My childhood years belong to an era where watching Filipino movies in the movie houses are something to look forward to. I can still remember how my Father and I would watch local movies at the then-famous Agrix movie house here in Los Banos (the site where Anthony Genuino’s Los Banos Centro Mall is being built). No torrents. No downloads. No pirated dibidis. And if one missed the movies on the theaters, there is always our suking VHS rental houses to the rescue. (Man, I can still remember how to clean the VHS head with a clean bond paper. Ah, the little wonders of those days.)
The movie industry of the nineties is rich with Carlo J. Caparas’ insert-the-name-of-the-place-and-add-the-word-massacre movies, comedy films by Viva Films (Kuwadro De Jack and Pusoy Dos will always be my favorite), the last glorious days of Pinoy action movies, titillating flicks by Seiko Films (oh yeah!), and the thriller/haunted/shocker movies by Regal Films.
Let me focus on the last one - Regal Films. The movie outlet who taught us that haunted refrigerators and toilet bowls (Undin!) do exist; who coined the term “Anak ni Janice” which is synonymous to tiyanak (I wonder how Janice De Belen’s children from John Estrada and Aga Muhlach would react to this.); and who gave us a lesson on Aswang survival (Thank you Manilyn Reynes and Ana Roces).
Regal Films played an important role in shaping the contemporary Philippine cinema, thanks to the efforts of Mother Lily Monteverde. But in my opinion, there is another two-word term synonymous to Regal Films’ success aside from Mother Lily and horror movies.
Lilia Cuntapay.
If there is one person who scared me when I was as a child aside from the creepy kid on the TV commercial of pediafortan and Mr. Shooli (Jun Urbano), that would be the most famous extra of Filipino movies - Lilia Cuntapay. Her long white hair, her toothless scare face, and the way she stares at her victims was enough for me to run to my parents in tears. Or hide under my pillow.
And of course, aside from her roles as white lady, aswang, and mangkukulam in the movies, there is always her appearance on the Halloween specials of Magandang Gabi Bayan. I can still remember her creepy face as a white lady on the Ceres bus haunted stories (where the camera caught a real image of a white lady on a highway somewhere down south).
Lilia Cuntapay. The country’s most famous extra. Even if you are not really into Filipino movies, I know that her face is familiar to you (though I bet that not all of you know her real name, like my favorite Professor in College.). And it is but proper for the movie industry to recognize her talent by making a movie starring her on her very first lead role.
A few weeks ago, the trailer of her movie 6 Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapayspread on the internet. The movie tells the story of “dakilang extra” Lilia Cuntapay through the days leading up to a fictionalized awards night where she is nominated as a Best Supporting Actress for the very first time. The movie is one of the entries of this year’s Cinema One Originals.
Last night, November 13, the awarding ceremony for the said movie festival was held at the RCBC Theater. And the movie bagged six (6) awards including Best Actress for Lilia Cuntapay (other awards are Special Jury Prize, Best Supporting Actress for Geraldine Villamil, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, and Audience Choice Awards).
At last, Lilia’s talent is now being recognized by the industry. I hope this is not the last movie with Lilia Cuntapay. Today’s generation still need to know more of this brilliant, talented, and famous extra. I also hope that this movie be released commercially or if not, be more available for more viewers and movie goers to see.
It’s time for this industry to recognize talented extras (and sidekicks). Who knows? We might see Mang Andres (AKA Bangkay) and Bubble Gang’s Diego Lorico and Myka Flores on their first-ever movie in a starring role in the near future.
The Philippine movie industry needs more talented and creative minds to resurrect. And with the recent emergence of quality independent and mainstream movies, we may be slowly achieving that goal.
And I am sure that Lilia Cuntapay played her part on this movement.
