Movie Queen AMALIA FUENTES (who left us on Oct 5, 2019) would have turned 83 last August 27.
I will always remember her best candid moments – her being colorful as an interviewee, usually no-holds-barred. She never spoke the words “off the record” to me but at times she mentioned, “You know me very well and I always trust you…” I appreciated her friendship – “kahit na mas close ka sa comadre (Susan Roces) ko.”
We had planned to go to Europe together sana in 2014. “Mag 3 weeks tayo, let’s ask Libay (Liberty Ilagan) to join us.”
Do you know that when Sampaguita Pictures had a one-day event called “Trip to Movieland” in 1955 (co-organized with LVN and Premiere Productions), Amalia, along with her mom Concepcion was there. During the tour, Amalia got frantic when she was separated from her mother. A studio person helped her and noticed her astounding beauty and asked her if she wanted to appear in the movies. Amalia obliged to have her photo taken which was handed to Sampaguita Starmaker Dr. Jose Perez who said, “This girl looks like Elizabeth Taylor. Get her at once.”
She was crowned as “Miss Number One” after topping the Prince Charming contest, beating 200 hopefuls shortlisted from over a thousand who had their screen tests. The contest was conducted by Sampaguita Pictures in search of 12 charming ladies who would be part of the entourage for a bridal sequence in Prince Charming that starred Eddie Arenas, Myrna Delgado, Ric Rodrigo, Imelda Concepcion, Zeny Zabala and Boy Alano.
It led to Amalia’s signing an exclusive contract with Sampaguita Pictures from 1955 to 1962. She was given a P50 weekly salary – plus P500 for every film she made. From Pasay, she promptly moved her family to an P80 a month rented apartment in Valencia St. – just walking distance from the studio gate that then faced the direction of N. Domingo.
It didn’t take long before she became a big star who commanded an P8,000 salary per film. The top money then was P10,000, but it was only Gloria Romero who was given that kind of talent fee in those days.
In 1964, Amalia became the first-ever Filipina image model of Lux bath soap. The USA had glamorous actresses like Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Crawford, Rita Hayworth, Jane Wyman, Loretta Young, Debbie Reynolds and Marilyn Monroe, among others as Lux endorsers. She was named “Asia’s Most Beautiful Actress” in a survey conducted by Asia Magazine in the ‘60s. Amalia won as FAMAS Best Actress for Ibulong Mo Sa Hangin (1966), and MMFF Best Actress for Pag-ibig Mo…Buhay Ko! (1973). She’s a prolific writer and authored the stories of Tatlong Kasaysayan ng Pag-ibig (1966), a three-part film directed by Gerardo de Leon. She played the roles of Betty, Cynthia and Tina, opposite Romeo Vasquez.
We all know that Amalia started the famous Muhlach dynasty in showbiz: Her only child LIEZL was married to Albert Martinez; her nephew Nino Muhlach was the highest paid child actor (his Dad is Amalia’s brother Alex Muhlach, and Nino’s son is Alonzo who also started as a child actor); Aga (the son of Cheng, also Amalia’s brother) was the number one hearth throb in his teendays , etc.)
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Here is one moving post of Aga then when Nena died. “You started it all for us. You have taught me so much in life. You were an inspiration. You treated me like your son. I’m at a loss for words. Go rest now. I know for sure that you are the happiest right now for you are at peace and most specially, reunited with ate Liezl. My growing up years was spent with you, tita.
All my weekends, summer vacations, our trips to Baguio, in tali, in the states. Lahat na… Huling paalam, tita. Rest In Peace. You are with our creator now. Rest in HIS embrace. My dad, my mom, you ( my 2nd mom, ate Liezl who’s always been a sister to me. I miss you all. I will miss you all forever…
”
PIDC’s Battle of the Bands
One special attraction of the recent PIDC’s Mabuhay Fiesta was the Battle of the Bands.
What is Battle of the Bands? Generally, Battle of the Bands is the name given to a music contest or competition in which a number of bands compete for the title of “Best Band”.
The winner is determined by voice vote of the band that brought the crowd or the most people to cheer. Traditionally, band fights are held at live music events and forums.
Four bands participated at the PIDC event.
1. DNAs (so very young – in their early teens- vocalist is a youthful pretty girl supported by three guys), they told me their age ranges from 11 to 13!
