The hitmaker behind Panday

Curtain-raisers:

•  These are the juicy items you will miss if you don’t tune in to this afternoon’s edition of Startalk, right after Eat, Bulaga! on GMA: Have Kris Aquino and James Yap reconciled? Is James really looking for a condo unit of his own (now that the buyer is taking over their Valle Verde II house on Monday, Jan. 25)? Is Kris moving to their new house somewhere in Makati City only with their sons Joshua and James Jr.? What are Jinkee Pacquiao’s plans for Valentine’s? Plus the glitzy highlights of The Event presscon of Manny Pacquiao and James Clottey at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

• Sad news for The Killers fans: The band’s Asian concert tour has been cancelled, including the one in the Philippines slated for Jan. 31 at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Concert Grounds. Reason? The band has broken up (daw!).

• The first of the two-part The Ninoy and Cory Aquino Love Story will be aired tonight on Maalaala Mo Kaya? on ABS-CBN. The cast includes Piolo Pascual as Ninoy Aquino, Bea Alonzo as Corazon Aquino, Jim Paredes as Don Pepe, Madeleine Nicolas as Donya Aurora, Ryan Ramos as Pedro, Carla Humphries as Josephine, Joyce So as Passy, Soliman Cruz as editor-in-chief, Angeli Gonzales as the young Ballsy, Kristel Moreno as the older Ballsy, Liezl Martinez as Ballsy today, Mikylla Ramirez as the young Pinky, Krista Valle as the older Pinky, Yayo Aguila as Pinky today, Nash Aguas as the young Noynoy, Sam Concepcion as the older Noynoy, Mica dela Cruz as the young Viel, Hiyasmin Neri as the older Viel, Fatty Mendoza as the young Kris, Celine Lim as the older Kris, Jodi Sta. Maria as Kris today, Dimples Romana as Imelda Marcos, Neil Sese as Sen. Soc Rodrigo and Gio Alvarez as Sen. Jose Diokno.

• The Soho International Film Festival NYC has confirmed that four films from the Philippines have made it to the official selection for 2010, namely: Pitik Bulag, a drama crime thriller directed by Gil M. Portes and Walang Hanggang Paalam (produced by Jackie Woo), a romance drama directed by Ellen Ramos and Paolo Villaluna, Feature Films category; and Senorita directed by Vince Sandoval and With Whom (Kitchie Nadal’s song) directed by Janice Perez, Short Films category.

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Because the Golden Lions couple, National Artist Carlo J. Caparas and Donna Villa, are known for producing movies about sensational crime stories, people are asking if they are planning to do one about Jason Aguilar Ivler and his mom, novelist Marlene Aguilar-Pollard (sister of Freddie Aguilar).

“Very interesting and very dramatic,” said Donna, “especially the mother-and-son angle.”

But sorry, Donna said the idea hasn’t even entered her and Carlo’s mind, not until people have started broaching it to them.

The truth is that the couple is basking in the victory of Ang Panday in the just-concluded 2009 Metro Filmfest. The hit franchise topped the 14-day Metrofest, raking in P99.8 million (and earning more outside of the filmfest period) and winning, among other awards, Best Picture and Best Actor for Bong Revilla who not only stars in it but also co-produced (under the family-owned Imus Films) it with GMA Films. Bong inherited the role from FPJ, his ninong.

“Bong is a deserving heir to Panday,” said Carlo.

“I got Ninong Ronnie’s blessing,” Bong had confirmed in interviews. “He told me, ‘Take good care of Panday. Alagaan mo’.”

Carlo said that he had FPJ in mind while he was doing the Panday komiks serial. In fact, FPJ fell in love with the legendary hero the very first time he saw it in the komiks. His widow, Susan Roces, told FPJ, “It’s for you!”

The rest is box-office history.

The FPJ starrer Panday topped the Metro Filmfest for four years in a row (1981 to 1984). Carlo continued to write other filmfest top grossers after that, including God Save Me, the Seiko drama starring Christopher de Leon and child star Katrina Gonzales.

“It was FPJ who suggested that I add a boy character as his sidekick, played by Bentot Jr. in the first Panday,” added Carlo.

As souvenir, FPJ gave Carlo a Parker pen which he kept for years until FPJ died and Carlo offered to place it in FPJ’s casket. Instead, FPJ’s daughter Mary Grace decided to keep it.

Bong has played Panday twice (the first was in Dugo ng Panday). He was launched as a solo star in another Carlo J. Caparas novel, Batong Buhay (Viva Films, 1984) and went on to star in a few more: Sa Dibdib ng Sierra Madre (in which he met and fell in love with Lani Mercado who became his wife), Pieta 2 and Agaw-Armas.

Carlo is now the only active, successful cross-over artist (from komiks to movies to television). Panday Kids, a spin-off TV series, will premiere on GMA on Feb. 8.

Right now, Carlo is busy writing the next Panday adventure, also with Bong as star (and producer?), intended for the 2010 Metro Filmfest.

“We promise more surprises,” said Carlo.

Briefly noted

• Twins Richard and Raymond Gutierrez celebrated their 26th birthday last Thursday, Jan. 21, at the Mini Cooper Showroom, The Fort, Taguig City. The twins were born in Beverly Hills, California. on Jan. 21, 1984. “I can’t ask for anything more,” said Richard. “God has been good to Raymond and me. My wish for Raymond is good health at sana hindi siya magbabago.” Raymond is a co-host of the GMA Sunday show Showbiz Central while Richard, now starring with Heart Evangelista in the GMA dramedy Full House, is preparing for the return of Captain Barbell in which he will reprise the title role. On this page are photos taken from the “twin” event.

• The Torres High School Class of 1965 will hold its sapphire jubilee on Feb. 3 to 7. Theme of the affair is Salu-Salo sa Pananabik, Sama-Sama sa Pagbabalik. Activities will include a fellowship night, barkadahan day, balik-Torres and a grand ball. For details, call Cecilia San Agustin-Tiangco (secretariat) at 0919-5864227, Yolanda Gallardo-Ravela at 0917-4525220 or Zenaida Piedra-Campasas at 0919-2756663.

• Listen to three love poems by the late Press Secretary Cerge Remonde pre-taped for Romy Macalintal’s radio program tonight at 8 to 9 o’clock on DWBR (104.3 FM). Romy will also air an interview with Cerge a few days before Cerge died.

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