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For the past 17 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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The year that was in Fil-Am rock
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NEW YEAR’S Day, 2005: In the dimly lit Avenue C of Manhattan’s east village, around half past midnight, a small crowd of young people gathered around the tiny wooden exit door of a small club called the C-Note.
The club has been a favorite watering hole for the young and the middle-aged, who swears by the truths of syncopated rhythms, dissonant notes and the sheer freedom of America’s only original art form - Jazz.
But in that cold January night, the crowd mingling outside the C-Note wasn’t the typical Duke Ellington listener, or the quintessential Coltrane aficionado – they were there for a reason. A rebirth, to be specific: They were there for the resurrection of Fil-Am rock.
The C-Note show was the first Fil-Am rock show, which injected the lazy Fil-Am scene with a gigantic dose of adrenalin. So large was the small gig, it re-launched the whole East Coast music scene and gave it a fresh bath of solid hope.
It was at this gig when the show’s organizer, Gino Inocentes of Rubberband, declared 2005 as “Rock N’ Roll Buong Taon” or “ A year-full of rock.”
That statement was as prophetic as the Book of Isaiah.
The Gigs
It would be impossible to let go of 2005 without tripping over the great gigs of the year.
From the exciting New Year’s Day gig at the C-note to the Parokya Ni Edgar concert last fall, the Fil-Am rock scene had its share of fun and glam.
1. BAMBOO: The awesome Manila-based quartet ripped the Knitting Factory with pulse pounding renditions of their hit songs like Noypi, Hallelujiah and more.
2. THE TRIBECA ROCK CLUB: Summer 2005 saw the unification of the whole NY/NJ scene via a Woodstock-like show in the Tribeca neighborhood. It was perhaps the biggest gathering of Fil-Am rock bands to date.
The performers included: Daisychain, Rubberband, Bleud, Nekwiren, INU, Blue Mellon Pop, Grim Bottle, Basement 31, The Grudge, Hydrant to mention a few. The gig was such a success, a compilation CD will be cut out in its honor featuring one song for each band that performed.
3. RADYO PINOY – Akustic Jam with Jason Baquilod: May 2005. Undeniably the only on-air rockfest ever to have sliced though our airwaves. It showcased the premiere Fil-Am bands, live and stripped down to bare acoustic. It also featured a memorable performance by singer-songwriter John Flor Sisante.
4. BOTTLEFEST- May 2005: The loudest gig of all. Grim Bottle’s front man Jason Purino produced this ear-shattering show featuring the hardest rocking Fil-Am bands we know. LOCOMOTIV - an all star hard rock band from San Francisco featuring Basti Artadi of Wolfgang on vocals, Razorbacks David Aguirre on guitars, Wolfgang drummer Wolf Gemora and Danny Gonzales on bass.
THE SPEAKS - Maryland’s biggest export, has toured the Philippines and garnered accolades here in the US. They are the living proof that Fil-am bands could cross over to suit the American sonic palate.
AIKO STAR – New York’s, genre-bending band, which has stunned audiences all over with their odd song meters and peculiar instruments. The band is fronted by VERO – a beautiful, high-octane singer, who combines Filipina modesty with American angst. Do the math.
AIKOSTAR
And finally GLEN JACINTO, formerly of Teeth. – Glen played with a GRIM BOTTLE, and churned out some cover stuff and Teeth originals.
5. PAROKYA NI EDGAR – November 2005: Jersey City never had it so good when this funny and rocking’ quintet stormed the Grand Banks café with Jersey City’s very own – BLEUD, who played their newly released album, which includes the original version of the hit song “Bye Bye Na”. The venue was packed from corner to corner and the crowd could not ask for anything more.
The Music
2005 also saw an amazing array of releases from Fil-Am artists.
The much-awaited release of San Franciso power band LOCOMOTIV finally happened with the release of “Rock and Roll Death Toll”. BLEUD’s debut “ Musings of a Caffeine Addict” managed to move 8,412 units in its first month of release. The CD was released in October of 2005 and is still hot over Tower Records.com, iTunes music store and other online stores.
