MOTHER LILY’s REGAL Studios at Valencia is really a busy beehive of so much activity these days, filming so many projects simultaneously. One that will start grinding soon is their Metro Filmfest entry, “Mano Po VII, Chinoy”, which just had its story con, with the cast and crew soon flying to Putuoshan Island off Shanghai for its location shoot. This features various temples and the gigantic Goddess of Mercy statue on top of the Putuo Mountain. They have to finish principal filming by September so they can present the complete movie to the Metro Filmfest Screening Committee
by the end of October.
“We’ve made a total of six ‘Mano Po’ films since 2002,” says Mother Lily. “They all made money and won many awards. People are always asking me when we’ll come out with the next ‘Mano Po’ movie so, finally, I’m giving in to their request and here’s our 7th ‘Mano Po’ offering, ‘Chinoy’, which will focus on the modern Chinese-Filipino. We got a real Chinoy to direct it, Ian Lorenos, who grew up in Chinatown in Binondo, to make sure he’ll capture the true essence and sensibility of Chinoys today.”
Ian says he has seen all the past “Mano Po” movies and he’ll make sure his own take will be different as it will features contemporary Chinoys of this particular generation. Richard Yap plays Wilson Tan, a real estate magnate-billionaire who is so strict to his family and has become distant to his wife, Jean Garcia as Debbie Tan. They have three kids, Enchong Dee as Wilson Jr., Janella Salvador as Carol and child star Jana Agoncillo as Catherine, a deaf-mute. Enchong is rebellious and becomes a drug addict. He is sent to rehab and meets Jocelyn, who becomes his leading lady. Janella is the outspoken daughter and is paired with her former ka-love team, Marlo Mortel.
Others in the cast are Gloria Diaz as Erlinda, the Chinese matriarch who controls Wilson and Eric Quizon as Jason Tan, Wilson’s long lost gay brother. Still to be cast are Sheldon, Wilson’s mentor; Glenn, Enchong’s best friend; and the actor who will play Jean Garcia’s younger lover. For the role of Jocelyn, Enchong’s love interest, they want to borrow the very hot Jessy Mendiola from ABS-CBN and she will definitely be a welcome addition to the cast.
“Sana naman, ipahiram sa amin,” says Mother Lily who will be celebrating her 78th birthday soon. We don’t know if Mother Lily is aware of it but some press people are planning to give her a big birthday bash complete with production numbers to be offered to her by some writers. Oops! Are we spilling the beans? It’s meant to be a surprise party, but knowing Mother, she’ll still shoulder the expenses for the food and drinks.
