Sen. Jinggoy grateful for acting plum, dismayed with awards night

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

THE title of the Richard Gutierrez-Marian Rivera movie is no longer "A Very Special Love." It is now "My Best Friends Girlfriend," which is said to be its original title. With this kind of title, its obvious that its somehow inspired by the popular Julia Roberts romantic comedy, "My Best Friends Wedding," that also inspired the title "My Kuyas Wedding" of Ryan Agoncillo.

Richard had three Valentines flicks in a row, all with Angel Locsin. Lets see if his tandem with Marian now will be as successful as the films he did with Angel. Supporting them in "My Bestfriends Girlfriend" are JC de Vera and Ehra Madrigal, both wards of Richards mom, Annabelle Rama.

Some quarters say Star Cinema are pitting their "Big Love" with Toni Gonzaga and Sam Milby against "My Best Friends Girlfriend," but we doubt it. ABS-CBN promotes their films well and if theyre releasing "Big Love" in time for Valentines, they would have started drumbeating it a long time ago. The fact that its now the middle of January and they havent even called for a presscon for this movie means they have no intentions at all of releasing it on the Day of Hearts. Toni Gonzaga has a presscon but its meant to promote her first solo concert.

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Sen. Jinggoy Estrada hosted a dinner for the press as his way of thanking them for their positive reviews on "Katas ng Saudi," the film that got him the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) best actor award. Although he won an award in it, he still believes its time for the Metro Manila Development Authority to return the operation of the filmfest to the film industry.

"What they did sa last awards night, naging kawawa naman kaming winners," he says. "Para kaming itinaboy agad. Magkukuhanan pa ng photo, kailangan na raw kaming umalis sa stage dahil magsisimula na ang concert ni Lani Misalucha. Ganoon kabilis. Hindi man lang binigyan ng kaukulang importansya at atensyon ang mga pelikulang lumahok. Binubuo ang MMFF ng mga taga-industriya, tapos, binas-tos lang nila ng ganun. Nawala ang dignity ng Gabi ng Parangal at yung minor awards, basta inabot na lang sa winners. Kaya Ill try to ask sa senate na ibalik na ang filmfest sa mga taga-industriya at alisin na sa mga politiko. Mahabang proseso ito but we need to do it."

But hes happy that no one questioned his winning the best actor award. He thinks its his tearful scene with Shaina Magdayao, who plays his daughter in the movie that made him. "Ang haba ng monologue ko roon asking her pasensiya na ako ang naging ama niya and everyone said I was able to deliver it convincingly."

We believe Sen. Jinggoy will also be nominated in other award-giving bodies when the awards derby starts in March. And we wont be surprised if hed win again.

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Comedian Bayani Agbayani, who played Sen. Jinggoys best friend in "Katas," was at the dinner and he denied he was the one who told Sunshine Cruz that her husband Cesar Montano is enamored with a Brazilian model.

"Nagkausap na kami ni Buboy (Cesar) at pinagtatawanan na lang namin ang mga maling balitang yan," he says. "Before he shot for Palos in Macau, we even texted each other at hindi totoong galit siya sa akin. Even Sunshine, tine-text din ako about it. Buboy is like a brother to me at hindi ko gugustuhing masira ang pamilya niya. Hindi ko kilala ang Brazilian model na yon. Naniniwala akong maaayos din ang problema nilang mag-asawa."

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Cesar Montano was also asked about this in the presscon of "Palos" on ABS-CBN and he cleared Bayanis name. "Kawawa naman yung tao at nadamay pa rito," he says.

But he wouldnt like to talk about his reported gap with his wife, whos paired with him in "Palos." So how did they shoot their scenes together if theyre having a fight?

"Walang problema as Shine has always been very professional from the time we were first paired in the movie Bullet. May kissing scene pa nga kami."

But he wouldnt elaborate anymore as to whether theyve kissed and made up. We asked his manager, Norma Japitana, about this and she said she herself asked Buboy if he really had an affair with the Brazilian model.

"He told me, Im not that stupid, I love my family," says Norma. "Ayaw niyang magkuwento, but I was told by Palos director Toto Natividad that they were very sweet na to each other when they did their kissing scene sa set the other night. In other words, friends na uli sila. At yong mga anak nila, umuwi na uli sa bahay nila. Siguro, susunod na siSunshine."

Isnt all the brouhaha just part of the promo for "Palos" now that its about to air? "I dont think so. Hindi naman nila siguro i-exploitang kanilang personal life just for the show. As Buboy said, part lang yan ng panata ni Shine na awayin siya tuwing magtatapos ang taon. And the show is really nice kaya it can stand by itself kahit walang ganitong gimmick."

Some parts of "Palos" were shown at the presscon and theyre really impressive, particularly the scenes shot in a hotel casino in Macau where Chinese fight directors like Andy Yan, Ace Wang, and Lester Pimentel (who worked with Jackie Chan and Jet Li) helped in choreographing the action scenes. In the story, it will turn out that there are two Palos characters and theyre father and son: Fabio (Cesar) and Giancarlo (Jake Cuenca). Didnt Cesar have any second thoughts about playing a father role? "No naman kasi its a good project and dream ko talaga itong Palos. In the story, nawala ako because of my enemies and Jake grows up hating me, kaya Palos ang title kasi Papa Lost ako. Pero later, Papa Found na ako and both of us will be Palos as a team of crime fighters."

