“It Takes A Man And A Woman” expected to be blockbuster hit

Box-office royalties and “It Takes A Man And A Woman” lead stars Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz are not denying that they continue to nourish their special relationship until now.

“Sarah will remain special to me and that will never change,” shared John Lloyd in his and Sarah’s exclusive interview with Carmina Villarroel for “Showbiz Inside Report,” which aired on Saturday (March 23).

Sarah and John Lloyd have a special kind of friendship. They are not a romantic tandem but the public loves them so much. Proof is the blockbuster results of their first two movies (A Very Special Love and You Changed My Life). It is expected that their latest project titled “It Takes A Man and A Woman” will also be a blockbuster.

The movie opens on Black Saturday (March 30) which is a good play date. Most of the movies shown on Black Saturday become big hits.

***

Maricel Soriano and Ms. Eugene Domingo are the lead stars in the newest project of box-office director Wenn Deramas for Viva Films. In  case you’ve forgotten, Direk Wenn was the man behind the mega-hit “Sisterakas” which topped the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival. At the movie’s story conference last Saturday, which was attended by Maricel, Eugene and Direk Wenn, the film’s publicist requested the press not to ask Maricel questions about the issue involving Gerald Anderson and her being taken out of the cast of the ABS-CBN soap “Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin.”

Maybe Viva didn’t want any negative vibes for the film, hence that request. Maricel hasn’t had a movie project for quite a long time. Her doing a movie with Eugene is believed to be a good project for Maria.

***

 â€œMary in the Heart of Jesus” is a two-part Lenten special presented by way of pilgrimage to some of our country’s renowned Marian shrines.

The program, produced by Moments with Fr. Jerry Foundation, Inc., will be aired over ABS-CBN Channel 2 and The Filipino Channel (TFC). Part 1 will be aired today, Holy Thursday, from to 2-3 p.m. Part two will be aired on Good Friday, March 29 from 3-4 p.m.

The pilgrimage is led and annotated by Fr. Jerry M. Orbos, SVD. Part 1 co-vers Our Lady of Piat in Tuguegarao, Our Lady of Manaoag, Our Lady of Sorrows of Turumba in Pakil, Laguna, Our Lady of Caysasay in Taal, and Our Lady of Mediatrix of All Grace in Lipa.

Part 2 covers Our Lady of Penafrancia in Naga, Our Lady of Salvation in Tiwi, Albay, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo and Stations of the Cross at the Holy Land, Subic.

This year’s overall theme is to go to Jesus through Mary.

***

Five films from the Philippines were shown at the Prague International Film Festival or FebioFest from March 14 to 22.

The five films include Director Jun Lana’s Bwakaw and four films by Cannes Award-winning director Brillante Mendoza, namely: Lola, Tirador, Captive, and Thy Womb, which had marathon showing on March 20 at the Cinestar Andel cinema in Prague.

Philippine Ambassador to the Czech Republic Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia said that she is happy to note that “the selection of the five films exhibited in FebioFest is record-breaking as it marks the most number of Filipino films exhibited in the 20-year stint of the Prague film fest.”

“The film showing is timely as we celebrate this year the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Czech Republic. The Philippine Embassy is pleased to support FebioFest through assistance in the transport of the Philippine films and in their translation to the Czech language,” she added.

Ambassador Austria-Garcia announced that the FebioFest is giving tribute to Filipino film director Mendoza for his works. Other honorees include Polish actor-director Jerzy Stuhr, British producer Jeremy Thomas, Finnish director Aku Louhimies, Italian actor Giancarlo Giannini, British director Richard Lester, Austrian director Ulrich Seidl, and Czech actress Zdena Studenková.

FebioFest is the largest film festival in the Czech Republic. The festival presents a wide range of contemporary and retrospective samplings of high-quality films including alternative, film-school and amateur works to a diverse viewing public.