Philippine Daily Inquirer: The Beginning

By JULIO CINCO N.

THE Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) has its roots in the Mr. & Ms. magazine (now defunct), with Eugenia "Eggie" Duran Apostol at the helm. This explains the so-called "Enrile connection" of the paper, especially during its early years, because of the former National Defense chief's rumored investment in the original company (Mr. & Ms. Publishing Company).

      In the aftermath of the Ninoy Aquino assassination in 1983, the opposition against the Marcos dictatorship became widespread and the demand for an alternative press grew stronger. (It must be remembered, however, that early on Jose Burgos, Jr. has blazed the trail of the alternative or mosquito press with his hard-hitting We Forum--raided and closed by the military in 1982--and Malaya papers.)

      In 1985, with the success of the black-and-white weekly Mr. & Ms. Special Edition and the succeeding Philippine Inquirer Weekly the idea for an alternative broadsheet took form. The first few meetings were held at the Mr. & Ms. offices on EDSA (near Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong and the Guadalupe Bridge) and at the Apostols' residence in Dasmarinas Village, Makati.

      The new paper needed its own printing press, more capital and a separate headquarters, and Betty Go-Belmonte came into the picture as co-chair to Eggie Apostol's founding chair. At that time, the Belmontes owned two small presses which the family used in their business to print Bibles and textbooks. It was said then that almost 70 percent of the investment of the PDI was put in by Belmonte, and she was designated concurrently as treasurer.

      Florangel Braid and veteran journalists Max Soliven, Art Borjal and Louie Beltran completed the paper's first inner circle. Thus the Philippine Daily Inquirer was born.

      Preparations for the Inquirer's dry run were first started at the Mr. & Ms. offices on EDSA (with publisher Apostol and some women editors like Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc and Rosario A. Garcellano among others), until the paper settled in the one-storey Star Building (the present office of the Philippine Star) on 14th and Railroad Streets, Port Area, Manila.

      Louie Beltran was named editor-in-chief and the staff of 40 editors, reporters, correspondents, photographers and other editorial employees put out the Inquirer's maiden issue  on December 9, 1985, with 30,000 initial copies. The running joke then at the 100-square-meter newsroom was Joey Nolasco's (Eggie's nephew and PDI's current managing editor) frequent "meditation" over his Olympia typewriter. Allegedly, it took Nolasco hours on end to file his single story for the day, and still miss the deadline. Of course, the huge Beltran would holler from his seat and others shuddered at the sound of his booming voice.

     The contest between "a world-class thief" and "a housewife na walang alam" in the snap election that culminated in the EDSA Revolt in February 1986 took the Inquirer circulation by storm, in a manner of speaking. From 100,000 copies in January 1986 to 250,000 copies shortly before the EDSA Uprising the Inquirer's output continued to soar beyond the 300,000 mark at the height of the EDSA fever. There were times when the Inquirer's circulation was sabotaged, as copies were stolen or confiscated by Marcos men. A newspaper dealer in Quezon City was mauled and newsboys were threatened  because they were selling Malaya and Inquirer.

     But the Inquirer "honeymoon" was short-lived. As the revolution devoured its children, so they say, "After EDSA, questions about finances and divergence of priorities caused a rift among the founders, and Belmonte, Soliven and Art Borjal found themselves on the streets--literally," according to a certain report.

     "Max, Art and Betty walked out to the sidewalks, in front of the STAR Bldg. Betty was the treasurer and co-chairman. And they left the 300 million...," the same report said.

    On June 27, 1986 the Inquirer transferred to the Madrid Restaurant on EDSA ( beside the former Polymedic Hospital and now the Victor R. Potenciano Medical Center)" that Soliven had passed on to the Inquirer (decided on during a board meeting at his home in Greenhills, San Juan), and gave the Inquirer a home after the split."   

The Best Gay Beauty Pageant? Mga Intriga at Pakulo sa Manila's Five Prettiest 2011

By JULIO CINCO N.

 The Manila's Five Prettiest 2011, from left to right: Channa Mendis, Trixie Maristela, Raine Marie Madrigal, Michelle Binas and  Matrica Mae Centino

IN the early or mid-1970s I remember the Manila's Five Prettiest as the chosen circle of the most beautiful young maidens in the national capital. If memory serves, ilan sa mga pangalang naalala ko noon ay sina Maritess Revilla (kapatid ni Tina Revilla-Valencia, dating misis ni Iking Araneta at nanay ng mga modelong sina Bianca at Paolo Araneta, isa sa mga ex-boyfriend ni Anne Curtis) , Maricar Zaldarriaga (1971 Miss Young Philippines at nanay ni Paolo Gerardo Zaldarriaga, the 18-year-old son of DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas) at Marian de la Riva (former wife ng dating aktor na si Ronald Corveau at naging companion din ni William Lao, producer ng Bonanza Films).

