Crime-thriller film spotlights riding-in-tandem robbers

Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez says it is always exciting for her to know that she is going to be onstage for a concert and that she will sing for her audience again. But she admits that it is a difficult job. Having been doing concerts for 30 years, Regine certainly knows what she is talking about.

“I am always excited, but talking about my long experience, it is really hard. There is always pressure. There are so many things that I need to remember. It is always hard work setting foot on the concert stage but knowing that I will be performing with Martin (Nievera), Erik (Santos) and Angeline (Quinto), it somehow makes it feel easier because I have someone with me in the show,” said Regine at the presscon of “Royals” which goes onstage at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino this Sunday, February 14 at 8 p.m.

“Kung pangit ang show puwede ko silang sisihin,” Regine says with a laugh. “Hindi kasi sila magaling hahaha…but kidding aside, it is always nice to do concerts with other artists. I actually don’t like performing alone. I get insecure when I do a solo concert because it’s more taxing. It is always nice to perform with other artists and I find it more enjoyable.”

Martin and Regine have been working together for the past three years every Valentine’s Day that the Songbird says it has become sort of a tradition. On working with Erik and Angeline, she said that although she feels quite pressured being a role model to them, she feels elated that they are still together in one special concert for the day of hearts.

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“Tandem,” a film by King Palisoc and produced by Quantum Films, Tuko Film Productions and Buchi Boy Films (also the team behind “Heneral Luna”) had a press preview last night at the QCX Mini Theater located at the QC Memorial Circle. The movie was one of the most-talked about entries in the New Wave Section of the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival. It also won the best actor award for JM De Guzman.

“Tandem” explores the real-life crime of tandem robberies and hired killers in the Philippines, where men on motorbikes use the chaos of Manila streets as a means of getting away with their crime. In the traffic-laden streets of Metro Manila, two brothers use the commotion of the city roads as a smokescreen for their shady occupation: tandem robbers. But when a robbery goes sour, the brothers are forced to graduate from low-level thieves to high-profile hitmen in an act that tests both their resolve and their relationship.

The crime thriller-drama premiered at the Montreal International Film Festival in Canada last September where it gained good reviews. It also participated at the Vancouver International Film FestivaL and Cairo International Film Festival. It is slated to have its European premiere at the Fantasporto International Film Festival in Oporto, Portugal, one of Europe’s premiere fantastic festivals.

Getting his biggest break in the movie is Nico Antonio, who also appears in the ABS-CBN soap “On The Wings of Love” and played the lead role in “Posas.”

Too bad that JM is undergoing a personal crisis and can’t help promote the movie personally. According Palisoc, JM never gave them a problem during the shoot of “Tandem.” JM was very professional and did his job well. The director and JM’s co-stars even praised the actor for his work ethic.

“Tandem” – which also stars Rochelle Pangilinan, Elora Espano, Allan Paule, Joel Saracho, Karl Medina and BJ Forbes – is set to hit theaters on February 17.

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Meeting the members of the entertainment press is a new experience for former Secretary of Energy Carlos Jericho “Icot” Petilla. He was with his wife Anne and their five children when they met with members of the movie press last Monday in Quezon City. Petilla enjoyed the encounter, same with the media who found the former Energy Secretary intelligent and sensible. He gamely answered all questions.

Petilla was the latest senatorial aspirant who met with the movie press. When asked if he will be getting a celebrity endorser, he said he has yet to think about it but if he does, he is interested to tap Jericho Rosales who happens to be his favorite actor.

What is good about Petilla is that he is aware of the problems ailing the film industry. Watching movies is his family’s form of relaxation and it is their kids who pick what film to watch. But the family bonding doesn’t stop with simply watching a movie. He said he, his wife and children also have a discussion about the movie that they watch.

Petilla said he has an idea that might help solve the problem of the movie industry. He even said that the MMFF should not only be done during December but during the entire year.

He said that Senator Jinggoy Estrada was his classmate at the Ateneo University in high school. However, he declined to comment on the case faced by Senator Jinggoy since his opinion would not matter anyway as the case is now in court.