Producer’s birthday wish: To put out more movies

Baby Go

When she marked her birth anniversary recently with a formal dinner affair at the Marco Polo Hotel Ortigas, Baby F. Go, dubbed the “Queen of Maindie Movies,” revealed her birthday wish is to live long enough to be able to produce more movies. Right now, since the inception of her film production company BG Productions International in 2014, she has produced 12 films.

Not all of these films have been shown, but those that were won various major awards in different international film festivals. This encouraged Go to keep her production wheels churning for more movies, both indie and mainstream.

She admitted she’s not making much money yet, but the awards and recognitions more than make up for the monetary rewards. Every time she goes onstage to receive awards for her films, “nakakataba ng puso, very fulfilling.”

Among her forthcoming projects that is exciting her so much are film projects each starring Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, and Charo Santos-Concio. Negotiations are underway between her directors and the above-named stars.

In the works is “Almost A Love Story” starring Derrick Monasterio and Barbie Forteza, and directed by Louie Ignacio. Shot almost entirely in Italy in cooperation with an Italian film company, this is BG Productions’ first mainstream movie.

Ignacio is also directing the first BG Productions entry to this year’s Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.

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‘Buhay Na Buhay’

The recently launched docu-series “Buhay Na Buhay” is hosted by Sen. Loren Legarda for the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). The engaging and informative series introduces the eight living cultures of the Philippines.

Sen. Legarda presents the groundbreaking study of former NCCA Chairperson, Professor Felipe De Leon Jr., in this eight-part weekly series written by Floy Quintos, directed by Jeypi Salonga of Business Unusual Media Solutions (BUMS) Inc., and produced by the NCCA.

SEN. LOREN LEGARDA (seated in pink) with Mother Lily (in red), Roselle Monteverde and daughter and some members of the entertainment press: Ricky Lo, Ronald Constantino, Lolit Solis, Aster Amoyo, Shirley Pizarro, Mario Dumaual, Jojo Gabinete, and Crispina Belen

The docu-series airs on GMA News TV Saturdays at 5:45 p.m.

De Leon’s academic work was first staged as a concert titled “Mga Kulturang Filipino… Buhay Na Buhay” at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in 2013 as part of the NCCA’s 25th anniversary celebration.

This is Sen. Loren’s last term as senator and at a recent b-day lunch at Gloria Maris Greenhills with friends from the entertainment press, she discussed her political options. She is being convinced to run for a congressional seat in her mom’s (the late Bessie Legarda) province. If not, she could accept a cabinet post. Or, get married! Which she nixed, considering her passion for public service.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Feb. 17, go to Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, awarded actress Anne Curtis, former actor-singer-turned evangelist Eddie Mesa, former GMA Network PR exec Butch Raquel, PR man Oscar San Pedro, Maria Lourdes Reynoso, Angelo Alba, Amor Antonio, Avon Garcia, Rolan Derek Gabayno, Dr. R. Slotta of Jamaica General Hospital, New York; comedian Baleleng, Eleanor Calma Visaya, Nini Salinas-Veloso of Filibeans Coffee Tagaytay, Rose Pedersen, Snap Lopa, Nicanor Perlas, Kevin Michael Carl, Rhythm Jude “Ryde” V. Losorata, Jomar Labasag, Jessica Besa, Malou Cabral, Jean Chan of Camarines Sur and Ramon Francisco... Belated b-day greetings to Kithy Pontrias (Feb. 16)...Feb 18: Perla Bautista, Robert Campos, Ret. Judge Prudencio Altre Castillo, Christopher Michael A. Zamora, Lydia C. Tensuan, Norma Razo, Ester Banzon-Parungao, Carlito Pascual, Dr. Bernadette Coden, Atty. Felipe “Jun” Medina, Arleen V. Asuncion, Grace Nartates, Jenny Pantoja, Ida Trikler, TJ Orilio, Isabelle Alejandria-Reyes, Roda dela Serna, Coco Nicanor, Nila Dazer, Clarence Jacob Martinez who turns 12 today, Coleen Nacion who turns 19, MB’s Marjorie Duran and Brenan Espartinez… Feb. 19: US-based singer Carina Afable, Lulu Ng de Leon, Lettie Fuentes, Louie San Juan, Ronald Campos, Darwin Chiang, Elvie Regala, Viktor Santillan, Eng. Santiago Pascual, Dr. Nena Veloso Mewshew, Alice Coronel, Suzette Uy, Jun Escarez, Mylene Padilla, Hesus Emma Bondoc, of Group 1 Operation Tulong, Joselito Guillermo Villegas, Samuel Gaupo of Group 18, Ronald McDo Cumuyog, Ronia Bernardo, Raul Leyros, Danielle Adave, Edgar Jevin Curay III, Elizar Rosani, Erik Dacua, Nanay Ebeb Doyohilm, Rev. Fr. Oscar Camomot, Ritchie Saranza, Rolan Unabia, Socorro Hermosilla and Empress…