Loveteams forever

Loveteams endure even if in real life they end up with other partners, some of them not quite living happily ever after. In the public mind, loveteams last forever and ever, lovers’ inspiration through the years (especially in a love month like this), hung on the wall of memory like a priceless painting.

Presidentiable FPJ and senatoriable Boots Anson-Roa are such an enduring, well-loved screen pair, a hit with fans even if FPJ was already married to Susan Roces and Boots to Pete Roa when they started doing movies together, including Santiago, Ang Kampana sa Sta. Quiteria, Asero, Santo Domingo, Anino ng Araw, Juan dela Cruz (the unfinished Gerry de Leon obra maestra) and Ang Agila at Ang Araw which also starred former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada.

In fact, Boots has become known as presidentiables’ favorite leading lady, never mind if the "love angle" never went beyond the silver screen. Boots and Erap were such a hit in the Erap comedy series (Tatay na si Erap, Tama na Erap, etc.) that when Boots shot one of their starrers heavy with a child, people actually believed that the prospective father was Erap. (The rumor certainly enhanced the movie’s box-office appeal, especially when Boots gave birth before the movie opened in Metro Manila, getting Erap among the ninong of her and Pete’s child, Benjamin.)

Boots could have run for Senator in 2001 under Erap’s party but she backed out at the last minute (due partly to the condition of Pete who had just suffered a stroke at that time, rendering him wheelchair-bound up to now).

But this time, according to Boots, "I couldn’t say no to FPJ."

An AB Speech and Drama graduate from UP (1960-64), Boots is an artista, all right, but she has, besides her acting trophies, impressive credentials, including post-graduate diplomas in journalism and TV production, scholarships and study grants (in the US, The Netherlands, etc.), academic experience (assistant professors in universities like UP, Ateneo and La Salle; and lecturer/trainor at Georgetown University from 1986-1989 and in seminars-workshops from 1993 up to the present).

She has also worked with the government (as press attache/cultural officer and special assistant to the ambassador at the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. from 1982-1986).

"I believe in Boots," said Regal Matriarch Mother Lily who invited movie writers to a tete-a-tete with Senadora Boots" last week. "She’ll be a good Senator." (Take note: Mother Lily is known in showbiz circles as a "Senator-maker," having silently helped in the campaign for Senators Gringo Honasan, Frank Drilon, Kiko Pangilinan, Ed Angara and Senator-Vice Presidentiable Loren Legarda whom Mother Lily calls "ang anak ko.")

The More, The Merrier

Speaking of loveteams, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is inviting everybody to the ongoing Mga Kuwento ng Pag-ibig: A Celebration of Love Theme and Loveteams being presented by Cinema Paraiso at the NCAA (at 633 General Luna St., Intramuros, Manila). Cinema Paraiso is a banner project of the Committee on Cinema of the NCCA, in cooperation with Asian Eye Productions for the National Arts Month Sining Pinoy 2004, and sponsored by Samsung, Cinema One, Play & Display and Fuji-Keyser Mercantile.

The event opened last Wednesday, Feb. 4, with the screening of Perlas ng Silangan, starring FPJ and Susan Roces, followed by Sa Isang Sulyap Mo Tita (with Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran) and Hani-Hanimun, with Gloria Romero and Juancho Gutierrez).

Here’s the full schedule (until March 5):

• Today, Feb. 9: Amy, Susie & Tessie (1960, with Amalia Fuentes, Susan Roces, Tessie Agana, Romeo Vasquez, Juancho Gutierrez and Jose Mari)

• Feb. 10: Niña Bonita (1955, Charito Solis and Jaime dela Rosa)

• Feb. 11: John & Marsha sa Amerika (1975, Dolphy and Nida Blanca)

• Feb. 12: Galawgaw (1954, Nida Blanca and Jaime dela Rosa)

• Feb. 13: Ang Senyorito at ang Atsay (Juancho Gutierrez and Amalia Fuentes)

• Feb. 16: Memories of Our Love (1975, Tirso Cruz III and Nora Aunor)

• Feb. 17: Ang Tangi Kong Pagibig (1955, Rogelio dela Rosa and Carmen Rosales)

• Feb. 18: Bilanggong Birhen (1960, Amalia Fuentes and Romeo Vasquez)

• Feb. 19: Talusaling (1955, Nestor de Villa and Nida Blanca)

• Feb. 20: Portrait of My Love (1965, Eddie Gutierrez and Susan Roces)

• Feb. 23: Pagdating ng Takipsilim (1956, Luis Gonzales and Gloria Romero)

• Feb. 24: Tagulan sa Tagaraw (1975, Christopher de Leon and Vilma Santos)

• Feb. 26: Mutya ng Pasig (1950, Jose Padilla, Jr., Rebecca Gonzales and Delia Razon)

• Feb. 27: Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising (1977, Hilda Koronel and Christopher de Leon)

• March 1: Lalaine Mahal Kita (1964, Mario Montenegro and Lalaine Bennett)

• March 2: Love Letters (1970, Edgar Mortiz and Vilma Santos)

• March 3: P10,000 Pag-ibig (1957, Charito Solis and Eddie Rodriguez)

• March 4: Alaala Kita (1961, Tessie Quintana and Efren Reyes)

• March 5: Zamboanga (1936, Fernando Poe, Jr. and Rosa del Rosario

(Note: Screenings are free. For inquiries, call Asian Eye at 687-2543 or log on to asianeye.tv/cinemaparaiso.)

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