Vic Sotto

There is no competition between Vic Sotto and Comedy King Dolphy, the star of “Ang Darling Kong Aswang” told the entertainment media last Tuesday at the press conference of the said Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry at Moomba restaurant in Quezon City.

Vic’s comedy-horror “Ang Darling Kong Aswang” is set to clash with Dolphy’s “Nobody Nobody But Juan” at the MMFF starting on Christmas Day, thus the speculations. But Vic said his relationship with Dolphy is above any known competition in the business.

“I’ve known Dolphy for years now but we became really close when we did a movie (“Dobol Trobol”) at ang dami kong natutunan sa kanya. Yan kasi si Dolphy maumpisahan mo lang ng kuwento, makuwento rin yan. Yung competition [between ‘Eat Bulaga’ and ‘Wowowee’] dito lang sa baba yan pero yung frienship namin ni Dolphy, nasa taas ‘yan. Yung pagmamahal at respeto namin sa isa’t-isa is above the competition,” Vic explained. Since Dolphy’s movie includes “Wowowee” in its plot, speculations arose regarding a possible conflict since Vic’s “Aswang” is identified with his noontime show “Eat Bulaga.”

Even before things start to get out of hand, the next Comedy King disclosed that Dolphy is even welcome to promote his movie on “Eat Bulaga.” “Alam kong alam din niya ‘yun na puwede siyang magpromote kasi ako naman neutral ako eh. May show ako sa GMA, sa TV5 [“Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”] at hopefully magka-show din ako sa ABS-CBN.”

In fact a new film with Dolphy is underway, informed Vic. “May pinaplano kaming pelikula ni Dolphy sa 2010. Ang joke nga niya sa akin, ‘Wag tayo masyadong magsama nang magsama sa pelikula kasi yung mga madalas kong nakasama, nauna na sa akin.’” This, Dolphy said referring to the late comic icons Babalu and Panchito.

In the Octo Arts, M-Zet and APT-produced “Ang Darling Kong Aswang,” Vic falls for an aswang played by Cristine Reyes. The blockbuster superstar of the “Enteng Kabisote” franchise said he had the “Aswang” plot in mind ever since. “Noong time pa ng unang ‘Enteng Kabisote’ kaya lang kulang pa tayo sa technology that would pull through our vision for this movie. Pag naging successful ito, may plano din tayong sequel.”

He promised that “Aswang” will deliver saying, “Yung trailer ng pelikula, patikim lang talaga ‘yun eh. Pag napanuod ninyo, nandun yung totoong katatawanan.”

Vic ended the interview by stating his hope for the coming festival. “Minsan lang ito sa isang taon kaya nararapat lang na ibuhos ang lahat para sa publiko. Ang sa akin lang eh gusto ko na maging successful ang buong festival kasi iba-iba naman ang mga uri ng pelikulang kasali. May mga fans naman ang bawat genre kaya siguradong lahat may magugustuhan sa mga kasali.”