I kept gushing about the arrangements at his party and our dear birthday boy, National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee, replied that if he would get married, it would also be potluck. But I was talking about his wedding! On his 77th birthday last March 19, Xavierville Clubhouse was transformed into some kind of wedding...
Tag: film
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Stardom, solitude, and Jaclyn Jose
By this time the ashes of actress Jaclyn Jose, who died at 60 early this month, would have been laid to rest at the Garden of the Divine Word Columbarium in Quezon City. Her older sister, the semi-retired actress Veronica Jones, believes that she is a pure soul. Indeed, she was a kind person, a...
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Jaclyn Jose could drink till daybreak and still arrive on set ready with her lines
In a huddle after the meeting called last January by the office of Sen. Robinhood Padilla to discuss the Eddie Garcia Bill, the award-winning actress Jaclyn Jose told me that we should all pull together to push the enactment of the important piece of legislation. “Hoy, pagtulung-tulungan natin na maipasa ito. Pero sana naman huwag...
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Leo Martinez opposes Senate version of Eddie Garcia Bill
Veteran actor and comedian Leo Martinez is not happy with Senate Bill No. 2505, otherwise known as the Eddie Garcia Bill. “I do not support it,” Martinez said, adding that he is in favor of the House of Representatives’ version of the measure. Martinez is known for his alter ego, “Tongressman Manhik Manaog,” and was...
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A proposed law bears Eddie Garcia’s name and legacy
Five years after his death, the iconic character actor Eddie Garcia is honored with legislation bearing his name and aimed at protecting workers in the film and television industry. Senate Bill (SB) No. 2505, otherwise known as the Eddie Garcia Bill, was unanimously approved by the Senate on Feb. 19. It now awaits a bicameral...
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‘What film can do more than what film can say’
What’s on the world cinema landscape this year? The prevailing temperament, style and substance of filmmakers and markets in the Asian capitals, including Manila? Writer-producer Roger Garcia, who was born in Hong Kong but grew up in England, is one of the best resource persons to talk about movies. He is the executive director and...
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Raised fists, tied hands, deferred hopes: ‘GomBurZa’ and the darkness of our time
The film “GomBurZa” teaches us much about Philippine history, but it should also be appreciated as an expression of, and response to, our bleak political predicament. It is as much about 2022 as 1872. Just as 1872 saw the Spanish colonial state crack down on liberalism in the Philippines, so did 2022 witness the lopsided...
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The Metro Manila Film Festival shows an industry alive and kicking
Awards nights are not complete without questioning the decisions of the jury, and the awards night of the 2023 edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) on Dec. 27 was no exception. Eyebrows were raised when “Firefly” was declared best picture over “GomBurZa,” which came in second. “GomBurZa,” after all, won more technical awards—best...
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Coming soon: the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival vs livestreaming
At the rate things are going, with most local movies screened in theaters ending up in the doldrums, what fate awaits the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF)? Ten official entries will be shown in cinemas all over the country starting on Dec. 25 until Jan. 7, and elsewhere like Los Angeles, California, from Jan....
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Netflix’s ‘Chef Chico’ offers delicious viewing experience
“Replacing Chef Chico” is a taste test of how far Filipino creatives can satisfy the international audience. And from the rave reviews and positive feedback it has been receiving since it was released globally last Nov. 24, it looks like the first Filipino-produced series on Netflix has passed the test. As of this writing, the...