John Estrada (left) and his wife Priscilla Meirelles
Since I am close to both John Estrada and his wife Priscilla Meirelles, I feel sad that they are going through a rough patch. Out of respect for our friendship, I am not taking sides. When I checked on John, he said, “I am OK, dearie. We are OK. Ayoko nang patulan ang mga ‘yan for now.”
Then, when I messaged Pri, she sent me an emotionally charged reply. As a longtime friend of the couple, I would rather not add fuel to the fire by divulging Pri’s entire message.
All I can share is this message from Priscilla. She said, “Amiga, John and I are not fighting. There is no point in it. It is what it is. But transformation is happening.
“Sometimes, there is a need to shake things up for revival. Actions have consequences. Let’s see how this unfolds. I never enter anything I know I cannot handle. For sure, something good will come out of this by God’s grace.”
Amid the controversy, I suddenly remembered Pri’s funny story about how she mistook John for a stalker when he was wooing her during her reign as Miss Earth in 2004. I also recall how the three of us laughed like crazy when John reenacted the many ways that Pri tried to cure his snoring.
Moments and memories like those ought to remind Pri and John what made them choose each other. For whatever they’ve shared is worth and for the love of their unica hija, Anechka, may they not let this bump on the road end their journey together.
As of press time, I heard from a common friend that John, Pri, Anechka and John’s kids are going to Cebu for a vacation. Hopefully, the change of scenery will work wonders for the couple.
Lorna on working with Bela and Min-gon
Lorna Tolentino
I get my dose of vicarious thrills from K-dramas. Just like the character that Bela Padilla plays in ‘‘Yung Libro sa Napanood Ko,” which Bela also wrote and directed.
The romance-drama is Viva Films’ entry in the Summer Metro Manila Film Festival (from April 8 to 18). It also stars Korean actor Yoo Min-gon (YMG) and Lorna Tolentino (as Mary, the mom of Bela’s character Lisa).
Lisa is an author who’s obsessed with K-dramas. So, when she crosses paths with “oppa” Kim Gun-hoo (played by YMG), her world turns topsy-turvy.
But living la vida Koreana is not all “finger hearts” for Lisa. Her love story with Oppa Kim is as intoxicating as soju and as spicy as kimchi.
Here’s my chat with Ms Lorna T:
Was Bela intimidated to direct you?
Not at all because she has full control of the story. Since she’s also the writer, she has a clear vision. She’s good in production management because she trusts her coworkers.
Is there any difference working with a Korean actor?
None. Both Pinoys and Koreans take their craft seriously. YMG knows that our movie is a big break for him. That’s why in our scenes, ramdam na ramdam ko s’ya.
What’s your takeaway from your role?
To understand the plight of those with mental health issues.
When women are given false hopes
Tiffany Grey
Guys who give women false hopes better brace themselves when they watch “Paupahan” (streaming April 8 on Vivamax). Topbilled by Tiffany Grey, Rob Guinto and Jiad Arroyo, it takes you to a dark place where expectations are not met.
With story and screenplay by Quinn Carrillo, and directed by Louie Ignacio, the erotic thriller might just live in your head rent-free.
Here are quotes from Louie (L), Quinn (Q), Tiffany (T), Rob (R) and Jiad (J):
L: Whether I’m working with veterans or newbies, I treat them equally. For me, there are no big stars, so their stature won’t overwhelm me.
Q: You know the feeling when you check into a hotel and you’re paranoid that there might be a hidden camera. That’s how I came up with the story of our movie.
T: After being nominated as best supporting actress in MMFF (Metro Manila Film Festival) 2022, I feel quite pressured because of people’s expectations. But it also made me level up my acting.
R: Since Jiad is like a bro to me, it felt awkward doing our love scenes. I didn’t talk to him for one day after our shoot because I had to shake off the uneasy feeling.
J: It’s my first lead role, and I can totally relate to the character I portray.
L: Since I’m also a painter, I handle every scene like I’m doing a portrait. I must balance light and shade.
Q: I switched the perspective of voyeurism. Usually, it’s guys who do the peeping, but in our film, it’s the girl who’s the voyeur.
T: If I could be a voyeur like my character in our movie, I want to spy on my crush, Joshua Garcia.