Serna: ‘P’ is for Calungsod

TODAY, members of the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children will be in Asturias for the 3rd District elimination round of the Halad sa Kabataan singing and guitar duet competitions.

From the talents representing the local government units of the 3rd District, two singers and two pairs of guitar players will pit against the other district representatives in the grand finals on Oct. 13 at the Cebu International Convention Center.

Halad sa Kabataan is an annual activity in line with the universal celebration of the Children’s Month.

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While the date of the canonization of the second Filipino and first Visayan saint draws nearer, projects about Blessed Pedro Calungsod have been put up by ardent devotees of the upcoming saint.

One project is the movie P that is directed by 2011 Gawad Urian best director awardee Remton Siega Zuazola (for Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria). “P” stands for Blessed Pedro, of course, plus two other characters (Peter and Pierre) whose lives were changed after “one encounter.”

P is a multi-lingual (speaking lines will be a mixture of Spanish, English, Chamoros, Visayan and others), multi-genre movie. It will also depict scenes during Blessed Pedro’s lifetime and the present time.

Tapped to play the lead role is architect-actor Eli Razo, who is not actually a neophyte in acting. Also in the movie are Matteo Guidicelli, Angel Aquino, Donna Gimeno, Akiko Solon, Mercedez Cabral and Jay-R Siaboc, among others.

P is produced by SHE or the Susan Henry Entertainment. Henry says it’s her contribution in the revival of the Visayan filmmaking industry as well as in the discovery and development of local talents “so they no longer have to go to Manila” to look for acting projects.

She’s passionate in her crusade of sorts and she has already lined up two more projects. In addition, she has bought a sizeable space in a currently constructed condominium to house her production company.

The movie, set for showing in April next year, will portray the second Filipino saint as a typical teenager and will reveal his “raw human spirit.” As a whole, P is “a celebration of the Visayan people,” says director Zuazola.

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The award-winning indie movie, Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa, will be screened for the first time in Cebu, tomorrow only starting at 4 p.m. at the CAP Art Center along Osmeña Blvd., this city.

The movie is in the shortlist of Philippine movies from which the country’s official entry to the Oscars’ best foreign film category will be chosen.

The movie has given Paolo Avelino and Jean Garcia a best actor and a best supporting actress award, respectively. Also in the cast is Rocco Nacino.

The Cebu screening is a joint effort of Little Boy Productions and USC Pshycology Society. Tickets are at popular prices.

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Another Star Cinema offering is coming our way with the movie, The Mistress, which celebrates the 10th year of the successful tandem of John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo.

While the role of the other woman, more often than not, is relegated to a supporting status, this time attention is focused on the ups and downs of a married man’s secret lover.

Directed by Olivia Lamasan, who is proud to claim to be part in the development and growth of the John Lloyd-Bea tandem having nurtured it in past projects, The Mistress is said to be the duo’s most daring project ever. Ow?

Also in the cast are actress Hilda Koronel as Regina (the wife), Ronaldo Valdez as Rico (the husband), Anita Linda, Carmi Martin, Tony Mabesa, K Brosas, Gabe Mercado, Minnie Aguilar, Nor Domingo and Clarence Delgado.

According to promo diva Josie Pereyra of JSP Ads & Promo, The Mistress will hit movie houses nationwide on Wednesday, Sept. 12.

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Somewhere in Basak, Mandaue City, specifically at the Insular Square edifice, a place for dining and relaxation has been gathering crowds nightly especially on weekends.

Tonyo’s Bar and Restaurant features local entertainers (last weekend’s was the Green Sausages) and accommodates requests for songs to be performed and those in the audience who want to jam with the performers.

Manila-based Cebuano singer Jimmy Marquez and writer-host Jude Bacalso were among those who went onstage and delighted the crowd with their performances.