Video 48

Monday, October 15, 2007

BERNARD "ALYAS PALOS" BONNIN: ACTION STAR OF THE 60s

Even before Hollywood’s "Spiderman" came into Filipino consciousness, the pinoy folks way back the early 60’s were already swooning over their screen superheroes, the likes of Gagamba, Captain Karate, and of course, Palos. But what makes the three characters so distinguishable is the fact that they were portrayed by just one actor—the dashing six-foot nino bonito of the silver screen, Bernard Bonnin.

Unlike other successful film franchise like Darna, Dyesebel and Captain Barbel that have seen several remakes but were portrayed by different movie stars, Palos was played only by Bernard Bonnin, not once, not twice, but an astounding eight times starting with "Alyas Palos" in 1961.
"When you talk about Bernard Bonnin, you remember Palos," said the man who put the word Palos in the Tagalog lexicon. "Alyas Palos" made Bernard Bonnin a household name. He (Palos) is similar to James Bond, a mercenary with an excellent skill in opening state-of-the art vaults. He defined my showbiz career. Because of Palos, the ‘pretty boy’ became an action star."

Bernard was introduced in his very first movie, "Ay Pepita" starring Nenita Javier and Mario Montenegro. "There was no role for me but they rewrote the script and included me as Nenita’s brother. My partner was Milagros Naval," he said.

However, good looks alone couldn’t ensure long-time success. Thanks to his background as a school athlete, he was ready for the next big step in his film outing. "I think Palos was my ninth movie," Bernard said. "I did it after "Jimmy Boy," an action film. Donya Sisang probably saw my potential as an action star and she assigned me to do Alyas Palos." The rest is, of course, history.

Aside from Palos, Bernard also immortalized the Gagamba character. "I made four movies based on Gagamba. Before Spiderman came out, meron na akong "Bakas ng Gagamba." It was directed by Virgilio Redondo." Soon, Bernard was the toast of movies that celebrated superheroes. And always, his athletic agility came to good use. For example, in doing "Captain Karate," he went through a rigorous karate training.

Bernard Bonnin: Pinoy Pretty Boy of the 60s

By Gypsy Baldovino

See Bernard Bonnin: Alyas Gagamba

Alyas Palos (1961)

Carioca (1963)

Ang Mga Lawin (1963)

Dakpin si Pedro Navaro! (1963)

Dapit-Hapon: Oras ng Pagtutuus (1963)

Kilabot Maghiganti (1963)

Lihim ni Gagamba (1963)

Ikaw Ngayon Ako Bukas (1963)

Tagisan ng Agimat (1965)

Batas ng .45 (1965)

HiJack (1966)

La Sombra [Ang Anino] (1966)

Sandalyas ni Zafira (1965)

Philcag in Vietnam (1967)

Sunday, October 14, 2007

ROBERT JAWORSKI: TIMEOUT ON THE "BIG J"

Known as The Big J and called The Living Legend during his playing days, Robert Jaworski was a former playing coach—the first ever in the PBA—for Ginebra San Miguel. In 2000 he was honored as one of the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players of all time. He was also the 1978 PBA Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was elected senator in 1998 but lost in his reelection bid in 2004.

I always been a Jaworski fan, from his college days in UE (his closest rival then was Danilo Florencio,a great forward of UST), then suited up for YCO, Meralco in the amateur league - MICAA days and with Toyota, Anejo and Ginebra in the PBA. His high level of intensity, ruggedness in the court and his never-say -die attitude endeared him more to his fans. Its either you love him or hate him. The introduction of professional league or PBA in 1975 ushered in the fierce rivalry of Crispa Redmanizers and Toyota Tamaraws. It's Adornado, Cezar, Guidaben, Co and Fabiosa of Crispa against Fernandez, Arnaiz, Jaworski, King and Tuadles for Toyota.

But besides sports and politics, did you know that Jaworski also entered showbiz via "Fando," a FPJ starrer in 1970 and later doing comedy sitcom in television.

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He starred in two more movies under FPJ Productions, 'Bugoy' and 'Dimasupil Brothers', both released in the early 1970s. Note that 'Bugoy' was directed by a certain D'lanor (D'lanor is Ronald spells backward, the real name of FPJ- Ronald Alan Poe)

Another trivia: Playing for Meralco, in the amateur MICAA league, Jaworski and his teammate Alberto "Big Boy" Reynoso were given a lifetime ban for punching referee Joe Obias during a league game by the BAP (Basketball Association of the Philippines). After a year, the sanction was lifted, Jaworski and Reynoso returned to the hardcourt playing for the Komatsu Comets in the same league. Both Jaworski and Reynoso starred in the movie, 'Dimasupil Brothers,' with another basketball superstar Freddie Webb.

