Pati pusa pinatulan ni Gov. Vi

If her persuasive power works, makakasama ni Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto ang kanyang ex-husband na si Edu Manzano in support of her movie with their son Luis Philip.

‘‘Lalambingin ko si Eduardo, kung nakuha niyang mag-shoot nang one day sa movie noon ni AiAi (delas Alas), mag-shoot din siya kahit one day lang sa movie namin ni Lucky,’’ sey ni Ate Vi during last Wednesday’s contract-signing of her comeback movie under Star Cinema tentatively titled A Mother’s Story.

The movie, hindi pa man nagsisimula ang shoot, boasts of many firsts: First time makatrabaho ni Ate Vi sa pelikula si direk Olive Lamasan, first movie rin niya ito next year. Genre-wise, it’s also the lady governor’s first to go unexpectedly comedic.

Slipping into the role of a librarian, isa ring aburidong single parent si Ate Vi sa movie. Na-deglamorize din siya sa 40% ng kuwento. ‘‘It’s something new. May isang eksena since librarian ako, pinatatahimik ko ’yung mga nasa library, ‘‘Shhh…shhh… sh*t!’’ Yung role ko, pati alaga kong pusa (named Kiki), pinapatulan ko,’’ sey ni Ate Vi.

She’s equally forward to her scenes with Lucky, whose acting she’d rather see come out raw and spontaneous. ‘‘Kaya nga ayoko yung ire-rehearse muna namin yung eksena. Gusto ko yung pagdating na lang sa set. Masyado na kasing contrived ’pag rehearsed, eh.’’

Ate Vi, Lucky and hopefully Edu in one movie… Pilipinas, game na ba kayo?

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Sa palasak o colloquial na kahulugan, ang salitang ‘maverick’ ay tumutukoy sa isang taong may malayang pananaw, tulad sa mga usaping pampulitika, na karaniwa’y ’di sumasang-ayon sa mga bagay na katanggap-tanggap or generally acceptable.

In showbiz, I can only think of a few who go by its name: Ang isa sa fraternal twins nina Zoren Legaspi at Carmina Villaroel, ang partner ni Ariel, at ang film company. But there’s more to Maverick Films’ being a non-conformist. By tradition, hindi ito taun-taon sumasali sa Metro Manila Film Festival, but only this year as it fields a hopeful entry in Magkaibigan.

Consistently, binubuo rin ito ng ‘maverick’ cast led by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada whose political stand on the current national issues run counter to his colleagues’; si Christopher de Leon who doesn’t believe in artistic compromises; at si Dawn Zulueta whose world transcends showbiz.

Similarly, gusto kong isipin that Maverick Films’ Ang Magkaibigan, for whatever its worth, is a non-traditional attempt at promoting less ‘festivalism’ (coined word for festival commercialism) but rather mga pelikulang may kalidad that do not capitalize on fun, fancy, and fantasy.

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After TV5 that threw a carnival-inspired party for the press last November 12, it’s ABS-CBN’s turn on December 2, Tuesday kung saan hinihikayat ang mga press attendees to do their most colorful costume.

Last year, the network colors tulad ng red, blue at green in costumes ang naging pakontes. This year, more colors are added. Matalbugan kaya ng Dos ang Singko?

And how about… uh-oh, my tongue is pulled back.