Contributed by Buddy Palad
Maria really lives up to her sparkling title: DIAMOND STAR.
Next year ay 40 karats na si Maria pero mas mataas ang karats ng kanyang showbiz achievements .Yes, that’s right, Maria really lives up to her sparkling title: DIAMOND STAR.
Buong 30 taon na ang nakararaan, taong 1974 nang manalo naman si Maria bilang Best Child Actress sa MMFF sa kanyang role sa pelikulang “Alaala mo…Daigdig ko.”
Five years old lang si Maria nang pasukin niya ang daigdig ng showbiz, sa pelikulang “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” ng Sampaguita Pictures bilang kapatid ni Tirso Cruz III.
Naging ganap na bituin si Maria noong 1980 sa series ng Regal Films na ‘Underage” kasama sina Dina Bonnevie at Snooky Serna.
Taong 1983 nang pagkalooban siya ng Guillermo Mendoza Memoial Award bilang “Most Popular Teenage Queen”, at Famas Best Supporting Actress sa pelikulang “Saan Darating ang Umaga?”
Maria is so blessed. Kahit na two years old pa lang siya nang magkahiwalay ang kanyang mga magulang at magkanya-kanya, biniyayaan naman siya ng panahon na magkaroon ng kabuhayang makatutulong sa kanilang magkakapatid Sikat pa.
Kung ang mga fans nina Nora at Vilma ay nagtititili at naghuhumiyaw tuwing nominado ang mga ito sa mga awards, at nagagalit kapag hindi nanalo, ganoon din ang maka-Maria. Nagwo-walk-out din ang mga ito pag hindi si Maria ang winner. Well, our Maria is indeed in the same league with the above-mentioned Icons.
Ang totoo, Maria commands a great following all these years. At tulad din ng kanyang mga ka-liga, ika nga, lalong humuhusay ang babaing ito habang tumatagal. Para bagang wine, it tastes better habang tumatagal. Minsan nga, mababaw ang script, naisulong ni Maria ang kanyang role at nakawala siya sa mediocrity ng storyline at character.
It is because Maria has developed not only into a fine actress that she is now, she is versatile, an all around performer: Singer, dancer, comedian, drama queen. She also produced her drama anthology then and her sitcom.
I wonder kung gaano pa dadami ang magiging achievements ng Miss Taray kapag naging Golden Girl at Senior Citizen na siya.
Maria is also a great sister. A generous friend. A perfect mom to her Chen and Marron who is now studying abroad. She has a big heart. Ang taray niyang magmahal.
We hope Maria would be entrusted character driven roles, the ones given to Jane Fonda, Meryll Streep and Vanessa Redgrave, or even Glenn Close. The magnitude of her talent should not be wasted with mediocre or screaming roles.
Cheers to you, Maria: Our one and only Diamond Star, the new pride of the Film Academy of the Philippines.
If Diamonds are forever, no doubt, Maricel Soriano as the Diamond Star will be in our minds and hearts forever.
Saturday, 21 November 2009
AMONG THE FOUR SUPERSTARS
by diesel
Among the four superstars, pinakakakaiba si Maricel Soriano para sa akin. Although may pagkakapareho siya kina Nora at Vilma, pero IN TOTAL CONTRAST naman siya kay Sharon Cuneta.
Parang pinaghalong Nora at Vilma si Maricel, although ang rise to STARDOM niya was not as PHENOMENAL AS NORA. In this regard, pareho sila ng tinahak ni Vilma. Naging child actress muna bago naging Superstar. Si Vilma nga lang, medyo lumamlam siya nong mag teenager siya pero si Maricel, teenager pa lang siya nung bumulusok naman ang career niya via Underage and there was no stopping her. Hindi nagkaron ng awkward moment kay Maricel tulad ng nangyari kay Vilma na kailangan niyang i reinvent ang sarili niya.. from a teenager to an adult performer.
At tulad ni Vilma, matindi ang staying power ni Maricel. Pareho silang parang mga PHOENIX (pahiram Choleng Larry), na they rise from their ashes (controversies). Lesser stars wont be able to survive kung dadaanan nila ang mga pinagdaanan nina Vilma at Maricel.
Ang pagkakaiba lang sa tingin ko kina Maricel at Vilma din ay.. si Vilma ma PR sa press.. si Maricel.. ILAP.. Nambababara pag aanga anga ang press. Wala siyang pakialam sa mga ito lol! Dito ako humanga ng husto kay Maricel. So far, wala pang nakagawa sa nagawa niyang ito sa kanyang henerasyon at sa mga sumunod na henerasyon.
Tulad ni Nora Aunor, tanging talento ang naging puhunan ni Maricel para maabot ang pangarap abutin ng sino mang artista.. ANG SUPERSTARDOM. Wala siyang ginamit na tao, ginamit na press o kung sino man. I AM WHAT I AM. Love me for what I am. Panoorin niyo ako at bahala kayo kung ayaw niyo. Di ko kayo pipilitin. Parang ito ang nais ipahiwatig ni Maricel non kasi wala siyang pakialam sa mga fans niya. Siguro ang mga fans niya, hindi tumitingin sa personal na buhay ng kanilang IDOLO.. tulad ng ginawa nila kay Nora(?) at Sharon, na halos lahat ng personal nilang buhay gustong malaman ng fans. Kay Maricel naman, kakaiba hehe. Kung meron siyang ayaw sabihin, ayaw talaga. Kung suplada siya sa mga fans niya, nakakapagtataka kung bakit hindi siya inayawan ng mga ito? Hindi siya iniwan kahit na magloka lokahan siya kay Edu, iwanan ang lahat, kalabanin lahat pati pamilya, producers at lahat na. Wala siyang explanations.. buwang siyang umibig eh. Pagkatapos mahiwalay kay Edu, nag comeback at hula ng iba.. WALA NG BABALIKAN ANG ISANG MARICEL SORIANO. Patay na ang career niya. Pero ano ang nangyari? Very successful ang comeback niyang DINAMPOT KA LANG SA PUTIK. Ayos na sana, heto, bigla na naman siyang nabuntis out of wedlock. Kung mahina hina uli siyang artista.. BABAY na sana ang karera niya. Pero bakit sa halip na iwanan, lalo pa siyang minahal ng mga tao? Patunay ang apat na movies niya noong 1994 na naging super hit sa takilya na nagtulak kay Ka Oskee Salazar (RIP) na bigyan nga siya ng sarili niyang titulo.. ANG DIAMOND STAR..
Bakit ba hindi iniwan si Maricel ng kanyang mga tagahanga kahit na ilang beses siyang nadapa at nadisappoint lahat sa kanya?
Ang explanation na nakikita ko lang diyan ay tayong mga fans ni Maricel, di tayo nangingialam sa PERSONAL LIFE ni Maricel. Ang sa atin lang.. KUNG ANO ANG KANYANG HINAHAIN SA ATIN, SA TELEBISYON AT PELIKULA. That sets us apart siguro. Personally kasi, I dont care about Maricel's personal life.. bonus na lang ang mga nalalaman natin. Sabik man at uhaw tayo sa juicy details of her personal existence, pero parang balewala lang ito sa atin. Hindi iyong pini picture siya na isang ganito o ganyan, parang si Sharon, pero ang katotohanan, hindi naman siya ganun. Kasi nga, sa talento ni Maricel tayo na capture.
Among the four superstars, pinakakakaiba si Maricel Soriano para sa akin. Although may pagkakapareho siya kina Nora at Vilma, pero IN TOTAL CONTRAST naman siya kay Sharon Cuneta.
Parang pinaghalong Nora at Vilma si Maricel, although ang rise to STARDOM niya was not as PHENOMENAL AS NORA. In this regard, pareho sila ng tinahak ni Vilma. Naging child actress muna bago naging Superstar. Si Vilma nga lang, medyo lumamlam siya nong mag teenager siya pero si Maricel, teenager pa lang siya nung bumulusok naman ang career niya via Underage and there was no stopping her. Hindi nagkaron ng awkward moment kay Maricel tulad ng nangyari kay Vilma na kailangan niyang i reinvent ang sarili niya.. from a teenager to an adult performer.
At tulad ni Vilma, matindi ang staying power ni Maricel. Pareho silang parang mga PHOENIX (pahiram Choleng Larry), na they rise from their ashes (controversies). Lesser stars wont be able to survive kung dadaanan nila ang mga pinagdaanan nina Vilma at Maricel.
Ang pagkakaiba lang sa tingin ko kina Maricel at Vilma din ay.. si Vilma ma PR sa press.. si Maricel.. ILAP.. Nambababara pag aanga anga ang press. Wala siyang pakialam sa mga ito lol! Dito ako humanga ng husto kay Maricel. So far, wala pang nakagawa sa nagawa niyang ito sa kanyang henerasyon at sa mga sumunod na henerasyon.
Tulad ni Nora Aunor, tanging talento ang naging puhunan ni Maricel para maabot ang pangarap abutin ng sino mang artista.. ANG SUPERSTARDOM. Wala siyang ginamit na tao, ginamit na press o kung sino man. I AM WHAT I AM. Love me for what I am. Panoorin niyo ako at bahala kayo kung ayaw niyo. Di ko kayo pipilitin. Parang ito ang nais ipahiwatig ni Maricel non kasi wala siyang pakialam sa mga fans niya. Siguro ang mga fans niya, hindi tumitingin sa personal na buhay ng kanilang IDOLO.. tulad ng ginawa nila kay Nora(?) at Sharon, na halos lahat ng personal nilang buhay gustong malaman ng fans. Kay Maricel naman, kakaiba hehe. Kung meron siyang ayaw sabihin, ayaw talaga. Kung suplada siya sa mga fans niya, nakakapagtataka kung bakit hindi siya inayawan ng mga ito? Hindi siya iniwan kahit na magloka lokahan siya kay Edu, iwanan ang lahat, kalabanin lahat pati pamilya, producers at lahat na. Wala siyang explanations.. buwang siyang umibig eh. Pagkatapos mahiwalay kay Edu, nag comeback at hula ng iba.. WALA NG BABALIKAN ANG ISANG MARICEL SORIANO. Patay na ang career niya. Pero ano ang nangyari? Very successful ang comeback niyang DINAMPOT KA LANG SA PUTIK. Ayos na sana, heto, bigla na naman siyang nabuntis out of wedlock. Kung mahina hina uli siyang artista.. BABAY na sana ang karera niya. Pero bakit sa halip na iwanan, lalo pa siyang minahal ng mga tao? Patunay ang apat na movies niya noong 1994 na naging super hit sa takilya na nagtulak kay Ka Oskee Salazar (RIP) na bigyan nga siya ng sarili niyang titulo.. ANG DIAMOND STAR..
Bakit ba hindi iniwan si Maricel ng kanyang mga tagahanga kahit na ilang beses siyang nadapa at nadisappoint lahat sa kanya?
Ang explanation na nakikita ko lang diyan ay tayong mga fans ni Maricel, di tayo nangingialam sa PERSONAL LIFE ni Maricel. Ang sa atin lang.. KUNG ANO ANG KANYANG HINAHAIN SA ATIN, SA TELEBISYON AT PELIKULA. That sets us apart siguro. Personally kasi, I dont care about Maricel's personal life.. bonus na lang ang mga nalalaman natin. Sabik man at uhaw tayo sa juicy details of her personal existence, pero parang balewala lang ito sa atin. Hindi iyong pini picture siya na isang ganito o ganyan, parang si Sharon, pero ang katotohanan, hindi naman siya ganun. Kasi nga, sa talento ni Maricel tayo na capture.
KUNG ANG IBANG ARTISTA
by diesel
Kung ang ibang artista ay nabubuhay sa 15 minutes of fame until the next scandal comes along. Si Maricel iba.. kakaiba. Di nag iingay, di paepal. Kahit meron pwedeng sakyan na KONTROBERSIYA, AYAW NIYA. Lulubog lilitaw ang drama niya sa press, pero pag merong pelikula ayos na ayos ang ROI niya. May disapointments man, pero after the disappointment just like a Phoenix as she is, siguradong mag ba bounce back siya. After hindi kumita ng husto as expected ang Mila(2001), patok naman ng husto ang Mano Po(2002). Mahina man ang Filipinas(2003), pumatok naman ang I Will Survive(2004). Kumita ng husto ang A Love Story(Aug 2007), mahina ang Bahay Kubo(Dec 2007) at tumabo din ng husto ang T2(2009).
Na defy din ni Maricel ang kasabihang, OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND, sa pagmamahal ng madla. Ilang beses na bang napatunayan ni Maricel ito? Laging out of sight si Maricel, nito lang 2008 wala siyang tv projects.. Pero kumita ng husto ang T2. Patunay din ang matiwasay niyang pagbabalik after makipaghiwalay kay Edu.
Ang kakontemporaryo naman ni Maricel, nabubuhay sa articles, sa ingay pero DISAPPOINTING ang resulta ng kanyang mga movies sa Star Cinema. So far, sa Mila pa lang na disappoint ang Star Cinema kay Maricel. Pero ang tema naman nito, depressing. Sa 11 na movies ni Maricel sa Star Cinema, isa pa lang ang di masyadong kinagat ng mga tao. At wala itong ka hype hype.
Kung ang ibang artista ay nabubuhay sa 15 minutes of fame until the next scandal comes along. Si Maricel iba.. kakaiba. Di nag iingay, di paepal. Kahit meron pwedeng sakyan na KONTROBERSIYA, AYAW NIYA. Lulubog lilitaw ang drama niya sa press, pero pag merong pelikula ayos na ayos ang ROI niya. May disapointments man, pero after the disappointment just like a Phoenix as she is, siguradong mag ba bounce back siya. After hindi kumita ng husto as expected ang Mila(2001), patok naman ng husto ang Mano Po(2002). Mahina man ang Filipinas(2003), pumatok naman ang I Will Survive(2004). Kumita ng husto ang A Love Story(Aug 2007), mahina ang Bahay Kubo(Dec 2007) at tumabo din ng husto ang T2(2009).
Na defy din ni Maricel ang kasabihang, OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND, sa pagmamahal ng madla. Ilang beses na bang napatunayan ni Maricel ito? Laging out of sight si Maricel, nito lang 2008 wala siyang tv projects.. Pero kumita ng husto ang T2. Patunay din ang matiwasay niyang pagbabalik after makipaghiwalay kay Edu.
Ang kakontemporaryo naman ni Maricel, nabubuhay sa articles, sa ingay pero DISAPPOINTING ang resulta ng kanyang mga movies sa Star Cinema. So far, sa Mila pa lang na disappoint ang Star Cinema kay Maricel. Pero ang tema naman nito, depressing. Sa 11 na movies ni Maricel sa Star Cinema, isa pa lang ang di masyadong kinagat ng mga tao. At wala itong ka hype hype.
WHAT SETS MARICEL SORIANO APART BOTH IN TV AND MOVIES?
by diesel
What sets Maricel Soriano apart?
Siguro ang variety ng kanyang ginagawa.
She excels in all tv and movie genre. Halos lahat ng genre, nagawa na niya maliban lang sa isang all out action movie. Pero may action/romantic comedy na rin siya.
Siya lang din ang meron awards sa almost all genre.
sa MOVIES..
DRAMA
HORROR
COMEDY
SUSPENSE THRILLER
MUCICAL/COMEDY
sa TV
DRAMA
COMEDY
di ko lang alam kung meron siyang awards nong mag variety show siya.
Kaya kahit anong pilit man nilang pabagsak kay Maricel Soriano.. di nila makakaya. Pilit mang pantayan ng kakontemporaryo niya, mahihirapan siya. Her body of work speaks volumes. Hubaran mo man ng awards ang isang Maricel Soriano, mangingibabaw pa rin ang
THE MOST VERSATILE ACTRESS OF HER TIME, THE COMEDY QUEEN, THE DRAMA QUEEN
AND OF COURSE,
THE DIAMOND STAR MS MARICEL SORIANO!
What sets Maricel Soriano apart?
Siguro ang variety ng kanyang ginagawa.
She excels in all tv and movie genre. Halos lahat ng genre, nagawa na niya maliban lang sa isang all out action movie. Pero may action/romantic comedy na rin siya.
Siya lang din ang meron awards sa almost all genre.
sa MOVIES..
DRAMA
HORROR
COMEDY
SUSPENSE THRILLER
MUCICAL/COMEDY
sa TV
DRAMA
COMEDY
di ko lang alam kung meron siyang awards nong mag variety show siya.
Kaya kahit anong pilit man nilang pabagsak kay Maricel Soriano.. di nila makakaya. Pilit mang pantayan ng kakontemporaryo niya, mahihirapan siya. Her body of work speaks volumes. Hubaran mo man ng awards ang isang Maricel Soriano, mangingibabaw pa rin ang
THE MOST VERSATILE ACTRESS OF HER TIME, THE COMEDY QUEEN, THE DRAMA QUEEN
AND OF COURSE,
THE DIAMOND STAR MS MARICEL SORIANO!
