Megastar Sharon Cuneta all set for pre-Valentine concert

Megastar Sharon Cuneta is leaving no stone unturned in making sure her pre-Valentine concert at the Araneta Coliseum this Sunday is a rousing success.

It's been quite a spell since she has had a concert, so I expect her fans to be looking forward to this Sunday. Naturally, Sharon doesn't want to disappoint them, so she has been rehearsing almost everyday for "My Mega Valentine."

Guests in the show will be Kuh Ledesma, Christian Bautista and Christopher de Leon. Kuh has a special place in Sharon's heart. She admits that Kuh has been a big influence in her music. Boyet, meanwhile, who has been her leading man in so many unforgettable films, has carved a name for himself as a singer after coming out with his own album.

"My Mega Valentine" is produced by Artist House. Louie Ocampo is the musical director and Johnny Manahan, the stage director.

I won't be surprised if the concert plays to a packed coliseum. o0o

Leo Martinez, chairman of the Film Academy of the Philippines, has reacted to the item I wrote in my column in the Pilipino Star Ngayon last week about his criticisms against Vic del Rosario, the presidential consultant on the entertainment industry, regarding the allocation of the earnings from the Metro Manila Film Festival to the academy and other agencies.

Mr. Martinez's reply comes in the form of a letter he sent to President Macapagal-Arroyo. Unfortunately, the letter is too long for me to print in full so I am coming out with excerpts instead.

"Mr. del Rosario has no authority to create at will new recipients to the MMFF, in this case the FDCP (Film Development Council of the Philippines) and the (OMB) Optical Media Board. Worse, he is taking the meager funds of the recipients to give to his recipients of choice which are government offices created by law and with budgets from the General Appropriations Act.

"And beyond legal consideration, Madam President, FDCP and OMB never helped in the operation of the MMFF. The proceeds this year have improved. Yet Mr. Del Rosario would take it away from those who worked hard for it to give to on-lookers. This is not just unethical, it is how a bully works.

"Madam President, we denounce any effort by Mr. del Rosario to manipulate the MMFF sharing scheme to suit his own selfish ends. We, the beneficiaries are amenable to changes, but for the proceeds to be distributed according to what was previously agreed: 40% to MOWELFUND, 30% to FAP and 30% to Motion Picture Anti Film Piracy Council. Should Mr. del Rosario's scheme be implemented, we would rather, Madam President, close shop, or perhaps struggle to survive through our own means without government support no matter how painful and difficult it may be.

"As always, we rely on your Excellency's fair judgment to keep our film industry alive and protect the business and employment of our members from extinction."

The letter was signed by Mr. Martinez (FAP Director-General), Atty. Espiridion Laxa (Chairman), Eddie Romero (Senior Adviser), Wilson Tieng (President, Movie Producer Distributors Association of the Philippines, Robert Arevalo (adviser) and several other organizations under FAP. o0o

I felt sad after reading the letter. Sad because the issue has been blown out of proportion. I think Mr. Del Rosario did not do anything criminal or immoral in recommending that the FDCP and OMB share in the earnings from the filmfest.

I asked a showbiz authority if the FDCP has a right to cut into the 30% share of the FAP. He sees nothing wrong with that arrangement.

And it was not Mr. Del Rosario's decision alone. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita signed the directive, dated January 24, adding the FDCP and OMB to the list of recipients of earnings from the Metro Manila Filmfest.

Why is Mr. Martinez so infuriated not only with Mr. Del Rosario but Jackie Atienza, the FDCP chairman, and Edu Manzano, the OMB chairman, as well?

Instead of pulling together to save Philippine cinema, it seems that some members of the industry are tugging the other way. o0o

Speaking of Edu Manzano, he drove an army tank that crushed several thousand CDs, VCDs and DVDs in Camp Aguinaldo last Friday. The optical discs were confiscated during raids conducted by the OMB from December to January.

About six people were arrested during the raids, including a printing press owner and two people caught taping films entered in the last Metro Manila Film Festival.