ALL ABOUT DUBAI......THE MOVIE

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ABANTE
Dondon Sermino

Claudine Barretto, takot kay Aga Muhlach!



SORRY na lang kay Piolo Pascual, pero si Aga Muhlach pala ang pinaka-favorite na leading man ni Claudine Barretto.

"Parati ko namang sinasabi na favorite ko talaga si Aga. I guess, lahat naman ng mga leading ladies, gusto talaga nilang makasama si Aga.

"Because we all know na he’s a very good actor. Pero, more than that, kasi magkaibigan talaga kami. Five years old pa lang ako, girlfriend na niya ang kapatid ko," pangiti-ngiting kuwento ni Claudine.

Siyempre, ang ate niyang si Gretchen Barretto ang tinutukoy ni Claudine na nakarelasyon noon ni Aga.

"Sige ka, baka dumating ‘yon ngayon," pabirong sabi ni Aga kay Claudine.

"Baka dumating, galit pa naman ‘yon sa iyo," hirit naman ni Claudine kay Aga, na pangiti-ngiti pa rin.

Ikinuwento ni Claudine na sa isang apartment lang sila nakatira nina Aga at JOHN LLOYD Cruz sa Dubai, habang ginagawa ang pelikulang Dubai, na dinirek ni Rory Quintos.

"Si Lloyd, hindi pa kami masyadong close, kasi ngayon pa lang kami nagsama sa pelikula. Si Aga, ilang beses ko na siyang nakasama sa movies.

"Everytime na nagsasama kami sa pelikula, palaging may memories. It’s always fun," patuloy na kuwento ni Claudine.

Isa nga raw sa memories ni Claudine sa muli nilang pagsasama ni Aga sa pelikula ay ‘yung madalas siyang pagalitan nito.

"I love working with Claudine. Wala akong nagiging problema sa kanya. Wala siyang kaartehan sa akin. We’re very close," sabi naman ni Aga.

May isang kuwento nga na gustong gawin ni Aga na kasama si Claudine. Pero, hindi pa ito naibibigay sa kanila.

"Pero okey lang, dahil nakakagawa naman ako ng pelikula with her.

"‘Yung iba, sinasabi nila na may topak daw si Claudine. Sa akin, hindi ko nakikita ‘yung topak na ‘yon.

"Dahil sa akin, mabait siya talaga. Kung minsan, natutulog na kami sa Dubai, nangungulit pa ‘yan. Sinisitsitan ko lang, sinasabi ko, matulog ka na. Hihiga agad ‘yan, matutulog agad.

"Natatakot talaga siya sa akin. Pinapagalitan ko talaga siya.

"Pero after that, naghahalikan naman kami. Sa eksena. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

"It’s so nice to work with Claudine and JOHN LLOYD. Ito ‘yung mga artistang mahal nila ang hanapbuhay nila, mahal nila ang craft nila. Kumbaga, hindi lang sila nagtatrabaho para magkapera, kundi para maipakita talaga nila ‘yung talent nila, na pinakikita talaga na pinaghuhusay nila ang trabaho nila.

"Ang sarap talaga nilang makasama sa trabaho," sabi naman ni Aga.

Ang sarap sanang mag-interview pa ng mas mahaba at mas maraming anggulo kina Claudine, Aga at JOHN LLOYD, pero dahil medyo late na nagsimula ang presscon, nawalan na kami ng oras na umupo sa harap nila.

Well, kung maaga lang sanang nagsimula ang presscon, ‘di ba?

Siyanga pala, sina Ricky Lee at Shaira Salvador ang sumulat ng iskrip ng Dubai, at kasama rin sa pelikula sina Pokwang, Phoemela Baranda at Michael de Mesa, na gumanap na bading na nagtatrabaho sa Dubai.

[mhie]

JERRY OLEA
ABANTE TONITE

Aga, hindi kinakitaan ng topak si Claudine




Sa Setyembre 28 ang worldwide opening ng pelikulang Dubai – sa Dubai, Milan (Italy), San Francisco (California, USA), Vancouver (Canada), Vienna (Austria), Hawaii (USA), Saipan, Guam at mahigit 100 sinehan sa Pilipinas.

