Philippine showbiz 2009 : Politics and drama top them all

The drama that unfolded at a Senate hearing between cosmetologist Dr. Hayden Kho and actress Katrina Halili as well as celebrities filing candidacies for public office topped this year’s showbiz news.

Entertainment critics were one in saying that it was a good year, a bad year. a happy year, sad year but with a happy ending for the showbiz industry in 2009.

As Philippine Star movie columnist Ricky Lo puts it: it is complete with all the ingredients: Action, drama, tragedy, excitement, suspense, fantasy, surprises and — you’re right — sex, lies and videotapes.

In the middle of 2009, sizzling videotapes “starring” Dr. Kho and, among others, Halili and Maricar Reyes turned all of us into insatiable voyeurs.

Dermatologist Dr. Vicki Belo accused Halili of “stealing” her boyfriend Kho and Halili in turn accused Kho of having filmed their bedroom mazurka with neither her knowledge nor permission.

Reyes wisely opted to remain tight-lipped up to now. Charges were filed against Hayden whose license was revoked by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC).

Towards the end of the year, Kho was reported to have tried anew to commit suicide but his lawyer denied it.

The suspension of ABS-CBN’s Wowowee host Willie Revillame showed a video of the remains of former President Cory Aquino last August being transferred from La Salle Greenhills in Mandaluyong City to the Manila Cathedral was inserted into the telecast of Wowowee, catching host Revillame unaware and startled.

He protested on air for the “rude intrusion,” and he was right in saying that it didn’t look good for such a solemn “insert” while the studio audience was cheering the contestants of the Willie of Fortune segment. ABS-CBN didn’t have a choice but to suspend him.

In politics, led by former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada who is running for again president, several other showbiz personalities and relatives of entertainers are threw their hats into the 2010 political ring.

Among those who have also filed their certificates of candidacy (CoCs) were: Sen. Manny Villar (whose grandmother is former LVN actress Evelyn Villar) for president; Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino for president; television host Edu Manzano for vice president (as Gibo Teodoro’s running mate); Sen. Loren Legarda (as Manny Villar’s running mate);

Newscaster Jay Sonza for vice president; Sen. Mar Roxas for vice president (Noynoy’s running mate); Sen. Jinggoy Estrada for reelection; Sen. Bong Revilla for reelection; Sen. Lito Lapid for reelection; former Sen. Tito Sotto again for senator; former Sen. Ralph Recto again for senator; Imelda Papin for senator;

Amay Bisaya for senator; newscaster Alex Tinsay for senator; newscaster Rey Langit for senator; Anthony Castelo for senator; Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte for congressman (fourth district of Quezon City); Laguna Congressman Dan Fernandez for reelection; Congressman Anton Lagdameo (husband of Dawn Zulueta) of the second district of Davao del Norte for reelection;

Gina Vera-Perez de Venecia for congresswoman (fourth district of Pangasinan); Lani Mercado for congresswoman (of the lone district of Bacoor, Cavite); San Juan City Mayor JV Ejercito for congressman; Makati City Councilor Rico J. Puno for congressman;

Richard Gomez for congressman (in Leyte); Manny Pacquiao for congressman (in Sarangani); newscaster Maki Pulido for congresswoman (first district of Pangasinan); Jestoni Alarcon for congressman (second district of Antipolo); Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos for reelection;

Rizal Gov. Junjun Ynares (husband of Andeng Bautista of the Revilla clan) for reelection; Cesar Montano for governor of Bohol; Rommel Padilla for vice governor of Nueva Ecija; Bacoor (Cavite) Mayor Stryke Revilla for reelection;

Former Parañaque Mayor Joey Marquez again for mayor of the same city; Guia Gomez for mayor of San Juan City; Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista for Q.C. Mayor; Joy Belmonte for Vice Mayor of Quezon City;

Anjo Yllana for vice mayor of Parañaque City; former Caloocan City Mayor Rey Malonzo for vice mayor of the same city; Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno for reelection; Quezon City Councilor Aiko Melendez for vice mayor of Q.C.;

Ara Mina, Ricky Davao, Roderick Paulate, Alfred Vargas, Ogie Diaz, Jigo Garcia and Arnell Ignacio for councilor of Q.C.; Caloocan City Councilor Marjorie Barretto for reelection; and Manila Councilor Edward Maceda (son of Marichu and Ernie Maceda) for reelection.

