Sean de Guzman, Acting Prince On The Rise

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Getting to know Sean de Guzman, the lead actor in ‘Anak Ng Macho Dancer’ film.

Who is he? That is the question on the lips of people this side of Tinsel Town after it was announced that a relative newcomer, Sean De Guzman bagged the lead role in Joel Lamangan’s “Anak ng Macho Dancer.” 

The film, produced by Godfather Productions is written by Henry King Quitain, a top notch screenplay writer for ABS-CBN drama series. A special screening is being planned this December and an actual movie playdate might commence next year. 

The 20-year old member of the boyband Clique V does not hide his excitement with regard to getting the plum role: 

“Until now I cannot believe what is happening. You know, all I do now are baby steps, dahan-dahan lang. Careful as I inch my way to this new career of becoming an actor. All the surprises I get because of this break, I embrace and welcome. Ang daming natutunan. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam.”

“A part of me is a little awkward with all the attention but at the same time I am very happy.” Sean declares. “Thank you very much to director Joel Lamagan and my producers for the trust.“ 

He talks about his character, Inno:

“He happens to be the son of Alan Paule, the original Macho Dancer in the film by director Lino Brocka. It was a delight to work with Sir Alan, he is a very kind and giving actor. As my father in the movie, he was strict with me, always scolding me. He wants me to just follow his orders and do what he thinks is the right thing so it always ends in have a conflict.” 

“Not all of us are blessed with the opportunities that come our way so we have no right to dismiss or judge someone because of their choices,” Sean states. “I am not telling that these macho dancers are saints but all of them fight for their life and loved ones.” 

Adds Sean: “Inno, as a young man, does not deviate from my own personality. We are somewhat similar in being a risk-taker. When we have a goal, we dedicate our energies to the goal or cause and focused on it until it comes to fruition.” 

“He became a macho dancer because he wanted his father's life to be fine, for him to experience the good life,” continues Dela Cruz. Portraying the role of a macho dancer opened the eyes of this protagonist to the excruciating facts and givens of life. 

Emphatically, the young upstart says: “Akala lagi na porke lalaki sila, walang mawawala, ililigo lang. Mag-alcohol. Take vitamins and make sure you practice safe sex. What people do not get is that their self-worth decreases, especially when a patron asks a macho dancer to do something that is not natural to him. You lose your dignity and manhood because of the money you need for survival.” 

He continues: “They all have a story that we should understand and respect. When you hear their stories, if people only take their time to really listen, it will hit you big time. For others, they already made a conclusion that their choice is easy.”

How did you prepare yourself to do all the daring and sexy requirements? Sean’s swift reply: 

“I really studied the script and listened to the instructions of director Joel. I always feel in my heart that I am Ino. That Ino's truth should be shown in the movie. I want to believe that I did well and I leave the judgment to our future audiences.” 

In conclusion, Sean de Guzman wishes: “That many will watch and love the movie. And that many better opportunities follow. I am a young man who is still surprised to all the things that are happening. All of these I really enjoy and I am thankful. The pleasure of feeling that I had a dream that came true is priceless.”

Life lessons that viewers will take home from Anak ng Macho Dancer, avers Sean: 

“How he overcame the consequences of his actions and choices, are the biggest take home from the movie. What to me is important here is that he fought for his life. He didn't just sulk. What he thinks is right for the people he loves, he did it head-on. We all sometimes have choices that are not good, but as long as you know the consequences of that choice, there is still a lesson to be learned. Mistakes and struggles, also triumphs are part and parcel of all our lives.”

“This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” with Ken Chan and Barbie Forteza to spread love, tears and romance

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It is easy to love but not easy to forgive. How many times should we forgive the person we love?

Can love be sweeter the second or third time around?

Regal Entertainment Inc.’s most promising romantic film this year: “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” starring Ken Chan and Barbie Forteza.

A Film by Joel C. Lamangan, “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter”, touted to be one of this year’s much-anticipated theater release.

The cast of “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” with Direk Joel Lamangan and Mother Lily Monteverde during the #TTIBSBlogMediaCon held at the Valencia Events Place, November 3, 2017.

The love story-rom-com-drama film is the first big screen team-up of the “KenBie” love team which was tried and tested already in two TV series - “Tween Hearts” and “Meant To Be.”

“This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” is so much different from the pair’s recently-concluded soap in that the film requires from Barbie and Ken much deeper emotional range without sacrificing moments of kilig, joy and laughter.

In this movie, Barbie plays Erika, who has a crush on her classmate, Tristan, played by Ken. The two become closer, but Erika is left heartbroken after they part. Years later, as a reporter, Erika covers an accident which coincidentally involves Tristan's family. The call of duty prompts Erika to communicate with Tristan. The pair reconnect and Erika helps Tristan recover from a misfortune. But is Erika prepared to get hurt again? Will love be sweeter for them the second time? 

Also starring in the movie are Akihiro Blanco,  Sato, Niel Sese, Kim Rodriguez, Hiro Peralta, Fiona Yang, Yayo Aguila, Jai Agpangan, Jon Limbo, Rey PJ Abellana, and Ara Mina.

Direk Joel Lamangan and Mother Lily Monteverde 

‪Akihiro Blanco

Hiro Peralta

Kim Rodriguez

Jai Agpangan

Fiona Yang 

Kaki Ramirez

“This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” is set to open in cinemas nationwide on November 8, 2017.

Classic and timeless love story, “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, The Musical” , a musical theater event not to be missed!

