Time for Pinoy directors to shine

Author: Ethel Ramos
Column: Studio Whispers

Carmen Soo sort of anticipated the questions thrown at her by local movie press at the presscon of her teleserye with Jericho Rosales, "Kahit Isang Saglit."

Echo (Jerichos pet name) prepared her for the grilling.

But do you know that she only knew about Echos break-up with Heart Evangelista one-and-a-half months after it happened? But she recalls seeing him reporting for work with his eyes swollen, obviously from crying.

It was Echo who informed her about her supposed part in the break-up. She was being blamed for it.

She smiled sweetly when asked if theres a semblance of truth to the allegation. "None," she said. "We are just friends and co-workers.

"But I admire Echo. Hes good, respectful and hardworking. Hes a good actor, too."

Would she fall in love with Echo?

"If he courts me, well," she answered, purposely not finishing the sentence.

Carmen revealed that it has been nearly two years when she and her Chinese-Canadian boyfriend parted ways.

***

In person, Carmen, a Malaysian actress and model, looks even prettier. A charming conversationalist, shes a great interviewee.

Carmen is half-Chinese and half-Malaysian. Her real surname is Soo Wai Meng.

A graduate of business management, she started as a ramp and commercial model. For four years, she was based in Hong Kong.

It was while shooting a commercial that she first got to set foot in the Philippines.

This is her third trip to the country, the second one was a few months back when she met Echo for the first time. Though she admits that she knows Echo is considered a superstar in Malaysia (several of his drama series have been shown on Malaysian TV), she didnt know him too well.

She has been in the country for almost four months. But they have been taping non-stop, so much so that the only places she has been to are the location of the series, such as the Rice Terraces in Baguio City; Quiapo, among others.

They still have about two more weeks to complete "Kahit Isang Saglit."

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"Kahit Isang Saglit" is the last project of the late director Gilbert Perez, fondly called "Manong" by the actors and the production people worked with him.

The teleserye is considered as a fitting tribute for him, because, incidentally "Kahit Isang Saglit" is also the title of the first movie he directed, which starred Judy Ann Santos, Leandro Locsin and Piolo Pascual.

His last movie was the comedy, "Supahpapalicious," starring Vhong Navarro, Valerie Concepcion and Makisig Morales. Since he had already started work on "Kahit Isang Saglit" towards the ending of "Supahpa-palicious," he talked endlessly about the drama series.

"Im excited," Maong Gilbert told the press. "Yes, about Kahit Isang Saglit, as it is a collaboration of two countries and two different networks, ABS-CBN and Double Vision (Malaysia). I know that if the series proved successful, it will open a lot of opportunities for the two countries and will pave the way for more projects of this kind."

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Director Jerry Lopez-Seneneng, who had been tapped to continue directing "Kahit Isang Saglit," is as capable as the late Manong Gilbert. Like his predecessor, Direk Jerry is mighty proud of the project.

"Its actually like fulfilling a dream, a dream I must admit, I share with Manong Gilbert.

"We were close. And we both dreamt na magkaroon ng project na hahangaan di lang dito sa Pilipinas kung hindi maging sa ibang bansa rin.

"Kahit Isang Saglit is it," Direk Jerry admitted. "We have heard movies directed by Asian directors na umaani ng tagumpay sa ibang bansa. At kumikita din. Thus, contributing financially to their nations coffers. Its high time for us Filipino movie and TV makers," he said stated.

Source: Malaya