      Then, sometime in the late 1980s and 1990s, ang Manilas Five Prettiest ay nagbagong anyo at napunta sa gay beauties, sa pagmamagaling ng yumaong beauty stylist and entrepreneur, Jun Encarnacion. Ang huling Manila's Five  Prettiest contest sa pamamahala ni Encarnacion ay ginanap sa Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) sa Cultural Center of  the Philippines (CCP) complex noong 1995. Dalawa sa winners nila noon ay ang 54-anyos na si Barbie Anderson (born Arturo Natividad on September 9, 1957) at Kate Montecarlo.

      Naging aktibo si Jun E.  sa showbiz at gumawa ng ilang pelikula at tv shows before he succumbed to the Big C. At natigil na ang kanyang gay beauty pageants.

       Recently, however, biglang nag-resurrect ang Manila's Five Prettiest sa ilalim ng bagong organizers na sina Markie Binsol at Dr. Reyvic Cerilles (an EENT specialist from UP Diliman with a sub-specialization in cosmetics surgery from the U.S.), under the helm of  the Futuris Betera organization. To be fair, talagang pinaghandaan nang maigi at ginastusan din nang malaki ng bagong organizers, so that the new Manila's Five Prettiest would come close  to the previous idea and execution of the late Jun E.

      True enough, talagang bonggang-bongga ang ginawang Manila's Five Prettiest 2011 beauty pageant sa Pope Pious Auditorium along United Nations Avenue, Manila noong July 31, 2011. Murang-mura ang admission price (150 pesos per)  kaya talagang SRO at dinumog ng maraming manonood. Heading the board of judges were veteran designer Aureo Alonzo and Pinoy Big Brother alumna, Rica Paras. The prizes were fabulous, at ang mahalaga ay naibigay nang cash at buong-buo sa mga nanalo sa mismong gabi ng contest, after the announcement of winners. Di ba, Trikks Ugadan?

      Each of the five winners recieved Ph20,000 cash plus the other prizes ( more cash and gift packages) in the special awards, e.g Best in Swimsuit (Raine Marie Madrigal, Ph5,000 and gift packages), Best in Evening Gown (Trixie Maristela, Ph5,000 and gift packages), Best in National Costume (Ivy Rivero, Ph5,000 and gift packages), and Best Talent (Matrica Mae Centino, Ph5,000 and gift packages).

     May napili ring limang People's Choice ( Matrica Mae Centino, Raine Marie Madrigal, Gerald Quiogue, Lesly Vidal at Vicky Mae Segovia) na nagkamit ng cash prize na Ph10,000 bawat isa.

     The Manila's Five Prettiest winners are the following: Matrica Mae Centino from Basey, Samar; Raine Marie Madrigal, Cebu City ; Channa Mendis, Iloilo; Trixie Maristela, Pasig City; and Michelle Binas of Sultan Kudarat.

     Mukhang maganda ang hangarin nina Markie Binsol sa pagbubuhay nila uli ng Manila's Five Prettiest lalo na't may nauna na silang Bb.Gay Pilipinas 2010 noong nakaraang July 2010 bilang paghahanda sa mas malakihang gay beauty pageant para sa 2011. And they left no stone unturned, so to speak, in coming up with the biggest and most prestigious gay beauty contest so far.

    Bilang patunay ay nagkaroon pa sila ng Manila's Five Prettiest 2011 Coronation Ball noong Agosto 9, 2011, na ginanap sa Ibarra's Garden (beside the famous La Solidaridad Bookstore of National Artist for Literature, F. Sionil Jose, and in front of Robinsons Place Ermita) in Padre Faura, Manila. Talagang pinagkagastusan ang nasabing magarbong okasyon--mula sa paghahanda sa buong lugar hanggang sa ihinaing buffet. Too bad, na maraming expected guests ang hindi nakarating kaya sobrang-sobra ang pagkain na pinagsalu-saluhan ng mga dumalo.

     Masuwerte ako dahil mula sa kanilang dressing room ay nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na makita at maobserbahan ang naumang apat na winners--sina Matrica Mae, Raine Marie, Channa at Michelle. Ayon sa ilang inside information, No.1 choice si Matrica Mae o Matmat, No.2 si Raine Marie, No.3 si Channa, No.4 si Trixie (na pinakahuling dumating) at No.5 si Michelle.

     Ganoon umano ang ranking ng lima, according to the judges' results, at lima ang nag-tie sa ikalimang puwesto. At ang napili, finally, ay si Michelle Binas nga ng Sultan Kudarat at matagal na ring naninirahan sa Manila.

      Dramatic entrance ang ginawa ni Trixie na siyang pinakahuling  tinawag at rumampa patungo sa winners' table. Akala ko pa naman ay maganda ang reigning Miss Gay Philippines, hindi naman pala. Pero babaeng-babae talaga ang kilos, pananalita at dating niya, at magaling magsalita, sa English man o Tagalog. Marahil, sobra lang ang expectation ko dahil sa labis na hype ng iba.

      Inamin ni Trixie na kamakailan lang ay nagkaroon na siya ng "functional vagina," na tanggap naman daw ng pamilya niya. Sa ganang akin, tama lang na nasa No.4 si Trixie. No question about that.

