ARMIDA Siguion Reyna
hosted a merienda at her Forbes Park home for Makati Mayor Jojo Binay and
his daughter Abigail or Abby who’s running as representative of Makati’s 2nd
district under GO PDP Laban. We told Tita Midz the first time we got invited to
her house was in 1977 when she had a presscon for "Laruang Apoy," which she
produced starring Alma Moreno and herself, in 1977, exactly 30 years. "That was
a landmark year for me," she says. "I also produced ‘Mga Bilanggong Birhen’ that
year, directed by Mario O’Hara, and I played the contravida in the late
Lino Brocka’s, ‘Tahan Na, Empoy,’ that gave me several acting awards."
She now seldom goes out of her home. "Lumabas man ako,
dito-dito lang sa Makati. But I’m busy archiving all my past episodes of
‘Aawitan Kita’."
Her pretty granddaughter, Cris Villonco, was there. She told
us she has already graduated from Sarah Lawrence in the US with a degree in
music and economic development and now works with an NGO in Makati. But she
still looks like a teenager. She now has a boyfriend, too, a medical student
named Enrico Campos. Now, that she’s home, she wants to go back to her singing
career but she’ll also take up law at the Ateneo starting this June.
* * *
Susan Roces also came to the affair and we asked her if it’s
true that, aside from "John En Shirley," she’ll also do a new soap for ABS-CBN
with Kris Aquino. "No, I have not received the offer yet," she says. "But I’m
willing to do it basta walang masyadong puyatan."
Is it true she said in a TV interview that Sharon Cuneta and
Vilma Santos are not her friends?
"What I said was I did a movie with Sharon and I haven’t
worked at all with Vilma. Ang na-edit out is my statement that si
Ronnie (the late FPJ) naman talaga ang kaibigan nila as they did two
movies each with him. Alam mo naman si Ronnie, Kuya ng bayan, ‘di ba?"
The food served by Tita Midz was very good and we noticed
that both she and Susan ate heartily, including the dessert of kakanin
and mais con hielo. So you’re not dieting? we tell them.
"No, walang diet-diet," they say.
Susan is endorsing not just Mayor Binay but also his daughter
Abby. She’s also endorsing Manay Ichu Maceda’s son Edward who’s running for
councilor at the 4th district of Manila under the Genuine Opposition Team.
Edward finished high school at La Salle, has a degree in journalism from UP,
then graduated with honors from the Ateneo Law School. He has facilitated the
release of more than P100 million for various school, barangay, medical and
infrastructure projects.
As for Abby Binay, she’s the second of five kids of Mayor
Binay and his wife Dr. Elenita Sombillo. Mayor Binay is very vocal in saying
she’s his favorite child and he doesn’t want her to run for congress. "But I
also want to serve," says Abby, who graduated from the Ateneo Law School in 2001
and passed the bar exam in 2002. She is active with the Federacion International
de Abogadas and gives free legal aid to Makati’s poor residents. She is a member
of the Stop Charter Change Movement and filed an impeachment complaint against
Gloria Arroyo. For sure, she’ll be a fighter like her dad, who still can’t
accept that she’s now officially engaged to her boyfriend, Luis Campos.
* * *
We attended the press presentation of the Miss Teen
Philippines Inernational 2007 at the Holiday Inn and we’re impressed with the 30
youthful candidates aged 14 to 18. They’re not only all pretty but very
articulate in English. A joint project of Yes Environment and LiteSpeed Events,
the event was launched months ago at 10 selected cities in the country and
countries abroad with Pinoy communities. Thirty finalists were chosen and the
finals night was held at the AFP Theater May 10. This will be shown on Studio 23
on Sunday, 10:30 p.m.
The girls from the provinces were brought to Manila by Air
Philippines and SuperFerry and stayed at Holiday Inn. The winner gets P100,000
cash, three-week educational trip to Europe, four-year college scholarship,
enrolment in a personality development course, various gifts from the sponsors.
The 2006 winner Julianne Savard (now managed by Paula Punla) was sent to Brunei
to attend a conference on the environment since Miss Teen Philippines wants
young people to be more aware about environmental conservation.
The finalists from the national capital region are: Toni Mae
Martinez, 14; Pebbles Sanchez, 18; Aliana Jimenez, 16, Christine Riley, 16.
