Sundo with Robin Padilla

Super action star Robin Padilla will be back on the big screen via “Sundo”, a horror film directed by Topel Lee and produced by GMA Films.

Robin also said that he’s been really preparing for the role, and even went as far as changing his diet just so he could get “the look” of a military man. With him in the movie are Sunshine Dizon, Katrina Halili, and Rhianne Ramos.

Robin also has a new project in the kapuso network, that’s Totoy Bato, where he’d be playing a boxer.

If it's a tough guy you need, better call Robin’s manager.

Source: http://thefilipinoweb.com/movies/sundo-with-robin-padilla/

My Only U

The box-office tandem of Vhong Navarro and Toni Gonzaga will grace the silverscreen one more time with "My Only U".

Vhong and Toni's first movie together was the outrageous comedy "D Anothers" in 2005. The Joyce Bernal-helmed movie was a box-office hit.

This time, Star Cinema will bring Toni and Vhong again in the romantic comedy that is part of the film production’s 15th year anniversary offering.

Vhong's previous movies under Star Cinema were “Agent X44″ opposite Mariel Rodriguez and Pokwang; and Supahpapalicious opposite Valerie Concepcion earlier this year.

Toni’s previous movies were “You Are the One”, “You Got Me” and “My Big Love”, with Sam Milby as her leading man.

"My Only U" is helmed by box-office director Cathy Garcia-Molina, the one responsible for the monster hits "One More Chance" starring John LLoyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo; and "A Very Special Love" starring John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo.

Source:
http://www.starmometer.com/2008/09/12/toni-gonzaga-reunites-with-vhong-navarro-in-star-cinemas-my-only-u/

Mag-Ingat Ka sa... Kulam

Regal Films 48th anniversary offering, Mag-ingat ka sa …Kulam is set to hit the theaters on October 1, 2008. Starring the most prized star today, Judy Ann Santos, this movie marks another milestone in Filipino filmmaking. Press release and photos courtesy of Regal Films, Additional text by Loretta G. Ramirez.

In the tradition of producing good movies for the Filipino viewers, Regal Films is now giving us another box-office wonder – Mag-ingat ka Sa …Kulam.

Are you afraid of Kulam?
The phenomenon of Kulam is often talked about and wondered in our society but is never seriously addressed in films. Sometimes it is even dismissed as plain nakakatakot.

But more than the fear of kulam, one has to understand how it works and we should know and learn what to do in case we become victims of kulam.

This is the compelling reason why a top movie company Regal Films and industry leader Mother Lily Monteverde thought of producing a film about kulam with her prized superstar Judy Ann Santos as lead.

"I want the best for this 48th Regal Anniversary project and I personally chose Judy Ann who is about the most celebrated and acclaimed actress of her generation," said Mother Lily. "With this movie, we are able to make the Filipinos understand a scary yet very real practice of kulam and equip them with important pointers that would be helpful in handling cases of actual kulam. Mag-ingat ka sa…Kulam is not only a movie. It will be an enlightening experience."

Why Judy Ann Santos?
"It's been almost five decades that we have given the Filipinos good quality entertainment--and we are happy that we have assembled the most formidable acting team up of Judy Ann Santos and Dennis Trillo in this well-thought out and well-executed new horror flick which has been the Regal tradition since the box-office and critical success that is Shake, Rattle and Roll," said Mother Lily.

Written and directed by Palanca award-winning writer Jun Lana, the film will not only give us a good scare, it will make us understand the power of kulam which has become popular all this time. More importantly, the film will enlighten and inform everyone on how to deal with modern-day witchcraft or kulam.

"We made sure that the Regal trademark of excellence is carried through in our films that's why I am proud to have the best actors and actresses, the best creative and production people; and even the best technical and special effects staff in our anniversary movie. We owe nothing but the best for our audiences who have supported our movies throughout our 48 years of providing topnotch entertainment to all the Filipinos worldwide," Mother Lily declares.

Aside from Judy Ann Santos, Mag-ingat ka sa…Kulam stars Dennis Trillo, TJ Trinidad, Mart Escudero, Kris Bernal, and Sharlene San Pedro. Written and directed by Jun Lana, the film will usher in the Halloween month and is showing on October 1 in theaters nationwide.

