after more than 50 years of Arch Oboler’s NIGHT OF THE AUK (adapted by Michael Ross Albert, directed by Adam Levi and Kaitlyn Samuel; 2012), both with Outside Inside Productions and for the Annual New York International Fringe Festival (15th and 16th, respectively);  the first staged reading of MIRROR MATES: A TWO FACED FARCE (by Bill Toscano; New York, 2011); and ANG UNANG ASWANG (THE FIRST GHOST, a physical stage adaptation by Delphine Buencamino; 2010).  Other partnerships through the years were SEÑORITA (a film written by, directed by and starring Vincent Sandoval; 2011) which has successfully made the rounds of international film festivals; independent band Jeepney Joyride’s first music video AYOKO NA SA‘YO (I DON’T WANT YOU ANYMORE; 2011) which was nominated for Best Music Video by the Castpel Music Media Awards.  HUBO also got involved in one of the most recent iterations of THE NEXT WAVE SEATTLE BUTOH FESTIVAL (presented by DAIPANbutoh Collective; 2011).

HUBO has also recognized and supported the works of painter Roldan Din, the first Filipino to be featured at the prestigious Finch Lane Gallery in Salt Lake City, Utah (2012).  His exhibit PROMISES was a collection of mixed media paintings and included his works in Seattle (2006-2007), New York (2007-2009) and Utah (2009-present).

Believing in balancing mental and physical health, HUBO through its CFO/Producer Ida Ceniza-Tiongson, was instrumental in organizing the Fitness Flashmob DANCE FOR LIFE at The Ayala Center last June.  With a surprising turnout of around 240 participants, Ceniza-Tiongson hoped to bring greater awareness to exercise and fitness in Manila by promoting “retropop” as a dance exercise.

Contributing to the successful flashmob were UNO Magazine’s very own Managing Director Maan Ilustre, Philippine Department of Health Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag, GX Head Teoh Yee Sin, Fitness First Philippines Country Manager Mark Ellis and Marketing Head Anna De Guzman plus their 19 Fitness First instructors headed by Jojo Cruz. George Sommerrock, HUBO’s Executive Producer and a fitness expert by profession (#fitmonkey) in the greater parts of Seattle reiterates that “there is an urgent need in the world today to be more conscious about moving.

We all live in the technological world where sedentary activity rule. And as reported daily in the news in the past couple of years, obesity is the number one cause of deadly ailments.” Sommerrock shares that “We’re going beyond our art and film mission. We’re thinking of doing a fitness event in Seattle, together with my FITMONKEY brand. If Manila has a RETROPOP in the gyms, we’re thinking of putting some POP in the Northwest.”

For a small group of well-meaning artists, enthusiasts, and philanthropists, what HUBO has achieved so far is a testament that dreams do come true, and that new breed of Filipinos can instill new ideas and create paradigm shifts in our society.  According to Will Fredo, HUBO’s Chief Executive Officer and Resident Director, “we just need to affect one audience to dream with us, and think of a much more invigorating future.”

Fredo and Greg Macaraeg (HUBO’s President) were recently named among the “100 Outstanding Filipino-Americans in the USA” by the Press Photographers Philippines-USA and Philippine Children’s Charities, Inc. based in Los Angeles, California, for their and HUBO’s continuing contribution in the field of movie and entertainment.  Completing HUBO’s Board of Directors are Medwin Garcia, and Joan T. Manalang.