MOVIEGOER: Women who inspire

BY NESTOR CUARTERO

Mar 14, 2024 01:01 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Ina and Sunshine provide a fine example of how women can take care of themselves by looking good despite the advancing years. 

Ina Raymundo (Instagram)

In time for International Women’s Month, Ina Raymundo and Sunshine Cruz, 48 and 46 years old respectively, gamely showed off their still-lovely female form during a recent fashion event. The two actresses walked the ramp wearing what looked like beach wear reminding viewers that they still have got sex appeal even while they’re pushing 50.

Ina and Sunshine provide a fine example of how women can take care of themselves by looking good despite the advancing years. They achieve this by working hard on their bodies and personal discipline.

How they preserve their looks reminds me of those mature Korean actresses playing mother and auntie roles in their drama-novellas. You can never see an overweight actress, young or old, in them.

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Sunshine Cruz (Facebook)

Because of how they look with matching talent to boot, Ina and Sunshine continue to land roles in TV and movie projects. Ina, for one, has a substantial role in the current hit series Can’t Buy Me Love (ABS-CBN), where she plays the vengeful, comebacking mother of the lead actor Donny Pangilinan.

PASSERBY:

Former FDCP Chair Liza Diño makes history as the First Filipina French Knight in Cinema and the only Southeast Asian producer selected for EAVE Producers Workshop 2024.

Liza Diño at EAVE in Luxembourg

Such is another groundbreaking milestone in her  career as actress, producer, and government official. 

The EAVE Producers Workshop, in partnership with Film Fund Luxembourg and supported by Creative  Europe,  is  a  premier  training  lab  based  in  Europe  aimed  at  fostering  professional development and international collaboration for global producers in the film industry. The year-long   program   includes   a   series   of   three   week-long   intensive   workshops   focused   on   the development   of   fiction,   documentary,   and   TV   series   projects.

Mentored by top-notch industry leaders, the workshop offers participants a transformative training journey spanning over three residential workshops in Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden. Liza is currently in Luxembourg for the first leg of the workshop.

Good friend Jenny Peña, former PR director of Hotel Intercontinental, has written to suggest to local film authorities to organize a festival of award-winning Jaclyn Jose films, notably the Cannes Film Festival entry Ma Rosa that won her the festival's Best Actress award in 2016.

“I'm sure people, old and young alike, will be interested to watch her movies as she impressed many with her last role as Gen. Dolores Espinas in Batang Quiapo. Many aspiring movie and theater actors can learn a lot from her award-winning films. It'll also instill pride in well-made and well-acted Filipino movies among the general public.”

Dingdong Dantes

GMA murder mystery drama "Royal Blood” comes to Netflix in March, as in this month.

"Royal Blood'' is the story of Napoy (Dingdong), the illegitimate son of a business tycoon, played by Tirso Cruz III, who reunites with his long-lost father after years of neglect.

Things get complicated when his father is murdered, and he becomes the main suspect.

"Royal Blood" boasts a star-studded cast that includes Megan Young, Dion Ignacio, Mikael Daez, Lianne Valentin, and Rhian Ramos.

MOVIEGOER: Cinema '76 new QC home: Cozier, classier, so comfy

BY NESTOR CUARTERO

Mar 23, 2023 07:51 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• TBA Studios President and COO Daphne O. Chiu says Cinema ’76 is ideal for private film screenings, media launches, talkbacks and workshops, live viewing parties, intimate shows, music gigs, gaming events, etc.

• It is also available for theatrical releases, block screenings, cinema rental, film festival venue, premieres, and other special events.

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Janine Gutierrez (Facebook)

Young people, film lovers, and other serious cinephiles have found a new home (how beautiful!) on Tomas Morato Avenue, the heart of the country’s entertainment capital, Quezon City, with the formal opening of Cinema ’76 Café on March 18.

The new Cinema ’76 is a combination of micro-cinema and coffee shop situated in a more sophisticated section of the city.