2. Next is Utol Band (Utol means magkapatid) – we were completely amazed at Lance, the drummer, only 9 years old, and his Kuya Renz is the guitarist. Renz said he has tutored his brother since he was 4.
3. Red Velvets – three females and 2 guys (one is the lead guitar, the other, a vocalist.)
4. Soy Sauce – all guys and at the first note they struck, we knew they were the best.
The panel of judges from the PIDC roster: Ben, Aris, Ophelia and me. The four of us have been involved in music and organizer Jean Pardo said we should do the voting. The results: Soy Sauce won, followed by the Red Velvets, DNAs and the Utol Band. Congratulations!!!
TIFF: The 48th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival takes place Thursday, September 7—17, 2023.
I am eyeing two films. One is The Eternal Memory from Chile. What happens to the collective memory of an oppressed country if the ones who report on the oppression fail to remember?
This is the question Oscar-nominated Chilean director Maite Alberdi’s documentary asks of its main subjects: renowned journalist Augusto Góngora, who is in late-stage dementia; and Paulina Urrutia, a culture minister and his life partner of 25 years.
The other one is A Normal Family from Korean filmmaker Hur Jin-ho, adapted from Herman Koch’s international bestseller The Dinner. Tragedy strikes when two brothers who do not share the same beliefs accidentally discover a dreadful secret.
Based on the celebrated Dutch novel Het Diner (The Dinner) by Herman Koch, which has sold more than a million copies and has been translated into several languages, A Normal Family is the latest work by renowned Korean filmmaker Hur Jin-ho.
A drama about privilege, nepotism, and moral decline, the film explores the darker side of normalcy in a transglobal tale of binding blood ties that end up disintegrating the lives of its protagonists.
But wait, we are pleased to announce this – Two PINOY films will have their world premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 7 to 17.
Jun Lana’s Anak ka ng Ina Mo (Your Mother’s Son) was selected as part of TIFF’s Centrepiece Programme, which will also feature 47 other films from around the world. The program, previously known as Contemporary World Cinema (CWC), honors and celebrates global cinematic achievements, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in a dynamic array of contemporary films.
Anak Ka ng Ina Mo follows the story of a hard-working mother and her layabout son. Their relationship was challenged when her mother invites one of her students into their home. The film, produced by Ferdy Lapuz, stars Sue Prado, Elora Españo, Miggy Jimenez, and Kokoy De Santos.
Sonny Calvento’s Primetime Mother, meanwhile, is one of the official lineups for this year’s TIFF’s Short Cuts together with 41 other film entries from 23 countries.
In a statement, Short Cuts lead programmer Jason Anderson said, “We are thrilled to be able to present such a diverse array of incredible new works by emergent and established film talents from all over the world.”
The film is top-billed by Meryll Soriano and tells the story of a local gameshow told in a very Filipino way, complete with dance showdowns and melodramatic life stories of the contestants. It is written and directed by Calvento, who is also known for his Sundance-nominated short film Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss.
TIFF is one of the world’s biggest public film festivals that aims to transform the way people see the world through film. In 2022, Martika Escobar’s Leonor Will Never Die won the Amplify Voices Award for emerging filmmakers at the Canada-based festival.
LOVI’s Fairy Tale Romance
Dear LOVI, Best wishes! Here’s to forever! (We last saw each other last February, 2023 in Manila.)
Yes, the talk of the town: Lovi Poe married British film producer Monty Blencowe.
“An unexpected meeting in Los Angeles, a long-distance relationship across multiple cities, a secret engagement in Malibu, and a splendid wedding in the United Kingdom – the romance of Lovi Poe and Monty Blencowe gives the dramas and movies they both create a run for their money,” from Metro Mag.
On August 26, 2023, at 3:30 PM, 10:30 PM in Manila, amidst the timeless Cliveden House, Lovi took that cherished walk down the aisle.
And now the questions: What happens to Batang Quiapo? – Lovi is the leading lady of Coco Martin. In the teleserye, Lovi is forced to get married to Christopher de Leon. Lovi is said to be staying now in London or the newly weds might pick Los Angeles as their new home (where husband Monty also resides when doing films). Will Lovi continue doing BQ? ABANGAN!!!!
Now the Ber months are coming! Don’t forget, Joe Mari Chan will be here in November with his Christmas carols. Martin Nievera just left after his performance at Nathan’s Square (to celebrate PIDC), while his good friend Gary Valenciano will fly here in October.
See you after 2 weeks. *****
