Box-office Direk Chito S. Roño and Best Supporting actor Christian Bables collaborate for the first time in "Signal Rock"

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An Official Entry to the 2018 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino

August 15 - 21, 2018 in cinemas nationwide

A well-respected and a box-office hit director, a budding actor with a bright future in the industry, and a highly relatable story all brought together in “Signal Rock,” the highly-anticipated film offering by CSR Film PH Production.

Directed under the helm of versatile film director Chito S. Roño, and starring the award-winning actor Christian Bables, “Signal Rock” is such a tale that hits close to home.

It tells the story of a typical Filipino family aspiring for a better life. It’s about a family, albeit poor, lives in the beautiful island of Biri in Samar.

Just like many Filipinos, one member of the family made the ultimate sacrifice of leaving her loved ones behind to work in a foreign land, in the hope to earn money and send it back home.

“Signal Rock” revolves around Intoy (Christian Bables), who lives in an impoverished fishing island, taking care of his parents, while waiting for his sister Vicky, an overseas Filipino worker, send them money.

Just like many women in the island, Vicky has flown to a foreign land, and married a foreigner, as a practical way to help their families back in the Philippines.

Since Intoy lives in a remote area, getting in touch with Vicky through a mobile phone is a constant struggle.

The only way to get through a call to Vicky is to get a good signal by scrambling on the strange rock formations on the island.

But the better life they hope for goes down the drain when Vicky, together with her daughter, flees her husband, who turns out to be abusive.

This leaves Intoy, poor but with a gift of gab, to be resourceful and come up with a master plan to help his sister and his niece from their adversity.

Intoy steps up to become the hope of the family to protect its members get them safely.

Intoy and the rest of the characters are all based on real people and the story is inspired by true events that took place in the 90s.

This is the second time that Direk Chito shot a film in Biri, Samar.

Known to be a maverick filmmaker, Direk Chito is tasked to breathe life to this story with his signature brand of directing.

For him, Signal Rock is a simple yet realistic drama.

The film is also produced by his production with his Director of Photography Neil Daza and written by the award-winning Rody Vera.

More than three decades in the industry, the candid director has produced some of the notable movies that stood out in different film genres: Bata, bata... Paano ka Ginawa? (1998), Feng Shui (2004 and 2014), Sukob (2006), Caregiver (2008), The Healing (2012), Etiquette for Mistresses (2015), and The Ghost Bride (2017), to name a few.

This year, he offers his passion project film to the moviegoers. "Ang totoong kwento ng Signal Rock ay tungkol sa mga ordinaryong tao sa probinsya na remote, mga taong lahat ng mga kasama nila nagsipag-abroad, ito ang place na iniiwan para makapagbigay ng suporta sa pamilya. Marami na tayong kwento tungkol sa mga OFW, pero ito ang kwento ng mga taong napagiwanan sa probinsya, na kung tawagin ay Bagtik." explains Roño.

Christian has been acting and given bit roles since 2011, but was given his biggest break in the sleeper hit Die Beautiful, an entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival entry. In the movie, Christian gave justice to Barbs Cordero, the best friend to Paolo Ballesteros’s Trisha Echevarria. Christian was so convincing as a cross-dresser in the movie, that different Best Supporting Actor trophies were awarded to him by a number of awards-giving bodies: Film Academy of the Philippines, Metro Manila Film Festival, and Gawad Urian.

For Signal Rock, Bables manages to be hand-picked personally by the master director Chito S. Roño. "Hindi ko binigay sa kanila ang script ng pelikula, pinapabasa ko lang ang mga linya nila kapag malapit na kaming mag-take ng eksena." says Direk Chito.

Bables shared that he did his best for this film since his dream is to work with the veteran director. "Gusto ko ibigay lahat para sa passion project ni Direk Chito. May mga ginawa ako dito na first time ko, na proud ako dito ko ibinigay. Sana abangan po ninyo. Ang ganda ng location namin at talagang ma-aappreciate ninyo ang Pilipinas." 

Select screeners of the film also shared that the movie is tear-jerking, creating awareness of small town stories.

