Talk of the town is Benhur Abalos, and today he's gotten the nod of the executives of Regal Entertainment and several entertainment industry heads at Valencia in Quezon City.
The event was hosted by Roselle Monteverde, Keith Monteverde, Dondon Monteverde and was witnessed by Boots Anson Roa Rodrigo, Direk Perci Intalan, actors Phoebe Walker, and Nico Antonio.
Ms. Roselle Monteverde says "More than the industry, the help we need is for the country. He is tested, done a lot, I believe we need a person like him. I hope people think hard of who could help us in our need."
Benhur Abalos says "I started at #35 in surveys and slowly went up, I was a bit disheartened, but I believed in myself. Now is the crucial week, and in the last few days I got endorsements from Senator Drilon, VP Leni Robredo, Vice Ganda, several organizations and entities. SWS reported yesterday I got 6 percent increase and within striking distance. Seeing friends in the film industry, even during MMFF and during COVID, we were doing hard work in producing movies. What we've done before, we will make it a reality. I am very methodical, but we got our city to become a Tiger City and have had several awards not just here but internationally. Dear friends, whatever happens, I will do my best and leave it up to the Lord!"
He adds "I was surprised because Vice doesn't endorse easy, but at this point, I'd like to thank her and the many celebrities who helped make that. It caught a lot of attention, and it really means a lot. I'm a bit emotional, my journey has been challenging and in the last 2 days, they willingly helped and endorsed me. It's like my birthday happening again, thank you really. Our electricity didn't have tax in the past, now our other utilities prices have increased, and on record I will try to remove this. We are the second highest rate in Asia. I also plan to help in agriculture, it's a long process, I am saying this because I don't want to see fertile land become subdivisions. I'm saying this in front of cameras now. The rate of electricity is certainly high, and also we can help with the local government code. The barangay roads, their funding can only afford pay for their personnel. It is my track record that is different, I see people say it's the educational system. When I was Mayor, we saw malnourished kids in our city. If you have the best teachers, it doesn't address hunger. We started working from taking care of women while they are pregnant, supported food programs later on, and it now resulted with us getting the highest marks compared to other cities. It stopped growth stunting. Countrymen, a Senator makes laws, not just in one or more industries but for the whole country. We need a lot of policies to be fixed."
Here's more from the press conference this morning:
I was so excited to meet Ms. Sharon Cuneta again after a long while and also her husband Senator Kiko Pangilinan who's gunning for a senate seat this coming week. This press conference was a show of support for the lovely couple courtesy of the REGAL Entertainment Inc. family as it always has been a staunch supporter for the good man ever since Mother Lily Monterverde was around. Now, they have Ms. Roselle Monteverde and Keith Monteverde at the helm, and they're not stopping to support his bid and will continue to do so because he is a good man.
While this was an event for a celebration and connection, it was obvious that some things were affecting them in the trail because some unscrupulous individuals find it funny to discredit the good man with memes as they don't have any issues to throw at him. He's neither corrupt nor accused of it, obviously invent memes to ridicule him and his good work.
Senator Kiko Pangilinan says "When we were alone, when I ran independent, she called us and told us she will help (referring to Mother Lily Monteverde). She's alive in our hearts. We are struggling to get to the top 12, statistically tied with other 8 candidates, a tight race. Maybe the difference would be hundred thousand and every vote matters. We have been bashed and trolled hard, demeaning and insulting us, hopefully this would help answer those in disinformation. We go back to the message, our advocacy is food security, for our farmers, and prevent high prices. Hunger is prevalent, since the lock down, thousands of people lost their jobs. Poverty has been high and people have been suffering, we have to run because of that. There was a time that 1000 pesos or 500 pesos would get you a lot in the market. The lowest inflation was 2015 during Aquino's time where I was DAR secretary. Addressing rice supply is the answer, and we could do it again. We need to focus on solutions and not on misinformation. We need your help to correct this. We hope we are able to solidify it with the truth. Thank you to the Monteverde family for the support."
Ms. Sharon Cuneta says "Walking into Valencia felt like she was still here, for them to continue this is very touching. In the Philippines, no matter what your intentions are, you lose to fake news and budget, some people believe memes, and we have proof that these are lies. Being his wife and mother to his daughters and son, I feel it. I am blessed to have a husband like him, he gives everything to us. He thinks of our children. He has passed 200+ laws, whether he eats on a pot cover it was because the carabao milk would spill if it's in a regular plate. He has a ton of achievements, a lawyer, a husband and very god fearing. He wants to serve the people but some people ridicule him, my husband is sincere, we know how to share and he wants to do something in over 2 decades. I hope they research and believe in data, not with unscrupulous vloggers who can't prove anything, why do we not focus on agriculture? We should take care of farmers and fishermen, they're already old, we can't import all the time and pay for high priced commodities. The basics we need, that's what he is fighting for."
