Another challenging role for Allen

Set to start shooting today (Sept. 7) is Persons Of Interest (POI) in which Allen Dizon plays a character with two personalities (katauhan), one a blind cook accused of mass poisoning that killed his older lover and as the imaginary friend of his six-year-old son (played by JJ Quilantang) who is smart and jolly, his exact opposite. 

Directed by Ralston Jover from his own screenplay and starring mostly Kapampangan actors (Allen is from Sta. Ana, Pampanga) including Liza Lorena (born in Magalang town) as Allen’s live-in partner and Dimples Romana (Masantol) as Liza’s daughter who is against Allen, POI tackles these questions:  When does a crime become an erroneous act and innocence? When a man takes a dual existence and commits a crime, whose personality is the usual suspect? When does innocence overrule guilt as a probable cause for an offense?

Shot in Pampanga, which is known for delicious food and where people are known for being good cooks, POI marks the second time Allen and Ralston are working together. Their first film, titled Bomba, has been selected as “main competition” entry in a prestigious A-List International Film Festival to be held this October.

Produced by ATD Entertainment Productions, POI is co-produced by Romeo Lindain and Bobby Alvarez.

Among Allen’s co-stars are (from left) fellow Kapampangan Dimples Romana and Liza Lorena, and child actor JJ Quilantang

Allen is pleased with the projects that he had been given. He is one of the lead characters in the mini-series AMO on TV 5 directed by Brillante Mendoza who also got Allen to play one of the leads in The Right Kill with Felix Roco and newcomer Vince Rillon. Come October, he will start shoot for Palawan where he plays the lead character named Tungkol, directed by Aureaus Solito.

“I am inspired to give my best working with these internationally-acclaimed directors,” said Allen who has won awards in international filmfests. “That’s why I have not accepted offers to do teleseryes until I finish all my movies. These movies are something that I can be proud of both here and abroad.”

To prepare for his role as Ramil 1 and Ramil 2 in POI, Allen spent time with visually-challenged people

“Direk Ralston also asked me to watch some movies. I need to perfect the scenes that I am blind but I am a good cook. I have a lot of dramatic scenes and the role of Ramil is very complex. My roles in Right To Kill, Bomba and Palawan are all challenging,” added Allen.

Myrtle Sarrosa: Dreams do come true

Because she graduated cum laude (Broadcast Communication from UP), starred in a rom-com episode and got hired as endorser of Sisters Sanitary Napkins and Pantyliners, Myrtle Sarrosa (photo, former girlfriend of Bryan Poe Llamanzares) believes that dreams do come true.

“I have dreamed of all these,” said Myrtle who received good vibes from her graduation Facebook post as evident from the more than 700,000 likes; 60,000 shares; and 16,000 comments.

Her dream of playing a fantasy-like character in a teleserye came true with Therine, the right-hand vampire of Supremo (Richard Gutierrez) in La Luna Sangre. She also starred in The Girl in the Middle of a Love Triangle, an episode on Wattpad Presents.

With her Sisters contract renewal, Myrtle continues to live her dream of being part of an advocacy — The School Is Cool Campaign of Megasoft Hygienic Products, makers of Sisters.

“I will be visiting public schools around the country,” said Myrtle. “I will help give recognition to outstanding students and give talks about menstrual hygiene management awareness.”

On Sept. 16, Myrtle will be in Cebu, 10 a.m. at the Megasoft Warehouse in Mandaue City, with the affair to be aired live via Facebook. She will also visit Gaisano Grand Dumanjug for a meet-and-greet at 4 p.m. the same day, before proceeding to Gaisano Grand Moalboal for a mall show at 6 p.m.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)