What makes 'Enteng Kabisote' click… again and again

When actor-host Vic Sotto was asked what makes the "Enteng Kabisote" series click, he says it's the good story that makes the film appealing to the viewers. Even with the TV series "Okay Ka Fairy Ko," the forerunner of the "Enteng Kabisote" movies, it was the good story that carried it through a decade of airtime.

If the movie "Enteng Kabisote 3: The Legend Goes On and On and On" becomes the box-office champion of the forthcoming Metro Manila Film Festival which starts on Christmas Day, there's a strong possibility that a part four will be in the offing in the festival next year.

When Vic Sotto was asked what makes the "Enteng Kabisote" series click, he says it's the good story that makes the film appealing to the viewers. Even with the TV series "Okay Ka Fairy Ko," the forerunner of the "Enteng Kabisote" movies, it was the good story that carried it through. The TV series ran for 10 years, no mean feat, considering how fickle the taste of the TV viewers, same with the audience that watch movies.

"Whenever we plan to do a story for 'Enteng Kabisote,' we already have the future in mind. What if we plan to do a sequel? But everything starts with a good story and a good script," said Bosing Vic, the lead actor of the successful film series that has been lording it over at the box-office of the December filmfest for the last three years.

"We make sure that the story is different, including the side stories involving the other characters. Even the villains have to be different. Same with the special effects. Besides, we make sure that what we plan to do is workable whether it be in terms of story, villains or special effects. Even the comic situations have to be different. Pre-production work alone for the 'Enteng Kabisote' takes around seven months. We lay down first everything so that when we start filming, it's all systems go because we've already prepared all that we needed," says Vic.

"But we make sure that the fun and entertainment is there. Of the three EK movies that we did, this version is the funniest," added Vic.

According to Director Tony Y. Reyes, it's a big challenge for OctoArts Films and M-Zet Productions to come up with a good story that is entirely different from previous 'Enteng Kabisote' movies they've done. "Our objective is for us to surpass whatever it is that we've done in our last 'Enteng Kabisote' film," he said. 'Inang Yaya' going strong on its 2nd week

Mr. Tony Gloria, the big boss of Unitel Pictures, is very pleased with the box-office results of "Inang Yaya," which is still going strong on its second week. Aside from being a critical success, "Inang Yaya" also did very well at the box-office and is being talked about as a potential awards winner in next year's awards derbies, with Maricel Soriano being touted as the actress to beat with her fine performance.

Kudos also to the two directors, Pablo Biglang-Awa and Veronica Velasco, with a special mention to Roni for her beautiful script.

The "Inang Yaya" team had a thanksgiving party where they were congratulated by Mr. Gloria for a job well done. Incidentally, "Inang Yaya" has already been subtitled and will be shown abroad. We're not yet sure if it would be joining international film festivals (but we believe it should). Unico Pictures, the partner of Unitel Pictures, will handle the international screenings of "Inang Yaya" and the possibility of it being marketed and shown in film festivals.

To those who still haven't seen "Inang Yaya," do see it and marvel at the beauty of this simple film that would definitely touch your hearts and make you cry.

Asian TV awards winners

We are not sure if these are the complete set of winners in the recently concluded Asian TV Awards but we'd like to share it with the readers of The FREEMAN.

For the Best Entertainment Presenter, Megastar Sharon Cuneta was highly commended for her talk show "Sharon" on ABS-CBN.

For the Best Current Affairs Program, the program "Juvenile Injustice" produced by ABS-CBN was named runner-up while the show XXX: eXplosibong eXklusibong eXpose (Explosive Exclusive Expose) was highly commended.

For Best Comedy Performance by an Actor, it's Michael V for Bubble Gang who took the honors for GMA 7. Getting highly commended was another GMA 7 artist, Keempee de Leon who was nominated for Bahay Mo Ba 'To? (Is This Your House?).

Proclaimed runner-up for Best Comedy Program is Bubble Gang, also from GMA 7, the longest-running gag show on Philippine television.

Angel Locsin jealous of Anne Curtis, Oyo's ex

"Mano Po 5" star Angel Locsin admits that among the past girlfriends of Oyo Sotto, the one whom she really got jealous with was Anne Curtis. She said she was really wondering how come Anne and Oyo remain close with each other even if they've parted ways.

At the presscon of "Enteng Kabisote 3," Oyo agreed with Angel's statement. "Yes, Angel did ask me why Anne and I seem still so close to each other even if we're no longer on. I told Angel that Anne and I remained friends even if we broken up, since I consider her (Anne) among my closest friends in the business. Our friendship is still there," he said.

Oyo added that he can't just drop Anne as a friend. "I also explained to Angel that I am not doing anything wrong and she should trust me. Even if she would leave Anne and me together in one room, or even if we go out together, I won't do anything with Anne that would compromise my relationship with Angel. But I haven't gone out with Anne since we broke up. The last time I saw her was when she went to the opening of my sister's restaurant."

In fairness to Angel, she befriended all the past girlfriends of Oyo, except for one, Nadine Samonte who, up to this day, is consistent in saying she didn't go steady with Oyo.

"Ayoko naman ng may kaaway, maging lalaki man o babae. Ayoko naman na maging masamang tao pero I try to be nice to Nadine kahit wala na kami," said Oyo. He recalls that one time he and Nadine saw each other in a GMA 7 event held at the Aliw Theater in the CCP Complex but the girl snubbed him. As far as Oyo is concerned, that issue involving him and Nadine is an old hat - already a thing of the past. Besides, when he and Angel became a pair, he and Nadine were no longer together.

But the thing is Nadine is making it appear that she and Oyo never became a pair, thus prompting Oyo to react, "So parang nagsinungaling ako nang umamin ako na naging kami." But that's already water under the bridge and if Nadine said the issue is over then it's over. Besides, Oyo's not mad at Nadine, and he is very sure of that.