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
MARICEL SORIANO: 41 CARATS
courtesy of Patrick.
MANILA, NOVEMBER 19, 2006 (STAR) CONVERSATIONS With Ricky Lo - A little after midnight without fail these past few years, Maricel Soriano forwards inspiring text messages to her friends, some of whom text back to say "Amen!" while the rest simply commit those grains of wisdom to memory.
At 41 (last Feb. 25), Maricel has made a 180-degree turn from being Taray Queen to, why not, being Sor Maria. She is at peace with herself and the world around her, thank you.
Some things are amiss in her personal life, all right, but as far as her career is concerned she’s well-rounded. Ask her how many acting awards she has won so far and it takes her two hours to remember all of them. "I’ve lost count," she texted back to Conversations, only to text again with this breakdown: For movies, 11 for Best Actress, one for Best Supporting Actress and two for Best Child Actress ("Not to mention," she added, "those from People’s Choice and from the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Foundation Awards"); and for television, three for Best Actress (Drama), three for Best Performer (Comedy) and one for Highly-Recommended (Drama).
Reminded that she has just won another Best Actress award for Numbalikdiwa, a digital film shown at the just-concluded Cinemanila, Maricel was surprised. "Did I?" she asked.
Her latest starrer, Unitel Pictures’ Inang Yaya, is touted to be another award-winning performance – "Probably one of Maricel’s best, if not her best," said a critic, wiping a tear during the press preview. Produced by Tony Gloria and directed by new talents Pablo Biglang-Awa Jr. and Veronica Velasco (who also wrote the story/screenplay), Inang Yaya (Mother Nanny) casts Maricel in the title role, torn between her ward and her own daughter (played with heart-wrenching passion by Erika Oreta and Tala Santos, respectively).
"Only the stone-hearted won’t be moved by the movie," said a movie writer not noted for shedding tears over a tearjerker flick.
"Be ready with your hankies," warned STAR columnist, Startalk host and Manunuri officer Butch Francisco.
"How dare you make me cry, Maria!" I teased Maricel.
But before we all troop to the moviehouses (starting on Nov. 29 which Unitel Pictures has declared "Yaya’s Day"), let’s listen to Maricel talk about the 41memorable moments in her life and career.
1. My biggest fear? That my two sons will get married before they finish college and even if they are not yet established. (Note: Marron is in college while Tien-Tien is in Grade 7.)
2. I’m fulfilled as it is but my one frustration is that...you know, a mother’s feeling that her children have a father around. It would have been better.
3. My saddest experience? When my sons "emoted" in front of me. Why? Secret!
4. I feel happiest when I see my sons happy. Marron is a bit moody, very reserved, so when he starts opening up, happy ako. I enjoy it, especially when the three of us engage in a conversation.
5. I’ve done all kinds of roles, most of them memorable. But my friends say, and I agree with them, that one of my very best was (in Ishmael Bernal’s) Hinugot sa Langit (story of a girl pregnant out of wedlock contemplating an abortion).
6. My favorite actress is Jessica Lange. I saw her in the play The Glass Menagerie on Broadway and she’s just terrific!
7. I like white. It looks clean.
8. The best lesson that I’ve learned from life so far is this: Don’t do unto others what you don’t want others to do unto you. The Golden Rule.
9. What’s the best thing about me? What you see is what you get!
10. And the worst, if any? Well, if anybody sees the worst in me, then it’s all up to him.
11. My pet peeve? Liars!
12. I’ve been to several places here and abroad. I want to explore more places. But the one place I love to be is a quiet one where you can commune with nature, or you can watch the sun set with the rising moon not far behind. Wow! It’s nice to pray in a serene place like that and say, "Thank you for keeping me here!" It reminds me of Pagudpod (in Ilocos Norte) where we filmed (Reyna Films’) Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin. It’s such a heavenly place.
13. At what age did I make my first million? During my Regal days when I was paid in full, in staggered checks nga lang!
14. I’m not choosy with food. Give me rice and one viand, preferably fish or tuyo or galunggong, and I’m happy.
15. The one person I truly admire is Oprah Winfrey. I learn a lot from her, including how she prays. She doesn’t know me but I love her. That’s the only thing I want to tell her, "I love you, Oprah!"
16. If I were an animal, I’d be a bird, so I can fly!
17. A fruit? Yes, pear. I like its pale-yellow skin. And the shape. The flesh is heavenly white. And it’s juicy, too.
18. A flower? Carnation. It looks like the lining of a dress.
19. Yes, I believe in reincarnation. If I were to be reincarnated, I want to be Oprah and experience everything that she does. I want to be a positive influence on other people.
20. I’m insomniac. I usually sleep at 4 a.m. What do I do while the whole world is fast asleep? I watch TV series (on DVDs).
21. I like inspirational books. That’s where I get the inspirational messages that I send to friends every day. I have in my library the Harry Potter novels. I’ve also read Memoirs of a Geisha.
22. One thing I can’t do without is my bag of toiletries. Without it, I’m insecure.
23. What is money to me? A piece of paper.
24. I don’t measure success in material terms. In fact, I don’t measure it at all. But I think that if you have a lot of wisdom then you are successful.
25. As a mother, I’m somewhat controlling, somewhat possessive. But it doesn’t mean that I don’t try to reach out to my sons. I want to learn with my sons and grow with them. That’s why I join them in whatever interests them, like watching movies about car-racing. I treat my sons as my barkada.
26. I worry a lot but I try not to show it.
27. I’m between an introvert and an extrovert. As I grow older, I tend to be more and more of a homebody.
28. No, I don’t store up negative feelings. That’s unhealthy. I hate excess emotional baggage. That’s what I learned from Wyngard (Tracy, my manager).
29. The turning point in my life came when I was 33. That was the time when I asked myself, "Ano ba, Mary? Do you want this kind of life, complicated? You know you can do something about it but you have to make a lot of sacrifices." And I did. No regrets!
30. Marriage? No, I haven’t developed a phobia for marriage (Despite a failed one, to Edu Manzano. – RFL).
31. My pastime is watching DVDs and surfing the Net.
32. Secret of my cool and calm disposition? It’s not a secret. Prayer.
33. Who will be the next Maricel Soriano? I don’t have any idea.
34. I love Tita Susan (Roces, her co-star in the ABS-CBN sitcom John En Shirley). Without her intending to, she shares a lot of wisdom with me. Napakabait niyang tao! She respects other people’s opinion. When she has to say something, she says it. She has a positive outlook in life. Sana maging kagaya ako ni Tita Susan.
35. Daddy Dolphy (another John En Shirley co-star) has been like a second father to me. Hingahan ko ng sama ng loob since our John En Marsha days. All we do is look at each other and we know what we feel. He would ask me, "Happy?" I smile a bit and he gets the message.
36. I feel empty when I think of Mommy Nida (Blanca who played her mom in John En Marsha, the long-running sitcom which started in the early days of martial law). Her murder has remained unsolved. It’s unfair! Walang justice. Until the case is solved, Mommy Nida won’t have any closure.
37. My weakness? The moment somebody makes lambing to me, wala na. I soften up.
38. I cry when I’m given a chance to be by myself, alone with my thoughts, like walking on the beach with only the sound of the waves hitting the shores and the sun slowly sinking into the sea.
39. I get mad when somebody lies to me. But I have mellowed. I seldom get mad now.
40. What do I usually pray for? For forgiveness. I always say "I’m sorry!" when I pray. We are all sinners and we sometimes hurt people without our knowing it.
41. How did I feel when I turned 41?
If life begins at 40, then I’m only one year old. Seriously now, I wasn’t scared when I turned 41. I’m not afraid of growing old. It’s great to grow old with wisdom. If anybody asks me, "What’s your problem?," I can look at him straight in the eye and ask back, "What’s yours?" Because I don’t have any problem.
MANILA, NOVEMBER 19, 2006 (STAR) CONVERSATIONS With Ricky Lo - A little after midnight without fail these past few years, Maricel Soriano forwards inspiring text messages to her friends, some of whom text back to say "Amen!" while the rest simply commit those grains of wisdom to memory.
At 41 (last Feb. 25), Maricel has made a 180-degree turn from being Taray Queen to, why not, being Sor Maria. She is at peace with herself and the world around her, thank you.
Some things are amiss in her personal life, all right, but as far as her career is concerned she’s well-rounded. Ask her how many acting awards she has won so far and it takes her two hours to remember all of them. "I’ve lost count," she texted back to Conversations, only to text again with this breakdown: For movies, 11 for Best Actress, one for Best Supporting Actress and two for Best Child Actress ("Not to mention," she added, "those from People’s Choice and from the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Foundation Awards"); and for television, three for Best Actress (Drama), three for Best Performer (Comedy) and one for Highly-Recommended (Drama).
Reminded that she has just won another Best Actress award for Numbalikdiwa, a digital film shown at the just-concluded Cinemanila, Maricel was surprised. "Did I?" she asked.
Her latest starrer, Unitel Pictures’ Inang Yaya, is touted to be another award-winning performance – "Probably one of Maricel’s best, if not her best," said a critic, wiping a tear during the press preview. Produced by Tony Gloria and directed by new talents Pablo Biglang-Awa Jr. and Veronica Velasco (who also wrote the story/screenplay), Inang Yaya (Mother Nanny) casts Maricel in the title role, torn between her ward and her own daughter (played with heart-wrenching passion by Erika Oreta and Tala Santos, respectively).
"Only the stone-hearted won’t be moved by the movie," said a movie writer not noted for shedding tears over a tearjerker flick.
"Be ready with your hankies," warned STAR columnist, Startalk host and Manunuri officer Butch Francisco.
"How dare you make me cry, Maria!" I teased Maricel.
But before we all troop to the moviehouses (starting on Nov. 29 which Unitel Pictures has declared "Yaya’s Day"), let’s listen to Maricel talk about the 41memorable moments in her life and career.
1. My biggest fear? That my two sons will get married before they finish college and even if they are not yet established. (Note: Marron is in college while Tien-Tien is in Grade 7.)
2. I’m fulfilled as it is but my one frustration is that...you know, a mother’s feeling that her children have a father around. It would have been better.
3. My saddest experience? When my sons "emoted" in front of me. Why? Secret!
4. I feel happiest when I see my sons happy. Marron is a bit moody, very reserved, so when he starts opening up, happy ako. I enjoy it, especially when the three of us engage in a conversation.
5. I’ve done all kinds of roles, most of them memorable. But my friends say, and I agree with them, that one of my very best was (in Ishmael Bernal’s) Hinugot sa Langit (story of a girl pregnant out of wedlock contemplating an abortion).
6. My favorite actress is Jessica Lange. I saw her in the play The Glass Menagerie on Broadway and she’s just terrific!
7. I like white. It looks clean.
8. The best lesson that I’ve learned from life so far is this: Don’t do unto others what you don’t want others to do unto you. The Golden Rule.
9. What’s the best thing about me? What you see is what you get!
10. And the worst, if any? Well, if anybody sees the worst in me, then it’s all up to him.
11. My pet peeve? Liars!
12. I’ve been to several places here and abroad. I want to explore more places. But the one place I love to be is a quiet one where you can commune with nature, or you can watch the sun set with the rising moon not far behind. Wow! It’s nice to pray in a serene place like that and say, "Thank you for keeping me here!" It reminds me of Pagudpod (in Ilocos Norte) where we filmed (Reyna Films’) Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin. It’s such a heavenly place.
13. At what age did I make my first million? During my Regal days when I was paid in full, in staggered checks nga lang!
14. I’m not choosy with food. Give me rice and one viand, preferably fish or tuyo or galunggong, and I’m happy.
15. The one person I truly admire is Oprah Winfrey. I learn a lot from her, including how she prays. She doesn’t know me but I love her. That’s the only thing I want to tell her, "I love you, Oprah!"
16. If I were an animal, I’d be a bird, so I can fly!
17. A fruit? Yes, pear. I like its pale-yellow skin. And the shape. The flesh is heavenly white. And it’s juicy, too.
18. A flower? Carnation. It looks like the lining of a dress.
19. Yes, I believe in reincarnation. If I were to be reincarnated, I want to be Oprah and experience everything that she does. I want to be a positive influence on other people.
20. I’m insomniac. I usually sleep at 4 a.m. What do I do while the whole world is fast asleep? I watch TV series (on DVDs).
21. I like inspirational books. That’s where I get the inspirational messages that I send to friends every day. I have in my library the Harry Potter novels. I’ve also read Memoirs of a Geisha.
22. One thing I can’t do without is my bag of toiletries. Without it, I’m insecure.
23. What is money to me? A piece of paper.
24. I don’t measure success in material terms. In fact, I don’t measure it at all. But I think that if you have a lot of wisdom then you are successful.
25. As a mother, I’m somewhat controlling, somewhat possessive. But it doesn’t mean that I don’t try to reach out to my sons. I want to learn with my sons and grow with them. That’s why I join them in whatever interests them, like watching movies about car-racing. I treat my sons as my barkada.
26. I worry a lot but I try not to show it.
27. I’m between an introvert and an extrovert. As I grow older, I tend to be more and more of a homebody.
28. No, I don’t store up negative feelings. That’s unhealthy. I hate excess emotional baggage. That’s what I learned from Wyngard (Tracy, my manager).
29. The turning point in my life came when I was 33. That was the time when I asked myself, "Ano ba, Mary? Do you want this kind of life, complicated? You know you can do something about it but you have to make a lot of sacrifices." And I did. No regrets!
30. Marriage? No, I haven’t developed a phobia for marriage (Despite a failed one, to Edu Manzano. – RFL).
31. My pastime is watching DVDs and surfing the Net.
32. Secret of my cool and calm disposition? It’s not a secret. Prayer.
33. Who will be the next Maricel Soriano? I don’t have any idea.
34. I love Tita Susan (Roces, her co-star in the ABS-CBN sitcom John En Shirley). Without her intending to, she shares a lot of wisdom with me. Napakabait niyang tao! She respects other people’s opinion. When she has to say something, she says it. She has a positive outlook in life. Sana maging kagaya ako ni Tita Susan.
35. Daddy Dolphy (another John En Shirley co-star) has been like a second father to me. Hingahan ko ng sama ng loob since our John En Marsha days. All we do is look at each other and we know what we feel. He would ask me, "Happy?" I smile a bit and he gets the message.
36. I feel empty when I think of Mommy Nida (Blanca who played her mom in John En Marsha, the long-running sitcom which started in the early days of martial law). Her murder has remained unsolved. It’s unfair! Walang justice. Until the case is solved, Mommy Nida won’t have any closure.
37. My weakness? The moment somebody makes lambing to me, wala na. I soften up.
38. I cry when I’m given a chance to be by myself, alone with my thoughts, like walking on the beach with only the sound of the waves hitting the shores and the sun slowly sinking into the sea.
39. I get mad when somebody lies to me. But I have mellowed. I seldom get mad now.
40. What do I usually pray for? For forgiveness. I always say "I’m sorry!" when I pray. We are all sinners and we sometimes hurt people without our knowing it.
41. How did I feel when I turned 41?
If life begins at 40, then I’m only one year old. Seriously now, I wasn’t scared when I turned 41. I’m not afraid of growing old. It’s great to grow old with wisdom. If anybody asks me, "What’s your problem?," I can look at him straight in the eye and ask back, "What’s yours?" Because I don’t have any problem.
Friday, 6 November 2009
Maricel Soriano on marrying again: "Ayokooo!"
by: Rose Garcia
Ilang pelikula na rin ang pinagsamahan nina Maricel Soriano at Direk Chito Roño. Yun nga lang, ang huling pelikula nila—ang Nasaan ang Puso? noong 1997—ay medyo matagal-tagal na rin kaya very much welcome for both of them ang pagkakataon na makagawa silang muli ng movie. Ito ay sa pamamagitan ng horror film na T2, mula sa Star Cinema at ipapalabas sa April 11.
Pero ano nga ba ang sikreto ng successful tandem nila sa paggawa ng pelikula?
Ayon kay Maricel, "Oo nga, alam n'yo, dapat ma-pinpoint ko yun kasi para kaming kinikiliti pareho, di ba? Kapag nagtatrabaho kaming dalawa, palagi kaming tawa nang tawa. Yun ang nakakatawa dito sa aming shooting. May mga dramang eksena, pero tawa kami nang tawa.
"Di ba, parang ano, sa mata lang nagkakaintindihan kayo? Tapos mamaya, 'O, tama na ang tawa kasi, iyak tayo rito! Ha?' Nagugulat ka pa, di ba?" masayang kuwento ng Diamond Star sa presscon ng T2 kagabi, March 18, sa Dolphy Theater ng ABS-CBN.
Pero ano ang mas mahirap gawin para sa kanya—horror movie na tulad nga nitong T2 o heavy drama?