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Lorna Tolentino, who played Sen. Jinggoys wife in "Katas ng Saudi," was at the "thank you" dinner and she says she doesnt mind if she didnt win the best actress award. "Im happy for Jinggoy and, as for me, happyna rin ako dahil puro positive din ang reviews na nakuha ko," she says.

Her husband, Rudy Fernandez, wasnt with her that night as hes in Macau with some friends. "Boys night out nila yon. Pero mayat maya, tumatawag sa akin."

Rudy just completed his latest chemotherapy and next month, theyll go to Hong Kong for another checkup. "Okay na okay siya ngayon at ganado nga magtrabaho kahit guesting lang muna."

As for Lorna, she remains busy hosting "Startalk" and playing Helen, the mother of Alexis (Marky Cielo) in "Zaido, Pulis Pangkalawakan". This week, Helen is told that Drigo (Jay Manalo) thinks his missing son is Cervano (Aljur Abrenica). But she knows the truth: its not Cervano whos Drigos son but Alexis. Meantime, Cervano and Alexis become intense rivals for the attention of Amy (Kris Bernal), who gets more enamored with Cervano. As Zaido Red and Zaido Green (their alter egos), Cervano and Alexis get to fight Gamma (Raymart Santiago). Cervano tries to kill Gamma but Alexis defends him and Ida (Paolo Ballesteros) beams them up both to the Kuuma lair. This is because Gamma is the brother of Alexis. Now that Alexis is with the Kuuma, his mom Helen gets worried and calls Drigo to inform him that Alexis is his real son, not Cervano.

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Do you know that Iza Calzado is very enterprising and now owns a hotel at Station 2 of Boracay called The Tide? "We never know until when our showbiz career will do well so its nice to have a business of your own," she says.

Izas career is really blooming as she now has not just one show but two on GMA-7. Shes Robin Padillas leading lady in "Joaquin Bordado." Aside from that, shell be hosting her own horror show on Thursdays, replacing Mel Tiangcos "Magpakailanman."

Originally titled "Sindak," theyre thinking up a new title since "Sindak" is already being used in "Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara." To title it "Iza Calzado Anthology" would be so bland and unappetizing, so they better think up of something more catchy. Iza will play a reporter who specializes on strange stories about the occult and the paranormal. The series will premiere next month yet and while waiting for it to start, GMA-7 will replay the best episodes of "Magpakailanman."

In "Showbiz Central" last Sunday, Iza had the chance to "eyeball" in person her avid fan, Mommy Luz Ruiz, whos been following her career since she was launched in "Te Amo." Iza was so happy to meet her fan and gave her a gift. After that, she went to Korea to represent our country in an international modeling competition in Seoul.

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Carlo Aquino is happy to be doing his second soap with GMA-7. In the first one, "Sinasamba Kita," he gets to rape Valerie Concepcion. Now, in "Maging Akin Ka Lamang," he gets to rape Isabel Oli. Writers kid him that hes now an official rapist.

"But in the film I did before, Tuli, I was the one raped by Desiree del Valle," he says.

So which is better: to rape or be raped? "Mas masarap kung akong nire-rape," he laughs.

The problem with Carlo is that hes 22 but still looks like a teenager. "Mukha pa rin daw akong totoy."

He now has to make himself look older in "Maging Akin Ka Lamang" as Ernie, played originally by the late Jay Ilagan in the Lino Brocka movie. "I have to wear glasses at binago pati hairstyle ko to make me look more mature. Even the way I move, yung projection ko, dapat mas older ang dating. But the role is really good. Im so devoted to Isabel I dont realize shes just using me to get closer to Polo Ravales whos the real object of her desire. But in the end, Id get tired sa pagiging sunud-sunuran sa kanya at ire-rape ko nga siya."

Carlo doesnt hide that, in real life, his real love is Maja Salvador whos with ABS-CBN. Theyre often seen dating out. "Lumalabas lang kami but were not officially on yet. She says dapat trabaho muna ang priority namin and I agree with her. Basta pag may time kami, we go out. Hanggang doon lang muna. Im willing to wait naman and I impose no deadlines on her para sagutin ako."

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The acclaimed film directed by Jeffrey Jeturian, "Kubrador," was shown at the Museum of Moden Art in New York City from January 10 to January 16. Jeturian was there with lead star Gina Pareno and producer Atty. Joji Alonzo to personally introduce the film on its premiere night, after which they were feted to a special reception at the Philippine Consulate in New York hosted by Consul General Cecille Rebong.

The feedback on the movie is great and from New York, it will be released in other cities across the USA. This means that even if our own Film Academy Philippines (FAP) screening committee didnt nominate it to be Philippine entry to the Oscars best foreign language film category in the next Academy Awards rites, the movie might still be nominated on its own next year, now that its been officially released in the States.

Source: Malaya