For one, the Cinema’s new location offers more breathing space and easy accessibility. It has a wide, open-air patio where guests can unwind with a meal or coffee after watching a movie. Both indoor and outdoor dining options are available.

TBA Studios President and COO Daphne O. Chiu says Cinema ’76 is ideal for private film screenings, media launches, talkbacks and workshops, live viewing parties, intimate shows, music gigs, gaming events, etc.

It is also available for theatrical releases, block screenings, cinema rental, film festival venue, premieres, and other special events.

We take note, in particular, of the Cinema’s signature couches, which are like two-in-one love seats, allowing for a cozier ambiance.

Daphne O. Chiu

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Cinema ’76, described as a multi-purpose creative space, is the pioneer micro-cinema in the country, first opened in June 2021 in Anonas, Quezon City.

It was established to celebrate Cinema ’76 Film Society, an informal group of film enthusiasts.
Its new address is on the second and top floor of a low-rise, a short distance from ABS-CBN.

With cinema and theater as themes, Chefs Gene and Gino Gonzalez of the Center for Asian Culinary Studies, designed the café’s menu, taking into consideration the spirit of Cinema ’76 Film Society.

The menu covers a wide range, from cocktails, coffee, and comfort food, spanning American, Italian, Asian cuisines.

Certain orders can also be brought into the theater to complete the movie-watching experience.

At the full-house event, Chef Gene told me, "We have a good mix of new and familiar flavors.” Some dishes reminded me of my favorite Gonzales bistro, the now-classic Café Ysabel in San Juan.

On the menu are dishes called "Luna," chicken tocino with salted egg relish and tomatoes; "Del Pilar," adobo flakes, cream cheese, and pickled onions; and "Quezon," chicken inasal with tomatoes.

There are also various versions of pasta, Truffle Fries, Mozzarella Sticks, Croquettes, Nachos, bistro dishes, theater snacks.

Spotted on opening night were Janine Gutierez (who helped cut the ceremonial ribbon), Robert Sena, Laurice Guillen, Ina Feleo, Mercedes Cabral.

A Lion Dance and Movie Trivia Quiz served as event highlights.

Cinema ’76 is now fully operational, with regular screenings of carefully curated films from a wide range of sources.

Check out Cinema ’76 website for the screening schedule.

MOVIEGOER: Nora survives health issues, stars in new film, writes book

Published February 9, 2023, 8:00 AM

by Nestor Cuartero, MB

Nora Aunor

Reports of Nora Aunor’s failing health took a backseat when she gamely faced media Feb. 4 to announce she was making another screen comeback, her nth.

The superstar and National Artist admitted she had not been feeling well in recent past. She has breathing problems. She gets tired easily. She checks in regularly in hospital.

For a moment, Nora said she had thought that with her condition, she could no longer make another film. She also said she was ready to retire, yet it seems the industry won’t allow her.  

That afternoon at Victorino’s in Quezon City, however, the superstar was pure energy, hale and hearty. Being with right company, the media included, she said, fueled her enthusiasm.

“I’m feeling so much better now as I talk to all of you. Bahala na how I will feel later when all this shall be over,” she made light of her state of health.

So, why did she decide to make another film considering her condition?

Nora said acting is her calling. She’s inspired to do more films when she watches other actors engaging in the craft that she has embraced and mastered through the years. 

She said she couldn’t refuse the offer by QC Councilor Alfred Vargas, who personally came to see her at home to make a pitch. In Alfred’s words, umakyat siya ng ligaw sa superstar for his own Alternative Vision Cinema.

The film’s premise and promise seemed sound. The project immediately appealed to her, she said. And it was to be directed by someone she has known well, Adolfo Alix Jr., who has directed two of her recent films, “Padre de Pamilya” and “Kontrabida.”

Alfred Vargas, Nora Aunor, Gina Alajar and director Adolfo Alix Jr.

