Temptresses on an island

Curtain-raisers:

Here are three interesting text messages received by Funfare during the Holy Week:

• From election lawyer Romy Macalintal (reacting to this corner’s We Are Almost There story about senior citizens in a care home last Wednesday): You’re right  we’re almost there, But for our loved ones who ‘are there’ na, this is the opportune time to make them feel how much we care for and love them. My mom will celebrate her 98^th birthday on May 7; she’s bed-ridden, although sometimes on wheelchair. She’s having Alzheimer’s but sometimes can recall our names. Now, I realize that while our loved ones, especially our parents, are still alive and can still recognize us and understand us, this is the right time to tell them how much we appreciate all the things and care they have done to us. Tell them, while they can still hear us something like: ‘I want you to know, Mommy/Daddy, that I am so thankful for all the good things that you have done for me and I deeply appreciate your sincere love and care’ I failed to say that to my Dad before he passed away several years ago, and I assured myself not to commit the same mistake again while my mom (Inay) is still alive.

•From Eden Carlos of GMA’s PR department (reacting to the same story): Love your We Are Almost There article today. It stopped me in my tracks and really made me think.

•From a missionary based in Nairobi, Kenya (East Africa): I just want to correct the feast of St. Bakhita, our Universal Sister. She is an African saint from Sudan, Africa. She was a slave and sold a few times. But God is good. Her master brought her to Italy and there she came to know the Canossian Daughters of Charity known as the Canossian sisters. To make the story short, she became a Canossian sister and a saint. Her feast is on Feb. 8 and not Feb. 7 as you have mentioned in your column. And if you don’t mind, I would like to add a feast on May. May 8 is the feast day of St. Magdalene of Canossa. May St. Bakhita intercede (if you have some special intentions don’t hesitate to ask her intercession) and protect you always!

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Did you know that all the stars of Temptation Island, the remake, were not born yet when the original, directed by the late Joey Gosiengfiao for Regal Films, was shown in 1980?

It’s possible that they haven’t seen the movie, unless a DVD copy is available.

You are seeing the pictures of the five stars of the new Temptation Island, co-produced by Regal Films and GMA Films, on this page for the first time. They are (in alphabetical order) Heart Evangelista, Lovi Poe, Marian Rivera, Rufa Mae Quinto and Solenn Heussaff.

The stars of the original movie were (also in alphabetical order): Azenith Briones, Bambi Arambulo, Deborah Sun, Dina Bonnevie and Jennifer Cortez, all of whom (except Deborah) were beauty queens (Azenith a Mutya ng Pilipinas runner-up, Bambi Bb. Pilipinas-World, Jennifer Bb. Pilipinas-Universe and Dina a Miss Magnolia runner-up).

Azenith is played by Marian, Bambi by Solenn, Deborah by Rufa Mae, Dina by Heart and Jennifer by Lovi.

In the original, the story revolves around beauties stranded on an island when the ship they were in sank. To while away their time (while waiting for the rescue that’s taking long in coming), the girls hold a beauty contest. In the remake, the girls hold a model search. The remake is directed by Chris Martinez (Kimmy Dora, the hit comedy starring Eugene Domingo) who also wrote the script and the same guy who directed the campy flick’s stage version mounted a few years back.

The male cast includes Aljur Abrenica (reprising the role played by the late Alfie Anido), Tom Rodriguez (for the role played by the late Ricky Belmonte) and Mikael Daez (for the role played by Domingo Sabado). John “Sweet” Lapus reprises the role played by Jonas Sebastian. Mikael replaced by Paulo Avelino who backed out when he got sick of pneumonia. Joem Bascon was supposed to replace Paulo but, according to a production hand, “he vanished into thin air and didn’t show up for the pictorial.”

Temptation Island is now being shot amidst the sand dunes of Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

“It’s patalbugan on the set every day,” added the production hand.

Be prepared for more of the same in the final cut.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected] or at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare.)