Dulce shares her life in "Tinig"

From singing to acting, Asia’s Diva Dulce is now opening the pages of her closed-book life to the public in a stirring made-for-TV-movie.

What remained hidden from many is the OPM star’s painful journey toward stardom. From being a sexually-abused singer who wanted to make a name for family to being a battered wife who wanted nothing but love and acceptance, the world-class singer bares it all in “Tinig,” another inspirational production by Christian Broadcasting Network Asia.

Famous for her rendition of “Ako Ang Nasawi, Ako Ang Nagwagi,” Dulce found the song true to her life as she looked back at all her mistakes, struggles, beginnings and victories. With a successful singing career back in the ‘70s, no one would think that happiness, fame and success eluded the diva for some time.

Dulce is revealing her innermost secrets via “Tinig,” written for television by Icko Gonzales and is produced by CBN Asia. The public did not know of the many hardships that Dulce encountered in her life before she attained stardom. She kept it a secret that she became a victim of sexual abuse, something that she could not even tell her mother who was her constant companion. She was only 14 when that unfortunate incident happened to her. She will share her story in “Tinig,” which will air on GMA 7’s Sunday Night Box Office on September 30.

"Gusto ko na magsilbing inspirasyon ang kuwento ng aking buhay para kung sakaling may mga baguhang singers diyan na may pinagdadaanang krisis sa buhay ay maging malakas ang loob nila na magsalita para sila ay matulungan," Dulce said at the “Tinig” presscon at MINT College in McKinley Hills, Taguig City last August 29.

She said that she had chosen to remain silent because she felt then that there was no one whom she could turn to for help. She was afraid at that time, she said. “It was when I decided to accept Jesus into my life that I felt liberated. I felt the peace that I was looking for,” Dulce said.

She agreed to CBN Asia’s proposal to make a TV movie out of her experiences because she believes her story could inspire people. "Kung may mga di magandang bagay man which happened to my life, siguro iyon ang nagbigay sa akin ng lakas ng loob para ipagpatuloy pa ang buhay. What I hope to accomplish in sharing my story is that the people would learn from what I've experienced. Saka naniniwala ako na malungkot man ang isang pangyayari, pwede ka pa rin makakita ng something positive from it," Dulce added.

Undeniably, her exceptional singing prowess is one of the most sought-after performances in and out of the country during her time. Even more today, with back-to back theatre and TV performances and singing engagements, Dulce continues to prove she can still go head to head with younger voices.

“Tinig” will showcase Dulce’s growing up years as an amateur singer, which will be played by former child actress Isabella de Leon, while Kapuso singer-actress Frencheska Farr (who was with Dulce in the award-winning movie “Emir”) will portray a Dulce struggling from her distraught life in and off camera.

"Tinig" will be shown on GMA's Sunday Night Box Office on September 30 at 10:30 p.m.

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This Saturday (Sept. 1) on “Together Forever,” Ely (Elmo Magalona) and Toyang (Julie Ann San Jose) will finally become an item.

Ely is Toyang’s first boyfriend and because of the guy’s sweetness, Toyang feels she has to make extra effort to make each day special for her boyfriend. But everything she does ends up a failure.

On the other hand, Jasmine (Janine Gutierrez) will try to win back Ben (Benedict Campos) after the guy found out that Jasmine’s being sweet with Cholo (Steven Silva) was just for show. 

Will Ely and Toyang be together forever? What if Toyang learns the reason why Ely’s parents died? Is Ben willing to accept Jasmine again now that he feels that Jasmine took her for a ride?

 Know about young love and its bittersweet truths in Together Forever on GMA 7, which will air after Startalk.

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Jun Robles Lana’s critically-acclaimed first independent film “Bwakaw” is set to be released by Star Cinema in cinemas nationwide on September 5 (Wednesday).

Rated ‘A’ by the Cinema Evalution Board (CEB), “Bwakaw” is a drama-comedy about growing old, and everyone's fear of growing old alone. It shares the life of Rene, played by veteran actor-director Eddie Garcia, a 75-year-old man who thinks that it is too late for love or companion at his age – that all there is to look forward to is death. But Rene’s life suddenly turns around when a stray dog named “Bwakaw”—a Filipino street slang for greedy—suddenly teaches him a lesson about life.

Distributed by Star Cinema, “Bwakaw” made headlines recently as it earned nods from globally renowned movie fests including the Toronto International Film Festival and New York Film Festival. It was also awarded at the 8th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival with Best Actor (for Eddie), Audience Choice, and Netpac Awards in the Director’s Showcase.

According to Garcia, “Bwakaw” is a heartwarming tale of a unique friendship. “Istorya ito ng pagmamahalan ng aso at isang 75 years old na bading na pinaghahandaan na ang kanyang kamatayan,” explained Eddie who topbills the film that tackles friendship, missed opportunities, second chances, fears of growing old and being alone.

Meanwhile, Lana shared that “Bwakaw” is a break to go back to his roots. “I decided to join Cinemalaya this year because I thought it was time to return to my roots. It was not an easy journey, but worth every moment. Writing, producing, and directing ‘Bwakaw’ was quite liberating. For the first time, there were no templates. All I had to focus on was the story and how to best tell it visually,” said Jun who gained popularity for writing his string of highly-acclaimed commercial films like “Jose Rizal,” “Muro-Ami,” and “Bagong Buwan.”

Aside from Garcia and Princess, the dog, “Bwakaw” also stars Rez Cortez, Gardo Versoza, Bibeth Orteza, Soxie Topacio, Allan Paule, Joey Paras, Beverly Salviejo, Soliman Cruz, Bibeth Orteza, Luz Valdez, Jonathan Neri, May-I Fabros, and Ms. Armida Siguion-Reyna.

"Bwakaw" hits cinemas nationwide on September 5, 2012.