PHL Consulate General in L.A. Screens Jhett Tolentino’s ‘Life Is What You Make It’

Jhett Tolentino showing off his Tony and Emmy Awards

08 December 2017 LOS ANGELES – The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles hosted a special film screening of “Life Is What You Make It” on November 15 at its Community Hall. The screening was attended by about 70 members of the Filipino Community in Los Angeles.

“Life Is What You Make It”, is a short documentary film, written, produced and directed by renowned Broadway producer and proud Filipino, Jhett Tolentino, a three-time Tony Award and Grammy Award winner and one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men and Women of the Philippines awardees for 2016.

The film tells of Mr. Tolentino’s colorful life from being a student in an impoverished community in Iloilo City to becoming a professional working in various fields until he found his niche in theatre production. It is a story of his struggles and remarkable accomplishments, a tale of his journey back to his homeland after over a decade as an accomplished individual.

According to Jhett, he made this film to inspire poor children to be resourceful and pursue education.  He always reiterated that “poverty is not a death sentence” and that education will always pave the way for one to succeed in life.  It is also an encouragement to open the minds of our affluent Kababayans to do more in helping educating indigenous children. 

The film had already been screened globally.  In the United States, it was included as one of the Philippine entries in the Cinematografo Philippine International Film Festival, which was recently held in San Francisco. The Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C., Philippine Consulates General in San Francisco and New York have also hosted a special screenings of the film. It was also shown in Iloilo cinemas in the Philippines.

In his welcome remarks, Deputy Consul General Ambrosio Brian F. Enciso III said that the film sends a message of hope and inspiration that poverty is not a hindrance to success.

The film is also available in iTunes, Amazon and BroadwayRecords.com.  According to Mr. Tolentino, the proceeds of the sale will go to the foundation that is being set up out of the film to provide high school and college scholarships to indigenous children in the Philippines.  END

For more information, visit www.philippineconsulatela.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinLA.

Left photo: Deputy Consul General Ambrosio Brian F. Enciso III Delivers Welcome Remarks. Right photo: Mr. Jhett Tolentino introduces the Film.

The Officers and Staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles with Mr. Jhett Tolentino