Bringing out the monster in Annabelle

Annabelle Rama was left empty-handed.

When her daughter Ruffa Gutierrez’s husband Yilmaz Bektas arrived unexpectedly  last week from Istanbul (and left four days later), he brought with him pasalubong from his parents for his father-in-law Eddie Gutierrez and for Ruffa (an expensive set of earrings, necklace, bracelet and ring) but nothing for Annabelle.

“Ako kasi ang kontrabida sa buhay ni Yilmaz,” Annabelle admitted with a laugh when Funfare talked to her during the first shooting day of her comeback movie, Regal Films/GMA Films’ My Monster Mom, at a house in Quezon City. “Okay lang na kontrabida ako maalagaan ko lang ang safety ng anak ko. Monster ang tingin sa akin ni Yilmaz.”

It was “monster” Annabelle who cried a river on national television as she begged for Ruffa to please, please, please not to go with Yilmaz when he came here late last year in a vain attempt to reconcile with Ruffa. It was Annabelle who stood in Yilmaz’s way when, during his recent visit, he wanted to bring his daughters Lorin and Venice to Palawan for frolic on the beach. And it was Annabelle who shielded Ruffa — and, for that matter, any member of the Gutierrez family — in times of, uh, imminent danger.

As if banking on her “monster-ness,” the Regal/GMA movie is a fitting “comeback” for Annabelle whose last movie (was it Ibigay Mo sa Akin ang Langit with, among other co-stars, Christopher de Leon?) was shown 35 years ago when the current generation of moviegoers were only a glint in their parents’ eyes.

“Yes,” good-humoredly admitted direk Joey Javier Reyes (who also wrote the screenplay), “Annabelle’s role is inspired by real life.”

Even the plot has a semblance to Annabelle’s life:

Cebuana Esme tries her luck in Manila. She falls in love with a chickboy Waldo (played by...your guess is right...Eddie Gutierrez!) who gets her pregnant. Waldo and Esme separate, leaving Esme to raise their baby girl Abby alone. Esme then entrusts Abby to a relative who brings her to the US where she is raised to be sophisticated and classy. Now an adult, Abby discovers the truth about her mother; she goes to Manila to know Esme and get closer to her. But Abby is disappointed to see that she has nothing in common with Esme who is loud, baduy and whose tastes are the complete opposite of hers. The more Esme tries to win Abby, the more Abby gets turned off.

Sounds familiar? Well, somewhat.

“Even my dialogues are familiar,” said Annabelle. “Ito ‘yung mga sinasabi ko sa tunay na buhay.”

As the “monster” mom (and, to Yilmaz, the monster-in-law which happens to be the title of the Hollywood movie starring Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda in the title role), Annabelle doesn’t get to wear her expensive jewelry which she brought with her to the set anyway, just in case, and she’s in a duster most of the time, still looking “monster-ly” beautiful with her hair extended.

At home, she rehearsed her lines anywhere she was — in the kitchen, in the sala, in the bathroom or even in bed with Eddie as her kabatuhan (as “sparring” partner).

“I was prepared when I came to the set,” said Annabelle who has introduced as Eve ages ago in The Private Lives of Adam and Eve (with Roldan Rodrigo as Adam), scripted by no less than the late Palanca writer Estrella D. Alfon. “Medyo nervous ng kaunti dahil ang tagal ko nang hindi uma-acting.”

The only “acting” she has been doing was — no, not her outbursts and crying scenes in TV talkshows because they are for real — for commercials (for Advil, Crispee Chicken Breading Mix and now, for Circulan with Sen. Chiz Escudero and wife Tintin as “co-stars”).

“Nakatulong sa akin ang mga commercial na ‘yon.”

The ‘working man’ in Cesar Montano

Some people must have forgotten that Cesar Montano is a certified engineer. But it comes as no surprise to those who know when they learn that Cesar has agreed to be a partner of Holcim Philippines, Inc., one of the leading cement companies in the Philippines, in its Holcim ‘galing Mason Program.

The Holcim ‘galing Mason Program is a seven-day intensive training course which teaches masons the proper way to handle and make the most of the cement they use. They also learn the basics of cement properties, the correct use of masonry tools and equipment, bonds and joints, carpentry, trade mathematics and safety in the workplace.

“My father was a mason before he became a lawyer,” disclosed Cesar. “He was working his way to college and he worked in construction as a mason. I was a mason, too, working in that bridge near my school when it was being constructed. Labor is dignified when you do your best in it. Training will give the workers more self-confidence.”

One of Cesar’s major projects with Holcim is to build community facilities in Baclayon, his hometown in Bohol where he has a resthouse. Through the Holcim ‘galing Mason Program, residents of Cesar’s community will be trained to become skilled and certified masons to give them better work opportunities.

Aside from Bohol, there will be Holcim ‘galing Mason Program trainings in various provinces and regions in the country. The training curriculum was developed by Holcim in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Philippine Constructors Association and the National Union of Building and Construction Workers. At the end of the training course, the participants’ masonry skills will get  a certificate from TESDA.

What’s up?

• Want to hear more what Gabby Concepcion has to say? Tune in to Mar d’Guzman Cruz’s Showbiz Power with Kuya Mar tonight from 7 to 8 with Gabby as special “live” guest. Listeners can talk directly to Gabby during the program’s “open forum on the air.”

• The Metro Manila Christian Film Festival will be held from April 14 to 19. Here’s the schedule:

• April 14, Monday — 5:30 p.m., opening ceremony; 6:30 p.m., Ama, Anak (Father, Son); 7:30 p.m., Taghoy sa Dilim (Silent Killer); and 8:15 p.m., Sa Kandungan ng Langit (Heaven’s Cradle);

• April 15, Tuesday — 6 p.m., The Climb; 7:45 p.m., The Bridge; and 8:30 p.m., Rebound (Kwento ng Isang Naniwala...at Nagtagumpay);

• April 16, Wednesday — 6 p.m., Bilanggo (Learning to Forgive); and 7 p.m., A Vow to Cherish;

• April 17, Thursday — 4 p.m., Magdalena (Released From Shame); 6 p.m., The Ride; 7:45 p.m., Manong Juni, Okay Lang ‘Yan (Manong Juni, It’s Okay); and 8:30 p.m., All Things New;

• April 18, Friday — 4 p.m., Hermie & Friends’ Flo The Lyin’ Fly; 5:30 p.m., You Are Special; 7 p.m., The Hope; and 8 p.m., Ang Lagusan (The Tunnel);

• April 19, Saturday — 9 a.m., Hermie & Friends Webster The Scaredy Spider; 10 a.m., Punchinello and The Most Marvelous Gift; 1 p.m., Something To Sing About; 2:30 p.m., The Ride; and 5 p.m., closing ceremonies.

(Note: Admission is free. Films will be shown at Union Church of Manila, Rada St. corner Legaspi St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. For more information, call MMCFF coordinator Rhon Bautista at 812-5609 or 812-6062 local 219.)

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