"Alam mo kasi ito, kumbinasyon, e. Bigla kayong magugulat dito. Bigla rin kayong matatakot dito, maiiyak kayo rito."
Pero ano ang pinakamahirap?
"Alam n'yo yung may tinatawag na work, so tatrabahuhin natin, di ba? Wala namang madali kasi if it used to be easy, probably because hinuhusayan kasi namin."
Tungkol sa engkanto ang istorya ng T2 na ang ibig sabihin ay Tenement 2. Ayon kay Maricel, wala pa naman siyang nae-experience in real life about engkanto. Pero kung sakaling mangyari, how would she react?
"Naku, depende... Ang hirap kasing mag-react na say mo na ganito ngayon, tapos kapag nandoon ka na, wa' ka naman pala talk show, hindi ka na nagsasalita. Tulala! Na-hypnotized na siguro ako. Although, sinasabi kasi nila, ang gaganda nila, may something na yun din, ipinakita namin dito," saad ng aktres.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR MARYA? Two years bago nasundan ang huling movie na ginawa ni Marya, ang 2007 Metro Manila Film Festival entry na Bahay Kubo. Sa telebisyon, ano ang aabangan sa kanya?
"Well, yung Florinda, isu-showing nila. Pero hindi ko pa alam kung kailan. May timing-timing kasi 'yan, di ba? Supposedly ipapalabas na kaagad, pero parang nanghihinayang sila na ipalabas kaagad nung time na kung kailan man yun ay nalimutan ko na naman. Parang ganoon...
"Yung timing, gusto nila, yung meron silang naiisip na mas maganda. Siyempre, alam nila kung ano ang mas maganda. Kung ano ang mas nakakabuti at karapat-dapat kaya nakikinig ako," saad ni Maricel.
Hindi ba siya naiinip?
"Hindi naman. May ginawa kasi ako, ito ngang T2."
Tapos na ang movie, tapos na rin niyang i-tape ang Florinda, ano naman ang susunod na aabangan sa kanya?
"Aba, e, pagpahingahin mo naman ako! Parang nagmamadali na naman tayo? May hinahabol ba tayong metro?" natatawa niyang sabi.
Pero ayon sa manager ni Maricel na si Wyngard Tracy, isang pelikula na naman ang susunod na gagawin ng Diamond Star.
AGELESS BEAUTY. Kung may kapansin-pansin man kay Maricel, ito ay ang looks niya na tila hindi yata nababago ng panahon at hindi tumatanda. Sa press conference nga kagabi ay nagra-radiate ang very fresh aura niya.
"Ha?" nakangiti niyang reaksiyon. "Pumayat na kasi dahil nga nagsu-shooting. Takbo kami nang takbo ng mga bata!"
Pero ano ang beauty regimen niya?
"Naku, ano nga ba ang beauty regimen? Me ganun ba? May ganyan ba tayo?" tawa niya.
Naliligo pa rin siya ng gatas?
"Wala nang ganyan! Ano ba kayo?"
Pero nilinaw niyang never pa siyang nagpa-botox.
"Gumagalaw ang mukha ko, ha! Gumagalaw 'yan!" tawa niya.
Pero hindi naman daw siya against sa pagpapaganda sa pamamagitan ng siyensiya.
"Alam n'yo, wala naman tayong kunukuwestiyon sa ganyan. Alam n'yo, wala ng mga ganun-ganun. Yun, nirerespeto ko yun kung ano ang gusto nila. Kung gusto nilang magpaganda, wala namang problema. Kanya-kanya lang. Ngayon, kung meron akong gustong baguhin sa akin, e, naku, napakalaki ng arms ko! Yun ang pakiramdam ko palagi. Yun ang aking frustration, e, palagi!"
LOVE TALK. Kumusta naman ang lovelife niya?
"Ako? Masaya ko! Ewan ko kayo!" tawa ni Maricel.
Meron ba?
"Of course! Dalawa!" nakangiti sabi ng Diamond Star, na ang tinutukoy niya ay ang dalawa niyang anak na sina Marron at Tien-Tien.
Pero may lovelife ba siya aside from her two boys?
"Tingnan natin, baka hindi pa right time!" natatawa niyang sabi.
Posible kayang dahil sa lovelife kaya siya blooming?
"Well... Well, o! Masaya kasi...masaya ako! Di ba, matagal na akong masaya? Pero yun ang sinasabi ko na hindi kasi yun pwedeng i-deny kapag happy ka inside. Lumalabas daw yun sa mukha."
So, saan nanggagaling yung happiness na yun?
"Aba, e, nagdarasal ako palagi. Alam mo, hindi eklat yun ha! Walang etching yun! Hindi kasama si Charito rito sa usapan!"
Hindi kasama ang lovelife para maging masaya?
"Actually," pagsang-ayon nga niya.
Ayon kay Marya, legally ay puwede na pakasal ang dati niyang mister na si Edu Manzano dahil napag-usapan na raw nila ang tungkol sa annulment. Masaya naman daw siya para sa dating asawa kung totoo ngang nagpaplano na si Edu na magpakasal sa rumored girlfriend nitong si Pinky Webb.
Pero sa parte ni Maricel, tila nadala na siya sa pagpapakasal. Isang mahabang "Ayokooo!" ang isinagot nang tanungin ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) kung kailan naman siya ulit ikakasal.
Iwas-pusoy pa rin siyang mapag-usapan kung sino talaga ang nagpapasaya sa kanya ngayon. Aniya, "Baka nga maudlot kaya huwag nating pag-takshowhan!"
Saan ba sila nag-meet?
"Aba ang kulit, a! Ang kulit, a! Sinabi na ngang baka maudlot!"
May theme song ba sila?
"Masyado pa tayong maaga diyan! Naku, mamaya 'pag check ko ng phone ko, wala na akong text! Wala na naman! Naudlot na naman ito!" tawa ni Maaricel.
Ilang pelikula na rin ang pinagsamahan nina Maricel Soriano at Direk Chito Roño. Yun nga lang, ang huling pelikula nila—ang Nasaan ang Puso? noong 1997—ay medyo matagal-tagal na rin kaya very much welcome for both of them ang pagkakataon na makagawa silang muli ng movie. Ito ay sa pamamagitan ng horror film na T2, mula sa Star Cinema at ipapalabas sa April 11.
Pero ano nga ba ang sikreto ng successful tandem nila sa paggawa ng pelikula?
Ayon kay Maricel, "Oo nga, alam n'yo, dapat ma-pinpoint ko yun kasi para kaming kinikiliti pareho, di ba? Kapag nagtatrabaho kaming dalawa, palagi kaming tawa nang tawa. Yun ang nakakatawa dito sa aming shooting. May mga dramang eksena, pero tawa kami nang tawa.
"Di ba, parang ano, sa mata lang nagkakaintindihan kayo? Tapos mamaya, 'O, tama na ang tawa kasi, iyak tayo rito! Ha?' Nagugulat ka pa, di ba?" masayang kuwento ng Diamond Star sa presscon ng T2 kagabi, March 18, sa Dolphy Theater ng ABS-CBN.
Pero ano ang mas mahirap gawin para sa kanya—horror movie na tulad nga nitong T2 o heavy drama?
"Alam mo kasi ito, kumbinasyon, e. Bigla kayong magugulat dito. Bigla rin kayong matatakot dito, maiiyak kayo rito."
Pero ano ang pinakamahirap?
"Alam n'yo yung may tinatawag na work, so tatrabahuhin natin, di ba? Wala namang madali kasi if it used to be easy, probably because hinuhusayan kasi namin."
Tungkol sa engkanto ang istorya ng T2 na ang ibig sabihin ay Tenement 2. Ayon kay Maricel, wala pa naman siyang nae-experience in real life about engkanto. Pero kung sakaling mangyari, how would she react?
"Naku, depende... Ang hirap kasing mag-react na say mo na ganito ngayon, tapos kapag nandoon ka na, wa' ka naman pala talk show, hindi ka na nagsasalita. Tulala! Na-hypnotized na siguro ako. Although, sinasabi kasi nila, ang gaganda nila, may something na yun din, ipinakita namin dito," saad ng aktres.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR MARYA? Two years bago nasundan ang huling movie na ginawa ni Marya, ang 2007 Metro Manila Film Festival entry na Bahay Kubo. Sa telebisyon, ano ang aabangan sa kanya?
"Well, yung Florinda, isu-showing nila. Pero hindi ko pa alam kung kailan. May timing-timing kasi 'yan, di ba? Supposedly ipapalabas na kaagad, pero parang nanghihinayang sila na ipalabas kaagad nung time na kung kailan man yun ay nalimutan ko na naman. Parang ganoon...
"Yung timing, gusto nila, yung meron silang naiisip na mas maganda. Siyempre, alam nila kung ano ang mas maganda. Kung ano ang mas nakakabuti at karapat-dapat kaya nakikinig ako," saad ni Maricel.
Hindi ba siya naiinip?
"Hindi naman. May ginawa kasi ako, ito ngang T2."
Tapos na ang movie, tapos na rin niyang i-tape ang Florinda, ano naman ang susunod na aabangan sa kanya?
"Aba, e, pagpahingahin mo naman ako! Parang nagmamadali na naman tayo? May hinahabol ba tayong metro?" natatawa niyang sabi.
Pero ayon sa manager ni Maricel na si Wyngard Tracy, isang pelikula na naman ang susunod na gagawin ng Diamond Star.
AGELESS BEAUTY. Kung may kapansin-pansin man kay Maricel, ito ay ang looks niya na tila hindi yata nababago ng panahon at hindi tumatanda. Sa press conference nga kagabi ay nagra-radiate ang very fresh aura niya.
"Ha?" nakangiti niyang reaksiyon. "Pumayat na kasi dahil nga nagsu-shooting. Takbo kami nang takbo ng mga bata!"
Pero ano ang beauty regimen niya?
"Naku, ano nga ba ang beauty regimen? Me ganun ba? May ganyan ba tayo?" tawa niya.
Naliligo pa rin siya ng gatas?
"Wala nang ganyan! Ano ba kayo?"
Pero nilinaw niyang never pa siyang nagpa-botox.
"Gumagalaw ang mukha ko, ha! Gumagalaw 'yan!" tawa niya.
Pero hindi naman daw siya against sa pagpapaganda sa pamamagitan ng siyensiya.
"Alam n'yo, wala naman tayong kunukuwestiyon sa ganyan. Alam n'yo, wala ng mga ganun-ganun. Yun, nirerespeto ko yun kung ano ang gusto nila. Kung gusto nilang magpaganda, wala namang problema. Kanya-kanya lang. Ngayon, kung meron akong gustong baguhin sa akin, e, naku, napakalaki ng arms ko! Yun ang pakiramdam ko palagi. Yun ang aking frustration, e, palagi!"
LOVE TALK. Kumusta naman ang lovelife niya?
"Ako? Masaya ko! Ewan ko kayo!" tawa ni Maricel.
Meron ba?
"Of course! Dalawa!" nakangiti sabi ng Diamond Star, na ang tinutukoy niya ay ang dalawa niyang anak na sina Marron at Tien-Tien.
Pero may lovelife ba siya aside from her two boys?
"Tingnan natin, baka hindi pa right time!" natatawa niyang sabi.
Posible kayang dahil sa lovelife kaya siya blooming?
"Well... Well, o! Masaya kasi...masaya ako! Di ba, matagal na akong masaya? Pero yun ang sinasabi ko na hindi kasi yun pwedeng i-deny kapag happy ka inside. Lumalabas daw yun sa mukha."
So, saan nanggagaling yung happiness na yun?
"Aba, e, nagdarasal ako palagi. Alam mo, hindi eklat yun ha! Walang etching yun! Hindi kasama si Charito rito sa usapan!"
Hindi kasama ang lovelife para maging masaya?
"Actually," pagsang-ayon nga niya.
Ayon kay Marya, legally ay puwede na pakasal ang dati niyang mister na si Edu Manzano dahil napag-usapan na raw nila ang tungkol sa annulment. Masaya naman daw siya para sa dating asawa kung totoo ngang nagpaplano na si Edu na magpakasal sa rumored girlfriend nitong si Pinky Webb.
Pero sa parte ni Maricel, tila nadala na siya sa pagpapakasal. Isang mahabang "Ayokooo!" ang isinagot nang tanungin ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) kung kailan naman siya ulit ikakasal.
Iwas-pusoy pa rin siyang mapag-usapan kung sino talaga ang nagpapasaya sa kanya ngayon. Aniya, "Baka nga maudlot kaya huwag nating pag-takshowhan!"
Saan ba sila nag-meet?
"Aba ang kulit, a! Ang kulit, a! Sinabi na ngang baka maudlot!"
May theme song ba sila?
"Masyado pa tayong maaga diyan! Naku, mamaya 'pag check ko ng phone ko, wala na akong text! Wala na naman! Naudlot na naman ito!" tawa ni Maaricel.
Si Maricel Kumikinang kahit hindi naiilawan!
Written by Boy Abunda
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
Aba Ginoong Maria!
Parang kailan lang noong si Maricel Soriano ay nasa bakuran pa ng Regal Films. Pakembot, kembot, pakendeng kendeng at neneng-nene ang dating. Batang bata si Maria nang binuo ang tambalang Maricel Soriano at William Martinez.
Makaraan ang ilang teeny-bopper movies, isinabak si Maria sa mga dramatiko at seryosong pelikula katulad ng Hinugot Sa Langit which was directed by the legendary, Ishmael Bernal. Sunod sunod ang markadong pagganap ni Maria sa mga pelikulang, Minsan May Isang Ina, Saan Darating ang Umaga, Teenage Marriage, Pinulot Ka lang Sa Lupa, Inagaw Mo Ang Lahat Sa Akin, Abandonada, Mila, Mano Po, Filipinas, I will Survive, Inang Yaya, Paraiso, A Love Story, at marami pang iba.
Mahabang panahon ang nagdaaan. Maraming mga nabago, at maraming mga nangyari. May lumubog, lumitaw, napalitan, nagbago ng anyo, ilong, mukha, pangalan, tirahan, asawa at marami pang iba. Pero si Maria walang kupas, patuloy na nagniningning. Magpahinga man siya sandal at pag lumitaw muli’y hindi nawawala ang kinang na parang mamahaling diamond. Walang kakupa-kupas. Laging kumikinang kahit hindi naiilawan.
Mahal ni Maria ang pelikula. Dito siya lumaki at nagdalaga, hanggang sa siya ay naging isang ina. She has two children, si Marron na nasa Amerika at si Tien na kasama niya dito sa Pilipinas.
Hindi kaila na si Maria ay malaki ang tulong sa kanyang pamilya. “Ang tawag ko sa kanya, Mare. Si Mareng Mary. Kung pwede siya na lang lahat ang mamroblema. Lahat ginagawa niya para sa pamilya niya,” sabi naman ni Mykee Soriano, kapatid ni Maria.
Blessed si Maria. Ngayong taon bilang isang actress, apat na pelikula ang ginawa niya sa isang panahong parang nakalimutan na ang sining ng pelikula.
Pero iba talaga si Maria.
Kumikinang kahit hindi gumigiling ang mga camera.
Kaibigan, usap tayo muli.
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
Aba Ginoong Maria!
Parang kailan lang noong si Maricel Soriano ay nasa bakuran pa ng Regal Films. Pakembot, kembot, pakendeng kendeng at neneng-nene ang dating. Batang bata si Maria nang binuo ang tambalang Maricel Soriano at William Martinez.
Makaraan ang ilang teeny-bopper movies, isinabak si Maria sa mga dramatiko at seryosong pelikula katulad ng Hinugot Sa Langit which was directed by the legendary, Ishmael Bernal. Sunod sunod ang markadong pagganap ni Maria sa mga pelikulang, Minsan May Isang Ina, Saan Darating ang Umaga, Teenage Marriage, Pinulot Ka lang Sa Lupa, Inagaw Mo Ang Lahat Sa Akin, Abandonada, Mila, Mano Po, Filipinas, I will Survive, Inang Yaya, Paraiso, A Love Story, at marami pang iba.
Mahabang panahon ang nagdaaan. Maraming mga nabago, at maraming mga nangyari. May lumubog, lumitaw, napalitan, nagbago ng anyo, ilong, mukha, pangalan, tirahan, asawa at marami pang iba. Pero si Maria walang kupas, patuloy na nagniningning. Magpahinga man siya sandal at pag lumitaw muli’y hindi nawawala ang kinang na parang mamahaling diamond. Walang kakupa-kupas. Laging kumikinang kahit hindi naiilawan.
Mahal ni Maria ang pelikula. Dito siya lumaki at nagdalaga, hanggang sa siya ay naging isang ina. She has two children, si Marron na nasa Amerika at si Tien na kasama niya dito sa Pilipinas.
