Bessie cheats death in car accident

Connecticut-based fashion model-turned-TV comedienne Bessie Badilla and her kids Blanca and Ines figured in a vehicular accident on their way home late last week when their car skidded on ice and sleet. Bessie was behind the wheel when she lost control of the vehicle – with the car immediately spinning 180 degrees before it turned turtle and landed on the roof first and finally on the driver’s side.

Miraculously and by God’s mercy, nobody got hurt – not even a scratch on Bessie nor the kids. "God was with us all the time," said Bessie. "God is good." Firemen, however, had to cut through the windshield to get them out of the car.

I asked Bessie if the kids were traumatized by the experience and she said that – thank heavens – no, not at all. "They were both calm at ang tibay ng loob all throughout," she remarked. But it is Bessie, sadly, who has pangs of guilt for having put her children through what she calls "a scary experience." To that, I say – an accident is an accident, which nobody wants to happen and Bessie shouldn’t feel guilty about that incident at all (although it is quite understandable why she is feeling that way).

I know how much Bessie loves her children and how she will give even her life for them. With anything she does, she thinks of her kids first. Family is always her priority.

A few months ago, for instance, she got an offer from director Jeffrey Jeturian to appear in Bridal Shower. "It is an important supporting part," Jeffrey told me. (He was getting in touch with Bessie through me.) In the film, Bessie was supposed to play the role of an advertising executive who loves to do ballroom dancing.

Bessie was initially interested in doing the part because she had always loved challenges and was even willing to fly to Manila for the two-week shoot. Her only apprehension then was the fact that she had never done movies before. (She was very effective though in the popular sitcom Eh Kasi Babae.)

From my end, I was trying to convince Bessie to accept the part if only for the fact that Jeffrey Jeturian was going to be her director. Jeffrey – so I told Bessie – is the best among our young directors today (and it’s true – I wasn’t just telling Bessie that). Bessie took my word for it and agreed to communicate with Jeffrey herself.

After a week or so, I contacted Bessie to ask her if she was accepting the part. She said no (the Bridal Shower role eventually went to Pinky Marquez, who – in fairness – did a good job in the film) because "the film was a bit bold." No, she didn’t have anything against bold films – being an artist herself. (She has already posed nude for a group of artists before – as arranged by her good friend respected art dealer Marlene Aguilar.) The only problem was that she felt that the theme of the film is not suited to the sensibilities of her kids yet since both are still minors (Blanca is 17, while Ines is 9). "I would have wanted them to be among the first to see the film," Bessie told me then.

Bridal Shower may not have figured prominently in the Metro Manila Filmfest race, but it was still well-received by the critics and the public. Bessie, however, does not regret turning down the offer because as far as she was concerned, if her kids won’t be able to watch the film anyway, there was really no point doing it.

Manunuri Citations

The awards season will begin next month with the PMPC (with Julie Bonifacio as president) staging the Star Awards for Movies on March 13. The breakaway group of ENPRES (with June Nardo as head) meanwhile will hold its awards presentation last week of May.

Even the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino is inclined to hold the Gawad Urian in May yet – after the elections when the situation in this country has hopefully normalized.

Meanwhile, here is the list of Manunuri citations for the last quarter of 2003:

Mr. Suave – Cinematography, music, editing and the performance of Vhong Navarro.

Liberated – Cinematography, production design, editing and the performances of Diana Zubiri, Francine Prieto and Tuesday Vargas.

Homecoming – the direction of Gil Portes and the performances of Alessandra de Rossi, Elizabeth Oropesa and Bembol Roco.

Bridal Shower – Cinematography, editing, production design, music, sound, the screenplay of Chris Martinez, the direction of Jeffrey Jeturian and the performances of Dina Bonnevie, Cherry Pie Picache, Francine Prieto, Christian Vasquez, Alfred Vargas, Rodel Velayo, Gina Pareño and Boots Anson Roa.

Malikmata – Cinematography, editing, production design, music, sound, the direction and screenplay of Jose Javier Reyes and the performances of Rica Peralejo, Marvin Agustin, Dingdong Dantes, Anna Capri, Shintaro Valdes, Ricky Davao and Jackie Castillejo.

Filipinas – Cinematography, editing, production design, music, sound, the direction of Joel Lamangan and the performances of Maricel Soriano, Richard Gomez, Dawn Zulueta, Victor Neri, Aiko Melendez, Wendell Ramos, Raymond Bagatsing and Armida Siguion Reyna.

Mano Po 2 – Cinematography, editing, production design, music, sound, the direction of Erik Matti and the performances of Christopher de Leon, Susan Roces, Lorna Tolentino, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Kris Aquino, Judy Ann Santos and Jay Manalo.

Crying Ladies – Cinematography, editing, production design, music, sound, the direction and screenplay of Mark Meily and the performances of Sharon Cuneta, Hilda Koronel, Angel Aquino, Eric Quizon, Ricky Davao, Sherry Lara and Julio Pacheco.

Correction, Please

A correction in my column last Tuesday with regard to the Miko Sotto Memorial Fund of the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines. The Eye Bank Foundation was not renamed after Miko Sotto. Instead, it established a fund in honor of the late actor as a channel by which by the public may donate to the Eye Bank Foundation in his memory.