LOKOMOTIV
Here are the other notable releases:
1. RUBBERBAND – User Friendly
2. STELLA’S NOTCH – Stella’s Notch
3. KAMANDAG – Basag na Salamin
4. DAISYCHAIN – Sta. Mesa Sessions
5. PEDRO GIL – New Love Songs in Broken English
6. SPIKE ON THE LAND – Spike on the Land
7. INTROVOYS – A Brighter Day
8. INVID – Who Are We
9. SEVENTH CIRCLE – Seventh Circle
10. PRETTIER THAN PINK – Chopsuey
11. JAY LEGASPI – The.Tale. End
12. CHILDHOOD DILEMA – Cherished Pleasures
13. SPUTTERDOLL – Pipe Down The Pied Piper
More happenings in 2005:
SOULWORKS RECORDS – The first Jersey City-based record label was founded in 2005 and released BLEUD’s debut album and a free Christmas EP entitled “Rocky Yuletide EP”. The label is now working on it’s first major Fil-Am rock compilation for a 2006 US and Philippine release.
BLEUD
FIL-AM ACTS MAKE IT MANILA – Boby Balingit of BOBBY BANDURIA , THE MELANCHOLICS and BLEUD made the cut for Alpha Records Philippines’ compilation entitled “Silver Shiny Jeepney”. The Album also features local Philippine-based acts like THE ERASERHEADS, MOYG, IMAGO and the BROWNBEAT ALLSTARS. The album is available in the Philippines and online ay www.kabayancentral.com
BANDS IN THE STUDIO – Many groups have toiled in the recording studios in 2005 for an early 2006 release, Bands like GRIM BOTTLE, THE BUWAYAS, MILKFISH, and THE HAPPY ANALOGUES are all preparing their debut releases. Meanwhile, RUBBERBAND is adding final additions to their new album tentatively titled “ PUPPET MASTER”.
FIL-AM ROCK RADIO – Aside from the legendary Radio Pinoy with Jason Baquilod of WRMN, new terrestrial and online radio shows sprung in 2005. Most impressive is MUSIC BEYOND BORDERS, Kayumanggi Rock Radio over at KPFT 90.1FM in Texas hosted by Kokoy Severino of the Fil-Am group KAYUMANGGI. The show has become the main station for Fil-Am rock fans in the Southwest USA.
2006 should be better
With all the groundwork for a full-scale Fil-Am band explosion already laid in 2005, 2006 should be the breakout year for the entire scene; with more album releases, tours, and music videos. Plus, we should also see a growth in the interest of independent and mainstream media to cover this budding but potent music scene.
Moreover, as we bid 2005 “au revoir”, we are left with the promise of a better future as long as we look back and make this passing year the year that made it all happen.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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Ted Reyes is a musician, composer, record producer and journalist based in NYC. If you have any comments you can visit his website at www.tedreyes.com or email him at tedreyes@mac.com
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OFTENTIMES, life presents us with opportunities to do things we have always wanted to do, either for ourselves or for the people around us and gives us a chance to correct the mistakes we have made in the past, or to liberate us from hurtful memories. It is up to us to grab hold of these opportunities.
One of the best gifts I’ve received this Christmas was a telephone call and a gift from my good friend Elize. The gift was a compilation of our childhood pictures together up to the present times plus a music DVD that she made herself.
I was so overwhelmed with emotion when I saw it. The two of us have so much history together. We were born on the same month and year, grew up in one neighborhood and went to the same elementary and high school as well. We used to be , what you might call as “glued at the hip” when we were little. But along the way, we grew apart, we competed and fought like crazy with one another and had different “barkadas” at school.
For too many years the friendship was lost. Now we are becoming reconnected and we have the chance to become close friends again. I am so glad to have this chance to bring Elize back in my life again.
Now we trade e-mails and text messages and even though she lives and works in a distant city we are now almost as close as we were years ago when we would walk hand in hand to school together sharing hope for an exciting future.
