2013 Milestones in my Fledgling Alternative Career

Although 2013 was plagued with scams, tragedies, typhoons, earthquakes, hospitalizations and/or deaths of relatives, death of our maid, ...etc..., life has a way of finding an equilibrium, balancing it with profound blessings, especially in the field of my so-called acting career. A year ago, I was already happy being part of one or two films showing in one year. What happened afterwards went far beyond my hopes and expectations. 

As such, I would like to end 2013 by thanking all those who have supported me, believed in me, guided me, mentored me, inspired me, worked with me, and made the experience very pleasurable. You know who you are. 2013 Milestones in my fledgling alternative career can be summarized as follows :

1.    1st time to shoot in films starring film legends and erstwhile rivals Vilma Santos (Ekstra) and Nora Aunor (Padre de Pamilya) within a span of one year

2.    1st time to officially walk the red carpet of a film premiere (Ekstra)

3.    1st time to attend a press conference for a film (Ekstra)

4.    1st time to appear in 4 different films shown in cinemas within a span of 35 days (Badil, Shift, Saturday Night Chills, Slumber Party)

5.    1st time to appear in 3 films during the Cinema One Originals 2013 filmfest (Shift, Saturday Night Chills, Slumber Party)

6.    1st time to appear in a period production (Katipunan)

7.    1st time to appear in a biopic (Katipunan)

8.    1st time to shoot for an advocacy film (TB awareness in Flying Kiss)

9.    1st time to appear in a movie poster (Slumber Party)

10.    1st time to shoot outside Luzon (Badil)

11.    1st time to be cast in a TV Public Service program (Landas)

12.    1st time to be in shoots with rainmakers (Ekstra and Above the Clouds)

13.    1st time to appear on the Yahoo! front page (article on Ekstra)

14.    1st time to be interviewed by a major daily because of my fledgling alternative career (PDI)
15. 1st time to be interviewed for a magazine because of my fledgling alternative career (YSG!)

Each shoot is an educational sojourn, and teaches me a little bit more about life. Below are films shot and/or screened in 2013 in which I appear, and lessons learned from them:

1. `EKSTRA' by Jeff Jeturian

Lessons learned :

- Sugarcane farmers spend most of their days under the blistering hot sun

- Wedding reception dramas are fun

- Sarap ang linupak na galing Batangas

- Not all politicians are evil. Some are very loveable.

 2. `LANDAS' (GMA7 Public Affairs Election Special 2013) 

- `Diverted' government funds result in dilapidated, inadequate school facilities

- Vote wisely

 3. `BADIL' by Chito Rono

- Biri Island in Northern Samar is a hidden treasure of the Philippines
- The indigents of Biri Island are mega-nice and hospitable!
- Learned a hidden practice in electoral cheating
- It’s fun to ride on a habal-habal
- Slimy, slithering, seashell slugs may look disgusting, but they taste yummy, fried or boiled!

 4. `SHIFT' by Siege Ledesma

- Learned how Call Center Agents can cheat on their metrics

- Love, like the BPO companies, can be very soluble

- I look ugly in drag  =)

 5. `SATURDAY NIGHT CHILLS' by Ian Lorenos

- It’s fun to get drunk in a club during a raid.

6. `SLUMBER PARTY' by Emman De La Cruz

- Gay lingo has come a long way since `Hyundai'

- Nino Muhlach has come a long way since `Ang Leon at Ang Daga'

- RK Bagatsing looks pretty in pink

 

7. `KATIPUNAN' by King Mark Baco

- Andres Bonifacio for President! (of the 1st Philippine Republic)

- Katipuneros didn't like their mayor very much

8. `FLYING KISS' by Cris Pablo

- TB can be treated. If you have TB, never skip on the prescribed medications, even if you think you feel better already.

9. `ABOVE THE CLOUDS' by Pepe Diokno

- Typhoon victims suffered terribly and need our help 24/7

10. `PADRE De PAMILYA' by Adolfo Alix

- Working with seasoned veterans and professionals like Nora Aunor, Joel Torre, Anita Linda, Rosanna Roces, and Coco Martin is truly motivating!

`DUKIT' by Armando Lao - Premiere Night 18 December 2013

 

DUKIT (drama) – from CenterStage Productions, written and directed by Armando "Bing" Lao.

Screening times: 

Monday 23 December: 2:30pm (Glorietta 4)

Monday 23 December: 7:05pm (SM Megamall)

Tuesday 24 December: 6:45pm (SM Megamall)

Tuesday 24 December: 2:20pm (Glorietta 4)

 

`DUKIT' - Official Trailer

 

CAST:  Willy Layug, Raquel Villavicencio, Bor Ocampo, Bambalito Lacap, Thea Lelay, Rhea Lim, Mark Joseph Griswold, and Grace Martinez.

