Vilma and the P7-M question

"Mother (Lily) and I haven’t even discussed money matters yet!"

That, according to Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos, is the truth (and nothing but?) about her and the Regal Matriarch.

You see, a minor issue cropped up about Vilma’s talent fee for Mano Po 3, intended by Regal Films for the Metro Manila Filmfest in December. Was Vilma really asking for P7 million (later reduced to P4 million)?

That was the ticklish P7-million question.

"As I was saying," Vilma said during a phone chat with Funfare (she was in Lipa City busy with the preparations for the celebration of the city’s 57th foundation this week), "ang usapan namin ni Mother ay hindi pa umaabot sa talent fee ko. So far, we’ve been discussing only the script."

But Vilma admitted that she "got hurt" when the matter about her talent fee leaked to the press.

"What I know is that I gave a copy of my Star Cinema contract to Regal so more or less they’d know," said Vilma. "Everything was supposed to be confidential. I don’t know kung paano nakarating sa press."

Vilma added that she was touched when Mother Lily called her up to say she felt sorry for the incident.

"How nice of her," said Vilma.

All’s well that ends well.

"The project goes on," assured Vilma who will play the matriarch (similar to those played by Boots Anson-Roa and Susan Roces in Mano Po parts 1 and 2 respectively) of a Chinese clan, with Judy Ann Santos as one of her children. "May konting inaayos na lang sa script. I have to do the movie because it’s my commitment to Mother. Si Mother pa!"

Cameras are expected to, hopefully, start grinding for Mano Po 3 first week of September and principal photography will, hopefully, be finished in time for the Metro Filmfest.

"We’re again going to shoot some scenes in Shanghai," said Mother Lily, "just like we did for Mano Po 1 and 2. Ate Vi will be in those scenes."

Last seen in Star Cinema’s Dekada ’70 (shown at the 2001 Metro Filmfest), Vilma has been begging off from doing movies because of her pressing obligations as Lipa City mayor. But Mano Po 3 is too good a project to let pass.

"Besides," said Vilma, "commitment ko kay Mother, e!"

Bits ’n pieces from L.A.

* Yes, it’s true: Gabby Concepcion did marry his very young (barely out of her teens?) girlfriend recently in San Francisco where he is based. It’s Gabby’s third – or fourth? – marriage (after those to Sharon Cuneta and Jenny Syquia). My friend who knows somebody who is close to Gabby said that Gabby "is very happy" with his life now. "But according to Gabby’s friend, also Gabby’s drinking buddy," said my friend, "Gabby doesn’t want to mention Sharon’s name. If you want daw to ruin his day, ask him anything about Sharon. Bigla daw masisira ang mood niya."

* Barely seven weeks before giving birth to her and husband Yilmaz Bektas’ second child (a girl, according to the ultrasound), Ruffa Gutierrez is taking it easy in L.A. where she is scheduled to deliver on Sept. 30 at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills (where she also delivered her first-born, Gabriella Lorin).

"Take note," said Ruffa, "I’m again giving birth the natural way, under anesthesia, and not by Caesarian section. Otherwise," she added with a laugh, "how could I wear a bikini kung may kamot na ako sa tiyan?"

Through with infanticipating (craving for sour food, especially suka), Ruffa was busy preparing for the celebration of Lorin’s first birthday scheduled last Saturday (Aug. 7), three days after Lorin’s actual birthday (Aug. 3).

Yilmaz is flying to L.A. from Istanbul to visit his mag-ina, fly back home after two weeks and then return to L.A. to be by Ruffa’s side when she gives birth.

* All is set for the Night of the Champions US Tour concert slated on Oct. 2 at the Orpheum Theater in L.A. Starring Sarah Geronimo, Mark Bautista, Rachelle Ann Go and Christian Bautista, the show is produced by Marissa Productions & JNL Entertainment Productions in cooperation with the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel, Alfonso Chu and Family, and Bahay Kubo Natin.

I had lunch with Al Chu and he assured me that tickets were selling briskly.

"Talagang sikat na ang mga champions na ‘yan," said Al Chu who has been acting as "the host with the most" to visiting Filipino stars/performers (among Al Chu’s all-time favorites are Gloria Romero and Vilma Santos). Highlight of his beautiful house in Orange County is a wall decorated with souvenir photos of dozens of Pinoy stars, most of whom have either stayed as guests or dropped by for dinner.

Before the L.A. show, Night of the Champions will be staged in New York, with my good friends Alice and Red Martinez as producers.

"Because of TFC (The Filipino Channel)," said Raoul Tidalgo, entertainment editor and columnist of the New York-based The Filipino Reporter, "fans in America are familiar with the new crop of singers and stars, so they look forward to watching their idols perform ‘live’."

Al Chu gave me a copy of the flyer for the L.A. concert to show Funfare readers that it’s likewise billed as The Ultimate Showdown (a hit when staged here a few weeks ago and which will have a repeat this Friday, Aug. 13, also at the Araneta Coliseum).

Maricel’s You Love Me, Yaya! seminar

Yayas or caregivers have been a part of most Filipino families. Especially during these demanding times where the economy is unstable and both parents have to work to ensure a decent life for the family, a yaya is definitely most helpful in this situation.

Parents cannot discount the tremendous impact yayas have on their children. Being with the children everyday during their young and formative years, yayas influence the social, emotional and intellectual development of the children.

In this light, The Parenting Company Inc. (spearheaded by Maricel Laxa) presents its latest public seminar offering, the You Love Me, Yaya! seminar. The program is a one-day training workshop for child caregivers, mothers and housewives. It will be held on Saturday, Aug. 14, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Bridge School, 29 Cairo St. BF Northwest, Parañaque City.

The topics to be discussed are Qualities of an Effective Childcare Worker; Effective Communication to Build Self-Esteem; Pre-Reading and Pre-Writing Activity; Common Feeding Mistakes; How to Take Care of a Sick Child; Behavior Management; Proper Etiquette and Good Manners and Handling Stress and Burnout.

The medium of instruction is Filipino-English.

The seminar aims to empower and equip caregivers with basic knowledge and skills to create a healthy and holistic environment where the child can maximize his/her potentials in different aspects of life. Consultants from various fields such as nutrition, child education and medicine will give presentations, talks and handouts during the session. Seminar fee is P1,600, which includes lunch, two sets of snacks, giveaways, hand-outs and certificate.

With this effort, The Parenting Company is doing its best to support the Filipino family through small but significant means. Do your part. Participate in the You Love Me, Yaya seminar.

For details and inquiries, contact The Parenting Company at (02) 434 0139 or (02) 920 0537, fax at 435-4301, or email [email protected].

(E-mail reactions at [email protected])