I believe that we are always given these chances as long as we are still breathing.Knowing that we have these comforts us from our present worries, spares our hearts from so much pain and motivates us to move forward and look ahead when we can’t find any reason to do so at the moment.
However, second chances will be obvious only to those who have already learned from the first opportunities given to them and who have been able to graciously accept the reasons behind any falling out. I recently got an unexpected call from someone with whom I was truly upset with for some time now.I must admit, though, it was the call I have silently wanted. We had been seeing occasionally for almost a year, but never to the point of true romance, and yes, trying too hard to light the fire that did not seem to want to burn.
His call was a chance given to let go of the emotional baggage that has seemingly made me a weary traveler. I have realized that I can never be angry with someone for a long time. It is very tiring and unhealthy.
I would guess that he had misgivings too before making that call but taking that risk has certainly paid off. Things will never be the same but we both needed that closure. Because of our clear understandings of our individual feelings we are now cordial with one another ,and perhaps, just perhaps, someday, be friends again...
Every New Year is a chance for us to resolve to change something in our lives when we want it and when it is necessary. On the other hand, we have to accept the things we are not capable of changing. Whoever and wherever we are and whatever we find ourselves doing , there will be an inexplicable feeling of hope that the future will be a good and better time for us individually and for our family and friends.
One of my favorite songs of all time was the song “After All” by Peter Cetera and Cher, and it was the soundtrack of the movie “Chances Are”.and excerpts from the song go like this:
“Well, here we are again, I guess it’s must be fate, We tried it on our own but deep inside we’ve known, we’ll be back to set things straight.”Every memory repeats, every journey always brings me back to you.”
Yes, after all , everything in our lives is a trial and error process and we are just human, definitely not perfect, but continuously learning. So, go ahead, take those chances. It truly makes our journey here on this earth more worthwhile.
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MANILA --- THIS December, the telefantasya that propelled GMA Network to prime time supremacy returns in a much-awaited movie featuring the sequel of the epic story of Aguiluz (Richard Gutierrez) and Alwina (Angel Locsin).
They are together in a mission to save an entire race of half-bird, half-human creatures from the dark forces of a renegade tribe.
An official entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival and a co-production of GMA Films and Regal Films, “Mulawin, the Movie” brings to the silver screen the continuation of the breakthrough fantasy series in a remarkable production of breathtaking visual technology and cinematography combined with a poignant story of heroism and everlasting love. Written by Don Michael Perez (creator of the characters of “Mulawin” for the TV series), “Mulawin, the Movie” is directed by Dominic Zapata with Mark Reyes.
The sequel begins in Aguiluz and Alwina’s decision to embrace the mortal life and spend the rest of their days together, but their journey ends up in tragedy when their ship to Tierra Fuego (the land of man) is caught in a violent storm. Separated at sea, they are washed ashore devoid of their memories and alienated from one another. Aguiluz is rescued by a poor farmer and his wife while Alwina becomes the surrogate daughter of a wealthy family and is soon engaged to marry Gabriel (Dennis Trillo), Aguiluz’s half brother who renounced his being a Ravena (the evil race of winged creatures) and also chose the mortal life.
Meanwhile, a battle rages in Lireo, the land of the diwatas. At stake is the gintong binhi, a powerful object that is capable of bringing the dead back to life. Ybrahim (Dingdong Dantes) and Alena (Karylle) are tasked to bring the gintong binhi to Avila to save the ailing Dakila (Eddie Gutierrez), a Mulawin elder and sage. Pirena (Sunshine Dizon), the “maiden of fire,” takes the gintong binhi by force and uses it to bring back to life the ruthless father of the Ravenas, Ravenum (Michael De Mesa), who will wreak havoc in Avila and Encantadia.
The fate of the Mulawin race once again lies on the valor and great love of the two Mulawin sugo, Aguiluz and Alwina. But how can they save the Mulawins and rekindle their love for each other when they don’t have any memory of their heredity nor the countless perils they faced to save each other’s life in the past?
