Nora 'Globe' nominee

As you must know by now, Nora Aunor has flown out of the US not to the Philippines but to Japan to undergo cosmetic surgery as endorser of a beauty clinic based there. From there, she’s flying right back to the US, her second home these past years.

Will she ever come home? Maybe yes, maybe no. Only time can tell.

Meanwhile, after her starrer, Ishmael Bernal’s Himala, won the CNN-UK 2009 Best Asia-Pacific Film of All Time (beating, would you believe, such classics as Japan’s Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon and those of Chinese director Zhang Yimou, etc.), Nora is nominated for the 10 Best Asian Actresses of the Decade Award in the 2010 Green Globe Film Awards (not affiliated with the Golden Globe Awards) which is giving awards in more than 37 other categories.

Funfare learned that Nora is in the shortlist of Asian actresses together with Maggie Cheung, Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi, all from China; Michelle Yeoh (Malaysia); and Sinjai Olengpanich (Thailand). Nora is the only Filipino actress in the line-up that includes 10 from China, six from Japan, four from Korea and two each from Singapore, Vietnam and Taiwan.

Green Globe Film Awards allows 100 Viewers’ Choice Awards to be selected by film lovers, critics and movie viewers around the globe through its voting site at www.movie.voters. Or to log on easily, go to superstarstruck.weebly.com.

The host, Westin Bonaventure Hotel in L.A., will present the awardees on March 23 at a sit-down dinner.

Vicki ‘addicted’ to Hayden Kho

Are Dr. Vicki Belo and Dr. Hayden Kho still “on”?

Yes, definitely, they are.

They broke their promise to stay away from each other until Hayden’s birthday in May when Hayden filed a few days ago his motion for reconsideration vis-a-vis the suspension of his medical license. Yes, Vicki was there to give him moral support.

“I am addicted to Hayden,” joked Vicki when she talked to the press last Wednesday during the launch of Jennylyn Mercado and Valerie Concepcion as endorsers of The Belo Medical Group. “I can’t find somebody like or better than him.”

Oh well, pagbigyan ang hilig, ang init ng pangangailangan.

Somebody kidded Vicki that she should try Adel Tamano, her lawyer who is running for the Senate, since as a Muslim he’s entitled to four wives (Adel has only one).

“Hindi ako type ni Adel, eh,” Vicki said laughing.

Incidentally, Jennylyn and Valerie go to Vicki’s clinic not for any invasive surgery but for body-contouring sessions with Novashape. Both unwed moms, the two have Vicki to thank for their still-to-die-for figures.

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The lunch movie presscon recently hosted by Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde at her Imperial Palace Suites for Sen. Lito Lapid (who is running for reelection) turned out to be some kind of a “tribute” with old friends singing praises for Lito who, according to direk Maning Borlaza, “has remained as humble as he was when he was just starting in showbiz.”

True, seconded komiks novelist Pablo S. Gomez who has prepared a komiks titled Haliging Bato as part of Lito’s campaign pitch.

“He was only 16 when I met him,” said Pablo, “and he hasn’t changed. Everytime he sees me, he gives me money,” added Pablo who revealed that he has gone back to Sampaloc, Manila, and to riding tricycles and jeepneys after he lost his publishing business (put up in the mid-’70s) due to bad investment and poor management. “Hindi siya nakakalimot; marunong siyang lumingon sa kanyang pinanggalingan.”

But the glowing tribute came from Mother Lily who delivered the welcome address. Excerpts:

Lito was the youngest in a brood of five boys. His father died at 28 when Lito was only two years old. Even as a young boy, Lito was compelled to face the harsh realities of life. His mother tried to make both ends meet for the family by working as a labandera. Lito, for his part, helped bring in money by selling pan de sal and ice on the streets.

While he was growing up, he did all sorts of jobs just to put food on the table. To be able to send his brother Arthur to school, Lito worked in a sari-sari store, where he got paid P20 a month. Since no one would send him to school, Lito applied as a working student when he was in high school.

Why am I telling you all these things about Lito? I personally admire his struggle, hard work and determination to give his mother and brothers a better life. Kahit sa gitna ng hirap, hindi niya pinabayaan ang kanyang pamilya. Nagsikap siya, kumayod at nagtiis. Hindi niya inisip ang kanyang sarili. Gusto niyang mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang kanyang pamilya.

From Pampanga, Lito tried his luck to make money in Manila. After high school, he initially worked as a bit player in the movies, earning P15 a day. He later tried his hand at being a stuntman, the job of his late father who used to double for Fernando Poe Sr. and son, Fernando Poe Jr.

In case he didn’t succeed in the movies, Lito had a fallback option at that time. He wanted to take a course in automotive. But Lito was fearless and unwavering. He worked on his stunts day and night, risking life and limb to do doubles for the likes of Romeo Vasquez, George Estregan Sr., Tony Ferrer, Mat Ranillo III, Eddie Garcia and Zaldy Zshornack.

His hard work did not go unnoticed. While working as a fight instructor for Agrix Productions’ Dodong Diamond, which starred the late Jay Ilagan, Lito was given a break by producer Jesse Chua.

From his first starring role in the life story of his uncle Jess Lapid Sr., Lito went on to do dozens of successful solo action films.

I am proud of what Lito has accomplished as an actor. He had big dreams which he achieved through hard work, perseverance and determination. It was a great blessing that he became a big star.

But Lito also suffered a career low in the ‘80s when he stopped making movies. In 1989, my husband Father Remy and I, visited Lito in his hometown in Porac. Father believed in Lito’s talent and ability that’s why he convinced Lito to make movies again.

Father Remy told me, “Malaki ang paniniwala ko sa abilidad ni Lito hindi lang bilang isang aktor, kung hindi bilang isang tao. Mahal ko siya dahil mahal din niya ang aking pamilya. Alam ko kung paano siya nagpakahirap para umasenso sa buhay. Ayokong masayang lahat iyon.”

From his first Regal movie, Tadtarin ng Bala si Madelo, there was no looking back for Lito. That jumpstarted his career as an action star and many more projects, not just for Regal, followed.

When Lito expressed his desire to enter politics as vice governor of Pampanga in 1992, Father Remy and I encouraged him all the more. We believed Lito could really served the people. We never doubted his genuine aspiration to help others.

Father Remy said, “May puso at damdamin si Lito para sa kanyang kapwa He is always ready to help. He is a self-made man. He is always humble. He is an achiever and a believer.”

What’s up?

Part of a significant cultural awakening in the country is the presentation of Walang Sugat the most popular sarsuela by Severino Reyes and Fulgencio Tolentino. The play triggered the ‘golden age’ of Filipino sarsuelas.

Tomorrow, Feb. 28, the presentation is sponsored by the Roco Foundation Inc. which has encouraged the youth, specially of Bicol, the late Senator’s birth province, to engage in meaningful cultural and socio-economic endeavors.

His widow, Sonia, having taken up Dramatics in London, UK, and having espoused and continues to encourage young budding artists, will take the lead in the play on that night. Walang Sugat is being staged at Tanghalang Henry Lee Irwin at the Ateneo De Manila University. Its current run is also being held in celebration of the University’s 150th anniversary.

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