Star Cinema’s A Very Special Love, so far the biggest moneymaker at the Philippine box-office this year starring John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo, continued its winning streak, this time in the US East Coast with moviegoers filling all four screenings — three of them sold out! — in New York City and New Jersey.
According to a report from Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre (news editor of The Filipino Reporter), SCAT Productions partners Satrick Uy, Cathy Carandang-Uy and Rolando Abaquin are ecstatic about the Fil-Am community’s overwhelming response that they agreed with ABS-CBN and Star Cinema to also bring to the East Coast the equally smash hit For The First Time, with Richard Gutierrez and KC Concepcion in the lead, on Sept. 27 in New York and Sept. 28 in New Jersey (two screenings each day), and on Oct. 4 and 5 in Virginia.
“We knew people would come because it’s Sarah and John Lloyd and the movie is rated A (by the Cinema Evaluation Board),” Edmund quoted Cathy Uy as saying, referring to the long queues outside Loews Kips Bay on 2nd Avenue in Manhattan, and AMC Loews Jersey Garden in Elizabeth, N.J. “This won’t be possible without our friend Menchit Acosta.”
“Would you believe there are still people inquiring about A Very Special Love and wanted to buy tickets?” said Abaquin. “Those who saw the movie really loved it and they’ve been telling others how much they enjoyed it.”
Asked Edmund, “Is it true that A Very Special Love, directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina (who also directed last year’s record-breaking hit One More Chance starring John Lloyd and Bea Alonzo), has reportedly raked in over P170-M during its entire run in the Philippines?”
I told Edmund that, yes, it’s true.
Here’s the rest of Edmund’s report:
Jonah Salcedo, a baby nurse from Queens, said it was a “feel-good movie” that helped her forget her problems even for a couple of hours.
“Every scene was worth my $15 and my time, from beginning to end superb talaga, hindi corny,” Jonah said. “I laughed, I cried...it brought me back to my younger days in the Philippines.”
“John Lloyd is really good-looking,” said Luz Coronel, also a baby nurse from Queens. “Even the trailer alone is interesting. The bloopers in the ending were click na click. Sayang lang akala namin darating sina Sarah and John Lloyd nagbihis pa naman ako.”
“I was laughing and laughing; natanggal ang stress ko,” said Vichelle Fernandez, a Manhattan nanny. “Na-relax ako. Enjoy to the max.”
“Sulit talaga,” said Yvonne Castro, a Manhattan accountant, who came to the theater limping after a bone spur therapy. “Despite my condition, I didn’t want to miss it because I heard it’s a quality picture and a box-office success in the Philippines.”
Everyone agreed that Sarah was a big revelation in the film. Who would have thought, they said, that the young singer known for her extraordinary pipes, can also deliver a magnificent performance, both in comedy and drama, in her lead role debut on the big screen?
From the scenes like when Sarah uttered, “Sir, gaano ka-close?” or “Sir, huwag po,” or “Ano ba ito, para akong baliw,” the crowd kept roaring in laughter. And they also cried with her when the man she adores let go of her.
“Sarah was really funny in her scenes, especially in the one where she poses as a model,” said Milagros Serrano of Ridgewood, N.J., who saw the movie with husband Juanito. “Paborito namin si Sarah and we never miss her shows on TFC.”
“I didn’t know she can also do comedy at par with a Maricel (Soriano) or a Judy Ann (Santos),” said Dr. Ramon Legarda of Group Ole, who is producingMartin Nievera’s concert at Showboat Casino in Atlantic City (N.J.) on Nov. 9. “She’s really a superstar in the making. I’m sure Star Cinema will give her and John Lloyd more projects.”
“With all my problems in life and those in the Philippines, we need this kind of movie na nakakapagpagaan ng loob,” said Art Soho, a newly-arrived immigrant based in Bergenfield, N.J. “I’m fed up with bad news from home about graft and corruption, patayan, awayan, calamities. Gusto ko ganito, tumatawa at masaya kahit walang pera.”
Viewers also lauded the family values and moral lessons the movie imparts.
“I was really touched by the father-and-son scenes of John Lloyd (with Dante Rivero),” Jonah Salcedo said. “It reminded me of my father. The same thing happened between my father and me.”
“I like the close ties of Sarah and her family who is always there to comfort her,” said Jimmy Braganza, a teacher from Jersey City. “I wish I had the same kind of family when I was growing up. The actress who plays Sarah’s mother is really good. Ang galing niya!”
“I was pleasantly surprised to see Matet so grown-up,” added Jimmy, unaware that the former child superstar is already a mother. “Last time I saw her, she was a kid. I have no time to watch TV because of my job. Matet was the girl who said (in one of her movies), ‘Takot ako!,’ wasn’t she? Cute pa rin niya.”
SCAT’s Satrick Uy said he and his partners are hoping that For the First Time can equal, if not surpass, the turnout of A Very Special Love when it is shown in the East Coast later this month. He said part of the proceeds will also go to SCAT’s favorite charity organization, the Children’s Chance, Inc., which has been bringing to America ailing Filipino children whose families have no means of getting life-saving medical help.
“People do come if you give them quality entertainment that will really make them happy,” said Satrick. “For The First Time also got rave reviews back home and we know Fil-Ams are also excited about the Richard-KC tandem.”
“Pinoys are curious about KC whose mom, Sharon Cuneta, has many fans here who are now also fans of KC,” added Rolando.
For The First Time has reportedly earned over P120-M in box-office on its third week, and is still showing in the Philippines. It is directed by Bb. Joyce Bernal and also stars Phillip Salvador, Pilar Pilapil, Eddie Gutierrez, Candy Pangilinan, Geoff Eigenmann, TJ Trinidad, Bobby Andrews, Ana Roces, Carla Humphries, Ahron Villena, Denise Laurel, Bruce Quebral, Bubbles Paraiso, Beatriz Saw, Nor Domingo, Gee-Ann Abrahan and Jake Cuenca.
For details about the U.S. East Coast screenings ($15 per ticket), visit www.scatproductionsnyc.com or call (732) 687-2413, (732) 687-1274, (914) 493-9727, (917) 379-0694 or (201) 993-8782.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com)