Albee’s dream movie is finally coming true

With the initial kinks ironed out (billing, etc.), Rep. Albee Benitez’s dream movie is ready to start shooting anytime, with the industry’s brightest stars not only appearing as leads but also as co-producers, namely (okay, okay, in alphabetical order): Gabby Concepcion, Sharon Cuneta, Richard Gomez, Albert Martinez, William Martinez, Aga Muhlach, Piolo Pascual. Take note: No “and” before Piolo’s name.

“They are my friends,” reiterated Albee to his friend movie writers over a sumptuous buffet lunch at Pio’s Kitchen (named after St. Pio, owned and managed by couple Mon Bagis and Chin Gallegos-Bagis, located at Scout Fuentebella Ext., Diliman, Quezon City). “The idea was born while Gabby, Albert and I were on a fishing expedition. ‘Why don’t we produce a movie?’ we asked each other. It has been my long-time dream and I’m glad that it’s finally coming true. We are calling our company Palm Asia.”

Actually, Albee is not new to showbiz. He has invested in a few movie projects but it’s the first he’s heading what could be one of the industry’s potential all-star-cast blockbusters, an action-comedy inspired by Oceans 11 which is about a group of friends (played by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia and Julia Roberts) who robbed a casino.

Tapped to direct the movie tentatively titled Squad Goals is Dondon Santos (Northern Lights: A Journey to Love), the movie is about childhood friends who, yes, rob a bank so they can use the money to help the poor Robin Hood-style. Most of the scenes will be shot at a casino in Cagayan Valley.    

“It will be fun,” gushed Albee who confessed that, like most of his dreams, he has the gut feeling that the project will be a big success. Big deal for somebody who was predicted to be “the least likely to succeed” in his younger years when he played hooky from school. “My aunts told my cousins to avoid me because I am a BI (Bad Influence) daw,” recalled Albee with glee. To make a long “his-tory” short, Albee won the trust of his family and relatives when he managed to regain everything that the family lost (sequestered) after the 1986 EDSA People Power. “My dad, Jolly Benitez, was among the passengers of the last plane out of the country.” (Jolly served as deputy minister in the Ministry of Human Settlements during the Marcos Administration.)

Albee’s other big dream is to build a theme park called Magic Kingdom on a five-hectare lot in Silay City, Negros Occidental, set for soft opening (hopefully) by end of the year. Earmarked for it is P1B.

“It will be a Disneyland that is purely Filipino,” said Albee. “There will be 15 major rides, plus small rides for the kids. Some of the foreign rides, each costing $3M (roughly P150M) will arrive in March to be installed in May. I have asked my fellow Bacolodnon Peque (Gallaga) to take charge of creating Pinoy/fantasy horror attractions which could possibly spin off merchandise. There’s Peque’s creations in the Shake, Rattle & Roll franchise as well as those from his haunted-house movies.”

A first in the Visayas region, the theme park is calculated to draw crowds from surrounding provinces including those in Mindanao.

Will Binibini repeaters do a Pia Wurtzbach?

Gorgeous girls all in a row: Doing a Pia Wurtzbach, seven repeaters among the 40 official candidates of 2018 Bb. Pilipinas might bag some of the titles at stake. They are: Jehza Mae Huelar (2017 Top 15 and 2016 second runner-up), Juliana Kapeundl (2017 Top 15), Ana Patricia Asturias (2017), Kristie Rose Cequeña (2017), Edjelyn Joy Gamboa (2016 Top 15), Henna Kaizelle Nicole Cajandig (2013) and Karen Gallman (2012 Top 12/Miss Photogenic).

They are joined by daughters of celebrities: Maria Andrea “Aya” Abesamis (only daughter of 1984 Miss Universe third runner-up Desiree Verdadero and ’80s top model JB Abesamis) and Michele Theresa Gumabao (daughter of Dennis Roldan and Loli Imperial, one of Pitoy Moreno’s muses).  

Four candidates are title-holders: Catriona Elisa Gray (2016 Miss World Top 5), Eva Psychee Patalinjug (2014 Mutya ng Asia Pacific International), Vickie Marie Rushton (2011 Mutya ng Pilipinas International) and Trixia Marie Maraña (2016 Miss Asia Global).

Now on its 55th year, the pageant to be aired live on ABS-CBN will crown queens (Universe, International, Supranational, Intercontinental, Globe and Grand International) on March 18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, to succeed Rachel Peters (Universe), Mariel de Leon (International), Chanel Olive Thomas (Supranational), Katarina Rodriguez (Intercontinental), Nelda Ibe (Globe) and Elizabeth Clenci (Grand International). — Celso de Guzman Caparas

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)