Ask Judy Ann Santos about Kulam as she goes online today (September 24, 2008) from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Philippine time) on the iGMA Live Chat to talk to her fans from all over the globe. Be sure that you are a registered user of iGMA to join this exclusive event.

Source: http://www.igma.tv/story/4911/Kulam

I.T.A.L.Y. | I Trust And Love You

I.T.A.L.Y. Teaser Trailer


I.T.A.L.Y. Official Movie Soundtrack Feat. Jolina Magdangal's "The Will of the Wind"


Synopsis
GMA Films' I.T.A.L.Y. (I Trust And Love You) Teaser Trailer, Promo Pictures, and OST
GMA Films will treat its viewers to a sidesplitting comedy that tackles the lives of Filipinos working onboard cruise ships via their third quarter movie offering I.T.A.L.Y. (I Trust and Love You).

The movie stars Jolina Magdangal, Dennis Trillo, Eugene Domingo, Mark Herras and Rufa Mae Quinto.

Jolina Magdangal plays the role of Des Pinlac, a hopeless romantic who works as a chambermaid at the ship. The wannabe bride is looking for her perfect groom and all the signs indicate that Paolo Guzman (played by Dennis Trillo) is The One.

Dennis Trillo is paired with an Italian actress named Andrea de Lugo (back to camera). She is signed up with Viva Records and is scheduled to come to the Philippines to promote her album here.

The lounge singer of the Costa Magica named Stella Sembrano is portrayed by Rufa Mae Quinto. She is also looking for love but it has contantly eluded her.

Rhian Ramos portrays Phoebe Villaroso, a rebellious brat who does what she wants. She falls in love with the plain-looking cabin crew member Nathan Reyes played byMark Herras.

Eugene Domingo portrays the role of Lovely Mercado, a senior housekeeper.

The cast visited 3 continents (Asia, Europe, and Africa), 5 countries, and 13 cities to shoot I.T.A.L.Y.

Movie Reviews
It is supposed to herald the return of ’80s matinee idol Gabby Concepcion to the acting scene, after 13 years of brokering properties in the West Coast in continental US of A.

But, something happened while the cast of I.T.A.L.Y. (I Trust and Love You) was preparing for their travel to Rome, the first stop in a multi-city location. Concepcion backed out of his commitment to play lead opposite Jolina Magdangal who was devastated when she learned of the actor’s decision.

The movie even if Gabby spurned his role is now ready for its theatrical run. And guess what, Jolina even got luckier to have a much younger actor for a leading man.

Dennis Trillo easily slithered into the role abandoned by Concepcion.

Showing on Aug. 6, I.T.A.L.Y. is the first-ever movie shot on board a cruise ship, a cutting-edge record on Philippine filmmaking industry. It takes pride for having a heart-rending storyline, seductively enchanting locations, colossal production and disarmingly talented cast members. This motion picture painstakingly crossed three different continents—Asia, Europe, and Africa—a delight and refreshing treat to Filipino moviegoers.

Filmed on board Costa Magica, a luxury cruise that travels to the world’s most enthralling destinations, I.T.A.L.Y. exposes the adversities and personal sacrifice and the lighter side of the lives of OFWs. It revolves on six people with six different personalities, stories, ambitions and struggles. In a span of their magical voyage for seven days, their lives will crisscross amid unexpected possibilities.

Having a powerhouse cast that battled seasickness in the course of their cruise on the high seas of the Mediterranean makes it truly a film worth watching.

Jolina Magdangal plays Des Pinlac, a hopeless romantic working as a chambermaid on the ship. Finding the right man is her fervent wish but things haven’t been good so far. Rufa Mae Quinto is Stella Sembrano who practically surrendered her fate to the seas. She is the cruise’s lounge singer who patiently waits for the perfect man, not like her father and past boyfriends who abandoned her.

Dennis Trillo is Paolo Guzman. He joined the cruise to find the missing pieces of a woman in his past that keeps haunting him.

