Take it from Tita Midz

Armida Siguion-Reyna is a formidable, even venerable force in Philippine entertainment. She does not mince words and she will always fight for what is true, right and beautiful. She is also one of the very few women who has “balls.” She has very strong opinions about censorship, cinema and politics. But seldom do we see Tita Midz (as she is fondly called in showbiz) doing interviews. Thus, when we had her on The Buzz, we were honored. In the interview, Tita Midz unleashed some of her thoughts on the movie industry. Without batting an eyelash, she said, “Bagsak.” “Walang solusyon,” except to abolish censorship, an issue she has long espoused.

“If you cannot be truthful in your approach to your movie, huwag mong gawin ang pelikula mo kung matatakot ka sa Board of Censors.” She also said that without censors, the industry will flourish. “Anong nangyayari ngayon sa industriya ng pelikulang Pilipino, pati TV? Pare-pareho ang istorya. Pare-pareho ang shows. How do we grow? But in fairness, the new board chairman, si Grace (Poe-Llamanzares) is quite liberal. Saka ’yong board niya liberal.”

Tita Midz said she wanted to make movies. “Ang gusto ko, ang gagawin kong pelikula ’yong talagang gusto ko. ’Yong topic that I am in love with, ’yong challenging ang topic like the Ampatuan massacre.”

Tita Midz is touring America with her Aawitan Kita show. “Makikipagsapalaran ako doon. Kasi ’yon talaga ang buhay ko.”

She also advises young singers to be original.” Huwag kang manggagaya. Dahil magaling si Sarah Geronimo, e gagayahin mo na si Sarah Geronimo. You have to find your own style. ’Yong creativity mo, yon ang gamitin mo.”

Overlooked Films at the CCP

Another season of the Overlooked Films, Underrated Directors series will be shown once a month from April through August at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theater). The film showings are presented by the CCP in cooperation with the Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA).

The film series, which will be held every second Saturday of the month, will begin with a Tribute to Hammy Sotto, SOFIA’s founding president, on April 16. April is Sotto’s birth and death anniversary month. The tribute will feature Sotto’s documentary on Philippine Cinema.

Screening schedule of the series proper is: May 14, Return of the Dragon by Celso Ad. Castillo; June 11, Taong Paniki by Richard Abelardo; July 15 to 24, Tribute to Ronwaldo Reyes (Retrospective Section of Cinemalaya 2011); and Aug. 13, Pusaka Pontiana by Ramon Estella. The film showings are at 2 to 5 p.m.

For details, call CCP Media Arts Division at tel. no. 832-1125 locals 1702 and 1705.

Vic praises Bea

Bea Alonzo stars with Vic Sotto in Star Cinema’s Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak. Vic is elated to have Bea as a partner. “It is my pleasure to work with you. Thank you for all the bonding moments and all the kwentuhan. Thank you for laughing with us. You are a very good actress and I am hoping to work with you again.”

Mistaken identity

Last week on The Buzz we got a call from a certain Gregorio Maulyon who claims to be the father of Jason Francisco (of Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition fame). Mang Gregorio suspected that Jason could be his long lost son by a woman named Nerissa Francisco. Jason is one of his two sons, along with Jayser who was adopted by a relative of Nerissa in Batangas. Mang Gregorio said that he and Nerissa parted ways when his bakery business where Nerissa used to work closed shop. Mang Gregorio after piecing together some information about Jason called The Buzz, to probe his allegations.

We sat down with Jason to clarify if he knew Gregorio Maulyon, the man who claims to be his father. Jason flatly denied any knowledge about him. “Wala po akong kilalang Maulyon. Pumapasyal po ako sa Batangas kasi doon ang lola ko, may kapatid doon.” He also said that his father, Resty, is in Saudi. Jason last saw his father when he went out of Big Brother’s house. He admitted though that there was a time he thought he might be an adopted son. “Kasi noong una andami pong tumatakbo sa isipan ko na baka tuloy ampon ako. Lahat yan sumagi sa isip ko, baka ang nanay ko noon ay mayroong iba, baka may una akong tatay…”

To parry Gregorio Maulyon’s claim, Jason said, “Sobra po ako sigurado na yong tatay ko si Restituto Francisco. Baka yong taong tinutukoy niya ay halos kaparehas ko, kaya ako napagkamalan niya.”

After a thorough investigation, The Buzz concluded that Jason Francisco is not the lost son of Gregorio Maulyon.

But here’s hoping that Mang Gregorio finds the son he’s been looking for.