‘While we are pretending that we are in a relationship, I realize I’m really falling for her and I feel it’s really destiny that we met at the wedding. — JC Santos’
JC SANTOS is glad to reunite with Bela Padilla in “Wish You Were the One.”
“I’m always excited to work with Bela,” he says. “All our movies before are dramas na hindi kami nagkatuluyan. Now, for the first time, we’re doing a romantic comedy, very light compared to the ones we’ve done before.”
He says he has special rapport with Bela. They’ve become so close he made her the godmother of his daughter, River Altheia. “Our friendship is the kind na we can rant and be very honest with each other. We also give advice sa isa’t isa. We can confide kung may maganda kaming hindi pinagdaraanan.”
In “Wish You Were the One,” he plays Ellis, a landscape artist. He is reserved and quiet while his girlfriend, Franki Russel as Zoe, is an outgoing extrovert. Eventually, they part ways after JC proposed marriage and Franki rejected his proposal. When he is about to meet Franki again, he asks Bela to pretend to be his new girlfriend. “While we are pretending that we are in a relationship, I realize I’m really falling for her and I feel it’s really destiny that we met at the wedding. I felt that she feels the same way about me and that’s why the movie’s title is ‘Wish You Were the One’.”
In this movie, they are directed for the first time by Derrick Cabrido and we ask him how is it directing JC and Bela who have made several drama movies together. “I really welcomed the chance to work with them at pareho silang napakagaan katrabaho. Sobrang kalog sila kaya masaya kami sa set and I really appreciate that they’re both very collaborative.”
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Stephanie Raz has played support to her sisters Angela Morena and Micaella Raz who have both given launching films ahead of her. Now, she plays the lead role in the erotic drama, “Kahalili,” that starts streaming on Vivamax on August 18.
Of course, comparisons with her sisters and with the reigning Vivamax queens, Angeli Khang and Azi Acosta, cannot be helped. Does she feel pressured on how she would fare when compared to them?
“Siempre po, may pressure, but more than that, grateful po ako na after playing many supporting roles, nabigyan na ako ng solo movie ni Boss Vic,” she says. “Basta ako po, I don’t want to be compared with anyone. All I can say is that I did my best in this movie at kayo na po ang humusga.”
In the movie, she is supported by more experienced actors like the award-winning Sid Lucero, as the man who impregnates her, and Mercedes Cabral as her older sister who tries to be protective of her. How is it working with them?
“Nung una, kinakabahan ako kasi mas matagal na sila sa industry. But it turns out, ang babait nila. I really asked help from them and they were willing to help. Talagang sinuportahan nila ako. They guided me sa mga eksena namin together. I learned a lot from them, pati on how to deliver ang mga linya ko more effectively.”
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Robert Arevalo was introduced by People’s Premiere Productions in 1960 in the movie “Huwag Mo Akong Limutin,” a movie directed by his uncle, National Artist Gerry de Leon. It was controversial as the local censors then tried to ban it due to its theme of infidelity and some steamy scenes. Robert then did “Noli Me Tamgere” and “El Filibusterismo,” again with his Uncle Gerry, and he did two memorable films with National Artist Eddie Romero, “N.B.I.”
(which was inspired by the huge success of “FBI Story” starring James Stewart) and the omnibus romantic comedy, “Magtago Ka Na, Binata.”
He also did action-dramas released abroad like “Flight to Fury,” “Cordillera,” and “The Ravagers.” In 1965, he did “Daigdig ng mga Api,” with his wife Barbara Perez, directed by Gerry de Leon. It won so many major awards at the FAMAS, including best actor and best actress for himself and his wife.
Another socially relevant film he did is “Sakada” with Rosa Rosal in 1976 and in 1977, he went into directing in “Hubad na Bayani,” about a peasant revolt. It won best picture in the Urian Awards. When his showbiz assignments lessened, he accepted an executive position with a big advertising agency. In 1968, Associated Broadcasting Company, owned by the top newspaper that time, The Manila Times, got him to be the station manager of their TV station in Pasong Tamo, Makati, Channel 5.
This was where we got to work with him. We were head of the Film Programming-Traffic Department when he got in and we attended a lot of company meetings together. We even had a team building activity in a hotel in Pagsanjan where we got to discuss the most popular book at that time, “The Godfather” by Mario Puzo. Our work in Channel 5 ended when martial law was declared in 1972 and The Manila Times and all their companies were closed down by the Marcoses for being critical of the administration. Let’s all pray for the repose of his soul. Our deepest condolences to Barbara Perez and their children.
