Joel Lamangan dedicates new film "Deadline" to the working press

We were invited to the press launch of Martin del Rosario as the new endorser of BNY apparel (the female endorser is Coleen Garcia, the star of ABS-CBN’s new show “Good Vibes”) and we had a chance to talk at length with the 18-year-old who won the Breakthrough Performance By An Actor award at the recent 8th Golden Screen Awards for the movie “Dagim.”

Martin said he wasn’t expecting to win the award. His attendance was a show of support and appreciation for the nomination he got. “The fact that I was nominated was a big morale booster for me, an inspiration for me to do even better in my craft as an actor,” said the young actor.

“I was really surprised to hear my name called as a winner tapos first award pa ito na ibinigay so I was really nagulat and parang I didn’t want to get off my seat and approach the stage to get my award,” he related. He tied with Rocky Salumbides who won for “Tarima.”

“I wasn’t even sure if I were able to thank everyone whom I should acknowledge. I didn’t come with a prepared acceptance speech kasi I didn’t have the slightest idea that I had a chance of winning,” said Martin who is also gaining good comments for his work in the new series “Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin” opposite Coco Martin, who was also a winner at the Golden Screen Awards.

He is looking forward to doing another indie film but as of now he has not received a new project.

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We also attended the press preview of “Deadline (The Reign of Impunity)” held last Sunday at the Cinema 3 of SM City’s The Block. This is the new movie of Direk Joel Lamangan whose last movie “Sigwa” was voted Best Motion Picture Drama at the 8th Golden Screen Awards.

“Deadline” is another powerful advocacy film from the award-winning director. The movie is very bold and daring in the sense that it tackles the theme of media killings and warlordism in the Philippines. Even if the story is fiction, the scenes will strike familiar.

“I know doing this film is a big risk but if we won’t do it because we are all afraid, what will happen to us? Lagi na lang tayong matatakot. Wala nang gagawa ng pelikula na magpapakita ng totoo, nang katotohanan,” he said.

“Dedicated ko ang movie na ito sa mga press dahil maraming mga press people ang pinapatay. Ang talagang pangarap ko ay gumawa ng mga pelikulang nagsasabi ng totoo, nagre-reflect ng katotohanan na nangyari sa atin. Ang katotohanan ay maraming mga press people during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ang napatay. At hanggang ngayon mayroon pa rin mga press na pinapatay,” added Direk Joel.

“Dapat kung itinigil ang mga wang-wang, dapat itigil din ang mga bang-bang. Mas lalo dapat matigil ang pagpatay sa mga journalists,” Direk Joel said further.

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Radio jock-turned-TV host Laila Chikadora is happy with the good break that has been given to her by TV5. Aside from her nightly radio show, she has a new TV show every Saturday noon titled “Lupet: Most Amazing Documentaries” together with KC Montero.

At the presscon given by TV5 last Wednesday at Cravings in Tomas Morato, Quezon City, Laila said she didn’t have the slightest idea that she’d be given a TV show by the Kapatid network. When she signed up with TV5, all she knew was that she would be given a radio show, plus the opportunity to work as a news correspondent. Thus, being offered “Lupet: Most Amazing Documentaries” came as a big surprise.

“When I first learned about this offer, I didn’t want to celebrate at first. Even if we have taped the pilot episode, I still didn’t want to celebrate and make noise about it. Gusto ko mag-air muna ang ‘Lupet’ bago ako mag-ingay and shout to the world that I have a new show,” shared Laila.

She wishes that the show would rate since she knows it is up against a very formidable competition, which is “Eat Bulaga,” the show she grew up with and is now considered an institution as far as noontime shows are concerned.

“Mag-number two lang kami ay happy na kami,” said Laila who also said that she had great fun working with KC Montero. “At first, I thought he was sosyal pero mahusay din pala siya makisama. Kalog din siya.”

“I am very happy with my career in TV5 because it has leveled up compared to my work with ABS-CBN. But I will be forever grateful to ABS-CBN because that was where I started. But being given this show with KC is really a pleasant surprise.”

She continued, “Masaya ako kasi maganda ang show at kakaiba tapos primetime pa, I mean lunchtime pa, so challenge din kasi alam naman namin na mabigat ang kalaban pero we will do our best.”

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In our talk with KC Montero, also at the TV5 presscon for “Lupet,” we learned that he’s a big fan of Manny Pacquiao. The TV host-VJ said that he always makes it a point to watch every Pacquiao fight, including the forthcoming bout of Pacquiao with Shane Mosley.

He said that he even has it on his contract that his vacation time should be timed or adjusted to enable him to watch whenever Pacquiao has a boxing match. That’s how passionate he is when it comes to Pacquaio.

Even if he has been a fan of Pacquiao, he has never asked for free tickets, plane fare and accommodations whenever he travels to watch Pacquiao’s bouts. He spends his own money. All that is important for him is to be able to watch his idol fight and win!

KC is, likewise, excited at his new show “Lupet” with Laila Chikadora for TV5 since they have role-playing. He’s supposed to be a wannabe action star in the show and Laila is his fan.