Sid doesn't sleep in The City that Never Sleeps

He doesn’t sleep in The City That Never Sleeps (even if it really does every now and then, no thanks to the recession).

“I’m drinking my ass off, hahahaha,” Sid Lucero told Edmund Silvestre, Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent, in a phone interview Sunday night in New York (Monday morning, Manila Time).

In his report, Edmund said that Sid has been hitting the hottest nightspots in the Big Apple since arriving Saturday. He’s a Best Actor nominee in the 38th annual International Emmy Awards for the ABS-CBN hit series Dahil May Isang Ikaw (Because There Is Only You), which is also in the running for Best Telenovela category.

“I just want to enjoy and relax because honestly I’m scared (of the Emmy Awards night),” he said in half-jest on the eve of the Emmys after a hearty dinner with friends, among them New Yorkers Sonny Samapayan and his wife Edith, and ABS-CBN producers Narcisco “Nars” Gulmatico and Annaliza Goma. “Mas natatakot ako kaysa excited, actually.”

Sid already has an international Best Actor trophy when he tied with co-star Emilio Garcia for the movie Selda from the 49th Thessaloniki International Film Festival in Greece in 2008. He also has five local Best Actor trophies for Donsol, Tambolista and also Donsol. At the Emmys, Sid is up against formidable TV drama actors Leonardo Sbaraglia (of Argentina) for Epitafios, Sebastian Koch (Germany) for Sea Wolf and Bob Hoskins (Britain) for The Street.

“I saw videos of their performances, hayop ang mga acting nila,” Sid noted, referring to his fellow contenders. “The Argentinian actor (who plays an assassin) is my bet to win. Wow, galing niya!”

Last year, Angel Locsin was also nominated in the Best Actress category for the ABS-CBN drama Lobo. Britain’s veteran actress Julie Walters won for A Short Stay in Switzerland.

When Edmund asked Sid about the chance of the Philippines winning this year, Sid responded with all humility.

“Malabo ako,” he laughed. “Ang gagaling kasi nila kaya it’s hard for me to have high expectations. I’m just being honest. To be nominated is already a big win for me and for our country. I don’t even have a prepared speech. Ito talaga ‘yung one could really say that to be nominated is already a big honor, to be included in the roster of good actors from other countries. But I am attending the awards night not as Sid Lucero or Timothy Mark Eigenmann, but as a proud Filipino. I could be prouder than Manny Pacquiao right now, win or lose.”

Sid, who will walk the red carpet in a tuxedo-type suit by famous designer Tonichi, will bring along cousin Bianca Rogoff (daughter of his Aunt Cherie Gil) for Monday’s ceremony (New York Time, Nov. 22) at the Hilton New York.

There are 39 nominees from 15 countries vying in 10 categories for International Emmys, honoring excellence in TV programming outside the US.

“I will definitely try to enjoy every minute of this event,” said Sid who, noted Edmund, got his thespic talent from his parents, Mark Gil and model-turned-actress Bing Pimentel, and his grandparents Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” adding, “And I’m hoping to meet Bob Hoskins in person. I also look up to Gary Oldman as role model.” Among Filipino actors, I admire Pen Medina and Ronnie Lazaro, to name two.”

By this time, the winners shall have been announced. Sid told Edmund that he’s rushing back to Manila on Wednesday to get back to the taping of his weekly series Alyna (which also stars Shaina Magdayao and Jason Abalos). He’s also featured in two 2010 Metro Manila Filmfest entries, Cinemabuhay’s Rosario and Regal Films’ Shake, Rattle & Roll 12.

“I’m so blessed that people appreciate my work,” he said. “Someday I want to try directing. That’s part of my dream.”

(Postscript: Sid lost to Bob Hoskins for BBC drama The Street which also won the Best Actress award for Helena Bonham Carter and three others. One consolation is that Sid did see Hoskins in person. GMA Network vice president for Program Management Jose Mari Abacan represented the country as one of the jurors in the Final Round of judging.)

Musmusikwela kids play leads in Lion King

A piece of good news from abroad:

Two Musmusikwela kids, EO Matawaran, 12, and Tintin de Leon, 11, will play the lead roles in the Lion King Musical -- Children Edition in Singapore. The two passed the recently-held auditions and were offered contracts for the parts of young Simba and young Nala, respectively.

The two are products of the collaborative program between the Music Museum Group and the Music School of Ryan Cayabyab. Called  Musmusikwela, the program was launched in 2008 on the 20th anniversary of Music Museum as MMG’s payback to the music and entertainment industry which nurtured it.

“We want to give something back to the music and entertainment industry by discovering and developing young Filipino kids’ musical talents. We felt that cultivating their innate skills in singing and performing through a music grant under the music master, Ryan Cayabyab, would be a lasting legacy to Filipino music. It would help ensure the continuity of Filipino musical talents in the future,” said Precy Florentino, MMG president.

 EO and Tintin were two of 11 youngsters who underwent a full course, 10-month music scholarship at Ryan’s school from June 2009 to March 2010. The group, which underwent lessons in voice, movement and stage projection, had their recital at Teatrino last March. “The progression from raw vocal talent to disciplined performing artists is very evident in the Musmusikwela kids. They have also acquired a great amount of self confidence,” Ryan said.

Base Entertainment (New York, Las Vegas, Houston), the company behind The Lion King musical, held auditions in Manila in early October.

EO and Tintin will join four other successful applicants for the roles of young cubs Simba and Nala and will star alongside a huge singing-acting-dancing cast who hail from eight countries and five continents, including The Lion King alums from the West End and Paris productions.

The Lion King – Children Edition is the opening presentation of the new state-of-the-art theatre at Marina Bay Sands on March 3, 2011.

Film about Pinoy OFWs wins award for director

More good news from abroad:                                                                       

Wi Ding Ho, director of Pinoy Sunday, has just won the Best New Director award at the The Golden Horse Film Festival Awards Ceremony last Nov. 20 In Taipei. The Golden Horse Film Festival is the most prestigious and longest-running film festival of Chinese language films in the world. The filmfest is considered Asia’s equivalent of the Oscar Awards. Film luminaries like John Woo, Ang Lee, Maggie Cheung, Wong Kar Wai and others have graced the glitzy film festival.

Cannes winner Wi Ding Ho is coming to Manila on Dec. 1 for the Philippine premiere of Pinoy Sunday as the Opening Film of the 12th Cinemanila International Film Festival. The film will also have regular screenings during the festival, which runs from Dec. 1 to 5. 

Starring Epi Quizon, Bayani Agbayani, Meryll Soriano and Alessandra de Rossi, Pinoy Sunday is about Filipino OFWs living in Taipei.

Tita Midz turns 80 surrounded by friends

Armida ‘Tita Midz’ Siguion-Reyna (front row, second from right) celebrated her 80th birthday last Nov. 4 at the Last Chukker of the Manila Polo Club. Among her well-wishers are (front row, from left) MTRCB Chief Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde, Susan Roces and Danny Dolor; and (back row, also from left) Raquel Villavicencio, June Torrejon, Boots Plata, Vice Pres. Jojo Binay, Tita Midz’s husband lawyer Leonardo Siguion-Reyna, Dolor Guevarra, Lawrence Tan, Girlie Rodis and Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay.

— PHOTO COURTESY OF BOOTS PLATA

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