MMFF 2011 official entries announced

The 8 official entries for the 37th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF 2011) happening this December were announced today, June 17, 2011, by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

And just like in MMFF 2010, the "Kings" and "Queens" will still be part of MMFF 2011. I'm talking about Vic Sotto, Bong Revilla, Ai-Ai delas Alas and Kris Aquino.

And the excitement doesn't end up there: husband and wife Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos, whose movies "Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo" and "Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo" were the Festival Topgrosser during MMFF 2006 and MMFF 2007 respectively, are very much back in the festival with "My Househusband".

Expect the toughest box-office battle this MMFF 2011!

Here are the eight(8) MMFF 2011 Official Entries:

"Enteng ng Ina Mo" under Star Cinema / M-Zet Films / APT Entertainment
Cast: Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai delas Alas
Director: Tony Y. Reyes

"Hototay" under Regal Entertainment
Cast: John Lapus, Ruffa Gutierrez, Andi Eigenmann, Lovi Poe, and Melai Cantiveros
Director: Joel Lamangan

"Mr. Wong" under RP Productions
Cast: Robin Padilla and Angelica Panganiban
Directors: Trina Dayrit and Rechie del Carmen

"My Househusband" under OctoArts Films
Cast: Judy Ann Santos, Ryan Agoncillo and Eugene Domingo
Directors: Jose Javier Reyes

"Panday 2" under GMA Films / Imus Productions
Cast: Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr, Phillip Salvador, Marian Rivera and Iza Calzado
Director: Mac Alejandre

"Panday 2" lead stars Bong Revilla as Flavio and Marian Rivera as Arlana with Director Mac Alejandre

"Segunda Mano" under MJM Productions
Cast: Kris Aquino, Dingdong Dantes and Angelica Panganiban

"Shake Rattle & Roll 13" under Regal Entertainment.
Cast: Eugene Domingo, Kathryn Bernardo, Albie Casiño, Maricar Reyes, Paulo Avelino
Directors: Chris Martinez ("Lunod" episode), Richard Somes ("Tamawo" episode), Jerrold Tarog ("Parola" episode)

"Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" under Regal Entertainment
Cast: Dennis Trillo, Heart Evangelista, Carla Abellana and Ritz Azul

***

The three (3) scripts which were submitted but unfortunately didn't make it as an official entry are the following:

"Kimmy Dora N D Temple of Kiyeme" under Spring Films
Cast: Eugene Domingo

"Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story"
Cast: George Estregan Jr aka ER Ejercito, Carla Abellana, Bangs Garcia, Sam Pinto, Paloma, Baron Geisler, Robert Arevalo, Perla Bautista, Joko Diaz and Phillip Salvador
Director: Tikoy Aguiluz

"Love Will Lead You Back" under CineMedia
Cast: Judy Ann Santos, Coco Martin, Maja Salvador and Gina Pareño

The 37th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF 2011) will run from December 25, 2011 to January 7, 2012.

"Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!" Box-Office Gross: P21.89 million in 2 days

Star Cinema and M-Zet co-prod "Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!" has been showing strong in theaters since its opening day last Black Saturday, April 23.

Box Office Mojo tabulation for the period April 20-24 shows that Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak! earned P21.89 million on its first 2 days.

That's quite a huge figure for a 2-day gross, and it's already an indication of a box-office success for the movie.

Probably by now, May 6, the movie, which stars Vic Sotto and Bea Alonzo, is already closer to a hundred million.

Meanwhile, "Catch Me I'm In Love" starring Sarah Geronimo and Gerald Anderson has already wrapped up with a total accumulated gross of P120.21 million after 5 weeks while the Robin Padilla-Mariel Rodriguez movie "Tum: My Pledge of Love" is still struggling in the box-office with only P5.16 million in 3 weeks.

Pia Guanio unfazed by "kiss scandal" with Steve Mago, in lively spirit during Eat Bulaga's Vancouver show

Pia Guanio remains unfazed by the alleged kiss scandal with new boyfriend Steve Mago.

Alleged photo of Pia Guanio kissing new bf Steve Mago

In a PEP interview, Pia said that she really doesn't care about the kissing photos.

