At the ongoing Cinema One Originals Film Festival, brothers Jun-Jun and Sam Quintana have their respective films in competition. Jun-Jun headlines Bor Ocampo’s Dayang Asu, while younger brother Sam is in Ralston Jover’s Hamog.
Hamog is the second film of Sam. In 2010, Sam, then 11 years old, was introduced in the Joaqui Valdes film Dagim in which Sam immediately made critics take notice of his natural acting skills. Sam scored a nomination for the Breakthrough Acting Performance Award at the 2011 Golden Screen Awards.
After Dagim (interestingly, Dagim’s original working title was Hamog), Sam went back to finish high school. He is now a college freshman at the Colegio de Sta. Teresa de Avila pursuing a course in Tourism Management.
“I fell in love with acting after my experience in Dagim,” Sam shared, “Even in my younger years, I was already very interested at how a film was made and how actors did their jobs. I had a wonderful time with my coactors then, and direk Joaqui guided me every step of the way. He carefully explained to me what he expected of me as the character. Since then, I was quietly hooked on acting.”
Sam continued, “But then, I also realized that education is very important. I’m forever grateful to my brother Jun-Jun, who had to stop school to work as an actor so that my younger siblings and I can go to school. That’s why I really want to finish college. It’s the only way I can repay his sacrifices for our family. My brother inspires me.”
When the opportunity for Sam to go back to acting beckoned, he immediately grabbed it. “I had to audition and I’m happy that I got the role of Tisoy in Hamog. It wasn’t easy to do but I enjoyed working with my coactors.” In Hamog, Sam shares top-billing with teenage actors Teri Malvar and Zaijan Jaranilla.
Sam added that even though he is in school, he would want to find time to act. “I want to be like my brother. The family was so happy when my brother brought home the Urian trophy last year. They say it is the most prestigious local award an actor can get. I hope my time will also come; I also want to win an award in the future. But at the moment, I just want to act and work with good directors and good actors so I could learn more and improve. I also want to be part of a good historical film, like Heneral Luna.”
Nora for Grace, Daniel for Mar
AT the media launch of GMA’s new prime-time series Little Nanay, which debuts tonight after the network’s top-rating remake of Marimar, superstar Nora Aunor revealed that she is supporting Grace Poe in next year’s presidential election.
“’Yung kanyang sinseridad ang una kong napansin nung nagkita kami. ‘Tsaka ’yung wala siyang kaso ng korupsyon hindi tulad ng iba,” she replied when asked what she saw in Grace that made her decide to give her support to the presidential aspirant.
Nora was quick to add that she was not offered to endorse Grace. “Hindi po, wala pong offer mula sa kanya. Bukal po sa loob ko ang pag-suporta sa kanya dahil naniniwala po ako na maaari po siyang maging mahusay at mabuting pangulo.”
Many were surprised that Nora agreed to work on a soap opera. We know that the media giant wants to downplay that the superstar is essentially playing support to the lead star, Kris Bernal, but still, from what we have gathered and gleaned the superstar’s role is nonetheless very substantial.
Knowing the kind of actor that Nora is, she doesn’t really mind that she isn’t doing the leading role in her comeback TV series. She simply wants to work and be visible again on television after working on a slew of movies during the last three years.
Meanwhile, teen superstar Daniel Padilla has been tapped by the Liberal Party to be the first celebrity endorser of presidential aspirant Mar Roxas.
Barry Gutierrez, a spokesperson for the
so-called Daang Matuwid party, explained that Daniel was “recruited” to help boost the image of Mar Roxas with the masses, considering the huge fan base of the teen idol.
He added that getting Daniel would help the bring substance of their campaign to the youth. “We got him to draw people in.”
As the campaign period draws near, we expect more celebrities to come out as endorsers, whether they are paid.
BEA’S BUTTERFLIES
Bea Alonzo admitted that this early, she already feels butterflies in her tummy when talks center on her next movie, A Second Chance.
The movie, a sequel to the 2007 hit movie One More Chance, pairs her anew with John Lloyd Cruz and is targeting a late November release.
Bea told reporters during her contract-signing as Fuji Films official celebrity endorser that she feels very fortunate with the blessings that continue to come her way. A few months ago, her movie with Dawn Zulueta and Richard Gomez, The Love Affair, scored very well at the box office. “And now, I get to endorse an iconic camera brand, too.”
With Bea being the new face of Fuji Films, the brand also launched its latest camera X-A2. “I like taking photos especially when I travel. That’s why I said yes right away when Fuji approached me, because opportunities like this doesn’t come along very often.” n