SYNOPSIS:  

What does it take for a son to forgive the father who had abandoned his family for another woman? Dukit is a film about the life of an artist who struggles through the rigors of his craft and his own personal life. 

 

 CenterStage Production's Brillante Mendoza

The amazing wooden sculpture of the Christ, as featured in the movie.

                      Wooden sculpture of Mother Mary

                           Director and Writer Armando `Bing' Lao with `Dukit' cast.

 
The film showcases the skills of wood carvers in Pampanga, woven into the story of noted wood sculptor, Willy Layug (he plays himself), whose father had left their mother many years ago for another woman.

`Dukit' features a life-size wooden sculture of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who has forgiven mankind for his sins.

The film shows the intricate processes involved in the creation of his obra, from a block of wood to the finished product - an awe-inspiring image of the forgiving Christ, tortured and beaten, sorrow and pain etched in his eyes. Perhaps it is throug his works that Willy had found it in his own heart to forgive his own father.

Nevertheless, the film reaffirms the artistry and skills of woodcraftsmanship, a cultural heritage which should be preserved for generations.

"PEDRO CALUNGSOD : Batang Martir", World Premiere @ SM Megamall

Pedro Calungsod: Batang Martir Facebook Page

Director: Francis Villacorta
Starring: Rocco Nacino, Christian Vasquez, Ryan Eigenmann, and Jestoni Alarcon
Producer: H.P.I. Synergy Group

Official Trailer of PEDRO CALUNGSOD : Batang Martir

In 1668, a young Cebuano named Pedro Calungsod left home to join a Spanish Jesuit priest on a mission to the Marianas Islands (Guam). Here begins the story of Pedro Calungsod: Batang Martir.

Rocco Nacino plays the title character Pedro, a trained catechist and mission assistant, who worked with Fr. Diego de San Vitores (played by Christian Vasquez).

In the Marianas, Pedro helped the San Diego Mission in preaching God’s word and baptizing natives known as Chamorros. It was indeed a challenging time to share the Christian faith as paganism prevailed among the natives who openly expressed their doubts about the mission’s teachings.
An official entry to the 2013 Metro Manila Film Festival, the movie Pedro Calungsod: Batang Martir is described as “a historical epic adventure film about the life and martyrdom of the Filipino saint that changed the Marianas forever.”
Fr. Diego worked with Pedro in reaching as many natives as possible to enlighten them about Christianity, to the point of risking their lives in order to continue their missionary work.  Today, Guam is a Catholic state and the movie highlights Pedro’s role in this divine mission.
Also joining the cast are Jestoni Alarcon, Ryan Eigenmann, Robert Correa, Alvin Aragon, Victor Basa, BJ Forbes, Carlo Gonzalez, Arthur Solinap, Mico Palanca, Geoff Taylor, Johann Santos, Isadora Valasquez, and Mercedes Cabral.
Playing the young Pedro Calungsod in the movie is child actor Marc Justine Alvarez, with '90s matinee idol Jao Mapa taking on the role of his tatang. The film is based on a screenplay by Francis Villacorta who is also the director.
Pedro Calungsod: Batang Martir is a production of H.P.I. Synergy Group.

Critics are calling it "an inspiration to the youth." Now showing in cinemas. 

Click the link below: 

What people are saying about the movie `Pedro Calungsod: Ang Batang Martir'

Opening Night at SM Megamall. Tara na! Let's watch `Pedro Calungsod'! Be inspired by the life of our very own saint!

From www.ucanews.com 

"The movie visualizes the books, stories and information into this media format called film," said Ida Tiongson, one of the movie’s producers, adding that to date only a small percentage of the population are aware of Calungsod’s life and adventures.

"When there’s a message you feel that you have to do, then you just have to do it," she said.

"With all sincerity, blockbuster ticket sales sound good and awards certainly would be appreciated. But truly if we can change and inspire even only child to be closer to God, that is more than success." 

She said the aim of the movie is to spread the message of goodness, adding that the best way to help in the church's evangelization is through the media.

The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, the organization of Catholic schools in the country, lauded efforts to bring the Filipino saint closer to young people through the movie.

Narciso Erguiza Jr., association president, urged school administrators, teachers and students to watch the film.

"We hope that Pedro Calungsod will be an inspiration for the Filipino people with the message that we can reach sainthood through our everyday lives," he said.

The movie depicts the life of Calungsod, who left the central Philippines island of Visayas with Spanish Jesuit priest Diego de San Vitores for a mission to the Marianas Islands, now Guam, in 1668.

The missionaries arrived in the Marianas where the young Pedro, a trained catechist and mission assistant, worked for San Vitores and helped in baptizing the islands’ inhabitants.