      Sa kanilang lima ay consistent ang regal bearing at pagiging refined sa galaw at pananalita (kahit sa mga "unguarded moment") ni Channa Mendis ng Iloilo. She reminds one of Gemma Cruz, Aurora Pijuan and Gloria Diaz in their heyday.

     Hataw naman sa pagkanta si Matmat at talagang panggulat ang Broadway version niya ng "Cabaret" na, ayon sa kanya, ay kinakanta na niya mula pa sa edad na 13. (And she's now 35 years old, according to her.)

     Guest singer for that night ang 12-year-old (and first-year high school) na si Kris Angelica de la Cruz, first runner-up sa 2009 Birit Baby ng "Eat Bulaga." Raw talent pa si Kris Angelica, pero maganda ang boses, at medyo may "kapal" nang konti kaysa karaniwang birit nina Regine Velasquez, Rachelle Anne Go at Charice.

      Konting panahon at pagsasanay pa at oras na mahasa na nang husto ay maraming patataubing singers ang boses ng malaking bulas na dalagita. Nagmistulang "mini-concert" niya ang naturang Coronation Ball ng Manila's Five Prettiest  2011. Bumanat ba naman ng "There's a Winner in You" ni Patti Labelle, "And I Am Telling You" ni Jennifer Hudson, " Through the Rain" ni Chaka Kahn at "Listen" ni Beyonce, aba, eh, talagang bagyo nga ang dating ng kayumangging dalagita. Medyo nakasasawa lang, if you ask me.

      Sabi ni Markie Binsol, bahala na raw si Dr. Reyvic Cerilles sa pag-e-enhance pa sa natural beauty ng Manila's Five Prettiest 2011 winners. As they are, okay na sa akin ang ganda ng lima pero kung kailangan pa ng konting " ayos," so be it. Medyo malapad nga ang ilong ni Matmat, na pabirong tinutukso ng ilan na kamukha umano ng transvestite version ni Michael V., pero bagay naman sa hugis ng mukha niya. In fact, isa iyon sa ikinaiba niya. Isa pa, matangkad at malaking "babae" naman siya kaya swak na swak lang. Why disturb God's natural beauty endowment?

       Para sa akin, mas magkakaproblema si Reyvic sa korte ng mga mukha nina Trixie at Michelle. Di bale na si Raine Marie na may pinakamagandang "whistle-bait figure" at ang mukha'y mas magandang version naman ni Gladys Reyes.

      All in all, oustanding pa rin ang dark-brown beauty ng Ilonggang si Channa, at consistent siya all throughout the evening of  the so-called Manila's Five Prettiest 2011 Coronation Ball.

      Truly, may "Better Future" talaga ang gay beauty pageants, di ba Markie?.

The Five Best Actors of All Time in Philippine Showbiz

By MARK BENIGNO

KUNG may Five Best Actresses Of All Time tayo natural lang na mayroon din Five Best Actors of All Time. Nakakaloka dahil dalawa sa choices ng ating natatanging kritiko at psychic obserber ay matagal nang pumanaw sa dako pa roon.

    Pero sila'y nag-iwan ng marka at kakaibang tatak sa larangan ng mahusay na pag-arte, sa kahit na anumang uri ng papel na ginampanan nila sa pelikula, telebisyon, entablado at kung saan-saan pa.

   

   Sa madaling salita, heto na sila:

1.) Jay Ilagan (SLN)

2.) Vic Silayan (SLN)

3.) John Lloyd Cruz

4.) Bembol Rocco

5.) Roderick Paulate

'Anak' is Freddie Aguilar and Freddie Aguilar is 'Anak'

By JULIO CINCO N.

                                              Freddie Aguilar

A NUMBER of people  know that sometime in their unchildhood the legendary Freddie Aguilar has composed an entire original album for that other legendary, Nora Aunor. Whatever happened to that music in the wind?

    Now that La Aunor is back, isn't it about time they revived those unheard-of melodies before they are finally forgotten and forever consigned to oblivion?

    The thing is, when it comes to singing Ka Freddie is almost lightyears away from my audio-vocal conciousness. And more so visually, now and then. I have to be honest, the adolescent Golden Voice  of Nora Aunor is quite unique and remains unmatched in my musical memory. Too bad, she abused, spoiled and lost it to the so-called six degrees of addiction that she navigated, and drowned her in the process.

    Money, fame, cigarettes, alcohol, sex, drugs.

    So where does the Pinoy Bob Dylan fit in?

     For the first time, one humid night in August, I negotiated the dirty and darkish roads of Manila's belly to catch THE Freddie Aguilar's Friday performance in his eponymous music bar and restaurant along Adriatico, near the corner of Pedro Gil Street.

     Only a few souls had gathered inside when I came in--mostly a motley of ageing fans, friends and youngish viewers eager to have a taste of some late-night gig, circa 1970s and 2011. The sound trip from down memory lane to the current is an emotional roller-coaster of low and high notes, with some surprises thrown in in between.

