IF you haven’t heard much of Dolphy and son Eric Quizon, wonder not. The two are in the United States with a film crew shooting their entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival. The movie is called Nobody, nobody but Juan.
It sounds like the song of a Korean girl group “Nobody, Nobody,” and according to Eric, the song has become the national anthem of the youth.
Originally, and even after a couple of days shooting, the movie was simply called Juan, but the king of Pinoy comedy, after hearing the song by the Wondergirls and learned that everyone seems to be humming or singing it and dancing with the tune, suggested to add the words “nobody, nobody but” in the title.
“That’s how it came to be,” Eric remembers, laughing.
The film features an all-star cast headed by the Comedy King himself, Dolphy, as senior citizen Juan who lives in a nursing home in the United States. The nursing home is managed by a couple played by Eric Quizon and G Toengi. Juan’s funny caregivers are Eugene Domingo and Ricci Chan. Essaying key roles are Gloria Romero, Eddie Garcia, Pokwang, Epy Quizon, Vandolph and Heart Evangelista. In a very important guest role is Wowowee host Willie Revillame who links Juan to his loved ones in the Philippines.
In one of Eric’s trips to the US, he met a friend who suggested making a film inspired by the Oscar Best Picture Slumdog Millionaire, and starring Eric’s dad Dolphy. The actor-director immediately got excited.
“I loved Slumdog Millionaire!” Eric remarks. “I loved the fact that it’s about a character’s affinity to a TV show, Filipinos are also like that. We are rabid followers of TV programs,” he adds.
During a brainstorming session, Eric had no other show in mind to be at the center of the film. “Hands down, it was Wowowee,” says Eric, “I wanted something that was close to the hearts of Pinoys here and abroad.”
As for the title, Eric suggested the name “Juan” to screenwriter Bibeth Orteza who found it apt. Eric believes that the title “Juan” works on many levels, “It does not only refer to the name of the character that my dad plays in the movie. Juan is the most common first name for a Filipino; Juan means ‘everyman’ which is just perfect because my dad is the cinema icon of the average Juan. ‘Juan’ also sounds like ‘one’ meaning number one. My dad is often described as the number one comedian in the land and Wowowee is the number one noontime show.”
Also, Eric says, “We’re happy that our film is part of the MMFF, an event that holds a special place in my career.” Actually, a number of Eric’s major films were made for the MMFF: the historical comedy-drama Markova Comfort Gay, the family epic Mano Po, comedies So Happy Together, Crying Ladies, and Juan Tamad (these last two gave Eric acting trophies).
CMMA for GMA
I feel nostalgic about this CMMA awards. When I was writing the show A Little Night of Music for GMA Network, to borrow Maurice Arcache’s expression”many moons ago,” it was a consistent winner in the Best Musical Category, and also for Best Male and Female Hosts.
Well, television has changed much since we were shut down by the new management, but still, Fides Asensio and John Lesaca continue to be icons in the field of classical and jazz music. We remain friends and we continue to nurture each other’s talents.
So, this year GMA Network’s list of honors is the public affairs program Wish Ko Lang, which was elevated to CMMA’s Hall of Fame after winning in the same category four times.
Hosted by award-winning broadcast journalist Vicky Morales, Wish Ko Lang bagged the Best Public Service Program for the years 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008.
The award-winning I-Witness: GMA Documentaries was chosen as this year’s Best Adult Education/cultural program for its episode “Batang Langoy” hosted by Jay Taruc. The documentary tackled the unforgettable struggle of the Magalumbi island children in Iloilo who have to swim home from school every day.
The longestrunning morning talk show, Sis, hosted by Janice de Belen, Gelli de Belen and Carmina Villaroel, won the Best Talk Show award. The Best Entertainment Program (Special Citation), meanwhile, was bagged by SOP.
Q-11, GMA Network’s sister station, also received recognition: Best Children’s Program for Kids on Q and Best Public Service Program for Reunions.
GMA Network’s radio program Nagmamahal, Manay Gina of dzBB won best Drama Program while radio show Talk to Papa of Barangay LS received a special citation for Best Counseling Program.
Sex and the City returns to HBO
Fresh off the heels of the Asian television premiere of Sex and The City: The Movie on HBO, the beloved HBO Original Series returns this month.
In this iconic Emmy and Golden Globe-winning series, Sarah Jessica Parker stars as Carrie Bradshaw, a New York City journalist whose observations on romance and passion appear in a weekly news column, “Sex and the City.” Finding source material is no problem—all she has to do is look at her own romantic misadventures or lend a sympathetic ear to her lovelorn best friends. There’s Samantha (Kim Catrall), a public relations executive who’s seen and done it all on the single scene; Charlotte (Kristin Davis), a socialite who still believes that love will conquer all; and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), a cynical corporate lawyer who may just be a pushover when it comes to romance.
In a city filled with more than its share of players, predators, losers and creeps, these ladies need all the help they can get in order to find the one thing that eludes them all—a real, satisfying and lasting relationship. Is such a thing possible?
