Bata Reyes now an actor

It’s not uncommon for sports stars to invade the movies, the line between the two fields being as thin as your skin. You know, dingding lang ang pagitan. I can rattle off the names of athletes who have tried "acting" and fill up this whole space but can count only with the fingers in one hand those who have stayed.

To wit...

From the boxing field: Anthony Villanueva, Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, Manny Pacquiao and Onyok Velasco.

I can think of only one from track-and-field – Lydia de Vega, that is – but there are dozens from basketball, including now-Sen. Bobby Jaworski, Atoy Co, Benjie Paras, Jimmy Santos, Joey Marquez (yes, he used to be a hardcourt hero), Jerry Codiñera, Bong Alvarez, Alvin Patrimonio, Yoyong Martirez, Francis Arnaiz, former Sen. Freddie Webb and many others.

There’s one equestrienne – Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski – and a few from the field of martial arts (Roland Dantes, Trovador Ramos and the late Roberto Gonzales among them).

And now, add to the growing list Efren "Bata" Reyes, the Billiard King himself, who’s making his movie "debut" in FPJ Productions’ Pakners, with no less than da king FPJ as co-star. It isn’t surprising why FPJ would do a movie on billiards because he himself plays a mean game of, yes, billiards (as well as, among other sports, basketball and horseback riding).

In a tribute to Bata, da king says, "I consider it a great honor and pleasure to team up with him. Bata has earned championship trophies in Asia, the USA and Europe, making him the pride of the Philippines."

Through it all, Bata (a.k.a. The Magician and The Kid) has remained humble and shy, disarming people with his toothless smile and showing no trace of airs at all on the set.

FPJ complements Bata’s low-key image as The King himself always maintains a low-profile, a man of great charm, talent, and intelligence. All these years he’s been admired, respected and revered.

Playing leading ladies to The King and The Kid are January "Lumen" Isaac and Candy Pangilinan, respectively. Rounding up the cast are young stars Oyo Boy Sotto and Toni Gonzaga, plus tried and tested performers Ai-Ai de las Alas, Rico J. Puno, Tia Pusit, Gerald Espiritu, Pocholo Montes and Dick Israel.

Pakners is directed by Tony Y. Reyes based on the story by Ronwaldo Reyes and script by Manny R. Buising and Ely Matawaran.

Pakners climaxes in a thrilling San Miguel Beer 9-Ball National Doubles Challenge, where FPJ and Bata, representing the Philippine team, face the US team of McGrady and Jackson.

San Miguel Beer is giving Pakners all-out support since FPJ and Bata are its endorsers. SMB is more than serbesa. It is part and parcel of the Filipino way of life for more than a century, one of the cultural icons of the country, according to a book penned by Chit de la Torre, along with FPJ and Bata. The three icons are together in Pakners.

Pakners is the anniversary presentation of FPJ Productions.

Will Carla be ‘it’?

As usual, we‘re sending off another binibini to the Miss Universe Pageant with our fingers crossed that she’ll be coming home, hopefully, with the country’s third Miss U crown (after Gloria Diaz in 1969 and Margie Moran in 1973).

She’s none other than 2003 Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Carla Gay Balingit who won her title a few weeks ago at the Big Dome, beating several other aspirants deemed to be a brainy batch.

Gerry Diaz of Mabuhay Beauties.org reports that Carla, who’s from Pampanga, is leaving anytime now for Colombia (home country of Madame Stella Marquez de Araneta, head of the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc.) for crash courses in poise and grooming before proceeding to Panama for the Miss Universe Pageant slated end of May.

Funfare has scanned the Miss Universe website and Carla is up for stiff competition from equally beautiful hopefuls, especially candidates from India, Indonesia, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Colombia and South Africa to name just a few.

As usual, we wish Carla all the luck and the best wishes.

Sana, ‘no?

From my e-mail

• From Mario Bautista (yes, the one), now on vacation with wife Vicky in New Jersey with the family of their daughter Hannah:

We got here Friday (April 11) night. Our flight from Manila to Japan to Detroit was okay, but from Detroit to New Jersey was delayed for five hours due to bad weather. It’s still cold here but yesterday (Sunday), the sun shone and it’s warmer so we were able to go out, hear Palm Sunday Mass, then go to the mall.

In the place where Hannah lives (Woodbridge) there are yellow ribbons on the front of some houses, indicating that they have relatives who are soldiers in Iraq and they are waiting for the return of their loved ones.

The coverage of the war here is so extensive and each time a soldier comes and gets reunited with his family, it’s a very emotional scene.

Our apo, Louise, is now almost six months old. We were here when she was born last October and my, she has really grown! Of course, nangingilala siya and only goes with her parents, but slowly, she is accepting the fact that her Lola Vicky and I are fixtures in their home so she is slowly getting used to our company. She is so cute and adorable and at the mall, people would say, ‘What a cute baby you have!’ And of course, the Lolo is very proud.

So, hanggang dito na lang muna. I can’t believe Aleck Bovick won in the FAMAS. Ano ba ’yun? Hannah says hello and she says she never fails to read your column everyday. Lent here is not observed the way we do. Erfe, Hannah’s husband, even has work on Good Friday. But the Easter Bunny is a big thing here and, at the malls, they have photo studios where kids can have their pictures taken with the Easter Bunny. Big business as parents really line up to have their kids’ photos taken with him.

Take care and best regards. Say hello to all our friends for me and Happy Easter!

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