The Philippine Online Chronicles

FILM

Asiong Salonga

Various critics wrote about the “happy ending” for “Manila Kingpin: The Asion Salonga Story” and its director TIkoy Aguiluz. Butch Francisco wrote in the Philippine Star that the best picture win (plus 10 awards and a grade A rating from the Cinema Evaluation Board) had actually quieted down the usual controversies surrounding the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) decisions.

Francisco pondered on the possibility of “Asiong” winning as the Best Picture of the year. But in the meantime, he said, it is the most beautifully photographed – with its black and white cinematography – for the year 2011.

Production design was also slightly nitpicked for a few faults caused by budget considerations and lack of proper research, since it’s a period film

Meanwhile, the performances of the actors were praised, except for Carla Abellana who, according to Francisco, was miscast.

Meanwhile, it was reported that director Aguiluz, who sued the producers for “tampering” through editing the film he directed, might actually have his way in the end since a Director’s Cut may probably make the rounds in International Film Festivals.

Amid Aguiluz’s request to take his name out in the billing, lead actor Jorge Estregan (Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito) repeatedly acknowledged him during the MMFF awards night.

Record-breaking earnings for MMFF

The MMFF surpassed its P600-million earnings target with last year’s films.

“How much [each of] these films earned, the exact figures, will be released by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) soon,” said MMFF member Ric Camaligan.

At least for New Year’s Day, the earnings already reached P477 million, a 20 percent increase from last year.

Goteborg

A total of five Filipino films will be screened at the Goteborg International Film Festival in Sweden from January 27 to February 6. According to Inquirer, included are Adolfo Alix Jr.’s “Isda,” Vincent Sandoval’s “Señorita,” Quark Henares’ “Rakenrol,” Jim Libiran’s “Happyland” and Loy Arcenas’ “Niño.”

The quintessential aswang/multo

It would perhaps be interesting for Pinoy film enthusiasts to watch Antoinette Jadaone’s Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay. Dubbed as a meta cinema by Philippine Star’s Juaniyo Arcellana, Six Degrees puts the spotlight on staple extra Lilia Cuntapay who can often be recalled as the multo, mangkukulam, manananggal or bruha of this or that movie.

Considered a mockumentary, it features interviews with Cuntapay herself and the actors and directors that she had worked with.

There’s Peque Gallagao who first featured her in the Shake, Rattle and Roll series in the 1980s and 1990s and even Kris Aquino and Dingdong Dantes, stars of Cuntapay’s latest film Segunda Mano.

Arcellana wrote, “The responses are at first amusing, as if they could hardly recall who she was, until the director refreshes their memory that yes, she’s the one they worked with, most recently in the A-graded Segunda Mano that had the old woman as a vagabond rummaging the garbage bin for the cursed designer bag, only to be devoured by it.”

Six Degrees imparts to the audience the invisibility and, at the same time, the importance of movie extras.

THEATER

Lea Salonga in God of Carnage

Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga will return to the Philippine Stage on July for the similarly awarded comedy God of Carnage. She will take on the role of Veronica. It will be her first straight play (non-musical) in almost 10 years.

“It’s been almost 10 years since I last did a play, so I come into God of Carnage with a lot of excitement and fear. Excitement that I get to do this Tony Award-winning dark comedy by Yasmina Reza, and fear for that exact same reason.” Salonga told media.

Her director Bobby Garcia was quoted saying, “Lea is one of the most fearless performers I know.  She will do a show precisely for the challenge it will bring her. She has always been one to break free of her comfort zone. There aren’t many as brave as her around. I have no doubt that she will excel in God Of Carnage, the way she has excelled in practically everything she has set her mind and heart on. I am thrilled to be directing her in this delicious comedy of bad manners.”

God of Carnage will be staged from July 13 to 22 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

Produced by Atlantis Productions, it will also be shown in Singapore for a three-week run in November at the Singapore Repertory Theatre.

TP’s “Eyeball”

Collectively titled “Eyeball: New Visions in Philippine Theater,” Tanghalang Pilipino will be staging some of the best plays from the Virgin Labfest.

This includes “Doc Resureccion: Gamutin ang Bayan,” a one-act play by Layeto Bucoy, directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio, “Bakit Wala Nang Nagtatagpo sa Philcoa Oberpass” by Carlo Pacolor Garcia (who incidentally plays Doc Resureccion), Reuel Molina Aguila’s “Maliw” and Nick Pichay’s “Isang Araw sa Karnabal.”

“Bakit Wala Nang Nagtatagpo sa Philcoa Oberpass,” inspired by a real overpass in Commonwealth Avenue, features the interwining lives of people who converged on the bridge while “Isang Araw sa Karnabal” is about a pair of lovers who experienced having loved ones as victims of extra-judicial killings.

For tickets call  832-3661, 0920-9535381, 0928-5518645; CCP Box Office at 8323704; or Ticketworld at 8919999.

VISUAL ARTS

400-picture exhibit in UST

The University of the Santo Tomas will be presenting a huge exhibit on Jan. 20, showcasing 400 pictures about Asia’s oldest university.

To be held at the UST Museum of Arts and Sciences Gallery and the lobby of the UST Main Building, the exhibit will feature the Quadricentennial activities and old shots of the UST buildings.

The public can also buy limited copies of the photographs.

Rizal back in Madrid
Rizal continues to travel the world through “Entre Espña y Filipinas: Jose Rizal, Escritor,” an exhibit organized by the Directorate of Cultural and Scientific Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Library of Spain.

The exhibit opened last Nov. 30, 2011 and will be on view until Feb. 12 at the National Library in Madrid. It features personal items of the national hero, including letters addressed to his friend Ferdinand Blumentritt and his family. A 1989 edition of the La Solidaridad is also included. It includes Rizal’s article “La verdad para todos.”