Mga bida rito sina Aga Muhlach, JOHN LLOYD Cruz at Claudine Barretto.

Sey ni Aga, "Ang karakter ko, si Raffy na nagpunta sa Dubai at nagtagal doon. Mahilig tumulong, kaya kahit 10-15 years nang nagtatrabaho sa Dubai, walang naipon. Kesa mapunta sa akin, gusto kong tumulong sa mga kapwa ko Filipino."

Pahayag ni Claudine, "Ang karakter ko naman, si Faye. Isa siyang operations manager sa Wonderland, isang theme park. Pag nagmahal, sobra-sobra. Palaging may kulang sa buhay niya. Ex-boyfriend niya si Raffy…

"Faye is the woman that comes between the two brothers."

Lahad ni JOHN LLOYD, "Ako, si Andrew, kapatid ni Raffy. Sobrang idolo ko ang kuya ko mula pagkabata. 9 years kaming nagkahiwalay.

"Nabubuhay ako sa pangako na pupunta kami sa Canada pagdating ng panahon. Iyon ang drive ko para mag-aral na mabuti.

"Sumunod ako sa kuya ko sa Dubai, isang lugar kung saan binabago ang pagkatao mo…"

***

Sa tunay na buhay, naging kasintahan ni Aga ang ate ni Claudine na si Gretchen Barretto.

"Five years old lang ako noon nang maging girlfriend ni Aga ang kapatid ko," natatawang sabi ni Claudine.

"Lagi ko namang sinasabi na favorite leading man ko si Aga. I guess, lahat naman, gustong maka-partner si Aga. We know he’s a good actor. More than that, magkaibigan kami.

"It’s fun working with Aga."

Pagsambot ni Aga, "I love working with Claudine. Siya lang ang artistang nakasama ko na kahit ano, pwede kong sabihin.

"If I have to kiss her, walang malisya. Wala siyang kaartehan sa akin. Very professional. Sabi nila, may topak, pero sa akin, hindi ko nakita.

"Nasigawan ko ‘yan nang nag-iingay, ‘Tulog na!’ The next day, magkahalikan kami sa eksena. Ganu’n kami.

"Natutuwa ako at ang mga artistang kasama ko rito sa Dubai, mahal ang craft nila, nag-i-improve, hindi lang sa pera, gustong pinaghihirapan ang trabaho nila." (JDO)

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'Dubai' katuparan ng isang pangako


Two years ago, ginawa ng Star Cinema ang pelikulang Milan. Very significant ang pelikulang ito nina Claudine Barretto at Piolo Pascual, directed by Olive Lamasan.

Maraming Pilipino ang nagtatrabaho sa Milan. That time, naka-focus ang ABS-CBN sa Milan sa pagsimula ng kanilang TFC sa Europa. Sa Milan ang home base ng European connection.

Ngayon naman, naririyan ang pelikulang Dubai ni Direk Rory Quintos starring Claudine Barretto, JOHN LLOYD Cruz at Aga Muhlach. Sa September 28 na ito ipalalabas.

Marami ang nagtatanong kung bakit hindi Taiwan o Tokyo o Cologne o Brunei kung saan marami ring mga Pinoy holding good jobs.

Mula kay Direk Rory nalaman namin ang dahilan: The movie was made dahil sa isang pangako. Now Dubai is fulfillment of a promise.

Noong early 2004, nagkaroon ng premiere night ang pelikulang Milan sa iba’t ibang bansa at isa rito ay ginanap sa Dubai. Very successful ang affair at mainit ang reception doon ng mga Pinoy.

Na-overhelwelm ang Star Cinema executive na si Malou Santos kaya nangako siya sa mga Pinoy roon na like Milan, gagawa sila ng pelikulang Dubai. At ito na nga ito.

Bago gumawa ng script sina Ricky Lee at Shaira Mella Salvador, pumunta sila sa Dubai para sa kanilang research. Nasalubong nila roon ang magkapatid na naging inspirasyon nila.

Pareho ang playdate ng pelikula sa Dubai -- kung saan din ito ipalalabas, along with Milan, Saipan, Vienna, ‘Frisco at Milan -- at sa Pilipinas, sa September 28.

