Cesar: To sue or not to sue?

The issue over the so-called "Sunshine Cruz Video" (pirated very brief love scenes from the unfinished Viva Films flick Dukot Queen, with Jay Manalo) refuses to die. Cesar Montano himself, Sunshine’s husband, refused to add fuel to the fire by simply not making any comment, thank you, and that, I guess, is the better part of discretion.

According to those close to Cesar and Sunshine, Cesar hasn’t seen that video and isn’t planning to see it at all (not even out of curiosity). The video, according to those who have seen it (I haven’t and I don’t intend to, what for?), also includes other love scenes with other actors/actresses from other movies, courtesy of a technician (who has already been fired and, if I may add, should be prosecuted) from a film laboratory.

During a recent hook-up TV interview with ABS-CBN’s Magandang Umaga, Bayan, direct from Australia where he was filming the Hollywood movie The Great Raid, Cesar said his only message to those who produced the video and those who have seen it is this: "May God have mercy on you!" He should have added, "And may you burn in hell!, but he didn’t.

There were unconfirmed reports that Cesar was filing a case against Viva Films which, in turn, was filing a case against Roadrunner where the raw materials (of Dukot Queen, among others) were kept, or that Cesar and Viva would file a case together against Roadrunner. These and other rumors have remained just that – rumors – unconfirmed by any of the parties involved, all of whom would rather see the issue die a natural, even if slow, death. Still and all, the question hangs: Will Cesar sue or not?

When he met the movie press last Saturday for his and Maricel Soriano’s "comebacking" sitcom, now retitled Bida si Mister, Bida si Misis on ABS-CBN (starting this Saturday, Nov. 16, 8:30 p.m.), the newly-arrived (from Australia) Cesar politely ignored questions about the "Sunshine Cruz Video," saying he’d rather not comment on it and talk instead about the new sitcom and his Hollywood experience in Australia with the likes of Benjamin Bratt, Joseph Fiennes and Connie Nielsen who are with him in The Great Raid (based upon the book The Great Raid on Cabanatuan).

The movie, now wrapping scenes in China (with Filipino talents in the cast, including Bembol Roco and Cesar’s younger brother Rommel Montano), will be shown first at the Cannes Filmfest in May next year before it is released around the world. It’s a pity that due to terrorist bombing and some such unsavory news about the country, the producers decided against shooting most of the movie here, opting to film those scenes in China and in Australia where they constructed a Philippine village, complete with coconut trees and nipa huts, to the tune of, well, "a fortune," according to Cesar.

"They couldn’t get a company to insure them here, so they went to Australia and China for the shooting," said Cesar who has shed 30 pounds during his five-month stay in Australia, now weighing a trim and very becoming 150 pounds and sporting closely-cropped hair, the same one he wore in Muro-Ami.

"It’s the hairdo I wore in Great Raid," added Cesar who plays guerilla leader Capt. Juan Pajota. During the audition, John Dahl, director of the movie, saw a videotape of Muro-Ami and he liked my hairdo. That’s why he asked me to sport the same hairdo for Great Raid. I’m the only one wearing this kind of hairdo in the movie."

Having spent several months in Australia (Gold Coast), Cesar got some kind of a "weather shock" when he flew back home last week, along with wife Sunshine and their daughter Angelina who spent two months with him there, catching cold and the flu. He was still sniffing during the presscon.

"I’m no longer needed in the scenes being shot in China," said Cesar who signed a three-picture contract with Miramax, producer of Great Raid. "I finished all my scenes in Australia. I have several speaking lines, all in English with adlibs in Tagalog (such as ‘Lintek’), and I have scenes with Benjamin (Bratt who brought to the shooting his own wife, the very pregnant Talisa Sotto). In one scene, I lead the Filipino guerillas in the taking of the Cabu Bridge in Cabanatuan. I saw the rushes and all I could say is, ‘Grabe sa ganda!’ Magandang-maganda talaga."

It was in Australia where Cesar and Sunshine quietly celebrated their second wedding anniversary last September, the same month they also celebrated Angelina’s first birthday.

"Shine was a plain housewife there," revealed Cesar. "She did the cooking and the housekeeping and she enjoyed it."

No, they didn’t start on their second baby in Australia. "There wasn’t enough time," joked Cesar.

Meanwhile, Bida si Mister, Bida si Misis takes up where Maricel and Cesar’s hit sitcom, Kaya ni Mister, Kaya ni Misis, left off. It is now seven years since the end of Kaya, and Mary (Maricel) and Buboy (Cesar) Magtanggol are only now returning from overseas, where cop Buboy was sent to train and work with the local police force, while Mary watched over her son Junjun, now enjoying a scholarship in an Australian boarding school, while raising their youngest child, now vacationing with Buboy’s mother, Nanay Goreng. Now back for good, Mary and Buboy have pooled all their money to start their own catering business so that Buboy does not have to constantly risk life and limb as a policeman. Fate, however, has other plans for the couple, as they find out once they reach Manila.

Other stars of the sitcom are Smokey Manaloto, Dyords Javier, Earl Ignacio and Shaina Magdayao.

Funfare- Hallmark Guardian contest winners

Here are the answers to the last set of questions for episode 17 of the month-long joint Funfare-Hallmark The Guardian contest:

Question 1: Which family wants to adopt Matthew Damira?

Answer: The Diamonds

Question 2: Why is Justin Damira’s brain damaged?

Answer: Because he fell down the stairs while protecting his younger brother, Matthew, from their mother’s abusive boyfriend.

The winners of Hallmark Channel goodie bags are:

1. Jolyn R. Cayaba, c/o VFL Advisors, Inc. 15F Citibank Tower 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City.

2. Evelyn R. Cayaba, 126-A Molave St., Proj. 3, Quezon City

3. Mary Ann G. Bracewell, 3880 Daffodil St., Sun Valley Subdivision, Parañaque City

4. Robert Cayaba, c/o Honda Cars, Quezon City, Araneta Ave., Quezon City

They may claim their prizes from Buensalido & Associates, Suite 701, 7th Floor Greenbelt Mansion, 106 Perea St., Legaspi Villa ge, Makati City.