How Edna paved the way for the Irma-Ronnie tie-up

We almost missed the screening of Edna which had been shown as a guest and non-competing entry at the recently-concluded Cinemalaya X. With well-known theater actors part of the film, Irma Adlawan in the title role of Edna and Ronnie Lazaro in his directorial debut, how sorry we would have been had we missed it. The film tells the sad tale of families forced to live separately, some in the Philippines and the others abroad.

When Irma decides to leave the Philippines and work abroad, she already knew of the risks she was taking. Stories of separation among Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are a dime a dozen. What else would be new? This is a problem we thought Ronnie and the film’s executive producer Anthony Gedang needed to solve. They would have to face the music, look up to the heavens and hope for the best.

The heavens must have heard them both. The Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB) of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) headed by Briccio Santos gave the film an “A” rating with a 100-percent tax rebate. The FDCP is the government-backed lead agency ensuring that the economic, cultural and educational aspects of film are effectively represented at home and abroad.

Anthony couldn’t believe his ears when told of the rating. “I am overwhelmed. I have produced only two films, Ataul for Rent in 2007 and Edna in 2014 and both have been rated ‘A.’”

Direk Ronnie apparently had no other choice for the lead but Irma. She has performed in more than 70 films since 1996 and in fact has been dubbed as the Queen of Filipino Independent Films. Irma has done TV, film and theater on competing channels of ABS and GMA 7. Her memorable appearances have been on 11 episodes of Maalaala Mo Kaya from 2007 to 2014. In addition, she has appeared in select films like Mga Mata ni Angelita, It Takes a Man and a Woman, The Reunion, Super Inday and The Golden Bibe, Milan, Jose Rizal, and this doesn’t include her guestings in several indies.  

Ronnie, on the other hand, is a Gawad Urian winner, with several nominations throughout his career, nine of them as Best Supporting Actor, and two for Best Actor namely Ebolusyon and Boatman.

Although many of Ronnie’s films have received recognitions internationally, an outstanding performance was in the film Anino, where he played the lead under the direction of Raymond Red that won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, short drama category in 2000. We could go on and on regarding Ronnie’s accomplishments, but suffice it to say that he hasn’t stopped experimenting, going into other avenues like co-production, photography and art direction.

It would be just natural for the country’s best directors to cast Ronnie in their films since he always gives his best no matter how small the role would be. Among these directors were Nonon Padilla, Cris Millado, Jose Estrella, Tony Espejo, Spanky Manikan and Pen Medina, Denisa Reyes and Agnes Locsin, Paulo Mercado, Jun Pablo and Tony Espejo, Lou Veloso, Joel Lamangan and Peque Gallaga.

Many of these directors would cast him several times in their projects, and they are never disappointed. Our favorite film, however, remains to be And St. Louis Loves dem Filipinos written by Floy Quintos, and directed by Tony Mabesa where Ronnie played the lead role of Datu Bulan of the Bagobo Tribe (alternating with Joel Lamangan). We recall watching the play thrice at the UP and each time would be affected differently.  

It is obvious that both Ronnie and Irma have been sufficiently prepared for their roles in life, Irma as one of the most versatile of Filipino actresses, and Ronnie as the latest most innovative director in town. And project Edna is responsible for this discovery.

(Send your comments to [email protected] or text me at 0917-8991835. To those asking for tickets and more information re Music and Magic, venue is PICC Plenary Hall, Friday, Oct. 3 at  8 p.m. Tickets are available through Artist House 815-1953, Viva Concerts 687-7236, PICC 789-4743