SAVE FOR Vice Ganda, pinaghandaan nina Kris Aquino at Ai-Ai de las Alas ang inaasahan nang pagpapa-raffle nila that highlighted the presscon of their Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry this 2012, ang Sisterakas.
The Comedy Box-Office Queen already had envelopes prepared, which contained between P2,000 and P20,000 bukod pa sa dalawang US$500 all amounting to P200,000. Tinapatan ito ng Queen of All Media who gave away P100,000 worth of SM gift certificates and P100,000 in cash.
It was Vice Ganda’s turn for his pledge. Hindi raw siya nasabihan na magkakaroon ng raffle, kaya hindi niya ‘yon napaghandaan. But Kris announced she had told Vice Ganda about the raffle the night before the event.
Matagal bago nakapagdesisyon si Vice Ganda, hindi naman daw kasi siya kasingyaman nina Kris at Ai Ai. Pero kaagad din siyang kumambyo, babalik naman daw kung anuman that he was willing to part with. Pasasalamat na rin daw ‘yon sa PMPC para sa ibinigay na parangal sa kanya, such recognition erased Vice Ganda’s impression of the general working press whom he thought was averse to him.
Ang ending: isandaang libong piso ang kanyang pinakawalan pagkatapos ng sanrekwang justifications.
Hindi namin inaasahang mag-aambag din ang director nilang si Wenn V. Deramas, but the Box-Office Comedy Director did. Namigay siya ng singkuwenta mil.
GUSTO NA lang naming isipin kung anong artistic merits meron ang Sisterakas that prompted ABS-CBN’s president Charo Santos-Concio to send a text message to Kris after previewing the still-unfinished movie.
Nakakatawa raw ito, at tiyak na magna-number one among all the MMFF entries. Ganu’n din ba ang assessment ng mga tao sa likod ng Sisteraka?
Direk Wenn’s answer was realistic. “Alangan namang ibang pelikula ang ipagdasal kong maging number one?”
Kris’s reply was historical. “In 2010, my movie (Dalaw) ranked third (in gross receipts at the box office), then in 2011, my entry placed second. I know this movie will be top-grosser.”
On the tarpaulin that served as the backdrop, kapansin-pansin ang glaring billing doon ng tatlong major cast members. Vice Ganda’s name is ahead of Kris’s.
Ayon kay Kris, marapat lang daw na pumangalawa siya kay Vice Ganda since to this day, the latter holds the record for having the topgrossing movie (Praybeyt Benjamin) of all time. But to top it all, atonement o pagsisisi na rin daw ‘yon sa kanyang naunang pagba-back out during the initial stage of the project’s conceptualization.
Ikinasama raw ng loob ni Vice Ganda ang kanyang desisyon, even Ai-Ai took offense at Kris’s withdrawal.
Samantala, hindi naiwasang makaladkad ang pangalan ni Nora Aunor who’s touted to be a shoo-in para sa Best Actress award sa Gabi ng Parangal. Kris declined to comment, pero sinagot ni Ai-Ai ang tanong. Aniya, “Kung karapat-dapat namang ibigay ang award kay Ate Guy, eh, ‘di ibigay na lang natin ‘yon sa kanya. Eh, ‘yung acting ko naman dito (sa Sisterakas), hindi naman pang-Best Actress.”
Aside from the pleasant work atmosphere that pervaded the set, resulta rin ‘yon ng pag-aayos nila ni Vice Ganda. Matatandaang nalamatan ang kanilang pagkakaibigan ilang buwan na ang nakakaraan. Truth to tell, during their FEU days ay tropa na ni Ai-Ai ang nakatatandang kapatid ni Vice Ganda, she even met the latter’s family way back.
Sisterakas. Definitely apt for a title para sa tatlong major stars who may not be related by blood, but who—in real life—are connected one way or the other.
Pepperoni
by Ronnie Carrasco III
