E START our column
with a sour note. Two beautiful people who were both close to us died one after
the other.
Billy Balbastro, a fellow movie writer and columnist and a
two-term president of the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) died a little after
12 noon Saturday. Vicky Bautista, wife of fellow movie writer and columnist,
Mario Bautista, died Sunday, also around 12 noon.
Billy died of pneumonia, while Vicky suffered brain aneurysm
after giving a lecture at the UP Los Baños. She reportedly collapsed and was
rushed to the hospital in Los Baños.
Vicky never recovered, even after she was transferred to PGH
for further medication.
Vicky was a professor at UP and had a big hand on why many
actors, like Sharon Cuneta and Sarah Gero-nimo, are enrolled at the UP Open
University.
It was also Vicky who helped Aga Muhlach when he organized a
group who wanted to take up a crash course in entrepreneurship. Vicky invited
several experts from UP to conduct the course.
"I wanted a little know-how on entrepreneurship when I
applied for a Jollibee franchise," stated Aga.
Aga’s Jollibee store is located at the Alabang Center in
Muntinlupa City.
His "classmates," Aga said, included brother Albert (Muhlach),
brother-in-law Richard Bonnin, Jude Estrada, and Balita entertainment editor
Dindo Balares.
"We all lear-ned a lot from it," recalled Aga.
Vicky’s remains lie in state at San Lorenzo Chapel, Sta.
Maria Della Strada Parish, in Katipunan Road, cor. Pansol St., Quezon City.
She left behind Mario and kids MM and Hannah.
***
Billy was a lawyer by profession. But he never practiced law,
although he was in the Top 10 in his batch when he took the bar exams.
Before Billy came into the movie industry full time, he
worked with the COMELEC. I remember he told us during the height of the "Hello
Garci" scandal that Commissioner Garcillano was his classmate.
Movie writing had always been his passion and he confirmed it
to us. But to augment his income, he also taught journalism at the Asian
Institute of Journalism.
No one among us thought he was seriously ill, until we
noticed that he was no longer attending presscons, where he was always invited.
Billy’s body was transferred from the house of his long-time
assistant, Eddie de Guzman, in Taguig City to the Holy Trinity Chapel, Parañaque.
He will be interred in Iloilo City on Saturday.
To our dear Studio Whispers readers, may we request prayers
from you for the repose of the souls of both Billy and Vicky.
***
Albert Martinez finally realizes his wish to turn into a
movie producer. It’s a pity that he could not direct the movie himself, as he is
busy with a teleserye. Albert has tapped Maryo de los Reyes to direct the
movie, which will be titled "Rosario."
To play Albert’s leading lady is young star Valene
Montenegro, who is 17 years old.
"Valene will play her age," said Albert. "But she will
portray my wife, too. Parang period movie itong ‘Rosario,’ in the
mold of one local epic movie, like ‘Oro, Plata, Mata.’"
Valene, according to Albert, auditioned for the role. And
she’s good, he revealed. He didn’t know until after the audition that Valene is
a granddaughter of the late actor, Mario Montenegro. Valene’s grandma, Letty
Alonzo, was a former actress, too.
"’Rosario’ supposedly happened during the period in Phi-lippine
history when younger women married older men," Al-bert added.
Also in "Rosario" is Roxanne Guinoo.