Friday, October 12, 2007

THE "IMMORTAL" SONG OF "ANG DAIGDIG KO'Y IKAW"

ANG DAIGDIG KO’Y IKAW

Music by Tony Maiquez

Lyrics by Levi Celerio

Wala nang ibang ligaya pa sa buhay

Ang daigdig ko’y ikaw kailan pa man

Sana’y iyong dinggin

Ang daigdig ko’y ikaw

Buhay kong madilim

Ikaw lang ang ilaw

Nuong una pa ay aking nabatid

Na ang sulyap mo ay mayroong pagibig

Habang naninimdim lalung nagmamahal

Ang puso kong baliw

Ang langit ay ikaw

Wala nang ibang ligaya pa sa buhay

Ang daigdig ko’y ikaw kailan pa man

Huwag magtataka ang daigdig ko’y ikaw

At kung lilimot ka ako’y mamamatay

Wala nang ibang ligaya pa sa buhay

Ang daigdig ko’y ikaw kailan pa man

Flashback to 1964

Dealing what the local movie world later termed as a real “coup” and what the movie beat reporters pinned down as a “scoop,” Ronnie successfully made the first bid for Susan’s initial services as a freelancer. He did it by making a good offer, one of which was an astounding salary hike. The considerably measly fee per picture she formerly received from her home studio (Sampaguita Pictures) was multiplied by several times when Susan starred in FPJ’s “Ang Daigdig Ko’y Ikaw.”

From: Screen Stardom/ 1964

Susan played the role of a heiress who ran away from her father who wanted her to marry someone she didn't like (similar to the storyline of 1934 classic "It Happened One Night"). She jumped off from a yatch where she was being detained, and swam nearby.

She was able to hide at the rear of Ronnie's delivery truck while Ronnie and his two buddies, Pablo (Virtuoso) and Dencio (Padilla) were busy doing some repairs on their always troublesome truck. Her presence was finally discovered and their (mis)adventures began.

Troubles began to pop up now and then when they were being pursued by Susan's father henchmen. This was aggravated more of the truck's mechanical troubles.

Ronnie found out her real identity.

FPJ BILANG ISANG "DAKILANG" EXTRA

The young Poe, only 16 years old, had dropped out of second year high (the farthest he got in school) to work as messenger for a film exchange at php18 a week. Some friends of his at Everlasting Studio thought of him during a scene where a knife had to hit a leaf on a tree. Knives are usually wired for such scenes; but Ronnie was called in when the director heard he could hit the target with an unwired knife. He did---and got treated to a beer blowout by the crew. Markmanship and horsemanship were what really got him into the movies. Those childhood summers in Baguio when he rode the ponies on Burnham Park, all the riding lessons he ever had, stood him in good stead when he turned movie "double." It started when lead star Lilia Dizon, who was doing Simaron (1956) with co-star Johnny Monteiro, sprained an ankle and couldn't do a riding scene. Asked to do it for her, Ronnie put on a shirt, tied on a bandana, made like a girl on a horse, and exhibited such riding skill. He became a regular stuntman at Everlasting, where he doubled in riding and other action scenes.

From the article "Batang Taquilla"
by Quijano de Manila (or Nick Joaquin)

FPJ BILANG ISANG "CONTRAVIDA"

Did you know that FPJ did a movie where he played a villain to lead star, Zaldy Zshornack in the 1957 Gerry de Leon's "Kamay ni Cain." Under De Leon's direction, he was able to improve his craft. His performance on that movie earned him a Famas award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The award, of course, went to veteran actor Eddie Garcia for his convincing role in "Taga sa Bato."

Eddie Garcia's "Taga Sa Bato" (1957)

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

MGA ANINONG GUMAGALAW, ALIW NG TAHANAN, etal

How we wish that our old, classic Filipino movies are still in our midst for us to watch, see and appreciate them. As a kid in the 60s I was able to watch these old tagalog films on TV on such shows as Mga Aninong Gumagalaw, Aliw ng Tahanan, Bahaghari, Puting Tabing, to name a few. How we also wish that we can travel thru time and manage to preserve these national treasures. I recalled watching the first Darna starring Rosa del Rosario battling the evil Valentina, the films of Rogelio dela Rosa (Sarung Bangi, Higit sa Lahat), Leopoldo Salcedo, Jose Padilla, Jr. - remember 'Ronquillo' and 'Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo', Ely Ramos (Kamay ni Satanas), Efren Reyes Sr.--- he was great doing those stunts and action scenes in such films as Kapitan Berong, Kapitan Bagwis and how great he was in the first Pedro Penduko movie.

But this is not the case now since most of these films are nowhere to be found--- it may have been destroyed or damaged due to neglect or sheer lack of ignorance.

"BRAVESTARR": A TOY FROM THE 80s

While doing my rounds at Shoppesville, Greenhills, my eyes laid upon a toy (I'm also into toy collecting) that reminded me of a popular animated western series in the 1980s. I told the guy in the counter that I knew that character. Yes, it's Bravestarr, he told me. The price tag was already reasonable at 600. Being a regular customer, we settled for 500. It's a good find and what a great piece of memory from the 80s.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

JOSEPH 'ERAP' ESTRADA - Early Movie Ads 50's and 60s

José Marcelo Ejército was born in Tondo , one of the poorest parts of Manila. Dropping out of college and involvement in a street gang so displeased his family that they forbade him from using his family name. He adopted the surname "Estrada" (Spanish for 'road') as a last name. As an actor he acquired the nickname "Erap" (from the reversed spelling of pare, Filipino slang for 'pal' or 'buddy'). He played the lead role in more than 100 movies, and was producer of over 70 films. He was the first FAMAS Hall of Fame awardee for Best Actor (1981) and also became a Hall of Fame award-winner as a producer (1983). He often played heroes of the downtrodden classes, which gained him the admiration of a lot of the nation's many unschooled and impoverished citizens. This later proved advantageous to his political career.