When we live thousands of miles away from family, food always offers a sense of belonging. Last March 21, the Philippine Consulate invited us to do a culinary trip back home. It was truly a yummy/vibrant presscon announcing Canada’s first-ever Filipino Restaurant Month! The participating restaurants of the evening (B’s Sizzling Chicken, FV Foods, Wilson Haus of Lechon, Lechon Republik, MB The Place to Be, Islas Filipino Bar N Grill, Republika, Kanto by Tita Flips, Casa Manila) had dishes to highlight the best of Filipino food and ingredients. A joint project of the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa, the Philippine Consulates General in Calgary, Toronto, and Vancouver, and the Philippine Department of Tourism, this Pinoy food festival will be taking place on 1-30 April 2022. We are certain that there will be a bigger list of Pinoy restos which will join in the fest. According to Consul General Ron Castro, he will be visiting all the Pinoy restos together with the media.
At the event, we noticed Republika’s Jannie Luz-Benico torching its current best seller Lechon Baka as we made the rounds. “It is at its best when served hot,” she said and for their new drinks, they have created a new version of Pomelo juice. Wilson Haus of Lechon impressed us by their presentation of foods neatly arranged in trays made of native products. FV Foods as usual is proud of its pastries.
We asked Marc Buenavantura of Islas what their secret formula is, noticing that some of their customers (we have been there twice) are 65% non-Pinoys. “We try to cater to their taste too utilizing our Pinoy sources.”
Definitely, we are eager to cover each trip to all these restaurants in the next few days – I’d love to be comparing menus. Recently, we dined and lunched at some non-Pinoy eateries and we noticed truffles are trending (the steak at Keg – mushroom and truffle Sirloin, postas with truffle paste at Cafe Landver, and at Chandana Kundu – Black Truffle Rice is a popular choice.) It will be interesting if our young chefs here include truffles in their dishes. We’ve heard of Woldy Reyes, a Filipino American chef based in New York City who serves truffle arroz caldo – oh my! Sarrrap! But what exactly is a truffle? it is actually a fungus, species from the Tuber genus to be exact. Because of its spore-bearing body, the truffle is basically considered a form of mushroom. Hey, how about if our chefs collaborate and produce a truffle platter? SANA!!!! Why not? The main problem though is its cost, truffle is expensive. Then we should support our Pinoy eateries.
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As promised, here’s part 2 of our chat with some luminaries regarding The Most Unforgettable Films they have made, this order based on their availability to respond (in our last ish, we featured Pilar Pilapil, Ronald Valdez, Nino Muihlach, Roger Calvin, Barbara Perez, Sahee Quizon and Rap Fernandez).
1. BOOTS ANSON-ROA-RODRIGO: Number one in my list is Wanted: Perfect Mother, 1970. It established me as a major actress under the helm of first-time director and former UP classmate, Lino Brocka . It also marked the popular acceptance of a new romantic triangle – Dante Rivero, Liza Lorena and myself. A number of triumvirate-love stories followed that. ‘Wanted’ won major awards and was a huge box office hit at the Manila Film Festival that year. Next is Santiago (1970 also by Lea Productions) with FPJ, Dante Rivero, Hilda Koronel and Jay Ilagan. It was Lino’s third movie which again garnered awards and scored well at the takilya. My role there was a quietly strong provincial lass torn between the characters of Dante and FPJ. The third is Tatay na si ERAP, my first comedy where I played a termagant fish wife to Erap’s naughty, toughie jeepney driver character, with a good heart. I love the scenes slapping fish at the wet market and hurling expletives. Never-before role. I was really 7 months pregnant, too, with my youngest son, Ben. Director Augusto Buenaventura guided me closely in my portrayal all the way to my first Famas Best Actress Award in 1973. Several Erap films followed. All memorable.
2. LIZA LORENA: I guess my most memorable film is Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak because i worked with Charito Solis and Ric Rodrigo. It was my first movie with terrific actors. Films i did with Director Maryo delos Reyes are my favorites too like Gabun and Bagets. Memorable too is Oro, Plata, Mata by Peque Gallaga. I also love movies i made directed by Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Eddie Rodriguez and Armando de Guzman.
3. AMY AUSTRIA: Brutal tops my list, it was 1980. The original cast was supposed to be Alma Moreno and me, but for some reason, Cherie Gil’s name came up and then again, it did not push through. Finally it was Gina Alajar and me. When they discussed the characters with me and Gina, I came up with a suggestion to its writer, Ricky Lee and Director Marilou Diaz-Abaya. I said for a change why not me as the shy and unassuming college coed, mahinhin ba, while Gina did the kikay role. Charo Santos was also with us, I was in the company of professionals. So many pivotal scenes, it made me win Best Actress in the Metro FilmFest and Famas. Second to this is the comedy May Lamok sa Loob ng Kulambo, a rib tickler but not slapstick, we had no script whern filming, we just talked about the situations – a fruitful co-authoring with Eddie Garcia, Gloria Diaz and Direk Danny Zialcita. Let me confess here that my favorite director is Ishmael Bernal. All the films we did together are my favorites like Menor de Edad, Aliw Sir, Sugat sa Ugat and Hinugot sa Langit.
4. VILMA: I will never forget Relasyon directed by Ishmael Bernal, my first grand slam award as best actress. I played the role of a mistress, she is audacious, daring and brave! Then came Bata Bata Paano Ka Ginawa based on a novel by Lualhati Bautista which won the Carlos Palanca Memorial Award. The film is sooo goood, in this film my acting was spur-of-the-moment, but with unmatched certainty of my sureness as a performer.
