Curtain-raisers:
• The feedback from the set of a movie shooting in the southern city is, well, unpleasant. Remember the “terror” on the set reported in this corner a few days ago? The “terrorizing” continues. According to Funfare’s tarsier-eyed DPA, the actor left his hotel room in shambles — broken electric bulbs, wall decor torn down, etc. — all because the roomboy couldn’t give him a lighter at once. Result? He was kicked out of the hotel and hied off to another one. If cooler heads and/or well-meaning and truly-concerned friends don’t do something, the hot-tempered actor (na very talented pa naman...tsk, tsk, tsk, sayang!) might end up a sorry mess.
• Best wishes to Veronica “Rikka” Dylim (photo) who has just been appointed director of communications of EDSA Shangri-La Manila. Rikka worked for 10 years as PRO for ABS-CBN, five years with corporate communications and the rest with Star Magic. She has previously worked in the hotel industry, so her Shangri-La appointment comes as a full circle. She assumed her post last July 13.
• Good news for Vilmanians and other admirers/followers besides: The Star For All Seasons, Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos (photo), will be featured on Charo Santos-Concio’s long-running and multi-awarded Maalaala Mo Kaya on all Saturdays (on ABS-CBN) of August. The four-part TV special serves as forerunner for Vilma’s Star Cinema movie, In My Life (directed by Olive Lamasan), which is showing sometime in September, co-starring her own son Luis Manzano and John Lloyd Cruz (they play lovers).
• Happy birthday to Mrs. Nenita Evans (mother of Fil-Am US Immigration officer Tim Evans) who’s turning 80 on Monday, July 20. Tim took a leave from his job to join relatives in celebrating his mom’s fulfilling eight decades — and counting
* * *
The star-studded birthday bash hosted by Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde for daughter Roselle Monteverde-Teo at the function room of Imperial Palace Suites felt like a coming-out party. You see, the inherently-shy Roselle didn’t really like throwing parties but this time she couldn’t say no to her mom.
I said it could be Roselle’s “coming-out” party because Mother Lily is all but ready to let Roselle take over as head of the Regal Empire.
“I’m not getting any younger, you know,” said Mother Lily.
In flaming red, Roselle danced like a debutante with her D.I. to the lilting music played by a band, even as she took time out to hop from one table to another, greeting her well-wishers that included the industry’s bigwigs. There was no “network war” that night, or any other kind of “war” for that matter, as both Kapuso and Kapamilya executives simply enjoyed the merry-making.
Not-really-friends Annabelle Rama and GMA senior VP for Entertainment TV Wilma Galvante almost crossed paths. Annabelle arrived just when Wilma (and company) were leaving. They came within a few feet of each other but no, parang hindi nila nakita ang isa’t-isa.
The music played on. As we made a French leave, we saw the “debutante” on the dancefloor, swinging and swaying as if she could have danced all night. Did she beg for more?
Goodbye,
Myrna
Myrna Panlilio-Borromeo, the first ever Bb. Pilipinas-Universe (1964), died of a massive heart attack Friday night at the Makati Medical Center where she was scheduled to undergo a gall-bladder surgery. She was 65. Her remains, to be cremated, lie at the Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati City. A widow, Myrna is surived by children Mitzi and RJ. Her daughter Patricia died of cancer a few years ago.
The Borromeo family is requesting donations to the Trisha P. Borromeo’s Legacy Association, Inc. in lieu of flowers.
Funfare’s “beauty expert” Felix Manuel relayed the sad news from New York where he’s working (as a nurse).
Here’s Felix’s brief report:
The pageant world bids a fond farewell to the first Bb. Pilipinas title-holder, Ma. Myrna Sese Panlilio-Borromeo.
We always saw her on TV gracing the pageant and I have, of course, collected her pictures from her Binibini and Miss Universe pageants. I first met her during the 1994 Bb. Pilipinas pageant held earlier, Oct. 1993, in preparation for the 1994 Miss Universe pageant.