[mhie]

FREEHAND
By Mario Bautista
People's Journal

JOHN LLOYD INTIMIDATED BY AGA



JOHN LLOYD Cruz is able to relate with his role as an OFW in "Dubai." "I have two brothers working in New York and I know how difficult it is for them to work away from home," he says. "I've visited them and talagang subsob sila sa trabaho, they live in a small apartment and do all the household chores dahil walang maid."

In "Dubai," he plays Andrew, Aga Muhlach's younger brother who stayed in Manila to finish his studies while his Kuya Raffy is working hard in Dubai and just sends him financial support. "After I got a degree, I follow him there and one of his girlfriends come between us kaya nagkaroon kami ng matinding conflict."

How is it working with Aga? "At first, I was intimidated as he's an award-winning actor. But later on, I felt so blessed as a newcomer working with him and with Direk

Rory Quintos kasi ang bait nila. Aga helps me not only in my craft as an actor but also gives me advice on how to handle money, how to deal with people, kung paano makisama in this business. Si Direk Rory naman, first time ko to work with her and she's very patient in guiding me in doing some of the film's most difficult dramatic scenes."

How was it working in a foreign land? "We stayed there for 17 days and the first few days, I got depressed. Na-homesick ako. I realized kahit magulo rito sa Pilipinas, nami-miss ko pa rin ito kasi ito talaga ang bansa ko. But just like the OFW's there, I'm willing to work abroad for the sake of my family. As the days went on, I really enjoyed the company of Aga and the rest of the cast and staff working with us there. Naging family kami."

Doesn't he miss the company of Bea Alonzo, his partner in all the films he did lately? "We're together naman in 'Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin.' Also, she's the first to do a movie na hindi ako ang kapareha, si Piolo Pascual. Now it's my turn to do a
film without her."

Is it true he feels jealous now that ex-G Ciara Sotto is being linked to Paolo Ballesteros? "No. Kung totoong sila na nga, I wish them the best."

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Timing
JOHN LLOYD on Ciara: ‘We’re better off as friends’
Rowena Agilada

SA presscon ng "Dubai," hindi naiwasang itanong kay JOHN LLOYD Cuz si Ciara Sotto. Inamin ng aktor na totoong tinanong niya ito tungkol sa tsika about them ni Paolo Ballesteros. Ciara told him na friends lang sila ni Paolo.



Tanong lang daw ’yon ng isang kaibigan, paglilinaw ni John. "Ciara and I are better off as friends," he said. "May constant communication kami kahit wala na kami."

Naaaliw nga raw siya kapag pinanonood niya sina Ciara at Paolo sa "Eat Bulaga." Hindi niya kilala personally si Paolo pero may nagsabi raw sa kanyang mabait at mabuting tao ito. Kung anuman daw ang namamagitan ngayon between Paolo and Ciara, ayaw niyang panghimasukan pa, ani John.

He swears, wala siyang love life ngayon dahil he’s too busy sa kanyang work. Ni wala rin siyang time makipag-date. "Gusto ko kasi kung magdi-date ako, tuloy ligaw na. "Takot naman akong mamili between love and career kaya ayoko munang manligaw."

Natigil muna ang shooting ng "All About Love," ayon kay John, wherein ka-partner niya si Bea Alonzo. Tatapusin muna niya ang shooting ng "Dubai" dahil showing na ito next month. Flattered si John sa mga papuri ng mga co-stars na sina Aga Muhlach at Claudine Barretto noong presscon. Bilib si Aga kay John dahil bukod sa magaling na aktor ay mabait pa. Ayon kay Aga, nakikita niya kay John ang malaking pagmamahal nito sa craft at ’yung hangarin nitong mas lalo pang paghusayin ang pagganap.

"Very supportive si Aga," sabi naman ni John. "Tinuruan din niya ako how to handle money and how to communicate with other people. Blessing talaga to work with him."