Northern Luzon: Sarah Goff, 15. Centra Luzon: Micah Cunanan, 18; Patricia
Vargasm 16; Ma. Katreen David, 14. Bicol: Kathleen Darigan, 17; Jessica de
Silva, 17, Kristine Pajimola, 16. Southern Tagalog: Cathy Coquilla, 17; Mary
Grace Perido, 14;, France Dumadag, 15. Siquijor: Ma. Catherine Marchan, 17.
Negros Oriental: Alfe Marie Uy, 17; Eri Marie Kajikawa, 15. Western Visayas:
Lianie Cruz, 17; Allysa Villarico, 15. Central Visayas: Sharon Angel, 16; Tamara
Johansen, 14; Vivien Gajudo, 16; Karen Gallman, 14. Northern and Western
Mindanao: Maxine Monasterio, 16; Diana Mantalaba, 16; Charmaine Ladera. 16.
Southern and Central Mindanao: Priscilla Mae Navidad, 16; Leah Baranaskas, 16;
Faye Remolar, 17.
The most strikingly pretty among the girls is Sharon Angel
from Cebu who stands 5’8". The girls whose looks will be ideal for showbiz (artista
types) are Karen Gallman (born in Bohol but grew up in Australia) and
Charmaine Ladera from Cagayan de Oro. One of the contestants is differently
abled as she’s hearing impaired, Priscilla Mae Navidad from Davao, who
communicates by reading lips.
The winner will be considered a role model and youth icon who
will be part of the Green Army Juniors Club to help preserve the environment.
Among the sponsors are JAG, AMA, PCSO, SM, Planet Sports, Dale Carnegie
Training, Ellips Hair Vitamins, Styletto Shoes, The Journal Group of
Publications, Narda’s Trading, Jumbo Transport, Fort Spa, Jollibee, Elbow Room,
Phi Bar, Chef DAngelo, and many more.
* * *
Mother Lily Monteverde hosted a presscon for Christopher de
Leon last Sunday night. Brother Boyet is entering a new phase in his life as he
wants to fight a new battle now that he’s 50 years old and is running as vice
governor of Batangas, with Gen. Nestor Senares as his governor. Here, we string
up together the titles of his past movies to come up with a spiel for him.
Brother Boyet, "Kakabakaba Ka Ba?" (1980) "Kamakalawa" (1982)
lang, si Brother Boyet ay isang "Bituing Walang Ningning" (1985)
hanggang matuklasan siya ni Lino Brocka at "Tinimbang Siya,
Ngunit (Hindi) Kulang" (1974). Later, siya ay naging si "Tisoy" (1977),
si "Julian Makabayan" (1979), na bida sa mga romantikong pelikulang
tulad ng "Gusto Kita, Mahal Ko Siya" (1980), "Masarap, Masakit ang Umibig"
(1977), "Bakit May Pag-ibig Pa?" (79), "Lagot Ka, Pipikutin Kita" (1976) at
"Beloved" (1985). Umibig siya kay Ate Guy sa "Banaue" (1985)
at sila’y nagkaroon ng "Relasyon" (1982). Sa La Union,
sila’y nagkaroon ng "Kasal-Kasalan, Bahay-Bahayan" (1979), pero "Sapagkat
Kami’y Tao Lamang" (1978), hindi nagtagal iyon at agad naging "Hello,
Good Night, Goodbye" (1975) at nauwi sa "Broken Marriage" (83).
Nalaman nilang "Walang Karugtong ang Nakaraan" (1986) dahil na-meet
naman ni Brother Boyet si Sister Sandy at tinanong niya ito ng
"Magkano ang Iyong Dangal" (1988), hanggang sila ang maging tunay na
"Love Birds" (1983) at magkaroon ng tunay na "Kasal" (1980).
