'Bakekang' role got Sunshine emotional

Sunshine Dizon cried a bucketful of tears when she learned from Ms. Wilma Galvante, Senior Vice-President for Entertainment TV of GMA 7, that she's playing the coveted role of Bakekang, the newest show on the telebabad block of GMA that will premiere on September 11.

This new series, based upon the widely-followed komiks-novel by Carlo J. Caparas, and which was made into a movie by no less than superstar Nora Aunor, is the latest assignment for Sunshine who was reduced to tears when told she got the title role.

That she's giving life to a role originally done by Nora was a big boost to Sunshine's career. After her exciting and award-winning performance as Pirena in the magical series "Encantadia", Bakekang comes as a new challenge for the talented actress who has earned the trust and confidence of her GMA 7 bosses that she's ripe to be given a role as big and as coveted as Bakekang.

Sunshine attended the press launch of "Bakekang" last Monday dressed up fabulously but she was in prosthetics (she had to be in character), with deformed teeth and all, as she sang "Movie Fan," the Celeste Legaspi hit. After all, Bakekang is herself a movie fan who falls in love with her idol (played by Jay Manalo).

In "Bakekang", the unusual face of an unlikely heroine will emerge to present a riveting story of an ugly woman's rise from a sorry state of ridicule to the pedestal of triumph and coveted fame.

Also in the cast of "Bakekang" are Lovi Poe and Yasmien Kurdi (as Sunshine's two daughters), Manilyn Reynes, Sheryl Cruz, Victor Neri, Gladys Reyes, Cogie Domingo, Julia Clarete, Vangie Labalan, Nadine Samonte, Marky Cielo, Iwa Moto, Dion Ignacio, Tyron Perez, and Arci Muñoz.

Cinemanila accepting entries

The 8th Cinemanila International Film Festival is now accepting entries for the festival's second local digital film competition. Cinemanila runs from November 3 to 15 this year.

According to festival director Tikoy Aguiluz, Cinemanila 2006 will continue to have a strong local counterpart. The festival still follows its objectives of promoting Filipino films to world cinema audiences and world cinema to Filipino audiences and of developing new and independent filmmakers.

Cinemanila will carry on its tradition of screening both Filipino and foreign films that can eventually make significant impact abroad. Once again, local productions will be given more encouragement and focus thus continuing the local digital film competition. Deadline of submission on letter of intent is September 21, while preview tapes of films with English subtitles must be submitted by October 1.

The ten official entries to the filmfest competition will be announced on October 4.

This announcement prompted this reaction from Pete Clemeno ([email protected]) wrote:

Wow! We're part of a winning production in this contest last year. Up to now Cinemanila or City Hall hasn't fully paid the promised cash prize. Then here are they again announcing a competition! The GUTS!!! Then all they do is point to each other where filmmakers are supposed to follow up the prize. Direk Tikoy, any delicadeza? K Brosas' turn to shine

Singer-comedienne K Brosas is on top of the world after winning Best Female Stand-up Comic Act and Best Performance in a Concert Collaboration with Rico J. Puno from the recent Aliw Awards. Ecstatic, K still managed to pull a joke. "Nag-abala pa kayo! I was just here for the free dinner," she said in her acceptance speech.

She got three nominations and took home two. For her award as Best Female Stand-up Comic Act, she bested the likes of Ai Ai de las Alas, Candy Pangilinan, Pokwang and Gladys Guevarra, just to name a few. Her group, K and the Boxers, was also nominated as Best Performance in Bars, Hotels and Restaurants but failed to win the plum. "Had we won that award, masyado naman akong suwerte," says K.

"I think my time has come. Panahon ko naman ngayon but to tell you frankly I wasn't expecting anything. I attended the Aliw Awards because I was invited to present an award," says K who added that her loud shriek filled the ballroom of the Manila Hotel when her name was announced as the winner.

"I came all the way from the back of the ballroom, screaming my way in glee as I walked to the stage," K said jokingly in an interview last Wednesday at the Backroom office of Boy Abunda (her manager).

"My victory seems to tell me na ako pala ang nagdadala ng grupo pagdating sa comedy," said K when asked how she felt in winning the award. "I am really very, very happy with this win. I've always loved performing live."

K has been doing the rounds in the comedy circuit since she was 17. She's been at it for 14 years but there's no letting up in her desire to share her knack for comedy. "I will never give up doing stand-up comedy. Thank God for my gift of timing because as they, in comedy, timing is everything."

K and The Boxers is undergoing a reformat. A member is leaving while another vocalist (singer-comedian Nonoy, a good friend of K from way back) is stepping in to share the mic with her.

"I actually welcome this development because this us how the Boxers was originally conceptualized; that is a group of comics who could all sing," she said.

Apart from her regular stints in "Hokus Pokus" and "Bitoy's Funniest Videos," K will start shooting this month as one of the lead actresses on her first movie titled "Metlog (Metrosexual Jologs)" where she will be paired with Tyron Perez.