From today 4 at 11 p.m., all six seasons of Sex and the City will play back-to-back on HBO, with two episodes weekly.
Horror
at Eastwood
Two shrill-jerking horror films were shown: the Cinema One Original Yanggaw starring Urian Best Actor Ronnie Lazaro, multi-awarded Tetchie Agbayani and Joel Torre, plus another spook-filled film Shake, Rattle and Roll 2K5 final segment “Lihim ng San Joaquin” starring Tanya Garcia, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Elizabeth Oropesa, Noni Buencamino, Ronnie Lazaro and Pen Medina.
Kapamilya stars and celebrities who braved the night were Megan Young, Joem Bascon, Victor Basa, Dimples Romana, PFF’s Ram Sagad, Mark Abaya, Isabel Roces, Brent Javier and featured film Yanggaw’s cast and crew including director Richard Somes and actors Ronnie Lazaro and Aleera Montalla.
Aside from these two spine-tingling films, three of the hottest Pinoy bands—MYMP, Duster and Sandwich—rendered hair-tickling performances while guests were able to play cool games with the celebrities. Comedians Tuesday Vargas and John Lapus brought the house down with their hosting.
This was part of Cinema One’s 15th anniversary celebration. Free fortune telling and tarot card reading for those who bought issues of select ABS-CBN Publishing magazines was an added feature in the event.
The P10
Film Fiesta
at SM Cinema
Enjoy some of the great film titles with your family and friends for only P10 at the SM Cinema’s P10 Film Fiesta, which is ongoing until Dec. 3.
For only P10, you can enjoy some of the movies—both Hollywood blockbusters and homegrown films—you have missed or want to see again.
These film adventures will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love all over again, and take you on countless adventures and journeys.
SM Cinema’s P10 Film Fiesta will take you to the far away lands of Inkheart to the North Pole with The Golden Compass, to the dance streets of Step Up 2. It will take you on a Journey to the Center of the Earth; make you laugh with The Hottie and the Nottie and Over Her Dead Body; celebrate young love with PS I Love You and My Sassy Girl; and chill out with thrillers like Bangkok Dangerous and Taken.
With an exciting lineup for the season, there will be plenty of reasons to keep coming back to the movies at SM Cinema. Enjoy the fun and excitement of your favorite movies as they return to the big screen at SM Cinema’s P10 Film Fiesta.
The P10 Film Fiesta is ongoing until Dec. 3 at SM Cinemas in SM Megamall, SM City North Edsa, SM City Fairview, SM City Manila, SM City Sta. Mesa, SM City San Lazaro, SM City Marikina, SM Southmall, and the SM Mall of Asia. In the provincial areas, these can be viewed at the cinemas at the SM Supermalls in Pampanga, Clark, Bacoor, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao. For more information on movie schedules, please log on to www.smcinema.com.
Christmas
Station ID
Many are wondering if Christmas will be the same for a nation that has been badly hit by a number of disasters. But the way we face the circumstances would surely give more meaning to Christmas. We heard a lot of stories about the heroic deeds of people trying to save lives, about the generosity that overflowed in giving food and other supplies, about the bayanihan spirit that prevailed in an effort to reach out. Now that those affected are rebuilding their homes and their lives, the ABS-CBN Christmas Station ID (SID) gives importance to the light and spark of hope that emanate from each one of us and most significantly, from Bro Himself during the most trying times.
The Kapamilya stars led by Sarah Geronimo, Piolo Pascual, KC Concepcion, Billy Crawford, Erik Santos, Mark Bautista, Rachelle Ann Go, Yeng Constantino, Jed Madela, Nina, Sitti, Aiza Seguerra, Richard Poon, Duncan Ramos and Pinoy Dream Academy kids perform the Christmas theme based on the tagline “Bro, Ikaw Ang Star ng Pasko.” It is written by ABS-CBN Creative Communication Management (CCM) head Robert Labayen with music composed by Marcus and Amber Davis.
The SID was launched on Nov. 4 after the lighting of Parol ni Bro, an event that ABS-CBN held to officially open the Christmas season. This global parol-lighting ceremony will be held simultaneously in key regional provinces nationwide and select ABS-CBN global territories and will be seen on TV Patrol World. Parol ni Bro is available in different sizes and designs; proceeds of which will go to Sagip Kapamilya.
The Christmas SID was created by ABS-CBN CCM Team headed by Robert Labayen, Johnny de los Santos, Ira Zabat, Danie Sedilla-Cruz, Edsel Misenas, and Kathrina Sanchez. It is directed by Paolo Ramos and Tots Sanchez-Mariscal. Other members are Jimmy Porca, project coordinator; Odyssey Flores, cinematographer; Oliver Paler, post-production head; Angel Diesta, production designer; Rap Dela Rea, editor; Rosalie David, caster, and Jackie Papica, location manager.
Watch out for the ABS-CBN Christmas SID and let us remember that misfortunes will not in any way change the reason why we celebrate Christmas. After all, Jesus Christ or Bro is the real star of the season.
