Eric Quizon-directed travel show debuts Dec. 11

When not acting, Eric Quizon is busy as a director. He is behind “Happy Life,” a new travel slash reality show with a charity component produced by White Lion Media Productions owned by former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson.

 He was offered to direct “Happy Life” a few months back but he was then busy directing the ABS-CBN soap “Pasion de Amor.” When he was finished with his soap opera chores, Gov. Singson asked Eric if he was ready for the show.

 “Actually, ipinagawa na niya ito sa iba but then parang hindi siya masyadong happy. I think the project was really meant for me. Tapos sabi niya sa akin, ‘Eric, gawin mo na ito,” the actor-director said during the media launch of “Happy Life” at Gloria Maris Restaurant in Greenhills, San Juan City last Wednesday.

 And since he is the director, he had inputs on the show. “When you are the director, you are part of the conceptualization, like I was the one who chose the places we went to, “he said. “Of course, may mga line-up but we do our research then we plan everything after the research kasi yung mga recipients, sinasala namin. We choose them carefully.”

 “We don’t just give to somebody who needed help kasi lahat naman ay nangangailangan but we give it to the person na talagang deserving. Pinipili namin talaga. The reason kung bakit pinili namin 76-year-old farmer na lola is because she was so selfless. Ang gusto niyang tulong hindi para sa kanya kundi para sa apo niyang may sakit. So nagulat kami. Binibigyan na namin siya ng gusto niya. Ang hinihingi niyang tulong ay para sa apo niya.”

 They started taping sometime in May but it is only this December that they are airing. The pilot telecast is on December 11, Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on GMA News TV.

 “Gusto namin bongga ang first episode that is why we are giving a house to our first recipient. But it took time before I was able to find a lot where to construct the house. Plus it is fully-furnished when we gave it to her.”

 “In the show, we ask people to donate so we ask friends or friends of friends of Gov. Chavit Singson. Ako ini-encourage ko ang mga kapatid ko na tumulong like Epy and Vandolph,” added Eric.

 Most travel shows capture the beauty and significance of places and people while enjoying the experience on and off camera. “Happy Life” certainly has these and more. It is a travel show with a cause. The show takes the joy of traveling and celebrating life along with the sense of extending help to others.

 “Happy Life” is a new Sunday morning special to watch out for, with its light, stylish take on seriously important matters such as encouraging others to pay it forward and initiate projects to benefit the less privileged, either in the form of livelihood projects, shelter-building initiatives, or community sharing acts.

 The show transports televiewers to the beautiful sights and sounds, delicious native cuisines, local culture and traditions. Hosts Bea Santiago, MJ Lastimosa, Jamie Herrell, Giulia Zahar, Sophie Rankin and Anthea Murfet – a classy group of ladies owing to their allure and intelligence as beauty queens and models—will take viewers to interesting places around the Philippines, all in the name of fun and sharing.

“We primarily showcase the value of helping others with the backdrop of eye-popping destinations readily provided by the Philippines. It is a lifestyle show with a style of its own,” emphasized Direk Eric.

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With the snub given to the filmfest entries of Vic Sotto (“Enteng Kabisote 10 and the Abangers”) and Vice Ganda and Coco Martin (“The Super Parental Guardians”), plus “Mano Po 7” of Regal Entertainment, we wonder what will be the outcome of the forthcoming 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival in terms of box-office earnings.

 Since the screening committee favored indie films as this year’s entries, it is feared that MMFF 2016 might not earn much and miss its target gross at the tills.

 If we look at the entries, there seems to be no marquee star. Nora Aunor may be considered the queen of the MMFF, but her recent past MMFF entries like “Thy Womb” failed to attract viewers. Here’s hoping Noranians will make Ate Guy’s “Kabisera” a winner at the box-office so it won’t suffer the same fate as “Thy Womb.”

 Touted as looming rivals for box-office supremacy are Paolo Ballesteros’ “Die Beautiful” and Eugene Domingo’s “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2: Forever is not Enough,” which is the comeback film of Uge after a two-year absence from the big screen.

The Star Cinema film titled “Vince & Kath & James” features young stars Joshua Garcia, Julia Barretto and Ronnie Alonte who have yet to prove their box-office mettle.

Then there is the Erik Matti horror film “Seklusyon,” also featuring newcomers with untested drawing power.

 There is the danger that if an entry doesn’t make good at the box-office on its first three days, it might be bumped off to give way to an entry that is making money. But we hope the cinemas will be generous enough to give at least a weeklong playdate for each entry regardless if its making money or not.

 To those who love good movies, it is about time they prove that they are out there and willing to support the festival entries. They should encourage their friends and family members to watch and to make the festival a success.