[mhie]

Wednesday, August 31, 2005


The Filipino

A standout in Dubai

By Tessa C. Mauricio

LIFE is not always unkind to the overseas Filipino worker (OFW). Although there are many Flor Contemplacions, Sarah Balabagans and Angelo dela Cruzes who suffer tragic fates while striving to support their families in the Philippines from across the world, there are also a good number of OFWs who do find the greener pastures they seek abroad.




Filipinos working in Dubai can attest to this: They land more than just blue-collar jobs over there, oftentimes, managerial positions in the service industry. A Manila Times executive who visited Dubai in July, in fact, met a Filipina who holds the third-highest position in a furniture company. He reported that she can afford to live in a villa that fetches 100,000 Dirhams a month—the equivalent of P1,500,000!

While it took this lady several years to make it to the big time, the point is that the Filipino’s talent is recognized and rewarded in the Middle Eastern city, and that success stories can and do happen for the OFW in Dubai.

And so, come September 28, moviegoers can finally expect to see a film on OFWs that will not leave them heavyhearted when the end credits roll.

A time for love

Simply titled, Dubai, the Aga Muhlach-Claudine Barretto starrer is a love story set against the impressive backdrop of a cosmopolitan city and the beautiful sand dunes where life is not too tough for the lead characters.

Muhlach plays the role of Raffy whose nine years of hard work in the city earned him a good-paying job at a courier service company; while Barretto, as Raffy’s girlfriend Faye, is employed as an operations manager in a big city theme park.

Free of problems like exploitation and discrimination in Dubai, there is time for Raffy and Faye to fall in love. In fact, a love triangle even ensues when Raffy’s younger brother Andrew (JOHN LLOYD Cruz) follows him to work in the city.

“We were able to veer away from the plight of the OFW in this movie and present a very intimate story because of the better conditions of Filipinos who live in Dubai,” announced the director Rory Quintos at a press conference on Monday.

Screen playwrights Ricky Lee and Shaira Mella Salvador teamed up for the script and researched on stories of OFWs in Dubai, via personal interviews and through countless e-mails. They were happy to discover that, as Lee put it, “Itinataas ng ating mga kababayan ang karangalan ng Pilipino doon. [Our countrymen make us proud in Dubai].”

“For a change,” added his partner Salvador, “we can show that the Filipino is sought after because of his skills, ang kanyang kasipagan at ang galing ng kanyang pakikisama [because he is hardworking and he works well with other people].”

Muhlach, Barretto and Cruz confirmed the good news from weeks of shooting in the city.

“It’s no wonder that some of our kababayan over there say that they’d rather stay in Dubai dahil ang gulo dito sa Pilipinas [because of all the chaos in the Philippines],” Muhlach narrated.

Barretto, meanwhile, marveled at the how developed Dubai is, but was quick to add that for all the city’s riches, she would “still choose to live in Philippines,” even with all its problems. Ditto with Cruz who confessed that he will not be able to cope with homesickness if he were to work in another country.

A film for every Filipino to see

Despite the drama that unfolds in Dubai—the conflict that threatens to break the bond between brothers Raffy and Andrew—the film is a feel-good story overall because of the high points that Quintos, Lee and Salvador mentioned.

Star Cinema, the production outfit of Dubai, is therefore making sure that as many Filipinos in different parts of the world get to see the movie to uplift their spirits. To let them know that the Filipino is a standout.

A world premiere is set for the movie on September 28 in Dubai, and the cities of Milan, San Francisco, Vancouver, Saipan, Guam and Vienna, together with over 100 theaters across the Philippines.

“This is a promise fulfilled to our countrymen in Dubai who had asked Malou Santos [Star Cinema’s managing director] to make a movie about them,” shared Salvador. “We don’t own the story. The story belongs to the Filipinos of Dubai.”

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MALAYA ENTERTAINMENT
STUDIO WHISPERS
ETHEL RAMOS

Do you know that while filming "Dubai" in Dubai, Claudine Barretto became a labandera to both her co-stars, Aga Muhlach and JOHN LLOYD Cruz? The three of them were assigned the same house. Claudine, a stickler for cleanliness, also became a cook for the two.

Said "Dubai" producer Tess Fuentes: "Umaga pa lamang, namimili na ng lulutuin si Claudine para when they arrive at the shooting, nakakain na sila at trabaho na lamang."