Hindi kaila na si Maria ay malaki ang tulong sa kanyang pamilya. “Ang tawag ko sa kanya, Mare. Si Mareng Mary. Kung pwede siya na lang lahat ang mamroblema. Lahat ginagawa niya para sa pamilya niya,” sabi naman ni Mykee Soriano, kapatid ni Maria.
Blessed si Maria. Ngayong taon bilang isang actress, apat na pelikula ang ginawa niya sa isang panahong parang nakalimutan na ang sining ng pelikula.
Pero iba talaga si Maria.
Kumikinang kahit hindi gumigiling ang mga camera.
Kaibigan, usap tayo muli.
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
MARICEL SORIANO AT PEACE
MANILA, AUGUST 15, 2007 (STAR) By Mario E. Bautista - At 42, Maricel Soriano remains slim and her face is creaseless that she looks 10 years younger. So what does she do to stay slender? “I watch what I eat,” she says. “When you reach 40, your metabolism slows down, so less carbo for me. And of course, I exercise, kahit sa treadmill lang. Also, it’s important to have a good relationship with the Lord. Having peace of mind is very important and you can only achieve that when you learn to trust Him completely.”
She is glad to be as busy as ever. Last year, she did two independent digital films for new directors, Numbalik Diwa by Bobby Bonifacio and Inang Yaya by Pablo Biglang-Awa. She won the Cinemanila Best Actress award for the former and the Golden Screen and Star Best Actress awards for the latter. This year, she was again megged by another new director in the Umiyak Man ang Langit episode of Paraiso: Tatlong Kuwento ng Pag-ibig, Jun Lana. She played a mother whose three daughters perished in a landslide that demolished their home in Leyte.
“I welcome being directed by new filmmakers. It’s my way of paying forward for the good deeds I encountered in the past. I was also an unknown when I started as a child star 37 years ago. Tinanggap agad ako ng the likes of Tirso Cruz III and then Tito Dolphy. I enjoy working with new directors as they are full of fresh ideas.”
But she also welcomes working with veteran filmmakers. She has just worked with Maryo J. delos Reyes in Star Cinema’s A Love Story and is currently being directed again by Joel Lamangan in Regal’s Metro filmfest entry, Bahay Kubo.
“I’m very happy to be reunited with direk Maryo in A Love Story. He’s one of my earliest mentors when I was still a teenager. He directed my very first movie for which I won a FAMAS Best Supporting Actress award in 1984, Saan Darating ang Umaga, which was also the first movie I did for Viva Films. He likewise directed me in one of my biggest solo hits, Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit, where I played an anti-heroine role. We did so many other films together, like Pepe en Pilar with Gabby Concepcion, Schoolgirls with Snooky Serna, Minsan May Isang Ina with Nora Aunor and the late Charito Solis. Now, I feel glad that when I finally get to work with Aga in A Love Story, he’s the one who directed it. This is a different kind of love triangle movie and Angelica is also in the cast as my rival for the affection of Aga.”
We’ve seen the film’s trailer and it’s not very clear as to who is Aga’s wife and who is the mistress. “Don’t ask me anything about the plot because we’re instructed not to reveal any details, so there will be a surprise for the viewers. I only found out how the movie ended during the premiere night at SM Megamall last Tuesday.”
Maricel is 42 while Angelica is 20. But when you look at them together, you won’t think Maricel appeared as Angelica’s mom when Angelica was a child star in such films as Ama, Ina, Anak and Chito Roño’s Separada, for which Maricel won a Best Actress award and Angelica, the Best Child Actress award.
”She was only six when we first worked together. She called me Mama then, and that’s what she still calls me up to now. We got used to it. When she became a teenager, we became sisters in Vietnam Rose. Ngayon, matangkad pa siya sa lola n’yo and we’re fighting over Aga in A Love Story.”
So how does she feel playing Angelica’s rival in the movie? “As an actress, particularly in our case that we both started as child stars, it’s bound to happen na mag-aabot kayo because we get to play different kind of roles in the course of our careers. I first worked with Tirso when I was six years old in My Heart Belongs to Daddy. He was my Kuya then. Later, we even had a movie where he played my father. But later, when I grew up, there was a movie where we played husband and wife. It’s really like that. Bilog ang mundo at umiikot-ikot lang tayo. One thing is sure, though, I’ll never leave showbiz as I really love and enjoy what I am doing. I won’t be surprised if today’s child stars will play my grandchildren when it’s my turn to play grandmother roles.”
How does it feel working with Aga? “We waited to be paired in a movie for so long. I remember there was a time he tried courting me. He took me in his car, a topdown, and we were about to eat in a steak house. But then, it rained suddenly so he had to put on the car’s roof. It’s not automatic, so he did it manually at hirap na hirap siya pulling it. After that, he never showed his face to me. Through the years, there were plans for us to do a movie together, but they never pushed through. Probably because it’s not really meant to be, except now that there is this right project perfect for us. It’s nice working with Aga because all we have to do is look at each other. We already know how we can make a scene effective. I know he’s a good actor, but I didn’t know he’s that good. I told him I’m now his fan, but he wouldn’t believe it. He thinks I’m just joking, but he’s really very good in this film.”
She feels so fortunate to be doing Bahay Kubo even before she’s finished with A Love Story, when other stars haven’t done a movie since the local film industry went on a slump. Mother Lily Monteverde gave her a warm welcome in this, her comeback film with Regal. Maricel is optimistic it will be successful in the box-office as well as in the awards night, just like two previous filmfest entries she did with Regal, Nasaan ang Puso and Dahas, for which she even won Best Actress awards. Bahay Kubo also reunites her with director Joel Lamangan, who also gave her several Best Actress trophies for Filipinas, another past filmfest entry.
“So, to those who feel sad I don’t have a lovelife, all I can say is don’t feel sad for me as I continue to receive so many blessings from the Lord. I never run out of projects. Even on TV, I still have John en Shirley, so I have no reason to sulk. Besides, I feel that if the Lord wants to have me a new man in my life, He’ll be the one to send the guy to me. If there’s none, the Lord is enough companion for me along with my sons, Marron and Tien. Marron is 20 while Tien is 14, kaya sa kanila lang, I already have my hands full.”
She is glad to be as busy as ever. Last year, she did two independent digital films for new directors, Numbalik Diwa by Bobby Bonifacio and Inang Yaya by Pablo Biglang-Awa. She won the Cinemanila Best Actress award for the former and the Golden Screen and Star Best Actress awards for the latter. This year, she was again megged by another new director in the Umiyak Man ang Langit episode of Paraiso: Tatlong Kuwento ng Pag-ibig, Jun Lana. She played a mother whose three daughters perished in a landslide that demolished their home in Leyte.
“I welcome being directed by new filmmakers. It’s my way of paying forward for the good deeds I encountered in the past. I was also an unknown when I started as a child star 37 years ago. Tinanggap agad ako ng the likes of Tirso Cruz III and then Tito Dolphy. I enjoy working with new directors as they are full of fresh ideas.”
But she also welcomes working with veteran filmmakers. She has just worked with Maryo J. delos Reyes in Star Cinema’s A Love Story and is currently being directed again by Joel Lamangan in Regal’s Metro filmfest entry, Bahay Kubo.
“I’m very happy to be reunited with direk Maryo in A Love Story. He’s one of my earliest mentors when I was still a teenager. He directed my very first movie for which I won a FAMAS Best Supporting Actress award in 1984, Saan Darating ang Umaga, which was also the first movie I did for Viva Films. He likewise directed me in one of my biggest solo hits, Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit, where I played an anti-heroine role. We did so many other films together, like Pepe en Pilar with Gabby Concepcion, Schoolgirls with Snooky Serna, Minsan May Isang Ina with Nora Aunor and the late Charito Solis. Now, I feel glad that when I finally get to work with Aga in A Love Story, he’s the one who directed it. This is a different kind of love triangle movie and Angelica is also in the cast as my rival for the affection of Aga.”
We’ve seen the film’s trailer and it’s not very clear as to who is Aga’s wife and who is the mistress. “Don’t ask me anything about the plot because we’re instructed not to reveal any details, so there will be a surprise for the viewers. I only found out how the movie ended during the premiere night at SM Megamall last Tuesday.”
Maricel is 42 while Angelica is 20. But when you look at them together, you won’t think Maricel appeared as Angelica’s mom when Angelica was a child star in such films as Ama, Ina, Anak and Chito Roño’s Separada, for which Maricel won a Best Actress award and Angelica, the Best Child Actress award.
”She was only six when we first worked together. She called me Mama then, and that’s what she still calls me up to now. We got used to it. When she became a teenager, we became sisters in Vietnam Rose. Ngayon, matangkad pa siya sa lola n’yo and we’re fighting over Aga in A Love Story.”
So how does she feel playing Angelica’s rival in the movie? “As an actress, particularly in our case that we both started as child stars, it’s bound to happen na mag-aabot kayo because we get to play different kind of roles in the course of our careers. I first worked with Tirso when I was six years old in My Heart Belongs to Daddy. He was my Kuya then. Later, we even had a movie where he played my father. But later, when I grew up, there was a movie where we played husband and wife. It’s really like that. Bilog ang mundo at umiikot-ikot lang tayo. One thing is sure, though, I’ll never leave showbiz as I really love and enjoy what I am doing. I won’t be surprised if today’s child stars will play my grandchildren when it’s my turn to play grandmother roles.”
How does it feel working with Aga? “We waited to be paired in a movie for so long. I remember there was a time he tried courting me. He took me in his car, a topdown, and we were about to eat in a steak house. But then, it rained suddenly so he had to put on the car’s roof. It’s not automatic, so he did it manually at hirap na hirap siya pulling it. After that, he never showed his face to me. Through the years, there were plans for us to do a movie together, but they never pushed through. Probably because it’s not really meant to be, except now that there is this right project perfect for us. It’s nice working with Aga because all we have to do is look at each other. We already know how we can make a scene effective. I know he’s a good actor, but I didn’t know he’s that good. I told him I’m now his fan, but he wouldn’t believe it. He thinks I’m just joking, but he’s really very good in this film.”
She feels so fortunate to be doing Bahay Kubo even before she’s finished with A Love Story, when other stars haven’t done a movie since the local film industry went on a slump. Mother Lily Monteverde gave her a warm welcome in this, her comeback film with Regal. Maricel is optimistic it will be successful in the box-office as well as in the awards night, just like two previous filmfest entries she did with Regal, Nasaan ang Puso and Dahas, for which she even won Best Actress awards. Bahay Kubo also reunites her with director Joel Lamangan, who also gave her several Best Actress trophies for Filipinas, another past filmfest entry.
“So, to those who feel sad I don’t have a lovelife, all I can say is don’t feel sad for me as I continue to receive so many blessings from the Lord. I never run out of projects. Even on TV, I still have John en Shirley, so I have no reason to sulk. Besides, I feel that if the Lord wants to have me a new man in my life, He’ll be the one to send the guy to me. If there’s none, the Lord is enough companion for me along with my sons, Marron and Tien. Marron is 20 while Tien is 14, kaya sa kanila lang, I already have my hands full.”
What do they have in common?
by MONTO GAWE
FARRAH FAWCETT. MICHAEL JACKSON. MARICEL SORIANO. CORAZON COJUANGCO AQUINO.
What do they have in common?
1. They all defined my prepubescent and adolescent years (1980s).
2. They’re in the news these months of June and July 2009.
Farrah Fawcett
Charlie’s Angels had a huge following and dominant presence during its heydays. The nearest approximation nowadays is American Idol. And of the three girls (Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Farrah Fawcett), Farrah embodied the quintessential all-American beauty and she was every boys’ favorite angel.
As an adult, she still managed to impress me as she essayed the real-life Love Story passion she shared with Ryan O’Neal. But more importantly she matured into a formidable actress and her later years served as a beacon of hope to those who struggle with cancer and similar affliction
Michael Jackson
His music, fashion and moves defined a generation – the 1980’s. Along with equally iconic Madonna, Michael held the world in his hands and riveted it with his sheer genius and artistry. His lyrics and harmony evoke pathos, angst, a cry for equality, love and redemption that could well be the anthem of the Gen Xers, Bagets and Brat Packs of a musically decadent era.
The controversies that plagued his later years sufficiently gave his image a veneer of myth – understandably human but beyond human comprehension. He was a world unto himself, a flirty recluse who teased the world with his shenanigans and satisfied its hunger for greatness with his unbounded energy and genuine talent without equal.
Maricel Soriano
Filipino pop-culture would be incomplete without mentioning the feisty, petite and uber-talented regal baby, Maricel Soriano. While, it is true that the collective triumvirate of the Underage Girls (Dina Bonnevie, Snooky Serna and Maricel Soriano) initially caught Filipinos’ adulation, it was Maricel Soriano who single-handedly squared it off with the proverbial silver-spooned Sharon Cuneta for 80’s Movie Queendom. And their rivalry was one for the books for its lop-sidedness (Talent versus Machinery).
True to form and totally deserving of the Diamond Star tag, Maricel still continues to shine as lustrous as ever. Her limitless acting range and prowess is patiently and quietly honed by her fearless choices of roles to delineate. And her image and persona, both phoenix and chameleon in nature, audaciously evolves and dazzles her myriad of admirers. Her Preview stint is one such proof. Simply breath-taking and jaw-dropping, she never fails to surprise.
Corazon Aquino
As a martial law baby, Marcos was the only president I ever known until 1986. During those adolescent years, politics was not a popular topic among classmates and friends but the EDSA revolution changed all that. Overnight, it seemed, I realized that I was a Filipino, that Rizal actually lived and died for the country, that History is not the same as Fairy Tales and other in-your-face issues that turned your perspective 180 degrees. In the midst of it all was an unassuming vision in yellow, Cory Aquino.
Who can ever forget the images of throngs of people converging in the biggest street of the metropolis as if in fiesta despite the ominous situation they were in? How about the impression nuns made while they prayed with rosaries clutched in their trembling hands before cannons or little girls offering flowers to hardened and perhaps ready to kill macho soldiers? Nah, no child of the 80s can as ever forget as the world media made sure that the Filipinos and all humanity took notice. Until now, the imagery is vivid and etched in my mind along with the democratic icon, who for better or for worse, remains to be a unifying force and hope of a benighted nation.
FARRAH FAWCETT. MICHAEL JACKSON. MARICEL SORIANO. CORAZON COJUANGCO AQUINO.
What do they have in common?
1. They all defined my prepubescent and adolescent years (1980s).
2. They’re in the news these months of June and July 2009.
Farrah Fawcett
Charlie’s Angels had a huge following and dominant presence during its heydays. The nearest approximation nowadays is American Idol. And of the three girls (Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Farrah Fawcett), Farrah embodied the quintessential all-American beauty and she was every boys’ favorite angel.
As an adult, she still managed to impress me as she essayed the real-life Love Story passion she shared with Ryan O’Neal. But more importantly she matured into a formidable actress and her later years served as a beacon of hope to those who struggle with cancer and similar affliction
Michael Jackson
His music, fashion and moves defined a generation – the 1980’s. Along with equally iconic Madonna, Michael held the world in his hands and riveted it with his sheer genius and artistry. His lyrics and harmony evoke pathos, angst, a cry for equality, love and redemption that could well be the anthem of the Gen Xers, Bagets and Brat Packs of a musically decadent era.
The controversies that plagued his later years sufficiently gave his image a veneer of myth – understandably human but beyond human comprehension. He was a world unto himself, a flirty recluse who teased the world with his shenanigans and satisfied its hunger for greatness with his unbounded energy and genuine talent without equal.
Maricel Soriano
Filipino pop-culture would be incomplete without mentioning the feisty, petite and uber-talented regal baby, Maricel Soriano. While, it is true that the collective triumvirate of the Underage Girls (Dina Bonnevie, Snooky Serna and Maricel Soriano) initially caught Filipinos’ adulation, it was Maricel Soriano who single-handedly squared it off with the proverbial silver-spooned Sharon Cuneta for 80’s Movie Queendom. And their rivalry was one for the books for its lop-sidedness (Talent versus Machinery).
True to form and totally deserving of the Diamond Star tag, Maricel still continues to shine as lustrous as ever. Her limitless acting range and prowess is patiently and quietly honed by her fearless choices of roles to delineate. And her image and persona, both phoenix and chameleon in nature, audaciously evolves and dazzles her myriad of admirers. Her Preview stint is one such proof. Simply breath-taking and jaw-dropping, she never fails to surprise.
Corazon Aquino
As a martial law baby, Marcos was the only president I ever known until 1986. During those adolescent years, politics was not a popular topic among classmates and friends but the EDSA revolution changed all that. Overnight, it seemed, I realized that I was a Filipino, that Rizal actually lived and died for the country, that History is not the same as Fairy Tales and other in-your-face issues that turned your perspective 180 degrees. In the midst of it all was an unassuming vision in yellow, Cory Aquino.
