THERE are three horror films in the annual Metro Manila Film Festival, and two are being talked about. The first is Chito Roño’s Feng Shui sequel and the other one is Erik Matti’s Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles. Both the lead actors are also excited about their respective movies.
Coco Martin told us that it’s his first time to work with Kris Aquino, who starred in the original Feng Shui movie, which came out 10 years ago. For his part, Dingdong Dantes is having butterflies in his stomach, since he is both lead actor and producer of Kubot.
We learned from Coco that he and his coactors shot additional scenes for the film. “We wanted to make sure not to leave any stone unturned. Gusto lang namin na mas mapaganda ang movie kaya kahit malapit na ang Pasko, nag additional shoot pa kami ng four days.”
It was perfect timing that Coco is not working on any TV drama at the moment.
“I need to focus and concentrate on the movie. Kailangan talaga maganda, at hindi ko pwede ma-disappoint ang mga nagtitiwala sa akin.”
Dingdong is aware that this period is also the last stretch of preparations for his grand December 30 wedding with longtime girlfriend Marian Rivera. “I’m just trying to take everything a day at a time. With the Christmas rush and monstrous traffic we are encountering every day, it is almost impossible not to get stressed. But I just chill and do whatever I can. I have to promote Kubot and also prepare for my big day, so it’s shuttling from one meeting to another, but I guess I’m enjoying it and excited about how things turn out.”
He added, “We spent around P80 million on the production alone and, as businessmen, we want to recoup our investment—and, at the same time, take pride in knowing that the audience will be happy after watching our movie.”
Both Coco and Dingdong are not expecting to win the best-actor award. “Kumita lang ang movie namin at mapasaya ang manonood ngayong Pasko, malaking blessing na,” Coco shared.
Dingdong, who has won the Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actor plum twice in the recent past, said, “Whoever is destined to win, will win. And it’s always a matter of taste and preference of those who will make up the jury.”
Filipino produces Libera Christmas CD
Not many know that a Filipino is behind the new CD of the internationally famous all-boys choir Libera.
Former Finance Secretary Roberto “Bobby”de Ocampo, now the chairman and CEO of Philippine Veterans Bank, is one of the producers of Libera’s Christmas album, titled Christmas in Ireland. De Ocampo was also the associate producer on at least two more Libera albums, and he was responsible for bringing Libera to the Philippines for concerts, the last one we witnessed in 2013.
Libera recently released the live recording of the Christmas program concert it did at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh, Ireland. Libera’s timeless Christmas repertoire consists of six tracks never previously recorded by the choir, with new arrangements of 14 traditional carols.
Libera was formed in 1999 by composer and conductor Robert Prizeman and named after the group’s signature song based on the “Libera me” movement that concludes Verdi’s “Requiem”. The boys who make up Libera, all between 7 and 16 years old, are from diverse backgrounds and attend schools in South London and other parts of the United Kingdom.
De Ocampo shared that there are already plans to bring Libera back to the Philippines. “For sure, next year the boys will be back. We are looking into special performances in Manila and Cebu. And, hopefully, they will have time to spend a few days in some of our nice beaches. For now, this new Christmas album is Libera’s gift to the Filipino music lovers who have warmly received them every time they are in the country to share their gift of voice.”
Breakthrough Bid
For her debut feature film Mulat, Maria Diane Ventura took on three roles: executive producer, screenwriter and director.
One of the six entries in the New Wave section of the Metro Manila Film Festival, Ventura said Mulat was inspired by a random conversation she had with a friend about the concepts of consciousness and perception. “It is a complex love story told on different levels. Mulat explores people who bring with them the excess emotional baggage of the past into their present relationships.”
The filmmaker added, “Relationships have always fascinated me. Everyone wants to pursue happiness, and loving someone is one common source of our happiness, whether it is derived from our decisions or it happens at random.”
Mulat stars Jake Cuenca and Ryan Eigenmann, and features the big-screen debut of Loren Burgos. n