Aljur stars in MMFF entry

Ronald Constantino and I chanced upon director Gil Portes (who is turning 70 on Sunday, Sept. 13) at the Ha Yuan restaurant last Sunday. Located across the street from the St. Paul Church (near Timog Avenue, Quezon City), it’s the favorite restaurant of Arnold Clavio, Ali Sotto, Dulce and other showbiz guys. The food is heavenly.

Anyway, the good news is that Gil has started shooting his 2015 Metro Filmfest entry, Hermano Puli, with Aljur Abrenica in the title role and his brothers Vin and (newcomer) Allen among his co-stars.

The film revolves around Apolinario de la Cruz, better known as Hermano Puli, who was shot and quartered on Nov. 4, 1841 — three full decades before the infamous execution of the Filipino secular priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora that would inflame the revolutionary passions of Andres Bonifacio and Jose Rizal.

In the pantheon of Filipino heroes, Hermano Puli stands alone for leading the only revolt against the Spanish colonial government that was waged in the name of religious freedom.

The narrative is framed by Hermano Puli’s summary trial, where he faces a panel of inquisitors led by Teniente Coronel Joaquin Juet, the vengeful acting governor of Tayabas province (now Quezon), and Padre Manuel Sancho, the indignant parish priest of Lucban, Hermano Puli’s hometown.

The trial allows Hermano Puli to examine his own life, beginning in his formative years as a bright and pious child, who aspires for the priesthood but learns from his mother that religious orders do not welcome native Filipinos — a crushing reflection of the social order in early 19th century Philippines.

That’s all Funfare can tell you about the story for now, based on the synopsis given to me by direk Gil. More on the film in future issues.

Real-life action-drama at 39,000 feet up in the sky

The following story is not lifted from any soap or action-drama film. It happened at 39,000 feet up in the sky while the plane was cruising a distance of a thousand miles. The characters will be unnamed.

As the Funfare VDPA (Very Deep Penetration Agent), a co-passenger, related, the “lead” actor (in this story) was already tipsy even at the NAIA lounge. When he and his group (fellow actors) were walking to the boarding area, fans approached his leading lady for a photo-op. The leading lady was busy looking for her passport in her bag so she was taking a little time. The “lead’ actor “scolded” her, “Ang arte-arte mo!”

When he saw a star-companion approaching, the “lead” actor, yelled, “Here comes the funniest man on earth!” The companion took it with a grain of salt.

Before take-off, the already tipsy “lead” actor asked for wine but the cabin crew said, “No more wine.”

During the flight, the “lead” actor stood up from his seat (beside his leading lady) and asked for scotch from another actor-companion and on his way back, he passed by a companion actress who was seated beside “the funniest man on earth.” The “lead” actor started touching the arm of the actress. The “funniest man” told him to stop it already. When the “lead” actor didn’t listen, the “funniest man” (champion of women in distress) lost his cool and held the “lead” actor by the neck.

The companions tried to pacify the two. The actor who gave a scotch slapped the “lead” actor on the shoulder. The leading lady rushed from her seat and tried to stop the “lead” actor who dismissed her, saying, “Shut up, you bitch!”

It wasn’t the first time the “lead” actor misbehaved during a flight.

Moral of the story: If you can’t help it, moderate your urge to drink. That is, if you can’t stay away from the bottle.

Beauties galore

Mary Candice Allapitan Ramos of Vigan City was crowned 2015 Miss Global Philippines besting 21 other beauties last Saturday, Sept. 5 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila. She also bagged the Miss Hannah’s and Miss Belmere special awards. Aside from P300,000 cash and gifts from sponsors, Mary Candice earned the right to represent the country at the 2015 Miss Global which will be held in the country in October. 

A BS Tourism Management graduate from UP Diliman, 28-year-old Mary Candice (who stands 5’7.5” and measures 33-24-38) is a co-owner of a travel agency and a former co-host of a travel TV show, ANC’s Trippers.

The 2015 Miss Global Philippines Grand Coronation Night will be aired over TV5 on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 10 p.m. — Celso de Guzman Caparas

A grade school teacher from Legazpi City won the 2015 Mutya ng Ibalong pageant last Aug. 28 at the Ibalong Recreation Center. Monalyn Abaluado, who graduated from Bicol University with a degree in Elementary Education and stands 5’6”, was one of the crowd favorites. The Mutya ng Ibalong Tourism title went to Marie Sherry Ann Torres of Bula, Camarines Sur. Named runners-up were Francia Layderos (first) of Libon, Albay;  Purita Onrubia (second) of Camalig, Albay and Sarah Christine Bona (third) of Polangui, Albay.

The Mutya ng Ibalong pageant has been the launching pad of many Bicolana beauties who went on to become national beauty queens. Two of these Albayana beauties whom I introduced to our Aces & Queens team became 2014 Bb. Pilipinas Supranational and Miss Suprational semi-finalist (Yvethe Santiago), and the late Melody Gersbach who was 2009 Bb. Pilipinas International and who was among the Miss International semifinalists. Princess Camu who is also an alumna of Mutya ng Ibalong was one of the candidates in the 2015 Bb. Pilipinas contest. — Gerry Diaz

Rianne Charlotte Kalaw, a statuesque 17-year-old charmer from Lipa, will compete at the 2015 Miss Tourism-Universe Pageant on Sept. 20 in Beirut, Lebanon. A BS Tourism sophomore at the University of Batangas, she is the very first Filipina to compete at the pageant.

Alexandra Mae Rosales, 19, will compete at the 2015 Miss South East Asia Tourism Ambassadress in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 3. She is a BS Tourism senior at the Malayan College and aspires to be a flight attendant.   —Funfare’s ‘beauty experts’ Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib

Sen. Chiz’s ‘tall’ gift to son Quino

For his birthday last Sept. 7, Quino got what could be the ‘tallest’ gift of his life from his dad Sen. Chiz Escudero — yes, a hand-shaking meeting with NBA MVP Stephen Curry (photo), thanks to the help of Chiz’s friends who arranged the meeting last Saturday at the hotel where Curry was billeted.

Sen. Chiz also treated Quino’s twin sister Chesi to a dinner at a Quezon City restaurant.

In her Instagram, Chiz’s wife Heart Evangelista posted a picture of her and Chiz, together with the twins, on a beach, captioned, ‘Happy birthday to my 2 bulilits.’