Who can ever forget the images of throngs of people converging in the biggest street of the metropolis as if in fiesta despite the ominous situation they were in? How about the impression nuns made while they prayed with rosaries clutched in their trembling hands before cannons or little girls offering flowers to hardened and perhaps ready to kill macho soldiers? Nah, no child of the 80s can as ever forget as the world media made sure that the Filipinos and all humanity took notice. Until now, the imagery is vivid and etched in my mind along with the democratic icon, who for better or for worse, remains to be a unifying force and hope of a benighted nation.
Maricel Soriano: The Pluperfect Artist Sans Rival
BY MONTOGAWE
Three nubile bodies in kaleidoscopic swimsuits, splashed across the front page of an entertainment magazine (Jingle), snatched my steady gaze away from my erstwhile childhood crush who ironically was leisurely reading its inside pages unmindful of my existence or my leery gaping. I gingerly inched closer towards her and quick-read the names on the magazine: Dina Bonnevie, Snooky and Maricel Soriano. The Underage Regal Babies. Then the school bell rang signaling the end of lunch break and the start of afternoon classes. My clueless crush ran off with the pages of the magazine flailing in the air and closely behind her, my tattered sneakers stomping away to keep up with her panicky paces. That was during the early 80’s when I was a pesky prepubescent pupil aged ten waiting for school year to be over.
Then, at last, the lazy as well as frenetic summer came. As was wont among cousins with nothing to do except horse around, we sometimes cajoled our elders to subsidize our juvenile soirees which included a trip to the cinema. Our rural town, sylvan locale peppered with snooty residents, 26 kilometers away from the capital city best known for its aromatic broth with generous heaping of swine innards on top of yellow rice noodles, boasted of its privately-owned theatre except that it wasn’t air-conditioned nor swanky at all. Once inside that warehouse-like edifice, humidity plus suffocating smog was the order of the day. With putrid air like that then, who needed hashish to stay high? Double programming, 2 films for the price of 1, also was in vogue. And such programs repetitively ran for an entire month or even longer. After such run-throughs, I swear I could have memorized a whole script if someone just dared me.
It was in one of those celluloid sorties, that I saw a petite, raven-locked teener crying her hearts out for a group of impoverished children. (One of those who portrayed these kids became my classmate and friend.) I could not appreciate the nuances of acting then but the film’s theme resonated something to me – a mother’s love. So, in my mind, Miss Soriano was forever entwined with the maternal image: loving but firm, kind but strong-willed.
At about those times, an aunt brought home an entertainment magazine (Jingle) with a beautiful young couple dressed for a garden wedding. The names read: Snooky and Albert Martinez. After she was through reading it, I junked my mother’s Anatomy book with its graphic images and browsed over the magazine. I saw a tally of some sort for the most beautiful, most handsome and/or most popular movie star/s. A quick read of the listed names and the tallied votes revealed that in one category Miss Soriano was just ahead of Miss Cuneta, followed by Miss Serna, Miss Ramirez, Miss Blanco, Miss Foster and so on. My curiosity about Miss Soriano was pricked from then on.
Aside from the wisp-of-a-girl Shirley whom she portrayed in John en Marsha, I hardly saw enough of her on TV. This could be a consequence of paternal censorship in our household. We only got to watch English-speaking shows and series, hence, Newswatch, Six Million Dollar Man, Wonder Woman, Charlie’s Angels, McGyver, Air Wolf and the likes. Miss Soriano’s shows, or Filipino shows for that matter, were too unedifying for my parents’ pedantic tastes. Thus, I missed her antics in Kaluskos Musmos, Kuskos Balungos, but surprisingly not her guest stint in the top-rated Flor de Luna where a future classmate and friend also was one of its leads.
I never got to see any of her films while I was in high school and I instead saw Bagets, Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin and other Sharon Cuneta-starrers because my sister would often tag along my mother or me to these box-office screenings. Viva films were so glossy and Sharon films were too sugary that they were not considered harmful to our education. And as the first-born son, it was my filial duty to accompany the women in my family in places of possible danger.
As we grew older, however, certain compromises were made and one learned to reason to get his wishes. As long as we exhibited a certain amount of being mature and responsible, TV fares were democratized and we were allowed to watch any show of our liking save those with pornographic or violent content, which was still up to us, of course, when no one was around. Hence, with our mother leading her pack of factotums, primetime weekend viewing was a rigodon of Superstar, The Sharon Cuneta Show, VIP and The Maricel Live Show and other local shows including the circus-like See True and Seeing Stars with Joe Quirino. Remote control was a thing of the future so the honor of switching channels, now called surfing, befell on my callused fingers. It was quite funny, but the only local shows my father watched were Ang Bagong Kampeon and Aawitan Kita. And he can’t bring himself to sing even in these days of the ubiquitous videokes.
Three nubile bodies in kaleidoscopic swimsuits, splashed across the front page of an entertainment magazine (Jingle), snatched my steady gaze away from my erstwhile childhood crush who ironically was leisurely reading its inside pages unmindful of my existence or my leery gaping. I gingerly inched closer towards her and quick-read the names on the magazine: Dina Bonnevie, Snooky and Maricel Soriano. The Underage Regal Babies. Then the school bell rang signaling the end of lunch break and the start of afternoon classes. My clueless crush ran off with the pages of the magazine flailing in the air and closely behind her, my tattered sneakers stomping away to keep up with her panicky paces. That was during the early 80’s when I was a pesky prepubescent pupil aged ten waiting for school year to be over.
Then, at last, the lazy as well as frenetic summer came. As was wont among cousins with nothing to do except horse around, we sometimes cajoled our elders to subsidize our juvenile soirees which included a trip to the cinema. Our rural town, sylvan locale peppered with snooty residents, 26 kilometers away from the capital city best known for its aromatic broth with generous heaping of swine innards on top of yellow rice noodles, boasted of its privately-owned theatre except that it wasn’t air-conditioned nor swanky at all. Once inside that warehouse-like edifice, humidity plus suffocating smog was the order of the day. With putrid air like that then, who needed hashish to stay high? Double programming, 2 films for the price of 1, also was in vogue. And such programs repetitively ran for an entire month or even longer. After such run-throughs, I swear I could have memorized a whole script if someone just dared me.
It was in one of those celluloid sorties, that I saw a petite, raven-locked teener crying her hearts out for a group of impoverished children. (One of those who portrayed these kids became my classmate and friend.) I could not appreciate the nuances of acting then but the film’s theme resonated something to me – a mother’s love. So, in my mind, Miss Soriano was forever entwined with the maternal image: loving but firm, kind but strong-willed.
At about those times, an aunt brought home an entertainment magazine (Jingle) with a beautiful young couple dressed for a garden wedding. The names read: Snooky and Albert Martinez. After she was through reading it, I junked my mother’s Anatomy book with its graphic images and browsed over the magazine. I saw a tally of some sort for the most beautiful, most handsome and/or most popular movie star/s. A quick read of the listed names and the tallied votes revealed that in one category Miss Soriano was just ahead of Miss Cuneta, followed by Miss Serna, Miss Ramirez, Miss Blanco, Miss Foster and so on. My curiosity about Miss Soriano was pricked from then on.
Aside from the wisp-of-a-girl Shirley whom she portrayed in John en Marsha, I hardly saw enough of her on TV. This could be a consequence of paternal censorship in our household. We only got to watch English-speaking shows and series, hence, Newswatch, Six Million Dollar Man, Wonder Woman, Charlie’s Angels, McGyver, Air Wolf and the likes. Miss Soriano’s shows, or Filipino shows for that matter, were too unedifying for my parents’ pedantic tastes. Thus, I missed her antics in Kaluskos Musmos, Kuskos Balungos, but surprisingly not her guest stint in the top-rated Flor de Luna where a future classmate and friend also was one of its leads.
I never got to see any of her films while I was in high school and I instead saw Bagets, Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin and other Sharon Cuneta-starrers because my sister would often tag along my mother or me to these box-office screenings. Viva films were so glossy and Sharon films were too sugary that they were not considered harmful to our education. And as the first-born son, it was my filial duty to accompany the women in my family in places of possible danger.
As we grew older, however, certain compromises were made and one learned to reason to get his wishes. As long as we exhibited a certain amount of being mature and responsible, TV fares were democratized and we were allowed to watch any show of our liking save those with pornographic or violent content, which was still up to us, of course, when no one was around. Hence, with our mother leading her pack of factotums, primetime weekend viewing was a rigodon of Superstar, The Sharon Cuneta Show, VIP and The Maricel Live Show and other local shows including the circus-like See True and Seeing Stars with Joe Quirino. Remote control was a thing of the future so the honor of switching channels, now called surfing, befell on my callused fingers. It was quite funny, but the only local shows my father watched were Ang Bagong Kampeon and Aawitan Kita. And he can’t bring himself to sing even in these days of the ubiquitous videokes.
The Real Queen....the Other Queen.
The REAL Queen
The Other Queen
by Arnel Resma Ramos
In Kaya Kong Abutin Ang Langit, she was a woman of avarice. As the gamine Inday Bote, she tickled our funny bones. In Saan Darating Ang Umaga?, she reduced us to tears as the daughter forced by a tragedy to mature way beyond her age. Three disparate characters, one solitary thespian -- the luminously versatile Maricel Soriano.
Notorious for her candor in a world of duplicitous sweetness and put-on smiles, she has been widely unpopular, with the most derogatory of titles heaped upon her, from Taray Queen to the Bad Girl of local filmdom. But through it all, Soriano has seemingly endured. She has lingered where lesser stars would have long vanished into oblivion.
It is a common consensus that the 80's belonged to Sharon Cuneta. Some movie observers even believe the so-called megastar was the sole queen of that decade. Soriano has often been dismissed as the "other queen".
But there was a time in the late 80s when the "other queen" dominated the box-office, turning out one mammoth blockbuster after another. But for some strange, mysterious reason, she was left uncrowned.
Maricel, affectionately nicknamed Marya, started out as a screen tyke. She became a household name thanks to her role as Dolphy's youngest child Shirley Puruntong in what was perhaps the longest-running sitcom on local TV, John en Marsha.
She dazzled the film world next as a teen idol. Together with William Martinez of the toothy smiles, she became part of one of the most memorable love teams in the history of local movies, with riotous films like Galawgaw and Pabling and the unabashedly romantic Hindi Kita Malimot in their combined filmography.
She bid the scene farewell for a while in the early 90s to plunge into a marriage that proved to be disastrous, dissipating into thin air after less than two years. With her failed marriage behind her, she bounced back to the top with amazing resoluteness.
In 1992, she delivered what is arguably her most splendid portrayal to date as the lonely heiress in Ikaw Pa Lang Ang Minahal, a reworking of the Olivia de Havilland classic The Heiress. Without her brilliant performance in it, the movie would have ended up as no more than a grand though somewhat hackneyed melodrama. Soriano lifted it out of the commonplace with her awesome transformation from a mousy spinster to an assertive woman.
Then came the award-giving season for that particular year. Soriano attended every awards night but in each of them, she went home empty-handed, save perhaps for a broken heart and a crushed spirit.
Her career suffered a decline when her much-touted acting vehicle, Mila, an artistic misfire, failed to lure the moviegoers into the theaters.
But Soriano, like the legendary phoenix of Greek mythology, remains a formidable presence amid a dying industry. Without her, the movie firmament is not as bright, not as shimmering.
Her numerous followers look up to her as a tower of strength. More than her acting prowess, her chameleon-like ability to shift from comedy to drama with enviable ease, Soriano is a constant reminder for those who are on the edge of hopelessness that battles are meant to be fought, head-on, no matter what the outcome.
We wish to take this one chance to celebrate the joy of watching Maricel Soriano on both the big and small screens for almost three decades now --- always aglow, always moving.
For how can one erase in the memory the many faces of Maricel Soriano, the actress? Of how she ran in the rains after being deserted by her opportunistic lover in Ikaw Pa Lang Ang Minahal. Of how she smiled through her tears while entertaining a suitor in The Graduates. Of how she brought the house down as
the triplets in Maria Went to Town.
These images will stay in the mind, indelible and immune to the ravages of time.
The Other Queen
by Arnel Resma Ramos
In Kaya Kong Abutin Ang Langit, she was a woman of avarice. As the gamine Inday Bote, she tickled our funny bones. In Saan Darating Ang Umaga?, she reduced us to tears as the daughter forced by a tragedy to mature way beyond her age. Three disparate characters, one solitary thespian -- the luminously versatile Maricel Soriano.
Notorious for her candor in a world of duplicitous sweetness and put-on smiles, she has been widely unpopular, with the most derogatory of titles heaped upon her, from Taray Queen to the Bad Girl of local filmdom. But through it all, Soriano has seemingly endured. She has lingered where lesser stars would have long vanished into oblivion.
It is a common consensus that the 80's belonged to Sharon Cuneta. Some movie observers even believe the so-called megastar was the sole queen of that decade. Soriano has often been dismissed as the "other queen".
But there was a time in the late 80s when the "other queen" dominated the box-office, turning out one mammoth blockbuster after another. But for some strange, mysterious reason, she was left uncrowned.
Maricel, affectionately nicknamed Marya, started out as a screen tyke. She became a household name thanks to her role as Dolphy's youngest child Shirley Puruntong in what was perhaps the longest-running sitcom on local TV, John en Marsha.
She dazzled the film world next as a teen idol. Together with William Martinez of the toothy smiles, she became part of one of the most memorable love teams in the history of local movies, with riotous films like Galawgaw and Pabling and the unabashedly romantic Hindi Kita Malimot in their combined filmography.
She bid the scene farewell for a while in the early 90s to plunge into a marriage that proved to be disastrous, dissipating into thin air after less than two years. With her failed marriage behind her, she bounced back to the top with amazing resoluteness.
In 1992, she delivered what is arguably her most splendid portrayal to date as the lonely heiress in Ikaw Pa Lang Ang Minahal, a reworking of the Olivia de Havilland classic The Heiress. Without her brilliant performance in it, the movie would have ended up as no more than a grand though somewhat hackneyed melodrama. Soriano lifted it out of the commonplace with her awesome transformation from a mousy spinster to an assertive woman.
Then came the award-giving season for that particular year. Soriano attended every awards night but in each of them, she went home empty-handed, save perhaps for a broken heart and a crushed spirit.
Her career suffered a decline when her much-touted acting vehicle, Mila, an artistic misfire, failed to lure the moviegoers into the theaters.
But Soriano, like the legendary phoenix of Greek mythology, remains a formidable presence amid a dying industry. Without her, the movie firmament is not as bright, not as shimmering.
Her numerous followers look up to her as a tower of strength. More than her acting prowess, her chameleon-like ability to shift from comedy to drama with enviable ease, Soriano is a constant reminder for those who are on the edge of hopelessness that battles are meant to be fought, head-on, no matter what the outcome.
We wish to take this one chance to celebrate the joy of watching Maricel Soriano on both the big and small screens for almost three decades now --- always aglow, always moving.
For how can one erase in the memory the many faces of Maricel Soriano, the actress? Of how she ran in the rains after being deserted by her opportunistic lover in Ikaw Pa Lang Ang Minahal. Of how she smiled through her tears while entertaining a suitor in The Graduates. Of how she brought the house down as
the triplets in Maria Went to Town.
These images will stay in the mind, indelible and immune to the ravages of time.
My Diamond star.
by heartbeat1996
Diamond Star Maricel Soriano will always be one of the pillars of Philippine showbiz, that can never be questioned.
Truly an icon that was created from her exceptional craft and alwaysadmired by her colleagues: directors; producers; co-actors ; staff and crews.
It can now be told that her enormous talent and versatility has been proven her movies, tv shows and endorsements.
With the elegant looks she has, she’s truly incomparable and still can be paired with young actors of this generation, those child actors that were once cast as her sons in her past films
With any role given, she gives life and justification that can never be forgotten by the people and etched in showbiz history.
Maricel Soriano will always be the best among her contemporaries without any hype, bureaucracy, with less power and influence that insecured actresses possess and use to their advantages.
No one can ever put Maricel Soriano down.
Her fans, supporters, admirers can attest to that because we Maricelians will fight till the end.
Diamond Star Maricel Soriano will always be one of the pillars of Philippine showbiz, that can never be questioned.
Truly an icon that was created from her exceptional craft and alwaysadmired by her colleagues: directors; producers; co-actors ; staff and crews.
It can now be told that her enormous talent and versatility has been proven her movies, tv shows and endorsements.
With the elegant looks she has, she’s truly incomparable and still can be paired with young actors of this generation, those child actors that were once cast as her sons in her past films
With any role given, she gives life and justification that can never be forgotten by the people and etched in showbiz history.
Maricel Soriano will always be the best among her contemporaries without any hype, bureaucracy, with less power and influence that insecured actresses possess and use to their advantages.
No one can ever put Maricel Soriano down.
Her fans, supporters, admirers can attest to that because we Maricelians will fight till the end.