Pagkatapos ng 33 taon sa showbiz, ngayon ay
nadama naman niya ang "Haplos" (1982) ng taga-Batangas, na "Biktima"
(1990) ng maling politika, kaya "Napagod Na ang Puso" (1988) at
nakiusap sa kanyang "Pakawalan Mo Ako" (1981). Siya ay nagtanong: "Paano
Ba ang Mangarap" (1983) at maglingkod sa bayan? Siya nga ay "Nangarap at
Nagising" (1977) at naisip niyang kung ang ka-love team niyang si
Vilma Santos mula pa noong "Tag-ulan sa Tag-araw" (1975) hanggang
"Mano Po 3, My Love" (2004), ay nakapaglingkod na sa Batangas, sinabi
niya rito: "Kung Kaya Mo, Kaya Ko Rin" (1978). Ngayon nga, sila ay "Magkaribal"
na magkaiba ang partido.
Si Brother Boyet ay naging isang "Agila" (1980),
isang "Kislap sa Dilim" (1991) na "Taga sa Panahon" (1980) at
nangangakong gagamutin ang "Sugat sa Ugat" (1980) ng taga-Batangas.
Sabi niya sa traditional politico roon: "Bato-Bato sa Langit, Ang
Tamaa’y Huwag Galit" (1975), "Huwag Mong Salingin ang Sugat" ng taga-Batangas.
Hindi ako gaya mo na "Palipat-Lipat, Papalit-Palit" (1981). "Kahit ang
Mundo’s Magunaw" (1975), "Sa Aking mga Kamay" (1994), ang Batangas ay
magiging isang "Paraisong Parisukat" (1978). Kaya ikaw na trapo sa
Batangas, "Nakawin Mo Na ang Bawat Sandali" (1978) dahil "Topo-Topo
Barega" (1978), "Ipagpatawad Mo" (1991), pero "Dinampot Ka Lang sa Putik"
(1992) at malapit nang "Gumapang Ka sa Lusak" (1990) at mag-"Hide
en Seek sa Quiapo, Cubao at Makati" dahil "Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita"
(1989).
Sa mga taga-Batangas naman, "Sinasamba Kita"
(1981), kaya "Maging Akin Ka Lamang" (1987), "Minsan Pa Nating Hahagkan
ang Nakaraan" (1983) na puno ng tagumpay para sa Batangas. Suportahan
mo ako, dahil "Kapag Puso’y Sinugatan" (1985) at "Kung Ako’y Iiwan
Mo" (1980), "Kung Mahawi Man ang Ulap" (1984), pipilitin ko pa ring
"Hindi Nahahati ang Langit" (1985) sa Batangas at mapanitiling "Ikaw
ay Akin" (1978) upang, years from now, masabi nating pare-pareho "Ganito
Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon" (1976).
* * *
Some folks are wondering why Mother Lily sponsored a presscon
to push the senatorial bid of Lt. Antonio Trillanes IV. In her speech, Mother
Lily said she’s aware Trillanes was part of the Oakwood Mutiny. "But I do not
see him as a rebel. I don’t even see him as a military man. I see him simply as
a man who wants to make himself heard, who wants something better for his
comrades in the military and for the country."
She visited Trillanes while detained in Fort Bonifacio and is
very much impressed by his principles. He has complained about corruption in the
military but no one would listen to him. Since he cannot campaign in person as
he’s imprisoned, Mother Lily hosted a presscon where his mom, Mrs. Stella
Trillanes, 9-year-old son Francis, and 7-year-old daughter Estelle, sat on the
panel along with his friends. His wife, also a PMA graduate like him, was absent
as she is studying on a scholarship in Australia.
His mom said Trillanes is the fifth of six kids. "One girl,
the eldest, then five boys all named Antonio. He’s Antonio IV. He’s always been
a good boy and displayed good leadership qualities."
His mom revealed that Bambi Fuentes, the gay beautician who
attends to Kris Aquino personally, is his cousin. He could have been set free
after four years in prison, but he refuses to be the only one freed. He also
wants freedom for all the other soldiers who were with him in Oakwood in 2003.
He says he’s a local movie fan. The first movie he saw was "Kadete" starring Jay
Ilagan and Ronald Corveau in 1982 and this inspired him to be a PMA cadet. His
favorite stars are Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzales, but in case his life story
would be filmed, he wants Cesar Montano to play him on screen, with Dawn Zulueta
playing his wife.
"He’s the youngest and the handsomest among the senatorial
candidates," says one newshen.
We ourselves will vote for him. We need a fighter like him in government, not
traditional politicians who have long been corrupted by the system.
