So what’s in a (boldie’s) name?

Remember two decades ago when the late talent manager Rey dela Cruz (whose murder in the early ’80s in front of his Quiapo optical clinic has remained unsolved until this very day) used names of consumer products as screen names of his bold beauties?

There were Softdrink Beauties Coca Nicolas (now a preacher), Sarsi Emmanuel (a rehabilitated drug addict) and Pepsi Paloma (who committed suicide).

There were also "street beauties" Aurora Boulevard, Brandy Ayala and Epifania delos Santos.

After Rey’s death, his clever idea was taken by a new batch of "boldie" managers who named their discoveries after action actors whose protestations fell on deaf ears. Some of those boldies are still active until now, including Ynez Veneracion (after Ian Veneracion), Yda Manzano (after Edu Manzano) and Ramona Revilla (after Ramon Revilla). There was even a Bongga Revilla (after Bong Revilla) whose career never got off the launching pad, just like that of Agapita Muhlach and Felipa Salvador.

Don’t look now but some current-events-conscious producers are mulling the idea of doing a movie about Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV whose good looks – not to say his brains – has captured the imagination of the public which now looks at him as some kind of a hero. Trillanes was among the leaders of last Saturday night’s 20-hour mutiny. In fact, there’s now an interesting discussion on which actor fits the Trillanes role (my "recommendee" is Jay Manalo whose two starrers, Regal Films’ Prosti and Viva Films’ Huling Birhen sa Lupa, have been accepted for exhibition at the Toronto International Film Festival in September).

Related to the mutiny, some talent managers connected to Madam Violet Sevilla of Violett Films (producer of the currently showing Sa Piling ng Mga Belyas) are suggesting that Madam Violet discover more boldies and name them after, brace yourselves, figures involved in the Saturday "disturbance."

Don’t be surprised if one of these days, you will see the near-nude photos of new discoveries on the tabs’ front pages, with names like Antonia Trillanes, Glorietta Magdalo (after a faction of the military), Victoria Corpus, Hannah Honasan and Octavia Oakwood. Nice names. ’no?

While we are into this name-calling trip, Funfare is suggesting to talent managers to name their boldies after airlines which is a rich source of screen names. Yeah, why not... Shirley Qantas, Cathy Pacific, Aliya Italia, Paula Pal, Gloria Garuda, China Che, Saudia Soriano or Eva Eraña? Those "airline beauties" could be launched abroad any of the airlines they are named after, with DOMs (Dirty, er, Darling Old Men) as passengers scrambling over one another for the girls’ services "bidding" style? Nice idea, ’no?

Or talent managers can name their wards after Filipino flowers, such as Karla Kampupot, Sonia Sampaguita, Estrella Escarlata, Morning Glory, Guia Gumamela or Dama de Noche. This batch can be launched at the garden of a five-star hotel, dressed only with the flowers they are named after covering their vital parts. Nice way of "baptizing" stars, ‘no?

See? So what’s in a name? A rose named something else would smell as sweet, wouldn’t it?

Straight From Dong Puno

Several issues ago, Funfare published the reaction of Maloli Espinosa Manalastas (VP for Government, Corporate Affairs and Public Relations of ABS-CBN) to the story about a "power struggle" at ABS-CBN involving Dong Puno (head of News & Public Affairs) and his VP Arlene de Castro, with Arlene’s husband, Sen. Noli de Castro, reportedly caught in the crossfire.

In a brief chat with Funfare recently, Dong reiterated that there’s no such "power struggle."

"When I got in a few months ago," said Dong, "there was no resistance at all; there was no hostility. It was Arlene who welcomed me with a hug. There has never been any bad blood between Arlene and me."

Dong made a failed bid for the Senate two years ago and that experience, he said, was more than enough. "No more politics for me," he swore.

He has learned a lot of lessons from the political trail, such as 1) there are many avenues of public service, 2) a lot of changes are badly needed in our political system, and 3) politics can be a force for change.

Asked if Sen. Noli would be swayed by surveys (showing him on the lead) to run for Vice President in 2004, Dong remained tight-lipped. Neither would he comment on other ABS-CBN talents (Korina Sanchez among them?) rumored to be entertaining political plans.

"As head of the News & Public Affairs," Dong said, "I have to remain neutral and objective in reporting the news."

What Dong is excited about these days in not 2004 but the impending comeback of his show, now to be known as Dong Puno Live, on a better timeslot (11:30 Thursday nights after Insider, right smack into GMA 7’s top-rating Debate with Mareng Winnie and Pareng Oca).

Hk Actor In Tomb Raider 2

By this time, you must have seen Tomb Raider 2: Cradle of Life, with the enchanting Angelina Jolie reprising her role as Lara Croft.

Did you notice the Chinese actor in the cast? He’s none other than Simon Yam whom Bulletin’s Shirley Pizarro and I had a chance to interview right on the set of the movie at a fishing village at the outskirts of the former Crown Colony last January (yes, before the SARS breakout).

Tomb Raider 2 is the Hollywood debut of Simon who is well-known in Hong Kong and other Chinese-speaking parts of Asia, doing l6 to 17 movies a year.

"I’m lucky to be in Tomb Raider," said Simon in halting English. "I liked the first Tomb Raider so much but I never imagined I would be in its sequel."

Although he watches all kinds of movies, according to Simon, he prefers action films, naming as his idols Robert de Niro, Jack Nicholson, Gary Oldman and Kevin Spacey.

So how did he find working with Angelina Jolie?

"She’s very funny," smiled Simon. "Very patient, clever, friendly, daring, sexy and beautiful. She’s a perfect girl!"