"Panday” is a tribute to the late Fernando Poe Jr., Sen. Bong Revilla who plays the lead star, Flavio, stressed with pride during a recent press conference held at Annabel’s Morato. “Alay natin ito sa tunay na ‘Panday,’ na si FPJ, ang hari ng pelikulang Pilipino. Walang makakatapat sa kanya bilang Panday kaya naman pinagbuti namin ito para sa kanya.”

He is very grateful to the creator of “Panday,” National Artist Carlo J. Caparas, who he said let them use the franchise without any payment whatsoever. “Hindi niya kami siningil, ibinigay niya na libre.”

Besides his father, former Sen. Ramon Revilla, and his ninong, Fernando Poe Jr., Sen. Bong also looks up to National Artist/Komiks King Carlo J. Caparas as his idol.

“Carlo actually paved the way for me to showbiz,” said Bong who topbills “Ang Panday” which GMA Films and the Revilla-owned Imus Productions are co-producing for the 2009 Metro Manila Film Fest, directed by Mac Alejandre.

It was 1984 when Carlo directed Bong in his movie “debut” as an adult star (since he started acting when he was a kid in films produced by Imus). The film was “Dugong Buhay,” also written by Carlo, in which Bong starred with the older Revilla.

“I was a greenhorn then and Carlo, along with my father, gave me all the encouragement,” added Bong.

Produced by Viva Films, “Dugong Buhay” was followed by “Sa Dibdib ng Sierra Madre,” also written and directed by Carlo, the same movie that led to the meeting of Bong and Lani Mercado, his leading lady who eventually became his wife.

“Kaya memorable sa amin ni Lani ang movie na ‘yan.” Then came “Pieta 2,” produced by Amazaldy Pictures, again written and directed by Carlo (the first “Pieta” starred the late Ace Vergel; it was later adapted as a tele-series starring Ryan Agoncillo by ABS-CBN).

It’s Bong’s second time to play Panday which he said was “entrusted” to him by his Ninong FPJ, the first to portray the legendary Carlo J. Caparas komiks creation.

Like “Ang Panday” circa 2009, the first “Panday” movie was not directed by Carlo who was preoccupied with other projects at that time.

Nevertheless, the Bong-Carlo tandem is an explosive one, predicted to create another box-office history in the 2009 Metro Manila Film Fest.

It’s on record that the first four “Panday,” movies, all starring FPJ and directed by Carlo, were Metro Manila  Film Festival top-grossers for four consecutive years from 1981 to 1984. Like Carlo, FPJ was a National Artist. That formidable feat stands as a record to date, unsurpassed and unchallenged.

When no “Panday” movie was in competition the following year, just the same it was a Carlo J. Caparas movie that finished first, Seiko Films’ “And God Saved Me” which starred Christopher de Leon and child actress Katrina Gonzales.

“After FPJ,” said Carlo, “nobody but Bong perfectly fits Panday’s shoes. I’m sure that wherever he is, FPJ is resting assured that Bong will beautifully carry on the ‘Panday’ legacy.”

Among Bong’s co-stars in “Ang Panday” are Iza Calzado, Geoff Eigenmann, Bobby Andrews, Rhian Ramos, Buboy Villar, Anne Curtis (in a “special appearance”) and Phillip Salvador in a landmark role as villain to Panday.

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Plum awards for Annie Brazil, Eddie Katindig

Congratulations are in order for Asia’s Queen of Jazz Annie Brazil and awarded saxophonist Eddie Katindig for receiving the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York Fil-Am Jazz Festival which marked its debut in New York last Dec. 11, 2009. It indeed was a night of celebration and victory for the awardees.

Annie Brazil, the Grand Dame of Pinoy Jazz, started singing at six and for more than six decades, her voice brought her to exciting places she never dreamed of seeing and was able to perform with big names in the jazz genre like Duke Ellington, Ellis Marsalis and Lionel Hampton. For Annie, music is her priority next to her family. She never gave up Jazz for any type of music. According to her, many people are still interested in this genre and there is always a place for jazz even if pop has become the more popular choice.

Annie received the “City Jazz Hall of Fame” award by the Philippine New Age and Jazz Music Society in 1989 and at the 20th Aliw Awards, she bagged Hall of Fame award. She enjoys singing and jazz music is her life. Her eldest son, Richard Merk, sang with her mother in the event and joined his sister Rachel Anne Wolfe who witnessed their mother in her glorious moment in receiving a most coveted award.

Annie Brazil certainly is an inspiration to younger generation of aspiring jazz singers.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Dec. 20, go to Ricky Alegre, Maybelene dela Cruz, Lebanon-based Jim Greene, Cathy Nazareno, Neneng David, Marilu Syjuco, Nora Alafriz, Teresita Gonzalez, Tinette Buenaseda, Rosie Biting of Lipa City, Evelyn Difunturom, Arcadio “Boy” Relenas, Toffi Relenas and Tim Espinosa. Happy wedding anniversary to Jun and Betty Ventura of California; and Brian Keith Strange and Wai Angeles dela Cruz. Belated b-day greeting to Efren Cruz (Dec. 19). Condolence to Mario Dumaual of ABS-CBN on the death of his mother Estefania Velasquez Dumaual. Her remains lie at Funenaria Paz in Sucat, Parañaque.