I was LEA, a working mother, who has two children, depicts the society’s view of women, how it is to be a mother, and how a mother executes this role through modern-day concepts of parenthood. Ah, Sister Stella L !! I am a nun involved in an on-going labor strike. She starts out non-politicized, but later learns about the plight of the simple working man and inevitably, the government’s neglect of the poor masses. Despite my being a religious – devoted to prayers and my vows, I brought a different vibe to my character. Also these two other films – Dekada (set in the Philippines during the period of martial law) and Anak – as an ofw, I return to the Philippines after working abroad to find that my family has fallen apart…I am so proud of these films! I can go on and name more films that I love.
5. LLOYD SAMARTINO: Top of my list is Gabun, written by Tom Adrales for Agrix Films directed by Maryo delos Reyes starring Eddie Rodriquez Charito Solis & Liza Lorena. This launched my career and I was surprised with myself, not bad for a neophyte. Siyempre, Annie Batungbakal with Nora Aunor becoz it was my first film with the superstar NORA, we did 7 more. Followed by Ito Ba Ang Ating Mga Anak directed by Ishmel Bernal, it was a great ensemble piece. About a group of lost and confused youths. So powerful, compelling.
By the way, about her mom Carmen Soriano (at 80, she still looks beautiful!), Lloyd happily tells us that Carmen gets herself busy these days doing some teleseryes and has offers for concerts (some to be done off-shore). She and Lloyd will do a show for Pagcor soon, probably this coming September. This is a must-view.
6. TIRSO CRUZ III: Teenage idol was my first film as a headliner, marked a place in my heart. Next is Bilangin ang mga Bituin which took almost three years to finish & where I won as best actor – it was a see-saw of various levels of intensity but I tried my best to sail in a zone of confidence. I portrayed the young and old me. I cannot forget Sigwa, Cinemalaya’s #1 box-office record holder, directed by Joel Lamagan. “Sigwa”, meaning “storm”, spans 40 years of Philippine social unrest – the vehicle examines what happens to activists when they grow old. The characters see each other again after 40 years, no longer of the same wavelength and beliefs. PIPO (that’s how we address him) is grateful that he now gets substantial roles other than his being a musical icon during the early years. “It is a herculean task when an actor becomes the character,” he added.
7. TRINA DAYRIT: (What about this famous director known for her many highly-rated telenovelas?) The project I am most happy about is Pangako Sa ‘Yo (the original series 2000-2002), my very first teleserye, which also scored high ratings and has paved the way for how teleseryes should be made… narrative, casting, production value, etc. No. 2 is Basta’t Kasama Kita , an action thriller. Happy to finally work with my niece, Judy Ann Santos, and action star Robin Padilla. We survived 16 months of gruelling taping skeds… hand-to-mouth, tape-to-air almost 5-6 taping days a week from the day we started to air. Was also #1 overall almost everyday until it’s last airing day. Next is Tayong Dalawa – a beautiful modern story of sibling rivalry; 1st teleserye of Coco Martin as the 3rd Garcia brother, supposed to be a minor role but eventually it was focused on him, he became so popular, the rest is history. Fourth is Walang Hanggan, another iconic teleserye and the memorable Doble Kara. This teleserye is close to my heart and why? The entire cast and staff have become very tight, including Director Manny Palo. Until today, we still have a viber group which we call the DK Family. If not for the pandemic, for sure tuluy-tuloy pa rin ang mga get-togethers namin every now and then. Our all-time favorite star is Julia Montes – so professional, kind, hardworking, diligent! She never complains! Julia is so ideal.
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It is now APRIL and I can’t believe my good friend and colleague Ricky Lo is no longer around, it’s his bday on APRIL 21.
Flashback to a party in Manila a few years back. It was 2014.
To quote Ricky: “It’s a joke during very rare times when Susan Roces, Boots Anson-Roa, Charo Santos and Helen Gamboa find themselves in one occasion where much ribbing and joking spice up the eating, just like last Monday when the barkada gathered for a despedida for balikbayan-writer Baby K. Jimenez (now happily retired in Toronto) at Victorino’s restaurant in Quezon City. The four actresses happen to have a wholesome image. What you see is what you get? Guess again.
In a playful, free-wheeling Conversation, Susan, Boots, Charo and Helen revealed something about themselves that the public doesn’t know. Read on and see them in a (not-so-sweet?) light, hahahahaha!
True friendship means…
Susan: Loyalty.
Boots: Unconditional giving; no ifs, no buts, no what-ifs.
Helen: Unconditional love, being there through thick and thin (when you have problems or when you are sick).
Charo: Being there for and with you at the lowest moment of your life.
What the public doesn’t know about me is that…
Susan: I am a flirt, hahahahaha! (Dolor Guevarra, Susan’s manager, said with affection, “She’s maldita!”)
Boots: I’m a clutch, I’m a Peter Sellers, I’m burara, I’m clumsy, I snore and I’m funny.
Helen: What I have to say might shock you, huh! Yes, I have two personalities, hahahaha! You know why? I can be a Penthouse or a Hustler model at night, hahahaha! Kasi, si Tito is fond of buying me lingerie; ang tiyaga niya sa ganoon! Eh, ang mga binibili niya ‘yung pang-Penthouse talaga. Naku, Diyos ko, hindi ako puedeng kunan ng litrato na naka-lingerie.
On this cheerful note, I say see you again next ish.