The death of Francis Magalona moved fans to tears last on March 6, 2009. The country also mourned for the passing of the Rap Icon after a year-long brave battle with leukemia.

Instead of saying “Rest In Peace,” the priest in a homily gently reminded FrancisM to “Rap In Peace.”

Others who have “crossed the bar” included the well-loved Douglas Quijano, Sampaguita legendary actress Paraluman (Sigrid von Giese in real life), Berting Labra (Mickey Rooney of the Philippines),

Espiridion Laxa, Johnny Delgado (the versatile bida-kontrabida), Bernard Bonnin (of Alyas Palos fame), Tita Muñoz and Yaya Luring (the Mega-Babysitter of Megastar Sharon Cuneta).

The Judy Ann Santos- Ryan Agoncillo exchanging “I do’s” at a “very private wedding” at a church in a Batangas town, the same place where Ryan’s parents got married also shook the showbiz industry.

The wedding of Sen. Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez was crowd drawer. Other marchers down the aisle: Klaudia Koronel and her non-showbiz boyfriend, Angelika dela Cruz and her non-showbiz boyfriend (the couple already has a months-old child), Michelle van Eimeren and Mark Murro (in Australia), and Alma Moreno and a mayor of a Mindanao city.

Showbiz personalities were not spared from the wrath of Typhoon “Ondoy”. Stranded, shivering and hungry with her mom and a little nephew at the roof of their house in Provident Village in Marikina City was Cristine Reyes.

She unwittingly became the Poster Girl for Ondoy victims that also left virtually homeless K Brosas, Jean Garcia and daughter Jennica, Gladys Reyes and a dozen others whose beautiful houses were submerged in floodwaters, including Carmina Villarroel and Zoren Legaspi, Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto, Lindsay Custodio, Chokoleit, Edgar Mortiz and wife Millette Santos, Willie Nepomuceno and Pilita Corrales.

Independent filmmakers like Brillante Mendoza also shared the limelight.

Nearly three decades after the likes of Lino Brocka and Mike de Leon paved the way for Filipino movies to Cannes, Mendoza did it with Kinatay, the second film (after Serbis) he entered in the world’s most prestigious film festival.

Kinatay also won Best Picture at the Sitges Filmfest in Spain while Dante’s other film, Lola, won Best Film in the recent Dubai International Film Festival.

Other international winners: Pepe Diokno whose first film Engkwentro won the Orizzonti & Lion of the Future Award at the Venice International Film Festival;

Alvin Yapan, Best Digital Film at the Cairo International Film Festival for Ang Panggagahasa Kay Fe; Ralston Jover, Special Mention at the Thessaloniki & Vancouver Filmfest for Bakal Boys;

Raya Martin, the Grand Prize and NETPAC for Independencia at the Bangkok Filmfest; Sherad Anthony Sanchez, Special Mention for Imburnal at the Bangkok Filmfest;

Milo Sogueco, Silver Prize New Cinema and Bronze Grand Prix du Public Audience Award for Sanglaan at the Lyon Filmfest in France; Gina Pareño, Best Supporting Actress for Serbis at the Asian Film Awards;

Francis Xavier Pasion, Best Feature Film at Asian Hot Shot Berlin Film Festival for Jay; Lou Veloso, Best Actor for Sanglaan at the Brussels Independent International Film Festival;

And Mike Sandejas, Grand Prix Special Competition at the International Deaf Cinema Section for Dinig Sana Kita. (Report filed by Funfare’s Toronto-based “International Correspondent” Ferdinand Lapuz). (PNA)