Another bad experience
with Angeli Pangilinan

According to Box Office Mojo, the biggest box office hit so far is "Best Friend’s Girl Friend" with Richard Gutierrez and Marian Rivera. The biggest disappointment at the tills is "Ikaw Pa Rin," the first team of Robin Padilla and Ai Ai de las Alas that viewers avoided simply because it’s not funny at all.

Three films can qualify for us as best picture: "Urduja" (a feel good animated movie), "Ploning" (an evocative period film about life in the small island of Cuyo) and "Caregiver" (about the travails of a teacher who works as a caregiver in a nursing home in London). The best performances so far are: lead actress - Sharon Cuneta and Judy Ann Santos as the title rolers in "Caregiver" and "Ploning"; supporting actress - Shamaine Buencamino who’s consistently good as the working mom who kills the rapist of her son in "Lihim ni Antonio," Eugene Domingo as the dying mother and Mylene Dizon as the nurse in "Ploning"; supporting actor - John Estrada in "Caregiver."

As you can see, there are very few contenders. Our hope is the forthcoming Cinemalaya independent filmfest that formally opened yesterday at the CCP Main Theater with the world premiere of the drama film, "Adela," a tribute to legendary actress Anita Linda who won the first major best actress award in the country for the film "Sisa." Directed by Adolfo Alix Jr. ("Donsol," "Kadin," "Tambolista"), it’s the story of an octogenarian mother celebrating her birthday waiting for the visit of her children. Co-starring are Perla Bautista, Iza Calzado, Jason Abalos, Ricky Davao, Kuya Germs, Joem Bascon and Arnold Reyes. Today, screening of the ten selected entries will start at various venues in the CCP. Support Cinemalaya which produced many fine films last year like the award-winning "Pisay," "Tribu," "Endo" and "Still Life." This year’s entries are "Baby Angelo," "Brutus," "Jay," "100," "Huling Pasada," "Ranchero," "Boses," "Concerto" and "My Fake American Accent." We’re praying that these movies will be even better than last year’s entries.

***

Ciara Sotto is back in town for two weeks from more than a year’s stay in Las Vegas where she stars in a musical, "Fever." The youngest of four kids of Sen. Tito Sotto and Helen Gamboa, her stay in the States is doing her a lot of good as she looks sexier now, what with her spending time in the gym and eating right. She’s here to launch a new album, "If You Love Me," with Sony BMG, that has 16 songs all recorded in Vegas.

So how’s her stay in the States?

"It’s a learning experience," she says, "great for character building. I live on my own so I learned to budget, do the laundry, cook, even clean the toilet. I never did those things. I really learned how to be independent there. I now also have much respect for all people who leave their families to work abroad. It’s not easy at all."

When is "Fever" going to start?

"We’re just waiting for the venue and the permits. Meantime, we go on promoting it in other cities and states and we continue to train. I have two solo numbers, ‘Finally’ where I do belly dancing, and ‘For the First Time,’ which is a bossa number. After I sang ‘Lupang Hinirang’ in a past fight of Manny Pacquiao, my fans from all over the world asked when I’m going to have a new album, so that gave me the idea to cut this new album."

One thing you notice with Ciara is her new aura. She definitely looks prettier and projects more mature sophistication. And her voice, it’s so clear and versatile. She sang some songs from the album at Teatrino and she has this knockout new versions of "Balatkayo" and "Kapalaran," formerly sung by men. But the piece de resistance is the title song, "If You Love Me," which legendary French singer Edith Piaf did for her boxer lover Marcel who died in a plane crash. Ciara sang it with so much feeling, including the French lyrics. The other great cuts in the album are "Charade" and "Two for the Road" (from the Audrey Hepburn movies of the same titles), "Some Enchanted Evening" (from "South Pacific"), David Pomeranz’ "Where Do We Go From Now," "Ang Tanging Tunay Kong Pag-ibig" (a song written by her dad for her mom two years ago), "Somos Novios," "Over the Rainbow" and "Softly."

Would she agree to sing the theme song of a movie made by her ex, John Lloyd Cruz? "Yes, why not. It’s just a song, which will depend, of course, sa kung anong storyline ng movie nila. Huwag nyo na kaming intrigahin ni John Lloyd as we’ve both moved on. I like Liz (John’s girlfriend), she’s the best friend of my cousin, at okay naman kami. I also have my own boyfriend, Jojo Conner, a graduate of Pepperdine University in the US. We both love and trust each other."

***

Angelica Panganiban says "Iisa Pa Lamang" is one of the most challenging shows ever assigned to her. "Unang-una, first time kong gumanap na nagmamaldita ako," she says. "So ingat na ingat ako kasi ayoko namang maging totally antipatika sa viewers. Baka mamaya, sa susunod, hindi na ako kaaawaan. So, mahirap talagang timplahin. Tapos, puro love scenes pa kami ni Diether Ocampo. Halos hindi ko na nga kinaya. Ang dami kasi at parang pelikula. Ewan ko kung paano lulusot lahat yun sa MTRCB. Then, sa confrontation scenes namin ni Claudine Barretto, kaila-ngang sampalin ko siya. Naku, ang hirap. Buti na lang very supportive si Miss Claudine at siya pa ang nagturo sa’kin kung paano ko siya sampalin. She doesn’t mind daw kahit tamaan ko siya dahil part yun ng binabayaran sa kanya bilang artista."

