Why I got hooked on Mula Sa Puso - DIRECT LINE by Boy Abunda

I’m perhaps one of the last fans to see Mula Sa Puso, the movie. When it was a soap opera on TV, I didn’t see a single episode of it. While people would make references to it during light conversations, I would pretend to have seen it. After all, soap operas follow one story line. Good men are pilloried ’til thy kingdom come by natural and man-made catastrophes. But in the end, they win. They get to hit the evil one straight in the face with a full knock out punch. This is exactly how Via (Claudine Barretto) hit her Aunt Celina (Princess Punzalan) in the final hostage scene that ended with Celina burning straight to hell inside her car that naturally had to explode. Otherwise the scene wouldn’t have been as heart - rending.

I had no intention of watching Mula Sa Puso, the movie. But last Monday, at Pinoy Blockbuster, I did. In the beginning, I was switching channels – from Pinoy Blockbuster to Lakbay TV to ABS-CBN News Channel to National Geographic and back to Pinoy Blockbuster. But as soon as Via celebrated her debut – I was glued to Mula Sa Puso. Never mind if the debut scene was so mundane – debut parties are actually mundane. If I were to turn 18 these days, I would attend a protest rally – where I can come out to society as a ferocious, principled human being. OK, if you want to have your waltz, bring along your dad, friends, a cassette or CD player and dance in the streets. You can talk to 18 rallyists for the 18 roses. These guys who go to rallies are actually cool. Food stalls are everywhere during rallies. So you can just treat everyone to sago and gulaman and banana cue. That could be one hell of a debut.

Anyway, back to Mula Sa Puso, the movie, Gabriel (Rico Yan) and his younger brother save Via from drowning – part of the evil design of Auntie Celina, sister of Via’s dad, Don Fernando (Juan Rodrigo). Auntie Celina wants to steal all the wealth of her brother, because she and her mother were maltreated by Fernando’s mother. And Via is a steel roadblock to her evil design. And then Via falls in love with Gabriel, but Gabriel is poor. He is an adopted child of Magda (Jaclyn Jose), who is the real mother of Via. Don Fernando doesn’t like Gabriel so he sets the wedding of Via and Michael (Diether Ocampo), son of Don Fernando’s lawyer friend. A gunman comes to the church and tries to kill Via. Via is hit in the arm while the gunman shoots Aunt Celina’s daughter instead.

Basta, Via doesn’t die. She cheats death in all the succeeding attempts of Aunt Celina. After she was buried, she was still alive. If you can’t figure it out, then you gotta watch the tape of Mula Sa Puso.

In the scene where Magda goes to the wake of Via - I cried. Totoo. Jaclyn Jose is a fabulous actress. She hits you right in the heart. She is so honest, I believed everything she said. And how I hated Celina, Princess Punzalan is so bad, she’s very good. I jumped in joy when she burned inside her car.

I love Mula Sa Puso. Believe me, I wouldn’t mind watching it again. By the time I switched to National Geographic, thousand of year-old mummies were being excavated in China.

Then I went to ABS-CBN News Channel, and I was back to reality - impeachment, welga, corruption, rallies - I started to weep louder.

* * *

If you failed to catch the NU 107 Rock Awards 2000 live at the Philippine Trade Training Center last Nov. 9, then this is your chance to witness the most anticipated awards show in local music. The NU 107 Rock Awards 2000 will be simulcast over ABC 5 on Friday, Dec. 1 at 10:30 p.m.

Witness the awarding of the most outstanding rock musicians in 14 categories and a showcase of live acts including performances by The Dawn, Cynthia Alexander, Ciudad, Rivermaya, Slapshock and Teeth.

The well attended affair drew thousands of people including prominent personalities in music, fashion and local show business. Presentors include Razorback’s founding members Miguel Ortigas, David Aguirre and Tirso Ripoli, Marc Abaya of Sandwich, Reg Rubio of Greyhoundz, Chito Miranda of Parokya ni Edgar, DJ’s Manolt Darin and Bobbit Villaluz, TV personalities Shaan Bermudez, Lana Asanin, Joey Mead, Mylene Dizon, Vanessa del Bianco and singer Viktoria.

With fantastic performances and the presence of such gorgeous people in entertainment, the NU 107 Rock Awards 2000 promises to be an exciting show, whether you’re watching it the first time or simply-re-living the experience.

The NU 107 Rock Awards 2000 TV special is brought to you by San Miguel Beer, Levi’s and Close-Up.