How the Villars spend Christmas

Like every Filipino family, the Villars traditionally spend Christmas together (all accounted for, yes!). But unlike Filipino families, the Villars usually spend the holidays abroad.

“We have been doing it since 1984,” Sen. Cynthia Villar told a select group of movie writers during a breakfast tete-a-tete the other day. “This year, we are again going to L.A. and after two weeks come back to celebrate New Year. Around 30 to 40 middle-management employees are going with us so it will be an educational trip for them and vacation at the same time since they are visiting the US for the first time.”

Since nobody in the family is a good cook, the group will be having their meals and snacks at the family’s favorite coffee shop and Japanese restaurant in Glendale. Sen. Cynthia and her husband, former Speaker Manny Villar, don’t usually give each other gifts. “But,” added Sen. Cynthia, “we give the children gifts, usually money.”

With Sen. Cynthia at the get-together (which the Villars have been doing during Christmas for several years) were son DPWH Sec. Mark and daughter Camille who’s running for Las Piñas congresswoman. Asked what pointers they could give Camille who is a relative political neophyte, Sen. Cynthia smiled, “She’s a natural so I remind her to  just be herself. She’s used to being exposed to the public because she has been in showbiz.”

What does Mark have to say?

“Actually, mas sanay siya sa pulitika kaysa sa akin. She has been doing several projects for the poor.”

As one-time co-host on Willie Revillame’s show (then on TV5), Camille assured her friend movie writers that she’s ready for the rigors of the campaign where mudslinging is usually the norm. Told that politics can be as “cruel” as showbiz, Camille simply shrugged off the observation.

‘This Christmas will be busier than the previous ones because of next year’s elections,’ says Sen. Cynthia Villar whose daughter Camille is running for Las Piñas congresswoman. Mark: ‘Camille is used to meeting people so she needs not much advice.’

“I was lucky that when I was on TV, I didn’t experience (that cruelty). I’ve been as much exposed to showbiz as I have been to politics because, as you know, I grew up in a family of politicians. In showbiz, I consider Willie my mentor. I bear in mind what he told me…talk to people, listen to them so you will understand their needs and concerns.”

Inevitably, because the topic was brought into focus by Catriona Gray’s answer to a question during the Top 5 segment of the Miss Universe pageant, Sen. Cynthia was asked what her stand is on the legalization of marijuana.

“It is for Congress to decide,” she said, “kasi many people look at marijuana as a kind of drug and not medicine.”

In a report, Senate Pres. Tito Sotto was quoted as saying that there’s “no need for a new law of medical marijuana” because the country’s Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act already allows it. “The policy is implemented through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) circular providing the guidelines for the issuance of a compassionate permit,” adding, “FDA Circular 2014-009 provides for access to drugs and medicines not registered in Philippines for compassionate use.”

Since Catriona’s advocacy of getting education for poor children in Tondo has also been highlighted, Sen. Cynthia revealed that she has actually been pursuing projects for the residents of Baseco (in Tondo) for three years now.

“The main livelihood of the residents is peeling garlic (nagbabalat ng bawang), tambak-tambak ang mga balat. What we do is recycle them into handmade paper, just as we do also with water lilies which we gather from Laguna Bay. I installed a machine there for the procedure. We have put up similar recycling machines nationwide, one in Las Piñas for Luzon, one in Iloilo for the Visayas and the third in Cagayan de Oro for Mindanao.”

As we all know, Sen. Cynthia has been doing wonders not just with water lilies but also with plastics (bottles, straws, etc.) which are recycled into chairs, etc.

Tempo’s Nestor Cuartero casually asked Sen. Cynthia how she dealt with “plastics” in politics.

“I just don’t mind them,” she replied, smiling. “I just do my work. Why would I mind them? Otherwise, mamamatay lang ako kaagad.”

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How the Quantum MMFF entry saved Jessy’s life and career

Quantum Films producer Joji Alonso between Jessy Mendiola and Jericho Rosales, stars of her company’s MMFF entry The Girl in the Orange Dress.

No thanks to bashers for driving Jessy Mendiola into depression and almost quitting her career. And thanks to Quantum Films producer (lawyer) Joji Alonso for, without her even knowing it, saving Jessy when she cast her in The Girl in the Orange Dress, one of the eight official entries in the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) with Jericho Rosales as leading man. Like Jessy, Jericho is a true professional. Although feeling bad, he showed up at the movie’s presscon, only to rush to the hospital afterwards running a high-grade fever (it was dengue!).

In the movie, Jericho is Rye del Rosario, a big movie star who’s getting fed up with his life in showbiz. One night, he meets a girl in an orange dress at a party. He leaves with her and they end up spending the night together in a hotel. The girl, Jessy as Ana, doesn’t know that he is a well-known celebrity and treats him just like some ordinary guy and Rye likes it. But soon, the girl disappears and he doesn’t even know her name. So he looks for her and refers to her as the girl in the orange dress who regards him as a real person and not as just this big-name actor.

The Jay Abello film, which is the first team-up of Jericho and Jessy, appears to take place mostly inside a hotel, where their characters Rye and Ana devise a plan to evade the press eager to figure out the identity of the mystery woman.

The Girl in the Orange Dress is a co-production among Star Cinema, Quantum Films, and MJM Productions.

Excerpts from an interview with Joji:

Why did Quantum choose The Girl in the Orange Dress for the MMFF?

“After the script was presented to me, I fell in love with the material. It’s a feel-good romance with lots of comic touches. But more than that, the film serves as a critique on the celebrity culture because there are times that fans and the media overstretch or cross boundaries to support their idol or go for a scoop and forget that celebrities are human beings who deserve some privacy in their personal lives.”

Joji welcomes Jessy to the presscon with a birthday cake.

Obviously, Jericho is a Quantum favorite. Why so?

“Well, he’s a perfect fit for the role of a matinee idol who fell for an ordinary girl. Plus Jericho is such an amazing actor and a professional through and through, it’s a breeze to work with him.”

Jessy credits Quantum for “saving” her career and helping her spring from depression. Were you aware of this?

“Sadly, I wasn’t even aware that she had undergone depression. That is a state that I wish, no one would ever have to go through. If this film, in any way, would uplift her spirit and help her go back on track, then producing this film makes it even more worthwhile.”

Considering that in real life they have different partners, how credible are they as lovers in the movie?

“I was really afraid that it would show. But when I watched the rushes of the film, I was relieved! They have great chemistry onscreen. It probably helped that in real life, Jessy has idolized Echo over the years. So it was like literally stepping into the shoes of the two lead characters in the film.”

Quantum is a perennial MMFF favorite. Please explain why.

“I think I would be incompetent to answer the question. It’s best addressed to the selection committee. What I am certain though is that Quantum never gets tired of trying to find materials that have something new to offer, films that are commercially viable yet outside the box.”

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