Philippine boxer Nonito Donaire connects with a left to Omar Narvaez of Argentina in the WBC, WBO World Bantamweight Titles bout at Madison Square Garden in New York on October 22, 2011. CHRIS TROTMAN/AFP
‘Boring’ can be spelled as N-A-R-V-A-E-Z
If there is one thing I love about Filipino boxing aside from Filipino heavyweights Pacquiao, Elorde, Velasco, Donaire, and other world-class fighters, it would be the viewers, the ordinary Juan.
An ordinary Juan watching the fight on his humble TV set can turn into an instant boxing analyst. After each fight, one can easily discuss how the fight went through or what a fighter should have done to knock the enemy out. An ordinary Juan does not need to be a Ronnie Nathanielsz, Ed Tolentino, Dyan Castillejo, or a Chino Trinidad to give a well-delivered analysis on the fight. Being a boxing aficionado nation, we are expert on that.
But one does not need to be a huge boxing fan to conclude yesterday’s much-anticipated Donaire-Narvaez fight is nothing but a boring show.
It was so boring I just decided to watch the fight of our Cebuano fighters televised on the rival network. And they proved to be more exciting and action-filled compared to this well-promoted match. So much for the hype.
Donaire is dubbed as an heir-apparent to Manny Pacquiao (though Bob Arum refuted that). Narvaez has a clean record and is undefeated. So I thought it will be an interesting punch fest.
But the challenger Omar Narvaez did a Joshua Clottey by just keeping his defensive stance and throwing an average 24 punches per round (An average bantamweight fighter throws 60 punches per round, according to ESPN’s Michael Woods) much to the disappointment of the Filipino Flash.
And the thousands of boxing fans who watched the fight at the Madison Square Gardenin New York. The crowd went wild in frustration and shouted “This is bullshit! This is bullshit!” and some of them left the theater even after the winner was declared.
Ryan Songolia of the Boxing Writers Asscoiation of America said that Donaire must have felt the pressure to perform an impressive fight having a good record of knockouts from his previous fight. On the other hand, Narvaez came only to survive and knowing that the Filipino Flash may knock him out.
But as in all boxing matches, win or lose, you still have the purse. And Narvaez may have survived the wrath of Donaire but the latter has stained his clean record. And we must still celebrate the victory of our Kababayan. this is another honor for our country.
Congratulations Nonito! See you on your next fight!
And I hope the upcoming Pacquiao-Marquez fight will be a good one and not just for “survival for the purse”.
The heat of the debate on the controversial Reproductive Health Bill has reached its high blood point so I decided to take a break and write something different. This time, focusing on the most important issue this country has ever faced. In fuck (read: fact), this is more important than the RH Bill, the Freedom of Information Bill and Kris Aquino’s love life.
This is about President Noynoy Aquino’s new girl. This is about the bachelor president’s love life.
The President has repeatedly asked the media to leave his personal and unofficial business in private. But because the people want it, they give it. It is in the Pinoy culture to love entertainment and gossipy news items so why not include the highest official in the land? After all, there is not much boundary between Philippine showbiz and politics.
And he is Kristina Bernadette Aquino’s brother.
The latest addition to the women linked to our bachelor president is the teacher Bunny Calica. She was with the President during the reunion concert of 70’s group Hotdog (buti na lang hindi Justin Bieber!).
And like all the women linked to the president before, she has a beautiful face, fair-skinned, and younger than him. I think the last one was the most important category. Well that was just a wild and crazy speculation.
Is she the right one for the President? We don’t know yet. I will only believe if the news will come from the most reliable and trusted spokesperson of the President - her youngest sister Kris.
According to Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang, it was Mar Roxas’ idea to watch the concert. Wow! If that is true, he’s not only the President’s Chief Troubleshooter/ Chief of Staff but also the Chief Happy Happy! Organizer (Joke lang po! Pero puwedeng seryosohin.).
The President’s love life may always get the attention of the media but let us not forget that there are other far more important things in the country. should we blame the media for always broadcasting these things? Partly yes but not wholly.
