Asked whether she minds being just the second or third choice by a director or producer, actress Sylvia Sanchez answered the questioned pointedly, “No!” And in Filipino she explained, “What’s important is I got the role and I am playing it according to what the director wants it played.”
Mincing no words, she later said, “When they offered me the role, I didn’t know that they offered it to several other actresses. What I knew then was that the producers and the directors wanted to talk to me about a movie and if I could play in it. They showed me the script, I read it and I liked it. In short, I said ‘yes’ to the offer.”
The role was offered initially to Nora Aunor, but due to some misunderstanding between the actress and the director, the production team decided to look for a replacement, and Sylvia Sanchez was it.
For sure, you’ve read somewhere about the exchange of communication between Aunor and Ronald Carballo (he wrote the screenplay and directed the film, titled Jesusa) that led to Sanchez’s replacing the superstar for the role.
Jesusa has been in Carballo’s dream of a movie and he’d do it only if the superstar agree to play the lead role. Initially, she already did, but along the way, something got in the way and seemed it could be the reason the film would either not be done at all or be delayed. But Carballo was itching to shoot it, and he did sans Aunor.
The film is about a woman (Jesusa) and how she sinks into the mire. It is set in a rundown community where she leads a normal life until circumstances drag her to be swallowed by the low lives of her neighbor.
Sylvia is joined in the film by Allen Dizon, Empress Shuck, Ynez Veneracion, Vince Tañada, Beverly Salviejo, among others.
Two former dancers are executive producing the film, siblings Jean Hidalgo and Junelle Rayos.
Carballo said that Sanchez fits the role perfectly and she made sure that his vision of the film is what exactly the audience will see onscreen when it’s finally released in theaters.
Some quarters were saying that the film has used Nora Aunor for its publicity, but I am certain she wouldn’t be if some writers didn’t ask questions about the initial casting of the film. But, that’s how the movie business goes in the Philippines.
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Kate Valdez in ‘i-Bilib’
Onanay kontrabida Kate Valdez visits Chris Tiu, James and Roadfill when they construct an ingenious kind of Rubik’s cube using paper and a convex glass.
Also, two pairs of Kapuso teen couples celebrate Valentine’s Day via the “Bilibabols Pasok sa Puso” blow the ball in the heart shape challenge.
Two mysteries are solved in “Street Genius” when the team finds out which metal dropped in a swimming pool is the most explosive and what is the fastest way to create a sinkhole in a box full of sand.
Finally, in “Huling Hirit,” Chris demonstrates how our brains and eyes deceive us by way of lateral inhibition as he displays a high-contrast illustration.
All these on your favorite science show every Sunday morning on GMA.
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Paradizoo and free agri-education
Zoomanity Group Parks presents Power of Three: a floral, a vegetable and agri-livestock festival until March, with seminars every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
Paradizoo is an eco-farm destination open to families, students, farmers, to both public and private sectors to share the benefits of and best practices in growing agricultural products.
Paradizoo seminars conducted by well-known agriculture educators cover cattle reproduction management and breeding, sale and auction of livestock, farm produce exhibits.
It’s free and participants are provided with free seeds, too. And free training on Banik’s, Jam and Juice Making is also provided.
Paradizoo seeks to establish an Agriculture Learning Institute to expand opportunities to youths for proper education on farming and agriculture business soon.
A 12-hectare theme park in Mendez, Cavite, Paradizoo is a combination paradise and zoo. A uniquely relaxing and entertaining weekend destination for families, children can roam in an open space dotted with flowering plants and pet some farm animals.
Other agricultural activities are vermiculture, bokashi soil, hydroponics plant growing, and putting up compost pits. A balanced ecosystem is maintained to keep a natural habitat for the animals and plants, which are both organically grown and nurtured.
A favorite attraction here is the Farm Frenzy, to cuddle and purchase animals like rabbits, hamsters and lovebirds, Dorper sheep, Boer, Kalahari and Saanen dairy goats, Rusa. Turkeys from Australia are also on sale.
In the Plant Me Home area, guests may select and pick vegetables and flowers from garden plots to take home. Enjoy the huge space given to flowering plants in the orchidarium and eclectic garden.
The kids may also enjoy the Camel ride and Zing Ride, a unique air ride that is a combination of zip line and a swing.
Call Camille Custodio at 63 936 2418 942 or dial 847-0413, 899-9824 or 09275899696 or visit www.zoomanity.com.ph for further inquiries or registration.
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Visit www.isah.red for more stories. Follow me on Facebook (@isahvr), Twitter (@isahvred) and Instagram (@isahvred).
