You see, the persistent rumor has it that Cesar was giving Jo "special attention" on the set where, during "off" hours, she would sing (yes, she has a good singing voice, like Sunshine) while Cesar played the guitar (yes, he also sings, as proven by an album he did for Star Records).
The rumor has reportedly thrown Sunshine (who should be giving birth any day now to her and Cesar’s first child, with her delivery predicted to coincide with their first wedding anniversary on Sept. 14) into a fit of jealousy.
Last Monday during a chat over lunch at Annabel’s (Tomas Morato, Quezon City) with a handful of movie writers, Jo, Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia of 2000, had a chance to clarify the rumor.
No, she said, "I am not the type who would fall for a married man. Kung puedeng binata, bakit sa may-asawa pa?"
No, she said, "Cesar never gave me any special attention on the set; I guess he was just being nice and supportive to me because I’m a newcomer."
No, she said, "I never entertained any feeling more serious than friendship toward Cesar."
But, yes, she added, "I did find my experience doing Mananabas with Cesar very memorable, even if I shot for only 15 days."
And, yes, if Cesar were single and he courted her, "Why not? Guwapo naman si Cesar at mabait pa, bukod sa very talented siya."
It’s also true, according to Jo, that she sent a text message not only to Cesar but also to Sunshine and that was when she invited the couple to her birthday last June 19 (also the birthday of Dr. Jose Rizal, that’s why Jo is named Josefina).
Jo recalled that Sunshine showed up on the Mananabas set twice, not to watch over Cesar but to visit him.
"Yes, she did ask me about the rumor but that was when we talked on the phone. Mayroon daw siyang naririnig na tsismis about Cesar and me, and I assured her that it wasn’t true. Naku naman, why would I break up a family?"
The 5’7", 22-year-old beauty did have a boyfriend but they have just broken up after five years of going steady. Jo is the youngest among three girls (she has two brothers), reared by what she described as "a simple family leading a simple life." Her parents, Louie Canonizado (retired, formerly head of a Manila Gas outlet) and Anita delas Nieves, saw to it that all their children finish college, with the eldest girl now staying in the States where the Canonizado matriarch is now also temporarily staying.
"Before I joined showbiz," said Jo, "I anticipated na baka ma-link ako kay Cesar. Kumbaga, I was prepared already for the intriga. What I did was ask either my Dad or one of my brothers to accompany me to the set to avoid any tsismis. Pero hayun, nagkaroon pa rin ng tsismis," she smiled.
In Mananabas, Jo plays a TV journalist kidnapped by the mananabas (led by Cesar). Even if it’s her first acting experience, Jo acquitted herself very well. Ask Cesar who guided Jo like a patient teacher.
A Masscom graduate from San Sebastian College, Jo worked briefly as newsreader for RPN 9. Before winning the Mutya title (she lost to Miss India in that year’s Asia-Pacific Quest), Jo had been doing commercials starting at age 13, first for Safeguard and then for other products (Honda, PLDT and Rejoice). In 1993, she won the Miss Pangasinan title and later, as Miss Dominican College (where she finished high school).
It was Eric Cuatico, Maverick producer, who saw Jo’s picture in a newspaper. Eric asked Cesar’s manager, Norma Japitana, to look for Jo who was then completing her contract (reign) with the Mutya organizers. While doing the Rejoice commercial in Thailand, Jo bumped into Marivic Nieto, another Maverick lady, who eventually introduced Jo to Eric. Her contract with Maverik is non-exclusive.
After Mananabas, what is Jo looking forward to?
"Bold? I don’t think I’m ready for that, Sexy, okay; but not bold. I’d like to follow in the footsteps of Charlene Gonzalez, my role model."
Told that once upon a time Charlene (now Mrs. Aga Muhlach) was also romantically linked to Cesar, Jo was amused.
Just then, I thought I overheard somebody comment, "Mahilig si Cesar sa beauty queen."
Last week, Regal Films’ Pangarap ng Puso (retitled The Demons) won the Best Picture plum at the Cine Maya International Film Festival in New Delhi, India. The movie, directed by Mario O’Hara, stars Matet and Alex Alano.
Other local films are doing the rounds of international film festivals.
Jeffrey Jeturian’s Tuhog (Larger Than Life, also by Regal), topbilled by Ina Raymundo (who should be giving birth any time now in Canada to her and boyfriend Brian Poturnak’s first child) and Klaudia Koronel, is competing (Cinema of the Present) at the 58th Mostra Internazionale Zornale d’Arte Cinematographika in Venice, Italy (Aug. 29 to Sept. 8); while Joel Lamangan’s Deathrow (GMA Films) and Gil M. Portes’ Markova: Comfort Gay (RVQ Productions) are included in the non-competition Toronto International Film Festival (Sept. 6 to 15). Deathrow and Markova have also been selected as the country’s official entries to the 23rd Festival International du Film Independant in Brussels, Belgium (Nov. 6 to 11). Before that, Deathrow will compete in October at the Cairo International Film Festival where Joel’s film, the Nora Aunor starrer The Flor Contemplacion Story (Viva Films), won the Best Picture Award in 1997.
Also this month, Erik Matti’s Scorpio Nights 2 (Viva Films) is included at the Paris Autumn Film Festival.
Signs of good times to come?
Let’s keep our fingers crossed.