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In Pieta, Nora plays mother to Alfred, an ex- convict accused of having murdered his father. Her character is half-blind in her old age. She is also on the threshold of dementia. “Pieta” is Nora’s first movie after having been named National Artist in 2022.

Alfred said Nora is his personal choice for the film, reflecting the sentiment of every other Filipino actor, he said, whose one big dream is to make a film with the superstar.

Nora, on the other hand, found the councilor and former congressman quite humble, easy to talk to. “I found him quite intelligent and understanding. I am happy that being a councilor, he easily understands the plight of other people.” 

Pieta also stars Gina Alajar, Nora’s kumare and former director in the hit GMA series, “Onanay.”

The two best actresses previously acted together in five other films: My Little Brown Girl, Condemned, Bulaklak ng City Jail, Tatlong Ina, Isang Anak, Andrea.

Alfred Vargas, Nora Aunor and Gina Alajar

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In the same Pieta event:

Nora also announced that the first tell-all book about her life will be published this year. Co-written by Adolfo Alix, it is being written in her own words for purposes of authenticity. That’s how Nora likes it told.

“Walang bawal-bawal, lahat pinagkukuwentuhan namin. Basta lahat, galing sa kanya,” said Alix.

Through the book, Nora wants to share her life experiences with the public, especially young people, so they may learn a thing or two on her life lessons.

Alfred is publishing the book, designed to be a series of no-holds barred confessions.

Gina Alajar spoke eloquently about Nora’s humility, a trait that hasn’t diminished through the years and despite her status.

“She’s not the type who will make her presence big on the set, like a diva. If she has something to settle with you, she talks to you privately.”

MOVIEGOER: Landmark deal between ABS-CBN, GMA-7

by Nestor Cuartero

Jodi Sta. Maria (Facebook)

A landmark deal, a first in Philippine TV, is the recent agreement between ABS-CBN and GMA-7 in the production of a new tele-series to combine artists and creative talents from their respective camps.

“Unbreak My Heart” reunites the beloved loveteam between Jodi Santa Maria and Richard Yap, the couple who scored a major daytime, long-running hit out of an ABS-CBN series, Be Careful with My Heart. Joining them are Joshua Garcia and Gabbi Garcia, and other cast members coming from both sides of what used to be a network war.

Dreamscape, represented by its head, Deo Endrinal, is producing the series. 

This recent tie-up between GMA-7 and ABS-CBN speaks well of growing cooperation in our television industry. It can result in improved quality in programming and fresh casting requirements that can eventually raise the bar for excellence, excitement and entertainment among viewers and advertisers alike.

Some might say said collaboration between the two giant networks couldn’t have occurred had not the pandemic happened, or had not ABS-CBN lost its franchise to operate. Be that as it may, what’s important is the end-result such collaboration can bring to the table of our consumers. “Unbreak” isn’t the first collab between the two major networks. Earlier, ABS-CBN assigned airing of Star Cinema movies to GMA. Network also airs some of its programs on TV5 and on its various digital platforms. 

Five months after its theatrical run with not much success, Ngayon Kaya, is now being hailed, with sweet vindication, as the No. 1 Filipino movie on Netflix.

On a Facebook post, producing company T-Rex Entertainment thanked the public “for catapulting the romantic film on top of the universe and in your heart.”

Paulo Avelino and Janine Gutierrez co-star in Ngayon Kaya, directed by Prime Cruz and written by Jen Chuaunsu (the creative pair behind Isa Pa With Feelings and Can We Still Be Friends).

It tells the story of college buddies AM and Harold, an unlikely pair between a shy probinsiyano and a rich city girl who are college buddies-turned-band mates.

Harold had a crush on AM, but he never had the guts to tell her. Even after college, they stayed friends and continued pursuing their music dreams. Harold stifled his feelings for fear of losing her friendship. Eventually, time runs out for Harold when he’s forced to choose stability and work in Canada, leaving AM to wonder what could have been if Harold had stayed.

Ngayon Kaya features songs by Mayonnaise, Typecast, Ang Bandang Shirley.