      Fronting Freddie's act was youngest son Jericho's electrifying take on Guns n' Roses' "Knockin On Heaven's Door," it was almost metallic. Sporting the family's long- hair trademark Jericho's curly top was more energetic, just like his music. But, let's face it, Jericho is no Freddie and his thing is far, far behind his father's feathers, so to speak.

      Jericho's group followed it up with "Funky Town Blues," (?), and now you know where to place them in music history. Of course, they have their own share of the small audience that night, but a daunting instrumental version of "Anak" promptly quieted their applause.

      Another performer claimed the stage, this time a soloist with a guitar, plucking the faint strains of "Meditation," sans vocals. Leo Romero's fingers were tentative and his voice was unsure in his second number, the Bread's "Everything I Own." He tried crossing "We May Never Pass This Way Again," but didn't come across safe for my ear.

      At exactly 11:20 P.M. Freddie Aguilar mounted the stage with the Watawat Band and son Jericho on rhythm. So this is the internationally famous Freddie Aguilar, who I've known mostly from records, radios, videos and TV. Sa opening song ("Pinoy") pa lang ay wala na akong masabi. The old deep, haunting voice is intact, the performance signature. Clad in an all-black outfit with some bright purple combination in the short sleeves and black medium-brimmed hat, Freddie's customized look is enough to stun any doubting Thomases.

       Mostly, or so I noticed, he sang with his eyes closed. At may paliyad-liyad pa siya a la Pilita Corrales, male version. His highly emotional take on "Mindanao" makes one think it's a separate republic he's cooing about.

      The good thing about Freddie Aguilar is not his long straight hair (although it surely sets him apart from the rest since Day One) but his singular voice. When speaking, it's different, huskier, fuller and gentler, with a thick volume. The same voice transforms into a different tune when singing. By the way, just how many singers do we have with good distinct voices? Katy de la Cruz, Fred Panopio, Diomedes Maturan, Ric Manrique, Jr., Pilita Corrales, Merci Molina, Eddie Peregrina, Jose Mari Chan, Yoyoy Villame, Nora Aunor, Rico Puno, Dulce, Lea Salonga and who else?

      Another thing, Freddie Aguilar does not merely strum and pluck his guitar; he breathes life into the instrument as though it's an organic extension of himself. The secret, I think, is in the feeling he pours into his performance and the kind of guitar and strings that he uses. Hindi ordinaryo at basta-bastang gitara at "tangsi" (guitar strings in the Visayan). Is Ka Freddie using El Cajon's (California)Taylor guitar (or any other of Bob Taylor's and Kurt Listug's creations from way back in 1974) and D'Angelo or D'Addario (Italian) strings?

      At one point, Freddie hummed the harmonica to introduce his signature and most successful song, "Anak." Later, nagsabay sila ni Jericho sa plucking ng kanilang mga gitara para sa main intro ng "Anak." The 58-year-old voice (FA was born on February 5, 1953) still captures the salient nuances  of the universal song as he brings it to a different level.

       Sadly, Jericho's attempt at doing a duet with his father for the song's refrain fell flat, and failed. It's still Freddie--and Freddie alone--who could carry the same song  to a new canon. "Anak" is Freddie Aguilar and only Freddie Aguilar is "Anak."  

Five Worst Actresses of All Time

By Mark Benigno

KUNG may binanggit na Five Best Actresses of All Time ang kilalang pihikang kritiko at attentive observer na nakausap ko kamakailan, siyempre, may sinabi rin siya tungkol sa Five Worst Actresses of All Time. Handa na ba kayo?

    Ayon mismo sa nasabing kritiko, ang Five Best Actresses at Five Worst Actresses ay talagang para sa mga lead star at popular movie actresses lang at hindi kasama sa kategorya ang mga character actress at starlet. Talagang tunay na mga "star" lang, at hindi yung mga nakapagbida lang sa isa, dalawa o tatlong pelikulang ewan ay "lead star" na kunong matatawag. Tse!

    O, siya, siya,  huwag na raw tayong magpatumpik-tumpik pa at narito na ang listahan ng all-time five worst actresses.

1) KRIS AQUINO

2) ALMA MORENO

3) AMALIA FUENTES

4) MARIAN RIVERA

5) SNOOKY SERNA

  Ano kaya at pagsama-samahin sa isang pelikula o anumang project ang

limang ito? Riot siguro at mistulang workshop (on "bad-worse-worst" acting) ang kalalabasang show. O, Mother Lily, Donna, Robbie, at Wilson, ano pa ang hinihintay niyo?

     Ang suggestion ko naman sa nabanggit na critic na sabi nila ay "pa -Greta Garbo" umano ang pa-effect,  sana ay isama bilang leading man ng lima ang matagal na rin itinuturing na "worst actor of all time" na si Diether Ocampo, sa tunay na edad niyang 38. (Ayon sa kanyang orig na birth certificate si DO ay ipinanganak noong July 19, 1973. Alam iyan nina Ian Valdez at ang mga katropa nila noon sa Las Pinas at Parananque, early 1990s.)

