NEWSFLASH

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IMEE'S GABRIELA SANS GOMA

Manila, Oct. 27, 1997 - It seems definite that Richard Gomez will not play Diego Silang to Imee Marcos' Gabriela in the movie about the Ilocano heroine "Gabriela Silang."

Here's what our colleague, Oscar Miranda of Malaya, writes about the latest developments on the film project:

Imee Marcos is threatening to be a major movie actress and I understand she is taking charge of the creative aspects of her proposed introductory movie -- "Gabriela Silang."

The movie is about the so-called Joan of Arc of Ilocandia, who continued her slain husband Diego's rebellion against the Spanish authorities.

Playing Diego Silang is Richard Quan and the role of the traitor Vices is slated for Gabby Concepcion. I heard the production company tried to enlist Richard Gomez' services for the Diego role, but he proved to be too expensive.

Rico Mambo, a.k.a. Abbo de la Cruz, who had worked with Imee in the defunct Experimental Cinema of the Philippines, directs the movie.

The Gabriela role was once played by Leila Morena in a Premiere movie. Armida Siguion- Reyna also essayed the role some years ago in a drama musicale directed by the late Lino Brocka for Aawitan Kita Productions.

Alma Moreno, a full-blooded Ilocana herself, wanted to play the role and Nora Aunor was announced as the actress meant to play the part in an upcoming project of Premier Entertainment Productions.

The Imee project is planned for a Metro Manila Filmfest playdate. But if the movie does not beat the deadline, it just might be ready for the coming Philippine Centennial celebration where it could be a worthy entry.

Imee has long wanted an acting career. She was quite active in stage work, which she did fairly well when her father, the late Ferdinand Marcos, was president. The last time I saw Imee, she played a lawyer defending Rosanna Roces in some sort of Domestic case for a telesine she herself produced.

Who knows, Imee might find her niche in Filipino movies. After all, she once headed the Experimental Cinema of the Philippines which produced the likes of "Himala" and "Oro Plata Mata" as well as "Soltero" and "Misteryo sa Tuwa."

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