Despite the threats to their lives, Calungsod and San Vitores continued their missionary work, roaming the islands and preaching the Gospel.

Jojo Riguerra is a fellow missionary, while Marc Justine Alvarez plays the young Pedro Calungsod.

                                   Jestoni Alarcon is Captain Juan de Sta. Cruz in the movie.

Rocco Nacino arrives at the lobby. Rocco plays the title role in `Pedro Calungsod'.

Star of the Night Rocco Nacino. Click link below for more info on Pedro Calungsod:

Pedro Calungsod in Wikipedia

Cinemalaya 2010 Best Director Mike Dagnalan and wife Ma-an watched at the premiere night. Mike also directed an inspirational biopic in 2012, `Paglaya sa Tinakala', about the Somascans, through the life of Brother Jerry.

Photographer Erickson Dela Cruz captures video takes of the audience's reactions to the movie.

Mike & Ma-an Dagnalan, Robert Correa (who plays Maga'lahi Hirao, the chief of the Chamorro warriors who killed the young Visayan catechist, Calungsod), and one of the film's producers, Charles Stewart Lee.

Ray Charles and Robert (Audience, Cast, Producer)

Producer Ida Tiongson: “We don’t lose if we can plant the seed of inspiration and evangelization to our young people.”

Jojo Riguerra and friend. Jojo previously played the role of `Victor' in the successful `Maxi the Musical'.

Christian Vasquez plays Padre Diego de San Vitores, a Spanish priest and father figure of Pedro Calungsod, the man instrumental to the young man's passionate belief in Jesus Christ. According to Vazquez, "...playing a true-to-life character, as an actor, it poses quite a challenge because you must really flesh him out. You don't only make him authentic for the sake of authenticity; you also give him a lot of heart and honest to goodness emotions." He also studied Spanish and Latin at the University of the Philippines under Dr. Daisy Lopez. (Wikipedia)

Rocco Nacino replaced JM De Guzman for the lead role of `Pedro Calungsod: Batang Martir', who had to bow out due to health reasons. Rocco did not disappoint, and played Pedro Calungsod with depth and sincerity.

According to Nacino, "It's a huge leap in my career. Right now, I'm doing so many characters, which are emotionally and mentally taxing on my part. I am not complaining though. The role of Pedro will take a lot of research and training. I need to learn Spanish, Latin and Visayan. That aspect alone is daunting, but I know kaya ko(I can make it). One of these days, I am attending a Latin mass so that I (will) know how it feels. I want to experience it so that aurally. I will be used to it". Marc Justine Alvarez was cast as the young Calungsod. Some of the shortlisted actors for the role includes Paulo Avelino, Alden Richards and Coco Martin. (Wikipedia)

No, this is not the prequel to Star Wars. No, that is not Luke Skywalker. No, that is not Obi Wan Kenobi.

                                             Hunks of the night, Rinoza and Riguerra.

Reuniting with Cinema One 2010 Best Director for `Layang Bilanggo', Mike & Ma-an Dagnalan, a year after the two tied the knot on 12-12-12.

With Hubo Productions Board member, Will Fredo, whom I first met during the wedding of Mike & Ma-an.

                                            Off the Wall with Will, Mike and Ma-an

                                                      Us again with Pedro and Diego.

                         Two inspirational characters from `Pedro Calungsod: Batang Martir'

Rocco and Raymond with the Pedrito Doll. P100 of each sale of Pedrito Doll goes to support for Yolanda typhoon victims. Buy one (or more) now!

Enter the world of the Chamorros!

Pedro Calungsod, a young Filipino man, leaves his Visayan native roots to join the Spanish Jesuit priest Fr. Diego de San Vitores in his mission to the Marianas Islands (Guam) in 1668.

The San Diego Mission arrives in the Marianas where the young Pedro, a trained catechist and mission assistant, begins work for Fr. Diego de San Vitores in baptizing the Chamorro natives, preaching the holy gospel and spreading the good news of salvation through the Christian faith amidst paganism, doubt and disbelief. Despite the longing for his father and the threats to their lives, even at the peril of death, Pedro and Fr. Diego continued their missionary work. They roamed the dangerous islands and baptized many more natives and continued to enlighten them about Christianity.

Guam is now a devoutly Catholic state and this is the story of how the young Filipino saint, between wars and persecutions, played his part in this divine mission. 

This adventure movie is for everybody. The young boy who guided his blind mentor is something to witness and learn from. Pedro Calungsod's life of devotion is relatable to all. (Wikipedia)

           Mike & Ma-an HHWW at the premiere night of `Pedro Clungsod: Batang Martir'.  =)

The premiere night was well guarded, to avert any attacks by the Chamorros.