“Mulawin, the Movie” stars Richard Gutierrez, Angel Locsin, Dennis Trillo, Paolo Contis, Bianca King, Boy2 Quizon, Sam Bumatay, Miguel Tanfelix, Nicole Anderson, Michael De Mesa, with the special participation of Sunshine Dizon, Eddie Gutierrez, Iza Calzado, Valerie Concepcion, Karylle and Dindong Dantes.
Making special appearances in the movie are Amy Austria, Zoren Legaspi and Carmina Villaroel. The movie also stars Allan Paule, Mel Kimura, Dion Ignacio, Julianne Lee and Jay Aquitania.
“Mulawin, the Movie” opens in theaters nationwide on December 25. (MNS)
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MANILA --- DESPITE all the intrigues hurled at Angelica Jones, her career is doing well. She is still a sought-after endorser of commercial products and one of these is an ad that will feature her and her mom, Beth Jones, together.
Angelica is considered the lucky charm of “Chowtime Na,” IBC-13’s noontime show. Fans swarm the studio whether Bobby Yan or Onemig Bondoc is her co-host. The show has also attracted more ads and the prizes given out have reached millions.
These days, the actress is inspired in her career because of the movie, “Lagot Ka sa Kuya Ko” under Rocketts Productions, which may be shown as part of this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival. Angelica is Susie, a bar girl who lends a helping hand to Ronnie Ricketts when the action star meets his nemesis, Carlos Morales. She rushes Ronnie to the hospital and falls for him in the process.
Ronnie is all praises to Angelica. “The bar girl role was actually a choice between Angelica and Jopay of Sex Bomb,” informs the actor-producer-director, “but in the end, we settled for Angelica because of her flawless beauty and her flair for comedy.
“Nobody beats Angelica when it comes to comedy among our female leads now. She has a good sense of timing and is very professional. She comes early in the set and never acts as a prima donna. My staff also likes her attitude towards work. She’s also friendly and down-to-earth. I wish I can work with her again.”
And what does Angelica say to all of these praises? “It’s a great honor to work with Ronnie in this project. Aside from being a good action star and a director, he is worthy of respect because he knows how to treat his stars and crew. I really enjoyed the shooting. There was never a dull moment, especially because of my co-star, Dinky Doo, who is so funny and friendly.”
Angelica hopes for a brighter future in her showbiz career in spite of all the intrigues that come her way. She is not bothered by all the nasty rumors as long as she does not step on someone’s shoes. She also remains a good daughter and always remembers to thank the Lord for all the blessings she’s receiving. Just recently, she was chosen as the Face of the Night at the PMPC Star Awards for Television. (MNS)
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MANILA --- Warner Music Philippines Christian Bautista continues to reap success even outside the Philippines by recently receiving a double platinum award from Warner Music Indonesia’s Managing Director Iman Sastrosomo for selling over 100,000 copies of his debut CD “The Way You Look At Me” in that country.
Presented during the launch of Christian’s second CD, “Completely,” the plaudit jacks up total sales of “Way” past 200,000 Asiawide (including Malaysia and Thailand where the CD is also available) making Christian the best selling male artists in the crop of new young balladeers.
“He is as big as Basil Valdez, Rico J. Puno and Jose Mari Chan were in my country during their heydays,” says Iman. “People don’t care if he is Japanese, Burmese or Filipino. To Indonesians, Christian is the international multi platinum pop idol.”
Christian cites a guest performance he did a few months ago in “Indonesian Idol” that reflects his stellar status there. “Over 60,000 people showed up and sang along with the song from start to finish. At the time, ‘Way’ had just hit number one in their charts so Indonesian fans were as excited as Filipinos were when the song was released here. There was a lot of waving, smiling and crying during the performance but no fainting. At least not yet.”
Meanwhile, Christian’s magic on local retail remains steadfast. “Completely” was declared Gold less than a week from release while the single off it, “Everything You Do” (also written by Andrew “The Way You Look At Me”) zooms up radio charts this week rivaling the frequency of airplay by Christmas carols.
Warner Music Philippines expect more frenzied chart action, though, once the video to “Everything” featuring Miss International 2005 Lara Quigaman is put on rotation in various music channels.
