Jinggoy’s company closes - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

The day after five bombs exploded in different parts of Metro Manila, audience rating of the Metro Filmfest 2000 which officially ended yesterday dipped by 70 percent. Oh my, it would happen (the "synchronized" bombings) just when the "ailing" movie industry (and other industries in the country as well) was getting back on its feet.

Anyway... let’s hope that that big bang that ushered in Year 2001 doesn’t foretell dire things for the movie industry in particular and the whole country in general. Let’s hope – and pray.

What saddens Funfare as year 2001 (Year of the Snake) sneaked in is the news that Millennium Cinema has decided to close shop after only a year in operation. It’s owner, San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, might have something in mind, some surprises to spring, who knows? Millennium Cinema was among the most productive outfits last year and, again, let’s hope – and, again, pray – that its untimely closing isn’t a sign of (also dire) things to come.

During its year-long existence, Millennium Cinema produced some of the most entertaining movies, opening Year 2000 with a big box-office bang with the FPJ starrer Ang Dalubhasa, one of last year’s Top 10 moneymakers. Dalubhasa was preceded by Pepeng Agimat (top-billed by Bong Revilla and Vanessa del Bianco) which was shown at the 1999 Metro Filmfest, and followed by Palaban (Rudy Fernandez and Ara Mina), Col. Elmer Jamias (Barako ng Maynila, with Jinggoy Estrada and Angelu de Leon), Eto Na Naman Ako (Robin Padilla and Vina Morales), Ayos Na ang Kasunod (FPJ and Ara Mina, which was an FPJ Productions flick released through Millennium), Minsan Ko Lang Sasabihin (Bong Revilla and Judy Ann Santos), Bakit Ba Ganyan (Ewan Ko Ba, Darling, with Vic Sotto and Dina Bonnevie), Sagot Kita (Mula Ulo Hanggang Paa, with Jinggoy Estrada and Vina Morales) and The Ping Lacson Story (Rudy Fernandez and Lorna Tolentino).

Two remaining Millennium projects, the one starring Phillip Salvador and Ina Raymundo and the Jinggoy-Judy Ann starrer Walang Iwanan Peks Man, will be released by Phillip’s brother Ramon Salvador’s RS Films and the new Jolo Films respectively.

Why Gel is ‘missing’

These past many days, ABS-CBN’s Headlines is being anchored by Karen Davila and televiewers are starting to wonder if there have been any "changes" in the company’s News and Public Affairs Department. You know, has Headlines main host Gel Santos-Relos been replaced permanently by Karen who’s perceived to be Gel’s "arch rival" (and that of Korina Sanchez, too?)

Thank heavens, no such "movements" have been made – yet? Gel has been "missing" from Headlines for the simple reason that she flew to Minneapolis to have a white Christmas with husband Dr. Rene Relos who’s taking some specialization courses there. It’s Gel and Rene’s second "honeymoon" since they got back together again several months ago, the first having been last October.

Gel and Rene were on the brink of separation, with an impending annulment case, when they reconciled and realized that, after all was said and done, they truly love each other and that they’re really meant for each other (despite other women linked to Rene).

Fans of Gel should sit back and relax and (try to) enjoy the news with Karen Davila dishing them out. Gel should be back on Headlines on Monday, Jan. 8, a day after her return from Minneapolis.

Timely message from Kiko

The card, which came with a Baguio broom, came just two days after New Year but the message (with, you guessed it, political overtones) is catchy just the same. The sender (of the card and broom) is none other than Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan (who’s running for Senator in next May’s elections) and the message, printed in a separate paper, reads:

Dear Ricky,

Magpakatotoo tayo, kaibigan! Lahat po tayo, tambak ang kalat, inaalikabok ang bahay, minsan pati utak inaagiw, lalo na pagka-Pasko. Kaya naisip ko na walis ang ipapamahagi ko sa mga katuwang ngayong paumpisa na ang taon. Medyo pa-deep, ika nga. Kasi sabi nung Christmas carol, "Let every heart, prepare Him room," di ba? Kaya kailangan nating maglinis. Ibasura na ang hindi kailangan. Magbago para lumawak, bumusilak ang pananaw. Alam n’yo na yon. Every heart nga, sabi ng kanta. Di lang naman si Erap. Pero sa kanya, siguro kailangang marami-raming walis, marami-raming bahay daw eh.

So, eto po ang handog ko sa inyo. Walis na kakaiba. Bumiyahe galing bundok. Likha ng kamay. Pino ang pakahabi. Pinag-ukulan ng puso at panahon. Matibay. May saysay. Aawat na po ako.

Maligayang Pasko at malinis na Bagong Taon!

– Kiko Pangilinan

What’s up?

• Aster Amoyo has resigned – with a heavy heart– as VP for Promotions of OctoArts Group of Companies after 23 years of service, but she continues to work as PR consultant on a per-project basis. Aster now devotes full time to Pilipinas International Marketing Services, Inc. (PINS) and Global Publications (publisher of Pinoy Gazette).

• Reader Mike Herrera of Kapitan Pepe, Cabanatuan City, felt that Shaina Magdayao and CJ Ramos (of Star Cinema’s Tanging Yaman) could have easily won as Best Child Performers had there been such category at the recent Metro Filmfest 2000 (won last year by Rebecca Lusterio for Muro-Ami).

• The people behind REtroSPECT are looking for a female alto/soprano singer who dances, 20 to 26 years old, not shorter than 5’6" but not taller than 5’8", with good moral values, articulate in English and has a positive attitude. If you fit these qualifications, call Emar or Julie at 829-62-16, 820-11-28 or 0917-6690856.