While the rest of the world is happening, there's this Korean film called PICNIC that's taking the theaters by storm. This is a film directed by Kim Yong-gyun and will be showing today (May 7th) in theaters nationwide.
We were at Gateway Mall last night to cover the premiere night, and the lobbies were filled with JMFyang fans and movie goers who were screaming on top of their lungs when they saw stars on the red carpet. We were able to record the media conference before the screening, so please enjoy!
The film is certainly a tear jerker. It revolves around the characters Eun-Sim played by Na Moon-hee (voice dubbed by Ms. Ces Quesada) and Jun Geum-soon played by Kim Young-ok (voice dubbed by Ms. Nova Villa) and their friend Tae-Ho played by Park Geun-hyung (voice by Kuya Bodjie Pascua). The younger version of Eun-Sim and Tae-Ho was dubbed by Fyang Smith and JM Ibarra.
They are a rowdy bunch despite the number of octogenarians included in the cast, and there's certainly no shortchanging of "landi" if you could say that out loud. Super happy about scenes where they were able to throw shade at each other. It didn't matter if their backs would hurt at each turn, they will tell you a spade is a spade even if it hurts your feelings, even if it means bringing back the past. The conversations were so amusing that when you're about to cry, they'll insert humor in between so you would giggle about the situation. I think this was clearly done that way to make sure it wouldn't be heavy and cerebral.
I super love the banter between Ms. Nova Villa and Ms. Ces Quesada. It was a good decision to provide Filipino dubbing for it as it felt a lot like home. No need to rush reading subtitles to understand the story because it could easily be understood in cinema audio. Should you watch it? DEFINITELY. I bet you'll find the story more apt for the children rather than for the Grandmas or Mothers involved in it. They'll learn a lot about how to go through the intricacies of love for family. It's a gem, and if you find KDramas so good for watching in the corners of your room, go do this in the cinemas because the experience hits certainly different.
Congratulations to CEO Ria Atayde and COO Ms. Sylvia Sanchez who knew right from the start that this would be a good thing to bring in Philippine shores.
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!
It doesn't look good for 19 local candidates as they were given notices to explain for vote buying and abuse of state resources, a very serious allegation.
Comelec Executive Director and Committee on Kontra Bigay lead Teopisto Elnas Jr. recently released these in a one page document that includes Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, former Rep. Romero Quimbo, Denver Chua of Cavite City, Marvin Venus of Baras Rizal, Ruben Talon, Butch Suspene and Zake Derequito of Dumangas, Iloilo, Zarah Rose Lara of Cagayan Province, Allan Martines de Leon and Kristofer Charles Esguerra of Taytay, Erwin Pastrana of Mauban, Quezon, Rhapsody Miguel Riveral of Cuartero, Capiz, Winfred Rivera of party list Kamalayan, Jeren Jude Bacas and Rolen Paulino Jr. of Olongapo, Dan Fernandez of Laguna and Romulo Avila of Quezon Province. Recent statements from Comelec on Thursday also included Isko Moreno and Sam Verzosa of Manila. They also admit on Tuesday how they have been overwhelmed in the Committee on Kontra Bigay as they are still receiving complaints til now for various local posts.
Add to that an anonymous group of public school teachers also filed complaints through Comelec and CSC against the running mayoralty candidate of Marikina Stella Quimbo of which according to their statement has allegedly used AICS funds (Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situation) of the DSWD. They say this is a misuse of government resources even when it's so close to elections (against DepED Memo and election code). They have submitted photo and video evidence to support their claim. Afraid of punishment or harm, they have sent this anonymously. They also included names of DepED personnel, and also stated how some of them were asked to also check ID's and documents to process, and to become recipients of AICS themselves. They asked for government agencies to investigate these allegations right away and didn't state their names for security reasons.
Much of them (politicians) would gladly answer these allegations in the proper forum. They also have said that most of them didn't get a copy of the complaint yet according to recent articles. I hope they (normal folks and public school teachers) also get the help they need without prejudice.
I've asked myself a couple of times, I didn't get to answer why. One, I wasn't quite familiar with the superhero group even if I was a big fan of films from the outfit. But when I heard that THUNDERBOLTS was in SM Cinemas this month, I saw Filipinos lined up like clockwork. This is a film by Marvel Studios, spread by Disney in theaters, and I got more than what I bargained for.
1. Thunderbolts had really good actors. Even though I didn't know most of them, one thing they didn't lack is the ability to convey emotion, Florence Pugh, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, David Harbor, Wyatt Russel and Sebastian Stan all made it easy to digest because characters were believable, funny at times, and easy to relate to. It's like you know them even though you really don't know them.
2. Florence Pugh as Black Widow is different, but I like her take despite of us being a more Scarlett Johansson fan. While new, she took this on like a pro so you'll see her as a bored working assassin from Russia. Trained and gifted as a kid, she becomes her own persona. She doesn't become a hero overnight and this is her movie (even though they're a group).
3. Bucky is back, Sebastian Stan gains a suit and played politics as a day job. By no means that would hamper him from becoming the Winter Soldier that he is. He is still explosive as ever. That iconic arm of him gets clowned by fellow heroes, and this isn't an exception. You'll be reassured though that he's got it all together. He's more matured, and I love it.
4. Lewis Pullman plays Bob. Just Bob. You need to see how he changes. He's extra. But he's just Bob.
5. Director Jake Schreier had a brilliant vision. Executed it well, and doesn't need a forensic scientist that these things are connected. There will be various times you'll see Easter eggs in the middle and end credits scene like what normal Marvel movies do.
6. David Harbor is an absolutely adorable human being. His character might be funny most of the time, but that's where he's going to just chuck you with his ability to pull heartstrings. Then attempt to make you cry, he's going to do a remarkable job in doing it.
7. Wyatt Russel's version of the US Agent is a tiring and frustrating one. He reminds me of a Taco. Watch out for his story.
8. Hannah John Kamen as Ghost wasn't given much of an interesting scene although this counts as her origin of some sort. Maybe she'll be in future MCU scenes where we'll get to see even more of her abilities. Maybe she was too hard to edit in.
9. It ain't a filler, I think it's a necessary prelude to something big.
10. It was able to pull its own weight. It might have mentioned bigger ones but it's a story worthy to be known now. Definitely deserves to be seen in SM Cinemas, because it feels different. It wouldn't really make justice if it's just seen in a computer/phone screen if you want to stream.
NASHIE BOY BONUS
It's also a great movie to watch with friends who equally love the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I met Nash Aguas, his wife Mika Dela Cruz, Nashies Admin Philip, my neighbor Rai and actor Andre Garcia (whom I also haven't seen in a while). Man, I couldn't hug them but I miss them a lot. Nash is different, but still the same humble guy I've met back in the day. So proud of him and his achievements. It was also my first time to see Mika in person, super cute couple. Ugh, this moment made the movie even more special!