“By the time the holidays are through, we foresee ‘Completely’ to have outdistanced by miles other OPM CDs released in the same period,” says Warner publicist Tony Molina.
When asked how the new album differs from its predecessor, Christian cited three things. “I wrote two songs (‘Please Don’t Go’ and ‘Now That You Are Here’) in this album first for me. Warner Music Philippines tapped the services of top Indonesian songwriters for several tracks that were imbued with distinct melodic lines. I got to sing an upbeat tune entitled ‘She Could Be.’ This is a more rounded album and even lyrically, songs tackled a variety of love aspects.”
Also, “Completely” is more elaborately packaged than “Way” as Warner Music Philippines had released limited edition of the CD containing photos of Christian shot in Indonesia.
“Still, no matter how big I become abroad, I will always be based here,” he ends. “I’d be too homesick otherwise.” (MNS)
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MANILA --- Litlle bit punky, sexy and with the power to fly - these are the characteristics she would like to have if she were an animé character. This dream of Iya Villania came true and in fact it’s more than what she expected, when she morphed into the Water Elemental, Lin-Ay in the Bong Revilla starrer “Exodus: Tales from the Enchanted Kingdom.”
As Lin-Ay, Iya is dressed in a punky outfit whose color turns hot pink when she gets mad. With the power over water and plant life, Lin-Ay also has the ability to fly. By the way, her slim physique isn’t covered entirely by her costume, giving her character a sexy element.
“Ang sarap gumawa ng fantasy movie. Nakakatuwa kasi noon they always they say I look like an animé and now I’m Lin-Ay,” smiled Iya.
Lin-Ay is also the love interest of Exodus, the main character in the movie played by Bong Revilla. And Iya has a kissing scene with him!
“Basta, what I did was I just closed my eyes and did what I needed to do,” explained Iya about the first time she kissed Bong. “I was just thinking it was for cinematic purposes.”
The challenges Iya faced when she was assigned the role of Lin-Ay included the stunts she had to do especially in the fight scenes. Under the training and supervision of fight directors from Hong Kong, she learned about martial arts.
“I trained for almost a week and it was harder than doing the film itself. Marami akong pinag-aralan pero hindi lahat nagamit. It was hard learning to use sticks or arnis. Pero di na nagamit sa movie. I was also in a harness a couple of times in my flying scenes. Sometimes we would work on a single fight scene for one whole day,” the actress beamed with pride.
So, did she sustain any injury doing her stunts?
“I had to do flips with my harness and I’m happy there weren’t any accidents we encountered. There were minor scratches but that’s all. Everyone made sure of our safety during these stunts.”
The actress admitted that she didn’t have a difficult time being suspended on air through a harness because she was never afraid of heights. This was because her sport is rock climbing.
“This is an unforgettable experience for me. It certainly proved to be a good initiation for me to crack into the movies,” expressed Iya.
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MANILA --- A very bold Judy Ann Santos opened up to the press during the press conference of her new movie opposite Piolo Pascual, “Don’t Give Up On Us,” under Star Cinema which is due for theater release in January.
“It’s time that I put myself before anything else. I’ve been entertaining what the entire world has to say for the past years, for my entire showbiz life. I’ve listened to everyone who criticize me, people who judge me. But now, I’m very happy with the way my life is going on. I’m happy with the path I’ve chosen for myself and Iím going to take care of this,” she said.
Judy Ann revealed how she managed to become the mature woman that she is now who also happens to be very contented with the love of her life, Ryan Agoncillo. “I’m mature now in terms of dealing with people and knowing what I want. Pinagbigyan ko na sila lahat noon na magsalita ng hindi maganda about me. I think I know when enough is enough,” she continued.
Her on-screen partner Piolo meanwhile attested to Juday’s claims by saying, “She has really become stronger and she knows her priority better,” shared the actor who plays a country singer in the said movie.
“Don’t Give Up On Us” is a reunion movie for the Piolo-Juday love team. The last time the two were seen together in a movie was two years ago in “Till There Was You.” Other projects they did in the past were “Kahit Isang Saglit,” “Bakit Di Totohanin,” and the teleserye “Sa Puso Ko, Iingatan Ka.”
