Joel Lamangan was a bit reluctant to accept the offer of FLT Films producer Rose Flaminiano for him to direct the biopic about Pinoy boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, which stars Jericho Rosales.
Joel felt that since boxing is a milieu he isn’t familiar with he might not be able to handle it well. He was into boxing, as a physical education subject in college and his father introduced him to the sport, still directing a movie about boxing would mean treading on unfamiliar ground. Since Mommy Rose (who is bankrolling the production in cooperation with Star Cinema) was insistent, Joel obliged, and thought of it as a challenge.
Indeed it was for Joel who admitted that it was a difficult movie to make, considering the highlights necessary for it to be believable, including a match with Manny Pacquiao and Mexican boxer Eric Morales.
“I had a difficult time mounting the boxing scenes,” says Joel at the press conference for Pacquiao The Movie on Super Ferry 12 docked at the Manila North Harbor. “There were a lot of boxing scenes and it was a challenge for me to do and execute each scene differently.”
Joel was actually fascinated with Pacquiao’s life story when he started doing the project. “He has a very inspiring story that would [sic] appeal to all the Filipinos,” says the movie director.
”The simple folks could easily identify with Pacquiao as he came from humble beginnings [sic]. He sold bread as young boy in the streets of General Santos City. But even then, he had nurtured dreams of becoming a boxer. Then we will see him going for his dream. Out of nowhere he slowly begins his rise to the top, until he becomes the champion that he is right now.”
This is the first time that Joel is directing Jericho in a film. He has nothing but praises for the actor. “I saw how serious he is with his craft. He’s very good in his portrayal of Pacquiao and he delivered. I saw in him the desire to make good in his role, his passion for his work. I won’t be surprised if he gets nominated for his performance.”
The name Joel Lamangan is almost synonymous to The Flor Contemplacion Story, the movie inspired by a real-life incident involving a overseas Filipino worker in Singapore who was sentenced to die after the Singaporean courts found her guilty of killing another Filipino woman working as a domestic helper.
Since the Pacquiao is also a biopic, comparisons are inevitable.
“The story of Flor Contemplacion is about a Filipino who did not succeed in life but suffered while Manny Pacquiao’s is a tale of triumph over adversity. Flor’s story is a tragedy, while Pacquiao’s story is of victory against the odds. These are two different stories but each have [sic] their respective strengths. Manny’s story is very inspiring,” says the award-winning director.
“Somehow I feel that Pacquiao will also be a big and important film like Contemplacion and I hope the film also wins [sic] awards. I feel Jericho will be a strong contender for the awards,” he added.
Joel says that Jericho’s portrayal of Pacquiao will be one reason people will come and watch the movie as they will the actor breathe life to the Pacquiao character. They will see the boxing hero they idolize.
“Jericho’s very consistent with his performance. He’s very consistent with his character, with his accent [Manny talks with an accent]. He’s very sincere with his performance. He’s not acting the role but he is the role.”
Not moving to GMA
At the same press conference, we also had the chance to talk with Bayani Agbayani who was rumored to be moving to GMA-7. Even if this item had already come out in the papers, Bayani says he’s unaware of such rumor. His manager, Tita Angge (a.k.a.Cornelia Lee) declined to comment on the matter.
”It is Tita Angge who decides on matters like this but I don’t know of any negotiation or offer from GMA-7,” says Bayani who is clueless on the issue. He has been with ABS-CBN for 10 years but he hasn’t had a contract with them for the last two to three years. Everything is about mutual trust.
Bayani says he’s not bound by a contract. He’d rather do business with his word of honor at stake and mutual trust with each other as basis for a continuing partnership. And it doesn’t matter, whether it be with his manager or with the network that pays him good money that puts food on his table.
”If indeed there is an offer, then Tita Angge and I will surely discuss that. I am not aware of any offer and my manager hasn’t told me anything,” says Bayani who’s still a mainstay of Okay Fine Whatever.
He begged off from Magandang Umaga Bayan since he couldn’t attend to his other pressing commitments if he’d do a daily show that requires him to be in the studio every day or that requires him to go out of town to tape for his segments.
Another Kapamilya star who is being rumored to be moving on (or should we say going back since she’s an original Kapuso star) is Ai Ai de las Alas who, despite the effects of jetlag, was up and about when she attended the press conference for Kapag Tumibok ang Puso (Not Once But Twice), her first assignment under Imus Productions. The film costars her for the first time with Bong Revilla.
She’s not aware of the rumor. In fact, she has yet to talk to her talent manager Boy Abunda regarding the matter as she had not been aware of showbiz news since she was away for one month.
“I was with Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid in the US. I really can’t say anything because I really don’t know anything about this rumor. I don’t even know how this started.” Ai Ai recalls that when she stepped on GMA-7 studios some months back when she was interviewed by Ricky Lo for Showbiz Stripped, she received a warm welcome from the GMA-7 people. And since GMA-7 executive Wilma Galvante is her kumare, she paid her visit in her office.
Not married, not yet
For the record, Ai Ai says she’s not yet married to her boyfriend Wilfredo Hinahon. Before she left for the United States, she was rumored to have tied the knot with her young boyfriend (who she admits is living in with her and her three kids).
‘‘We were supposed to get married in Calatagan, Batangas but the place is too far. Tapos wala pang aircon sa lugar eh ang gusto ko naka coat and tie si Papa. I wanted to wear a gown but it had to be cancelled kasi walang aircon,” she relates.
Also, she had to finish dubbing her lines in the movie with Bong. Had the wedding pushed through as planned, Ai Ai would be hard-pressed to finish dubbing since she was set to leave for the US for the tour.
She heeded her manager’s advice to take things easy for a while, so she decided to live in with her boyfriend. Ai Ai has tentatively scheduled her wedding with the guy known only as Mr. Hinahon this September or probably in Nov. 11, on her birthday.
Why the rush to get married? “I want to make the right moves. If I want to have a baby, the right thing to do is to get married. I want to get married first before I am going get pregnant. am not getting any younger so if we really want to have a baby, then we should plan it now. But we want to get married first,” says the comedy concert queen.
Is it true that Boy Abunda doesn’t approve of you getting married?
”Actually, pabor siya. When I told him I want to get married, he said it’s okay. In fact, we were supposed to get married in his house. But he changed his mind. Sabi niya mag-live in na lang kami at sa September na lang kami magpakasal,” she says.
