‘Take 20’ with Gary V

First. a clarification: In the recent Funfare story on how diabetes doesn’t spoil Gary Valenciano’s sex life, the part about his diet mentioned that he takes fruits (a piece of either chico, atis or mango) for his afternoon snacks. Wrong, said Gary’s wife Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano (who monitors the rise and fall of Gary’s blood sugar level), worried that other diabetics might do so. "It’s risky especially if (the person’s) blood sugar level is high," said Angeli who recommends (for afternoon snacks) boiled peanuts, boiled camote or wheat bread with sardines. "Diabetics, especially Type 1 insulin-dependent, should check their blood sugar level regularly."

Now, some good news: Gary, now a regular co-host of the ABS-CBN’s Sunday noontime show ASAP Mania, did a successful concert in Hong Kong as part of the former Crown Colony’s Harbour Fest calculated to win back tourists who stayed away due to the SARS scare (it’s safe to go back now; ask Jackie Chan who’s helping lure tourists back).

Last Nov. 2, Gary performed after Santana and before Neil Young and Michelle Branch who are among the foreign acts in the line-up (Gary was the only Filipino in that fest), also including Prince, Craig David, Jose Carreras, Charlotte Church, Westlife and the Rolling Stones.

On Nov. 28 and 29, Gary will cap his 20th-anniversary (in showbiz) series of shows with a big one, called XXTreme, at the Big Dome and you better be there.

How was Gary’s Hong Kong concert?

Here are two accounts from Funfare readers who were there:

• From Jojo Castro: My wife and I, including all our friends, were there enjoying every moment of the show. Gary’s son Gabriel proved that he’s his father’s son by dancing as well as Gary. I was so inspired by the concert that I wrote a song which I titled Panawagan.

• From JoeElijah: It’s a source of pride among Filipinos in Hong Kong that Gary was listed among the big artists performing at the Hong Kong Harbour Fest. One of the show’s highlights was Gary’s number with his son Gabriel. Several foreigners were in the audience and you could see their reaction in their faces – highly impressed just like everybody else, one of them saying, "My, my, my! He’s really good!" I truly believe that Gary was chosen by The Lord to spread His words through his music which never fails to touch the audience’s hearts.

Anyway, since Gary is celebrating his 20th anniversary as a singer/performer, we might as well find out some of his "Top 20" lists, such as:

Top 20 Songs

1. Take Me Out of the Dark
2. Warrior is a Child
3. Letting Go
4. Holy Spirit Come Fill This Place
5. I Am
6. Soundtrack of Lord of the Rings
7. As Sure As I’m Standing Here
8. Gone Too Soon
9. There’s No Easy Way
10. Better Than I
11. Face to Face
12. Each Passing Night
13. Sana Maulit Muli
14. He Won’t Let Go
15. Search and Know
16. Anak
17. Could You Be Messiah
18. Shout For Joy
19. One Last Cry
20. Just Once

Top 20 Food Choices

1. Sushi
2. Shabu-shabu
3. Sashimi (salom, hamaci, toro, ebi, saba)
4. Green salad
5. Beef (at Kai Restaurant)
6. Italian food
7. Fried galunggong and monggo soup
8. Boiled peanuts
9. Green mangoes
10. Arroz caldo <
11. Chicken tinola
12. Steamed dumplings
13. Various cheeses and crackers
14. Pellegrino water
15. Grilled lobster
16. Cheese fondue
17. Tuna salads
18. Prime rib
19. Popcorn
20. Caesar salad

Top 20 Films:

1. A Beautiful Mind
2. I Am Sam
3. The Awakening
4. The Mission
5. John Q
6. Saving Private Ryan
7. The Battle of Midway
8. Titanic
9. Pearl Harbor
10. Glory
11. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
12. The Towering Inferno
13. The Poseidon Adventure
14. Brian’s Song (starring James Caan)
15. Jesus of Nazareth
16. Schindler’s List
17. Prince of Egypt
18. Life is Beautiful
19. Gladiator
20. The Patriot
Update on Magnifico

Here’s a report on Maryo J. delos Reyes’ Magnifico (Violett Films) from Funfare’s Toronto-based "international correspondent" Ferdinand Lapuz:

Dear Ricky,

The bad news is that Magnifico failed to win the Golden Maile Award at the recent Hawaii International Film Festival which ended last Sunday. The good news is that it won not only the hearts of the Hawaii audience (an additional screening was added last Sunday) but also attracted one of America's theater chains, Wallace Theaters.

The booking agent of Wallace Theater who owns the Restaurant Row 9 cinema in Honululu called me last Friday and they want to have the US theatrical premiere of Magnifico on Nov. 21 already. This is one week after the Toronto opening on Nov. 14 at Carlton Cinemas.

David Lyons, VP of Wallace Theaters, informed me that American Adobo is their second highest grossing film last year at Restaurant Row 9. It played there for an unbelievable three months! Small Voices (Munting Tinig) opened in the same venue two weeks ago.

From Honolulu, Magnifico will also screen in Maui, Hilo and Guam. We are targeting to open in the mainland sometime in February. This will be finalized in the coming weeks as we are trying to get the bookings for theaters in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas and then in the East Coast.

Violett Films producer Madam Violet Sevilla is very excited with this news. This inspires her to produce more quality movies in the future.

Director Maryo J. de los Reyes should be back in Manila to start his new film, Naglalayag (Sailing), starring Nora Aunor, Yul Servo and Aleck Bovick, to be produced by Angora Films.

I will be in Manila in time for the MMFFP so I can watch the films and maybe pick two or three films for representation next year in the festival circuit and international sales.

Thanks and take care.

– Ferdy

(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)