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Fortified from thereon.
courtesy of Piggs
From Filmbug
I am a 36-year old guy working as a social worker in Mindanao. The first Maricel Soriano film I ever saw at the age of 17 was Hinugot sa Langit, a movie I thought was too dark and gloomy to appreciate. What do you expect from a teener who had not gone significantly through life.
I did not like the film and by curtain’s call Maricel was still insignificant to me, although I was able to write and submit a Humanities 101 reaction paper and got an A grade for the report.
My real initiation to a Maricel Soriano-fun-ride came with Maria Went To Town. Aside from teen-themed movies like Bagets, I was into watching comedy movies. The movie was downright hilarious, and its lead star was amazingly prolific as if she was doing the 3 roles with such incredible ease like the palm of her hand.
Until now, I think no one in here league can do the movie as she did. The only possible star who would have been credible acting the part would be the late Nida Blanca.
From then on, I have been an avid fan. Maricel, Snooky and Jackielou Blanco were the most written and covered stars during the Artista-Jingle-Orig Magazines heydays. Sharon came much too late.
In the post-EDSA ! scenario, Intrigue and Expose came, with its perennial cover and subject – Maricel Soriano. I remember during these times, I would be reading in columns and Letters-to-the-Ed sections of the magazines eloquent appreciations and adoration of fans from different part of the country, most notably that group who calimed to be from La Carlota Negros. Napaka-articulate ng mga ka-fans na yon. That early, it was already clear to me Maricel Soriano was the luckiest artista in the land. Precisely because she had fans who are intelligent, cultured, educated and who knew the rights reasons for their adoration of her. Unfortunately, fans of other stars extremely failed in comparison.
The same thing is true at present, going by the way fans defend her here at filmbug. So I wanna add my voice to the growing number of Maricel Soriano filmbug “fighters”
Why do I love Maricel Soriano? Aside from her artistry, I am inspired by her rags-to-riches story. That, to me, makes her genuine and a true person whom, I, as an ordinary mortal, can identify with. She was poor, lived a hard life, but struggled her way to stardom and not let anything – not the trappings of power and celebrity – get in the way. She’s not perfect. She was mean at times, a living proof of non-conforming snooty artista from the block. But this was exactly the reason I adored her. Seldom do we find an artista who defies celebrity norms, and one who chooses to live by her own rules.
Her beauty is a mystery. I have seen her a million times in photos, in films and on TV until she became just one of those artistas. Familiarity, as they say, breeds a feeling of routine, and reduces the sense of awe. But lo! I saw here one time in Greenhills and I thought I had never seen anyone as awesomely beautiful as she is. The skin, so flawless and fair! Was this the same Maricel Soriano that rose from poverty! It is true, Dina, Snooky and Sharon look like her alalays beside her.
My admiration fortified from thereon.
From Filmbug
I am a 36-year old guy working as a social worker in Mindanao. The first Maricel Soriano film I ever saw at the age of 17 was Hinugot sa Langit, a movie I thought was too dark and gloomy to appreciate. What do you expect from a teener who had not gone significantly through life.
I did not like the film and by curtain’s call Maricel was still insignificant to me, although I was able to write and submit a Humanities 101 reaction paper and got an A grade for the report.
My real initiation to a Maricel Soriano-fun-ride came with Maria Went To Town. Aside from teen-themed movies like Bagets, I was into watching comedy movies. The movie was downright hilarious, and its lead star was amazingly prolific as if she was doing the 3 roles with such incredible ease like the palm of her hand.
Until now, I think no one in here league can do the movie as she did. The only possible star who would have been credible acting the part would be the late Nida Blanca.
From then on, I have been an avid fan. Maricel, Snooky and Jackielou Blanco were the most written and covered stars during the Artista-Jingle-Orig Magazines heydays. Sharon came much too late.
In the post-EDSA ! scenario, Intrigue and Expose came, with its perennial cover and subject – Maricel Soriano. I remember during these times, I would be reading in columns and Letters-to-the-Ed sections of the magazines eloquent appreciations and adoration of fans from different part of the country, most notably that group who calimed to be from La Carlota Negros. Napaka-articulate ng mga ka-fans na yon. That early, it was already clear to me Maricel Soriano was the luckiest artista in the land. Precisely because she had fans who are intelligent, cultured, educated and who knew the rights reasons for their adoration of her. Unfortunately, fans of other stars extremely failed in comparison.
The same thing is true at present, going by the way fans defend her here at filmbug. So I wanna add my voice to the growing number of Maricel Soriano filmbug “fighters”
Why do I love Maricel Soriano? Aside from her artistry, I am inspired by her rags-to-riches story. That, to me, makes her genuine and a true person whom, I, as an ordinary mortal, can identify with. She was poor, lived a hard life, but struggled her way to stardom and not let anything – not the trappings of power and celebrity – get in the way. She’s not perfect. She was mean at times, a living proof of non-conforming snooty artista from the block. But this was exactly the reason I adored her. Seldom do we find an artista who defies celebrity norms, and one who chooses to live by her own rules.
Her beauty is a mystery. I have seen her a million times in photos, in films and on TV until she became just one of those artistas. Familiarity, as they say, breeds a feeling of routine, and reduces the sense of awe. But lo! I saw here one time in Greenhills and I thought I had never seen anyone as awesomely beautiful as she is. The skin, so flawless and fair! Was this the same Maricel Soriano that rose from poverty! It is true, Dina, Snooky and Sharon look like her alalays beside her.
My admiration fortified from thereon.
Maricel! Maricel!
by: Prof Jojo
2009 may not be exactly a "best" year for the Diamond Star, but it can't be refuted that she made a mark -- not through senseless publicity, paid-hallelujiahs or shameful controversies.
Maricel Soriano in April 2009 proved to all and sundry that she is still a strong box-office draw. "T2", her solo-starrer made a killing at the box-office with a nationwide gross of P122 million pesos. The Diamond Star managed to achieve this triumph ON HER OWN STRENGTH! Walang kasamang ai-ai delas alas or sangkatutak na supporting stars like kris aquino, zsa zsa padilla, heart evangelista.
The tremendous success of "T2" can be credited solely to Maricel Soriano and it is a testament to her 30 years of box-office supremacy!
Maricel Soriano reivented herself by being chosen as a Best-Dressed celebrity by a reputable glossy fashion mag, Preview. She will forever be glorified as a woman of style slash a woman of substance. Who would ever imagine that a once perceived bakya, palengkera, idolo ng masa would emerge as one of the Philippines' impeccable fahsion icon?
Maricel, born in a poor family and worked hard as a breadwinner, was somehow deprived of the finest things in life. AFter all, she was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth -- unlike cuneta -- but Maricel managed to to achieve REINVENTION effortlessly! She could well be attributed the title "Revolutionary Queen of Fashion!"
Maricel Soriano made televiewers watched her night after night with so much awe and pure admiration for her geat thespic talents via "Florinda." It was a role only THE MARICEL SORIANO cold sink her teeth into with great intensity and flawless competence.
"Florinda" may have been shortlived and didn't make it to the number one spot, but it survived competition against a more established show "Survivor Philippines" on its 2nd season.
What is indeed surprising was that despite MAricel's absence in the promotion of the show, her presence was still strongly felt by those who remained faithful to the teleserye until its last episode. Kung umabot lang ng one season ang "Florinda", lilimasin ni Maricel lahat ng Best Actress awards for TV, no doubt about it!
Maricel Soriano in 2009 showed everyone what LOYALTY really means. Alaska and Aji-Ginisa renewed her endorsement contract for the nth time -- making MAricel a most trusted product endorser. Hindi na niya kailangan magpasulot at mag-demand ng kung ano-ano para bigyan siya ng importansiya ng mga produktong ini-endorso niya.
Hindi man ganun karami ang product endorsements niya compared with cuneta and kris, yet Maricel is still considered one of the most credible celebrities that can carry a brand and improve tremendously its sales.
Walang taga-advertising industry ang makapagsasabi na ang isang Maricel Soriano ay kaliwa't kanan kung tumanggap ng endorsements dahil lang ss PERA! As an endorser, Maricel's integrity remains intact at yun ang pinaka-importante sa lahat.
With the many unconfirmed and pending news about Maricel's transfer to GMA or renewal with ABS-CBN, mas lalong napapatunayan na kahit hindi mag-iingay ang isang Maricel Soriano ay nagagawa niyang ngaragin ang ABS-CBN/Star Cinema. Only a Maricel Soriano can ensue a network bidding war!
Hindi nag-iingay ang isang Maricel Soriano for after all, she was once quoted, "Hindi lahat ng maingay ay may laman!" TOTOO ITO, DI BA, SHARON CUNETA?
Hindi rin lahat ng dumadakdak ay dapat pinakikinggan! TOTOO DIN ITO, DI BA, KRIS AQUINO?
Maricel's golden silence will soon be broken with surefire news of her career moves. And when that happens, ITO YUNG INGAY NA MABIBINGI ANG LAHAT!
2009 may not be exactly a "best" year for the Diamond Star, but it can't be refuted that she made a mark -- not through senseless publicity, paid-hallelujiahs or shameful controversies.
Maricel Soriano in April 2009 proved to all and sundry that she is still a strong box-office draw. "T2", her solo-starrer made a killing at the box-office with a nationwide gross of P122 million pesos. The Diamond Star managed to achieve this triumph ON HER OWN STRENGTH! Walang kasamang ai-ai delas alas or sangkatutak na supporting stars like kris aquino, zsa zsa padilla, heart evangelista.
The tremendous success of "T2" can be credited solely to Maricel Soriano and it is a testament to her 30 years of box-office supremacy!
Maricel Soriano reivented herself by being chosen as a Best-Dressed celebrity by a reputable glossy fashion mag, Preview. She will forever be glorified as a woman of style slash a woman of substance. Who would ever imagine that a once perceived bakya, palengkera, idolo ng masa would emerge as one of the Philippines' impeccable fahsion icon?
Maricel, born in a poor family and worked hard as a breadwinner, was somehow deprived of the finest things in life. AFter all, she was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth -- unlike cuneta -- but Maricel managed to to achieve REINVENTION effortlessly! She could well be attributed the title "Revolutionary Queen of Fashion!"
Maricel Soriano made televiewers watched her night after night with so much awe and pure admiration for her geat thespic talents via "Florinda." It was a role only THE MARICEL SORIANO cold sink her teeth into with great intensity and flawless competence.
"Florinda" may have been shortlived and didn't make it to the number one spot, but it survived competition against a more established show "Survivor Philippines" on its 2nd season.
What is indeed surprising was that despite MAricel's absence in the promotion of the show, her presence was still strongly felt by those who remained faithful to the teleserye until its last episode. Kung umabot lang ng one season ang "Florinda", lilimasin ni Maricel lahat ng Best Actress awards for TV, no doubt about it!
Maricel Soriano in 2009 showed everyone what LOYALTY really means. Alaska and Aji-Ginisa renewed her endorsement contract for the nth time -- making MAricel a most trusted product endorser. Hindi na niya kailangan magpasulot at mag-demand ng kung ano-ano para bigyan siya ng importansiya ng mga produktong ini-endorso niya.
Hindi man ganun karami ang product endorsements niya compared with cuneta and kris, yet Maricel is still considered one of the most credible celebrities that can carry a brand and improve tremendously its sales.
Walang taga-advertising industry ang makapagsasabi na ang isang Maricel Soriano ay kaliwa't kanan kung tumanggap ng endorsements dahil lang ss PERA! As an endorser, Maricel's integrity remains intact at yun ang pinaka-importante sa lahat.
With the many unconfirmed and pending news about Maricel's transfer to GMA or renewal with ABS-CBN, mas lalong napapatunayan na kahit hindi mag-iingay ang isang Maricel Soriano ay nagagawa niyang ngaragin ang ABS-CBN/Star Cinema. Only a Maricel Soriano can ensue a network bidding war!
Hindi nag-iingay ang isang Maricel Soriano for after all, she was once quoted, "Hindi lahat ng maingay ay may laman!" TOTOO ITO, DI BA, SHARON CUNETA?
Hindi rin lahat ng dumadakdak ay dapat pinakikinggan! TOTOO DIN ITO, DI BA, KRIS AQUINO?
Maricel's golden silence will soon be broken with surefire news of her career moves. And when that happens, ITO YUNG INGAY NA MABIBINGI ANG LAHAT!
Monday, 2 November 2009
Best Dressed at 44.
Back in the 80s, Maricel Soriano was known to be a good dresser. She would always figured prominently on surveys about Best Dressed female celebrities.
But 80s fashion is rather eclectic and flashy. The fashion trend as we all know has been replaced and then recycled ten times fold since then.
And like the fashion trends that evolved through the decades, Maricel Soriano has evolved as well into an elegant celebrity who would always try to dress up impecabbly at any ocassion you will find her in.
This and her taste for clothes and brands has landed her on top list of this year's Top 10 Best Dressed Female of Preview Magazine.
Something to be truly proud of. Afterall, not every 44 year old female celebrity in town dresses as elegant as she is.
Below are some of the comments who have seen the cover of Preview.
Your favorite fashion compendium does it again: Preview stays true to its cutting-edge roots by featuring none other than the illustrious and beautiful Maricel Soriano on the cover of its July 2009 issue, which also holds their annual best-dressed roster, a buzzworthy, elite lineup of Manila's most fashionably fabulous.
The diamond star, bedecked in a Balmain-inspired band jacket and Style Break distressed denims (a Style Bible hot pick at The Mall), proves that fierce fashion needn't come at a nosebleed price. And when it comes to beauty, nothing else characterizes her more than that perfect, snow white complexion, succulent, sophisticated lips and eyes that speak volumes. Wrap it all up in a dignified package that's one part couture chic and one part commercial success, and you've got a sure box office record-breaker.—Eunice Lucero, Beauty Editor
Source: http://bettyinme.blogspot.com/2009/07/maricel-soriano-for-july-preview.html
Gosh. Well so nice to see Maricel in a very stylish way. Kudos to Pauline and Vince, I love Preview so much. - It's like a gift that makes me giggle by surprise every month.
Source: http://chanchancharlie.blogspot.com/2009/08/july-preview-maricel-soriano.html
I know this is so late.
But let me just say this, I want more issues like this.
We see Maricel rock a drama scene, but--- cover of a fashion magazine? I wasn't expecting that she would do this. Okay, I see her wearing sophisticated clothes, in interviews. She looks simple, yet very mayaman.
I think this is the best issue, after recession struck the magazine industry. Preview's cover this July really crapped Mega's.
GLOBAL MARICELIANS - PARA KAY MARYA!
by: Renz
Maipagmamalaki kong ako'y isang Maricelian
Tagahangang nabubuhay sa katotohanan
Sa ating samahan aking nasumpungan
Isang masayang pangalawang tahanan.
Dito marami akong naging kaibigan
Nakatago man ang ating pagkakilanlan
Subalit nagkakaisa at nagtutulungan
Pag isang Maricelian ay nangangailangan.
Akin ng babanggitin, Maricelians sa buong mundo
Ibang klase talaga, itong ating grupo
Simulan ko na sa akin, Renzzo kung ako'y tawagin
Ng Reyna ng Saudi na sa 'ki'y papansin!
Tubong Zamboanga, ang malambing na si Nussty
Si Larry ng Cavite, me gandang pang Binibini
Atin ding pagpugayan, Diyosa ng Australyang si Ana
Isali si Patricia, ang nympha ng Alemanya.
Buo pa ang pagkababae ni Miss Lett ng Taiwan
Sina Ron at Knielle mga guro sa Thailand
Si Chie ng Qatar, Laarney at Angie sa Dubai
Pag nagsama sama, puno ng kulay ang buhay.
Umaapela si Janice, the pretty miss of Venice
Di rin dapat ma miss, Yedda Marie na makinis
Kung yaman ang hanap, pasok from NY si Ka Willy
Isama rin natin sina Tina, Fussy, Dennis of LA.
Sa Pex ko nakilala, Lorna Marie ng California
Hanga ako sa kanya, siya'y mag aabogada
Atin ding ipasok ang fighter na si Melchora,
Clarissa ng Amerika, at Hummer ng Canada.
Naglaho si Ms. Eva Kulaw, ang Mila ng Ermita
Nagpalit ng pagkatao, naging Clifford na siya
Asan na si Brent, ang ex-lover in Larry
Na mi miss ko na rin sina Tiny, HBK at MJ.
Ilista pa natin, iba pa nating kapatiran
Na pag di ko maisali baka ako'y biglang tarayan
Si Mark ng Laguna, isang gurong kapitag pitagan
Si Prof Jojo until death, si Marya'y handang ipaglaban!
Atin ding isa isahin ang mga tunay na barako
Dahil mga pangalan nila, nagtatapos sa O
Hari ng Gateway Mall, itong si Drew Kalbo
Prinsipe ng Aramco, itong si igang Molato.
