The Metro Manila Film Festival selection committee has announced the four films chosen as the first batch of entries to this year’s MMFF.
Yet, Perry Escaño, director of the upcoming film Ang Sikreto Ng Piso (The Secret of the Philippine Peso Coin), a family-oriented comedy and historical film inspired by actual events on the smuggle of the Philippine peso coin in 2006, remains hopeful that it will make it among the last four films to be chosen.
“We have submitted the script for the first batch of films to be chosen, but we are also starting to film because we will submit this film as a final product for the next selection,” he told members of the press during a press conference last week.
According to him, the film will be wholesome, charming, and interesting story for the Filipino family during Christmas season.
“The plot is about love of family and supporting one another whenever trials in life happen,” he said.
The film is on the heels of Ang Guro Kong Di Marunong Magbasa, one of the nine finalists in the main competition of full-length films at the 13th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.
Escaño announced the actors who will play important roles in the film, like Quezon City Congressman Alfred Vargas (who also plays the lead in Ang Guro Kong Di Marunong Magbasa).
“It’s a breather for me as actor to do a family comedy film this time. We are hopeful to get a slot to this year’s MMFF with this comedy movie. It’s our gift for all Filipino families during Christmas season,” Alfred said.
Also considered to play important roles are Joey Marquez and Wendell Ramos. Child actor Yuan Francisco is also in the movie, said Escaño.
Also in the cast are comedians Paul Sy, Long Mejia, Beverly Salviejo, and Lou Velsoso.
Andoy Ranay (stage, television, and theater actor and director) will also play a character along with actor Ernie Garcia (who is also the supervising producer the film.
Other cast members of the cast include Dexter Doria, Garry Lim, Joanna Marie Tan, and Akihiro Blanco.
The production is also looking at McCoy de Leon to play Alfred’s character’s brother in the story, and Elisse Joson as the beautiful daughter of Joey’s character in the film.
They are also negotiating with Judy Ann Santos to play the role of the wife of Alfred’s character in film.
MPJ Entertainment Productions and JPP Entertainment (company of beauty queen and fashion designer Joyce Peña Pilarsky, who is playing Joey’s strict wife in the movie) are co-producing the film that starts shooting this month.
The film tells what you can and can’t do with the Philippine peso, as Ronnie discovers. In order to build wealth effectively, Ronnie (Alfred Vargas) has to make sacrifices to save up for the future of his wife and only son Taballero (Yuan Francisco).
He is forced to accept an odd job that promises higher income—one that requires him to gather as much one-peso coins has he could.
It is only a matter of time when he discovers why he is collecting peso coins.
Can the secret of the Philippine peso be the film’s ticket to the Metro Manila Film Festival in December?
We will find out in October.
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Tom Rodriguez remains a loyal Kapuso. The actor renewed contract with GMA Network, Inc. on June 27.
“I am very excited and very happy. I feel very, very much at home here. I do really feel that it’s the right fit for me. I am very happy that I am given another opportunity and cement my place here, my new home,” Rodriguez said.
The actor also added that he is grateful for the continuous trust GMA Network gives him, “Every single time I say it, I mean it. I am very thankful dahil ang dami talagang trusted projects that GMA has been giving me consistently na it forces me to stretch and grow not just as a person but as an actor trying to hone his craft.”
Tom is in the rom-com I Heart Davao with Carla Abellana. The program, which premiered on June 26, has been getting rave reviews on social media.
“We are very happy to see the reactions ng mga tao na nasundan namin sa Internet right after. Masaya kami dahil nagustuhan nila from the cinematography to the rapport of the cast and crew,” he said.