Direk Tikoy's Manila Kingpin and the two-faced Pep article about him

Director Amable “Tikoy” Aguiluz VI, popularly known only as Tikoy Aguiluz was granted his Temporary Restraining Order (TRO, which perhaps should have been properly called preliminary mandatory injunction) by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines against the producers of Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story which he supposed to have directed.

Direk Tikoy perhaps prayed, among others, that the IPOP require the producers of the movie to remove his name from the film and promotional materials because, according to him, the Film is not any more his. Laguna Governor ER Ejercito the bida did not like the pacing of the movie which he found slow. So, he hired another team of editors, led by Jason Cajapay, to re-edit the movie. He also had some scenes reshot and inserted in the movie. All these editing and reshooting were done without the knowledge of Direk Tikoy.

Curiously, the Philippine Entertainment Portal has two versions of a news with the same title, picture and date. As I was researching the story, I clicked on a link and this came out:

Governor ER Ejercito rejects Tikoy Aguiluz's demand to remove his name as director ofManila Kingpin

Rey Pumaloy

Sunday, December 18, 2011
01:45 PM

Sagot ni Governor ER: "Alam n'yo, matagal nang walang kumukuha kay Tikoy.

"Ako na lang nga ang nagtitiwala sa kanya, actually. Lahat halos niyan nakaaway niya.

"Pati si Congresswoman Imee Marcos, di ba? Sa ECP [Experimental Cinema of the Philippines], noong araw.

"Sinasabi ni Imee Marcos, 'You got Tikoy?'

"'Yeah! Why? I like him, he's a good director.'

"'Ang daming problemang ibinigay niyan sa akin sa ECP.'

"Sabi ko, 'Lahat naman ng nakasama niyan, puro problemado!'" pabirong sabi pa ni ER.

Si Tikoy ang nagdirek ng Boatman, na iprinodyus ng ECP, na pinamahalaan ni Imee.

Pero sa kabila nito, ayaw raw palitan ni ER si Tikoy.

"Hindi, gusto ko pa rin si Direk Tikoy, kahit madami siyang 'binigay na problema sa akin.

"Gusto ko pa rin, siya ang director ko.

"Kung ayaw niya, siya ang mawawalan, hindi ako!

"Ako na lang ang nagtiwala sa kanya, e. Ako lang ang nagbigay sa kanya ng malaking chance na makabalik.

"Saka ipinaglaban ko si Direk Tikoy sa mga producers ko.

"Ipinaglaban ko si Direk Tikoy," diin niya.

Sinabihan raw ni ER si Direk Tikoy na pumunta sa premiere showing ng Manila Kingpin.

"Hindi sumasagot," banggit niya.

"Gano'n talaga ang mga mahuhusay na director, suplado!

"Lahat ng mga magagaling na direktor, may ego trip."

INTERNATIONAL SCREENING. Ayon pa rin kay Governor ER, ang bagong edited version ng Manila Kingpin ang ipapadala niya sa mga international film festivals para hindi raw antukin ang mga manonood nito sa haba.

Here's the screen shot of that article:

I accidentally closed the tab on said article. So, I looked for it again. I saw the same headline which I clicked on. But alas, the content is different:

Governor ER Ejercito rejects Tikoy Aguiluz's demand to remove his name as director ofManila Kingpin

Rey Pumaloy

Sunday, December 18, 2011
01:45 PM

Successful ang premiere showing ng Metro Manila Film Festival 2011 entry na Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story sa SM Manila Cinema kagabi, December 17.

Kahit na umuulan ay dinagsa pa rin ng mga tao ang premiere. Umani rin ng papuri ang pelikula.

Hindi maalis ang ngiti sa mukha ni Laguna Governor ER Ejercito, na siyang bida sa Manila Kingpin, dahil sa mga bumabati sa kanya at sa pelikula.

 Sa panayam ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) kay Governor ER matapos ng premiere night, nagpasalamat muna ito sa mga nanood at sumuporta sa premiere showing.

Aniya, "Natutuwa ako dahil sulit ang P75 million...plus promotion yun, ha, na nagastos ng aming producer. 

 "At talagang all-star cast at overwhelming ang response."

 THE SUPERSTAR. Binanggit din ni ER ang pagdalo sa premiere night ng Superstar na si Nora Aunor.

 Aniya, "Katunayan niyan, si Ms. Nora Aunor katabi ko.

"Prangka niyang sinabi na kinikilabutan siya sa eksena, ramdam na ramdam niya ang tension ng bawat scene.

 "Tuwang-tuwa si Ms. Nora Aunor sa pelikula, ang ganda-ganda raw.

 "Tama yung ginawa naming paggastos—dugo at pawis ang pinuhunan. 

 "Tama lang na pinaulit ko yung editing."

 ISSUE WITH DIREK TIKOY. Dahil sa kanyang tinuran, nakumpirma ang usap-usapang hindi nagustuhan ni ER ang unang pagkaka-edit ng kanyang pelikula.

 "Hindi namin nagustuhan yung unang editing," sabi niya. 

 "Hindi namin nagustuhan dahil mabagal ang pacing.

 "Binayaran namin yung unang editor...

 "Nag-imbita ako ng maraming kaibigan para panoorin. 

 "Hindi kami natuwa sa editing, so we have to get a new set of editors, mga bata, magagaling—sina Jason Cajapay and company. 

 "We got four editors na bata at in-edit ang buong pelikula kaya doble-gastos kami sa editing. 

 "Ni-reedit ang buong pelikula kaya doble-gastos kami, pati music."

Here's the screen shot of that article:

Why would Pep publish a story with the same headline, same picture, same author and same time stamp but with different content? The first one highly critical of Direk Tikoy, and the other, extolling the success of the movie Direk Tikoy does not want to do anything with anymore? 

