• The following paean to actor-writer-director Mario O’Hara (photo), who died of cardiac arrest triggered by leukemia last Tuesday, June 26, was written by multi-awarded PETA poet-playwright-actor/director Frank Rivera, one of Mario’s close friends:
Ipuputos sa pighati
Mapapait nating ngiti.
Palalayain ang hapdi
Ng lantay na pagtitimpi.
Batiin natin si Mario
Sa bago n’yang entablado.
Palakpak na masigabo
Baon sa kanyang pagyao.
* * *
This blind item has to be, that’s it, as blind as it can be in deference to the top actress who reminded Funfare “to be nice” in case this “scoop” is printed.
So here’s the “nice” blind item which the top actress herself has confirmed to Funfare, her voice full of great expectation and her eyes sparkling with the prospects of finally (finally!!!) walking down the aisle with the (non-showbiz) man who will promise to love her for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, ‘till….
Yes, the actress and her fiancé are getting hitched in December next year (“2013,” she texted Funfare twice to make sure that I got the date right) and by then, after the May 2013 mid-term elections, every town and every city and every province, throughout the country will have either a re-elected or new mayor, governors and congressmen…and senators, too.
“In 2016,” added the actress, “I plan to run.” For what position, she didn’t say. “Basta,” she said with finality, “tatakbo ako!”
Oh well, what else can I say to the actress but “Good luck, God bless you!” and, as the Chinese would say, “May you live together for a hundred (happy) years!”
The actress has fallen in and out of love with a loud thud all the time and she deserves all the happiness in the world. All these years, her mantra has been, Love me, love my children.
The man himself is an unwed parent, so they are in the same (love) boat.
In that case, for them, it will be “yours, mine and ours.” A happy built-in big family.
Godspell closes; Alessandra movie showing in New York
After a good seven-month run on Broadway, Godspell closed with a bang last Sunday, June 24. But already, the musical’s lead actress Anna Maria Perez de Tagle is being offered a new, juicier project. Stay tuned in to Funfare for what that is. Anna Maria topped a recent online popularity poll.
“Many Filipinos were able to watch Godspell,” reported this corner’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre, “and Anna Maria is thankful to The STAR for giving it generous publicity.”
According to Edmund, a seven-month Broadway run is good enough, considering that some shows would last only one performance, two of them Moose Murders and Glory Days. Another show, Carrie (which cost some $8M to produce), folded up after only five stagings that merited 16 reviews. The restaged Flower Drum Song in 2002 lasted for six months.
In an accompanying report, Edmund praised Alessandra de Rossi “as one of the few extraordinary Filipino actresses we genuinely adore. Since her sterling performances in critically-acclaimed films like Azucena, Hubog and Mga Munting Tinig, we knew right away that the then teenage girl was a diamond in the rough.”
Like a broken record, I say, “I agree!”
Added Edmund, “At a very young age, Alessandra has shown a remarkable range of acting. She even has mastered the art of disappearing from every role she portrays (think of Meryl Streep or Maggie Gyllenhaal); you see the character, not the person who gives life to it. It helps that Alessandra’s simple Pinay beauty never distracts, and serves her best instead. One shining example is her role as a housemaid haunted by ghosts in the internationally-released horror flick The Maid, where her acting, subtle and controlled, was hailed by critics overseas.”
I told Edmund that the sad thing is that in spite of her critically-acclaimed work both in film and television, Alessandra has nonetheless remained underrated, to put it bluntly. But she is unperturbed. As she always tells in interviews, she just wants to be a working actress. And she never hides the fact that she’s always on the lookout for projects to earn a living.
“Kailangan kong magtrabaho dahil hindi naman ako superstar,” Edmund said he remembered Alessandra saying once in a showbiz chat. “Hindi ko afford na tumunganga lang dahil maraming kailangang bayaran.”
Her being brutally honest is another trait that endears Alex (her nickname) to her fans.
Many years from now, film buffs will honor Alessandra not only as one of the best actresses of her generation, but of all generations. Her name will be remembered in the same breath as Nora Aunor, Gina Pareño, Gina Alajar, or even Lolita Rodriguez.
Only in her 20s, Alessandra holds the distinction of being one of the youngest Filipino actors, whose films are always screened in various film festivals abroad, including her last two projects, Ka Oryang and Busong, which brought Alessandra and her director/producer Aureaus Solito to last year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Edmund’s good news is that Busong (with Alfred Vargas as co-producer) will be shown in New York City starting today, at the Quad Cinema on West 13th Street in Manhattan for a week-long exclusive theatrical engagement.
The movie received a 10-minute ovation when it was screened at Cannes’ Directors’ Fornight Section, according to New York-based film producer and writer Vincent Nebrida, who’s been working to get more Filipino movies for US screening.
“Even The New York Times has expressed interest in reviewing Busong,” he said. “It has the making of a Filipino classic film like Insiang, Itim or Himala. The film’s direction, acting, story and cinematography showcase the world-class talents of Filipino artists and filmmakers. I’m sure New York will fall in love with Busong and Alessandra. The gorgeous sceneries of Palawan serve as the film’s bonus attraction.”
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)