Halika ka na't sumali, kaibigang Carlo
Sa di nakakaalam, si Chickyboy siya dito
Itong si 5eleven, may dugong English at Tsino
Halika ka din at sumali ka sa grupo ng mga macho.
Kung labanan naman ng English wala akong masabi
Daphne ng UK at sa sobrang galing na Montogawe
Monang Carvajal, Maricelian4life at damntrish
Dudugo ang tainga mo, pag sila na'y mag English.
Wag sanang magtampo si Jhoemmar ng USA
Kung ang pangalan mo'y nakalagay sa medyo huli
Isasama kita sa Presidente nating si Marie
at sa isa ko pang paboritong si Mami Tomodachi.
Pagpasok ng Reyna, pakibuka ng bulaklak
Reynang kahali halina ang hatid na halimuyak
Kilala siya ng lahat, ganda niya'y walang kapara
Luciam124, anong sinabi sa 'yo ni Cleopatra.
May resident doctor din itong ating tahanan
Identity31 ang kanyang pangalan
Kung nurses ang hanap, tayoý di makukulangan
Mike Angelo, Jhayabakla, Trisha at London Fan.
Gusto ko ring pagpugayan, dalawang kong kaibigan
Sa pakikipagbaka, akin silang kasabayan
Loyalista ng Canada, Reynolds, nurse sa Florida
Pina ban ng mga chichis, dahil talunan sila.
Gusto ding ipasama, nitong si Ate Ana
Si Mike ng Sydney na nagbigay discount sa kanya
O kay sarap, o kay saya saya, di ba Elka?
Global Maricelians, sadyang nagkakaisa.
Akalain mo ba naman, Miss Maricel Soriano
Me Junior Maricelians din na nahuhumaling sa iyo
Me lalaking six-footer pangalan nya'y Manou
Ibang klase din ang galing ng batang si Nuchamo.
Kung CIA itong si JNN, di pahuhuli si ML ng FBI
Merong Kikay_gurl at Kikaypal din itong ating hanay
Sa Florida napadpad ang magandang si Kikaypal
In fighting the chichis, Kikay_gurl is my pal.
Hayan na't umaapela, Arabingbing na si Nussty
Dapat daw si Jon Ganda Ruiz, ang hiranging Miss USA
O siya, o siya, wala namang talagang kokontra
Siguradong agree din sina Ricomambo at Miss_wah.
Atin ding dalawin ang lupain ng mga Hapon
Kung saan nakatira, si Kuchiwarang magayon
Makakalimutan ba natin, ang seksing si Hampy
Pag siya ang tumira, siguradong ika'y mawiwili.
Pagdating sa artworks, palakpakan si romanticmocha
si Bien25, gawa niya'y pagkaganda ganda
Kung kabanalan ang hanap, kay Bro Sojourner lumapit
Mga message ni BJ, tulong sa pag akyat sa Langit.
Pero kung yosi at beer, ang iyong hilig forever
Ipapakilala ka namin kay lovely wonderchaser
Isama ko na rin si Armand, Brainy Brian at Afril
At ang pasulpot sulpot lang na sina Noel at Samuel.
Balikan uli natin ang mainit na disyerto ng Saudi
Kung saan nagtatrabaho sina Marlboro at Rolly
Isang maligayang pagbati din kay Heartbeat ng UAE
Kalagayan niyo sana diyan, lagi lang sa mabuti.
Inako na ni Mico, ang taray queen na titulo
Dahil sa ngayon, si Maricel daw talagang nag mellow
Walang kasing saya, si Prof Jessie ng Bataan
Nang si Maricel dumalaw para siyaý suportahan.
Pasensiya na po sa lahat, sa mga nagrereklamo
Kung di ko agad nasasama mga pangalan niyo
Sa dami ba kasi natin, o kayhirap talagang humabi
Ng mga talatang malutong pag binigkas ng labi.
Katulad ng isa pa nating nurse na nagngangalang Ana
Nasa Lebanon na pala nakakita ng grasya.
Ito ding si Rowie, sa Iraq nakipagsapalaran
Hindi niya inalintana anumang kapahamakan.
Matagal ng avid fan si ab, Librarian ng UP Diliman
Mahinahon ngunit palaban din naman itong si Johan
Si taga-opis ng La Salle, laging may bitbit na balita
Tungkol kay Marron na sa La Salle lagi niyang nakikita.
Gusto ko ring maalala niyo ang ating Nay Badazzzzz
Kapiling na siya ngayon ng Panginoon don sa Itaas
Kaysarap balikan, panahong siya'y sa ating kapiling
sa Yes Magazine voting, winner tayo sa ending.
Naalala ko ding bigla, ang energetic na si Alodia
Siya ang puno't dulo ng ating pagkakaisa
Sana'y mabasa niya ito o sa kanya'ý may magsabi
Maging active na sana siya, katulad ng dati.
Kayo ding Maricelians na matagal di nagpapakita
Teroy, Moviedik, Naggirl, Kreeme tagal niyong nawala
Kami'y maghihintay, hinding hindi magsasawa
Pag kayo'y magsibalik, Maricelians matutuwa.
Akala ko nabanggit ko na ang kumpletong listahan
Hindi ko sukat akalaing dami ko pang nakalimutan
Kaya madadagdagan ng marami pang talata
Itong aking pinaghihirapang, isang munting tula.
Island of Singapore, ating liparin lang sandali
Para maisama si Lawrence sa 'ting kandili
Nakahanap naman ng swerte sa land of milk and honey
Sina C'dreamin , Lukaret pati si Tita Dairy
Sigurado akong sa akin din siya ay magagalit
Isang malapit na kaibigang pangalan niya ay Pirate
Pagpasensiyahan mo na kung agad kita nabanggit
Kasama sina Arbee, Brugest, Amalia, Marvs33 at Ophet.
May tatalo pa ba sa ginawa ni Dave_blanch ng Cebu
Lumipad ng Maynila, mapanood lang movie ng idolo
Ito namang si Ultimatum, picture ni Maricel ang nakadisplay
Sa kanyang office, para trabaho niya'y maging swabe.
Ikutin ang mundo, ang drama ng seamang si Giggs
Tubong Bulacan si Gregg, mahilig sa Lechon si Piggs
Palaban si Octagon, Dancing Queen daw si Vina
At itong si Lestat, Iloilo ang palangga nga banwa.
Itong aking tula, iniaalay din namin kay Marya
Upang kaming mga kaibigan, kanya ding maalala
Kami'ý nagmamahal, tunay ang aming pag ibig
Na hindi mapantayan, anong yaman man ng daigdig.
Ang amin ding dalangin, nawa'y lagi kang gabayan
Ilayo sa panganib, o ano mang kapahamakan
Lagi mo sanang tandaang hinding hindi ka nag iisa
Laging karamay mo kami, sa hirap at ginhawa.
Maraming salamat uli sa mga nasiyahan
Sa mga kaibigang, pangalan nilaý sa listahan
Gustong magpahabol, isang seaman from Laguna
Nasa Dubai siya ngayon, Syokoy siya at di sirena.
Kung gusto mo ng update galing sa Star Cinema
Maaasahan si Reck, ngunit nasaan na ba siya?
Silent water runs deep, nahan ka na rin ba?
Halina na kayong lahat, tuloy dito ang ligaya.
Si siDarnaAko, bakit si Super Inday ang paborito?
At si Rico ng Dubai, isang magaling na arkitekto
Kahit Maricelian si Raci, humahanga din kay Angelika
Kasama si Chole, at teamshine na dating Irene Cara.
Marami na ring mga pagbabago itong ating mundo
Lumindol man o bumagyo, solid Maricelians pa rin tayo
Deter Ramos, Tiger X, Bratty, Thespis at Elmo
Forever Friends ni Maricel, mga tunay at totoo.
by: Renz
Maipagmamalaki kong ako'y isang Maricelian
Tagahangang nabubuhay sa katotohanan
Sa ating samahan aking nasumpungan
Isang masayang pangalawang tahanan.
Dito marami akong naging kaibigan
Nakatago man ang ating pagkakilanlan
Subalit nagkakaisa at nagtutulungan
Pag isang Maricelian ay nangangailangan.
Akin ng babanggitin, Maricelians sa buong mundo
Ibang klase talaga, itong ating grupo
Simulan ko na sa akin, Renzzo kung ako'y tawagin
Ng Reyna ng Saudi na sa 'ki'y papansin!
Tubong Zamboanga, ang malambing na si Nussty
Si Larry ng Cavite, me gandang pang Binibini
Atin ding pagpugayan, Diyosa ng Australyang si Ana
Isali si Patricia, ang nympha ng Alemanya.
Buo pa ang pagkababae ni Miss Lett ng Taiwan
Sina Ron at Knielle mga guro sa Thailand
Si Chie ng Qatar, Laarney at Angie sa Dubai
Pag nagsama sama, puno ng kulay ang buhay.
Umaapela si Janice, the pretty miss of Venice
Di rin dapat ma miss, Yedda Marie na makinis
Kung yaman ang hanap, pasok from NY si Ka Willy
Isama rin natin sina Tina, Fussy, Dennis of LA.
Sa Pex ko nakilala, Lorna Marie ng California
Hanga ako sa kanya, siya'y mag aabogada
Atin ding ipasok ang fighter na si Melchora,
Clarissa ng Amerika, at Hummer ng Canada.
Naglaho si Ms. Eva Kulaw, ang Mila ng Ermita
Nagpalit ng pagkatao, naging Clifford na siya
Asan na si Brent, ang ex-lover in Larry
Na mi miss ko na rin sina Tiny, HBK at MJ.
Ilista pa natin, iba pa nating kapatiran
Na pag di ko maisali baka ako'y biglang tarayan
Si Mark ng Laguna, isang gurong kapitag pitagan
Si Prof Jojo until death, si Marya'y handang ipaglaban!
Atin ding isa isahin ang mga tunay na barako
Dahil mga pangalan nila, nagtatapos sa O
Hari ng Gateway Mall, itong si Drew Kalbo
Prinsipe ng Aramco, itong si igang Molato.
Halika ka na't sumali, kaibigang Carlo
Sa di nakakaalam, si Chickyboy siya dito
Itong si 5eleven, may dugong English at Tsino
Halika ka din at sumali ka sa grupo ng mga macho.
Kung labanan naman ng English wala akong masabi
Daphne ng UK at sa sobrang galing na Montogawe
Monang Carvajal, Maricelian4life at damntrish
Dudugo ang tainga mo, pag sila na'y mag English.
Wag sanang magtampo si Jhoemmar ng USA
Kung ang pangalan mo'y nakalagay sa medyo huli
Isasama kita sa Presidente nating si Marie
at sa isa ko pang paboritong si Mami Tomodachi.
Pagpasok ng Reyna, pakibuka ng bulaklak
Reynang kahali halina ang hatid na halimuyak
Kilala siya ng lahat, ganda niya'y walang kapara
Luciam124, anong sinabi sa 'yo ni Cleopatra.
May resident doctor din itong ating tahanan
Identity31 ang kanyang pangalan
Kung nurses ang hanap, tayoý di makukulangan
Mike Angelo, Jhayabakla, Trisha at London Fan.
Gusto ko ring pagpugayan, dalawang kong kaibigan
Sa pakikipagbaka, akin silang kasabayan
Loyalista ng Canada, Reynolds, nurse sa Florida
Pina ban ng mga chichis, dahil talunan sila.
Gusto ding ipasama, nitong si Ate Ana
Si Mike ng Sydney na nagbigay discount sa kanya
O kay sarap, o kay saya saya, di ba Elka?
Global Maricelians, sadyang nagkakaisa.
Akalain mo ba naman, Miss Maricel Soriano
Me Junior Maricelians din na nahuhumaling sa iyo
Me lalaking six-footer pangalan nya'y Manou
Ibang klase din ang galing ng batang si Nuchamo.
Kung CIA itong si JNN, di pahuhuli si ML ng FBI
Merong Kikay_gurl at Kikaypal din itong ating hanay
Sa Florida napadpad ang magandang si Kikaypal
In fighting the chichis, Kikay_gurl is my pal.
Hayan na't umaapela, Arabingbing na si Nussty
Dapat daw si Jon Ganda Ruiz, ang hiranging Miss USA
O siya, o siya, wala namang talagang kokontra
Siguradong agree din sina Ricomambo at Miss_wah.
Atin ding dalawin ang lupain ng mga Hapon
Kung saan nakatira, si Kuchiwarang magayon
Makakalimutan ba natin, ang seksing si Hampy
Pag siya ang tumira, siguradong ika'y mawiwili.
Pagdating sa artworks, palakpakan si romanticmocha
si Bien25, gawa niya'y pagkaganda ganda
Kung kabanalan ang hanap, kay Bro Sojourner lumapit
Mga message ni BJ, tulong sa pag akyat sa Langit.
Pero kung yosi at beer, ang iyong hilig forever
Ipapakilala ka namin kay lovely wonderchaser
Isama ko na rin si Armand, Brainy Brian at Afril
At ang pasulpot sulpot lang na sina Noel at Samuel.
Balikan uli natin ang mainit na disyerto ng Saudi
Kung saan nagtatrabaho sina Marlboro at Rolly
Isang maligayang pagbati din kay Heartbeat ng UAE
Kalagayan niyo sana diyan, lagi lang sa mabuti.
Inako na ni Mico, ang taray queen na titulo
Dahil sa ngayon, si Maricel daw talagang nag mellow
Walang kasing saya, si Prof Jessie ng Bataan
Nang si Maricel dumalaw para siyaý suportahan.
Pasensiya na po sa lahat, sa mga nagrereklamo
Kung di ko agad nasasama mga pangalan niyo
Sa dami ba kasi natin, o kayhirap talagang humabi
Ng mga talatang malutong pag binigkas ng labi.
Katulad ng isa pa nating nurse na nagngangalang Ana
Nasa Lebanon na pala nakakita ng grasya.
Ito ding si Rowie, sa Iraq nakipagsapalaran
Hindi niya inalintana anumang kapahamakan.
Matagal ng avid fan si ab, Librarian ng UP Diliman
Mahinahon ngunit palaban din naman itong si Johan
Si taga-opis ng La Salle, laging may bitbit na balita
Tungkol kay Marron na sa La Salle lagi niyang nakikita.
Gusto ko ring maalala niyo ang ating Nay Badazzzzz
Kapiling na siya ngayon ng Panginoon don sa Itaas
Kaysarap balikan, panahong siya'y sa ating kapiling
sa Yes Magazine voting, winner tayo sa ending.
Naalala ko ding bigla, ang energetic na si Alodia
Siya ang puno't dulo ng ating pagkakaisa
Sana'y mabasa niya ito o sa kanya'ý may magsabi
Maging active na sana siya, katulad ng dati.
Kayo ding Maricelians na matagal di nagpapakita
Teroy, Moviedik, Naggirl, Kreeme tagal niyong nawala
Kami'y maghihintay, hinding hindi magsasawa
Pag kayo'y magsibalik, Maricelians matutuwa.
Akala ko nabanggit ko na ang kumpletong listahan
Hindi ko sukat akalaing dami ko pang nakalimutan
Kaya madadagdagan ng marami pang talata
Itong aking pinaghihirapang, isang munting tula.
Island of Singapore, ating liparin lang sandali
Para maisama si Lawrence sa 'ting kandili
Nakahanap naman ng swerte sa land of milk and honey
Sina C'dreamin , Lukaret pati si Tita Dairy
Sigurado akong sa akin din siya ay magagalit
Isang malapit na kaibigang pangalan niya ay Pirate
Pagpasensiyahan mo na kung agad kita nabanggit
Kasama sina Arbee, Brugest, Amalia, Marvs33 at Ophet.
May tatalo pa ba sa ginawa ni Dave_blanch ng Cebu
Lumipad ng Maynila, mapanood lang movie ng idolo
Ito namang si Ultimatum, picture ni Maricel ang nakadisplay
Sa kanyang office, para trabaho niya'y maging swabe.
Ikutin ang mundo, ang drama ng seamang si Giggs
Tubong Bulacan si Gregg, mahilig sa Lechon si Piggs
Palaban si Octagon, Dancing Queen daw si Vina
At itong si Lestat, Iloilo ang palangga nga banwa.
Itong aking tula, iniaalay din namin kay Marya
Upang kaming mga kaibigan, kanya ding maalala
Kami'ý nagmamahal, tunay ang aming pag ibig
Na hindi mapantayan, anong yaman man ng daigdig.
Ang amin ding dalangin, nawa'y lagi kang gabayan
Ilayo sa panganib, o ano mang kapahamakan
Lagi mo sanang tandaang hinding hindi ka nag iisa
Laging karamay mo kami, sa hirap at ginhawa.
Maraming salamat uli sa mga nasiyahan
Sa mga kaibigang, pangalan nilaý sa listahan
Gustong magpahabol, isang seaman from Laguna
Nasa Dubai siya ngayon, Syokoy siya at di sirena.
