Piolo loses hair for Dekada ’70

And finally, Star Cinema’s much-delayed project, Dekada ’70, directed by Chito Roño based upon the Palanca-winner novel by Lualhati Bautista, had its last shooting day last Sunday at Clark Field, Pampanga. Vilma Santos, playing the lead character (who’s less aggressive and assertive than the one she played in Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa?, also directed by Chito from another Bautista novel), cried unabashedly. Tears of relief? Maybe. But they were largely tears of sadness because during the protracted shooting (with Christopher de Leon as male lead) Vilma enjoyed every minute of the company of her co-stars, the staff and the crew.

It was also last weekend where Piolo Pascual, playing one of Vilma and Christopher’s children, went under the scissors (of George of Salon de Orient) for the torture scene which required him to be in a crewcut (in his role as an activist). It’s a good thing the shooting of Piolo and Judy Ann Santos’ yet untitled return team-up for Star Cinema has been temporarily suspended, otherwise Piolo would have some problem with the continuity. In fact, Piolo has to wear a wig for his and Judy Ann’s ABS-CBN soap Sa Puso Ko, Iingatan Ka.

Dekada ’70 is Star Cinema’s intended entry for the Metro Filmfest in December.

Ricky’s warning

When you watch Insiang, better bring a small umbrella so you won’t get wet.

That friendly "warning" comes from Ricky Davao who’s playing Dado in the theater presentation of the classic Lino Brocka movie Insiang (considered one of the 10 best Filipino films of the last three decades) at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute of the CCP, with playdates tonight at 8 and on Aug. 22 and 23 also at 8 p.m.; and Aug. 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 3 p.m.

Dado, played by Ruel Vernal in the Brocka movie, is the good-for-nothing man who rapes the virginal daughter (Hilda Koronel) of his lover (Mona Lisa), and Ricky plays it to the hilt.

"Huseng Batute is the perfect venue for the play," said Ricky who watched Insiang (the movie) at the 1976 Metro Filmfest when he was 15. "It’s very intimate, with the audience close to the stage. The first three rows are so close, in fact, that people seated there could catch the perspiration of the actors or some ‘droplets’ especially during the very bold and very daring love scenes. That’s why the joke is that you should bring an umbrella para hindi ka matalsikan."

Written by Mario O’Hara, Insiang has come full circle, having started as a radio drama in the early ’70s before it was adapted as a teleplay and then made into a movie. Insiang the play is directed by Chris Millado, with Malu de Guzman as the mother and Sheenly Gener as the daughter.

"This Insiang is much more raw than the movie version," added Ricky who tackles the Dado role several times more brutal than Ruel Vernal’s portrayal. "The dialogues are full of expletives, delivered with such crispness that some of the students in the audience would blush and cover their eyes. I’m happy that most of those trooping to the Huseng Batute are students."

But everybody in the audience is wide awake during the love scenes–especially those between Ricky and Malu, and Ricky and Sheenly–which are far more erotic, more explicit and more exciting than those in the movie version.

"You can almost smell the singit of the actors," Ricky said half-jokingly. "Ganoon ka-intimate at ka-daring ang mga love scenes."

Funfare can only describe the scenes so much, so it’s better for you to experience them "live" at Huseng Batute.

Just don’t forget to bring your umbrellas, huh!