I remembered the first time I saw Judy Ann Santos in person. It was at the yearly Christmas party of ABS-CBN for all their employees. All departments, crew, staff, and actors were invited. May assigned table ang bawat show. Nasa table siyempre ako ng Showbiz Lingo with my fellow staffers and our host Cristy Fermin and Butch Francisco. Nasa bandang likod ang table namin and all of us were eager to find out kung mananalo kami sa raffle.
Mas likod pa ang table nina Judy Ann. She was with her Mara Clara family. Kahit nasa likod ang table nila, ang saya nila.
I remembered meeting Dante Nico “Ga” Garcia in UP years ago. It was during UP Theater Council’s first show entitled Break a Leg. Since nagpi-play na ako sa Dulaang UP that time, they invited me to be a part of that hilarious variety show. May kantahan, sayawan, at skits. May spoof ng “Little Miss Philippines,” at si Dante ang gumanap na Joey de Leon. Hahaha.
I remembered being with Juday and Dante in one big party. It was Juday’s debut sa Volvo showroom on Shaw Boulevard. Nakakatawa ‘yon kasi 19 years old na si mareng Juday that time. Kaya inuman na lang at sayawan ang naganap. Sa dami ng nainom ko, I couldn’t remember kung paano ako nakauwi. Hahaha.
I remembered my show sa Folks Art Theater entitled The Universal Sweet Event. Nag-volunteer si Juday na mag-guest. 30% ng audience, fans niya. I was so touched.
I remembered doing a series of shows with Juday in the US. Niyaya niya ako lagi kumain and she would always ask me kung ok lang ako. Sweet.
I remembered producing Temptation Island live!, including my birthday shows. Si Dante ang nagde-design ng set. Free of charge. I will never forget that.
I remembered watching Ploning sa premiere night nila last Saturday sa Megamall. Nakakaiyak. Ang ganda ng pelikula. Ang galing ng pag-direk ni Dante at ang galing ni Juday. Maryosep!
Sa sobrang na-appreciate ko ang movie, I interviewed the two of them during their cast party, which was held right after the premiere. Inuna ko si direk Dante. Puro numbers ang chikahan namin. Eto ang result in profile form.
Age: 34
Courses in U.P.: 3 (Pharmacy, Clothing Technology, Theater Arts)
Years as Production Designer: 11
Number of Movies as Production Designer: 8
Number of Movies as director:1 (5 months pa lang niya bilang direktor)
Years of friendship with Juday: 17 years (Through Gladys Reyes na ka-org niya sa San Sebastian High School.)
Movies with Juday: 3 (Don’t Give Up, Till There Was You, Ploning)
Juday’s boyfriend since you become her gay bestfriend: 2 (Wowie de Guzman and Ryan Agoncillo)
Total budget of Ploning: 20 million (less promo budget) & Number of Producers: 12 (including Juday)
Location: 1 island (Cuyo, Palawan), 14 locations
Staff and crew: 31
Cast: 21 major and supporting cast, 500 extras
Juday’s costume changes: 20 (including the 11 dresses in the deleted scenes that will be included in theDVD version’s director’s cut)
Shooting days: 36
Negatives used: 55,000 feet
Director of photography: 3 (Charlie Peralta, Marissa Floirendo for the under water scenes, and Ryan Agoncillo ‘pag umaarte si Charlie Peralta as extra)
Number of hours from Manila to Cuyo: 1 hour (plane to Puerto Prinsesa), 50 minutes to Cuyo (plane flies twice a week only), 20- minute jeepney ride to town proper, 5-minute walk to the beach.
Nationwide showing of Ploning: 04-30-2008
Here’s an exclusive behind the scene footage of Ploning that direk Dante edited for this blog…
It’s mareng Juday’s turn. Nagsabi ako ng mga words at nagbigay lang siya ng mga one-liners. Taray!
Ploning: Unbelievable! (Hindi raw siya makapaniwala na pangarap lang ito dati pero nagkatotoo.)
Praning: Promo! (Hindi niya kinakaya ang schedule ng promo niya kasi napapraning daw siya at baka hindi malaman ng lahat na maganda ang pelikula niya.)
Bading: Saya! (Favorite daw niya ang mga kaibigan niyang bading dahil with them, she could be herself. Malaki din daw ang tulong ng mga bading sa kanyang career. She would advise daw her daughter, Yohan, na magkaibigan ng mga bading paglaki.)
Mothering: Disciplinarian (pero minsan daw hindi niya matiis si Yohan ‘pag naglalambing. Wala siyang balak pag-artistahin ang anak niya.)
Marrying: Naman! (Pero hindi daw ito dapat minamadali.)
Loving: Ryan and my family. (She credits love for the inception of Ploning.)
Calling: Ryan and Mommy. (She would call Ryan ‘pag happy at sad siya, pero si Mommy Carol ‘pag happy lang. Ayaw niyang masaktan ang mommy niya.)
Etching: Love team! (sabay laugh ang bida ng Ploning)
Laughing: My Face! (Natatawa daw siya ‘pag nakikita niya ang mukha niya sa Edsa at iba pang products like place mat, but she is very thankful.)
Singing: Platinum! (Oh, yes! May album si Juday na nag-platinum.)
Switching: Pag-iisipan ko. (Her contract with ABS-CBN will expire in May 2009.)
Cooking: Dream. (It’s her dream to become a chef, and she considers it as an alternative to showbiz in the future.)
Acting: Hirap. (Nahirapan daw siya talaga sa role na Ploning.)
Changing: For the better. (She admits that she is becoming wiser and stronger.)
Blessing: People I love, success, happiness. Lahat ito, blessing ni God.
Always remember that true friends are hard to find. Juday and Ga will be among those I will treasure. Sa dami ng naitulong nila sa akin noon at hanggang ngayon, na hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang daang beses, gusto kong bumawi in my own little way. Ploning is one movie na talaga namang pagkaganda-ganda ng pagkakagawa. It made me feel happy after watching it. Malinis at punung-puno ng puso. The movie is a reminder that we should see happiness amidst tragedy and death. ‘Yan ang isa pang bagay that I remebered na common kay Juday at sa character niyang si Ploning. Remember, Ploning is now showing! Rated A, wow!
Uy, remember din please. Tickets for Sweetilicious are now available at all Ticket World outlets. National Bookstore and at the Music Museum or call 8919999.
muka syang maganda tsaka exciting kasi di ba ibang dialect nila dun tas may mega subtitle lang, sosyal! hehehe
NAG OFFER NA SILA KAY JUDAY PERO TINANGGIHAN DIBA.. TAPOS NGAYON SASALITA SALITA NA NAMAN.. TAPOS NGAYON MAY PAISIP ISIP PA SYANG NALALAMAN.. ANG ARTE NYA TALGA NOH.. DAPAT SINAGOT KA NA TALGA NYA NANG YES AFTER MAG EXPIRE NG CONTRACT NYA SA ABS!!! SYEMPRE MATAGAL PA NGA NAMAN YUN, MAGPAPATAAS PA SILA NG TF… MANANG MANA NA TALAGA SYA SA MANAGER NYA… PURO KAARTEHAN NA ANG NALALAMAN!!!!