[Pia and Steve kissing photos HERE]

True enough 'coz Pia was showing no signs that she's bothered by the scandal during Eat Bulaga's show in Vancouver, Canada last Saturday, April 23.

Pia gamely joined the Eat Bulaga Dabarkads in entertaining our kababayans in Vancouver, Canada as seen in the pictures below. She danced "Fireworks" with Julia Clarete and "Shembot" with the beautiful Paolo Ballesteros. She also performed a "rock en roll" number with the whole Dabarkads and was positioned next to ex-boyfriend Bossing Vic Sotto.

Both Pia and Vic have moved on already since they parted ways. While Pia already has Steve Mago, Bossing Vic reportedly has a beautiful flight stewardess as his new girlfriend and even brought her along in Vancouver, according to a report from Salve Asis of Pilipino Star Ngayon.

Photos courtesty of FashionPulis.com and Mikee Jacinto via Pia Guanio Facebook Page

Pia Guanio on kissing photos scandal with Steve Mago: "I don't really care!"

Pia Guanio is allegedly the woman on kissing photos scandal which was posted on a blog last April 16.

The photos which were taken a day before show a woman kissing a man while inside a restaurant in Greenbelt 3.

[Photos from Fashion PULIS!]

The blog actually didn't name names. It was presented as a blind item and was titled "Spotted Making Out in Greenbelt".

The only clues given were: the woman is a TV personality who recently ended her long-time relationship with another TV personality, while the guy in the kissing photos was described by the blogger as "hot hunk".

Entertainment website Pep.ph picked up that blog item and featured it on their website the next day. The article was titled "Blogsite shots show a "TV personality" kissing a "hot hunk" in a restaurant in Greenbelt 3. Can you guess who it is?"

And the guessing game results??? Pia Guanio and new boyfriend Steve Mago.

Now, Pep.ph has a new article published an hour ago that Pia Guanio has already reacted on the alleged kissing photos scandal while she and the rest of the Eat Bulaga! Dabarkads are in Vancouver, Canada now for a show there.

The great Allan Diones got the chance to interview Pia and she said that she doesn't care about the issue, she has nothing to explain and that she doesn't read those kind of blogs.

Here's what she said about the scandal photos:

"I don't really care because I try to stay away from those things.

"I'm sorry, pero hindi ako nagbabasa ng mga ganung blogs at ng iba pang online sites, so hindi ko pa talaga nakikita yung pictures.

"At saka I don't have naman to explain myself to anyone. I'm answerable only to myself, to my God, and to my bosses.

"My life is an open book, so hindi ako naba-bother sa mga ganung bagay.

"I don't owe anybody an explanation."

The blind item at Fashion PULIS! was posted a day after Pinoy Parazzi reported that Pia Guanio is reportedly getting married to a non-showbiz guy from Alabang named Steve Mago, that's why it wasn't so hard for people to guess who's the guy Pia was kissing with at Greenbelt.

But as early as February, Ethel Ramos of Malaya newspaper already named Steve Mago as Pia's new boyfriend.

Before Steve, Pia had a 7-year-relationship with her Eat Bulaga co-host Vic Sotto.

Bea Alonzo 'Eat Bulaga' guesting (video)

Bea Alonzo guested for the first time on GMA 7's 'Eat Bulaga' last Monday, April 18, 2011.

The Kapamilya actress was there to promote her upcoming film "Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!" with Bossing Vic Sotto, who's a main host of the show.

Also guesting there for the first time to promote for the movie are Kapamilya child stars Zaijian Jaranilla and Xyriel Manabat, as well as homegrown ABS-CBN talent Thou Reyes.

They played in the show's "Pinoy Henyo".

Vic's co-hosts in Eat Bulaga, Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola, are also part of "Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!".

Here's a video of their guesting, just in case you missed it last Monday:


"Eat Bulaga" is produced by TAPE, Inc. and it's only being shown in the Kapuso Network, that's why Kapamilya stars are welcome to do guesting there.

That particular guesting of Bea and co. was also not a "live" one. It was taped last April 13 and was only shown last Apr. 18.

