TWO SUNDAYS ago, bilang isang manonood ay nadagdagan ang aming pagkamangha sa documentary na iniere ng ABS-CBN surrounding the filming of Ishmael Bernal’s Himala.
Tulad ng alam ng marami, this classic starred no less than Nora Aunor, ito ‘yung panahong her acting was at its rawness, unspoiled by commercial directors who came in later sa kanyang career. Ang kagandahan sa docu na ‘yon, despite Nora’s current network affiliation with TV5 ay hindi ‘yon naging isyu sa ABS-CBN.
Admittedly, dyed-in-the-wool Vilmanian ang inyong lingkod, yet in the name of fairness, hindi sarado ang aming isip sa maraming makabuluhang pelikula ni Ate Guy. Beyond her expressive pair of eyes, Nora spells more than that.
Kilalang laging nasa Metro Manila Film Festival race si Ate Guy since time immemorial. Time was when na ang MMFF theme was all about family planning and birth control, may entry ang “lola” n’yo opposite Christopher de Leon.
Festival after festival, year-in and year-out, MMFF was never without the raging, neck-and-neck competition between Nora and Vilma, Vilma and Nora. This year though, mukhang this early ay nag-concede na sa pagka-Best Actress ang mga makakatunggali ni Nora via her entry El Presidente.
History tells us that El Presidente is inspired by the life of Emilio Aguinaldo, ang kauna-unahang pangulo ng bansa batay sa kanyang naging proklamasyon sa Kawit, Cavite. In the film version, Laguna Governor ER Ejercito breathes life into the character, yes, after reprising he infamous Asiong Salonga role last year.
Although this MMFF entry is ER’s, never to be snubbed is Ate Guy’s imposing participation in the movie, one that will surely merit an acting recognition sa Gabi ng Parangal. Funny though, in real life ay minsan na ring naugnay si Ate Guy sa isang tao who later became the country’s ‘El Presidente’.
So vivid ang eksenang iniiyakan si Ate Guy ng noo’y hindi pa pinuno ng bansa sa harap ng mga kaibigang reporter, professing his love for the Superstar. Da who ang naghahabol sa ganda ni Ate Guy nu’ng mga panahong ‘yon?
May kunek siya kay ER Ejercito… biologically, that is!
CHILD STARS do not deserve to be treated like fighting cocks, after all, aware nga ba ang bagets na ito that there exists a raging competition between them?
Ang tinutukoy namin ay ang child prodigies na sina Jillian Ward at Ryzza Mae Dizon. Physically, magkaibang-magkaiba sila: Tisay si Jillian while Ryzza is brown-complexioned. While the two are seven-year olds—pardon the “veggie” comparison—Jillian is broccoli while Ryzza is kangkong.
Inferior man ang dating ni Ryzza, nakauungos siya kay Jillian in terms of spontaneiety.
Sa nakaraang grand presscon ng Metro Manila Film Festival entry ng GMA Films, Imus Productions at M-Zet Films na Si Agimat, Si Enteng Kabisote At Si Ako (the latter being Judy Ann Santos), between th two child stars ay mas kuwela si Ryzza Mae.
Without script nor instructions, inanyayahan ni Ryzza Mae na panoorin ang kanyang kauna-unahang pelikula. Sey ng batang hitad, “Guests ko po rito sina Senator Bong Revilla, Bossing Vic Sotto at Judy Ann Santos, at marami pa pong iba.”
The press could not contain their sheer laughter.
But let’s give it to Ryzza Mae. Wala pa sa kamalayan ng batang ito na sikat na siya despite her non-artista looks. Nor has the true spirit of Christmas sunk in, dahil ngayon lang mararanasan ni Ryzza Mae na makatikim ng masaganang Pasko sa hapag-kainan ng kanyang pamilya.
Pepperoni
by Ronnie Carrasco III
