Benjamin Alves garners good reviews for ‘Sana Dati’

“Sana Dati,” a film by Jerrold Tarog, was a big winner at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival last July where it won a total of seven awards, including Best Picture in the Directors’ Showcase category, Best Director trophy and Best Supporting Actor for TJ Trinidad.

Also getting good reviews for their performances were other members of the cast namely Lovi Poe, Paolo Avelino and Benjamin Alves who played Lovi’s former suitor. He was the former lover of Lovi’s character and through his brother (played by Paolo), Lovi gets reminded of her past love, sending her mind into a frenzy, somehow making her think twice if she should go on with the wedding or not.

Some were saying that Benjamin did better than Paolo acting-wise, but while he is flattered with the comments, he says he couldn’t have done it without the help and guidance of his director. “After watching myself onscreen, I felt I could have done some more to improve my acting but I would like to thank those who were saying that I did well,” said Benjamin, who first entered showbiz as a teenager some years ago.

He disappeared from the scene to continue with his studies and it was only last year that he resumed his acting career. He did a horror film with Lovi under Regal Entertainment and appeared in several shows on GMA-7 where he is a contract star. His appearance in “Sana Dati” is his most significant film role thus far.

He is happy that GMA Films has taken interest in “Sana Dati” and is releasing the movie. “Sana Dati” is opening in theatres nationwide and he believes that the movie will be received well. The fact that “Sana Dati” was received well by Cinemalaya viewers augurs well for the film.

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Ai Ai delas Alas, the country’s box-office comedy queen, recently signed up with Forever Rich Philippines, Inc. (FRPI) headed by its CEO Susan Barlin as endorser for the “miracle of life in a capsule,” functional food supplement, Laminine. The product, which is exclusively distributed and imported by FRPI from LifePharm Global Network, USA is an all-natural, FDA-approved, food supplement that has been found to aid the body in healing itself by restoring it to a state of homeostasis (balance).

Ai Ai, an advocate of health and wellness, has seen the many wonderful things staying healthy can give you and your loved ones. She believes in the saying that “health is wealth.” “Aanhin mo ang madaming pera kung gagamitin mo lang sa pagpapagamot,” she said. This is one of the reasons why she is not only taking Laminine but also sharing it to all those closest to her.

Being fit was one reason why Ai Ai didn’t have a hard time with the stunts and taxing things she had to do while filming her latest movie “Kung Fu Divas” where she co-stars for the first time with Marian Rivera.

“Mahirap ang mga stunts pero kinaya naman kasi malakas naman ang katawan ko,” said Ai Ai. “I am not getting any younger so it really pays to take good care of our body. Health is wealth kaya dapat alagaan natin ang ating katawan. Iisa lang naman ito so dapat lang na we take good care of our body.”

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“Bang Bang Alley” is a crime drama anthology that delves into the culture of violence infecting our society, featuring four stories brought to vivid life by producer/writer/director Ely Buendia, award-winning director King Palisoc, and actor/director/playwright Yan Yuzon.

A journalist who has just survived a political massacre, a driver spiraling into madness, a drug-addled wild child on the run from the police are just some of the haunted characters you will meet in the cramped darkness of “Bang Bang Alley.”

The film features a roster of both new and veteran actors with breakthrough performances from Megan Young, Bela Padilla and Althea Vega. Cinematic heavyweights Joel Torre, Perla Bautista and Art Acuña are joined by Gabe Mercado and Jimmy Santos in non-comedic roles.

“Bang Bang Alley” is produced by Nimbus Films and Curve Entertainment, coming soon to commercial cinemas.

The movie was premiered at the UP Adarna Theater last week which was graced by the presence of the cast and the filmmakers. 

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Aspiring comedian Charles Yulo, who appears in the comedy movie “Momzillas” starring Maricel Soriano and Eugene Domingo, is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management, major in Hospitality Management from De La Salle College of St. Benilde. He also took up a course in Interior Design. He is currently reviewing for his board exam for interior design this coming October. But no matter how busy he is with school, he is giving his passion for acting ample attention as well.

“I promised my parents that I would finish my studies first before I pursue my dream to become an actor. I really want to become an actor and a comedian. That’s why I am so grateful to director Wenn Deramas for giving me a break in showbiz to be a part of ‘Momzillas,’” he said.

Charles participated in the ABS-CBN Star Magic Basic Acting for TV/Film workshop (Batch 2012). Among his major influences in acting are John Lloyd Cruz, Coco Martin, Jericho Rosales, Nonie Buencamino and Hollywood comedy icon Jim Carrey. Aside from theatre and voice acting, he also sings well.

His dad used to act in theatre and on TV that’s why Charles took interest in acting. Even if “Momzillas” was his first movie, he did show promise. When Direk Wenn first saw him, the box-office director readily agreed to cast him. “He has the potential. He can be developed into a good comedian. It’s a just a matter of giving him a break,” Deramas said.