In “Don’t Give Up On Us” directed by Joyce Bernal, Piolo and Judy Ann play unlikely characters who had to put up with each other because a strange stroke of fate threw them together. The entire movie was on location in Baguio and Sagada. Piolo plays Vince, an aspiring musician complete with long hair and attitude while Judy Ann is Abby, a domineering city girl who had been sure of her goals until Vince came into the picture.
The film also stars Hilda Koronel, Tommy Abuel, Rio Locsin, Marjorie Barretto, Marco Alcaraz, Cheska Garcia and introducing JC Cuadrado. (MNS)
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MANILA --- Mark Anthony Fernandez looks so hale and healthy you wouldn’t think he had spent almost one-year in rehab. He’s now totally clean and says he has learned his lesson.
“I want to make good for my wife, Melissa, and our son, Cameron, who’s 4 years old,” he says. “To learn to be more independent, bumukod na kami and we live in our townhouse now.”
How’s his dad, Rudy Fernandez? “He’s fine. We play badminton together every Sunday.”
He’s now managed by Dondon Monteverde and he’s glad to make his comeback film in the successful horror franchise, “Shake, Rattle & Roll 2K5.” “I appear in the third episode, ‘Lihim.’ Tanya Garcia plays my wife and we move into this town called San Joaquin where the inhabitants hold a secret: they turn into vampires at night. It happens that Tanya is pregnant when we move there. Elizabeth Oropesa plays the mother of all vampires while Noni Buencamino is the meanest vampire among them. When he touches the tummy of Tanya, I get mad and takes his hand away and this starts the animosity between us.”
They have a new director for “Lihim,” Richard Somes. “He’s good in creating fear in the viewer. I got to first work with him when we had an acting workshop for my first film, ‘Mangarap Ka.’ Later, he was the assistant of director Erik Matti in ‘Dos Ekis,’ which I did with Rica Peralejo.” Director Somes is glad to have a good actor in his debut movie. “Mark is a competent actor and I’m glad he’s working again kundi sayang naman ang talent niya.”
Somes finished a four-year maritime course as a seaman but didn’t get to practice it as he was drawn to showbiz eight years ago. He started as a propsman of Erik Matti, then he became a set man, production designer, and assistant director of Matti. Now, he’s a full pledged director and he’s confident that Mother Lily will ask him to direct again. Hopefully, next time, it will be a full length film and not just an episode in a trilogy. (MNS)
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MANILA --- Young actress Tanya Garcia has no problem quitting showbiz sooner or later.
She will be happy to settle down with the man of her destiny, she said during the presscon to promote Regal Entertainment’s “Shake, Rattle & Roll 2k5” where she plays the wife of Mark Anthony Fernandez in the episode entitled “Lihim.”
“I’m ready to call it quits, get married, and happily go on with my life. That is, when such time comes,” said Tanya .
In fact, she admitted seeing someone at the moment, “He’s a non-showbiz person and we’ve been going out for the past three years.”
The 24-year old star of GMA-7’s “Now and Forever: Agos” points out though that she is, at present, very much contented with how her career is going. She considers her stint for the latest “Shake, Rattle, & Roll” trilogy, an entry to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival, as a big step towards her goal of doing flexible roles and not just teeny-bopper characters which she was known for during her earlier years in show business.
“I’m very happy with my career and I’m so grateful GMA-7 is still there, backing me up. I’ll be doing a couple of movies, one with Reality and another with Unitel to be shown next year.”
Last seen in the recent Filmfest entry “Kulimlim,” another horror flick wherein she co-starred with Robin Padilla, Tanya has gone lie-low as far as being visible in the limelight is concerned. She did appear in a liquor commercial recently, and since then starred again in a TV soap opera. However, movie fans has not been seeing her for quite some time.
