The Philippine Online Chronicles

Showbiz writer Butch Francisco writes that Superstar Nora Aunor may have hesistated to return to the country after eight years living abroad because she was reportedly called back to replace Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos for the role of Marcela Agoncillo in the upcoming Emilio Aguinaldo film El Presidente.

Laguna Gov. ER Ejercity is producing and starring in the historical indie film.

“The role being offered to her was a Vilma Santos reject,” Francisco said. “Of all the screen parts in the world, it had to be one that her archrival decided not to do.”

“The Batangas governor, of course, said that she would be unable to do the movie due to her schedule,” Francisco added. “Whatever the reason was, Nora would still come out second choice.”

The two actresses, popularly touted to be rivals, starred in several award-winning films particularly during the 1970s. Both played rival roles in the film Ikaw ay Akin with Christopher de Leon in that decade.

Ejercito announced back in March that they would be making El Presidente, with a P100-million budget to be shared with another movie, a remake of Asiong Salonga, which stars his uncle, former president Joseph Estrada.

According to Ejercito, they were going to get Santos as the leading lady of El Presidente.

“Period movie ito, alam naman nating magastos talaga ang period o historical movie in terms of production design. Plus the fact na ang kukunin kong leading lady dito sa Aguinaldo biopic ay no less than Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto! Idagdag pa dito ang iba pang big-name stars na ika-cast namin ni Direk Tikoy (Aguiluz) sa mga vital roles ng pelikula,” Ejercito reportedly said.

Francisco also pointed out that Aunor will be taking a non-title role, and the film is not by Star Cinema or GMA Films, which have the promotional arms.

“The film project is worth supporting. It is a movie by Aguiluz who turned in the respectable bio-film Rizal sa Dapitan in 1997. More importantly, it is the big screen comeback of the superstar Nora Aunor,” he added, suggesting that the film producers could tie up with the Kapatid Network to help promote the film.

Aunor, who returned to Manila on Tuesday morning, will also be starring in a mini-series for TV 5.

“The movie industry missed her. Let’s all welcome her back,” Santos told the Inquirer.