Seasoned entertainment journalist Jo-Ann Maglipon has made a significant mark in showbiz. (ako hanggang seasoning na sawsawan lang!) Many people will agree that her name is synonymous with credible showbiz reporting. (at parang ang sosyal ng showbiz pag siya ang nagsulat o namamahala ng isang showbiz portal!)
I would make small talk with Ms. Jo-Ann at events every time, but my most memorable moment with her was presenting her with a special award at the Multimedia Press (MMPRESS) Icon Awards two years ago. I will not forget this line from her acceptance speech: “I do not think of showbiz as a sidebar or an addendum. I want showbiz at the center stage. I want it respected." ( o di ba gusto ko maging proud na nasa showbiz ako! taray!)
Last week, she guest-hosted our YouTube show, Marites University, to promote her latest book: “Sine. Film. Pelikula. The 100+ Greatest Movies of Philippine Cinema." (dapat pala naka-gawa ako ng movie! baka napasama sa listahan!)
“Nung meron pang Yes Magazine, isa sa mga nangyari, si Ronald Constantino, parang binuyo-buyo kami sa isang presscon at ang sabi niya, Ms. Jo-Ann, why don’t you come up with a book on the 100 greatest films, parang ganyan, the best films. Sabi ko, napag-iisipan na namin ’yan noon. Wow, maganda sana, it’s more of a legacy publication. Pero isinantabi muna namin kasi napakaraming gagawin para ilabas yung aming monthly magazine. Pero overtime, sige, itinuloy namin. Eto na sya," Ms. Jo-Ann shares. (collector’s item sya!)
The release of the book took some time due to several factors, such as the closure of their publishing company (go kasi sila sa digital platform!) and the pandemic. But it eventually found its right timing. Aside from Ms. Jo-Ann and her staff, film guru Joel David also shared his knowledge on selecting films. (di lang basta expert ha! guru ito!)
Ang requirement namin sa screening committee, which is composed of all the YES staff, at least three members should have watched. For as long as the three of us have seen it, we can include it. Hindi rin kami nag-a-agree ha. We really talk about it," Jo-Ann explains. (wala naman daw bangayan!)
Ms. Jo-Ann's personal favorite is Manila by Night (City after Dark), directed by Ishmael Bernal. “For some reason, it has a political statement, multi-character, multi-layered. Genius naman talaga si Bernie. Talagang Wow!” (go Direk Ishma!)
Her heart also has a special spot for action films.
“I love action films. Yung aksyon na gusto ko ay yung aksyon na nananalo ang tama, nasisira ang masasama. Favorite ko FPJ, Panday 1, Panday 2, etc!” (im sure agree si Coco Martin dyan!)
The special-edition book covers the origins of Philippine cinema through 2020. “The big requirement is that there must be a copy of the movie because we want viewers to have access. Hindi lang ito pang filing or canonization. All of those we put here, 127 of them, have a copy," Jo-Ann also says. (siyempre bawal ang pirated ha!)
(YouTube/FB: WTFu. Twitter/IG/Tiktok: @mrfu_mayganon. FB: mr.fu tagabulabog ng buong universe. Patreon: www.patreon.com/wtfu website: www.channelfu.com )