      Siyanga pala, may iba pang pasabog ang tahimik pero mataray at magaling na kritikong nakilala ko lang noong nakaraang taon. Mayroon din pala siyang listahan ng Five Best Actors of All Time at Five Worst Actors din.

     

     Siyempre pa, mawawala ba ang Five Best Filipino Films of All Time at Five Best Directors din. Natitiyak kong mabubulabog din ang maraming utaw dahil talaga namang credible at may "K"  ang choices ng tatahi-tahimik na kritikong ito.

      May hinahanap akong article tungkol sa pulitika ng movie awards na matagal nang sinulat ng kritikong ito na gusto kong i-post dito para naman magkaroon tayo ng basehan sa mga sinasabi niya. Dapat lang, di ba?

      Kunsabagay, sa isang banda, "expected" na rin para sa isang beterano na tulad niya ang kanyang choices for The Five Best Filipino Films at Five Best Directors na narinig ko. "Kisapmata", Maynila: Sa mga Kuko...", etc.

      At sana, may may katapat ding Five Worst Films at Five Worst Directors. Pero, teka, may pahabol pa pala siya. Iisa lang daw ang choice niya para sa Worst Director Of All Time. Totoo ba ito? 

      Clue? Siya ang paboritong direktor ni Manoling Morato. Kuha niya umano ang lahat ng puwesto--from one to five bilang The Worst Filipino Director Of All Time. At hindi niya kaliga ang pamosong Ed Wood ng Hollywood, ha! 

Sa ibang level ni Vilma at iba pa

by Mark Benigno

                                                Gov. Vilma Santos

SABI ni Gov. Vilma Santos ay nasa "ibang level na siya kaya ayaw na niyang patulan ang tungkol kay Nora Aunor."

     Tama si Ate Vi, nasa ibang level na nga siya ng mga corrupt sa showbiz at pulitika. Iba na talaga ang nagagawa ng "pork barrel" sa utak, puso at damdamin ng tao.

     Ang alam ng marami ay nagpapakarelihiyoso si Fanny Serrano o mas kilala sa tawag na TF. "Born-again" or renewed Christian na siya kuno, pero nakausap namin ang ilan sa mga tauhan niya sa kanyang parlor at may mga sinasabi silang taliwas sa mga press release at pakitang tao ng make-up artist nina Lorna Tolentino at Sharon Cuneta. Madalas daw silang ginugutom at walang pagkain lalo na sa almusal, halimbawa.

     Ano kaya ang masasabi ni TF tungkol dito? Tama siya, di dapat magpakabayani ang mga bakla!

    Naniniwala ba kayong nagbago na si Nora Aunor? Siguro sa ibang bagay, pero sa kati ng katawan matindi pa rin siya. Kung hindi, bakit pinapunta pa rin niya si John Rendez upang makasama niya rito at mabigyan din ng papel sa "El Presidente" nila ni Gov. E.R. Ejercito?

    Ngayon pa lang, malinaw na isang "monumental FLOP" in the making ang

"El Presidente: The Gen Emilio Aguinaldo Story." Lahat halos ng involved sa production ng nasabing pelikula ay pawang mga laos--mula sa director, lead actor, actress at iba pa. Maging ang production designer ay laos na rin at napaglipasan na ng panahon. At ang cinematography? Mukhang glossy movie raw ng Viva at Star Cinema.

    Ano ba ang "beef' nina Antonio Vidal Aguilar at mga katropa niya sa Cannes Best Director na si Brilliante Mendoza? Higanteng inggit ba o galit?

    

    Ayaw nina Raya Martin at Nick Deocampo ng ganyan!

    Ayon sa ilang insider, hindi type ni Brilliante Mendoza ang "acting" nina Gina Pareno at Jacklyn Jose, kahit pa kinuha niya ang mga ito sa ilang pelikula niya. How true Dante's Inferno?

     Sabi ni Direk Arman noon, pugad ng sex at iba-ibang sex maniac ang Dante's Garden sa Barangka, Mandaluyong.

     Ayon sa isang kritiko, hindi sasampa sa 25 Best Actresses niya sina Sharon Cuneta, Maricel Soriano, Susan Roces at Jacklyn Jose. Sina Marian Rivera at Kim Chui ay hindi kasali sa top 100 Best Actresses in Philippine Cinema. Ang mga maaaring mapasama ay sina Angelica Panganiban, Eugene Domingo, Anne Curtis at Heart Evangelista.

      Sinu-sino ang magagaling na direktor sa kasalukuyan? Siyempre, sina Jeffrey Jeturian, Brilliante Mendoza at Raymond Red pa rin.

   

     Paano na sina Chino Rono at Laurice Guillen? They both belong to the past, sabi pa ng isang kritiko.

    Si Mike de Leon naman ay pang-National Artist na, sabi noon ni Kuya JC Nigado (Asan na siya, Julio Cinco N.?)

