Sabi ni Bea nang purihin ang akting: 'Puwede na akong sumunod kay Tita Cory!'

Urung-sulong ang petsa ng presscon ng yet another 16^th anniversary offering ng Star Cinema, ang And I Love You So. And I never wondered so.

Martes muna ang text invitation ni Tita Emma Guevarra, but it was moved the next day. Binawi niya uli ito, Martes na naman daw, but it was finally reset nitong Miyerkules. Ang dahilan : pagbibigay-respeto kay dating Pangulong Cory Aquino na inilibing nu’ng araw na ‘yon.

While August 5 was a Yellow Day, kulay pula naman ang gabi ng naturang presscon : from the floral centerpiece on the dining table to the mantle atop the presidential table reserved for the cast to Bea Alonzo’s dress. After all, red is the color of love, at ito ang tamang pelikula with a different touch.

Sey nga ng dalawang babaeng writers, hindi tried-and-tested formula ang konsepto ng karakter na nais nilang gampanan ni Bea, a total departure from her previous roles. Kung kaya’t kinapital nila ang pagiging ‘alone’ ni Bea who’s breaking free from her screen partnership with John Lloyd Cruz, hence her role as a young widow.

Instantly, na-juxtapose din ng aking isip ang mismong gabing ‘yon ng presscon at ang libing ng biyuda ring si Tita Cory (who was widowed at 50) na nu’ng mga sandaling ‘yon, around 8:30 p.m., ay saka pa lang ipinapasok sa nitso ang kanyang mga labi.

And what a connection that Bea thought of herself. Bumaha rin kasi ng mga papuri sa kanya ang mga co-stars niya sa pelikula, most specially from Coney Reyes who proudly addressed her as “the next important star.”

To which ang sey ni Bea na lunod sa mga naturang accolades : “Puwede na akong sumunod kay Tita Cory!”

Na-Lokayda Mamaril ako! (No relation to Mel Mamaril na close-in security aide ni Tita Cory, huh!)

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Temang strike videoke ang hatid ng All Star K! The One Million-Peso Videoke Challenge mamayang gabi with hired killer Dingdong Dantes wielding his butcher’s knife.

At stake ang Celebrity Dance Champion title na pag-aagawan nina Gab Valenciano, Paolo Ballesteros, Mystica (nabuhay ang career?) at G. Toengi. Makihataw na mamayang gabi sa top-rating na Shall We Dance sa TV5.