Eugene Domingo is Lovely Mercado, a senior housekeeper who believes it is never too late to find true and everlasting love. With two failed attempts to tie the knot, Lovely holds the key in connecting Paolo with the woman in his past.

Rhian Ramos is Phoebe Villaroso, a brat who lavishly does whatever she wants. Contrary to her rebellious character, she falls for the plain-looking cabin crewmember while on board the cruise ship.

And lastly, Mark Herras is Nathan Reyes. Orphaned at a young age, he has to work for his family and ends up a member of the cruise’s cabin crew. Coincidentally, he stumbles upon Phoebe and unexpectedly falls in love with her. The bitter pill of their love affair is that they are separated by two different worlds.

I.T.A.L.Y. is another venture of GMA Films, the same movie outfit responsible for Ouija and My Bestfriend’s Girlfriend.

Philippines to be hot filming location

Senate President Manny Villar said with the numerous attractions it offers, the Philippines continues to earn the distinction as a prime filming destination among foreign film industries, including Hollywood.

Villar, who is also president of the Nacionalista Party, noted that the natural beauty of the Philippines is one of the reasons why more and more international movie stars have expressed desire to work in the country.

“Of late, no other than Oscar award winner Reese Witherspoon has indicated that she wants to film a movie here,” Villar said.

Villar filed Senate Bill 2404, which seeks to promote the country’s potential as a prime film tourist destination showcasing the various islands of the country as the perfect setting for movies, TV shows, music videos and other media projects.

He added that the Philippines is now in the spotlight with the inclusion of four attractions in the Top Ten of the Seven New Wonders of Nature nominees namely, the Tubbataha Reef, Chocolate Hills, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and Mayon Volcano.

“The Film Tourism Act will highlight the country’s globally competent filmmakers, state-of-the-art production facilities and capable technical crew who are willing and ready to assist foreign production and media outfits,” he said.

The bill also seeks to exempt the film productions and institutions and other service providers involved in the film tourism industry from payment of EVAT and customs duties for the importation of cinema equipment and facilities necessary for their operation.

“Also, with the help of overseas Filipino workers associations around the world, we are confident that information regarding film tourism in the country will be widely disseminated,” Villar said.

Manio Events to produce Luna Awards

The Film Academy of the Philippines has formally appointed Manio Events Management to produce the upcoming 26th Annual Luna Awards show and festivities.

The appointment was finalized during a recent contract-signing between FAP director general Leo Martinez and Moises Manio, president of Manio Events Management, which has a track record of producing successful concerts and shows.

Among the concerts Manio Events has mounted are Heartthrobs (Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby), Sharon Live at Island Cove (Sharon Cuneta) and the recent Catch Me (Toni Gonzaga).

The FAP will soon announce the nominations in all categories, to be followed by the traditional Nominees’ Lunch (where certificates and mini-Luna trophies will be given to nominees). The activities will culminate with a formal awards show to be held at the SMX Convention Center on Aug. 30 to be telecast by Studio 23 on the same night.

Flicker piracy tackled in seminar

The Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council conducted a one-day seminar on flicker piracy as part of its intensified anti-piracy activities with 100 participants including producers, theater operators and personnel and other stake holders in the film industry.

The seminar-workshop, part of the council’s activities under its “Suportahan ang industriya ng Pelikula… Sugpuin ang mga Pirata” program, was held at the Kalayaan Hall 3 of Club Filipino in Greenhills Commercial Center, San Juan City, last June 17.

Flicker piracy is the system of shooting or copying films being shown in our cinemahouses through camera recording using gadgets from the simple cell phone to more sophisticated recording equipment.

Ric Camaligan, Anti-Film Piracy Council president, welcomed officials of the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Presidential Management Staff, as well as representatives of mayors and vice mayors in Metropolitan Manila.

The MMDA and the PMS have been subsidizing the activities of the Anti-Film Piracy Council for the past several years, including this intensified flicker piracy campaign.

Lawyer Joji Alonso, also a film producer and counsel to the Anti-Piracy Council, presented a power point discussion and lecture on flicker piracy and later joined a panel during an open forum.