Personally, I am deeply saddened that the media, especially during these times that the attention is focused on the RH Bill, has lessen their news items on other thins: FOI Bill, Maguindanao Massacre, etc.
There are other important things that we need to face to achieve the promised daang matuwid. Let’s just leave our driver in peace.
Sino ang nagregalo ng Bisikleta kay Noynoy Aquino?
This photo is on the headlines and on the evening news yesterday and last Sunday. If President Barack Obama was photographed jogging around the White House, well, our President has his own way to be fit - by biking.
P-Noy bikes around the Presidential Security Compound in Malacanang Palace Saturday, January 8,2010. The President recieved his bike as a gift for the New Year in Baguio City days after making public, that his new year’s resolution is to be more physically fit. Biking with the President are members of his security.
Let’s lighten things up by this game. Hulaan natin kung sino ba talaga ang nagbigay ng bisikleta kay Pangulong Noynoy Aquino. Tutal, kahit naman mag-request ang Pangulo na tantanan na ang kanyang lovelife, pinapatulan pa rin ng Press at ng mga major networks. Kaya’t papatulan ko na rin. Inggitero ako eh.
Sinabi kahapon sa balita na kaya daw ganado si Presidente na mag-bisikleta ay dahil espesyal sa kanya ang nag-regalo ng bisikletang ito.
Hulaan lamang ang letra nang sa tingin ninyo ay tamang sagot. Game?
A. Shalani Soledad - Ito ang unang Pasko nila ni Presidente Noynoy matapos ang kanilang break-up. Ayon sa mga epal na manghuhula at chismosa, kaya daw nakipag-break si Shalani kay Noy ay dahil hindi healthy ang Pangulo at mahilig pa ring manigarilyo. Kaya siguro nagbigay siya ng bisikleta kay Noy. Pasensya na lang at hindi pa niya kayang magbigay nk kotse katulad ni Willie Revillame.
B. Liz Uy - Ang isang ito ang almost-first-girlfriend-naudlot-pa-basted-kasi ni Noynoy. Ayon sa mga showbiz reporters, she’s now dating Direk Lino Cayetano. Mas guwapo. Mas bata. Mas healthy. Kaya niya siguro binigyan ng bike si Noynoy ay dahil ang kanyang soon-to-be-Sister-in-law na si Pia Cayetano ay isang triathlete. At gusto niyang maging healthy si Noy.
C. Trish Roque - Reporter ng TV-5. Dating child star. Na-link din kay Presidente Noy (Hindi niyo alam ano?). Dating courtside reporter ng UAAP for UP Fighting Maroons. Trip siguro ni Trish na mag-bike kasama ni Presidente sa palibot ng UP Diliman campus.
D. Len Lopez - Stockbroker ng Deutsche Bank. 39 years old. Atenista. Batchmate nina Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, former presidential daughter Luli Arroyo, and tactless presidential sister Kris Aquino. Gusto siguro ng HHWBPSSP - Holding hands while biking pa-sway sway pa.
E. Kris Aquino - Massacre Movie Queen-turned-Horror Movie Queen. Least favorite among the presidential sisters. Walang pagsarhan ang bibig sa kadaldalan. Sala sa init, sala sa lamig. Dahil sa chismis na nakakabaog ang pagbibisikleta - ikaw na ang laging humampas ang balls - gusto niya sigurong mabaog ang Presidente para tuluyan na itong hindi makapag-asawa.
F. Mar Roxas - Double loser sa nagdaang halalan (Natalo na nga as vice President, na-vote out pa as Presidential Candidate ng Liberal Party to give way to Noynoy). Napipisil na Chief Troubleshooter (lintek sa job description!) ng gobyerno ni Noynoy Aquino. Tamang-tama, kapag nasira ang bisikleta, may ito-troubleshoot na siya.
