'TANGING INA': NOT SURPRISING THAT AI-AI WON AS BEST ACTRESS
MANILA, JANUARY 4, 2011 (MALAYA) MARIO BAUTISTA ('How could she lose with such a well rounded, multi-faceted performance compared to Jennylyn Mercado's anemic interpretation of Rosario?')
THE first "Tanging Ina" is a wacky farce about a mother with ten children with four different fathers. It has some moments of inspired lunacy that made it quite endearing. In comparison, the sequel, "Tanging Ina Ninyong Lahat," was so badly written and directed we weren't able to stand it and walked out of the theater without finishing it. The third one, "Tanging Ina Mo Rin," is somewhere in between the two: not as good as the first one but not as unbearable as the second.
Ai Ai de las Alas is lucky that it had no tough or standout competitor among the other filmfest entries so it's not surprising that it harvested many of the trophies at the recent filmfest awards night.
The movie, just like Ai Ai and her best friend Eugene Domingo's acting, is a no-holds-barred hodge-podge of buffonery, hysterical and slapstick efforts to make people laugh, unabashed melodrama and other over-the-top cinematic ploys at clowning aimed to please the crowd. Although some of these tricks fall flat on their face (like Ai Ai trying to stop son Marvin Agustin from what she thinks is an attempt to commit suicide from a rooftop billboard), there's no doubt the movie succeeds in achieving its intentions to tickle the viewer's funnybone.
It's not surprising that Ai Ai won as best actress as she's given so many acting highlights. To show how good she is in comedy, she parodies Venus Raj "major major" moment at the Miss Universe Pageant and even disrobes totally in a scene in an X-ray room (she's the former president of the country and we doubt if Gloria Arroyo would allow herself to be subjected to such an indignity).
To display how versatile she is and also adept in drama, she is made to deliver long dramatic arias (particularly in that special healing mass for her led by a Mike Velarde religious leader played by Andoy Ranay) while shedding copious tears. How could she lose with such a well rounded, multi-faceted performance compared to Jennylyn Mercado's anemic interpretation of Rosario?
But the movie's moment of glory will be confined only to the filmfest. Because in the annual award-giving derbies, it would surely pale in comparison to a much more superior kind of comedy like "Here Comes the Bride," where Ai Ai will also face very tough competition in Angelica Panganiban and Eugene Domingo who give truly rollicking laugh-out-loud performances in this hilarious tale of multiple body-switches. We're happy for Ai Ai as we know she spent her own money to promote her movie, hosting her own Christmas party for the press, her own presscon and even her own thanksgiving/victory party.
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Marian Rivera is thankful to her fans who sponsored a special screening of her filmfest entry, "Super Inday and the Golden Bibe," for indigent kids who can't afford to pay for it in theaters. Marian has a soft spot for poor kids and has already helped three kids afflicted with the big C who were so happy to see her in person but later succumbed to the ailment. "Mahal ko ang mga bata, lalo na 'yung deprived because of poverty or disease kasi mga inosente silang walang kalaban-laban," she says. "Kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa fans kong nag-sponsor ng screening ng 'Super Inday' dahil I saw for myself na napasaya talaga 'yung mga batang nanood."
This was shown in "Showbiz Central" and it's obvious that Marian is one top actress who has a charitable heart. "Showbiz Central" also showed an interview with Ogie Alcasid's first wife, Michelle Van Eimeren, who said she's very happy for her ex-husband and new wife Regine Velasquez. It's so nice to hear Michelle still speaking Tagalog so fluently. All the foreign actors who want to learn Tagalog fast, like the Brapanese models, should get tips from her.
A new segment in "Showbiz Central" that clicked well with the viewers is Unli-Tsismis, where viewers themselves send the questions asked directly to their fave stars who then answer them on cam. They should have more of this kind of interaction between stars and fans.
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Paolo Avelino is happy that GMA-7 didn't drop him after he became a young dad. He's supposed to be part of the return of "Captain Barbell" but the management opted to give him a lead role as the leading man of Tween Star newcomer Louise de los Reyes who'd be launched solo in the telefantasya "Alakdana." "Nagpapasalamat ako sa GMA at hindi nawala ang tiwala nila sa akin," says Paolo, who now works out more assiduously in the gym to prepare for his role. But don't ever make the mistake of inquiring how LJ Reyes and their son Ethan are doing. He won't give any answer.
Now managed by Leo Dominguez, he's been warned not to talk about them so as not to underline his being a father. As if people could easily forget such things.
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Becky Aguila, the manager of Jennylyn Mercado, sent us the star's official statement about her sentiments on the controversy regarding her not being nominated for "Rosario":
"Nagugulat po ako sa lahat ng issues na lumabas pagkatapos ng MMFF awards at madami pong nagtatanong sa 'kin kung anong nararamdaman ko. Nung ginawa ko po ang pelikula, binigay ko po lahat ng makakaya ko hindi dahil sa gusto ko lang manalo ng award. Pero magpapakatotoo lang po ako na kahit papano, gusto ko ring ma-recognize kung ano 'yung nagawa ko. Nasaktan po ako sa nangyari pero kung hindi man po ako nakapasa sa panlasa ng mga jurors, tinatanggap ko po iyon. There's always a next time, at mas lalo ko pa pong pagbubutihan sa susunod. I know that this will help me to become more mature as a person and as an actress. I sincerely accept what happened, and in time, makakalimutan ko din po ito. I realized that the appreciation that the people gave for the movie is already rewarding in itself. I am really grateful to those people who supported me and the movie. Nagpapasalamat din po ako ng husto kay Ms. Ai-Ai. Sobrang iniidolo ko po siya. Na-touch po ako sa mga sinabi nya. Kay Sir Manny V. Pangilinan, lubos po akong nagpapasalamat na ako po ang pinili ninyong gumanap sa buhay ng lola nyo. Maraming maraming salamat po. Muli po akong nagpapasalamat ke Direk Albert Martinez, Mr. Bong Sta Maria at Direk Joan Banaga sa pagbibigay ng tiwala sa'kin at paniniwala sa kakayahan ko bilang aktres. Pinagmamalaki ko po si Direk Albert para sa isang magandang pelikula na ito, sayang at hindi siya na-nominate. This will be my first and last statement, and sana po matapos na 'yung mga issues na lumalabas regarding the MMFF awards. Maraming salamat sa mga nanood at tumangkilik ng pelikula. Patuloy po ninyong suportahan ang 'Rosario.' Salamat po."
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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