Bobby Joseph at the entrance of Wine Museum and Hotel.

For a long time now, they haven’t been producing or doing pre- and post-production works for movies but there was a time when the Josephs were one of the most active in making films in the country. Their films were even released internationally.

This was recalled by Robert “Bobby” Joseph during an intimate lunch (to celebrate with us though belatedly his recent birth anniversary) at his and brother Ralph’s Wine Museum and Hotel along Tramo in Pasay City, the first ever concept hotel in the country. His recollection was precipitated by the just concluded Metro Manila Film Festival, the forerunner of which was the Manila Film Festival which was established by then Manila Mayor Antonio J. Villegas and his uncle Albert Joseph in cooperation with Joseph Estrada’s Mowelfund.

Bobby’s family’s film company called Tamaraw Pictures was established by his grandfather, the late Lazarus Joseph and his brothers and they were involved in moviemaking before and after the war. His grandfather brought over to the country the first De Vry equipment for the “talkies.” They were producing movies till 1975. In the 1960’s, they were the No. 1 film processor in the country. At age 50, Bobby’s father Robert, Sr. stopped producing. “He retired because he wanted to go high-tech but his brothers didn’t want to go with this idea of his,” he said.

“My grandmother who belonged to the Carvajal clan was also in show business. Sila naman nag-umpisa sa vaudeville,” Bobby, who is the Honorary Consul of Latvia in the Philippines, remembered. He was very young then, but he noted with interest and awes his family’s involvement in filmmaking and show business.

In college (at Letran where he finished a course in Economics), Bobby incorporated all his observations and his family’s experiences and involvement in filmmaking in his thesis entitled “The Economics of the Philippine Movie Industry.”

With his good looks, he could have also become an actor himself but his father didn’t allow him. “When I was young, I appeared as extra in some movies and that was all,” Bobby chuckled. But later, when he was 24 or 25, he had a stint as dancer in “Dancetime Happenings” on Channel 7, together with The Aldeguer Sisters and even Vicki Belo, would you believe? “I used to dance the Cha-Cha and Latin dances,” Bobby said. He also danced at Wherelse? Discotheque of Hotel InterContinental.

Philippines, No. 3 film producer in the world

In the ’70s, Bobby recalled that the Philippines was the No. 3 largest film producer in the world, churning no less than 120 a year. India was the No. 1, with its annual film production of 370 and the US was only then No. 2, at 240 films a year. There was a time when the Philippines was making about 200 movies a year. But in the ’80s the decline of filmmaking in the country started. Bobby noted sadly, that with the current condition in the local movie industry today, it couldn’t even produce more than 50 films annually.

Tamaraw Pictures’ films

Among the movies produced by Tamaraw Pictures included “No One is An Island” which starred Jeffrey Hunter with our very own Barbara Perez. There was a kissing scene between them, Bobby said but it was deleted when the movie was shown in the Philippines. The other films that Tamaraw Pictures made were “Bus to Bataan,” which starred Ronald Remy among others, “Kahariang Bato” starring Og Ramos and Alicia Vergel, and “Kuhlai Khan.” The film company also co-produced with foreign producers some Vietnam and Korean war movies.

Tamaraw did pre and post-production works for Junar Productions, owned by the late action actor Jun Aristorenas. “Nardong Putik,” one of Ramon Revilla’s most successful films, was also processed at Tamaraw studios.

At that time, the Joseph brothers had under their management 26 movie theaters in Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Angeles, La Union and Dagupan among other locations.

But after the war, fire razed Tamaraw studios and “we lost everything,” Bobby lamented. The Josephs and the Rufinos were good friends and neighbors and the former helped the latter put up their own movie theaters (about 15 to 20) which the Josephs managed for them.

Cancer survivor

Bobby, former sales manager of Korean Airlines (we met him during that time and because of him, my family was able to travel to the US on highly discounted fares) is a cancer survivor. He has been battling the Big C for the last three years but he has not allowed himself to sulk and feel despondent. Instead, he remained active in tourism and travel activities, even becoming the president and now chair emeritus of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITA). Another pet project of his is Tourism Educators and Movers Travel Cooperative of the Philippines (TEAM).

Bobby is also involved with the League of Tourism Students of the Philippines (LTSP), the Travel Market Exchange (TRAMEX) and the Philippine International Tourism Fair (PITF).

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‘American Idol’ kicks off Wednesday on Q Channel 11!

From the pigeonhole:

“American Idol,” the biggest talent show on the planet, is back! Airing locally on Q Channel 11, Season 9 of “American Idol” kicks off with a two-part premiere Wednesday and Thursday, at 6 p.m.

Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, “American Idol’s,” Season 9 promises to be the most star-studded season ever with stars like Victoria Beckham, Katy Perry, Mary J. Blige, Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, Joe Jonas, Neil Patrick Harris, and Kristin Chenoweth appearing as guest judges during the audition period.

And then, Emmy awardee and recent People’s Choice Award winner Ellen Degeneres joins “American Idol” as one of the judges this season. She gets to sit alongside Idol judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Kara DioGuardi.

The audition episodes, which feature some of the funniest and most memorable Idol tryouts across the USA, begin on Wednesday, Jan. 13 with the Boston auditions held at the Gillette Stadium. The following day, Jan. 14, Idol will feature the Atlanta auditions held at the Georgia Dome.

Other audition venues include Cowboys Stadium, Dallas; Rose Bowl, Los Angeles; United Center, Chicago; and Amway Arena, Orlando. As expected, thousands lined up – some even braved the unpredictable weather and some way too colorful fellow Idol hopefuls – for the chance to become the next “American Idol.”

Set to return this season is “Idol Gives Back,” “American Idol’s” concert-cum-fundraiser that features some of the biggest stars in Hollywood.

How will Ellen affect the dynamics among the Idol judges? Will another Pinoy emerge among the Idol hopefuls? Who will stand up to acerbic judge Simon?

Catch “American Idol” Season 9’s two-part premiere as it airs Wednesday night at 6 (with same day replay at 8 p.m.) and Jan.14, 6 p.m. (with same day replay at 8 p.m.) – via satellite – only on Q Channel 11!

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Tidbits: Happy birthday greetings on Jan. 13 go to film and record producer Orly Ilacad, Roni Tapia-Merk, Elsa Payumo, Baby Tamano, Peachy Sacasas-Alimurung, Odon Sabarre, Dingdong Eduque of Route 70, Cindy Santiago, Becky Priscilla, Prof. Veronica Caparas, Dean Vicencio R. Jose, Melinda L. Almazan, Dory Katigbak, Nicolas “Nico” Arnault-Teotico, Krizelle Pastores, Rikki Von Jimenez, Michael Bello, Ulan Sarmiento III and MB’s photog Ramon I. Samson. Congratulations to Gerard Rejano and Almira Elorde who tied the knot recently at Malate Church. Reception was held at Palacio de Maynila. Gerard is the eldest son of Robert and Aida Rejano.