Assunta: Look, yes; but no touch, please!

First things first.

Last Monday (Sept. 17), Funfare mentioned that Jose Mari Chan and Martin Nievera might be headed for "war" (even before the US-Afghanistan war could erupt?) all because the title of Martin’s new album, MCA-Universal’s My Souvenirs, is the same as that of Jose Mari’s album (Souvenirs) released by Universal Records a few years ago.

Martin has explained the "confusion," including that little mix-up of his and Jose Mari’s concerts last Easter in Las Vegas when Martin held his a day before that of Jose Mari’s. Now it’s Jose Mari’s turn to react.

Here’s Jose Mari’s letter, verbatim:

Dear Ricky,

In response to your article about Martin Nievera and me having the same title in our albums, I assure you there is NO on-going feud nor will there ever be between me and Martin.

If at all, the OVERSIGHT was committed by our two recording companies which are, ironically, sister companies. I am convinced that Martin had nothing to do with it. Having said that, Martin and I are, in fact, allies in a bigger war – the war against music piracy in our country which threatens to kill OPM and the Filipino artist.

So let us put this insignificant oversight to rest. Martin and I have our own niche in the market and we both champion OPM.

As for your suggestion of a cross recording, in fact it has always been my dream for Martin to one day record one of my original compositions. My godson, Louie Ocampo, who is his musical director, knows that.

I sincerely wish Martin continued success especially for this current album.

– Jose Mari Chan

Very Joe Mari – that is, non-confrontational and conciliatory. Very understanding.

It was also Joe Mari’s attitude and reaction when, several years ago, Freddie Aguilar tried to pick a fight with him when PARI (Philippine Association of Recording Industry) awarded Joe Mari a Diamond for his Constant Change album. A Diamond is Platinum times 10 so that equalled 400,000 copies sold (one Platinum is 40,000 as far as Philippine market is concerned; the number differs with every country).

Freddie protested, saying that his Anak album should have been "it," overlooking the fact that the basis for the PARI award was number of sales locally (that is, excluding the number of copies sold in other countries).

Of course, Constant Change (Universal Records) has scored four more "platinums" since then – and still selling – and it has been eclipsed only by another Joe Mari Chan album, Christmas in Our Hearts, which has so far hit the 17-platinum mark.

At that time – and as he’s reacting now in the case with Martin – Joe Mari decided that silence was the better part of discretion. Time has vindicated Joe Mari.

* * *

So how has Assunta de Rossi’s life been since the release of her first-starring bold flick, Regal Films’ Red Diaries (which created more curiosity when the police asked but was turned down by the MTRCB to ban it because, according to the complaint, in one episode the cops were depicted as rapists)?

"Nothing much has changed," said Assunta when she talked to movie writers in connection with her new outing, Seiko Films’ Sisid, directed by Joey Romero. "No DOM (Dirty Old Man) would dare make any ‘indecent proposal’ to me and my love life is still zero. Fortunately, wala namang nambabastos sa akin. I guess it’s how you conduct yourself. Even if you don’t do bold-sexy scenes, if you don’t behave properly or if you don’t dress up decently, babastusin ka talaga ng mga lalaki."

Even on the set, Assunta said that she sees to it that she behaves. In short, "Nirerespeto ko ang katawan ko." She has one strict rule: "They can look and look at my body, but please, don’t touch me!"

In Sisid, Assunta plays a dual role, one as Lily, an aquabelle performing in a club, dancing and stripteasing underwater for a predominantly male audience; and as Rio, a girl who jumps into the Pasig River after a violent fight with her boyfriend (Rodel Velayo) who mistakes Lily for Rio. Assunta’s other leading man is Raymond Bagatsing as the photographer who falls in love with the aquabelle.

Assunta has other "don’t’s," such as, 1) she won’t let any leading man lie on top of her and 2) she won’t do any "pumping act" nor would she let any leading man do it.

During the shooting of some bold scenes in Sisid, Rodel didn’t have any stitch on even before the cameras started grinding so Assunta requested him to please cover "it." Laughed Assunta, "Para bang na-o-offend ako. I told Rodel, ‘Hoy, takpan mo ’yan; hindi ako interesadong makita ’yan’." The gentleman that he is, Rodel did as told, with a blush.

How come she was credible in her love scenes in Red Diaries?

"Credible ba ako?" asked Assunta who just turned 18 recently. "I guess it was because to sort of put me in the right mood and condition, direk Maryo (delos Reyes) asked me to watch one of his bold movies, Paraiso ni Efren, before the shooting. So I did. Hindi ako mahilig manood ng porno films. Conservative ako, e," she added, laughing.

Considering herself as "still young," Assunta would remind (especially) her love-scene partner to be careful, "Bata pa po ang ka-eksena n’yo." It works all the time.

And also, said Assunta, to avoid any "accidents," she reminds her partner to use a plaster when shooting a sensitive scene.

"There should always be something between me and my partner," Assunta insisted.