Yes, human organs are being sold and this is a reality in our midst and especially among the poor. This is the core of the story of a movie co-directed by Neal Tan and Rosanna Roces. The movie is entitled “Baklas.”

The story reminds us how people from marginalized families could easily resort to desperate means when confronted with urgent needs especially financial. “Baklas” could be the first of its kind in that it tells of an organized crime syndicate preying on the poor (in one of Manila’s most depressed areas, Baseco in Tondo) and catering to the wealthy local and foreign clientele. The story revolves around a poor couple played by Ms. Rosanna Roces and award-winning actor Roi Vinzon and their physically handicapped daughter (portrayed convincingly and impressively by Vei Vera a.k.a. Kuhdet Honasan).

Roi, as Lando, is an ex-convict (released from prison after 20 years) who couldn’t resist the lure of money from the human organ syndicate. Lando tracks down his wife Loleng (played by Rosanna Roces) and their daughter Dada in Tambacan area where Loleng sells street stuffs like grilled pork internal organs for a measly daily income. Lando finds out his daughter has some kind of mental retardation, an epileptic and also suffering from an internal disease. So in the ensuing series of events, he is trapped in a situation where he has to put his life on the line just to save his daughter. First, he has to sell his blood, next his tooth, then kidney for Dada’s hospitalization, and finally his right eye for Dada’s operation.

Known as a no-nonsense action star, Roi does an all-out dramatic role in “Baklas.” But actually, he started out in the drama genre but his action roles made better impact among audiences. When “Baklas” was offered to him, he said, “why not? Gusto ko rin masubukan gumawa ng indie movie.”

The supporting actors and actresses in the movie – Liza Lorena as Magda, a friend of Loleng who takes care of Dada; Jao Mapa as Teban who sells his kidney for his covetous live-in partner Beatrice (Melissa Mendez); Madame Auring as Igna, a frustrated singer who coerced her husband Kanor (Roldan Aquino) to sell his kidney in exchange for a videoke; Aiza Marquez; Led Sobripena III as Joana, a small-time beautician who sells his kidney for the man he loves; Benjie Felipe, entertainment columnist, who plays a pedicab driver “na patapon ang buhay” who also gets to sell an organ but who finally realized that what he did was wrong; and Isabel Lopez, as Ursula, a kidney broker who exploits innocent individuals – play roles that “intricately dissect the ills of society reeling under the grind of poverty as typified in a third world country like the Philippines where vicious politics and the culture of corruption derail the advancement in the life of the poor.”

“Baklas” definitely has social relevance with moral lessons that may inspire right-minded citizens to help in the fight against this form of crime that preys on the poor. The insensitivity of the authorities in arresting the problem despite ample laws designed to put a stop to this illegal activity is exposed in the movie.

“Baklas,” the initial production of Roland Sanchez Productions, also features Tiya Pusit, Raymond Cabral, Whitney Tysin, Tita Swarding, Maricar Madrid, Pia Moran, Tim Espinosa, Ina Alegre, Betong, Jimmy Concepcion, Danny Labra, Jess Sanchez, Dennis Isla, Ivy Batulajar, Lucas Leonardo, Emilio Malvar, Jack Gamboa, Nico Labra, Emil Cristobal, Eddie Tuazon, Rain Javier, Eric Rapido, Adrian Asor, and Joey Sarmiento.

Watch for “Baklas,” a must-see movie!

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A refreshing moment with Maja Salvador

“Sobrang nag-enjoy ako sa shooting namin... ang daming magagandang places sa Maynila. Sa totoo lang, kahit saan kami magpunta, talagang love na love ng tao ang RC Cola!” The fresh and bubbly young actress, Maja Salvador, had this to say during the making of the television commercial of RC Cola where she is the lead endorser.

Images of Maja enjoying the sights of Manila while enjoying a bottle of RC Cola is accompanied by the Itchy Worms hit song “Penge Naman Ako Niyan.” In the said commercial, Maja is just herself, a regular teenager who shares a common love with other teenagers – the love for RC Cola.

