US producers, artists give Jose Mari Chan songs fresh twist

Plus: Vic Sotto’s latest comedy film produced by Star Cinema

Sexy Cristine Reyes is playing the female lead in the Topel Lee film titled “Tumbok” opposite Carlo Aquino. No, it’s not a sexy film as the title seems to suggest but it’s a horror flick about the belief in Feng Shui that if your house or dwelling place is located in a T-junction, bad omen would often occur.

This is the first lead of Cristine in a horror film. She liked the story of “Tumbok” and she considers it unique. “It’s not something that you’ve seen before in a Pinoy horror film,” said the sexy star. “Besides, it’s guaranteed to give you a big scare. Di ba pag nanonood ka ng horror film gusto mong matakot? Dito sure na matatakot ka.”

Cristine said she had a great time bonding with Carlo since they play a married couple in the film. They would often joke around the set, even until wee hours of the morning as they shot in an abandoned building in Manila that added into the scare factor of the film.

Did her boyfriend Rayver Cruz visit her on the set? “Yes, he did come once. But hindi naman niya ako pinagbawalan sa eksena namin dalawa ni Carlo. Hindi naman po ganoon si Rayver. He understands na trabaho lang ito at wala naman siyang pagbabawal na ginawa,” she added. “I do have an intimate scene with Carlo but it’s not something that should cause a fight between me and Rayver. It’s nice to know that Rayver trusts me and he understands that what I am doing is part of my job as an actress.”

In the movie, Carlo inherited a condo from his dad and when they moved in, it was then Cristine started experiencing unusual occurrences that made her believe that the condo is haunted. Cristine said she believes in “tumbok” because she knows of someone who experienced supernatural things because they lived in a house that is located in a T-junction.

Written by Aloy Adlawan and Keiko Aquino, also in the cast of “Tumbok” are Ryan Eigenmann and LJ Moreno. The movie is set for release on May 4 at theaters nationwide.

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Multi-awarded singer-composer and Diamond Record awardee Jose Mari Chan added another feather to his cap. His compositions are featured in an album titled The Manhattan Connection which was produced by one of the members of the famed American group The Manhattan Transfer and will be distributed in branches of Starbucks Coffee nationwide.

At the press launch of the said album held the other day at the Starbucks branch in Tomas Morato, Quezon City, the ageless composer-singer said it’s a big honor for him that his songs were chosen by Ms. Janis Siegel of the American vocal music group The Manhattan Transfer and was made in a full-length album titled “The Manhattan Connection: The Songs of Jose Mari Chan.”

What came as a pleasant surprise to him is that Jose Mari didn’t have any idea as to what songs would be chosen to be part of the album. Besides, when he met Ms. Siegel some four years ago, the idea was just to record a Jose Mari Chan song, hopefully, for The Manhattan Transfer. He gave Ms. Siegel some of his CDs so she can have an idea as to what kind of songs he has had composed. It was Ms. Siegel who took it upon herself to choose what songs to include in the album that is now available in various Starbucks branches and is produced by Universal Records.

“When I heard the songs, I was pleasantly surprised because they gave each song a different twist and a different touch. It’s like seeing your son or daughter coming home after finishing a course in a graduate school,” he said.

While some of his more popular compositions like Beautiful Girl or Christmas in Our Hearts, even Refrain, didn’t make it to the compilation, Jose Mari is still very much flattered because the record producers took pains to make each song sound unique and interesting.

 Initially, the album would only be released in the Philippines but Joe is hopeful that the album might also be released in the United States. And since the album will be carried in Starbucks branches nationwide then we might see the famed singer-composer dropping by in any of the branches of Starbucks, not just to have coffee, but to sign autographs for the coffee lovers who will get a copy of The Manhattan Connection: The Songs of Jose Mari Chan.

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At the recent press conference for the Star Cinema film “Pak Pak My Dr. Kwak,” Vic Sotto was asked why he always has Tony Y. Reyes as director for his film projects, especially his film festival entries. His new film from Star Cinema, which features Bea Alonzo as co-star for the very first time, also has Direk Tony at the helm. Does that mean if you get Vic as your actor for a film project, it follows that you ought to get Tony Y. Reyes as your director as well? Is it a package deal?

“If the boat is running smoothly, why rock the boat? I’ve worked with Direk Tony and our partnership had been successful if you care to look at our box-office records. Most, if not all, of our projects are box-office hits. Besides, I can see that direk Tony doesn’t sit on his laurels. He doesn’t stop in thinking of ways on how we could improve our projects together,” said the lead actor of “Pak Pak My Dr. Kwak.”

“Kabisadong-kabisado na namin ang isa’t-isa. Magtinginan lang kami ay agad kaming nagkakaintindihan kung paano namin gusto tumakbo ang isang eksena sa pelikula. Saka nakakadali ng trabaho kapag gamay mo na ang kasama mo,” Vic added.

And even if they are working with a new group of stars that are Kapamilya—like Bea Alonzo, Pokwang, plus child stars Xyriel Manabat and Zaijan Jaranilla—their work still ran without a hitch. It was a fun time on the set.

“Pak Pak My Dr. Kwak” is opening on theaters nationwide on April 23, Black Saturday.