The panel included State Prosecutor Geromino Sy of the Department of Justice; lawyer Elfren Meneses, director of the Intellectual Property Rights Division of the National Bureau of Investigation; director Ruel Lasala of the NCR Intelligence Division of the NBI; and officers of the Anti-Film Piracy Council.

Manny Nuqui, council vice chairman, said that the seminar basically was held in order for everyone to reach a consensus to put more teeth into the government’s anti-piracy campaign, especially on flicker piracy.

“The council officers and Alonso agreed that the main objective of the seminar is to solicit the firm commitment from the Justice Department and the NBI in the arrest and prosecution of flicker pirates,” Nuqui stressed.

City and town mayors and their councils were asked and encouraged to come up with appropriate ordinances to enable law enforces in dealing with these violators, he added.

Nuqui said that they will still need the government’s active support in this particular campaign.

Council president Camaligan, who is also the senior vice president for entertainment of SM Philippines, said that the seminar focused on “camcording” or flicker piracy which is described as the illegal shooting or copying of full-length films directly from cinema screens during and after exhibition with the use of camera recording equipment or even camera phones.

Camaligan added that filmnapping is the other illegal method of film piracy which involves stealing a whole film print during shipment to and from provincial theatrical exhibitions.

Source:
http://showbiznest.blogspot.com/2008/08/gma-films-italy-teaser-trailer-promo.html
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=goodLife3_june27_2008

Juday ecstatic over 'Ploning's entry to Oscar Awards

Actress Judy Ann Santos was in cloud nine while announcing the good news that her well-acclaimed film 'Ploning' was chosen as the country's official entry to the 2009 Oscar Awards for the Best Foreign Language Film category.

"Finalist for the Oscar's kung baga magiging representative ng Pilipinas... pero mahabang pagka-nerbiyos pa ito," Santos said.

It was during a meeting last Friday, August 29th when the Board of Governors of the Film Academy of the Philippines approved the selection of "Ploning" as the country's representative for the Oscar's.

"Actually yung masabi lang na magiging representative ng Pilipinas para mapa-billing sa Oscars ay sobrang kaligayahan na yon. Yung makasama ka sa 18 finalist ay bonggang bongga na yon, eh yung makasama ka sa lima -- napakabuting tao ko na siguro talaga. Magbre-breakdown siguro ako to the highest level," the actress added.

The film is the story of Ploning (Santos), a woman who is considered as the town's beauty who is torn between keeping her two promises -- one is to look for her greatest and first love Tomas in Manila or stay in Cuyo to take care of the young boy Rodrigo who depends on her motherly love and care.

Santos admitted that she learned a lot of things before and after shooting the film.

"Maraming bagay na nangyari sa amin. Marami kaming realization at marami kaming naging friends. At saka nagmature ako for some reason, bakit kaya? Parang bigla akong -- hindi naman tumanda, pero ang dami kong natutunan habang ginagawa ko itong movie na ito," she said.

Santos said that despite the problems that she is facing right now like her tax evasion case, she believes that God is giving her things that could also make her happy.

"Siguro ito ang naka-platapormang buhay ng 2008 para sa sa akin sabi ni Lord... madami ka namang kasong hinahawakan, bibigyan kita ng manaka-nakang kaligayahan," she said.

Santos is now battling legal problems after her petition to dismiss the tax evasion filed against her by the Bureau of Internal Revenue was denied by the Supreme Court.

In a 27-page decision penned by Justice Chico Nazario, Santos' petition to reverse the resolution of the Court of Tax Appeals last June 19, 2006 due to lack of merit was denied.

It will be remembered that the BIR filed a case against Santos for not declaring her income from her movie and product endorsements for the year 2002. According to one report, she has a P1.7 million tax liability.

Santos hopes that her tax case will come to an end. But she also said that she will respect the decision of the highest court.

"Kung ano ang mangyari sana ay matapos na, maayos na. Kung ano ang maging hatol ng Korte Suprema ay tatanggapin ko naman 'yon ng buong puso at buong loob at nirerespeto ko kung ano ang magiging opinion nila sa kaso ko wala naman akong tinalikurang problema noon pa," she said.

