Versatile Angelica

Versatile is the word that best describes Angelica Panganiban. She is not afraid to take on off-beat roles and is always willing to take the risk. She can do drama, sexy and comedy all with ease. Today, Angelica is reunited with her Santa Santita director Laurice Guillen in the filmfest movie I Love You, Goodbye which opens on Christmas Day. As an actress, Angelica delivers. When Laurice was looking for an actress to play the role of a young faith healer in Santa Santita, Laurice wanted someone who had the intensity of Hilda Koronel and Laurice saw it in Angelica.

In I Love You, Goodbye, Angelica plays another intense role which many say would likely land her an acting award. She is a woman caught between the love of two men — Gabby Concepcion and Derek Ramsay, her real-life boyfriend.

Directors who have worked with Angelica have only good words for her. “Her timing is impeccable. Ang husay husay niya. Pwede siyang api-apihin, pwedeng kontrabida. Kahit ano pwede niyang gampanan, “said Manny Palo, her director in Iisa Pa Lamang.

“Her range is unbelievable. The directors here at ABS CBN are one in saying that Angelica is really very good,” said Ruel Bayani.

Angelica played the reluctant faith healer in Santa Santita, the sexy wife in A love Story, Crissy in Banana Split and the villain Scarlet in Iisa Pa Lamang.

Not yet over for Richard and PEP

It’s not over yet between Richard Gutierrez and PEP. Early this month, the Department of Justice in a resolution signed by Secretary Agnes Devanadera overturned a lower court’s decision dismissing the libel case filed by Richard Gutierrez against PEP. The libel case stemmed from allegedly questionable reporting of a gun-toting incident that allegedly involved the actor that appeared on the PEP website. Editor-in-chief Joanne Maglipon said their lawyer will file a motion for reconsideration.

Forgive & forget

All’s well that ends well. It seems everybody is happy in the Pacquaio front. Jinkee Pacquiao was all smiles when The Buzz caught up with her during the opening of their new novelty shop located at a mall in Metro Manila and later in the evening at a victory party tendered by close friend Chavit Singson. It seems that Manny and Jinkee have ironed out their differences. “Kailangan magpatawad for you to be able to move on,” said Jinkee. She added that she needs to be strong for her children and she’s ready to fight. “Para rin akong buksingero. Matibay ako. I’ll fight.”

To Krista Ranillo she had this to say, “Bata pa siya. Kung mag-aasawa siya in the future, kung gagawin din sa kanya ng husband niya yon, baka masabi niya masakit pala. Kung ma-experience niya yon, she will be able to feel it. Ma-feel niya ang pinagdaanan ng may asawa.”

Jinkee said that she has forgiven everything. “At saka maging happy ka kung anong meron ka.”

Engkwentro in 2010

Shown at SM theaters last week was Engkwentro, winner of two awards at the Venice Film Festival (Horizons Prize for new trends in cinema, and the $100,000 Lion of the Future — Luigi de Laurentiis Award for Best Debut Film). Pepe Diokno’s Engkwentro is about the last 24 hours of two teenage brothers on opposite sides of a gang war. In 2010, Engkwentro will have screenings in Davao, Iloilo and Bacoor.

In the lead role of Richard is Felix Roco. Playing Richard, a gangster running away from the murderous City Death Squad, Felix shows an undeniable range and versatility for what many call one of the most challenging performances ever taken on by an actor. Because Engkwentro was shot a la one continuous take, Felix styled his performance like a stage play — memorizing all his lines and deeply internalizing his character. With no room for mistakes, Felix delved into the role — doing his own stunts, and narrowly avoiding injuries on set. To prepare for his performance, Felix drew from his past experiences as a former fraternity member.

Engkwentro is a movie Pepe wrote, produced and directed, after a year of research touring jails around the Philippines. Pepe’s second film centers on children warriors within the Islamic insurgency in southern Philippines and will begin shooting next year.