     Paano naman si Carlo J. Caparas na balitang may balak mag-comeback sa filmmaking? Para sa akin, talagang pang-komiks lang ang beauty niya, at hanggang komiks lang. Pati ang mga pelikula niya, pang-komiks din!

      Ang National Con Artist, bow!(Courtesy of Manoling Morato ang the company of GMA Wolves.)

The Five Best Actresses in Philippine Showbiz

Ni Mark Benigno

ISANG pihikang observer at kritiko ang nakausap ko kamakailan at tinanong ko siya kung sinu-sino para sa kanya ang Ten Best Actresses in Local Cinema. Sa pagkakaalam ko identified sa isang Big Star ang naturang kritiko at observer, pero nagulat ako nang ibigay niya ang mga pangalan ng limang best actresses of all times.

       Lima lang daw ang nasa listahan niya at labu-labo na ang iba para sa ika-anim hanggang sa ika-sampung puwesto. O mahigit pa kung ang listahan ay aabot pa sa 20 or 25.

Heto na ang mga pangalan nila, in the following order:

1. Lolita Rodriguez

2. Charito Solis

3. Angelica Panganiban

4. Elizabeth Oropesa

5. Eugene Domingo

Matuk niyo?  Asan ang mga pangalan nina Vilma Santos at Nora Aunor na gaya nang dapat asahan? May kasunod pa ito.

Elvis lives on at Ka Freddie's

by julio cinco n.

ELVIS PRESLEY passed away almost two scores ago, but he comes to life again at Ka Freddie's Music Bar and Restaurant (every first Thursday of the month) in various impersonations topbilled by Edgar Opida, long considered to be his heir apparent in the local music scene. Every now and then, The King must be indeed rocking in his grave.

    The road from Mandaluyong and Sta. Ana to Adriatico Street, Manila was long and dark in some parts, but the trip was worth it. On a cold rainy evening in July I reached Freddie Aguilar's place at about 10:p.m., and an "unknown" front act was onstage doing the usual covers of various foreign artists--from Frank Sinatra to the Beatles to the Carpenters to Simon and Garfunkel ad infinitum.

     And then a booming voice from the dim corner of the stage announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, here he is, Edgar Opida, the "Elvis Presley of Asia!" So he has covered, and presumably conquered, the whole of Asia, I thought. What followed for funfare, sort of, was the opening soundtract of George Lucas's groundbreaking "Star Wars" movie. I found it "forced" though, but the "forcing through" was fun just the same.

      Opida's first number was a rolling plea for understanding, perhaps, due to the cruelty of age. Thus went "Don't Be Cruel", and that old original rendition by the early Elvis was somehow palpable in certain lines. With maching vintage Elvis outfit (heavily sequined blazer and flared pants, circa 1970s) and hairdo, Opida's imitation act was surely a sight-sound to behold. Of course, something short of the real thing, considering some measures in a Third World setting.

      At any rate, Opida followed it with the earthshaking "Blue Suede Shoes", as the entrepreneur Freddie Aguilar and Bert Dominic (of " Bikining Itim" fame) quietly sauntered into the scene. As if on cue, Opida segued to more familiar Elvis songs:

"You're Always On My Mind"; "Kiss Me Quick"; "Return to Sender"; "Wooden Heart"; and the country song "Your Cheatin' Heart."

      To be sure, the night was ripe for more soundtracts of our lives down memory lane: "Hound Dog" ("...the sweet and sentimental song with great lyrics," Opida said in jest); "Can't Help Falling in Love with You" (from the movie "Blue Hawaii"); " "Now or Never" ("O Sole Mio"); "Love Me Tender"; and "Jailhouse Rock."

       When  Opida crooned "I'm Falling in Love Tonight" he sounded tired, and hurried to call his first "guest singer" for the evening--Col. Boy Sagun, dubbed as "The Elvis Presley of Philippine National Police (PNP)".

       Sagun must have been ranked higher when he retired from the PNP because he murmurred, complaining, upon being unceremoniously introduced: "You demoted me..." In other words, he's "bigger" than a colonel. But everybody's equal and the same in music, the universal leveler, so...

      Sagun introduced himself as one of the "fanatic fans of Elvis". Tama at may punto siya, mas malandi nga lang ang version niya. His is the "comic Elvis", if ever there was one--voice, showmanship and all.

      His first song was an Elvis cover of "Sweet Caroline". A cover of a cover, I should say. Another Elvis cover that he rendered was "You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling", for his third song. In between,  Sagun tried a differennt version of the Elvis standard, "There's Always Me". And the crowd roared to his kind of rock 'n' roll.

   As someone from behind said: "Ang landi-landi naman ng pulis na 'to!" Well, supercops are either supersexy or supersexed, or both, if you care to know.

    Really now, talagang ibang klaseng Elvis si Boy Sagun at nag-enjoy ang audience sa mga antic at pakwela niya. The whole place was not filled to the brim, in a manner of speaking, but many came to watch the show. Of course, Opida had invited some of his friends and relations, including a balikbayan birthday celebrant and company, who were here on vacation. Plus a number of walk-in foreigner customers, and then some.