G. Korina Sanchez - Ex-girlfriend ni Noynoy Aquino. Double loser sa “Almost-a-First Lady” Category (Dapat kasi ay si Mar Roxas ang pambato sa pagka-pangulo ng Liberal Party). Sawa na siguro sa pagbibigay ng tsinelas kaya bisikleta naman.
Sino sa tingin niyo ang nagregalo ng bisikleta? O kung wala sa mga choices, sino ang nasa isip niyo? Game?
Note: Descriptions made for humor and exaggeration purposes only.Photo courtesy of the Official Facebook Page of President Noynoy Aquino
Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng taimtim na pagvi-vigil sa harapan ng monitor ng aking laptop ng magulat ako sa sigawan ng kapitbahay. Akala ko may sunog. Akala ko ay may nag-aaway. Akala ko ay may tumama na sa Lotto. Nagtakbuhan ang karamihan. Lahat ay nagulat sa ibinalita.
Nang medyo naintindihan ko na kung ano ang isinisigaw na balita, nagulat ako. Si Jimboy na nakilala noon bilang syota ni Mahal ay lumadlad na bilang Jimgirl.
Noon pa man, nawi-wirduhan na ako kay Jimboy. Bakit kaya niya naging kasintahan si Mahal? Gumigimik lang kaya siya noon? Dahil sikat noon si Mahal? O totoo nga kayang pagmamahalan ang nararamdaman ng dalawa?
At kung hindi ako nagkakamali, na-link din noon si Jimboy kay Madam Auring. Oo, si Madam Auring - ang manghuhulang hindi nawawalan ng asim.
Agad kong iniwanan si laptop at binuksan ang telebisyon sa The Buzz. Nandoon, kaharap ni Tito Boy Abunda, naka-wig at mala-BB Gandanghari, si Jimboy Salazar. Na tawagin na lang daw sa pangalang Jimgirl. Wasak na wasak!
Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko sa pagtawa at sa pagkabigla. Kumbaga sa isang Pokemon, nag-evolve na si Jimboy. Kumbaga sa isang higad, isa na siya ngayong butterfly. Isang beautiful (?) butterfly.
Kung gimik man ang kanyang ginawa o hindi, wala akong pakialam. Buhay niya yun. Kung kinabukasan man ay maging tomboy siya, sino ba naman ako para basagin ang kanyang mga trip sa buhay?
Tamang-tama ang paglantad niya ngayong Halloween. Nang mawala kasi sa ere ang Magandang Gabi Bayan ni Kabayan Noli De Castro, parang wala ng kuwenta ang mga Halloween Specials sa TV.
Hihintayin ko na lang bukas makalawa ang balitang tomboy na si Madam Auring. O kaya si Mystica. O kaya si Mahal.
Kung may isa mang salita akong gagamitin upang ilarawan ang isa sa aking mga idolo at tinitingalang tao sa industriya, iyan na siguro iyon. Wala na sigurong mas akma pang salita upang ilarawan ko si Joey de Leon.
Bata pa lang ako, tuwang-tuwa na ako kapag nanonood ng mga programa ni Joey de Leon. Ibang klase ang kanyang istilo ng pagpapatawa. May pinaghuhugutan. May talino. Isa nga kasing henyo.
Hanggang ngayon, sinusubaybayan ko pa rin ang mga palabas ni Sir Joey sa telebisyon. Pauloy pa rin akong nagbabasa ng kanyang lingguhang artikulo sa Philippine Star. Patuloy pa ring pinapakinggan ang mga awiting kanyang nilikha. At hangga’t patuloy na ibinabahagi ni Sir Joey ang kanyang talento, hindi ako magsasawang sumubaybay sa kanya.
Wala akong pakialam kung hindi mo siya gusto. Wala akong pakialam kung sa tingin mo ay mas magaling si Willie Revillame sa kanya (pero mukhang “peace be with you” na sila dahil magksama na sila sa Kapatid Network). Wala akong pakialam kung hindi ka natatawa sa kanyang mga birada. Wala akong pakialam kung kinasusuklaman mo siya. May kalayaan kang pumili katulad ng kalayaan kong tingalain at hangaan ang isang Joey de Leon.
