VIC SOTTO, Judy Ann Santos and Bong Revilla in ‘Si Agimat, Si Enteng At Si Ako’

It’s definitely triple in magnitude, this 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) offering of GMA Films, OctoArts Films, M-Zet TV, APT Entertainment titled “Si Agimat, Si Enteng Kabisote At Si Ako,” what with the brilliance lent to it by the lead stars Bong Revilla, Vic Sotto, and Judy Ann Santos.

But of course, the stars are not the only factors that make the movie a potential winner at the tills this Christmas season. The story, coupled with its high entertainment value and the positive messages it imparts, is something Senator Bong is very proud of. It’s a movie intended for the whole family, the children especially, for, as Bong said, “Christmas is for children.”

The story of “Si Agimat, Si Enteng Kabisote At Si Ako” begins with the establishment of three different worlds, bound to meet for an adventure like no other – the humble Enteng Kabisote (Vic Sotto), a low-profile technician married to the beautiful Fairy Princess of Engkantasya, Faye (Gwen Zamora); Agimat (Bong Revilla), the brave village warrior hero of Amuleto, and the high tech-yuppie Kingdom of Diwatara ruled by Princess Angelina Kalinisan Orteza (Judy Ann Santos) also known as AKO, where she leads an environmental advocacy organization. From an eligible bachelor, Agimat now strives to apply all his learning from Enteng and Faye as he himself tries to start his own family with wife, also an Amuleto warrior, Samara (Sam Pinto). The fun levels up as Aiza Seguerra brings Angelina and her comic modern fairy sidekicks Pink Kapre Che (John Lapus), Winged Horse Sol (Yassi Pressman), and computer-wiz dwarf Chichay (Ryzza Mae Dizon), into the lives of the Kabisote and Amuleto couple.

As expected of fantasy films that Bong is known for, “Si Agimat, Si Enteng Kabisote at Si Ako” costs a fortune to make as it was shot in various places in the North, with sound stages during the entire shooting, and CGI effects abroad – all intended to give value for the moviegoers’ money.

The movie, set to open on Dec. 25, is directed by Tony Y. Reyes from a script by Bibeth Orteza and Jermyn Aven Jacob.

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UPCC Marks 50th Anniversary Via Gala Concert

The much acclaimed and awarded UP Concert Chorus marks a milestone, its 50th anniversary, and in celebration, a gala concert titled “SingKwenta, SingKwela” will be presented tomorrow, Dec. 21, at the UP Theater in Diliman, Quezon City. To be featured are UPCC batches from the '60s to the current group, who will certainly try to outdo each other in their separate performances!

Korus was originally called the UP Mixed Concert Chorus and it became the official university choir under then UP President Gen. Carlos P. Romulo. The first conductor was Ramon Tapales who was assisted by Johnny Ramos then Ramon P. Santos (they were all former deans of the UP College of Music). Tapales later passed the baton to Flora Zarco-Rivera (who founded the UP Cherubim and Seraphim).

Under the tutelage of Dean Rey T. Paguio, who handled the group for 30 years, UPCC became a singing and dancing group (decades before “Glee” popularized the genre!), and made its name as an award-winning and world-class choir.

Atty. Dot Ramos Balasbas-Gancayco, the “singing lawyer” and over-all chair of UPCC’s 50th anniversary celebration, shares that in its first 25 years, UPCC stars in the music industry included Ms. Evelyn Mandac, Chinggoy Alonzo, Edru Abraham, Frankie Aseniero, Elma Makil and Dot Gancayco) and the Philippines; first all-male a capella group, Tux. Nolyn Cabahug and his sister, Lisa, became prominent classical singers.

The Golden batch of Korus, under the baton of Prof. Jai Sabas-Aracama (herself a noted mezzo soprano), has made the country proud by garnering several top awards in recent festivals in Spain and Hungary during their 20th International Concert Tour. Just recently, UPCC capped its successes when the Aliw Awards Foundation gave it a Lifetime Achievement Award.

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John Limon, An Innate Musician

John Limon, one of the artists under DP Dreamport Talents Managements, is a visionary in that he believes “if your dreams don’t scare you, they they’re not big enough.” He is persevering and determined to make a name as a singer.

John is also an innate musician; he plays the piano, flute, guitar, ukulele and cajon. He recently showcased his singing prowess during a recent event that launched another DP talent, Azrah, at Hard Rock Café in Glorietta 3, Makati City.

John Limon is taking up Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication at UP Diliman, while doing what he is most passionate about – music! Very comfortable with pop and ballad, he listens to a lot of rock alternative but he also has a strong affinity to soul.

Watch out for him!

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Dec. 20, go to Ricky Alegre, Maybeline dela Cruz, Cathy Nazareno-Rivilla, Tim Espinosa, Marilu Syjuco-Velez, Neneng David, Nora Alafriz, Teresita Gonzalez, Linette Bunaseda, Rosi Bitong of Lipa City, Evelyn Difunturom, Jim Greene of London and Scotland, and Anna Bernaldo-Romulo of ABS-CBN Media Assets Managements… Happy wedding anniversary to Jun and Betty Ventura of California; Brian Keth Strange and Wai Angeles dela Cruz…