Yen Santos hits the jackpot

Yen Santos is one lucky actress for having been chosen as the leading lady of Piolo Pascual in the actor’s comeback movie for Regal Films titled “Northern Lights: A Journey To Love,” which opens in cinemas nationwide on March 29.

We know that many actresses, both newcomers and not so young ones, are dreaming to have a project with Papa P, who is considered as the ultimate leading man. So Yen must feel like she won the lotto jackpot when Piolo agreed to have her as his leading lady in the movie directed by Dondon Santos.

At the movie’s press conference on Monday, Yen said it is a big break for her to be paired with Piolo in her debut film. Not everyone gets that chance. And she admitted being awed with her handsome leading man that she can’t even look at him straight in the eye during their first shooting day.

Yen even related that she made it a point to be the first one to arrive on their service vehicle while shooting in New Zealand so she wouldn’t have to stare at Piolo once the actor exits the hotel door and walks to their service vehicle. That’s how mesmerized she was of Papa P.

While Piolo praised Yen’s acting in the movie, saying that she is good despite being a newcomer, we believe Yen was inspired to give her best because she wouldn’t want to be eclipsed by her leading man.

Yen was in the teleserye “All of Me,” where she played leading lady to JM De Guzman. The few times that Piolo got to see Yen acting in the series, he was impressed and agreed when he learned he will be working with her in “Northern Lights: A Journey To Love” which also stars child actor Raikko Mateo.

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Congratulations to Comedy Concert Queen Ms. Ai Ai delas Alas for winning her first international acting award. She won Best Female Actor for her work in “Area,” a film by Louie Ignacio which competed at the Queens World Film Festival.

Among the actresses she beat for the plum award was Amy Redford, the daughter of Academy Award winner Robert Redford.

Ai-Ai was profuse with thanks with her victory. Never did she imagine that she will win in the festival, much less beat the daughter of an iconic Hollywood actor.

When she found out that “Area” was competing in the Queens World Film Festival, she researched the other actresses vying for the Best Female Actor award. When she found out who they were, she didn’t entertain hopes of winning.

That was also the reason why she didn’t exert an effort to attend the festival. She also had a job to do here in Manila and she couldn’t afford to be absent. But it would have been more exciting had she been around to accept her trophy.

Her award was accepted on her behalf by Louie Ignacio who directed “Area” and who insisted that it is Ai-Ai whom he wanted for the lead role of Hillary, the down-and-out prostitute. “Area” is a pet project of Direk Louie and is something close to his heart.

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We are very sure that the teachers who watched the special screening of the indie film “Maestra” held at Crossroads at Mother Ignacio, Quezon City last week, enjoyed themselves.

“Maestra” was produced by Carl Balita, an educator and owner of a review center for teachers and nurses.

The theater was full and the teachers were gushing and giggling with the scenes of Paul Salas and Anna Luna. The two play would-be-lovers in the movie directed by Lemuel Lorca.

But they were silent and moved with the dramatic scenes involving Suzette Ranillo and her mom Gloria Sevilla.

“Maestra” is a well-crafted advocacy film that also stars Angeli Bayani in the role of an Aeta teacher who finally passed the LET exam after 24 tries.

We had the chance to talk to the teacher played by Angeli and she was so happy that she finally passed the exam. The teacher would walk four hours a day to go to school and teach her students.

According to Carl E. Balita, there are other several special screenings of “Maestra” for various teacher groups before the regular showing of the movie sometime in June.