Last week, the public high school students of Quezon City were able to watch “MLQ: The Musical” (Ang Buhay ni Manuel Luis Quezon) which was based on the life of the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth, Manuel Luis Quezon.
This is a project of Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista in cooperation with Full House Asia Productions. Their objective is to educate the youth of today the historical contribution of the great Statesman. The premiere night of MLQ was held at the KIA Theater (formerly known as New Frontier Theater) and the event was graced by Mayor Bautista himself who couldn’t help but reminisce with the reopening of the famous landmark. The former New Frontier Theater was the venue of many successful premiere screenings of popular Filipino movies such as “Hihintayin Kita sa Langit” and “The Flor Contemplacion Story,” just to name a few.
Mayor Herbert said that since his family used to live in New York St., Cubao, they just walk from their house going to the theater and then after watching a movie, would have dinner at Bamboo Restaurant, a popular Chinese eatery.
According to the QC Mayor, they hope that KIA Theater will be the venue for Broadway or West End plays. He also expressed his thanks to the Araneta Center for allowing the staging of “MLQ: The Musical” as the first event in the newly refurbished venue which happened on Manuel L. Quezon’s birthday last August 19.
Of course, the media present at the event could not help but ask Mayor Herbert about the movie “Mr. and Mrs. Split” which he and Kris Aquino are headlining for the Metro Manila Film Festival. Mayor Bistek said the last time he talked to Kris, she told him she is still busy filming for the Chito Roño film “Etiquette for Mistresses.” She will finish the said movie first before she starts work on “Mr. and Mrs. Split.” The good mayor is hoping and praying that Kris will be in excellent health. If she gets sick, the movie might not push through.
He said they have yet to meet with Star Cinema to discuss the movie so he is really clueless if the rumor is true that Kris is thinking of backing out from the project if her health will not permit it. When told he seems to be avoiding questions about Kris, the mayor said, “We need to be bonding with friends, especially if the movie will start soon. But beyond the movie, the friendship should be there.”
While he is hoping and praying that the film pushes through, it all depends if Kris’ health will be up for it.
* * *
“Eat Bulaga!” set another record Saturday, August 22, after the longest running noontime show posted a rating of 39 percent, its highest this year. This is more than three times higher than “It’s Showtime” with its 11.4% rating, based on overnight numbers of AGB Nielsen in Mega Manila.
This high rating of “Eat Bulaga!” is largely attributed to its KalyeSerye segment featuring the AlDub loveteam of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza a.k.a. Yaya Dub.
Time stood still once again last Saturday at the supposed wedding of Frankie Arinolli and Yaya Dub. Everyone was watching Eat Bulaga’s KalyeSerye so it is no longer a surprise if the noontime show trended not only nationwide, but also worldwide.
But the wedding was again disrupted because the pastor turned out to be fake. Even the doctor who diagnosed Lola Nidora as dying was also an impostor. So there might be a chance of a happy ending for Alden and Yaya Dub since Lola Nidora even said sorry to Alden. But will Lola Nidora finally give her blessing? Even if Alden’s eyes were puffy from crying (those were real tears!), he broke into a smile when the wedding was halted.
And since there is a clamor for an Alden and Yaya Dub movie team-up, well, they are indeed part of the Vic Sotto-Ai Ai delas Alas filmfest entry titled “Romcom-in Mo Ako,” an entry to this December’s Metro Manila Film Festival – a development that Ai Ai confirmed in an article on an entertainment site.
Many people are saying that even before Alden and Yaya Dub starts filming for this Vic-AiAi film, they would probably meet each other first in the KalyeSerye that has made everyone hooked on “Eat Bulaga!,” thus, the high surge in ratings for the noontime show.
* * *
Opening in theaters today is “Homeless,” an advocacy film of director Neal “Buboy” Tan which features Kapamilya hunk Ejay Falcon in the lead role. This is produced by BG Films International Productions and was shot in Cambodia.
According to Direk Buboy, “Homeless” is based on a real life story. He said he always chanced upon street urchins begging for coins along Balintawak, Quezon City, so one time, he struck a conversation with one of the kids and asked where they were from.
“Some of them said they came from Tacloban and they were victims of typhoon Yolanda. They said life was never the same again after the tragedy that befell them. Since they cannot find food, they decided to come to Manila hoping to find work to feed their empty stomachs. Only to find that life here is also not easy. They don’t know anyone here. They don’t have relatives here and it’s also not easy find work,” he said.
In real life, these people from the provinces became victims of human trafficking by a syndicate. They were made to beg on the streets, and the syndicate members would take their earnings. The movie, though, will follow a different storyline.
Also featured in “Homeless” are Snooky Serna, Martin del Rosario, Ynna Asistio, Dimples Romana, Mico Aytona, Ezexiel Jash, Chocoleit, Hayden Kho and Ruby Ruiz.