Partytime in Boracay: Cinema One's film show, Callalily gig please beachcombers

MANILA, Philippines - Walking barefoot on the sand for miles. People watching. Taking a dip away from the green moss that has been swept along the shores. Watching or participating in a ballgame under the hot sun, or maybe tossing a frisbee. Boozing on the beach at night. Boracay island is the place to party especially in the summer.

That’s what the guys at Cinema One of ABS-CBN Network did one recent weekend: Throw a really big party to which everyone was invited, from Kapamilya and guests who flew all the way from Manila, to both local and visiting beachcombers and revelers. Buffet meals were served at Willy’s Beach Club Station 1, where all the guests and artists from Manila were billeted, and Obama Bar and Grill also at Station 1 (the place reportedly antedated the rise of the current US president). The Saturday evening celebration had two components — a film screening and a rock concert. Before and after these two activities, games, an “acting” contest, buffet dinner and dance music delighted the crowd at the beach front of White House Beach Resort on Station 1.

Emceeing the party were two heavyweights — in talent. One was comic John Lapus who steals the show in the current movie hit Moron 5 and the Crying Lady. Lapus isn’t one of the morons but as the other title character — the Crying Lady — he steals much of the movie from his equally crazy co-stars which is a feat considering how funny Luis Manzano, Billy Crawford, Marvin Agustin, Martin Escudero and DJ Durano could be, even individually. So onscreen and off, John is a sure bet as a crowd-pleaser, as evident in his hosting chores in the Cinema One event.

The other emcee was Cai Cortez, a big girl who has shown impressive thespic skills on stage, TV and film. She played the title role in the acclaimed 2010 Cinema One comedy Maximus and Minimus, the other title part belonging to tall and lanky actor Mikel Campos. Cai is the daughter of screen heavy Rez Cortez.

John and Cai animatedly talked at length about the film then to be shown on a big screen by the beach that evening — last year’s Cinemalaya hit Ang Babae sa Septic Tank — but without the dominant star Eugene Domingo who was unsurprisingly busy in Manila and still in Cloud 9 with her Asian award. Eugene was not missed. But how could she be? She was “there” all the time, from the two hosts’ intro to the film, to the fun competition at which girls gamely tried to do the three acting styles her character in the movie demonstrates, and the film itself in which Eugene kept the audience at the CCP or at the beach rolling down the aisle — or the sand, whatever the case might be.

Star power and pulchritude glowed with Kapamilya stars such as Megan Young, one of the sweetest, loveliest and also, alas, underutilized talents in the ABS-CBN family, and Jake Cuenca who is as much admired for his performances on the big and small screen as his ramp modeling. The actors were there as “special guests,” gracing the affair and helping John and Cai entertain people and hand over prizes to contest winners.

Dropping by and exchanging pleasantries with ABS-CBN PR manager Kathy Solis and Cinema One manager Jingky Soriano was the island’s youthful first lady and the mayor’s wife, Abby Yap.

The Septic Tank screening had to be delayed as Boracay joined the world in observing Earth Hour by turning off all electricity for an hour and making do with candlelight. This was a good time to call the Patikeros to play percussive, savage music and firedancers to dazzle the crowd with their acrobatic and terpsichorean skills and pyrotechnics. When power was restored, the crowd hadn’t left, eager to see or see again the little big film that’s making a splash abroad; a good splash that is, and not of the liquid variety in the movie’s sepic tank.

Asked why Cinema One was showing an indie film that was not of its own making, Cinema One honcho Ronald Arguelles said he wanted a surefire crowd-pleaser, as against Cinema One’s more serious, highly-praised low-budget products, one movie that would keep seaside partygoers to their seats. And he was right. Viewers stayed on, laughing all the way.

One thrilled viewer was lying on his back; he’s a principal player in Septic Tank, heartthrob Kean Cipriano who plays an aspiring young indie filmmaker, who with his equally young producer JM de Guzman and dutiful assistant Cai pays an intimidating diva Eugene Domingo a visit to get her nod to a low-budget project.

Shortly before the movie came to a close, Kean stood up to a corner to remove his shirt and join his popular band as they prepared their guitars and drums, thus avoiding a big time gap between the film screening and the next happening — a gig featuring Kean’s Callalily, which raised the level of excitement to another, louder level.

Partygoers moved closer to the band, and when Callalily was introduced, there was a collective shriek. The group, arguably the most famous band to come from UST, is known for its hard-rocking style, its talent and charisma. But since the boys also happen to look good, detractors have tried to denigrate their music as “pogi rock.” It hasn’t helped that frontman Kean is “pogi” himself, and of late, Kean has crossed over and is making waves as an actor. Yes, the rockista is now a movie and TV star. Darwin Hernandez, manager of Callalily and other reputable, topnotch bands, says that Kean enjoys playing and singing with the band more than acting, and that despite his hectic acting schedule, he makes it a point to play with the band. Darwin adds that if given only one choice between performing (as Callalily vocalist) and acting, Kean would rather do the former.

It must be a reaction to his newfound high-profile status in showbiz that has prompted Kean to downplay his artistahin looks; thus he has not built up his body like other hunks do. He’d keep that intense “hungry” look and sport a beard, occasionally. Then there’s that celebrity accouterment he cannot seem to do without — the dark glasses (protection? mask?) which may annoy a lot of people whoever the star wearing them may be. In any case, he seems to have discovered that TV-movie stardom involves a totally different ballgame but with some reluctance, he’s playing it. Still, he’s facing culture shock in mainstream showbiz. For one, he and company are puzzled or amused by “completely false” column items about his supposed romance with this or that actress or his presence somewhere when he’s not there. Kean more at home making music with Callalily? That may be so, but he looks comfortable being a sought-after showbiz matinee idol.

For this Cinema One affair, Callalily played five songs: Stars, Liwanag, Pawiin, Wala Na Tayo and Susundan. Every number elicited noisy cheers from the audience who wanted more, except that the Calla Lily gig had to end and smoothly lead to the party’s next attraction — recorded music spun by DJ Mars Miranda.

When the party’s over, guests stayed on to drink and chat. Arguelles says proudly it’ll go on — at other times and other venues — for it’s not only a fun, worthy activity and an occasion of goodwill. He adds that the Boracay bash was also profitable for the network in terms of sponsorships. This early, movie unseen and unfinished, the sequel to Kimmy Dora, Eugene’s star-making indie hit released the other year, will be Arguelles’ choice for next year’s Boracay event.