Kung gusto mo ng update galing sa Star Cinema
Maaasahan si Reck, ngunit nasaan na ba siya?
Silent water runs deep, nahan ka na rin ba?
Halina na kayong lahat, tuloy dito ang ligaya.
Si siDarnaAko, bakit si Super Inday ang paborito?
At si Rico ng Dubai, isang magaling na arkitekto
Kahit Maricelian si Raci, humahanga din kay Angelika
Kasama si Chole, at teamshine na dating Irene Cara.
Marami na ring mga pagbabago itong ating mundo
Lumindol man o bumagyo, solid Maricelians pa rin tayo
Deter Ramos, Tiger X, Bratty, Thespis at Elmo
Forever Friends ni Maricel, mga tunay at totoo.
A League all her own.
A previous post from a fellow maricelian years back....
courtesy of Piggs of Filmbug.
Maricel Soriano is in a league all her own. Among her generation, or even across generations, no other artista has crossed over to various entertainment genre and forms as easily and successfully as she had.
At the onset of her popularity as young actress, she did a couple of record of songs. I saw her once on Eat Bulaga, singing back to back Opalyn Foster, and the latter ate dusts! She was a recording artist!
In 1986, she did a sold-out concert at the Araneta. I saw it on TV and the entire Araneta was filled!
Two years after, she was given a tribute by Regal – a musical extravaganza at the Araneta in celebration of her birthday. This was where she made those classic lines, “di ako mahal ni mother lily; may mahal siyang iba” (referring to Kris Aquino, who would become one of maricel’s good friends). No one could have dared act that way. Only Maricel Soriano. And it earned my – Bravo! Bravo! Attagirl!
I think it was at the same year that she did a fabulous TV special at Channel 2 billed as “Maricel at 17.” A few years after, another special was given her by the same network, “Maricel:22 on 2.” This was also the time she practically lorded it over as Queen of Channel 2 – top-rating Drama Special, followed by another top-rating sitcom. How many blurbs alluded to her during promos as “pinaka-importanteng artista ng Star Cinema?” A number of times. Only Maricel Soriano has been called that, as far as my limited memory can remember.
Now I don’t care whether or not Maricel is more popular than Sharon or any other artista. She has nothing to prove. She is still in a league all her own.
Her filmography is most enviable. Her peers and contemporaries know this much. Who cares about a Grand Slam? Being recognized for all the drama films one after another is an achievement far more remarkable than being awarded for very very few movie roles.
Now I have realized how deep and significant Hinugot sa Langit was! God, how could Marya let out such deep angsts at a very young age, doing situations she might have not fully understood. If that was not sheer talent, I don’t know what talent is.
No one in her generation has been cited and nominated by different Award-Giving Bodies for different roles in a year. Si Maricel Soriano lang. Si Vilma at si Nora pero they are of another generation. Think of Separada and Vampira in 1994 (inlucding pa yata and Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin). Remember Dahas and Inagaw Mo Ang Lahat sa Akin in 1995? Or Ama Ina Anak and Abot-Kamay ang Pangarap in 1996. Meron pa – Minsan Lamang Magmamahal at Nasaan Ang Puso in 1997.
So what if she’s no box-office queen. No formal recognition can erase the fact that along side Sharon Cuneta, she was the only other star who made killings at the box office in the 1980s, and far surpassed Cuneta’s box-office appeal in the 1990s.
Whatever happens, she remains my Diamond Star!
Keeping me in awe!
Inspiring me.
courtesy of Piggs of Filmbug.
Maricel Soriano is in a league all her own. Among her generation, or even across generations, no other artista has crossed over to various entertainment genre and forms as easily and successfully as she had.
At the onset of her popularity as young actress, she did a couple of record of songs. I saw her once on Eat Bulaga, singing back to back Opalyn Foster, and the latter ate dusts! She was a recording artist!
In 1986, she did a sold-out concert at the Araneta. I saw it on TV and the entire Araneta was filled!
Two years after, she was given a tribute by Regal – a musical extravaganza at the Araneta in celebration of her birthday. This was where she made those classic lines, “di ako mahal ni mother lily; may mahal siyang iba” (referring to Kris Aquino, who would become one of maricel’s good friends). No one could have dared act that way. Only Maricel Soriano. And it earned my – Bravo! Bravo! Attagirl!
I think it was at the same year that she did a fabulous TV special at Channel 2 billed as “Maricel at 17.” A few years after, another special was given her by the same network, “Maricel:22 on 2.” This was also the time she practically lorded it over as Queen of Channel 2 – top-rating Drama Special, followed by another top-rating sitcom. How many blurbs alluded to her during promos as “pinaka-importanteng artista ng Star Cinema?” A number of times. Only Maricel Soriano has been called that, as far as my limited memory can remember.
Now I don’t care whether or not Maricel is more popular than Sharon or any other artista. She has nothing to prove. She is still in a league all her own.
Her filmography is most enviable. Her peers and contemporaries know this much. Who cares about a Grand Slam? Being recognized for all the drama films one after another is an achievement far more remarkable than being awarded for very very few movie roles.
Now I have realized how deep and significant Hinugot sa Langit was! God, how could Marya let out such deep angsts at a very young age, doing situations she might have not fully understood. If that was not sheer talent, I don’t know what talent is.
No one in her generation has been cited and nominated by different Award-Giving Bodies for different roles in a year. Si Maricel Soriano lang. Si Vilma at si Nora pero they are of another generation. Think of Separada and Vampira in 1994 (inlucding pa yata and Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin). Remember Dahas and Inagaw Mo Ang Lahat sa Akin in 1995? Or Ama Ina Anak and Abot-Kamay ang Pangarap in 1996. Meron pa – Minsan Lamang Magmamahal at Nasaan Ang Puso in 1997.
So what if she’s no box-office queen. No formal recognition can erase the fact that along side Sharon Cuneta, she was the only other star who made killings at the box office in the 1980s, and far surpassed Cuneta’s box-office appeal in the 1990s.
Whatever happens, she remains my Diamond Star!
Keeping me in awe!
Inspiring me.
Maricel Soriano devotee...WHAT A JOURNEY
Maricel Soriano devotee.
WHAT A JOURNEY
There are Noranians and Vilmanians.
But a fan narrates how he grew up to become a truly zealous Maricel Soriano devotee.
By Arnel Ramos
I grew up escorting my Noranian of a mother to the lone rundown theater in Marikina. Thankfully, she never swayed me into joining her tribe. When I reached 11, I felt the need to find my own “heroine” and it helped that Nanay fully understood. The next thing to do was narrow down my nominees to three – Sharon Cuneta in P.S. I Love You (My verdict: she giggled a lot!), Snooky in Bata Pa Si Sabel (my mom’s verdict: beautiful but there was something disconcerting about her proboscis), and last but not the least, Maricel Soriano in Oh My Mama (our combined judgment: simply enchanting!)
That was the first time a celluloid image left me astounded. And it proved to be more than just a one-movie fling.
After that I fall in love with Maricel Soriano many times over. Galawgaw, Pabling, Hindi Kita Malimot, the list is endless. I saw them all and always I would marvel at how she could hop from comedy to drama to horror (her reluctant bloodsucker in Vampira deservedly won a Best Performer award from the Young Critics Circle). Put her a smorgasboad movie with other stars and she still manages to shine (To Mama With Love, Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang). She made it appear so easy, like she was born to it.
Early on, it became apparent that versatility was her one big edge.
She could be a spitfire one moment and waif-life the next. And the Nora Aunors and Vilma Santoses and Sharon Cunetas of the world could, no – never – make the same claim.
In the grand tradition of every Maricelian who came before and after me, I also went through the usual fan rituals: pasting cut-out pictures from magazines and dailies on notebook; standing among the SRO crowd of a Maricel starrer; asking my mother to watch Schoolgirls in 1982 on its first day of showing only to find out later – hungry and tired – that the Board of Censors has banned it from exhibition; listening to Ate Luds’ radio show where she relentlessly played Maricel’s first and last commercially released single Ngayon at Habang Panahon on the weekday afternoons; and just simply memorizing the lines from her movies. Hay, my classmates and playmates called me luka-luka, but I didn’t really mind.
Years later, when I was already earning my keep, I would allot a fractions of my salary for reading materials that had her on the cover or even just in the inside pages. When our panganay sold my sizable collection (I had dreams of putting an archive) to the junkshop without my knowledge, I considered it a serious crime against human decency and dignity. To this day, the animosity lingers. I had never forgiven my sister for that.
Although never the screaming type who would troop to Broadcast City for the live airing of Maricel Live! or chase after her to some far-flung location shoot, I followed my beloved Marya’s career moves, religiously but, I’d like to believe, in a more sophisticated manner. Her screen feats were always an event. How could you not love her as Shane Rodrigo, the jealous daughter in Saan Darating ang Umaga? who uttered the immortal line ”Wala sa damit, wala sa kulay and pagmamahal..” How could you resist her playing the triplets in Maria Went To Town or as the college graduate turned-yaya in The Graduates (a personal favorite).
While her rivals were still plying the pa-tweetums route, my dear Maricel was making brave, bold career choices. Whether telling everyone “Ayoko ng putik, ayoko ng putik in Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit, chanting her national anthem I Am What I Am in Inday Bote or contemplating abortion in Hinugot sa Langit, Maricel was always intense, passionate, her portrayal fraught with naked pain.
But perhaps, nothing prepared her followers, or even Maricel herself, for the heartbreak that Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal would bring. She could have lost as the mother fighting to keep child in Abandonada or even as the advertising executive smarting up from the marital breakup in Separada. But not as Adela, the avenging heiress, in that reworking of an old Hollywood film. Maricel rose above the trite elements of the plot to embody an unforgettable character – the performance of a lifetime that curiously went unrecognized.
Alas, Maricel, ever a survivor has since moved on – to equally compelling performances (Dahas, Nasaan ang Puso, Soltera), and, as of late, to spiritual maturity (she is showbiz’s official nocturnal Bible text message sender). The foibles (living in with Ronnie Ricketts at age 19, the unsuccessful marriage to Edu Manzano) and idiosyncracies of youth now only stand as footnotes to life that was – and is still being – lived to the fullest.
In the age of reality of TV and instant stardom-instant downfall, Maricel Soriano’s most glowing achievement is the she has prevailed. Come June or July, her much-heralded return to a genre she dominated and reigned in for 10 years (The Maricel Drama Special from 1987-1997) via Vietnam Rose promises to be the teleserye event of the year. In the role of a Vietnamese girl who flees the war and struggles to build a new life in the Philippines, expect dramatic fireworks from the Diamond Star.
It is comforting to know, 24 years later, that I, with Nanay’s guidance, had picked the right girl after all.
WHAT A JOURNEY
There are Noranians and Vilmanians.
But a fan narrates how he grew up to become a truly zealous Maricel Soriano devotee.
By Arnel Ramos
I grew up escorting my Noranian of a mother to the lone rundown theater in Marikina. Thankfully, she never swayed me into joining her tribe. When I reached 11, I felt the need to find my own “heroine” and it helped that Nanay fully understood. The next thing to do was narrow down my nominees to three – Sharon Cuneta in P.S. I Love You (My verdict: she giggled a lot!), Snooky in Bata Pa Si Sabel (my mom’s verdict: beautiful but there was something disconcerting about her proboscis), and last but not the least, Maricel Soriano in Oh My Mama (our combined judgment: simply enchanting!)
That was the first time a celluloid image left me astounded. And it proved to be more than just a one-movie fling.
After that I fall in love with Maricel Soriano many times over. Galawgaw, Pabling, Hindi Kita Malimot, the list is endless. I saw them all and always I would marvel at how she could hop from comedy to drama to horror (her reluctant bloodsucker in Vampira deservedly won a Best Performer award from the Young Critics Circle). Put her a smorgasboad movie with other stars and she still manages to shine (To Mama With Love, Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang). She made it appear so easy, like she was born to it.
Early on, it became apparent that versatility was her one big edge.
She could be a spitfire one moment and waif-life the next. And the Nora Aunors and Vilma Santoses and Sharon Cunetas of the world could, no – never – make the same claim.
In the grand tradition of every Maricelian who came before and after me, I also went through the usual fan rituals: pasting cut-out pictures from magazines and dailies on notebook; standing among the SRO crowd of a Maricel starrer; asking my mother to watch Schoolgirls in 1982 on its first day of showing only to find out later – hungry and tired – that the Board of Censors has banned it from exhibition; listening to Ate Luds’ radio show where she relentlessly played Maricel’s first and last commercially released single Ngayon at Habang Panahon on the weekday afternoons; and just simply memorizing the lines from her movies. Hay, my classmates and playmates called me luka-luka, but I didn’t really mind.
Years later, when I was already earning my keep, I would allot a fractions of my salary for reading materials that had her on the cover or even just in the inside pages. When our panganay sold my sizable collection (I had dreams of putting an archive) to the junkshop without my knowledge, I considered it a serious crime against human decency and dignity. To this day, the animosity lingers. I had never forgiven my sister for that.
Although never the screaming type who would troop to Broadcast City for the live airing of Maricel Live! or chase after her to some far-flung location shoot, I followed my beloved Marya’s career moves, religiously but, I’d like to believe, in a more sophisticated manner. Her screen feats were always an event. How could you not love her as Shane Rodrigo, the jealous daughter in Saan Darating ang Umaga? who uttered the immortal line ”Wala sa damit, wala sa kulay and pagmamahal..” How could you resist her playing the triplets in Maria Went To Town or as the college graduate turned-yaya in The Graduates (a personal favorite).
While her rivals were still plying the pa-tweetums route, my dear Maricel was making brave, bold career choices. Whether telling everyone “Ayoko ng putik, ayoko ng putik in Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit, chanting her national anthem I Am What I Am in Inday Bote or contemplating abortion in Hinugot sa Langit, Maricel was always intense, passionate, her portrayal fraught with naked pain.
But perhaps, nothing prepared her followers, or even Maricel herself, for the heartbreak that Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal would bring. She could have lost as the mother fighting to keep child in Abandonada or even as the advertising executive smarting up from the marital breakup in Separada. But not as Adela, the avenging heiress, in that reworking of an old Hollywood film. Maricel rose above the trite elements of the plot to embody an unforgettable character – the performance of a lifetime that curiously went unrecognized.
Alas, Maricel, ever a survivor has since moved on – to equally compelling performances (Dahas, Nasaan ang Puso, Soltera), and, as of late, to spiritual maturity (she is showbiz’s official nocturnal Bible text message sender). The foibles (living in with Ronnie Ricketts at age 19, the unsuccessful marriage to Edu Manzano) and idiosyncracies of youth now only stand as footnotes to life that was – and is still being – lived to the fullest.
In the age of reality of TV and instant stardom-instant downfall, Maricel Soriano’s most glowing achievement is the she has prevailed. Come June or July, her much-heralded return to a genre she dominated and reigned in for 10 years (The Maricel Drama Special from 1987-1997) via Vietnam Rose promises to be the teleserye event of the year. In the role of a Vietnamese girl who flees the war and struggles to build a new life in the Philippines, expect dramatic fireworks from the Diamond Star.
It is comforting to know, 24 years later, that I, with Nanay’s guidance, had picked the right girl after all.
Sunday, 1 November 2009
The most durable and versatile.
Maricel Soriano started in showbiz as a child star handpicked by no less than Dolphy and Ading Fernando to be John Puruntong's petite and talkative daughter Shirley in the classic hit sitcom John en Marsha.
After 20 years of John en Marsha and some other television projects like Kaluskos Musmos, 2 + 2, Jack en Joey, Kaya ni Mister kaya ni Misis and the spinoff of John en Marsha that became John en Shirley; Maricel Soriano earned one of the most significant titles in the business that only the cream of the crop gets to achieve.
She was named Diamond Star.
Prior to that, Maricel was just Taray Queen. A regal baby turned prodigal daughter and left the peak of her career to join Edu Manzano in marriage. Two years after that marriage, Maricel bounced back with a landmark film, Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal and a string of box office hit movies that replaced her Drama Anthology Queen title to become what is known to be forever. A diamond.
True to her title, she has shown the public that her works will live forever.
Maricel shifts gear from drama to action to comedy with so much ease and the audience love it.
In fact, none of her contemporaries share this versatility and none of her contemporaries has amassed 30 acting awards for drama, comedy and even horror movies.
To this day her durability continues. She carried T2 to box office alone making it one of the 100M earners of Star Cinema and a real summer blockbuster besting out its theatrical competition from Hollywood. Florinda, her horror series kicked Survivor, its primetime competition out of the Top 10 primetime programs in the nationwide survey.
She is indeed the most durable star in her generation having done evolution in acting since her childhood days and rising up as a superstar even with her Taray image and even lording it on the endorsements at age 44.
I bet she will continue to be her generation's most versatile because none of her competition will be able to get near her VERSATILITY AND HER GENUINE KNACK FOR EVOLUTION.
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