AMIDST THE corporate ambience, mala-piyesta sa Lipa City, Batangas ang inatenan ng select few na entertainment press sa set ng ginagawang pelikula ni Governor Vilma Santos-Recto.
In what looked like a condo office, tinabingan lang ng kurtina ang area where the press was treated to some of the well-known delicacies ng Batangas: pancit langlang, ginataang tulingan, sweet and spicy pork dish, and biko. All transported all the way from the southern province, kung saan galing pa si Ate Vi en route to her shooting of the still-untitled Star Cinema movie.
More than 10 days na siyang nagsi-shoot for the project helmed by Bb. Joyce Bernal. Kung ang co-actor ni Ate Vi na si Michael de Mesa has worked with the lady director thrice, “First time kong makatrabaho si Direk Joyce. Nagugulat na lang ako, sa isip-isip ko, ‘Ang galing nito, ah!’ Pati mga shots niya, ang gaganda,” puri ni Ate Vi.
In the movie, Ate Vi’s character is one of affluence. Playing her son is Xian Lim. Empleyada naman niya si Angel Locsin. “Kakaiba naman ‘yung role, may paka-bitchy pero may redeeming factor naman,” refusing to tell more about the movie, but hinting that her character is inspired by Meryl Streep in The Devil Loves Prada.
Pero hindi lang ang directorial genius ni Direk Joyce ang kinabiliban ni Ate Vi. Tulad ng alam ng lahat, Angel is her son Luis Manzano’s girlfriend.
“Iba ‘yung approach ni Direk in the sense na wino-workshop niya kami ni ‘Gel separately. ‘Di ba, usually when you meet on the set, besu-beso, tsika-tsika? Hindi niya ‘yon pinagawa sa amin ni ‘Gel, ayaw ni Direk ‘yung maging familiar kami sa isa’t isa. Well, because kino-condition na niya ‘yung psyche namin sa mga heavy scenes na gagawin namin. Same with Xian, we never became familiar with each other kasi nga in the movie, he will appear as Xian nu’ng malaki na siya,” kuwento ni Ate Vi.
This one though is a familiar pabaon for the press from Ate Vi: suman na nakalagay sa maliit na bayong.
ANG HUNTAHANG ‘yon was actually a prelude to what the world is eager to know: tatakbo nga bang Vice President ang Star for All Seasons?
Ate Vi’s curt reply: “No!”
Totoong ang lahat ng mga mayor sa bayan ng Batangas are egging her on, lalo’t her gubernatorial term ends next year. “Sa totoo lang, hindi ko pinangarap. If ever, I would still choose to serve on the local level, sa Congress. Pero national, hindi sumagi sa isip ko. Before I ran for mayor in Lipa City, totoong I asked for a sign (white roses). Sa pagkakataong ito, wala akong hinihiling na senyales,” declared Ate Vi, known for her genuine candor.
At sa puntong ito lalong ipinaunawa ni Ate Vi ang kanyang dahilan, “‘Pag hindi puwede, for example, na pumunta ang Presidente sa isang sakuna o kalamidad, siyempre, ang VP niya ang magre-represent sa kanya. Sa totoo lang, mahirap ang nasa ganu’ng posisyon because you have to make sacrifices. In my case, siyempre, may pamilya ako, asawa’t mga anak. My family is still my top priority.”
Pero may mensahe siya kay DILG Secretary Mar Roxas na pambato ng administrasyon. “Dapat kasi, siya ang pumili kung sino ang magiging VP niya, hindi puwede ‘yung, ‘O, si ganito, si ganyan, puwede ‘yan!’ Because team work ‘yan, eh. Dapat ang magiging Presidente at ang VP niya have a common objective for the people.”
Citing her nearly 18 years in public governance, Ate Vi has these inspiring words na sana’y gayahin din ng maraming pulitiko, “Ako, sa panunungkulan ko, isa lang talaga ang lagi kong sinasabi at dapat masunod: ‘yung para sa tao, ibigay sa tao.”
Having spent time with Ate Vi sa gitna pa mandin ng sumisipol na hangin at nananalasang si Ineng, we waved goodbye to her bitbit ang pabaon niyang suman.
Pepperoni
by Ronnie Carrasco III