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In restless times like the one we are living through, “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, The Musical” resonates even more. “It shows that in the midst of the squalor, despair, and violence, pure love still exists like the one shared by Julio Madiaga and Ligaya Paraiso,” says award-winning auteur Joel Lamangan,  helming the stage musical version of the Edgardo Reyes novel which spawned the Lino Brocka classic film version that starred Bembol Roco and Hilda Koronel.

With timeless love story, great voices, resonant songs, fabulous dances and world class Filipino performers. Grand Leisure Corporation is set to make local musical theater history with the staging of the much-awaited “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, The Musical.”

Among his contemporaries, Lamangan is widely-regarded as the most adept social chronicler with films like “The Flor Contemplacion Story,” “Hubog,” “Bulaklak Ng Maynila” and others to his credit. All these films mirror some of society’s most chronic ills. Lamangan has vast experience as filmmaker and actor in film, television, and theater.

In 2013, Lamangan was named artistic director of Gantimpala Theater Foundation under which he directed the musical “Katipunan: Mga Anak ng Bayan.”

Presenting Full Cast and production heads of  “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, The Musical” during the media conference held at the Kia Theater, Cubao, Quezon City, August 29, 2017.

“Maynila… The Musical” was a brainchild of Lamangan and Gantimpala Theater Foundation. The 40-year old theater company founded by the late Philippine theater icon Tony Espejo, has the National Artists Production Series which aims to bring closer to theater aficionados the works of National Artists like Severino Montano, Nick Joaquin, Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero, and F. Sionil Jose. “’Maynila…’ was supposed to be the first movie by a National Artists for Film (Lino Brocka) to be part of the National Artists Production series.”

Based on the Edgardo Reyes novel and inspired by the Brocka film adaptation, the initial challenge for Lamangan and his artistic staff was to synthesize the prose into a two-act, two-hour play featuring soaring music and brilliantly choreographed dance routines. 

“Dapat ‘yung mga tauhan ay lumabas na mga tunay na taong may puso, kaluluwa, at damdamin na kumakanta at sumasayaw,” shares Lamangan. “Dapat na maramdaman ng mga manonood na nagkukuwento sila ng ukol sa kanilang mga agam-agam, hinaing, siphayo, at pangarap.”

Rita Daniela and Aicelle Santos as Perla

To realize his vision of a realistic depiction of the great, if doomed love story of Julio Madiaga and his inamorata Ligaya Paraiso, Lamangan gathered an artistic staff composed of people that he trusts can deliver the goods: Von De Guzman (Composer and Musical Director), Jose Victor Torres and Em Mendez (Libretto), Joey Nombres (Lights Designer), Douglas Nierras (Choreographer), and Jun Flavier Pablo (Production Design). Fullhouse Asia Production Studios, Inc. acts as line producer.

Composer and Musical Director Von De Guzman has collaborated with Lamangan in many of the latter’s film projects. He has done musicals meant for school productions but “Maynila…” will be his first mainstream musical of this scope. “Direk Joel wanted memorable melodies for the play,” relates De Guzman, “so the ballads will have the feel of a George Canseco and/or Willy Cruz composition, the fast numbers we have incorporated very Filipino elements of singkil, ati-atihan chants, mostly percussion-driven kind of music. And then we have the strains of kundiman in the other numbers.”

De Guzman adds, was to merge OPM romanticism with the orchestral power of a Stravinsky. De Guzman also utilized Filipino instruments that we seldom hear like the banduria.

The next step was to find powerful singers from the leads to the chorus. “They have to have lungs of steel,” notes De Guzman.

Actors Arman Ferrer, Sheila Valderrama-Martinez, and Lara Maigue easily fill the bill. Ferrer plays Julio Madiaga and sees the role as “a good learning experience, especially the parts where I have to dance.”

Valderrama-Martinez and Maigue are alternating as Ligaya Paraiso. “I was excited to join this production because I wanted to work with Joel Lamangan whom I’ve never worked with before,” says Valderrama-Martinez. Maigue is burning the midnight candles, so to speak, to bring justice to her interpretation of Ligaya Paraiso, a victim of circumstance. “I’ve been watching Hilda Koronel in the Brocka movie over and again and I’ve been talking to friends from UP where they worship before the shrine of ‘Maynila Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag."

“Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, The Musical” is a musical theater event that shouldn’t be missed and worth saving the ticket price for. “It’s a musical told from the point of view of the novelist,” says Lamangan. “It features wonderful composition from Von De Guzman, topnotch dance from Douglas Nierras, three-dimensional characters, heartfelt moments, stirring scenes meant to enthrall and entertain.”

Giving life to the other important characters in the musical are Floyd Tena (Pol), Noel Rayos (Atong), Rafa Seguion-Reyna and Joseph Puducay (Imo), Aicelle Santos and Rita Daniela (Perla), Jim Pebanco/ Joseph Billezar (Mr. Balajadia), Khalil Kaimo (Gido), Jeffrey Camanag (Omeng), Romcel Binquis (Benny), Randy Rey (Frank), and Dulce and Ima Castro alternating as Mrs. Cruz.

“Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, The Musical” is made possible through the generous support of KIA Theater, Cibo, Epson, Erase Placenta, SvelT’I Health & Beauty Centre, and Mr. Swabergers.

Performances are set for September 30, 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. (gala), October 1, 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., October 4, 8:00 p.m., October 5, 8:00 p.m., October 6, 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., at the KIA Theatre -Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.

For tickets (P1,590-P3,710), contact Bards Lapid at mobile number - 63917 8466704, landlines 632 897 7142, 890 0853, 890 6067 or visit TicketNet.com.ph - 9115555.