Ms. Sharon adds "We could have just had a business and not do this, but ever since he was young, Kiko had a heart to serve. My father was a Mayor, and I grew up during his term which is why I never liked politics. Sometimes, no matter how good your intentions are, and no matter how giving your heart is, you get defeated by fake news, and budgets that other politicians use that we don't have. All we have is just the result of our hard work, and all the lies spread by these folks, we have receipts debunking them. There's no truth to a lot of these things, and our pride comes from our decency. We were raised right by our parents. I prayed to meet a husband like him. God gave me a person who wouldn't hurt me, and become a good father to my kids. Kiko doesn't have a lot, but everything he has, he gives to us. This is also his heart for the country, we didn't enrich ourselves by venturing into politics in over 2 decades. To be 59 and still work, we do this for our children, it comes from honest work."
She adds "He has respect for farmers and fisher folk so much, he sees the disparity of earning between the market, the middlemen and them. The average age is increasing at 57, and their children wouldn't like to take the jobs. That would mean people would import everything. I don't understand the proliferation of fake news, he did a great job during his term as DAR Secretary. The things he tackles are the most important. It's very easy to research the truth."
Sir Kiko Pangilinan adds "I believe that we can win a fair fight without stealing from the coffers of the government. Let's try to win what is right. Our people will be our source of inspiration, our volunteers will be our source of strength, they will be the ones to give us the urge to fight until we cross that finish line. They will be the ones who will win this for us. I'm so happy what people have been doing for us recently, they help me tremendously. Yes I have got word that a lot of people who support us, the ones we got to help in provinces. We went house to house. Anthony and Maricel is in Mindanao, they were with us in Gensan. They went to Davao and going around several cities. Gary will be in Cebu, Angeli is here with us. Papa P (Piolo Pascual) will be in Cebu. My brothers are in Cavite, Paranaque, Manaoag, and my sisters too. This was how my father also raised us, families help each other. That's why this happened. Donny was also in Gensan, Belle will hopefully be too soon but she's very busy. Vice Ganda has already shown support, Pooh, Pokwang, Pinky Amador, Jed Madela, Rita Avila, Iza Calzado (who was there at Valencia too), Darren Espanto, Enchong Dee, Robbie Domingo, Jona, Parokya ni Edgar, Rivermaya, Ben and Ben also and they will be talking to me in a podcast today, and I would like to thank them all because a lot of them fear persecution, to be bashed and trolled, and I thank them for their courage. Also, Ogie and Regine, Anne Curtis, Janine Gutierrez, Maja Salvador, Bituin Escalante, Nadine Lustre also, it's not a joke, they really have courage. We have to be strong to those who are weak, we have to fight for those who cannot fight. With them on board, I thank each one of them for the support."
Here's the press conference in full:
This is a chance to make the changes we need in the country. You and I know what to do.
Thank you to Ms. Roselle Monteverde, Sir Keith Monteverde, and Ms. Sharon for taking time to meet us!
Regal Entertainment's scary movie offering "UNTOLD" was just given an advanced screening and scream party at the SM City North Edsa's THE BLOCK. It was witnessed by Regal Entertainment head honchos Keith Monteverde and Roselle Monteverde. While Jodi Sta. Maria is out of the country filming an international project, actresses Sarah Edwards and Kaori Oinuma attended the screening to say hi to lucky students, fans and media covering the event.
Jodi plays Vivian Vera, a reporter/anchor for a TV station. The film was easy to absorb at first, but it is a psycho thriller, full of jump scares and g0re. It was also very claustrophobic because much of the entities come from different directions. This is also about PTSD, mental health, and family.
Keith and Roselle Monteverde, Regal Entertainment Inc. is personally working on this film
This seems like a huge experiment for Jodi, and the film is full of things that would make you question realities. You get scared for a while then end up being in a flashback, or immerse in a supposed alter reality then see it being true. You also won't be able to invest too much on characters because one minute they're goody two shoes, the next day they're going to the underworld. Her involvement with all of them is consistent though, which again, made this story line cerebral, it makes you think and question every time what is true, what is happening now, and what's not.
The entertainment value certainly is enough for a Jodi Sta Maria film, and if you doubt her capability to scare, I've seen several people in my row screaming at times. Much of the content is psychologically heavy, and you'll feel the struggle on why the characters are doing what they are doing, even after the "afterlife". The narrative is stressful, so make sure you are ready for this horror film because by any standards, Jodi did justice with hear character. You'll also love some not so serious things that JK brings, which gives relief despite the heavy plot.
Director Derrick Cabrido may have had a field day doing this with an actress that is capable of playing complex personalities. She did phenomenal, and the script certainly has been researched well. If you are practicing witchcraft (not that I'm insinuating you are), you'll also be seeing a lot of clues why we say that. This is another layer that you should discover when you watch it on theaters on April 30.
