The Reign-a of the Lola

At a stage in her life when others may opt for the golden parachute, seeking that fabled retirement haven or a succession of halcyon days, Armida Siguion-Reyna is one very active woman. In the ongoing Metro Manila Film Festival, one of the eagerly anticipated films, the Joel Lamangan-directed Filipinas, has Armida essaying the pivotal matriarchal role.

On top of that, December also marks the launch of her first recording in some time, the Viva Records release of Pop Lola, a collection of Tagalog and English pop standards.

And with the formal entry of Fernando Poe Jr. into the presidential electoral fray next year, it’s a safe bet that Armida will be one vocal personality endorsing "Da King’s" candidacy. There will be busy days ahead indeed for Armida.

Filipinas is described as a very simple, very Filipino, family saga. As Armida relays, "I play the role of widow Florencia Filipinas. Maricel Soriano, Richard Gomez, Victor Neri, Dawn Zulueta, Aiko Melendez and Wendell Ramos are my children. Various strands ebb and flow throughout the film, much like in real life. Each child will have his or her own problems and circumstances: Maricel is married to Daniel Fernando. Richard lives in the States and sends back two of his children–Mikel Campos and Anne Curtis–to live with me, and there’s a third child, Sarah Geronimo, who never left for the States with them, but was left with me from infancy. Victor is a labor leader and Dawn a caregiver in Tel Aviv. Aiko has a relationship with Raymund Bagatsing and Wendell with Tanya Garcia. Interspersed are characters like Tony Mabesa who plays a priest who has a child, and Ernie Zarate is my deceased husband."

Asked if the family acts as a metaphor for our country, Armida concurs. "There is some of that microcosm conceit, but it’s not an overtly political one. It may be compared to films like Tanging Yaman or Dekada, but it stands on its own as an example of traditional storytelling. There are lessons and situations the audience can easily identify with. The values of love and forgiveness, the tribulations of my keeping the family together and how it drives me into a coma from which something positive can still be extracted. The script of Roy Iglesias, and having Joel at the helm, made it a foregone conclusion that I’d say ‘Yes’ to this movie. I had some minor roles in Xerex and 9 Mornings, but this is my first major role since Inagaw Mo Lahat Sa Akin."

Armida proudly and impishly shows me the jacket of her new CD, Pop Lola, and it’s immediately evident that this was a labor of love and loads of fun. "The photographs are by Ronni Salvacion and is it obvious we had a grand time shooting this? The concept of the CD came from my daughter, Monique. The idea was to do something that was a complete departure from Aawitan Kita. First, there are a number of English songs: Sway, Smile, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, For All We Know and Night and Day. And while there are Tagalog songs, they’re pop standards and not the traditional songs I’m more identified with."

She continues with enthusiasm: "There’s Kahit Kaunti of Gary Granada, would you believe Michael V’s Sinaktan Mo ang Puso Ko? Willy Cruz’s Kahit Na we give a bossa nova tempo, the theme song of Hanggang which Wency Cornejo first interpreted, and my duet with Cris (Villongco, Armida’s granddaughter) is Ngayon Ka Lang, Tagumpay Ka Na.

"I have to admit, the inspiration for this CD also came from the likes of Michael Buble. I loved what he did to Rosemary Clooney’s Sway. And there’s Rod Stewart’s Great American Songbook disc. If, with that album, he just took those classic tunes and gave it his treatment, paos voice and all, I knew I was ready to do this CD. It’s been 12 years since the last time I recorded. As an aside," she adds, "I find Stewart’s second American Songbook a pale successor, as I sensed they now made the effort to clean up that hoarse quality and enhance production."

As a former mtrcb chairperson, Armida knows only too well the problems that
beset our film industry. Beyond piracy, there’s the veneer of mediocrity and the search for the quick buck.

"As you’re fundamentally out to make money, it’s inevitable that commercialism will play a major part in any film-making decision," she candidly admits. "It’s to our credit that we have so many good directors who rise above the revised material or, despite compromise, still manage to come up with quality films. And then, you find directors of a certain level–Chito (Roño), Carlitos (Siguion-Reyna, her son), Gil (Portes), Joey (Reyes), Mel (Chionglo) and Joel (Lamangan) among them–who can still make demands on the studio and producers."

Her production company Reyna Films has not had a project for some years now. While that may be frustrating for Armida, the simple fact is that if there isn’t sufficient money out there right now to bankroll a truly worthwhile film, why bother creating one just for the sake of being able to say there’s one "in the can"? Producing has always been a tricky business, and given the standards Reyna has always insisted on, Armida knows that that time will come again, but it can’t be a forced issue.

Politics, on the other hand, is an issue with a measure of inevitability about it. The elections next year are, for Armida, of vital importance. Bemoaning the state of our country, she’s glad she lived her youth in different times. Today, she sees corruption, with the perpetrators not even ashamed of the stain of corruption. Downplaying the inadequacies that so many observers see in Fernando Poe Jr., Armida finds him a refreshing option that the public is clamoring for.

"FPJ does have business experience," she insists. "It may be the movie business, but to think that a business element does not exist at all is foolish. There may be marked differences with more conventional businesses, but basic principles of management also apply. If you look at FPJ, at how many years he’s been in the business and has stayed on top, you’ll appreciate that that takes very adept handling of one’s career. How many other actors can boast of the record FPJ has amassed? To stay on top from the time of his Lo’ Waist Gang up to the present day, is no mean feat."

She goes on: "He also has a very fine sense of history–you should see the archives he has built up. As with any new President who brings in more than 5,000 new people into the new administration, FPJ will have to wisely surround himself with the right people to help him govern, should he become President. What is interesting is the evident appeal of his candidacy. Just as in California where they voted in Arnold (Schwarzenegger) despite his so-called ‘lack of credentials’, the voice of the people has to be heard."

Her grand daughter Cris will be in town for the holidays; queried on what her Christmas wish for Cris would be, Armida succinctly replied, "They (the grandchildren) all know I don’t play favorites, but despite being the more public figure among the grandchildren, I still can commend Cris for being truly mabait. She’s an angel and I only wish for her to stay the way she is."

Asked what would be her wishes for the two political figures she has been identified with, Armida has this to say: "For Ronnie (FPJ), I only wish that he find himself with the right people, the good people. I really pray that he takes it all the way and he will turn out to be the bearer of that light at the end of the tunnel we so badly need.

"For Erap, I only hope that his problems come to an end. The other night I watched Mike Arroyo complaining that the re-opening of the Jose Pidal case constitutes harassment. Not for anything, but given how Erap was hounded out of the office he had been duly elected to and has not yet been found guilty of any plunder, how different is that from the Pidal case being made a legitimate national concern, given there may turn out to be merit in the accusations? How can one situation be justified, and this one now be ‘harrassment’?"

Truly, this December, the ever outspoken Armida has more than one good reason to celebrate. She’s always been a larger than life character, loyal to a fault to her friends, and ever mindful of the talent she’s been blessed with and committed to share it through projects that stand the test of time. The reign of the Lola is far from over.