“Nung pumasok ang RC Cola, sobrang tuwa ko kasi ang daming nagandahan nung nakita nila yung commercial. Kaya ang dami ring projects at iba pang TV commercials na pumasok. (When the RC Cola commercial came in, a lot of people was impressed; it’s also when other projects and TV commercials started pouring in for me.)”

Maja points out that she really prefers RC Cola because it is practical and tastes just right.

“Ang RC kasi praktikal lang, eh. Hindi siya mahal. Pag ininom mo siya, solb ka na,” she says. “Isa pa, for just 5 pesos, OK ka na, kumpleto na araw mo,” she says, adding that bottled water often costs more. “To be honest, nakatikim na rin ako ng ibang brands – sobrang tapang, sobrang tamis. Itong RC, light lang, tamang tama ang timpla.”

Although it is the newest entrant in the soft drinks industry, RC Cola quickly became a favorite because it is perfectly suited for the Filipino taste buds. Maja, in fact, avers that whenever she feels sleepy during tapings, she’d usually ask for RC Cola instead of coffee to keep her energy.

Maja is easy to please. When not doing a commercial or a movie, she is the type who would rather go to the mall or play bowling with her family instead of hitting the bar. In fact, it is her simplicity, sincerity, and genuine love for family that makes her the perfect celebrity endorser for RC Cola.

“We specifically chose Maja because she is simple, down to earth, fun-loving at madaling pakisamahan – very much like our product,” confirms Rizza Alfonso, Senior Marketing Services Manager of Asiawide Refreshments Corp. (ARC), the licensed bottler of RC Cola in the Philippines.

“Maja is very charming, napaka approachable niya and she has no pretentions. Napaka-refreshing ng kanyang simplicity.” RC Cola is for people who prefer simple pleasures, and Maja fits the bill perfectly.

Maja, on the other hand, considers herself very lucky to have been chosen as the endorser of RC Cola and that such a well-known brand would put their trust in her.

“Sweet ang RC, sweet din ako,” she added in jest when asked why she thinks she was chosen. And she also has her own formula for success: “Respect yourself and give importance to whatever opportunity comes to your life.”

She says, “Pag may napuntang bagay o mahalagang pangyayari sa’yong buhay, bigyan mo siya ng importansya at tuluyan mo itong pahalagahan para hindi siya mawala.”

Unknown to many, Maja was discovered by ABS-CBN executives by accident when she appeared on a nationwide TV show while reuniting with her long-lost father, Ross Rival. That reconciliation was actually the first step that led Maja to go on and pursue the world of showbiz.

Since then, Maja’s popularity has soared so high that she has become one of the most sought-after faces to grace glossy magazine covers and billboards today. A regular cast of “May Bukas Pa,” and “ASAP” on TV, she is seen to follow in the footsteps of Ms. Hilda Koronel as she headlines a remake of “Nagsimula sa Puso,” a telerserye that’s set to air this October. She is also among the cast of “Shake, Rattle & Roll,” one of the entries in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

Maja has endorsed more than a dozen brands, appeared in numerous TV commercials and billboard ads since 2003. Aside from RC Cola, other key brands mostly catering to the teen market also regard her as a highly effective celebrity endorser.

Today, as further proof of her growing popularity, Maja admits that whenever she goes around in malls, airports and restaurants, many people would smile at her and say, “Maja, penge naman ako ng RC!” – obviously referring to the jingle in the commercial.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Sept. 19 go to Rep. Peping Cojuangco, Impy Pilapil, Josie Darang, Nap Gutierrez, Maoui David, Atty. Vicenty Foz, Lydia C. de Guzman, Danny Vibas, Atty. Nelson Lidua, Public Atty’s Bauang, Dr. Nilo Apale-Company Physician of Nat’l Steel Corp., Dennis Herruela of Stratworks and MB’s Marilou B. Laderas.