MANAY Gina de Venecia (left) with Manay Ichu Maceda (Photo by Vergie Balatico)

Just like the other forms of art, films are a window into the history and culture of a nation. Sadly for the Philippines, all of the films made at the dawn of the 20th century are gone.

“The earliest movies produced in Asia were made in the Philippines but they’re all gone,” said Manay Gina de Venecia, congresswoman and scion of showbiz’s Vera-Perez clan.

Thus her proposal to build a film archive that will serve as a permanent repository of Filipino films. She announced this at a recent gathering, initiated by the members of the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Pelikulang Pilipino (NMPP) led by auteur Joel Lamangan.

“A film archive means having to allocate sufficient government money, and perhaps, because of the country’s financial constraints, also non-government funding, to come up with a technical facility that would effectively store our film negatives and prints,” she said.

Her family owns Sampaguita Pictures, which along with LVN, Premiere and other early film studios ushered the first golden age of the Philippine cinema during the ’50s. Their studio however had the distinction as being part of the second golden age of cinema during the ’70s, as well.

The NMPP meeting at Celebrity Sports Complex was attented by Senators Tito Sotto, Jinggoy Estrada, Gringo Honasan and Representatives Lani Mercado, Teddy Casino, Luz Ilagan, JV Ejercito, Dan Fernandez and Emmy de Jesus.

Also seen were industry leaders Manay Ichu Maceda, Boots Anson Roa, Tirso Cruz III, Maning Borlaza, Gil Portez, Romy Suzara and Ronnie Ricketts.

• • •

John Lapus grateful for his good breaks

He has been in show business for 15 fruitful years and John “Sweet” Lapus cannot be thankful enough for the good breaks coming his way. He gets substantial exposure on TV in his home studio GMA-7. He is also not lacking in film projects, where he gets to display his flair for comedy.

Sweet remains one of the busiest comedians in showbiz today, with a string of commitments for both TV and the movies. He did among them Regal Films’ “Shake, Rattle & Roll XI” an entry to last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

He has always wished for a solo starrer, but the two-time Aliw awardee for Best Stand-Up Comedian has always said he is in no hurry. He believes that the right project for him will come at the right time.

Early this year, he co-starred with good friend Eugene Domingo in the blockbuster comedy “Here Comes the Bride” where he played a hilarious dual role.

And now, Eugene and John’s comic tandem will be seen anew in “Mamarazzi,” Regal Films’ 50th anniversary offering which opened Wednesday in theaters nationwide.

Indeed, John has gone a long way from his early days as a theater actor for Teatro Tomasino at the University of Sto. Tomas, his alma mater.

Working with Eugene in another comedy project was a welcome break for John. The screen chemistry and comic timing of the two lead stars are impeccable, according to the director, multi-awarded Joel Lamangan.

Whether or not he plays lead, John insists he will not get tired of making people laugh. To him, entertaining his audience is priceless and it’s his way of giving back to them. The business has given him a better life and he is eternally grateful.

• • •
Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings Thursday, Aug. 26, go to Angeli P. Valenciano, Efren “Bata” Reyes, Jay Durias, Nonong Bagatsing, Irineo “Boy” Chan, Dr. Adrian Buensalido, Amparo de Leon, Amelia Novido, Diana Olivares, Efren Edlagan, Papo Suares, Libay Gaspi, Patricia Camille T. Soriano, Carlos Yturzaeta, Sofia G. Romualdez, Suzy Unas, and Atty. Augusto L. Villanueva…