     By the way, somebody's version of Bobby Goldsborro's "And I Love You So" didn't do justice to the original. I think Sam Milby's shorter cover of the same song is far better than the one I heard that night. It was almost like Boy Sagun, saying sorry profusely to the widow Zeny Marcelo-Poe (who was in the audience) that he didn't know about the actor Conrad Poe's passing away (a year ago already) to the Great Beyond. And to think that they were supposed to have been bosom buddies, this according to Sagun himself.

    Opida's next Elvis guest singer was more laidback. At first, his name was not mentioned; he was simply introduced as "The Elvis Presley of NBI". 

The guy said he asked the spirit of Elvis for permission to cover another legendary artist--Louis Armstrong.

    The NBI Elvis started with the unmistakably Armstrong song, "What a Wonderful World", at pati ang brilyo ng noted black voice ay halos nakuha rin niya sa ilang linya ng nasabing kanta. Then, for a moment there, he stood still with the song "Till", and the moon seemed to have deserted the sky, as the song goes.

    But when he burst into the signature "You Don't Know Me", it was as though Elvis and Louis were rolled into one sound. Remember that during his early days Elvis Presley was tagged as " the white singer with the black voice". And the NBI Elvis had captured some of the nuances of the two great American singers.

    After covering Armstrong, the guy again asked Elvis that he'd do some Jerry Vale numbers instead of the old rock 'n' roll routine. But first he did  "Can't Help Falling in Love With You", another cover for Opidas earlier cover. Then, without so much ado, he released into the already past midnight air Jerry Vale's "Go Chase a Moonbeam" and "If (They Made Me a King)". He also wanted to sing "Inamorata" and "To Love Again" but the soundsman's minus-one was not in tune.

    Later I found out that the guy from the NBI was actually Atty.(?) Edgar "Egay" Higwit, a true-blue Bicolano from Sorsogon who had retired from the NBI, the Quezon City Police and the National Defense. So he covers Elvis Presley for the three departments, and God alone knows if it's the government's loss or gain.

   Back to the main act, Opida breezed through "I Can't Stop Loving You", "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Blue Hawaii", perhaps in an attempt to hold back the wee hours of the morning. Then he introduced what he called Elvis's "hymn to Payatas". (Payatas, according to him, is the local version of the American ghetto.)

The song is "In The Ghetto", one of Presleys's less popular tunes. (Another unpopular Elvis song is " Any Day Now", which Opida failed to do, again due to some technical reasons.)

      For his valedictory song, Opida reprised himself with what he considered as  "The Elvis Presley national anthem"--"Blue Suede Shoes". And I felt the earth move, shake and roll once more. A-one, a-two, a-three... go!.

Balik Nora, Balik Bayad

by julio cinco n.

                                                              Photo art by Bernie Placido

“In your life, have you known a single lonely day?
Like the ones that I had since you went away.
And have you been to a world where you’re all alone?
Like the world I’ve known, waiting for you.
There are stars, but all their sparkle gone.
There’s the moon, but not a silvery one.
Nights are cold, and days without a sun.
They all grew tired and gone, waiting for you…”

THAT’S vintage Nora Aunor, the Golden Voice, circa late 1960s and early 1970s. Nang mga panahong iyon kakaiba at walang tatalo sa ginuntuang boses ng bulilit na teenager mula sa Iriga sa kaibuturan ng Bicol peninsula. Batang babae na may boses-matanda na maaaring makipagsabayan sa mga international singer, male or female. (As a matter of fact, hanggang ngayon, si Nora pa rin ang may pinakamagandang female version ng classic ni Matt Monro na “The Music Played”. At walang aangal!)

    Unbeknownst to many, isa akong “verdaderong Noranian" when it comes to her singing, especially during the early years. Ayoko ko lang sa hitsura at mga gimmick niya noon at ang sobrang media hype na, let’s face it, ultimately ay hindi naman nakatulong sa kanya. In fact, maagang nalasing si Nora sa tagumpay at naniwala siya sa labis na paghanga at publicity na, eventually, ay sumira sa kanya.

   But all that is history, and there’s no point in rubbing it in like opening some old wounds. Gone are the days of Nora’s so called superstardom and all that’s left are the ancient images and incessant harking back to her heyday.

    “Walang himala!” “ My Brother is not a pig!” “Hayup, hayup…”
   “People”, “Moonlight Becomes you”
   “Silently”, “ Yesterday When I Was Young”
   “ Tiny Bubbles”, “ Pearly Shell”
   “Little Brown Girl”, “ The True Picture” (“Dio Como Te Amo”)

Talagang walang himala!

     Back to reality now, maganda ang pagbabalik ni Nora Aunor sa Pilipinas at showbiz dahil naging makatotohanan na siya. Inamin niyang ninerbiyos at takot siya noong una dahil hindi niya alam kung ano ang daratnan niya rito pagkatapos niyang mawala ng walong taon. May fans pa ba? Gusto pa ba siya ng media? Paano ang bagong producers niya? And what about her family and friends that she left behind? Or, as some people put it, the family (and most especially the children) that she allegedly “abandoned.”

