P50-M budget for ‘Pacquiao the Movie’ which opens today
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Finally, the long wait is over! Fans of the People’s Champion, Manny Pacquiao, who’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of his movie, aptly titled "Pacquiao the Movie," will certainly be trooping to moviehouses nationwide today for the opening of their idol’s biopic.
In time for the opening of his movie, Manny arrived yesterday morning from the US where he trained for his forthcoming fight with Oscar Larrios.
Starring Jericho Rosales in the title role, with Bea Alonzo playing Jinky Pacquiao, "Pacquiao the Movie" is megged by multiawarded director Joel Lamangan and co-produced by FLT Films International and Star Cinema. Manny Pacquiao is also co-producer, we were told.
She used to be one of the more active film producers of the land, but Mrs. Rose Flaminiano, executive producer of FLT Films, got herself into another lucrative business endeavor - real estate - the past three years or so. And she became successful in it (building subdivisions in Tarlac, and soon in Bulacan and Pampanga near Clark) that she thought she wouldn’t be producing movies anymore.
But then she stumbled into a film project that she just couldn’t ignore, the Manny Pacquiao movie. It was as early as 1997 when the idea of filming the life story of Manny Pacquiao was suggested to her by the boxer himself. But at that time Pacquiao hasn’t yet attained a stature truly worth reckoning with. A few years later, Mommy Rose’strip to Las Vegas coincided with the Pacquiao-Marquez fight and Mommy Rose was enticed to watch the bout. It was a draw, but it was enough to excite her about the idea of doing a biopic on the boxer.
In 2005, In one rare moment that she switched on the TV set, Mommy Rose said she watched Manny Pacquiao’s fight with Eric Morales and even if Pacquiao lost that fight, the lady producer became so interested in him she thought his life story could really be a great movie material.
She asked her people to look for Pacquiao and when they met in a hotel, Manny’s first question was, "Mag-aartista na ba ako Mommy?" but Mommy Rose said, "hindi muna." She signed a three-movie deal with Manny, the first of which is "Pacquiao the Movie." Mommy Rose, impressed by the boxer’s humility and "kabaitan," became an instant Pacquiao fan and she even went to Las Vegas to watch his second bout with Erik Morales. Her deal with Pacman was for their three-picture contract to push through, "win or lose siya kay Morales."
"Pacquiao the Movie," made to the tune of P50-million, will tell the boxer’s life story, his childhood days (with award-winning actor Jiro Manio as the young Manny Pacquiao), his struggles as a teenager and as a young man, and what he had done for the country’s honor and glory. "Pacquiao the Movie" is actually the first of three biofilms of the world boxing champ that FLT Films International will be producing.
Mommy Rose said she feels very lucky to have been the one to produce Manny Pacquiao’s biopic, because many have expressed their all-out support, among them San Miguel Corp. whose products the boxer is now endorsing, reportedly in exchange for a P100-M talent fee.
"For the second biofilm, Manny will be starring as himself, and the third will team him up with Vic Sotto, in something like ‘Pacman Meets Enteng Kabisote, " Mommy Rose announced at a presscon for the movie held at South Harbor, onboard SuperFerry 12.
By the way, some scenes for "Pacquiao the Movie" was shot onboard SuperFerry, one of the major sponsors of the movie, while en route to General Santos City, the boxer’s hometown. Early in his career as a boxer, Manny always took SuperFerry in going to GenSan, which is one of the leading shipping company’s major ports.
Aside from GenSan, SuperFerry calls other major ports like Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Caticlan among others. SuperFerry also has an ongoing travel promo called "Mega Tipid Tipid," where tickets are available up to 50% off the original price.
With Jericho during shooting at SuperFerry were Jiro Manio who plays the young Pacquiao, Gloria Sevilla and some young talents of ABS-CBN.
It was Jiro’s first time to sail onboard a passenger ship like SuperFerry. "I’m happy that I got this chance to sail onboard SuperFerry. The people are really friendly and I love the view of the sea," he said.
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GMA 7 will never get Snooky as talent again?
Reports reaching us say a GMA 7 top executive has vowed never to hire Snooky (as talent for any of their shows) again. This is a result of Snooky’s "unprofessionalism" on the set of the network’s newest top-rater "Captain Barbell,"
Tobilled by Richard Gutierrez, and where she was supposed to play a very good role. She’s now out of the series.
For coming late (so what else is new with Snooky? our source said), Snooky caused the delay in the taping of "Captain Barbell" one time and even Richard Gomez (Snooky’s ex, our source reminded us) was reportely irked. At the presscon of the series, Snooky did not show up when everyone thought she was only coming late.
Anyway, Snooky’s manager Annabelle Rama, is also reportedly fed up with her, enough for her to say "surrender na ako." Like she’s putting up not only her two hands, but her two feet as well.
But we learned that Snooky has a managerial contract with Annabelle till 2007. Before Annabelle, the former awarded child actress was under the management of Leo Dominguez.
Incidentally, we heard that Snooky’s daughters with Ricardo Cepeda are now back to their father’s care. We were also told that Snooky’s own mom Mila Ocampo, her brother, and aunt Eden, are also staying with her former husband. Snooky’s new husband, Nino Mendoza, is a band member.
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Broadway Centrum livens up place with its Celebrity Lounge
Broadway Centrum now has its own Stars Plaza and Celebrity Lounge which have liven up the place and its environ since its opening a few months ago. Broadway Centrum is where GMA 7’s longest-running and top-rating daily musical-variety "Eat Bulaga" is being telecast.
The Stars Plaza, with its open-air ambience, is attractive especially to the yuppies who go for a live band ambience, and contemporary menu of Chinese and seafood dishes and other mouth-watering delicacies, including roast offerings. The Stars Plaza opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 2 a.m. (from Monday to Sunday).
The ambience of Broadway’s Celebrity Lounge (which is open from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. and located at the second floor), on the other hand, is rather subdued - with dim lights and huge comfortable couches that are perfect for those who seek rest, relaxation and good music. It is here where popular lounge singers from various piano bars across the metro perform from Monday to Saturday.
The line-up of Celebrity Lounge performers for June is as follows: Milet Abrenica ("Open Mic Session"), Mondays; Myla Galang, Tuesdays; Lily Gonzales, Wednesdays; Suzy Unas, Thursdays; Janice Cagara, Fridays; and Anne Lachica, Saturdays. In-house pianist is Bobbet Bernadas, Jr.
Both venues are also open for special events (tels.721-2111/722-2793). Broadway Centrum is located along Doña Juana Rodriguez Ave. corner Aurora Blvd., Quezon City.
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