Ara is ‘it’!

First, there were 10 (including the likes of Dawn Zulueta, Alice Dixson, Charlene Gonzales, Ruffa Gutierrez, etc.). And then, several months later, the number was winnowed down to only three (Charlene, Dawn and Ara Mina). Finally, there’s just one and she’s none other than Ara who wasn’t even in the original roster of choices for the title role in The Cory Quirino Story which will reusher the five-year inactive Golden Lions Films of Donna Villa and Carlo J. Caparas into the movie scene.

"Carlo and I are convinced that Ara is the right choice," said Donna who, with Carlo and their two kids, have been shuttling between Manila and Cebu (where they have a house and a real-estate business) during their prolonged respite from movie-making. "Of course, Ara’s victory (as Best Actress for Mano Po where she plays the rebellious daughter Richelle Go) in the recent Metro Filmfest is a big factor in her selection."

Former hotel PR and now TV host Cory Quirino, one of the country’s beauty/health counselors, was kidnapped by five armed men in Sept. 1999 Caliraya, Quezon, while she and three companions (her bodyguard, her driver and her assistant) were location-hunting for her TV show. They were literally taken for a ride, blindfolded along the way, until they landed in Camarines Sur. Three days later, Cory and company were set free. To make a long story shorter, Cory filed a case in court which convicted the five suspects.

The Golden Lions movie will probe deeper into the Cory Quirino case, based upon NBI files, and hopefully find the answers to some intriguing questions, including Was Cory "molested" by her kidnappers? The whole incident is recorded for posterity in a book which Cory herself wrote.

"We haven’t chosen the five actors yet who will portray the kidnappers," according to Donna. But Alessandra de Rossi might be "it" as Cory’s assistant.

The industry and moviegoers should welcome Golden Lions Films back with open arms and with a heart-warming applause especially in times like this when the industry is in dire need of more blood (and logistics). Until now, no other company can hold a candle to Golden Lions’ reputation as "The Home of True-Life Movies," specializing in heinous crimes particularly those involving massacres.

Among the company’s giant hits are those on the Vizconde Massacre (two versions, both starring Kris Aquino who was declared "Box-Office Queen"), the Maggie dela Riva Story (starring Dawn Zulueta who also starred in the Cecilia Masagca story, the Lilian Velez tragedy (with Sharon Cuneta as the actress killed by her jealous lover, played by Cesar Montano, in a sensational crime of passion) and the Lipa Massacre (with Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos as lead star).

"Our decision to focus on true-life heinous crimes has a purpose," said Donna, as if we didn’t know. "We’re proud that our movies have also led to the arrest of some suspects. During the movies’ promo, we help the authorities in tracking down suspects by including their (the suspects’) photos in the releases. We like to think that our ‘massacre’ films do help in solving crimes."

A few years ago, Golden Lions Films wanted to do a movie on the colorful/dramatic story of the late Speaker Ramon Mitra who, in fact, showed up at the presscon for the project aborted by the objections of some people close to Mitra. The late Speaker didn’t see his fond dream (of immortalizing his life story on film) come true. Sayang!

Marissa is back

Marissa who? Marissa del Mar, that’s who!

Gone from the showbiz scene for years, Marissa resurfaced two weeks ago as host-producer of the TV show Up Close and Personal (RPN 9, 2 to 3 p.m. Sundays) which will have its second (monthly) special episode on Jan. 26.

"I love doing this show because it showcases positive values," said Marissa (now a mother of three children by her estranged husband). "Very inspiring ang mga stories and I hope televiewers can learn a lesson or two from them. My guests want to share their success stories with televiewers. Karamihan sa mga guests namin are self-made men, born poor pero naging successful through hard work and determination."

For the Jan. 26 episode of Up Close and Personal, Marissa will have as guests Justice P. Velasco, Jr. (court administrator); Sen. Kiko Pangilinan; Serge Ortiz Luis, Jr. (president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce); Bowling Gold Medalist Paeng Nepomuceno; and Region 4 director Gen. Ike Galang.

A former beauty queen (Miss Adamson, Miss Asia-Philippines) before she joined showbiz, Marissa is a Management graduate from the Adamson University, who attended night classes because of her showbiz work load. In her heyday, she was a leading lady to such superstars as Ramon Revilla, Lito Lapid, Phillip Salvador and Christopher de Leon. Her last movie before she slipped into domesticity was Mapaglaro, with Pilar Pilapil, Ernie Garcia and the late George Estregan.

Now more into civic-conscious endeavors, Marissa is a member of the Parañaque-Metro Rotary Club and a district officer of Rotary Club District 3630, in-charge of publicity and promotions. She’s also the treasurer of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Her immediate plan is to put up her own foundation.

Reader’s reaction

Here’s a noteworthy reaction to Funfare’s recent stories about the MTB, from reader Robert Panelo of Sta. Elena, Marikina City:

Dear Mr. Lo,

ABS-CBN should learn by now that star value is not the only important thing for a show to rate. I believe that you need high production values as well for the audience to fully appreciate the show.

For a while, it looked like MTB will finally topple the well-established Eat Bulaga. MTB was beating EB in the ratings game, but somehow it lost steam along the way and EB was able to recover. MTB was not able to catch up again ever since.

I was an avid viewer of MTB when it was just starting. It offered something new, like game portions that give high prices, like the once very popular Pera O Bayong. But I noticed that the MTB people became complacent. Their show slowly looked like it was being produced in the bangketa. The props that they were using looked like cut-outs from old cardboards. Their set looked (and still looks) terrible.

Eat Bulaga on the other hand became glossier and glossier by the day. Their set looks clean, the props look expensive, and everything seems to run in an orderly fashion. In short, Eat Bulaga has much better production values than MTB. Just watch MTB and you will find yourself easily turned off by their awful set, props, and their seemingly lack of organization.

ABS-CBN can still save MTB. I suggest that they invest more on the production aspect of the show, rather than on stars whose hosting capabilities are very doubtful.

Same goes for ASAP, which is slowly losing the battle against SOP, for the very same reasons that MTB lost to Eat Bulaga.