    All her fears, however, were unwarranted. Sa airport pa lang ay nakita na ni Nora ang nag-aabang na fans, media, producers at iba pang di niya inaasahang welcomers. Lahat ay nagpuyat, nagutom at nagtiyagang maghintay sa kanyang pagdating.

“Welcome back to my heart, Nora!” Ito ang nasambit ko sa sarili nang muli kong marinig ang mga kanta niya sa ginawang Fans Day ng TV5 sa Broadway Centrum. Muli akong kumanta sa aking sarili dahil nakita at narinig Ko si Nora na nagpapakumbaba at humihingi ng tawad sa lahat ng kanyang mga pagkukulang at pagkakamali.

And that’s a good start. “Silently, there’s a love that burns inside of me…” And that goes for Maribel or Lala Aunor and Gov. E. R. Ejercito, too.

Manny Pacquiao : The new Denial King

by  julio cinco n.

Matagal na ring bali-balita ang tungkol sa diumano'y rejection kay Manny Pacquiao sa pag-apply nito ng membership sa ultraconservative at exclusive club ng Manila Polo Club sa Forbes  Park. Siyempre, deny-to-the-max ang pound-for-pound king, ayon sa mga sitsit sa showbiz.

        Pero ayon sa matagal na ring balita ni Beth Celis ng Philippine Daily Inquirer, sa Manila Golf Club (sa Forbes Park din) naman na-reject ang application for membership ni Pacquiao. Ano ba talaga, Al Mendoza, Manila Golf or Manila polo or both? Ang sabi sa Internet chika ng mga elitista: "Pareho!"

      Ayon pa rin sa PR column ni Celis, hindi naman daw nag-iisa si Pacman sa sinapit nitong rejection sa kamay ng mga "old rich" sa Forbes. Nauna na diumano sina Gabby Lopez (may-ari ng ABS-CBN) at Willie Revillame kamakailan.

      Dagdag pa ni Mendoza, mas nauna pa itong naranasan ni Nora Aunor noong panahon ng kaskatan niya  in the 1970s. Maging ang Makati mayor  noon na si Jojo Binay ay tinanggihan ding pagsilbihan ng lunch dahil hindi rin umnao ito miyembro ng nasabing elitist club.

      Before the Manila Golf/Manila Polo club denial, maaalala na mariin ding itinanggi noon ni Pacquiao na siya ay co-owner ng kontrobersiyal na Boracay West Cove Resort tulad nang matagal nang napababalita. Ang naturang beach resort ay binigyan ng "closure order" for allegedly operating without a permit. Besides, it was "built illegally." according to the mayor of the place himself.

      Kaya biglang iwas-pusoy si Pacman at agad itinanggi on national TV na kasosyo sa nasabing Boracay beach resort. Samantalang noong una ay madalas mabalita na napagkikikita ang boksingero sa nasabing lugar at talagang talk-of-the-town sa Boracay noon ang diumano'y "property' niyang iyon. So there goes the planned partnership for a dream beach resort with the visiting (when?) hotel heiress Paris Hilton.

      Matagal na ring usap-usapan ng mga sabungero sa Pasay, Pasig, Makati, Manila at Mandaluyong ang tungkol sa diumano,y pagkakabili ni Pacquiao ng air-con na sabungan sa Pasay. Ang kuwento sa kalye ng mga manok ay umabot iyon sa P200 million o higit pa. May-I-deny rin ba si Pacman sa usaping ito?

      Ang record ng mga denial ni Pacquiao sa loob at labas ng showbiz ay parang litanya na rin. Kumalat noon ang tungkol sa diumano'y house and lot at negosyo ni Ara, at nagngangawa si Jomari sa TV. Ang two- or three-carat diamond ring ni Rufa Mae, courtesy of the guy with the "beautiful eyes." At sino ang makalilimot sa dollar-package business enterprise plus allowance ni Krista kung saan talagang nagwala si misis pati na sa media. Anu-ano at sinu-sino pa ba?

      Baka naman ang remote Thunderbird Casino sa Antipolo ay nasungkit na rin ng Pacquiao Corporation? Malay natin... At paano na ang mga napabalitang pasugalan  ng kapatid o kamag-anak ni Manny sa Mindanao? Tanggi rito, tanggi roon. Hindi kaya sa katatanggi ni Manny sa maraming bagay  ay magmukha na siyang bagong San Pedro ng baong milenyo?

      At sino naman kaya ang bago niyang "dream girl" sa showbiz? Hindi ba siya umubra kay Marian kaya payag na siyang magpa-drug test upang mapagbigyan ang matagal nang kahilingan ni Floyd Jr.? Nabago na ang kasabihang "To try is to succeed." Now it goes: "To deny is to succeed."

      Kaya, hala, pakyawin na! 

anong say mo best joel and jay?