Ai-Ai confirms doing MMFF movie with Coco

Curtain-raisers:

• The DPA who sent the following item reminded Funfare not to mention when and where in the US the incident happened. “I’m telling you about it as a reminder for our kababayan artists who are staging a concert in the US,” said the DPA. Anyway, the ticket sales for the concert were less than 70 percent so the artist’s manager wanted the producer to give away unsold tickets so that the venue would look full. That’s called “dressing up.” But the producer said no, saying it was not her fault if not many people bought tickets. The manager threatened she wouldn’t let the artist appear if the venue didn’t look “full.” Suffice it to say that the show went on, 70-percent “full” or not.

• A sexy actress has a “big” problem with her weight and she openly talked about it among friends. She’s determined to shed several pounds, most of which concentrated on her breasts enhanced years ago when she was just starting in showbiz. “Very heavy,” she complained. “They are giving me backache.” Teased that her partner might disapprove, she laughed, “Paano, wala na siyang paglalambitinan, hahaha!” Minus her “heavy load,” the actress said it wouldn’t affect a big movie she’s shooting soon.

• While a certain actor is brazenly displaying his fondness for his actress-girlfriend’s two kids (one by her ex-actor lover and the second by her current lover), those around him can’t help but roll their eyes. Reason: he seems to be forgetting his responsibility to his two children with his ex-actress-wife. Luckily, the “ex” has found a new love who is raising the two kids as his own flesh and blood, loving them as much as he does his own kid with the actress.

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The last time Ai-Ai delas Alas had a movie at the MMFF (Metro Manila Film Festival) was four years ago, in My Bebe Love (with Vic Sotto, and Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza who were “introduced” as AlDub). Seven years before that, Ai-Ai starred in Sisterakas (with Vice Ganda, et al), a 2012 MMFF blockbuster (top grosser).

In this December’s MMFF, Ai-Ai will be in the running in a yet untitled movie with Coco Martin (also the producer, his second time after last year’s Jack Em Popoy with Vic and Maine, which he co-produced with Vic) and Jennylyn Mercado.

“Tuloy,” confirmed Ai-Ai during a merienda chat with movie writers the other day at Pamana (on Mother Ignacia St., right across from the ABS-CBN Studios). “We will have the story conference on June 30 and the shoot will start next month.”

What Ai-Ai wanted to be announced was Ai ? RCBN, a fund-raising concert for the Kristong Hari Church slated on Monday, June 24, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. It’s a basilica the Catholic Church is building and, being a Papal Awardee and a Marian devotee, Ai-Ai is doing her share in raising more money for its completion. The first such fund-raiser titled For The Love of Mama was held at the Mall Of Asia (MOA) and raised P4M, plus some P300,000 donated by private supporters.

“A bodega used to occupy the lot where the basilica is being constructed,” said Ai-Ai. “The church was small and when it rained, the church-goers got wet. In two years, the basilica will hopefully be completed. Still needed is about P250M more.”

In the first one-fourth part of the concert, Bo Sanchez will give an inspirational talk, followed by the performances of artists gratis et amore (“Pero may honorarium,” according to Ai-Ai, “otherwise we couldn’t afford their talent fees”) whom Ai-Ai enumerated in alphabetical order — Lovely Abella, Kyline Alcantara, Bayani Agbayani, Wally Bayola, Sancho delas Alas, Sophia delas Alas, Jose Manalo, Valeen Montenegro, Pekto Nacua, Alden Richards, Julie Anne San Jose and Erik Santos. Direction is by GB Sampedro.

Incidentally, Ai-Ai’s latest movie Feelinials opened nationwide yesterday. It is produced by Pops Fernandez for the family-owned company DSL Productions with Bayani Agbayani as leading man. Pops herself plays a cameo along with ex-husband Martin Nievera and Paolo Ballesteros.

According to Jojo Gabinete who was at the movie’s premiere Tuesday night, the audience roared with laughter from beginning to end.

“Nakakatawa ‘yung movie,” said Jojo. “May chemistry sina Ai-Ai at Bayani.”

“Not many people know that Bayani and I are good friends from way, way back,” said Ai-Ai, “binata pa siya noon at si Miguel pa ang kasama ko.” (Meaning Miguel Vera who is living in California with his own family.)

Ai-Ai assured that the millennials can relate to the movie, like her own daughter Sophia.

“She was laughing with the audience,” added Ai-Ai, “kasi exaggerated daw ang pagka-OA ng ‘feelinial’ jokes namin ni Bayani.”

Go watch the movie and have a good laugh.

Rep. Baby Arenas to file bill for benefit of movie people

Deputy Speaker Rose Marie ‘Baby’ Arenas being presented a Plaque of Recognition by Batanes Gov. Marilou H. Cayco witnessed by the province’s local officials

Like reelected Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez (who said he would talk to a congressman), reelected Pangasinan (Third District) Rep. Rose Marie “Baby” J. Arenas is filing a bill for the benefit of showbiz people — that is, for TV and movie companies to have standby medics and an ambulance on the set. Rep. Baby has thought of that bill even before Eddie Garcia met an accident on the set of a GMA shoot in Tondo that rendered him in Glasgow coma scale 3 (the lowest score) at the Makati Med where he remains on life support and on DNR (Do Not Resuscitate).

A Deputy Speaker, Baby was recently presented a Plaque of Recognition by the Provincial Government of Batanes headed by Gov. Marilou H. Cayco and witnessed by Batanes local officials Anastacia Balles Viola, Leonardo Hostallero, Proceso Balasbas, Jonathan Enrique Nanud Jr., Marcial Armando Alavado, Sabas De Sagon, Gilfredo Castro and Maxilindo Babalo.

Baby served as “Caretaker of the Lone Legislative District of Batanes” during the 17th Congress. In the citation, the Batanes officials thanked her “for her magnanimous support, utmost service, motherly care and her personal attention” notwithstanding the fact that Batanes is the province that is “least populated, smallest in land area and one of the farthest from the seat of government.”

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)