The cast and crew stayed in Samar for 15 days, 

"To be more realistic, tumira talaga kami sa Samar. Hanggang ngayon remote pa talaga ito. Nakikitira kami sa mga tao roon, walang special treatment. Nasanay na sila na naglalakad papunta sa shooting location. Nakikihalubilo sa mga tao doon, naging familiar na kami doon. Dito namin lalong nakilala ang mga totoong tao, totoong buhay, parang naging bahay na namin doon at wala talagang signal!" shared Roño.

Signal Rock is also an entry to the upcoming Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino Film Festival 2018.

The film also stars, Elora Españo, Mara Lopez, Francis Magundayao, and the veterans actors Daria Ramirez, Arnold Reyes, Nandiing Josef, Archie Adamos, Sue Prado, JayR Versales, Keana Reeves, Julia Chua, Kokoy De Santos, Jomari Angeles, Rubu Ruiz, Mon Confiado, Ces Quesada, Lee O'Brian, Dido Dela Paz and many more.

Signal Rock is brought to us by CSR Production and distributed by Regal Entertainment, Inc. 

Like the Facebook Page @SignalRockMovie https://www.facebook.com/signalrockmovie

Kim Chiu, Ate Vi’s personal Choice in “The Healing”

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Primetime princess Kim Chiu celebrates a major milestone in her showbiz career as she work for the first time with Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos in a one-of-a-kind suspense-horror Star Cinema film titled, “The Healing.”

“Working with Governor Vi is such a wonderful experience. I learned a lot from her as an actress and as a person. I felt like because of her, my acting skills were developed,” said Kim, who was Vilma’s personal choice in her first-ever suspense-horror movie that is ABS-CBN and Star Cinema’s tribute to her 50 illustrious years in showbiz.

The first “Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition” big winner also revealed how kind and generous Vilma was as a co-actor. "Ate Vi is so approachable and down-to-earth. She doesn’t have 'walls' so everyone feels free to talk her," shared Kim.

The young actress was also thankful of how the Star for All Seasons herself helped her in delivering her mysterious character in “The Healing” which is a story about the Filipino tradition of going to faith healers for guidance and treatment of ailments. Kim imparted, “Ate Vi told me, ‘Huwag mong sasayangin ang eksena. Ibigay mo na, minsan lang ito mangyari. Huwag mong isipin na ako si Ate Vi.”

With the inspiration given by Vilma, Kim gave her all in every challenging scene of the movie that is set to prove that the former teen sensation is now full-fledged actress. “The cast and staff are all professional. So each time that I arrive in the set, I’ve already memorized all my lines and I’m already prepared since I’m working with no less than Direk Chito Roño and the whole team, plus Governor Vilma, of course,” she said.

In honor of Vilma's 50th anniversary, Star Cinema gathered an all-star highly acclaimed powerhouse cast composed of Kim, Janice de Belen, Mark Gil, Martin del Rosario, Jhong Hilario, Allan Paule, Cris Villanueva, Daria Ramirez, Ces Quesada, Ynez Veneracion, Simon Ibarra, Abi Bautista, Joel Torre, Chinggoy Alonso, Mon Confiado, Carmi Martin and Pokwang!

“The Healing” is showing in cinemas nationwide.

For more updates on "The Healing”, simply visit www.StarCinema.com.ph, or like the movie's official page, http://facebook.com/TheHealingFilm, http://facebook.com/StarCinema or http://twitter.com/StarCinema.

Direk Chito and Gov. Vilma Santos' reunion project "The Healing" - with R-13 and R-18 Versions

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The Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos celebrates her 50th year in showbiz with “The Healing.”
“The Healing” is Vilma’s gift to the fans who are continuously supporting her for 50 years. It also marks her comeback movie after the blockbuster hit “In My Life” three years ago.

“It’s a perfect project after “In My Life.” And since I don’t do movies that frequent, I might as well give the public something different,” she said.
Direk Chito and Vilma’s reunion project makes the Star for All Season proud of another milestone happening in her golden anniversary in the entertainment industry.

