Sharon won't heed Tita Helen

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

WHEN ABS-CBN prexy Charo Santos offered her the role of the controlling Elizabeth in "Tayong Dalawa," Helen Gamboa was hesitant to accept it. "Ayoko kasi nga may pagka-kontrabida ang dating," she says. "But Charo said, sige na, puro api ka na lang lagi, do this for a change. So I did. The show started airing in December.

"When Charo greeted me on my birthday last May 7, she said, o ano, naniwala ka na sa'kin that it's a good role? And I had to admit it's really a good one kasi ang lakas ng impact. Everywhere I go now, people call me Elizabeth or Mamita, which is how Jake Cuenca calls me in the show. Ako raw ang Teleserye Megamom. Even when I go abroad, kilala ako ng tao at nagpapa-picture sa akin. Pati sa Forbes Park at mga pulitiko, when they see me, they tell me they always watch the show which is such a hit kaya dapat, three months lang kami, but we were extended until April. Now, extended na kami uli hanggang July due to public clamor. Also, sa dami ng commercials, ABS had to turn away more advertisers that want to get into our show. "

Is there negative reaction against her? "Wala. Kasi hindi naman antipatika ang dating ng role ko. Elizabeth is doing everything only because of her daughter, Agot Isidro as Ingrid, na may sakit kaya very protective siya. In the next few weeks, there will be more twists in the plot that will further redeem my character. I'm really happy na I agreed to do the show kasi ngayon, para talaga kaming family ng buong cast, lalo na sina Agot and Jake na siyang madalas kong kaeksena. The show is not easy to do kasi lagi kang umiiyak, so masikip sa dibdib. Kung minsan, I don't even know na kunsaan ko kinukuha ang luha ko. "

What does her husband Tito Sotto say about her role? "Natutuwa siya. He said, aba, puede ka palang magtaray. Ako kasi, pag galit, I just stay in my room. "

They've been married for nearly 40 years (and still going strong) but Helen has managed to maintain her slim good looks due to proper diet and regular workouts plus badminton. How come she doesn't ask her mega-niece, Sharon Cuneta, to join her in the gym? "You know, nagpagawa ako ng personal gym sa bahay just for her kasi she doesn't want to go to a regular gym dahil panonoorin nga naman siya ng tao. But she never showed up. Ayaw raw niya talaga, panonoorin na lang daw niya ko mag-workout. Kapag humihiling naman sa'kin ng favorite dishes niya, pinagluluto ko rin. I don't know how to convince her anymore. "

How come her sister Mommy Elaine (Sharon's mom) is now on wheelchair? "Kasi after her knee operation, she's supposed to undergo physical therapy pero ayaw niya kaya ayan, hindi na siya makalakad. "

How's her youngest daughter Ciara? "She's back in Las Vegas. They're preparing a new show for her, but I can't talk about the details yet at baka mapre-empt. Kagagaling ko lang dun, dinalhan ko siya ng yaya niya. "

Helen started as a singer-actress but later branched out into award-winning serious roles like "Oras-Oras, Araw-Araw," "Bagong Bayani" and "Kailan Mahuhugasan ang Kasalanan. " Would she be willing to do a serious indie film in vogue these days? "Yes, I'm very interested as long as the material is good at maganda ang role ko. I'd really like to do a meaningful movie again. "

ALING DIONISIA'S LOVER ASKING FOR P3M?

WE saw the TV interview on Aling Dionisia, the mother of Manny Pacquiao, as she basks in her vicarious experience of fame originating from her more famous son and with her declaring "celebrity na ako. " She was given a makeover and was photographed wearing expensive designer outfits when she turned 60. There are even talks of her doing a movie or TV show. She obviously enjoys her 15-minutes of fame to the hilt, even if it appears that some people are just making fun of her calling her the original Bakekang and saying she's a lookalike of Dyan Castillejo.

When the life story of Manny was filmed, she was portrayed by Jacklyn Jose and it's apparent now that they don't look alike at all in any manner, shape or form. She has also become the object of intrigues. The grapevine says that she's separated from Manny's dad and her boyfriend is a dance instructor who is 30 years younger than her. Manny reportedly got mad when she was asking P3 million from him to give to her boyfriend so he can start his own business. Manny reportedly got mad and confronted the guy who told him "mahal ko si Dionisia. Nagmamahalan kami ng nanay mo. "

Yeah, right.

In another interview, however, Aling Dionisia denied this.

MOVIE REVIEW: 'HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT'

SAID to be based on a true story, "The Haunting in Connecticut" will remind you of "Amityville Horror. " The screenplay is derived on the claims of Al and Carmen Snedeker that happened in Southington, Connecticut in the late 1980s. It was novelized by Ray Garton who later went on record to say he doubts the veracity of the story told by he Snedekers.

The movie is set in June, 1987 and tells the story of Sara Campbell (Virginia Madsen), a mother who drives eight hours out of state to St. Michael's Hospital for the treatment of her son Matt (Kyle Gallner), who's stricken with the big C. The long trips are very tiring so they decide to rent a house near the hospital. Sarah, Matt, his siblings Billy (Ty Wood) and Mary (Sophi Knight) and cousin Wendy (Amanda Crew) all transfer to the colonial house they've chosen, with the dad, Peter (Martin Donovan), a building contractor, just going there on weekends.

Matt selects a room in the basement to be his bedroom. Soon, he starts seeing things, like blood on the floor. Matt thinks his hallucinations are just side effects of the experimental treatment he's getting, so he keeps them to himself. Sara and Peter's marriage is quite problematic. Peter is an alcoholic and his job keeps him away from his family.

Sara has been told that the house has a history. What she didn't know is that it used to be a funeral parlor. Wendy does research in the local library and learns about the story of a mortician, Ramsey Aickman (John Bluethner) and his assistant Jonah (Erik Berg), who turns out to be entity who is possessing the body of Matt more and more, making him look like Robert Pattinson's vampire character in "Twilight". He contacts Revered Popescu (Elias Koteas), who's also dying of the big C. Together, they investigate the things that go bump in the night. Since both Matt and Popescu are both on the brink of death themselves, they don't have much difficulty seeing the souls who have gone before them in crossing over. They learn that the mortician is a necromancer who conducted seances and there were about a hundred missing bodies in the past.

Just like in other haunted house flicks, one thing you can't understand is why the occupants don't pack up their bags right away and leave. Here, they return to their separate beds and try to sleep. If they're that stupid, then they deserve whatever it is that the bad spirits will do to them. The special effects are laughable, especially in the scenes involving ectoplasm.

To scare viewers, Director Peter Cornwell cooks up a lot of spooky scenes showing a ghostly figure reflected in a mirror, passing outside or in the background or lurking in the shadows. But this scare tactic has been used in so many other horror flicks that it's so passe by now. The movie does have some of the requisite boo moments to jolt you, but lovers of horror films who are more after intelligent fare will be grossly disappointed as it's so derivative. Many of the elements used here have been used before not only in the "Amityville" horror series but also in other scary flicks like "The Exorcist," "The Shining," "The Messengers," etc.

In all fairness to the actors, though, they're quite better than the banal and formulaic movie itself, especially Virginia Madsen who's persuasive as the harrassed mother, her family's backbone who'd do anything to hold her loved ones together. Martin Donovan registers well as the guilt-ridden dad and Elias Koteas also knows how to underplay his role as Reverend Popescu, who's not Catholic so he can't really do an exorcism. Horror flicks are now a dime a dozen in Hollywood and this must be the reason why the movie megged by our very own Yam Laranas, "The Echo," has not been released up to now.

Source: People's Journal