IT WASN’T AS SERIOUS: Nora Aunor didn’t get into a life- and-death situation despite her recent hospitalization, clears a close-in assistant.
“Contrary to rumors that spread when she failed to attend the proclamation of National Artists in Malacanang on June 16, Ate Guy was in no serious condition,” says Rodel Fernando, her publicist.
Nora’s former husband, Christopher de Leon, congratulated the superstar for this highest honor bestowed on artists by the government.
“Guy truly deserves this award,” de Leon said.
With his great body of film work, Christopher, the biggest Filipino actor in the 70s and 80s, is equally deserving of National Artist recognition.
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THE UNDERWEAR MAN: Co-actors were surprised to see this former matinee idol who walked around in his underwear at the hotel premises where they were billeted during a lock-in shoot.
Cast and crew were initially scandalized, but as days passed quickly, they got used to the scenery and let him be.
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NAKED AT HOME: Reminds me of the story of an award-winning actress, who answered the bell ringing on her door.
The caller was a movie executive, a friend of mine, who was to discuss a project for her. Still wiping sleep off her face, the awarded actress rushed to the door, opened it, much to the shock of her guest.
She was stark naked. The TV-movie man learned that the actress was used to wearing nothing at home.
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CHARO ENTERS NEW CHAPTER: At this high point in her checkered career, Charo Santos says she couldn’t believe she’d still be firing a gun in a tele-serye.
She’s doing just that, facing up to the action challenge as she plays Ramona, a de-glamourized Katipunera, who helps Cardo (Coco Martin) in his relentless pursuit to restore justice in the country.
The former ABS-CBN president debuted on the long-running series on Friday (June 17).
Charo has been so engrossed with her character that she didn’t mind being located so far away from home for the lock-in shoot. The Probinsyano cast is currently filming in Ilocos region.
Charo has nothing but praise for Coco, who, she says, is hands-on in practically all aspects of production.
“It’s amazing how he does it even as he stays in character when it’s time for his scenes,” she says.
Charo is a wonderful addition to “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” especially with the passing of Susan Roces, the beloved Lola Flora in the series. Charo is playing an entirely different, off-beat character, however.
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SWEET VINDICATION: Elwood Perez’s Esoterika: Maynila and Ishmael Bernal’s Manila By Night were the featured films at the FDCP Cinematheque in celebration of Manila Day on June 24. I remember the playwright Nicolas Pichay who wrote: “Part fantasy, part diary, briny and existential, ‘Esoterika’ shares a cinematic place alongside Bernal’s ‘Manila By Night’ and Lino Brocka’s ‘Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag.’