Lorna doesn’t mind being second choice - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

Like Vilma Santos in Anak and Nora Aunor in The Flor Contemplacion Story, Lorna Tolentino is deglamorized anew (as she was in one of her recent films, Luksong Tinik) in her current starrer, Viva Films’ Abakada... Ina in which she’s playing an illiterate mother.

"It’s a dream role," said Lorna, "and it’s right along my alley. I have to wear a wig, put on a tan make-up and ‘unlearn’ to write by handling the ballpen the wrong way. I even have to portray my role through body language."

Perhaps Lorna is constrained to prove herself further (although she doesn’t really have to) because she happens to be the second choice for the role, the first having been Nora Aunor when the project (scripted by Shaira Mella Salvador and Ramon Bayron) was conceived with Joel Lamangan as director. Direk Joel believed that such kind of "no read, no write" women don’t exist anymore in modern society so he politely turned down the movie.

Next to be tapped was direk Elwood Perez and then Gina Alajar. I don’t know what transpired in the negotiations between Elwood and Gina. Suffice it to say that the dream project (it is, it is!) landed on direk Eddie Garcia’s lap, prompting Manoy Eddie to break his extended respite as director (while concentrating on his acting career).

Those who have seen Abakada... Ina claimed that the movie is a very good one, a "vindication" of sorts for Lorna and direk Eddie and the rest of the cast (including Albert Martinez as Lorna’s husband, Bobby Andrews, Nida Blanca as Albert’s mother who looks down on Lorna, Alicia Alonzo as Lorna’s equally illiterate mother and Matet, along with Hannah Camille Bustillos and Aiza Marquez, as Lorna’s children).

"Actually," said Lorna, "the movie’s writers made a research and they found out na mataas talaga ang illiteracy rate lalo na sa mga depressed areas."

Scan the history of local movies and second (or even third or fourth) choices almost always come out the better – and the right – choice, such as Vilma Santos in Burlesk Queen (first choice was, ehem, Lorna Tolentino), Bembol Roco in Lino Brocka’s Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag (replacing the late Jay Ilagan) and even Russell Crowe (replacing Mel Gibson, also an Australian, who said he’s "too old" for the role) in the Oscar Best Picture Gladiator which won for Crowe the Best Actor plum.

Abakada... Ina marks the second time Lorna is being directed by Eddie (the first was years ago, in the Viva drama Sinasamba Kita, with Vilma Santos, Phillip Salvador and Christopher de Leon).

"I didn’t notice it before but I realized now what a dedicated director Tito Eddie is," said Lorna. "He’s very meticulous pala — with details and with everything. Ultimong papel na sinusulatan ko, dapat ’yung pang-Grade One talaga; hindi puedeng ’yung pang-Grade 2 o pang-Grade 3."

And direk Eddie is punctual.

"In our first shooting day," recalled Lorna, "the call was for 7 a.m. I arrived at 7:30 and he was already there! I inquired around and I learned that 5 o’clock pa lang, nasa set na si direk Eddie. I asked myself, ‘Paano ko kaya mauunahan ito?’ What I did was, if the call was for early morning, such as when we had to go to Pampanga or Quezon, I would leave the house at 3 a.m. Still, nauuna pa rin siya sa akin."

Rufa Mae alone in her ‘turf’

Just when televiewers were starting to notice how good she was in the ABS-CBN Saturday night sitcom Arriba! Arriba! (topbilled by Jolina Magdangal), Rufa Mae Quinto had to, well, "disappear," making people wonder why.

Rufa Mae gave three reasons.

"I was busy finishing my scenes in Baliktaran (for Viva Films, directed by Al Tantay with Bayani Agbayani as leading man); I was finishing my second album called Lupaypay; and I had to begin taping for Larawan: A Special Drama Engagement (GMA 7, 9 p.m. on Wednesdays) which is featuring me on all Wednesdays of this month (starting April 11) and on the first Wednesday of May."

Besides, Rufa Mae also has to start shooting another naughty Viva comedy (to be directed by Yam Laranas who had his movie-directorial debut in Balahibong Pusa) titled Radio W-1-0-10: Gulo ng Palad which may have been inspired by the Clint Eastwood movie Play Misty for Me, with Jeffrey Quizon as the crazed killer after Rufa Mae.

