Mariel gets even with Zanjoe

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

Mariel Rodriguez does a controversial scene with Rafael Rosell in "Precious Hearts Romances Presents Bud Brothers. " It shows her sleeping with Rafael in a sexy Hot Pink lingerie, with her hand placed on the top of the crotch of his boxer shorts. "Yun ang gusto ng director naming si Cathy Molina, e," she says, sounding defensive.

"Kasi eksena 'yun mismo from the novel on which we based the story, 'My Golly, Wow Betsy' by Rose Tan," says the director. "Nahirapan nga kaming i-adapt 'yun kasi may pagka-sexy, e hapon ang timeslot namin. "

"When we first shot it, sabi ko kay direk, naku, parang mini-porn itong ginagawa namin, huh. But if you'd see the show, there's a valid reason why my hand is on top of his shorts," says Mariel. "It's a funny reason, hindi naman malaswa o bulgar. Kayo lang ang naglalagay ng malisya. "

It's her first time to work with Rafael and for a while, she was afraid they might have no chemistry. "But when we saw na the scenes we shot together, everyone agreed na maganda naman pala ang chemistry namin," she says. And we agree.

So how's it working with Rafael? "Masaya. Bonggang-bongga ang taping namin. We both trusted si Direk Cathy. When I accepted the project, alam ko we'll have kissing scenes, romantic scenes. "

What does her boyfriend Zanjoe Marudo say about this? "Wala. E, siya rin naman, may kissing scenes with Anne Curtis noon sa 'Dyosa' and now, sa 'The Wedding', so pantay na kami. He knows trabaho lang naman ito at pangarap ko talagang maging dramatic actress so hindi siya nakikialam sa acting jobs ko. "

Her tandem with Rafael is just one of the eight love teams featured in "Bud Brothers. " The others are Cristine Reyes-Jake Cuenca, Wendy Valdez-Joem Bascon, John Prats-Denise Laurel, Ahron Villena-Maricar Reyes, Manny Chua-Janna Dominguez, Roxanne Guinoo-Guji Lorenzana. Did they all get along fine in the taping?

"Oh yes, masaya kaming lahat. Walang naging problema. This is a very romantic show that viewers will enjoy. "

GWEN COMPARED TO GONG LI

Gwen Garci is proud to be the only female lead with three leading men in DMV Entertainment's "Heavenly Touch," her first movie with her new manager, Manny Valera. Her last movie, "Butas," was a big hit in the indie circuit and one reviewer compared her beauty to Chinese superstar Gong Li, which flattered her no end.

"I play a much more demanding role in 'Heavenly Touch' and I'm thankful to Direk Joel Lamangan for helping me give justice to it," she says. "I play Shiela, the mistress of a mayor, John Apacible, who doesn't satisfy me in bed kaya I get the services of a professional masseur, Paolo Serrano. He works in a spa at kasama niya roon sina Marco Morales and newcomer Joash Balejado. Lahat kami rito do sexy love scenes at may threesome ako with Paolo and Joash. "

How come she has no qualms about doing full frontal nudity? "I wasn't built up naman as a sweet star, so I have no illusions na kailangang mag-inarte ako when I'm asked to do a nude scene. The important thing is maganda ang story, maganda ang role ko and I'm not being made to undress just for the sake of it. Isa pa, here in 'Heavenly Touch', which is the name of the massage parlor in the story, I trusted Direk Joel completely. He's a responsible filmmaker at alam kong hindi basta kalaswaan lang ang ginagawa namin. There's a twist in the love story in the movie that will shock the viewers. "

Also in the film are John Apacible, Irma Adlawan, Jeffrey Santos, Paolo Rivero and Alchris Galura. It opens in theaters on May 13.

ARIEL DOESN'T WATCH OWN MOVIES

DO you know that Ariel Rivera doesn't watch his own films? "Parang nahihiya kasi ako," he says.

Not even the first movie he did, "Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal," with Lea Salonga and Aga Muhlach, for which he won a best supporting actor award? "Ang pinapanood ko lang, movies ni Sharon Cuneta," he adds.

At the premiere night of his title-roler, "Padre de Pamilya," he left before the film started. He was with wife Gelli de Belen and their two sons. "Magdi-dinner muna kami," he says. "We'll return kapag tapos na ang movie. "

Ariel was based in Canada when he came to Manila in 1990 to be a singer. It turns out an acting career was also waiting for him. "Bale 19 years na ako rito," he says. "And I love it here. "

He's glad to be a part of a meaningful film like "Padre de Pamilya. " "It shows how corruption is so rooted in our country that even God-fearing people get corrupted against their better judgment. "

He plays a municipal employee in a small town who's in charge of health and sanitation permits. He doesn't like to be corrupt like their mayor (Tessie Tomas) but his family is so poor and his eldest child (Cedric Jose) needs a new computer so he finally gives in to a factory owner who bribes him, but this is uncovered by the media. Ariel's acting is superb. "Padre de Pamilya" is directed by Cesar Buendia and opens in SM Cinemas today.

