Maybe you have not watched Mumbaki (1996), a movie that starred Raymart Santiago as a doctor who returns to his hometown in Ifugao to bury his father, a chieftain killed in a conflict with a rival community.

Perhaps you have not heard of Abong: Small Home (2003), either, a movie by Japanese director Imaizumi Koji and Baguio screenwriter Cristina Segnaken.

Mumbaki was released as a mainstream movie so it is more likely to be known. Abong was only shown in Baguio and other localities in the Philippine Cordillera since it was too small a project compared. OK, it got as far as New York and Bangkok, but you got the point. It was too indie.

Ay Ayeng, on the other hand is something in between: an indie movie premiered in Hawaii and also shown in Berlin, but didn’t get much exposure when it was shown in Manila. Nevertheless, it is in the running for several awards in the 57th Annual FAMAS Awards, namely Best Director (Ed Palmos), Best Actress (Heart Evangelista), Best Supporting Actress (Isabel Lopez), Best Child Actress (Jessica Mae Flores) and Best Child Actor (Alvin Christian Flores).

According to Eduardo Palmos, the director of the movie, the story of “Ay Ayeng” was inspired by the life of Macli-ing Dulag, a tribal leader during the Marcos dictatorship who fought against the destruction of Chico Dam.

Update:

Heart Evangelista grabbed the Best Actress trophy at the 57th Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Gabi ng Parangal on Oct. 18. She played the role of a teacher in Mountain Province.

Other contenders for the award were Sharon Cuneta for “Caregiver”, Anne Curtis for “Baler”, Dawn Zulueta for “Magkaibigan”, Judy Ann Santos for “Ploning” and Melissa Mendez for “Kalakal”.

By the way, ever heard of Igorota (1968)?

Now it’s Inquirer’s time to goof:

While he was comfortable talking about politics, Aquino wants to keep his love life private.

He said he already asked his youngest sister and popular TV host Kris not discuss his love life in public.

“I talked to my sister and I did ask her that’s the part of my life that I want to be private as it can’t develop in the public like in a fishball . I think she understood it…She texted me and apologized,” said the senator. [Maila Ager, Inquirer]

PEP, an entertainment site, entertains us all by turning it into a “brewing controversy.” Erwin Santiago reads a blog entry (over at Chuvaness) and since he probably has nothing much to write about, composed the link/flame bait.

The Philippine Star writes it correctly:

Noynoy said he had talked with Kris and “I did ask her that that is the part of my life that I want to be private.”

“(It cannot develop) you know in a fish bowl and I think she understood it and she agreed. She texted me and she (Kris) apologized… I’m used to it (his sisters being focused on him) and I’ve talked to Shalani,” Noynoy said. [Aurea Calica, Philippine Star]

Someone commented that Chuvaness is connected to the Erap camp.

This is what happens when you have nothing bad to say about a candidate. He has vanishing hair, unpressed pants and unimpressive rhetoric. Nothing heavy. So when a goofy news writer hovering about him makes a mistake, he absorbs the error.

Alin ang mas matimbang?

Marian Rivera will try to outshine Angel Locsin once again as she is crowned as television’s new Darna.

Rivera’s forthcoming role was officially announced by GMA-7 on April 23rd at the GMA Network Center. She was the lead star in Marimar and Dyesebel. Both stories were supposed to be for Angel Locsin, but she moved over to ABS-CBN 2.

Darna and Dyesebel are originally made for komiks by Mars Ravelo, but eventually became hit movies. Previously, only Vilma Santos was able to play both Darna and Dyesebel (in separate shows, naturally).

• My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad
• Ang Babaeng Hinugot Sa Aking Tadyang
• Paano Ba Ang Mangarap?
• Totoy Bato
• Zorro
• Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin?
• All About Eve
• Muling Buksan Ang Puso
• StarStruck 5
• Pinoy Pop Superstar or Pinoy Idol
• Hole In The Wall
• Power of 10
• Celebrity Duets Season 3