What Alex and Toni Gonzaga want to change in each other

Alex (left) and Toni Gonzaga

Pinoy Christmas is not complete without the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). After the lull due to the pandemic, cinemas are finally open again. So MMFF 2021 heralds the return of fans trooping to the cinemas.

The horror-comedy film, “ExorSIS” is one of the entries this year. Coproduced by Viva Films and TinCan Productions, it is topbilled by Toni Gonzaga, Melai Cantiveros and Alex Gonzaga and directed by Fifth Solomon.

The movie, which opens on Dec. 25, will tickle your funny bone, tug at your heartstrings and send shivers down your spine all at the same time.

Here are quotes from Toni (T) and Alex (A):T:

Our movie is not too scary, so kids can watch it. When a scene is about to get creepy, that’s when we inject the funny parts. The adrenaline rush that horror films brings makes it click.

A: We hope there will be an MMFF parade because there was none last year. Although we might have to wear name tags while we are on the float because, with masks on, the fans will hardly recognize us.

T: What I want to change in Alex is her “Armalite mouth.” Sometimes, she blurts out things that are better left private. Her mouth needs a filter and MTRCB monitoring.

A: I want Ate Toni to be less stiff, to be more open. She’s such an introvert. She needs to loosen up so people will understand her more.

T: My production is called TinCan. Tin is short for my name, Celestine. It’s my way of affirming that I can do it. It was my husband Paul (Soriano) who egged me to venture into production so I will learn more, not just on cam, but also off cam.

A: We all got creeped out when Ate Toni played a prank on the set. She pretended to faint. We called for an ambulance, and we were really going to take her to the hospital.

T: Alex and I refuse to be pressured that our film must be the top-grosser in the festival. We just look back at the days when we used to line up in Santa Lucia Mall to watch MMFF movies. Now, we’re just too happy to be part of it, so there’s no room for pressure.

Hollywood scribe writing PH story

Francis Lara Ho of Inspire Studios sent me this message: It’s official! A-list Hollywood screenwriter John Fusco is writing our “Palawan Last Man Out” (PLMO) screenplay. The Lord’s hands are upon us and granted us favor with Fusco. He was captivated by the powerful story and told me there are few materials that need to be in the right hands—and PLMO is one of them. He said that it’s his calling to write this screenplay.

The film is about the Palawan massacre in 1944, where only 11 men survived. The incident sparked some of the famous “Prisoners of War” rescues in history, like the raid in Cabanatuan as depicted in the movie, “The Great Raid” (TGR).

Indeed, Hollywood and Pinoy actors were part of its cast. PLMO and TGR are proof that Filipinos’ Hollywood dream is not impossible, après tout.

Beatrice Gomez’s impressive Miss U feat

Beatrice Luigi Gomez did not exactly lose in the Miss Universe 2021 pageant. In fact, she almost won. The Cebuana lesbian’s Top 5 finish is a celebration of LGBT pride. Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu, who bagged the crown, has a striking resemblance to our candidate last year, Rabiya Mateo.

Even Miss Universe 1999 first runner-up Miriam Quiambao thought so. “Rabiya and Harnaaz have the same lips,” she pointed out. “But their eyes are different. Aside from being stunning, what made Harnaaz win is how she answered eloquently.” Viva la ganda India y Filipina.

Vina ready to ‘reactivate’ love life

My “sis” Vina Morales and I were ribbing each other about reactivating our love life. In jest, I told her, “Ang ganda natin, walang nakikinabang.” She shot back, “‘Di ba pwedeng ‘gandang may inaabangan?’”

This ‘Eva’ is ‘unapologetically sexual’

For the members of “Samahan ng Malalamig ang Pasko,” let the erotic-drama movie, “Eva” (streaming on Vivamax on Dec. 24), turn the heat up. Directed by Jeffrey Hidalgo, it’s topbilled by Angeli Khang, Sab Aggabao and Marco Gomez.

The film is about the sexual awakening of a housemaid. Her curiosity leads to a ménage à trois with her lady boss and a houseboy. Then, she becomes torn between two sexes. Too hot for words, their bodies will do the talking!

Here are quotes from Angeli (A), Jeffrey (J) and Marco ( M):

J: Our film is unapologetically sexual. Sex is not just a side note. In this day and age, sexual content is no longer taboo. It is based on true accounts of housemaids. “Eva” is a brave erotic movie, and the first in the series, because I intend to explore this genre in my next films.

M: Even if I am “palaban” since I am half-German, I’m gentleman enough to ask my costars about their “dos and don’ts” before we shoot our intimate scenes. I make sure I don’t make them feel violated.

A: I am still shaking off the shy girl in me. But I’m getting the feel of it. I am more all out in this movie than in “Taya” and “Mahjong Nights.”

J: Before they judge my film, they better watch it first. I know it may shock people that I’m into erotic films because they still think of me as a member of my former singing group Smokey Mountain. Through my film, I hope the audience can lust vicariously.

A: As Eva, I got to experience love and lust with a male, a bisexual and a lesbian. Our film will answer sexual questions that some are too embarrassed to ask.