Vic, Wally and Jose in turn have also guested several times on ABS-CBN shows, such as ASAP Rocks, The Buzz and a live interview with Korina Sanchez on TV Patrol.

"Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak" will open in theaters this Saturday, April 23.

Video upload courtesy of PambatoNgBulaga

Black Saturday Holiday, opening of "Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!"

President Noynoy Aquino has declared April 23, 2011 (Black Saturday) as a special non-working holiday.

Dapat lang naman no?

PROCLAMATION NO. 150

DECLARING SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2011, AS A SPECIAL (NON-WORKING) DAY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

WHEREAS, Saturday, April 23, 2011 falls between Good Friday and Easter Sunday;

WHEREAS, Black Saturday, falling between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, has been traditionally declared a special (non-working) day throughout the country;

WHEREAS, the observance of Holy Week is one of our people’s most cherished traditions;

WHEREAS, our people must be given the full and uninterrupted opportunity to ponder on the significance of the Holy Week and to properly observe its traditions with religious fervor, without prejudice to public interest.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare Saturday, April 23, 2011, as a special (non-working) day throughout the country.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seas of the Republic of the Philippines.

Done in the City of Manila, this 18th day of April, in the year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Eleven.

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:

(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA JR.
Executive Secretary

April 23, Black Saturday, also happens to be the opening day of Star Cinema / M-Zet film "Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!" starring 5-time Box-Office King Vic Sotto and 2007 Box-Office Queen Bea Alonzo.

And since it's a holiday, more people will be able to watch the movie, which is expected to do well in the box-office.

But of course, aside from going to the malls, watching a movie, enjoying a grand vacation or going to the beaches, first and foremost, it's important that we pray and repent first on this holiest time of the year.

John Lloyd Cruz dethroned as Box Office King

John Lloyd Cruz's 3-year streak as Box Office King has ended.

John Lloyd held the title beginning in 2007 for the movie "One More Chance", then the next year for "A Very Special Love" and again in 2009 for "You Changed My Life".

And for 2010, he almost retained the title with two box-office hits under Star Cinema: "Miss You Like Crazy" with Bea Alonzo and "My Amnesia Girl" with Toni Gonzaga.

But neither of the two films surpassed the earnings of the MMFF 2010 entries "Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote", which starred Sen. Bong Revilla Jr and Vic Sotto, under GMA-Regal Films and "Ang Tanging Ina Mo Last Na 'To", starred Ai-Ai delas Alas, produced by Star Cinema.

Guillermo Mendoza Scholarship Foundation has officially announced that the Box Office King title for 2010 will be awarded to Sen. Bong and Vic, while the Box Office Queen is Ai-Ai delas Alas.

It goes to show that they already changed the ruling now. Instead of the December 31 cut-off, they used January 7 as the cut-off in determining who will be crowned with the titles.

(I smell politics here.)

December 31 Cut-Off:
1. My Amnesia Girl P144.8M
2. Miss You Like Crazy P143M
3. Si Agimat At Si Enteng Kabisote P123M (estimated amount only)
4. Here Comes the Bride P116M
5. Petrang Kabayo P115.5M
6. Ang Tanging Ina Mo Last Na 'To P109M (estimated amount only)

January 7 Cut-Off:
1. Si Agimat At Si Enteng Kabisote P159M
2. Ang Tanging Ina Mo Last Na 'To P157M
3. My Amnesia Girl P144.8M
4. Miss You Like Crazy P143M
5. Here Comes the Bride P116M
6. Petrang Kabayo P115.4M P115.5M

This news saddens the fans of both John Lloyd and Toni 'coz the movie "My Amnesia Girl" was shown for a month only, from November 24 to December 24, and had to give way to the MMFF 2010 entries which opened on December 25.

"My Amnesia Girl" could have earned more than its final gross if it was extended for 1-2 weeks, just like John Lloyd's previous films which made him a Box Office King.

So maybe next time, if MMFF is coming in a month, don't release a new movie.

With the new ruling, it's most likely that the Box Office King and Queen titles for 2011 and the coming years will go to the stars whose movies were shown for the MMFF.

Shall we expect Ai-Ai, Bong and Vic getting the titles year after year?