Veteran actor Eddie Garcia lives life anew in "Bwakaw"

CEBU, Philippines - The Cinemalaya entry “Bwakaw” starring the iconic actor-director Eddie Garcia in the lead role is the first full-length Filipino movie featuring a dog in the title role.

Directed by Jun Lana, the movie is a drama-comedy about a grumpy 70-year-old man who learns to live life again because of his friendship with a stray dog named Bwakaw.

The movie had a successful premiere last Monday, July 23, at the CCP Main Theater where the audience was treated to a heartfelt, endearing performance from Manoy Eddie who was awesome in his role as an aging gay. For us, he should win a best actor award, if not a clean sweep of all acting awards up for grabs in the awards season next year.

Manoy Eddie was the first and only choice of Direk Jun for the role. “I could not imagine doing this movie with anyone else. Fortunately, Tito Eddie loved the script and believed in it so much that he agreed to do the movie for less than his usual fee,” said Direk Jun who is the creative director of GMA 7 and Regal Films. He holds the distinction of being the youngest Filipino to be inducted into the Palanca hall of fame.

The non-stop 10-day shoot in San Pablo, Laguna was grueling. Direk Jun relates this story: “Many times we would pack up at 2 a.m. and resume shooting again three hours later. Near the end, people were collapsing on the set, but not Tito Eddie. He’s a hard worker like none I’ve ever seen. No director could have asked for more.”

Even before Cinemalaya greenlighted the project, Direk Jun had already found a dog to play the role of Bwakaw. Manoy Eddie even started training with the dog, working on a weekly curriculum to build rapport and learn dog-training skills. But a month before the shoot, the dog owner bailed out to work on a mainstream movie. Looking for a replacement proved to be a difficult task. Bwakaw’s character calls for an Aspin (Asong Pinoy or mixed breed dog) and there are very few trained Aspins in the country. 

Auditions were held but to no avail. For a time, it seemed like the movie would have to be shelved. Then one afternoon, Direk Jun decided to try his luck on You Tube. After hours of searching, he finally found a dog trainer specializing in Aspins. That same night, Direk Jun and his team went to the trainer’s dog camp and met Princess, a highly trained bomb sniffing dog who blew everyone away with her amazing tricks.

“Bwakaw” also marks the return of award-winning producer and actress Armida Siguion-Reyna to the big screen.

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She wants to have change in our society and in our justice system that’s why lawyer-turned-film producer Atty. Joji Alonso is making movies that tackle the ills of society like gambling (jueteng in the movie “Kubrador”) and corruption in her latest movie “Posas,” an entry to this year’s Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.

“I am not losing hope that we can rebuild our society, our justice system, if not for us, but our children’s children,” said Atty. Joji whose son, Nico Antonio, is portraying the lead role as a snatcher in “Posas.”

Atty. Joji joked that she plans to sue stage actor Jake Macapagal, one of the stars in “Posas,” for making his son suffer in the movie’s torture scene. So affected she was of the torture scene that she couldn’t bear to watch it when she first viewed the movie for the first time. The movie is directed by Lawrence Fajardo, director of the award-winning “Amok,” an entry in Cinemalaya last year.

“I am happy with the way Posas turned out and it was a good decision for us to entrust the project to Law, after our original choice, Jeffrey Jeturian, could not do it because of a commitment to do a teleserye for ABS-CBN. Lalaking-lalaki ang dating ng movie,” Atty. Joji said.

“Posas” was shortlisted to this year’s Cannes Film Fest but the amiable producer said that the movie had been invited to other international filmfests which she cannot disclose as of the moment.

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In celebration of the Star for All Seasons’ 50th anniversary in showbiz, Star Cinema makes history this year as it releases two versions of Vilma Santos’ much-anticipated first-ever suspense-horror film titled “The Healing,” which will be shown in theaters nationwide this Wednesday, July 25.

Considering the clamor of the young fans of Ate Vi and her co-star Kim Chiu, Star Cinema came up with an R-13 version or strictly for 13 years old and up. This version carries the same thrill but has been tailored to suit the comprehension of minors. Meanwhile, the R-18 version or the ‘director’s cut’ is a sure-fire treat to all adult horror movie fans as it is filled with hair-raising and mind blowing scenes perfect for moviegoers ages 18 years old and above.

Under the direction of Master Director Chito S. Roño, Ate Vi’s “The Healing” takes pride in its highly acclaimed powerhouse cast composed of Kim, Janice de Belen, Mark Gil, Martin del Rosario, Jhong Hilario, Allan Paule, Cris Villanueva, Daria Ramirez, Ces Quesada, Ynez Veneracion, Simon Ibarra, Abi Bautista, Joel Torre, Chinggoy Alonso, Mon Confiado, Carmi Martin and Pokwang.

The two versions of “The Healing” will open in cinemas nationwide on July 25, 2012!