The Dawn stars in semi-autobiographical digifilm

This actress is in deep financial trouble. She can't pay the P7 million she owes a bank and now the bank is suing her. Last time I heard she wants to settle out of court. It seems she borrowed heavily to finance some business projects that eventually flopped.

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Popular TV journalist and host Arnold Clavio is trying out his hand as an entrepreneur. He is a partner in the Novel Dental Implant Group on Mother Ignacio Ave., in front of the St. Paul The Apostle Church. The place opened last week. Congrats Igan!

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The review of the digital film "Tulad ng Dati" by the Cinema Evaluation Board took longer than its running time of an hour and 45 minutes. The reason: The DVD copy submitted to the board had glitches. The film, starring The Dawn, Agot Isidro with Mylene Dizon, began to get choppy near the end until it finally stopped. Good thing the director, Mark Sandejas, who was waiting outside the CEB review room, brought with him three spare copies of the digifilm. The two spares turned out to be flawed, too. Thankfully, the third one worked.

In the end, Direk Mark was relieved. "Tulad ng Dati" got a B grade from the board.

The film, which he also produced and wrote, is a tribute to the bassist of The Dawn, Teddy Diaz, who was killed by holdup men in 1988. Jett Pangan, the band's lead vocalist, plays himself in the digifilm. The story revolves around the group, although according on the synopsis submitted to the board, fact is sprinkled with fiction.

In the movie, Jett develops amnesia after being struck in the head by one of the holdup men, so he has no recollection of the incident. His life becomes a confused and troubled journey after that.

The Dawn was one of the top rock bands in the 80s, so those who come from that era could relate with the movie. I would give Jett average marks as an actor, although sometimes I can't help but sense he is not really at ease playing himself. Agot has a small but significant role as Jett's wife, and Mylene is cast as his ex-girlfriend.

"Tulad ng Dati" was shown at the Cinemalaya filmfest, but it hasn't been scheduled for commercial exhibition.

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Speaking of digital films, Nora Aunor is doing one, written by Bernardo Bernardo. According to an e-mail from Sandra Villaluz ([email protected]): "Bernardo Bernardo wrote the script and co-stars with Nora Aunor in Ingrata, a digital film produced by Demo Productions on the life of a downtrodden immigrant in the ghettoes of Los Angeles."

The movie will be shown on September 27 at SM Digital Cinemas.

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I enjoy watching Noypi, ABS-CBN's new Monday program hosted by Ms. Christine Bersola and Gabe Mercado. It surveys the cultural landscape and finds out what traditions still survive. You know, little things like kissing the hand of an elder or saying "po" as a sign of respect.

But Noypi should look at the fading traditions once faithfully observed by Filipino churchgoers. Some people, the men, most especially, have forgotten small courtesies when we go to church, like surrendering their seat to an elderly person.

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Snooky Serna had to leave her condo unit in Makati in a huff after the electricity was cut off by the landlord. It seems that the light bills had not been paid after Snooky and husband Nino Mendoza began to fight. The one-year contract for the unit was signed by Snooky so the responsibility for paying the dues fell on her.

According to Tita Lolit Solis, Snooky was to do the rounds of talk shows to explain her break-up with Nino. The problem was that the actress was demanding a fee for her appearance.

Many had predicted that her marriage to the rocker would not last long.

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Beegees fans, rejoice. Your favorite group is performing at the Araneta Coliseum on Nov. 25. The Beegees was the toast of the music world in the 60s through the 80s, producing such blockbuster hits as "How Deep is Your Love," "Words," "Staying Alive," and "Too Much Heaven." In 1997, the group, made up of Australian brothers Barry, Maurice and Robin, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The Beegees also did songs in the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever, the definitive movie of the disco era that starred John Travolta.