JINGGOY TRIMS DOWN

AFTER the formal launching of the six films in Sine Direk, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada invited us and other writers to have coffee with him. It's very noticeable that he has lost a lot of weight after he got sick and was confined in the hospital for a while. How much has he shed off?

"40 lbs. na," he says. "Ngayon, alalay na lang ako (sa pagkain) para hindi na bumalik. I feel much lighter now. "

He plays the role of a crusading radio commentator in "Bente," one of the films in Sine Direk directed by Mel Chionglo.

It was Gina Alajar who recommended him to Direk Mel for the role, who then sent him the script written by Ricky Lee.

"I read the script at hindi ko tinigilan hangga't hindi ko natapos after 30 minutes," says Sen. Jinggoy. "Ang ganda ng material at ang ganda ng role ko, so right away, I said gagawin ko. "

The title of the film is "Bente" because Jinggoy's character believes that life has become so cheap, especially for corrupt politicians. "Bente pesos na lang ang halaga ng buhay ng tao ngayon," he says.

Since he frequently attacks corrupt public officials, an abusive mayor, played by Ricky Davao, orders a former military man to assassinate him. This is Richard Gomez, who's also very excited with his offbeat role.

YOUNG ACTRESS CAUSES PANIC ON SET

DIRECTOR Mel Chionglo says "Bente" tells the parallel stories of three different characters: that of Sen. Jinggoy as the mayor, Richard as the assassin, and a young student activist with whom their lives get intertwined. He originally chose Marky Cielo of GMA Artist Center to play it but he passed away so he got Aldred Gatchalian of ABS-CBN Star Magic to replace him.

"Pero hindi lang siya ang napalitan sa cast," adds Direk Mel. "Originally, si Lani Mercado will play the wife of Sen. Jinggoy. But her schedule was so busy so we called up Snooky Serna at buti puwede siya. Last was the young actress who is supposed to play Aldred's love interest. On her first shooting day, dumating siya to say she cannot play the role kasi it's against her principles daw. Hindi raw niya puwedeng gampanan ang role ng isang young woman who gets pregnant out of wedlock. Ang pinagtataka ko lang, she auditioned for the role at alam niya all the while what kind of role she'd play, pero on the first day of shooting, doon niya lang na-realize na hindi niya magagawa 'yung role. Buti na lang, I called up Manny Valera at pumuwede agad ang isa niyang talent, si Glaiza de Castro, na pinapunta agad sa set at nag-shoot na rin agad. Glaiza really saved the day. Kung hindi, na-pack up lang ang shooting namin. "

A writer claims the young star (Na itago na lang natin sa pangalang Jewel. —Ed. ) was ordered by her secret actor boyfriend (Na itago na lang natin sa initial na R?—Ed. ) not to accept the role. "Ayaw sigurong ang role niya, 'yung mabubuntis siya. "

'WALA NA BA TAYONG FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION?'

Joel Lamangan is the country's busiest director today. On TV, he directs the hit GMA-7 afternoon soap, "Paano Ba ang Mangarap" and will also direct the primetime romantic comedy, "Adik Sa'Yo. " On the big screen, he has finished two new films, "Fuchsia" for DGPI-APT Entertainment's Sine Direk and "Heavenly Touch" for DMV Entertainment. And he is starting another one, "Dukot (Desaparecidos)," for Allen Dizon's ATD Productions in cooperation with CDP Events.

"Ayoko ng walang ginagawa," he says. "Magkakasakit ako kung nasa bahay lang ako. "

"Fuchsia" opens today in SM Cinemas and it's the heartwarming story of Mameng (Gloria Romero) who scandalizes her whole town when she lives with the two men in her life (Eddie Garcia and Robert Arevalo) in one house. This is also a story of woman empowerment as Mameng learns to stand up against their corrupt town mayor (Tony Mabesa) who's been oppressing the poor farmers in their town.

Like his previous "Walang Kawala," "Heavenly Touch" is a gay love story about two straight-acting masseurs who work for a spa called Heavenly Touch. "Paolo Serrano as Rodel and Joash Balejado as Jonard are classmates in high school who start as friends and eventually fall in love with each other kahit na may relasyon din sila with Gwen Garci," says Direk Joel. "In the end, they rebel against the owner of the massage parlor, Jeffrey Santos, who exploits them. "

He's very excited with "Dukot" as he has not done a political film for quite some time. "This is about victims of abductions and extra-judicial killings. I love the script written by Palanca awardee Boni Ilagan as I myself was a victim of torture when I was an activist at 17. I was subjected to all kinds of torture and nearly died. Si Boni naman has a sister who was abducted by the military during martial law and they never found her. I want to tell these stories na hindi naipapakita sa ngayon when the truth is that there are so many victims of extrajudicial killings up to now. "

"Dukot" is bound to be controversial. Isn't he scared that the powers that be might stop it? " Aba , e di lalaban tayo. Wala na ba tayong freedom of expression? I'm not scared dahil ang ipapakita namin dito, lahat, totoo, walang imbento. I'm really thankful to Allen Dizon for producing this film that will be an eye-opener to complacent people. "

Source: People's Journal