•‘Fearful’ forecast on Metrofest awards

Curtain-raisers:

• Regal Films’ kiddie offering, Bahay ni Lola, led the pack last Tuesday when the 2001 Metro Filmfest reeled off in Metro theaters, followed very closely by Star Cinema’s Bagong Buwan and then by MaQ Films’ Yamashita, The Tiger’s Treasure, Good Harvest Productions’ Hubog, Viva Films’ Tatarin, ECORP Films’ Di Kita Ma-Reach and Maverick Films’ Susmaryosep (4 Fathers). It was understandable why Bahay placed No. 1, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) being "children’s day." But the ranking is bound to change dramatically as the Metro Filmfest progresses (ending on Jan. 3, 2002), especially with the Gabi ng Parangal slated tonight at the PICC. Winners of major awards will surely shoot up in the ratings.

• Theater magnate Ng Meng Tan predicts that this year’s Metro Filmfest will be the biggest-grossing filmfest ever, with a target 10-day gross (in Metro Manila alone) of more than P180 million. So far, the highest-earning Metrofest was in 1999 (total gross: more than P150 million). Last year’s Metrofest suffered a major setback when the LRT was bombed on Dec. 30, scaring people away from moviehouses.

• The biggest surprise in the Metrofest is Di Kita Ma-Reach’s placing No. 6, what with the Mikey Arroyo starrer having been turned into a butt of jokes. You can say that, "although we lacked logistics in promo and publicity" (according to the movie’s drumbeater Aster Amoyo), the minor controversy surrounding the movie certainly stirred people’s curiosity about it.

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The Gabi ng Parangal will be the usual decisive point of the Metro Filmfest, so keep your eyes and ears open.

As usual, too, Funfare is giving out its traditional "fearful" forecast (I could be wrong, you know) on who will emerge the winners. All actors and actresses and directors of the seven entries are automatically nominated for the awards, so let’s check out who will possibly come out "winners" in major categories.

Without much ado and with a little shudder, I’m giving out my own awards, to wit:

• Best Picture – star Cinema’s Bagong Buwan

• Best Director – Marilou Diaz-Abaya (Bagong Buwan)

• Best Actress – A toss-up between Amy Austria (Bagong Buwan) and Assunta de Rossi (Hubog)

• Best Actor – A toss-up between Cesar Montano (Bagong Buwan) and Jay Manalo (Hubog)

• Best Supporting Actress – A toss-up between Caridad Sanchez (Bagong Buwan) and Alessandra de Rossi (Hubog)

• Best Supporting Actor – Any of the following: Carlo Muñoz (Yamashita), Jericho Rosales (Bagong Buwan) or Wendell Ramos (Hubog)

• Second Best Picture – Hubog

• Third Best Picture – Yamashita

• Best Float – Bagong Buwan

Except for Di Kita Ma-Reach, all the six other entries are being shown in key cities all over the country, with Bagong Buwan reported to be attracting big crowds (in Davao, Cebu, etc.)

Again, I’m, calling everybody to patronize local movies. Watch not just one or two but all the entries.

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Just like most Filipinos, Eddie Garcia spent Christmas Day quietly, strictly with family and relatives. Mostly at home, waiting for kith and kin to drop by and pick up their gifts.

But unlike most Filipinos, Eddie won’t be making the traditional New Year’s resolution.

"What for?" said Eddie who’s starring with Ronald Gan Ledesma in MMG Films’ opener for 2002, Bro... Kahit Saan Enkwentro in which he (and Ronald) play roles close to (especially) Eddie’s heart – a military man (Eddie was member of the Philippine Scouts in the early ’50s, quitting the military to pursue a movie career).

"I don’t have to wait for the New year to make a resolution," added Eddie. "Besides, there’s no need for me to make any resolution because I don’t have bad habits."

The only "bad" habit he had was smoking which he kicked way back in 1979 when he woke up after an overnight shooting with Vic Vargas in Talisay, Batangas, with a sore throat. There and then, Eddie resolved never to smoke again, giving away his baon of four packs of cigarets to the shooting crew.

A prayerful person (he does so before sleeping and upon waking up – without fail), Eddie prays for only one thing as the old year ends and new one begins – peace to everybody.

Incidentally, did you know that Eddie’s heart bled for Dolphy and his family when Vandolph nearly died in that car accident? You see, Eddie’s own son (his Junior, then 23), was seriously wounded in a motorcycle accident, lying in coma for four days with third-degree burns, before he died.

"So I know exactly how Dolphy and his family feel," said Eddie.

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Two weeks ago, my New York-based friends Raoul Tidalgo (entertainment editor and columnist of The Filipino Reporter) and concert producers Red and Alice Martinez called to remind me that a "bright and talented new singer" was coming to Manila for a two-week visit and to promote her debut album, Dreaming of Love (Star Records). Her name is Jennifer "J.Cee" Cuneta.

Asked how this Jennifer was related to the Sharon Cuneta, Raoul and Alice said "she is Sharon’s niece." When they added, "That’s why Jennifer has a good singing voice, not to mention the obvious – that she’s beautiful," I told Raoul, Red and Alice, "No wonder. It’s in the genes."

Jennifer was born in the Philippines but she grew up in the States where she began to make a name as a singer, and in Europe, too. Her songs are mostly "dance tunes" and "pop," and samples of which will be performed by Jennifer tonight (starting at 8 o’clock) at Hard Rock Cafe (Makati) where she’s launching her album.

Working with international record producers Andy and The Lamboy, Jennifer has had several pop/club hits over the last three years both in the US and Europe. It all started with the club anthems Do It For Me and What You Do on the venerable Strictly Rhythm label and continued with Spirit Man with Jellybean Records. She performed throughout the US, doing shows in support of those singles, each of which reached the Top 10 in the US Billboard Club Play Chart.

2001 has been a very active year for Jennifer with several high-profile releases, including Potion on Goovilicious that reached No. 6 on the UK Club Play Chart and Now We Are Free from the soundtrack of the Oscar-winning movie Gladiator. Now We Are Free was released by Tommy Boy Records in the US and it received tremendous air-play at WYPO in Orlando and Power 96 in Miami.

Dreaming of Love, her latest album will also be released in Japan. The album consists of new materials and the promotion tour includes the Philippines, Japan and Europe.