We were at the star-studded (even the megastar, Ms. Sharon Cuneta and Ms. Ruffa Gutierrez-Bektas were there to join the cast who were in their period costumes) special screening last Thursday night at My Cinema in Greenbelt 3, and we were truly impressed with the movie’s new concept and one-of-a-kind approach to an extraordinary love story.

What makes the story of the movie even more enthralling is its captivating cinematography, the beautiful backdrops and of course the topnotch performance of the cast led by: Dingdong Dantes as Marco, a photographer covering a harvest festival in Lake Tabon; Iza Calzado, who plays Divina who’s about to be married to a haciendero’s son, the chauvinistic and manipulative Juancho (Paolo Contis); Karylle who plays Lianne, the granddaughter of an elderly woman (Gloria Romero) who was hit by a van when she tried to save Marco. Also in the cast are Isabel Oli, a sosyal fashionista who unexpectedly falls in love with the simply country life and the simple country boy Kiko, played by Dion Ignacio.

Marco and Lianne are drawn close to each other but the former yearns for Divina who he talks over the telephone in a strange twist of fate, because Dingdong is from the present (2006) while Divina is from the past (1957). But we’re not about to spill the beans and divulge what will happen to them. It’s better if you find it yourself when you go see the movie when it starts showing on Wednesday, March 29.

Let me just talk about Karylle, who said that her role in "Moments of Love" is truly something special. And for several reasons. For one, it is directed by Mark Reyes with cinematography by Jay Linao, both of whom she worked with on "Encantadia." Second, the movie also stars Karylle’s real-life boyfriend Dingdong Dantes and her good friend Iza Calzado.

The film weaves together elements from the past and the present and shows how lovers’ lives are intertwined in a story with a "Somewhere in Time" type of twist. And this is what Karylle is most excited about. And so, despite her overly busy schedule that included tapings wich would last until the wee hours of the morning, promoting her "You Make Me Sing" album under Unviversal Records and co-hosting "SOP," among other things, Karylle made sure that she would have time to accommodate "Moments of Love’s" shooting schedules and now, its promotion.

"I agreed to do the movie, because it seldom happens that a good film like this comes along. I also like the idea that GMA Films is behind this movie because I can see that they are really sincere about wanting to make a good movie," Karylle said. The movie, with its intriguing story and universal appeal, is also intended for international release, according to Ms. Abrogar.

Incidentally, Karylle performs the song "Sana’y Maghintay ang Walang Hanggan," originally popularized by her mother, Ms. Zsa Zsa Padilla, for the movie. There is also a music video of the title theme, "Moments of Love," sung by Jennylyn Mercado and Janno Gibbs.

Prior to "Moments of Love," Karylle had done several movies, including "Anting-Anting ni Lolo" for Imus Productions, "Mano Po 2 and 3" and "Mulawin, The Movie." But "Moments of Love" is special to her in that she is not only working with Dingdong, but was reunited with practically the same team that she worked with on television. This helped a lot in making her feel more comfortable on the set.

All three of them – Dingdong, Iza and herself – were so excited to do "Moments of Love" that they agreed to squeeze it in between tapings of "Etheria." The punishing schedule took its toll on the cast, to the point that sometimes, people would fall asleep on the set. But in the end, their excitement over doing such a beautiful film won out instead. So they willingly sacrified their time, particularly Karylle, who had to set aside promotions of her album to make time for the movie.

"To think that something like this is possible, where people would want to work on a project specifically for the chance to make a beautiful film. It’s so touching. Everyone’s so excited, and they all believe in the project," says Karylle.

The excitement extends to the people of GMA Films. The story, which does not bank on the typical loveteam formula, is something that’s never been tried before in local movies, which makes it both thrilling and risky.

"This formula is a gamble for us," says producer Annette Gozon-Abrogar of GMA Films. "We notice that Korean films are sold all over the world at ni hindi magka-love team ang leads nila. It’s the sotry na siyang nagdadala. So with "Moments of Love," we hope to sell it not only here but also to audiences abroad." Abrogar wrote the story, with a script by Gina Marissa Tagasa.

Karylle hopes that people will respond positively to the film. "It’s really a good movie that I think people should see," said the young singer.

Soon, Karylle will also be starting a writing job as a regular columnist for a weekly paper called People Plus that is distributed at the MRT and LRT, another thing that she is looking forward to. She’ll be doing a "He Said, She Said" type of column with Dingdong. "It’s very fulfilling," she says of the offer.

With everything that’s going on in her life, Karylle can expect a very bright future in showbiz this year.

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Despite the slump in the overseas entertainment industry, especially in Japan, actress Marissa Delgado, under her Mardel International Management and Services outfit, is still able to send her talents to that country for various performance stints.

Her Mardel International dancers and singers, for instance, continue to perform in five-star hotels and nightspots in Japan. By the way, Marissa announced that those with talents and who’re interested to become entertainers abroad, may go to Marissa’s office at 4651 Seaside Drive, Tambo, Parañaque City. They’re accepting good-looking girls between the ages of 18 to 23, at least high school graduates. But they have to pass the audition.

Aside from training, promoting and deploying talents to different countries, Marissa and her former beauty queen daughter Avon also run and manage a school for caregivers. Their Wellcare Training School is located at T.S. Cruz Village in Las Piñas City.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, March 27, go to Ambassador Ruperto "Tong" Dizon, Cesar C. Zalamea, Liezl Sumilang-Martinez, Geena Zablan, Linda Bolido, Lydia Castillo, CJ Sarino, Arlene de la Cruz, Ruperto Sarmiento, Baby Austria, Shem Yap, Gerry Constantino, Norma C. Baja, Ambassador Romy Diazon, and New York, USA-based Boriphat Phansaithong, Aurem D. Martinez and Jessica Balatucan...