Director Irene Villamor Of 'Meet Me In St. Gallen' Admits She Was Inspired By The 'Before Sunrise/Before Sunset Movies'

 

DIRECTOR IRENE VILLAMOR is one the young female Filipino directors we have today. The most senior among them is Laurice Guillen, followed by Olivia Lamasan and Rory Quintos, then Joyce Bernal, Cathy Molina, Mae Alviar, Ellen Marfil, Veronica Velasco, Antoinette Jadaone and now, Sigrid Andrea Bernardo of the currently showing "Mr. and Mrs. Cruz".

Other indie directors who have made their first movies are Hannah Espia, Marie Jamora, Sari Dalena, Samantha Lee, Connie Macatuno, Pam Miras, Ivy Baldoza, Maribel Legarda, Ida del Mundo. Gina Alajar has directed soaps but has yet to direct a full length film.

Going back to Direk Irene Villamor, she debuted with "Relaks, Lang It's Pag-ibig", an indie film, then followed it up with a mainstream flick with Viva, "Camp Sawi", a hit. And now, she has just finished a new movie, "Meet Me in St. Gallen", that's partly filmed in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Why did she choose St. Gallen to be the setting of her movie's final act?



"They have a quaint Christmas village and it's a charming old town in Northeastern Switzerland na bagay sa story," she says. "We shot there on the second week of last December in the middle of winter kaya sobrang lamig. The story is told in three chapters. The first two, set here in Manila. Yung una, nagkakilala sila sa isang cafe. Next is five years later and yung last chapter, set in St. Gallen, is two years later."

The movie shows the two main characters doing a lof of talking and it's reminiscent of Richard Linklater's "Before Sunrise/Sunset" movies. How different is "St. Gallen" from these movies that have cult following?

"Those great films are my inspiration. I love them all. Ang ikinaiba ng movie ko is this is my own take. As a filmmaker, you want to make your own interpretation and this is mine. May idea ako noon na series of conversations which I wrote down at umabot ng 15 pages. Nasa laptop ko lang siya and it wasn't until Bela Padilla read it and pushed me to pitch it sa Spring Films, na siya namang nagdala nito sa Viva and now, movie na siya. It's about two people, Carlo Aquino as Jesse and Bela Padilla as Celeste, who meet by chance at nagkaroon agad ng unexpected connection. First meeting nila, parehong masama ang takbo ng buhay nila. Then time passed and they're in a better place. They've changed over time and when they see each other again for the third time, they ask themselves: what will we do now from here?"

Now, let's see if "Meet Me in St. Gallen" will be as big a hit at the tills as the past offering of Spring Films, "Kita-Kita". Our personal apprehension is that we already have a surfeit of these two-character "hugot" films lately, like "12", "All About You", "Mr. and Mrs. Cruz". We just hope hindi pa nagsasawa o nauumay ang moviegoers natin with this kind of movie.
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Robin And Rommel Padilla As Very Effective Endorses Of Bravo Food Supplement That Helps Enhance Their Masculinity

ROBIN PADILLA seems like on a winning streak. His movie with Sharon Cuneta, "Unexpectedly Yours", is a blockbuster and his two current shows, "Pilipinas Got Talent" and "Sana Dalawa ang Puso", are both rating well. Now, he has just renewed his contract for a masculinity enhancement product, Bravo Food Supplement, along with his Kuya Rommel.

They were launched as Bravo ambassadors last year at Black Mamba and their re-launch was also held in the same venue last Tuesday. How effective are Robin and Rommel as Bravo endorsers? "Very effective," says Bravo product manager Gil Caoile. "After one year in the market, we're now one of the leading brands compared to others na ten years na sa market. Robin and Rommel are real Bravo men!"

Is Robin really using the product? How active is his sex life? "Kung puede, twice a day," says Robin. "Nagba-budget pa ko niyan, ha. Dati, puede ko kahit all night long. E, ngayon kasi, 48 na ako."

Does he and wife Mariel intend to come up with another baby soon? "Naku, wag muna. Noong buntis siya sa baby naming si Isabella, diyeta ako kay Mariel, e. Ngayon lang ako nakakabawi uli tapos susundan agad, so huwag muna. Si Mariel ang magdedesisyon kung kelan niya gusto uli."

How about Rommel? "Naku, mas active pa sa'kin ang sex life niyan," says Robin.

"Kung kaya ng daily, gagawin ko," says Rommel. "But now na 53 na ako, every other day na lang."

Is Bravo really effective for them? "Sobrang effective," says Robin. "Noong una, ginawa kong daily ang pag-inom, grabe ang epekto sa'kin. Pati baras, niroromansa ko na. Dapat kasi, once every three days lang ang inom. Ganun siya ka-effective kaya mas economical din kasi 90 pesos lang siya, good for three days ang epekto. Yung iba, P150 ang presyo, araw-araw mo pang iinumin. Ito, it raises your testosterone levels kaya itinitindig nito ang ating pagkalalaki para paligayahin ang ating mga mahal. Dahil dito, mapapasigaw sila ng Bravo! At mas magi-improve rin ang relationship nyo bilang mag-asawa. Ang maganda rito, all natural herbs. Nothing synthetic."
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Beloved Kapuso Maryo J. Delos Reyes Passes Away At 65

GMA Network deeply mourns the passing of one of the country's beloved entertainment pillars, television and movie director Maryo J. Delos Reyes. The award-winning Kapuso director died Saturday (Jan. 27) after succumbing to a heart attack in Dipolog City.

In his fulfilling 65 years of life, he created a body of work — including films, dramas and comedies, adaptations and remakes — that changed the landscape of the Philippine movie and television industry. The ace filmmaker directed ground-breaking and blockbuster movies such as "High School Circa '65", "Schoolgirls", "Annie Batungbakal", "Hindi Mo Ako Kayang Tapakan", "Saan Darating ang Umaga", "Sinungaling Mong Puso", "Bongga Ka 'Day,", "Totoo Ba Ang Tsismis", "Kaya Kong Abutin Ang Langit", "Sa Ngalan Ng Pag-ibig", "Tagos ng Dugo", "Pepe en Pilar", "My Other Woman", "Kapag Napagod Ang Puso", "Diosa" and "Bamboo Flowers." He also directed the iconic youth-oriented film "Bagets" in 1984 and the Nora Aunor-starrer "Naglalayag" in 2004.
One of his best works is the inspirational film "Magnifico" in 2003, which won the Crystal Bear in the 2004 Berlin Film Festival Children's Category and Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk Grand Prix for Best Feature Film in the same festival. It also garnered major recognitions in the FAMAS, Gawad Urian, Golden Screen Awards and FAP Awards in the Philippines.

For the small screen, he has helmed numerous soap operas in GMA 7 including "Someone To Watch Over Me", "Pari Ko'y", "Niño", "Magkano Ba Ang Pag-ibig", "Pahiram Ng Sandali", "Little Star", "Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak", "Biritera", "Munting Heredera", "Magdusa Ka", "Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin?", among others.

The noted filmmaker was a former seminarian who began his movie career in the 1970s. He studied Communication at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City and has won accolades here and abroad.

Apart from being a brilliant director, he has been a mentor to various actors in the industry and a catalyst in shaping their careers. He was a consultant for GMA Artist Center and was deeply involved in its Talent Development program. Rest well in our LORD's bosom, Director Maryo J. de los Reyes. We will all miss you as you're one of the the friendliest directors in town, with excellent PR. Let's all pray for the repose of his soul. And our condolences to the loved ones he left behind.



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