Former airhostess Margarita Marquis (we met her at the Paris International Film Festival in Paris, France last year) has a very interesting story to tell, indeed movie material and it’s no wonder she’s now planning to make it into a movie, having tapped the services of an American awardwinning scriptwriter Steward Lindh to write the script. Entitled “Sand Prints,” the script has been read by some US producers and Margarita is just waiting for the right offer and opportunity.

Lindh, who was a scriptwriting instructor at the French National Film School, was co-writer of “Blindside,” an HBO production. He wrote the novel “Shipwrecks and Other Drownings” published by Nothing Moments Press. “Sand Prints” was co-written by Margarita herself. Although it is the story of her life, it was fictionized to make it commercial.

Margarita told everything in her book “Moudifa! Airhostess sa Isang Walang Layang Bansa,” which is now available in all major bookstores. The book is a compilation of Margarita’s experiences as a Filipino working in a foreign land. And although it brought back some unpleasant memories, the book helped her come to terms with what happened to her in the Middle East.

In writing her book, Margarita said her purpose was not to scare or blame anyone; rather, it was to educate and inform others of what awaits them when they work in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia where she was based for many years. “I didn’t want to scare anyone. I didn’t judge anyone,” she said. “More important, I don’t want to stop anyone from going there because of it. My intention was really to just educate people on what to expect when they go there.”

For example, she says, while doing research for the book, she was surprised to discover that a lot of Filipinos are not even familiar with Sh’ariah law. “Maybe if I had been educated about the law, I would have taken lesser risks.”

On hindsight, Margarita says that she is not afraid of the backlash that might come now that the book is out. “Like I said, I didn’t judge anyone. I didn’t speak out against religion, or the government — the book is just about the reality of what happened to us.”

Margarita actually had to have someone write the book for her because she found it too painful to do it by herself. She got in touch with a biographer, someone she met on the Internet. They eventually met up in person, and Margarita enlisted her help in putting her experiences to paper.

The book touches on human rights and, in particular, women’s rights. “I had hang-ups about what happened to me [while I was working there]. I would have strange dreams, and I’d cry,” shares Margarita. “Aside from that, I could also see what other Filipinos were going through, and I was bothered. I started thinking, “Why am I bothered? I didn’t want to go to a psychologist, although I wanted to speak out about human rights and women’s rights.”

“Moudifa! Airhostess Sa Isang Walang Layang Bansa” traces Margarita’s experiences working as a flight attendant in the Middle East. When Margarita applied for the job with a Saudi Arabia-based airline, she competed with 50 other women from 32 countries for a single spot. She ended up getting the job. However, she soon found out after she started work that life as a flight attendant in Saudi Arabia wasn’t all that it seemed.

Margarita says that her experiences, while sad, can also serve as guideposts for those who are considering working in that part of the world.

“Moudifa! Airhostess Sa Isang Walang Layang Bansa was” originally written in French and was translated into English, then Tagalog. The Tagalog translation was done by Nick Pichay, a Palanca Awardee and Hall of Famer.

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Korea’s celebrity son makes memorable visit to the country

Shin Dong Pa, Korea’s celebrity son in the field of sports, was a recent visitor to the country. And no less than his local counterparts in the hard court, former senators Robert Jaworski and Freddie Webb were with him at the party tendered in his honor. The fiesta-like reception for the basketball star had Bella Dimayuga together with the Phil. Juicy Fruits singing group and Bellestar Dancers as special performers.

Shin Dong Pa’s visit to the country was facilitated by Mr. Lee Eal Mo whose Uptown 21 Condominium was conceived as “A City Within a City.” Located in the progressive heart of Quezon City, brilliant Korean technology was applied to the fullest in its construction in order to provide the ultimate comfort and the most modern amenities to its occupants. So Lee Eal Mo believes that just as Korea’s living legend has left and indelible mark in the world of sports, so will Uptown 21 in the local business world. Aside from the castle-life atmosphere of the condominium, the occupants feels utmost convenience and exciting experience living within the vicinity of the biggest TV-radio networks such as ABS-CBN, GMA -7, and NBN-4 and the giant shopping malls like SM North EDSA, Trinoma and Landmark.

By the way, Shin Dong Pa’s visit to the Philippines was capped by his being an awardee in the recent 27th People’s Choice Awards.

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Emilio Garcia wins more awards

The year past was a banner year for character actor Emilio Garcia.  Among others, he won several awards for his remarkable performance as an inmate in Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos “Selda.” Now Emilio Garcia once again gets victorious as he wins the Gawad Tanglaw Best Supporting Actor for his performance as the menacing cop in Joel Lamangan’s “Walang Kawala.” Indeed, it is another victory for the actor.

Last year, Emilio won the Best Actor in the Thesalloniki Film Festival in Greece, as well as the Gawad Urian, Gawad Tanglaw and Star Awards Best Supporting Actor Awards, all for “Selda.” This is Emilio’s second Gawad Tanglaw award in two consecutive years. The actor is busy now taping for the TV programs “Gagambino” and “Paano Ba Ang Mangarap?” for GMA-7. He is also set to start work in Paul Sta. Ana’s “Marino,” about the lives of Filipino marines where he is set to co-star with Ara Mina, Victor Basa, Allen Dizon, Geneva Cruz, among others.

Another project that excites Emilio is Joel Lamangan’s “Dukot (Desapericidos),” written by Palanca Awardee Boni Ilagan and also co-starring Iza Calazado, Gina Alajar, Robert Arevalo, Allen Dizon and Snooky Serna. In “Dukot,” Emilio plays a reporter who is fighting for a cause and helping out victims of human rights. Meanwhile, Emilio will be awarded by the Ani ng Sining Awards by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in celebration of the Philippine International Arts Festival on Feb. 28. This is for Emilio’s triumph for “Selda” in the Thesalloniki Film Festival in Greece.

On March 2, Emilio will be receiving his second Gawad Tanglaw award for best supporting actor for the film, “Walang Kawala” which was directed by Joel Lamangan. Emilio is slated to work on “Marino” about the lives of seamen, directed by Paul Sta. Ana, who directed the Cinemalaya film, “Huling Pasada.” He will also start work on Joel Lamangan’s political thriller “Dukot.” Indeed, it’s a very busy season for Emilio.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Feb. 24, go to former Bulacan Gov. Josie de la Cruz, Nancy Castiglione,  Mrs. Dionisia Gamboa, Helen Ruth Reyes, California-based Beatriz Palma-Ventura, Canada-based Norma del Rosario-Pricimias, Rhoda Campos, Bebeth H. Trinidad, Mar de Guzman Cruz, Jeninia C. Cruz, Marissa S. Gumatay of Norway, Ryan Manabat, Manolo Favis and Ms. Wilma Galvante, SVP-Entertainment of GMA Network…