In Ickay, the first Larawan episode, Rufa Mae reprises her popular Booba role, this time dramatic and not at all comic like the movie. She plays a slow-learning 21-year-old malingering in Grade 5. Among her co-stars are Mark Gil and Elizabeth Oropesa as her parents.

The next three Larawan episodes will be directed by Rico Gutierrez (Private Tutor), Ruel Bayani (Heredera) and Joyce Bernal (who directed Rufa Mae in the Aga-Regine starrer Dahil May Isang Ikaw for which Rufa Mae won a Star Awards Best Supporting Actress trophy; he has two others, both as Best Comedy Actress for the ABS gag show Ispup, from the Dove Awards and also the Star Awards for Television).

Rufa Mae is the sole superstar in her "turf," reigning supreme as the country’s only sexy comedienne, very funny as a brainless beauty (so credible in that role that many people think she’s really boba even in real life). She’s the only survivor of the sexy batch launched by Viva several years ago (with the likes of Amanda Page, Michelle Parton, Criselda Volks and a few others who have slipped back into oblivion).

"I’m happy that comedians/comediennes are now being recognized for their talent," said Rufa Mae. "In fact, dapat sa mga award-giving bodies magkaroon ng Best Comedy Actor/Actress category, just like in the Golden Globe Awards, to give due recognition to comedians who are often overlooked or ignored."

Naming Jim Carrey, Melanie Griffith and Joey Marquez as her favorite comedians, Rufa Mae is far from comic when it comes to her love life which is brightened up by her boyfriend, Pop Cola’s Rudy Hatfield whose 6’3" frame towers over Rufa Mae’s petite 5’5" (and 36-24-36).

"He’s conservative," said Rufa Mae of Hatfield who hails from Michigan, USA. "I’ve had a number of boyfriends; pero ako, second girlfriend pa lang niya."

No, they’re not planning to get married – yet – maybe not in the next three years, never mind if her ex-boyfriend, Quezon City Councilor Dingdong Avanzado, has already "middle-aisled" it with Jessa Zaragoza.

Egged on the talk about Dingdong – and Jessa – Rufa Mae frowned a bit and said, "Sana mamatay na... ang issue na ’yan."

But asked if she could match Jessa lyric for lyric, belting-style, Rufa Mae agreed to give a sample of her Jessa Zaragoza "impersonation" by singing Jessa’s songs Bakit Pa? And Ikakasal Ka Na, even besting the real Jessa with her pa-nasal style.

Well, if Jessa ever needs a "ghost singer," she doesn’t have to look far.

Okay, Rufa Mae, one more Jessa Zaragoza song, please?

Joyce on campaign trail

Twenty-five pounds off and Joyce Jimenez still looks as sexy and as seductive and as desirable as she has always been. Did Joyce go into a crash diet and a rigid reducing program?

"No," said Joyce, who’s starring in the harmless romance-comedy Narinig Mo Na ba ang L8est? (Star Cinema) with Aga Muhlach who’s also her leading man in the ABS-CBN sitcom The Body and the Guard. "I just keep myself very busy; I just keep on working."

Besides L8est?, Joyce is also finishing The Lords of Creation for a Japanese outfit, with Toto Natividad as director and Japanese martial-arts master Genta Ogami as leading man.

Joyce has also been very visible on the campaign trail, last seen in Navotas endorsing relectionist Mayor Toby Tiangco (nephew of Mel Tiangco) in a motorcade that started at 8 a.m. and wound up at 1 p.m.

"That’s how I got this tan," said Joyce. "I didn’t get it on the beach."

The 33-year-old Tiangco said Joyce’s support would give his reelection bid star power, citing the actress’ mass appeal. The mayor vowed to sustain the gains achieved by his administration.

Tiangco reiterated his tough stance against drug lords and other criminal elements. "As I said, I would be kind to the needy but would be tough against corrupt and other criminal elements here in Navotas."
He added that a no-nonsense drive against drug abuse would be one of his top priorities.