Santos said that she continues to keep calm and keeps praying so that God will help her in the face of her troubles.

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=130004

Torotot - Sexy Movie

Torotot is a sexy movie produced by Viva Films and Production 56. It stars Maui Taylor, Baron Geisler, Yul Servo and introducing Precious Adona.

Torotot also stars Anton Bernardo and Maricar de Mesa and helmed by Maryo J. De Los Reyes.

For the first time

For the first time, fans were treated to a grand spectacle of two of our brightest, most beautiful young stars, setting the silver screen on fire with a conflagration of romance, raw emotionality and captivating scenery.

But wait: such a spectacle is actually familiar--we've seen a lot of that in the 1980s with Gabby Concepcion and Sharon Cuneta. That however will not dissuade fans who will surely swoon over the love team of Richard Guiterrez and KC Concepcion, who star together for the first time in their film, uh, "For the First Time".

Watching the first half-hour of the film, I began to wonder whether I was the only person in the audience old enough to be feeling a sense of deja vu: Gabby and Sharon then, Richard and KC now. There has never been a love team in recent memory that crackled with the same energy, the same romantic, saccharine, diabetic coma-inducing sweetness as what Richard Gutierrez and KC Concepcion were generating onscreen. Theirs is definitely the love team to beat.

Let's face it: those two simply look gorgeous together. In the months leading up to the negotiations between GMA-7 and ABS-CBN to make the Richard-KC tandem a reality, everybody--from network officials to members of the press, to die hard movie fans, to even the average Juan who gets a whiff of showbiz news every now and then--everybody must have felt a sense of destiny: the feeling that "Of course. We simply must have a Richard and KC love team."

And so this is where destiny has brought us: watching Richard cry his eyes out in scenes that definitely required him to channel more than just his Captain Barbel, Mulawin and whatever other action hero character he played in GMA-7. That Richard was able to shed that many tears is probably a kudos to director Joyce Bernal.

Destiny has also brought us the sight of KC using her lips for something more passionate than flashing that Gabby Concepcion smile for the cameras (hey, her biological father did start out as a toothpaste model): kissing Richard Gutierrez torridly a few times.

The plot is standard Pinoy romantic fare so it's really not a good idea to give spoilers: Rich, privileged but very smart, very level-headed girl meets hunky hearthrob. Said heartthrob is standard romantic movie "bad boy": he's a consumate playboy, treating women like objects and probably thinks he's hit the jackpot with someone as lovely as Pia (KC Concepcion) who, while intelligent, is quite naive in the ways of the world.

Playboy Seth (Richard Gutierrez) however is in for a surprise: true love is right around the corner and will soon break his own wayward heart. Pia gets heart-broken, too; after all, being an over-protected daughter never prepared her for the kind of games and betrayals that Seth will bring into her life.

Another "star" in the movie is Santorini Island in Greece, where the film's most beautiful scenes were shot. One could sense that Bernal herself may have fallen in love with the locale. There's another star who deserves mention: who else but the impossibly comic Candy Pangilinan, who livened up every scene where she played a love-struck yaya.

So if you want a sweet escape from your troubles for the day, "For the First Time" would not be a bad choice: its two beautiful lead stars combine with Santorini for a sweeping two-hour escape into our adolescent fantasies--back when romance felt like a frighteningly lethal drug that threatened to consume us, eclipsing reason, and earning us the ire of our parents.

Here's one thing I noticed though: back in the day, when they were the hottest love team in the history of Philippine movies, Gabby Concepcion and Sharon Cuneta acted better than KC and Richard do in this movie. (KC, of course, has proven that she can act--but what else could she do with Pia's character?)

Hopefully, "For the First Time" is only the first of many more movies to come for Richard and KC. In time, perhaps, their fairy tale chemistry and acting would grow even more compelling, even following uncannily the success of the Gabby-Sharon phenomenon.

Then again, we know how that turned out: Gabby and Sharon watching their own daughter's movie premiere in separate theaters. So let's hope Richard and KC don't follow that road too closely.