Why Top Actors Rejected Regine as Leading Lady
Mario Bautista
posted:05.15.03


SCRIPTWRITER Mel del Rosario reveals that when Regine Velasquez was being relaunched as a film actress nine years ago, no established actor would like to be paired with her. "Her first movies kasi were comedies like 'Untouchable Family' and 'Pik Pak Bum'," she says. "It was only Christopher de Leon who agreed to be her leading man. Pero ngayon, everyone wants to work with her, pati 'yung lolong action star na tumanggi sa kanya noon. They talk to me because they know I'm the one who conceptualizes projects for her. Puwes, ngayon, sila naman ang maghintay."

Regine herself is so happy to be reunited with Boyet de Leon in Viva's Manila filmfest entry, "Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka". "This time, we even have a love scene," she brags. "And I'm so thrilled because he's really yummy. Mind you, may kissing scene din ako with Dingdong Dantes, who plays my first boyfriend, kaya I'm so lucky in this movie, 'di ba?"

She can relate with her as a painter as she really paints for a hobby. "I usually do pencil drawings but I also use oil as my medium. Ang dami ko nang nagawa and I just gave them away. I'd really like to take lessons sana but my schedule now won't allow it. I almost backed out nga from the film I'll do with Richard Gomez because they want me to shoot it in June and July, e hindi ko talaga kaya. But they said they're willing to wait so we'll start shooting in September na."

She's really Viva's fair-haired girl now since she is their star in both their June and December filmfest entries. The film with Goma, "Bisperas ng Mayo", based on Nick Joaquin's "May Day Eve", is Viva's entry in the Metro-Manila filmfest.

What if she'd win as best actress for "Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka"? "Ay naku, hindi ko na kayo kilala," she says in jest. "I really enjoyed my role as a babaeng bakla who's so in love with Boyet, na hindi naman ako pinapansin because he's still in love with his dead wife. Maganda ang character ko and the people I interact with. My parents are Marissa Delgado and Noel Trinidad while Vanna Garcia is my younger sister. Ang best friends ko are Lara Fabregas, Gladys Guevarra and John Lapuz. They all warn me about falling in love with Boyet because he's older than me. Mas gusto nila si Dingdong."

In real life, would she fall for a younger man like Dingdong? "Siguro if I'm only two or three years older. Pero kung sobrang bata naman, ayoko rin because I want someone who's a deep and mature conversationalist, someone I can learn from at hindi 'yung ako pa ang magtuturo sa kanya."

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"FLATTERING" ang unang nasabi ni Christopher de Leon nang iparating namin sa kanya ang yummy description sa kanya ni Regine Velasquez. "Siya rin naman nag-evolve. She's a better actor now. Magaling ang knack niya for comedy, perfect. Daring din siya sa mga damit na isinusuot, saka yung MTV nila ni Richard Gomez, daring siya roon. Sa love scene namin, kita halos ang buong likod niya," patungkol ni Boyet sa leading lady niya sa Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka na entry ng Viva Films sa Manila Film Festival.

by Nitz Miralles

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Source:journal.com.ph