I will never forget Direk Tikoy because I had an experience way back in college in relation to one of his works. In our Film Art class, we watched "The Boatman". In the middle of the film, the showing was stopped by our professor because he did not want to be accused of showing his students pornographic film and he did not want to be blamed should one of our classmates got pregnant after watching the "porno" film like "The Boatman" the director's cut. I wrote a piece about it in 2009 titled  "'The Boatman' and our college professor". 

In my closing paragraph of the said piece, I said:

The films we were watching were decided and lined up at the beginning of the semester. Why "The Boatman" was still on the list and was allowed for viewing only to be stopped at the middle is something that makes my blood shoot straight from my heart to my head even until now, almost 8 years have passed.

It's a good thing that Direk Tikoy has gone to court. Finally, the issue of whether or not the producer has the power to alter the work of a director without his permission and show the same in public will be resolved. That is if they don't arrive at a settlement.

Tuesday

I have noticed Tuesday many years back. She has made me laugh effortlessly, and like my other idol comedian, Pokwang, Tuesday is not afraid to look like a fool just to make her audience laugh. Tuesday is not self conscious although she is beautiful. In fact, as I have seen in TV5 this afternoon, she is getting married soon. She was given some sort of a send-off party from her being single by her colleagues headed by Congresswoman-elect Lucy Torres-Gomez in TV5.

As a host, Tuesday has a very good diction. She is also engaging, and of course, funny.


And there is something Tuesday has accomplished that my other idol comedian, Pokwang, has not. That is she is able to show her serious, and intellectual side as judge in Talentadong Pinoy, also in TV5. Tonight, she addressed the blind contestant from Bacolod with something like, how I wish you can see so that you can see how beautiful I am and the beautiful world we live in. I find her comment funny and at the same time touching. It must come from a woman in love. She also senses what is lacking in performances, and what makes me love her more is the fact that she is able to articulate whatever they are. Please watch the show so that you may know what I am talking about and let me also know what you think.

As Talentadong Pinoy judge, Tuesday and her fellow judges do not waste words. Unlike judge Kris Aquino and Ai-Ai de las Alas from Pilipinas got Talent in ABS who take so much time making comments on many things other than the talent the contestant is showing. More often, their non-talent-related comment drags the whole show which, to me, make the show appear forced. I am happy I do not have to bear them now as I have Talentadong Pinoy to shift the channel to. Also, as to the shows host, Ryan Agoncillo of Talentadong Pinoy in TV5 makes Billy Crowford and Luis Manzano appear amateurs in Pilipinas Got Talent in ABS.

As an actress Tuesday is lucky not to land the role of a dumb housemaid like the character of that comedian who has a very beautiful voice but whose name escapes me now in the sitcom of couple Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo, George and Cecil, on ABS which we used to watch on Sundays. Suddenly however, without warning, the sitcom did not air. As if it vanished just like that. Parang wala lang sitcom na nangyari. In her latest role in Here Comes the Bride, Tuesday again delivered a stunning performance. The funniest part for me was when she was spoon feeding her ward in the movie. Also, I find her very funny when she suddenly became a lawyer (her character and that of Eugene Domingo interchanged) and she was quoting the Labor Code of the Philippines in protesting the request of the child's mother.

This afternoon also, I was happy and excited to witness how TV5 P.O.5 has evolved. The pacing is now fast, and I like the part where Gloc 9 and his beat box partner introduce the Hot 5, which are 5 songs performed in a countdown manner. That guy, Gloc 9, is really talented, and it is a wonder to see that his talent is being utilized by TV5. It reminds me of DJ what's his name from Wowowie. He was introduced at the beginning of each show to wake people up and to set the party mood of the studio which I think was first time in television. Gloc 9 and his beat box companion picked this up and elevated the art of introducing the performers to a higher level. That Gloc 9 and his beat box companion have a theme helped a lot. This afternoon, their team was about the opening of classes such that Gloc 9 introduced the songs of Britney Spears to be danced with or performed on stage in relation to the opening of classes topic, from tuition fee woes, cheating, and many others.

All in all, Gloc 9, and the TV5 shows that I saw today made my day. Especially Tuesday. She is one hell of a beautiful and funny talent. And I am happy to know that she is getting married. Congratulations, Tuesday.


My source of Tuesday's picture is Abante.com.ph.

Hosting Lessons

If there is one thing Mariel Rodriguez has to learn from Wowowee's guest host Robin Padilla, it is that of shutting her mouth.

To say that Mariel is very, very talkative is like saying that the sun rises from the east. She has spoiled the Willie of Fortune segment many, many times because her mouth endlessly spews nonsense words that do not allow Pokwang the space and the timing to deliver her punch lines. Instead of supporting Pokwang, or setting the stage for Pokwang's jokes to have the maximum impact, Mariel and her machine-gun for a mouth destroys everything.

I am happy Robin Padilla became a temporary host in Wowowee because he proved that hosting is not about the host showing how he or she could talk non-stop. It is about paying attention and relating to your audience and to your co-host. Mariel does none of the above. She keeps on talking and talking and talking and talking. Here comes her antithesis, Robin Padilla. Because Robin does not mince words, and Pokwang can deliver her antics, the show became more entertaining.

Maybe it comes with experience. Both Robin and Pokwang have experienced the hardships that most of us Filipinos are going through that's why they can relate and can really make us laugh. As to Mariel, she is not even funny. I do not know what her talent is. All she does on tv is try to look cuter than she actually is. She is on tv because she represents the thousands, perhaps millions of teen age girls who are like her.

Until Mariel learns to shut up, she will remain the Mariel that kills joy and irritates. And shutting up is very hard to do. But no body said that her job is easy.

(My source of Mariel's picture is Abante.com.ph)