"I've been asking Chito for so long for something this and I'm so glad that it's finally happening. With the undeniable top caliber of Star Cinema, Direk Chito, and our award-wining cast, how can I go wrong!" she remarked.


“This is my first time to do a suspense-horror and I’m so proud of it, true enough, ‘The Healing’ is totally a new brand of suspense-horror that will surely make a mark in the Philippine horror cinema,” Gov. Vilma said.


During the bloggers conference for The Healing at ABS CBN last July 23, Gov. Vilma Santos, Director Chito Rono and the writer Mr. Roy Iglesias had fun and informative experience sharings with us. Gladly meeting them and for me, it was a reunion with Gov. Vilma whom I've met and working with her in some events last 2009 and 2010.


Gov. Vilma also shared with us about her family, how proud she is of her three boys. Each one is different  - Luis Manzano with his own stuff and put his money where its supposed to be. Ryan Christian , is grown now, so humble and intelligent and smart, doing good in school. Her youngest, (as she called him her youngest kid) Senator Ralph Recto her mentor and guidance in her politics, her secret why she was able to manage the province of Batangas since she became a governor. She loves her family so much.


She also shared that in Batangas, there are many "aswang" stories,  about the Filipino tradition of going to faith healers for guidance and treatment of ailments have not yet been tackled  in-depth in movies. And in our film, the viewers will not just be horrified. They’ll somehow be challenge to think as to how faith healing has already been a part of our culture.”


Chito S. Roño’s “The Healing” is a intense suspense-horror movie tailor-made for the Star of All Seasons. Roy Iglesias also said that “had she not agreed to the role, the movie may have been indefinitely shelved.


Gov. Vilma shared us the making of the movie. "It was a real experience, it's not just telling  as suspense- horror, 'kala mo okay lang, hindi eh, especially with Direk Rono, he won't settle for less,  it's part of learning also." 

"Vilma is an amazing actress, she has nothing left to prove. This movie suits her stature, but what is most important is that she agreed to an ensemble cast.  The challenge for me here is to 'recreate' a genre to make it effective," Direk Chito said.


"It is one of the genres that never fades," he added. He said that he owes it to the audience to make sure they get what they come for.


Director Chito is giving advice to those who want to be part of the world he loves. "Become a good director first." He says there are a lot of other directors out there that have that spark to shine. He is optimistic that there are a lot of them out there that's got promise

"As a director, you carry the weight of the whole production on your shoulders. Your work reflects the people you work with so be good to your team; take care of them and they will take care of you," Director Chito advices.


Director Chito Roño talks about the inspiration behind his latest opus and the process it took to bring the story to the big screen. He collaborated with award-winning writer Roy Iglesias to create the horror-suspense film. He says that there is no one incident that inspired the film, but that it is from a collection of experiences from people who turn to faith healing because adequate medical care isn't always available to them.


Director Chito shared that the theme of the movie rests on this premise. “If all you have to help you through difficult times is faith, are you ready for what could happen in case things become even worse?”

Director Chito Rono was so pleased to announce that “moviegoers have now a choice, will have the freedom to choose what version they will watch because for the first time in Philippine cinema history “The Healing” will be shown in two versions, one is the mild-one in R13 and the other one is the director’s cut in R18.”

THE HEALING UNCUT TRAILER

In honor of Vilma's 50th anniversary, Star Cinema gathered an all-star highly acclaimed powerhouse cast composed of Kim, Janice de Belen, Mark Gil, Martin del Rosario, Jhong Hilario, Allan Paule, Cris Villanueva, Daria Ramirez, Ces Quesada, Ynez Veneracion, Simon Ibarra, Abi Bautista, Joel Torre, Chinggoy Alonso, Mon Confiado, Carmi Martin and Pokwang!

“The Healing” opens in cinemas nationwide on July 25, 2012.

For more updates on "The Healing” simply visit www.StarCinema.com.ph, or like the movie's official page, http://facebook.com/TheHealingFilm, http://facebook.com/StarCinema or http://twitter.com/StarCinema.