We requested to have a photograph taken with her and we had to let her sign her 1964 picture. She was shocked that there were people who collected her pictures. “My God this was ages ago, I am glad you guys still know me. Most of you were not born yet when I won Binibini,” she would say.
From then on, we kept seeing her every year during the pageant. She was very nice to us everytime we saw her. In fact, she was looking for her album for us to copy old photos from. “I kept it in the bodega,” she apologized. “I can’t find it now. Mabuti na lang you have my pictures pa.”
During the Estrada Administration, Myrna organized the Dambana Ng Kagandahan at the Nayong Pilipino which showcased pictures, articles, gowns and other memorabilia of former Filipina beauties. It was fabulous!
Paalam, Myrna. We will miss you!
Briefly noted
• Sarah Geronimo (photo) will lead the opening of Unija Hija’s newest branch in SM Fairview, 2 to 6 p.m. today. Meanwhile, Sarah Mania is airing the rest of the month on PBO, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., with Lastikman: Unang Banat and Sarah in Motion slated for today; and Annie B. and A Very Special Love on July 25. Sarah Mania is made possible by Cebuana Lhuillier, TESDA, Belo Essentials, Jollibee and Charmee.
PBO can be seen on Cignal Digital TV Channel 38, Destiny Cable Channel 37, Cable Link Channel 38 and on all major cable systems nationwide.
• Zsa Zsa Padilla (photo) is the special guest in tomorrow night’s edition of Salamat Dok, 7:30 to 8:30 on ABS-CBN. Zsa Zsa will talk about beating the signs of aging and keeping her skin young and vibrant through the years. Every third Sunday of the month, Dr. Vicki Belo guests on the program and discusses the latest treatments and procedures being offered by The Belo Medical Group. Cheryl Cosim hosts the show.
• The full-length feature digital movie Astig, one of the finalists in the 2009 Cinemalaya Film Festival, will have its world premiere at the Cultural Center of The Philippines Main Theater tonight at 9 and another gala screening at the CCP Main Theater on July 23 (Thursday) at 6:15 p.m. The movie will have other screenings in various CCP venues on July 19, 21, 22, 24 and 25.
Astig stars Sid Lucero, Dennis Trillo, Arnold Reyes and Edgar Allan Guzman. It also has an exciting line-up of newcomers, 20 stage actors and 30 mainstream actors. Among them are Ai-Ai delas Alas, Pooh, Bianca Gonzalez, Mariel Rodriguez, Sitti Navarro, Jhong Hilario, Vhong Navarro, Chanda Romero, Rustica Carpio, Keanna Reeves, Glaiza de Castro, Angellie Urquico, Gardo Versoza, Emilio Garcia, Kim Atienza, Paolo Paraiso, Mhalou Crisologo, Angeli Bayani, Armand Reyes, Patricia Ismael, Whitney Tyson, Romano Vasquez, Lotlot Bustamante, Mark Chavez, Haziel Ann Fabro, Mark Fresco, Felbert Go, Ivy Guy-ab, Rita Iringan, Miah Isabelle, Jayden Javier, Lorraine Lopez, Enrico Reyes, Paolo Rivero, Rocky Tan, Alex Tiglao, Josie Torres, Cris Valdez and Boy Abunda.
Concert, music video, TV commercial and TV show director GB Sampedro ventures into movie directing for the first time. He directs the daily morning show Ruffa & Ai on ABS-CBN.
Astig also has an award-winning line-up of technical staff: Editor – Charliebebs Gohetia (Tirador, Foster Child and TYG); Music: Jesse Lucas; Sound: Ditoy Aguila (Ouija, Exodus, Baler and Adela); Cinematographer: Odyssey Flores (Tirador, Serbis, Kinatay) and Line Producer/Assistant Director: Armand Reyes (Tulad ng Dati, Mulanay, Serbis, Adela, Sisa, among others).
For tickets, call Backroom, Inc. (928-3121) and CCP Box Office (832-1125).
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com)