"Ako, I have this habit of washing my clothes each time I take them off," Claudine revealed, "Before I knew it, I was washing na rin ng mga hinubad nina Aga at JOHN LLOYD."

The three developed a special bond during their stay in Dubai. "Hanggang dito close pa rin kaming tatlo," said Claudine. "Kaya natitiyak kong we will miss each other once naipalabas na ang pelikula."


Casting Aga, Claudine and JOHN LLOYD in one movie is, no doubt, a coup, said Star Cinema managing director Malou Santos. And she is mighty proud of this movie.

Filmed entirely in Dubai, the movie reunites Aga and Claudine with their "Kailangan Kita" director, Rory Quintos. JOHN LLOYD is working with the three of them for the first time.

Said JOHN LLOYD: "Kaya noong una, medyo kabado ako how to react to them. Ang dami na kasing na-accomplish nilang tatlo kumpara sa akin. But I’m glad they were all kind and supportive sa akin."

In "Dubai," Aga and John play orphaned brothers. They come from humble beginnings and dream of a better life. Aga leaves for Dubai, works and with his earnings, helps JOHN LLOYD finish his studies. Aga asks JOHN LLOYD to join him in Dubai after his college graduation.

Things go well with the brothers until Claudine enters their lives.

"Ang dali kong naka-relate sa role ko sa Dubai," said JOHN LLOYD. "I have two elder brothers who are also OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers). They work in New York. And I saw for myself when I went to visit them how hard they work for every dollar they earn.

"But what I cannot imagine is having them fall in love with the same woman, like what happened to me and Aga in ‘Dubai’."

Dubai is a collaboration of top scriptwriters Ricky Lee and Shaira Salvador, their second after "May Nagmamahal." Despite it being a poignant love story, "Dubai" offers a front-seat view to moviegoers of Dubai’s breathtaking spots, such as the skyscrapers of Sheik Zayed and Al Ain cities, the camels and the vast Sand Dunes.

"Dubai" will premiere on Sept 28. Simultaneous with its nationwide showing in over 100 theaters, the movie will also open in Milan, San Francisco, Vancouver, Saipan, Guam and Vienna.

[mhie]

MANILA STANDARD TODAY
By Isah V. Red

More than a love story

Star Cinema has been bravely facing the challenge of declining admission ticket sales. And strangely the company is able to bring in the crowds into the cinemas. D’Anothers, in fact, made quite a killing at the box office (not in the proportions of Fantastic Four or even Star Wars), but it is a certified hit by Philippine movie standards.

Now, the movie outfit that a few years ago came up with Anak, a story between a mother who works as a domestic helper in Hong Kong separated from her daughter for years but eventually reunited, and two years ago Milan, filmed in that famed Italian City about a man who followed her girl in Italy but found another girl that he would eventually fall in love with, is back with another movie set in a foreign land.

Dubai is the setting of the love story of two Filipino Overseas Workers (OFW).

Directed by Rory Quintos, the film features the stars of the hit movie Kailangan Kita—Aga Muhlach and Claudine Barretto. This time, JOHN LLOYD Cruz joins the team.

In the story penned by Ricky Lee and Shaira Mella Salvador (their first screenplay collaboration). Aga and JOHN LLOYD play brothers who promise to stick to each other no matter what happens.

When Aga (as Raffy) has finally found a job in Dubai, he asks JOHN LLOYD (as Andrew) to join him. Little do they know that their lives would be challenged and their bonding as brothers put to the test when Claudine as Faye crosses their paths.

Dubai, the film, was shot entirely in Dubai. Part drama, part travelogue, audiences will feel like a tourist, say the producers of the film, as they watch the love story unfolding on screen. The audience will marvel at the sights of Dubai’s skyscrapers in the Shiek Zayed and Al Ain cities, the Sand Dunes, and other eye-popping scenery.

The movie’s theme song is the Ogie Alcasid composition, “Ikaw Lamang,” sung by Gary Valenciano.

Dubai will have a world premiere on Sept. 28 in Milan, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Vienna as well as in more than 100 theaters all over the Philippines.

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