21 JULY 2005

APO Hiking Society makes acting comeback in "Lasponggols"

When Boboy Garrovillo told filmmaker Sigfreid Barros-Sanchez last year about the APO Hiking Society's interest to be part of "Lasponggols," but "it's all a matter of when and where" given their hectic schedules, the Cinemalaya finalist moved heaven and earth just to make sure that the APO will make it as actors in his directorial debut.

The versatile trio of Garrovillo, Danny Javier, and Jim Paredes, who last appeared in a movie together in "Kakabakaba Ka Ba?" directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mike de Leon, threw their support for independent filmmaking by playing very significant roles in the black comedy about the ills of the local mainstream film industry.  Garrovillo assumes the role of the barrio captain while Javier and Paredes play a blind former cameraman and an eccentric artist, respectively.

In "Lasponggols," the APO brings their winning combination which makes them a total entertainment team that is unparalleled in the country.  Acclaimed actor Jeffrey Quizon and Dwight Gaston play two film workers who pretend to be filmmakers Jon Red and Erik Matti. 

Supporting them are Roence Santos as the barrio captain's racketeer wife, Sasi Casas as the couple's son, Soliman Cruz as their gay neighbor who pretends to be an artist, Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino as a stage mother, Raul Morit as the village idiot, Pete Lacaba as an old utility boy, Marra PL Lanot as one of the town's moralists, Hector Macaso and Ickay Eusebio as the richest people in the village, and Bombi Plata as the scheming assistant director. 

Introducing commercial model Rapunzel Hernandez and Monet dela Cruz, the film also features cameo appearances by Ronnie Lazaro, Joel Torre, Kris Lacaba, Rox Lee, Khavn De La Cruz, Topel Lee, Paolo Villaluna, Ogi Sugatan, EJ Salcedo, Donald Camon, Randy Punsal, Karr Cotamora, Seymour Barros Sanchez, Richard Legaspi, Jules Katanyag, Norman Wilwayco, Odyssey Flores, and other personalities in the local digital filmmaking scene.

The APO, previously known as the Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society, first gained recognition in 1973 when they gave a farewell concert at the plush Meralco Auditorium in Metro Manila.  More than three decades after, they have made 22 record albums, hosted several television shows including their own noontime Sunday show "Sa Linggo nAPO Sila," and launched successful major solo concerts and countless provincial, dinner, and corporate shows.  They have performed in over 50 cities in the United States, in Canada, Singapore, Indonesia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Japan to bring Original Pilipino Music to Filipinos the world over.

The APO were the first Filipino pop artists to perform at the Main Hall of New York's esteemed Carnegie Hall in October of 1987.  They have also performed at the equally prestigious Massey Hall in Toronto, Canada's music capital.  They were also the first Filipinos to perform in a public concert in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  They were awarded the first Dangal ng Musikang Pilipino by Awit Awards - the Filipino equivalent of the Grammy.  They have also been conferred the Tanglaw ng Lahi Award, the highest accolade given by the Jesuits in the field of culture and the arts.  Both collectively and individually, the APO is easily the most creative group in Philippine entertainment today.

"Lasponggols" will be shown at the UP Film Institute/Cine Adarna on July 22, Friday, 7 p.m. 

SOURCE: Pinoyindiecinema@yahoogroups.com