How come there are rumors that she has broken up with boyfriend Derek Ramsay? "Ay, hindi po totoo ‘yun. Kami pa rin. Bale magtu-two years na nga kami and going strong pa rin."

***

Last Tuesday, the office of Angeli Pangi-linan invited us to interview Gary Valenciano at a beauty parlor on the third floor of Crowne Plaza. The text message said it will start at 3 p.m. sharp. Imagine our surprise when we came at the appointed time and no one was there from their camp to greet us. Not even any representative from the beauty parlor took time out to offer us a seat. We felt so uncomfortable that we decided to leave. We don’t ask for any special treatment, but isn’t it a sign of good manners that, when you invite someone, you should be there to welcome him?

This is not the first time something like this happened to us about Gary V. When he had a concert in Music Museum in May, they kept on inviting us to watch so we said yes. We waited for our tickets but none came. When we saw someone from their office later and inquired about this, we were told: "You’re supposed to get your tickets at the Music Museum lobby." But no one even told us about such an arrangement.

We don’t want to think that Angeli knows us only when she needs something from us. When she wanted to defend Jericho Rosales from the revelations Heart Evangelista made against him, Angeli called us up at home and asked us to write about Jericho’s side in our column, which we readily did. But after that, we never heard from her again. Well, after all, she already got what she wanted. From now on, we don’t want to have anything to do with them anymore.

***

We met Jojo Lim, president of the fans of Vilma Santos, at the preview of "Kambyo" and he asked us to help convince the Batangas governor to accept the indie film, "La Independencia." The day before, he said they met with Ate Vi when she attended the Gawad Plaridel Award in U.P. who was given to Atty. Pachico A. Seares, 67, who became editor in chief of Sunstar Cebu. With him were Al Valencia, Eric Nadurata, Nar Santander, Obet Sapin, Ricky Abad, and other Vilmanians. Ate Vi said she has met with the director of "La Independencia," Raya Martin and she has read its script, but has not committed herself to it. They handed their letter to Ate Vi (written by Paul Salas) about the project and here’s what it says:

"Dear Ate Vi,

"When we heard the news that director Raya Martin was offering you the lead role in "La Independencia," we were all very excited, ecstatic and euphoric! It was indeed a cause for celebration for all Vilmanians because, if ever, ‘La Independencia’ will be your very first major international film! Ever since we started following and supporting your colorful and highly-successful movie career, we have always been excited with your projects but we have never been as excited and as involved as we are now since this international movie is a dream come true for all Vilmanians. We were told that ‘La Independencia’ is the result of a film grant given by the French government to director Martin for his award-winning script (translated into Tagalog by National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario) and is aimed for exhibition in various international film festivals in Europe.

"The best part of the news was being told that ‘La Independencia’ is primarily intended to be shown in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, the most prestigious film festival in the world, in May 2009 and knowing that there will be a huge possibility of you winning your first major international acting award for your performance. Actually, being part of this important international project and the rare privilege to be in competition at the Cannes Film Festival is already a reward in itself because this exposure is something all film artists would aspire for in their lifetime. The film’s nationalistic theme about a Filipino mother struggling to keep her family together during the American occupation is commendable and will ultimately show that Filipinos are capable of making intelligent and inspiring nationalistic films that focus on the positive values and traits of Filipinos.

"We proudly remember your favorite directors praising your artistry, Ate Vi. National Artist Ishmael Bernal observed your growth as an artist while National Artist Lino Brocka likened your thespic abilities to water for the ability to register anything. If there is one film that will truly be worthy of the Gawad Plaridel honor bestowed on you by the University of the Philippines and that one film which will further boost your chances of winning the coveted National Artist for Film because of its scope and theme, it is ‘La Independencia.’ It will be your legacy to the Filipino people as an artist because of the boundless opportunities that it will open not only to you as an artist, but to the Filipino film industry and to our beloved country as a whole.

"Last year, when "Kubrador" won numerous awards in various film festivals abroad, we secretly wished that you had appeared in the highly-acclaimed movie since director Jeffery Jeturian had you initially in mind to play the title role. However, due to budget constraints, the project was given to Gina Pareno. After the critical acclaim of ‘Insiang’ and ‘Jaguar’ in the late 1970s, it took almost 30 years for another film to be given the chance to be in competition at the Cannes Film Festival with ‘Serbis.’ Unlike these three films, however, which deal with poverty, corruption and prostitution, ‘La Independencia’ is an art film with a positive and nationalistic theme. The film is a breath of fresh air compared to the controversial films that abound in film festivals everywhere which usually deal with negative subjects for purposes of shock value.

"Ate Vi, international acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival awaits you and when that time comes, you will make all of us Filipinos proud because your participation and artistic involvement in this once-in-a-lifetime international film will be the crowning glory of your illustrious movie career and will surely boost our growing local film industry’s thrust to go global. The red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival expects your arrival and your appearance in this landmark event’s glittering ceremonies will be much anticipated and will truly make headlines here and around the world. In this day and age of economic difficulties, political uncertainty and national disasters in our country, we need a heroine to inspire us, unite us and bring us honor and your forthcoming appearance at the Cannes Film Festival as our Movie Queen and Star for all Seasons will do just that!"