Asked to talk about the episode wherein she acted, she shared, “‘Lihim’ is really a suspense shocker and our director really did a great job in making it truly memorable. I’ve always been a fan of ‘Shake, Rattle & Roll’ trilogies and me being cast on this horror franchise’s seventh edition is really a blessing in my career.” (MNS)
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FOR THE last three Metro Manila Film Festivals, Vic Sotto lorded it over the box-office with his entries becoming the festival topgrossers. Vic, who was crowned “GMMSF Box-office King” last year, holds the distinction of being the only star whose entries in the annual December filmfest were always certified blockbusters.
These entries: “Lastikman” (2002), “Fantastic Man” (2003), and “Enteng Kabisote: Okay Ka Fairy Ko, The Legend” (2004) were all in collaboration with OctoArts Films and director Tony Y. Reyes.
For this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival-Philippines, Vic Sotto and his film partners are proud to have as entry “Enteng Kabisote: The Legend Continues,” which also stars Kristine Hermosa and Alice Dixson.
So the Vic Sotto magic will once more be tested at the box-office. And Vic and company are hoping that “sana maging topgrosser ulit ang entry namin.” After all, they have a lot to offer: Interesting twists and revelations in the storyline, spectacular special effects and a new set of characters sure to keep viewers glued to their seats!
“That’s true! Maraming bago rito sa sequel na tiyak kagigiliwan ng mga manonood. For one, with the visual effects pa lang, sulit na ang panunuod. Binusisi talaga ng aming director. Alam niyo naman si Direk Tony, he wants only the best especially pambata talaga ang pelikula. All of us in the cast are happy and proud with the result.”
From the looks of it, it’s another expensive movie to make with the special effects processed in Bangkok, Thailand no less. But Vic wouldn’t reveal how much they really spent for “Enteng Kabisote: The Legend Continues.” “Basta pinaganda namin ang pelikula, at hindi lang for kids ito, sigurado ko magugustuhan din ito ng mga matatanda,” he said.
It took them a year to do pre-production work for the movie, Vic informed us. Right after last year’s filmfest, they already started brainstorming, he added.
The success of their latest movie will also determine if there would still be another sequel to “Enteng Kabisote” next year. “Depende sa reaction ng mga moviegoers.”
But Vic assures everyone that “the fun and excitement in this movie are doubled. We have new characters like Melanie Marquez as Ina Verde, Toni Rose Gayda as Ina Azul, Victor Neri as Drago, Jeffrey Quizon as Kidlat and Boy Roque as Clawman. I’m sure the whole family will have a good time. If they liked our offering last year, they’ll like this one better.”
They have a new Ina Magenta in the movie in the person of Alice Dixson who, incidentally, played Faye in the original TV version in the late 80’s. So how was it working with Alice again after a long time?
“Actually, this is a reunion for Alice and me, we were offering the role of Ina Magenta to her two years ago pa. Kaya lang, meron siyang kailangang ayusin sa papers niya sa Canada. Since Charito Solis is not around anymore, we thought sino pa ba ang the best na puwedeng gumanap sa role kundi siya. More or less, kilala niya ang role ni Ina Magenta. Maganda ang role niya sa pelikula.
“Alice is still beautiful. Although naninibago siya nu’ng una dahil matagal siyang di gumawa ng pelikula, madali siyang naka-adapt. I’m happy to have worked with her again. Magaling pa rin siya at napakaganda niya.”
According to Vic, with Kristine Hermosa, who reprises her role as Faye, “wala rin kaming hassle. Just like last year, she was very professional. Masaya kami lahat sa set kahit magdamagan ang shooting. We all talk and share funny stories kaya palaging buhay sa location shoot. Makikita naman ng viewers that we enjoyed doing the film because of our light aura on the screen. I think, that’s important eh, you enjoy each scene, kasi lumalabas na maganda.”
Also in the cast of “Enteng Kabisote: The Legend Continues” are Bing Loyzaga, Oyo Boy Sotto, Aiza Seguerra, Ruby Rodriguez, Jose Manalo, Leila Kuzma, Marianne Rivera, Wally Bayola, Pauleen Luna and Joey de Leon as Darnita Rose.
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