GIVEN THE phrase MANILA KINGPIN (also the umbrella title of a film bio na entry to the MMFF last year), using all the letters in jumbled sequence ay makakabuo ka rin ng Tagalog phrase na MALAKIN’ NGIPIN.
After all, Laguna Governor ER Ejercito a.k.a. Jeorge Estregan a.k.a. Jobert Sucaldito’s Alter Ego (or the other way around) was a big tooth imbedded in the gums of last year’s highly successful festival. However, ang malakin’ ngipin ng Manila Kingpin was no match to the fangs of the six other entries, as it only ranked sixth in terms of box-office take.
But if it was any consolation, ER’s entry emerged as the expected runaway of the most number of awards kahit black-and-white pa ang kanyang pelikula, and left its opponents black-and-blue na bugbog-sarado sa kawalan ng mga tinamong parangal.
Given this not so satisfactory slot, nakapagtatakang nagdaos ng victory party ang buong produksiyon. What was there to thank for, eh, mukhang hindi pa nga naka-break even man lang ang pelikula? Ang Segunda Mano ni Kris Aquino na inaasahang ilalampaso ng entry ni ER based on the hype and hyperbole generated by its AdProm department, hayun, pumangalawa sa Enteng ng Ina Mo.
It was an answered prayer for Kris who hoped that her co-venture with Dingdong Dantes would clinch the second slot base sa pamagat. However, as of midweek, malayo pa sa 100 million-peso mark ang kinita ng Segunda Mano as the MMFF draws to its close tomorrow. Last year, Kris’s Dalaw grossed more than P120 million.
Ang inaabangan ng press ay ang pangako ng aktres na kapag sumampa ng P150 M ang Segunda Mano, lahat ng mga ineendorso niyang produkto—from seasoning to shampoo to powdered milk to (take note) home appliance—ay ipamamahagi niyang lahat sa mga reporter who attended the presscon of her movie last December 12, 2011.
Samantala, kung kami ang opisyal na tagapagsalita ng GMA Films, hindi masayang balita na nasa ikatlong puwesto lang ang Panday 2, a collaborative project with Senator Bong Revilla’s Imus Productions. Mahigit isang taon nga naman ang naging preparasyong ginugol dito, its high production cost notwithstanding.
But in fairness to Bong, he had humbly acknowledged the strength of his competitors bago pa man opisyal na nagbukas ang MMFF, a statement of concession based on honesty.
Expectedly at the festival tailend is Regal Films’ Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, the only family drama na naging madrama rin ang presscon last December 6, 2011 dahil nasaksihan naming ang pagkaimbiyerna ni Mother Lily nang magpulasan ang mga cast member nito led by Maricel Soriano. Hayun, ang dapat sana’y isasabay na Christmas raffle, nauwi sa “waffle”!
ON TWITTER, mas maraming batikos kesa papuri ang inani ni Jinkee Pacquiao bilang pabalat ng isang magasin. Isa sa mga komento ay halatang may tone of sarcasm, comparing Jinkee’s looks with Kristine Hermosa.
A quick look at the photo makes one ask: si Jinkee ba ito? Obviously, ibang-iba ang kanyang itsura, lalung-lalo na noong bago pa lang siya sumailalim sa enhancement. As for the magazine publisher, kung anuman daw ang lalong iginanda ng maybahay ni Manny Pacquiao, hindi ‘yon dumaan sa Photoshop.
Paglalarawan tuloy ng isang creative team which takes fancy at Jinkee’s aura: half-human, half-science.
Pepperoni
by Ronnie Carrasco III
