President Gloria Arroyo supported PLONING

It is good news for Judy Ann Santos who has been working hard to raise funds to reproduce dubbed copies of her movie Ploning for submission to the Academy Awards. While other sector was criticizing the young actress for her project, President Gloria Macapagal ordered the release of one million for Ploning.

MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo released P1 million to the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to support the bid of "Ploning," the country's entry to the 81st Academy Awards or Oscars, Malacañang said.

The movie stars Judy Ann Santos, a popular movie and television actress who rose to fame in the early 1990s in the late afternoon soap opera "Mara Clara."

The P1 million sourced from the Presidential Social Fund will be used to finance preview screenings, distribute DVD copies of the movie, advertisements in Hollywood publications, and other publicity materials, the statement said.

With the financial boost, the Palace said it hoped that "Ploning" would reach nine-entry semifinals, or even be among the final five nominees for Best Foreign Language Film, an honor that has eluded the Philippines.

"Ploning" is among the 67 official entries to the Oscars, the Palace said.

Santos was supposed to receive the money from Presidential Management Staff Chief Cerge Remonde in Malacañang at a 3 p.m. conference, but she had not shown up as of 5 p.m.