Felix Roco plays gay call center agent in indie film

Felix Roco, the other half of the Roco twins (the other is Dominic Roco, who is in the GMA shows “Katipunan” and “Magkano Ba Ang Pag-ibig?”), is playing a gay role in the indie film “Shift” directed by Siege Ledesma, an entry in the Cinema One Originals Currents Section.  It’s his first time to play a gay role and he said he almost backed out of the project upon knowing that he will have a kissing scene with a fellow male actor.

“I am not playing a flamboyant gay. I didn’t attack my role that way. But I wanted to do something different. I didn’t want to be stuck that’s why accepted the role,” said Felix during the presscon of Cinema One Originals held Tuesday at the 9501 Restaurant of the ABS-CBN compound.

Also in the movie is singer Yeng Constantino who is doing her first indie film. “For a first timer, Yeng is good in her role,” added Felix who’s last Cinema One Originals entry was “UPCAT” shown several years ago.

“Shift” goes into the popular culture behind call centers in the country. The film centers on the career of an idealistic, tomboyish slacker who is employed and mentored by a pragmatic, gay senior agent. From their work together, an unconventional relationship blossoms, challenging their most personal convictions. “Shift” also stars Alex Medina and Matt Valena.

The 9th Cinema One Originals Festival reels off on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at Trinoma Cinema with the restored Eddie Romero movie “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon” as the opening film. The festival officially starts on Monday, Nov.11 and runs until the 19th at Glorietta, Trinoma and Robinson’s Galleria with 15 full-length feature films to be screened.

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The long wait is finally over! A pre-holiday treat is set to open tomorrow for all the young and adventurous, the romanticists and idealists and those who simply want to enjoy a beautiful love story between a 12-year-old gay lad who falls in love with a young, handsome police officer.

Bit by Bit Company, in cooperation with the PETA Theater Center and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, proudly brings to the stage “Maxie The Musicale: Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” with book and lyrics by Nicolas B. Pichay, music by William Elvin Manzano, JJ Pimpinio, and Janine Santos, and direction and choreography by Dexter M. Santos.

Bagging the plum lead role of Maxie is Jayvhot Galang, a newbie in the theater industry.

Giving Jayvhot their full support as co-actors are well-respected names in the theater industry namely: Roeder Camañag and Nazer Salcedo (alternating as Paco Oliveros), Jojo Riguerra (Victor Perez), Al Gatmaitan and OJ Mariano (alternating as Boy Oliveros), and Jay Gonzaga (Bogs Oliveros).

The other members of the cast are Aaron Ching (Nar), Nomer Limatog, Jr. (Leslie), Teetin Villanueva (Monique), Eo De Guzman and Merdin Mojica (alternating as Peter), and Greg de Leon (Chief Dominguez).

The ensemble is composed of Ruth Alferez, John Paul Basco, Jules Dela Paz, Irene Delarmente, Elliot Eustacio, Karyl Factora, Jim Andrew Ferrer, Francelle Fetalvero, Al Bernard Garcia, Jeffrey Hernandez, Ronah Rostata, and Christian Velarde.

“Maxie The Musicale: Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” shall run from Nov. 9 to December 8, 2013 with shows on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 8 p.m. and matinee shows at 3 p.m.

All performances are at the PETA Theater Center, No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City. This is the second offering of Bit by Bit Company which produced the critically-acclaimed run of  Dulaang UP’s “Orosman at Zafira” at the SM Mall of Asia Centerstage in February 2011.

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Former president and current Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, actress Lorna Tolentino, celebrity hairstylist Ricky Reyes and talent manager/host Lolit Solis were among the prominent Filipinos who have undergone Organotherapy with Fresh Cells.

The German internist and general practitioner whose family pioneered in Organotherapy with Fresh Cells for more than 60 years ago is in Manila to share how this groundbreaking treatment can revitalize people’s health and delay aging.

According to Dr. Robert Janson-Mueller, whose family pioneered in this procedure, Organotherapy with Fresh Cells slows down biological aging and enables patients to maintain good health and quality of life. Depending on the patient’s condition, the effects of treatment can last between six months to several years.

Janson-Mueller says Organotherapy with Fresh Cells can help people with cardiovascular disease, chronic lung and kidney disorders, chronic liver disease, degenerative disorders of the joints and spine, rheumatism, migraine, decrease in libido for both male and female, among other ailments.

“Organotherapy with Fresh Cells is not stem cell therapy,” stresses Janson-Mueller. Unlike stem cell therapy which uses human cells, Organotherapy with Fresh Cells utilizes organs taken from Merino sheep fetuses in the final stage of development. According to Janson-Mueller, Merino sheep cells are very similar to human cells. Fetal cells are preferred to cells from adult animals because they are easier to obtain, sterile and have minimal allergenic properties. The process of preparing the fetal cells is specific for organs, not species.

Lorna Tolentino and Lolit Solis are going back to Germany next year for the next phase of their treatment.