Eric Quizon directs heartwarming Mother’s Day film

After playing the gay best friend of Joross Gamboa in the award-winning film “Deadma Walking,” Edgar Allan Guzman tackles the role of a soldier in “Mata Tapang,” one of the official entries to the Cine Filipino Film Festival which starts today in various venues.

“This is something new for me since I play a soldier. It’s very challenging since my character has only one eye so they put prosthetics on me and it’s harder to act,” said EA, who won a number of awards for his work in “Deadma Walking,” the latest of which was in Gawad Tanglaw as Best Supporting Actor.

“Mahirap umarte na may nakakabit na prosthetics. It’s hard to express your feelings when you can only use one eye. Eh singkit pa naman ako. This is even harder than playing a gay role,” he said.

EA added that he has to be sure of every move since he plays a Marine soldier. He has to show that he is a tough guy.

“We are soldiers who are also close friends. Me and my three friends (Arron Villaflor, Jerald Napoles and Migs died) get into an encounter. I survived but I lost my left eye. But my Third Eye was opened. My friends can’t go up to heaven yet because they have unfinished missions. Since I was only one who survived, I had to be the one to help them finish their missions. In the story, I will also learn that my best friend played by Arron is secretly in love with my wife,” he said.

EA and Joross both have entries in Cine Filipino. After playing best friends in “Deadma Walking,” they are competing against each other in this festival.

“There is no competition between me and Joross,” the actor says. “We are supporting each other’s entries. We have a strong bond. Joross will always be a true friend for me.”

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“Once a Regal Baby, always a Regal Baby,” beamed Eric Quizon, apparently grateful to still be working with Regal Entertainment, Inc. even after so many years.

Like many big names in showbiz today, it was Regal that launched Eric as a movie star in the ‘80s.

Though he has established a name for himself, Eric, who is also a director, producer and a writer, continues to work with Regal, serving as a member of their Creative Team.

Currently, he is the director of the movie “My 2 Mommies,” a touching story about what it really means to be a mother.

A Mother’s Day offering, the movie stars Paolo Ballesteros, Solenn Heussaff, Joem Bascon and Ms. Maricel Soriano.

The movie is a heartwarming story about a successful gay guy, Manu (Paolo), living in the closet.

One day, his female best friend, Monique (Solenn), shows up and admits to Manu that they have a son together.

Is Manu courageous enough to confess to his son his real identity and is he ready with the responsibilities of being a parent?

This is Erik’s first time to direct Paolo in a full-length movie. “I must say I’m very impressed, he’s good, very witty, very smart,” he describes Paolo.

“He’s the type – and only a few people would do this – na iba-iba ang sasabihin niya sa bawat take ng same scene. Bihira lang yung ganyan na artista.”

He is also highly impressed with Paolo’s flair for comedy. “You can tell talaga na pang-comedy siya kasi mahilig siyang mag-adlib. Hindi siya papayag na masasapawan siya.”

The director-actor explained that Paolo’s comedic skills have been honed through his stint in the daily noontime show “Eat Bulaga!”

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GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc. (GMAKF) led by GMA Network, Inc. chairman Atty. Felipe Gozon recently received its biggest donation of P2.25 million from the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) led by president Domingo Yap to support its “Rebuild Marawi Project” in Lanao del Sur province, Mindanao, southern Philippines.

GMAKF and FFCCCII shall rebuild and rehabilitate three public schools in the heart of war-torn Marawi City. FFCCCII has its “Operation Barrio Schools” civic project since 1961 of donating and constructing public school buildings to poor areas all over the Philippines to promote social justice and poverty alleviation.

“Napaka-importante nito sa pag-rehabilitate ng Marawi sapagkat ang unang pangangailangan ng mga bata doon ay eskwelahan,” GMKAF Chairman Atty. Felipe L. Gozon said. “Kailangang magtulong-tulong tayong lahat.”

FFCCCII president Domingo Yap said: “On behalf of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc., I am pleased to turn over our donation of 2.25 million pesos to GMA Kapuso Foundation to rehabilitate schools in Marawi City. We hope that this will beef up efforts for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of destroyed public schools. This school building program is a humble donation from the Federation to help our brothers and sisters, especially the youth of Marawi, as they recover and rebuild their lives. We are honored to join GMA Kapuso Foundation for this project. More power to GMA-7 and GMA Kapuso Foundation.”