Maraming salamat Sir Joey sa ilang taong pagpapaligaya. Nawa ay ipagpatuloy mo ang pagbibigay sa amin ng saya. Mananatili akong tagahanga. Maligayang kaarawan! Padayon!
…sa bigoteng-bigote pa lang, hinding-hindi mo matatawag na santo si Rico J. Puno. Alam kong kilabot siya ng mga tsiks nung ’70s (pero si Hajji daw talaga mismo ang binabato ng panty), pero ngayon nakakakilabot lang, period. Kulubot na ang mukha, mukhang naka-wig pa ‘ata, at may tiyan na resulta ng maraming serbesa. Hindi rin siya larawan ng kawalang-malay: in fact, ang palayaw sa kanya ay Haring Bastos. Walang preno ang bunganga niya pag nag-green joke. Minsan, sa gitna ng rendition niya ng “El Bimbo,” may tinuro siyang babae at humirit, “Anlaki ng suso nito o.” Meron din siyang malalaswang knock-knock joke: Parachute. “Darling, dito ka pumuwesto (gestures doggy-style, gyrates obscenely) para shoot.” Or ito: “Alam mo ba yung ibig sabihin ng ‘PLDT?’ Pekpek ligo. Dating titi.” Kung hindi ka naniniwala na may Diyos, siguro pag nakinig kang mabuti sa mga kanta ni Rico J. Puno, baka bigla kang mapa-simba…
Naaalibadbaran ako kay DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno. Mabuti na lamang at hindi lang siya ang nag-iisang Rico na may Puno na apelyido. Nandiyan ang kilabot, ang macho guwapito, si Rico J. Puno.
Hindi naman kaila sa atin na mayroong imaheng bastos si Manong Rico. Pero nandoon pa rin ang kanyang imahe na kinagigiliwan, talentong hinahangaan, at musikang pinakikinggan ng paulit-ulit makalipas man ang maraming panahon.
Sa pagho-host niya ng Pilipinas Win na Win, mas makikilala ng bagong henerasyon ang noo’y kilabot ng mga kababaihan. Pero inaamin kong maka-Eat Bulaga ako. Meron pa kasing henyo na hinahangaan ko doon sa kabila, si Joey de Leon.
Pero kung ano man, o kung sino man ang iyong hangaan, pasalamat na rin na mayroong isang Rico J. Puno sa industriya. Dutdutin ang larawan upang mas makilala si Enrico De Jesus Puno sa panulat ni Lourd de Veyra.
I was browsing the news feed on Facebook when I saw the status of @sexysince1990 stating that Justin Bieber will be on CSI. And I was like “baby, baby, baby..what?!” So I searched the net for an article and I found this one:
The 16-year-old musician plays Jason, a troubled teen who is faced with a terrible decision regarding his only brother—a decision that leads him into an explosive confrontation with the CSIs. It is the beginning of an emotional story that will conclude later in the season.
I am not really a fan of the said series. I am more of a “SOCO Guy” and an avid fan of one-of-the-best-reporter-on-local-television-everrr Gus Abelgas.
Who knows? Maybe this acting stint of Justin Bieber on CSI may be the start for him for a career shift or a training ground for him for his future engagement on Glee.
Or not. I know there are Gleeks who will be pissed with that.
Let’s just wait and see if he will squeak like a baby on CSI. ;)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation will premiere THIS Thursday, September 23 @ 9PM ET/PT on CBS.
This is a personal blog where rants, raves, and everything in between is written and posted.
About the Blogger: His name is Juan, a frustrated writer who hails from a sauna town at the foot of Mount Makiling. He spends his time juggling a volunteer work and being a superhero who is dreaming and trying to make a difference, one post at a time.
For correspondence, please email me at juanrepublica@gmail.com
