IN celebration of De la Salle University’s 100 years, the La Sallian community recently premiered a moving film about basic goodness and the surprising results when people practice random acts of kindness. Written and directed by Doy del Mundo, the film is Paglipad ng Anghel (Flight of an Angel) and it stars two-time Urian Best Actor Sid Lucero.

The screenplay is inspired by a true-to-life account of the late Manny Pichel, the former entertainment editor of Malaya and a founding member of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. As related by del Mundo, Pichel encountered an emaciated beggar one rainy night, and he was so moved by the sight that Pichel decided to carry the beggar, hailed a calesa and brought the old man to a center run by the Sisters of Mother Teresa, which houses the sick and the elderly.

“Pichel was frail himself, so he must have exerted a lot of effort,” del Mundo volunteered, adding, “I was so moved by that story, so I decided to write something based on that.”

Del Mundo wrote the screenplay in 1997, with the original title Ang Lalaking Tinubuan ng Pakpak (The Man Who Grew Wings), and 13 years later, the dream film was finally realized when De la Salle gave him P2 million to fund the project. The project aims to raise funds for the One La Salle Scholarship Fund, and will be shown in 14 La Sallian institutions in the country. “I was very glad that we got Sid to play the lead role. I believe that he is one of the best young actors we have today,” said del Mundo.

For his part, Lucero also feels that the project came as a blessing.  “I am not even a graduate of La Salle, but they entrusted me with this wonderful role. The film taught me a lot of basic but profound lessons.”

“I really believe in the core message of the film,” Lucero continued. “Real charity work need not be advertised. In this business, we see a lot of personalities documenting their charity work, inviting the media to cover their charity visits. I find it really disturbing. They do something nice and good, and they want everyone to know it? That’s just not right.” It took Lucero and his coactors three weeks to shoot the film. Most of the actors have  experienced  the La Sallian education: Joel Torre, Christian Vasquez, LJ Moreno, Jeffrey Quizon and Stephanie Henares. Thespians like Cherry Pie Picache and Ricky Davao also took time off from their busy schedules to act for del Mundo.

Angelo Ilagan is ready to soar

AT the premiere of Paglipad ng Anghel, we saw Angelo Ilagan, the long-lost promising actor who impressed film critics when he debuted in the Emmanuel de la Cruz film Sarungbanggi in 2006. The film gave Jaclyn Jose an Urian Best Actress trophy and Ilagan a Breakthrough Performance plum, aside from various acting nominations.

We had dinner with Ilagan, talent manager and good friend Ed Instrella, and young indie actor Jess Mendoza after the screening and got the chance to catch up with Ilagan. Now 21, Ilagan looks leaner in his five-foot-nine frame, the boyish charm still much evident, although his eyes reflects a certain sadness.  We immediately remembered the article of the late University of the Philippines professor Johven Velasco in his own book, describing Ilagan as a “fractured angel.”

We didn’t delve much into the details of the last five years, even if Ilagan volunteered romantic relationships gone wrong and the challenges that beset his family. “I experienced so much in those five years, but I think I have become a much stronger person. I now realize the things that truly matter, and I have learned to love myself more,” he told us.

After Sarungbanggi, Ilagan had a few experiences on television, the most memorable perhaps was his stint in the daily drama, Mga Anghel na Walang Langit on ABS-CBN.

“I would love to work again on television. The way they do it now is like the way HBO does movies for TV—the narrative is more fast-paced, the texture is more glossy, and the best actors are all on TV now.  I think TV work will get me back on the right track.”

Ilagan is bent on making a comeback,  “I hope the doors will open and lead me to my original goal of becoming a good actor. I know that acting is where I can be really good at, and this career is something that I can do for a long, long time. I just hope that I will be given a second chance to prove myself and my worth as an actor.  I really, really dream of making it in the acting business.”

From what we saw, his wings are no longer fractured; maybe clipped at the moment, but definitely not fractured. Once fully grown, Ilagan will be able to fly again and soar higher than he ever did.

Angelica denies award-buying slam

IN the upcoming Star Awards for Movies of the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC), Angelica Panganiban is nominated as best actress for her wonderful performance in the comedy Here Comes the Bride.  She is nominated alongside Zsa Zsa Padilla, Dawn Zulueta, Ai Ai de las Alas and Bea Alonzo.

A few days ago, talk circulated that Panganiban is trying to assure herself another win (after winning at the Golden Screen), with allegations that she has distributed gift checks to certain members of the PMPC.  She vehemently denied these.

“I am so amused. I admit that I gifted a certain writer with gift checks because I was told that it was the writer’s birthday and when I bumped into the writer at an event, he was with a group of other writers. So I gave more gift checks since there were other writers with the birthday celebrant. It’s as simple as that. I did not and will not buy awards. It’s just not me, and it’s so cheap.”

Here Comes the Bride is a proof that she has matured as an actress and become a really reliable one. Her win at the Golden Screen, a credible award-giving body, is a well-deserved victory.

Panganiban says she does not really care if she wins the Star trophy or not. “Awards are bonuses for actors. If we believe that we have done our best, and people really liked our performance and our films, then that is enough. Awards are a matter of judgment, taste and preference. And receiving an award is sweetest if it is freely given and received.”