In fairness to/in defense of Mother Lily

The pros and cons have flooded the social media. Everybody has put in his two-cents worth about next month’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) which has undergone major changes in the rules but is, as usual and as expected, and as controversial as the previous ones. The MMFF is not the MMFF without the brouhaha, is it?

Standing out in the babel like a sore thumb was the below-the-belt comment of Mercedes Cabral (ask your neighbor who she is) who called Regal Matriarch Lily Monteverde a “f---ing idiot” as reaction to the producer’s lament over the non-inclusion (snub?) of her movie, Mano Po 7: Chinoy, and two other sure moneymakers (the Vic Sotto-produced-starrer Enteng Kabisote & The Abangers  and Star Cinema’s Vice Ganda-Coco Martin starrer The Super Parental Guardians) by the MMFF screening committee which okayed indies as the MMFF official Magic 8 entries.

As they say, we are in a democracy and everybody is free to say his/her piece but I think that freedom is abused when four-letter words are thrown against whoever or whatever you don’t like. Don’t you think Cabral went too far by using the “F” word against Mother Lily, or anybody for that matter?

In fairness to and in defense of Mother Lily (or anybody at whom the “F” word is thrown), she didn’t say anything offensive against the MMFF except to voice her “sadness” over the non-inclusion of her film, saying that the MMFF having been an integral attraction of the Christmas season since time immemorial, Mano Po (with Enteng and SPG) should have been included as per, according to reports, the agreement between (producers and the MMFF) that the Magic 8 should be composed of four “indies” and four “mainstream.”

Besides, Regal, Vic’s M-ZET and Star Cinema have been part and parcel of the annual event whose main objective is to raise funds for Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) projects (flood control, etc.), which means it’s okay to be “commercial” (read: moneymaker) without sacrificing quality (which is, like beauty, in the eye of the beholder). No wonder what participating producers usually aspire for is the “top grosser” honors and not so much (although without taking for granted) the major awards.

Back to Cabral. Shouldn’t she have made a little research before calling Mother Lily a “f---ing idiot?” Masakit ha!

Mother Lily deserves respect. After all, isn’t she a pillar of the industry who, like those behind Star Cinema and Viva Films and a few other companies, continue to prop up the industry even and especially during hard times. Remove Regal, or any of the other “pillars,” and the industry will limp helplessly.

To educate Cabral: Regal is the company that produced classics (to mention some: Sister Stella L, starring Vilma Santos and directed by Mike de Leon; Ishmael Bernal’s Broken  Marriage and Relasyon, etc.; Peque Gallaga’s Scorpio Nights and Virgin Forest, etc.; Lino Brocka’s Aida Macaraeg, etc.; Joey Javier Reyes’ Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin, Iisa Pa Lamang, etc.) and has built up not just actors but directors as well, including Jeffrey Jeturian and Lav Diaz, a product of Regal’s much-maligned but eventually vindicated pito-pito system (so-called because shooting was done in seven calendar days) who became internationally-acclaimed, with Ang Babaeng Humayo recently bagging Best Picture at the Venice International Film Festival (VIFF), the big honor, a big first for the Philippines (just like Jaclyn Jose’s Best Actress win in Cannes for Brillante Mendoza’s Ma’Rosa).

Anyway, the MMFF has spoken and the decision is final and irrevocable, and let’s respect that. Let’s stand by and see if this year’s Magic 8 will or can equal, or surpass, last year’s P1B-plus gross, and let’s hope that it does for the sake of the industry. By the way, henceforth shouldn’t we stop classifying films as “indie” or “mainstream?” The line between the two has grown thinner, thus a film is a film is a film…neither indie nor mainstream.

Meanwhile, in case you haven’t noticed, a filmfest is being held before the Metro Filmfest, with the three big “snubbed” films set for release between now and the start of the MMFF on Dec. 25 --- Enteng and SPG opening on Wednesday, Nov. 30, and Mano Po on Dec. 14 in theaters nationwide (and, probably to be extended in the provinces even when the MMFF goes into full swing).

The bottomline is, let’s patronize local films, whether “indie” or “mainstream.”

See you at the movies, folks!!!

Dutch beauty is 2016 Miss Asia Pacific International

Tessa Helena le Conge of the Netherlands was crowned 2016 Miss Asia Pacific International besting 39 other delegates.

The morning after she was crowned, an overwhelmed Tessa posted a message on her Facebook page, to wit: “Unreal, No words for what happened yesterday. I have been chosen as the new Miss Asia Pacific International! I’m truly so thankful for the opportunity to experience this amazing adventure with my friends from all over the world, and spreading beauty in diversity. And Netherlands, this was for you!”

A Bachelor of Communications graduate, 22-year old Tessa works is a Communication Adviser. She’s also a volunteer at Topsport Gerderland. A sports enthusiast, Tessa is a gymnast and loves to jump on the trampoline all day. She was adjudged first runner-up in the 2016 Miss Beauty of the Netherlands and was crowned 2016 Miss Bikini of the Netherlands.  She was named 2017 Miss SCENECS, the ambassadress of the forthcoming 11th SCENECS International Debut Film Festival. Tessa stands 5’9.25” and measures 34.5-25-36.

1993 Miss Asia Pacific Michelle Aldana-Heinermann and Marc Nelson hosted the Coronation Night held at the Convention Center of Sheridan Beach Resort & Spa in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, last Wednesday evening, Nov. 23. — Celso de Guzman Caparas

More winners

• The 6th Guam International Film Festival has bestowed the Achievement in Acting Award to Filipino actress Sue Prado for her role in Joseph Israel Laban’s The Sister. Prado won over the other nominated actors from the films Maverick (Taiwan), Beast (Australia/Philippines), Mah E Mir (Pakistan) and Syaahi (India).

Sue was named Best Supporting Actress by the Gawad Urian in 2009 for her multiple roles in Raymond Red’s Himpapawid. In 2012, she was awarded the 1st Sineng Pambansa National Film Festival Best Actress Award for Sigfried Barros-Sanchez In Bangka Ha Ut Sin Duwah Sapah (The Boat Between Two Rivers.

• Hasmine Killip bagged the Best Performance by an Actress Award for Eduardo Roy Jr.’s  Pamilya Ordinaryo from the 10th Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Australia. Earlier this month, Hasmine won the same award at the 4th Hanoi International Film Festival and was given the Special Citation for Performance at the 1st London East Asia Film Festival last Oct.  She was also the Best Actress winner at the 12th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival last Aug.
• Philippine bet Meryl Angeline King finished first runner-up to 2016 Miss Scuba International Varsha Rajkhowa of India (center). Second runner-up honors went to China’s Allie Sun Last year’s titleholder, our very own Cindy Madumma relinquished her crown in Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia, last Nov. 19.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)