tagabungtod

Romeo Clarin first appeared in Nabunturan in the late '60s as the boyfriend of Marcelinda “Baby” Barrete, a very pretty and popular lass from barangay Cabacungan who was “crush ng bayan” during her high school days in Assumption. The pair was quite a perfect match because he was a gentlemanly, handsome young man who, like the Barrete family, came all the way from Sevilla, Bohol. Soon enough, after college, they would tie the knot and establish residence in Nabunturan. Romy wasted no time in earning a living for his family by establishing a fertilizer and chemical store. He would later branch out into the transportation business.

One child came after another, too. Presently, all their four children have finished college and are working. Neil (Boyet) is a physical therapist, Glenn (Jojit) is an occupational therapist, Romeo Jr. (Jun-Jun) is a business ad graduate and the youngest Myrocel (My-my) is a medical technologist.

In the early 1990's, Romy was persuaded to run for public office as councilor and he easily topped the winning slate. Romy is not the sociable, gung-ho, pat-your-back type of politician. But he is not new to politics either.

Aside from the many political Clarins in Bohol, his late father-in-law, Juan “Ondoy” Barrete, became a long-time councilor and vice-mayor; he missed becoming mayor by losing just by some 50 votes to then mayor Pros Amatong. Romy's mother-in-law, the late Andresa, was also barangay councilor and later captain of Cabacungan for some time. Furthermore, he also belongs to the big tagabungtod Calamba clan, his mother being a first cousin of the pioneering Calambas from Sevilla, Bohol.

Quiet, patient and sober by nature, Romy completed three terms as councilor and three terms as vice-mayor, a total of eighteen years. He assumed as mayor July 1, 2010.

This blog is taking the liberty of reprinting this full article from Hollywood Bulletin because it makes special mention of Gemma Sotto, a fullblooded tagabungtod. Gemma is the daughter of Milagros Mencidor and the late Cesar Sotto. She was a member of the provincial board of Compostela Valley before she decided to leave for the U.S. Gemma, her son, and a couple of her siblings, Jumilo and Marife, now reside in New York.

Going through the article, the report of the author appears rather inaccurate as she wrote that "...Gemma Sotto... was her nanny while she was in the Philippines." Gemma was already in the U.S. when she became nanny, not to Brook Shields, but to her child. If I recall correctly, Gemma told me that she took care of Brooke's little girl for almost three years.

Gemma's photo album is an interesting collection of pictures showing her posing with the likes of Barbra Streisand, Lou Diamond Philips, and a lot of other famous stars. The pictures were taken on different ocassions when she had to fly with Shields' family to Hollywood. When Brooke Shields and her husband, who also works in the film industry, decided to move permanently to L.A., Gemma chose to stay in New York.

Brooke Shields recalls her Filipina nanny and her trip to the Philippines

“Every time I hear the Philippines, I am reminded of my Tita,” exclaimed the lovely and statuesque Brooke Shields in our recent encounter.

LOS ANGELES – “Every time I hear the Philippines, I am reminded of my Tita,” exclaimed the lovely and statuesque Brooke Shields in our recent encounter.

“Tita” for this former child actress and former Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) guest is Gemma Sotto who was her nanny while she was in the Philippines.

“She was a kind and caring woman,” she pointed out. Brooke was one of the special guests from Hollywood of the former First Lady Imelda Marcos in the controversial MIFF in 1982. That was also the first time I met and interviewed Brooke at the Manila Hotel.

Many years later, we met again when I talked to her about her TV series, “Lipstick Jungle.” “I remember those glamorous days in Manila,” she recalled of her first visit to the Philippines.

Brooke and I recently met again when we had a chat for her upcoming comedy film, “Furry Vengeance,” with Brendan Fraser.
Now a mother of two girls (Rowan Francis, 6, and Grier Hammond, 4), Brooke said that it was indeed the birthday of Grier that day I interviewed her.

“I almost threw a whole premiere for her,” she said laughing. “She’s actually happy to see the movie so that’s a good thing and then afterward, we’re having all her friends, 20 kids, for a barbecue and swim party,” she disclosed.

The 44-year-old actress added, “I’m making my husband (Chris Henchy) do all the cooking and he’s cooking barbecue, burgers, hotdogs, chicken fingers, macaroni and cheese, and big sheets of chocolate cake. He won’t be wearing a princess dress but my daughter will be (laughter). Well, maybe, after a couple of Tequilas… I don’t know, we’ll see.”

Asked how she manages to balance motherhood and career, the “Blue Lagoon” and “Endless Love” star revealed, “I don’t ever really feel like it’s balanced. I always feel like I’m deficient in one area. I maybe here but I’m thinking I hope they’ve got the right shoes on. I hope they’re fine. I hope they’re not giving their dad a hard time.

“When I tried to just be at home with them, I go absolutely stir crazy. I love them. But they make me crazy. I notice that when I have a job, I like to go and come back or bring them with me. But when I have something else that keeps my mind and my creative spirit nurtured, I am more patient with them. I have more fun with them. I’m clearer about my time with them because I’m able to focus on them. If I’m just with them, I’m thinking, God, I’ve got to get a job. That’s just the way I’m built.

“I don’t know if it’s a good thing or not but I do like the idea that I’m showing my girls the importance of having something in their life that is theirs and a vocation. I think it’s important for women to have that message growing up.”

• • •
On her co-star Brendan Fraser, the former Calvin Klein Jeans model said, “It was my first time ever working with Brendan. I had known him a little bit socially. Really nothing – not very much. I have always wanted to work with him. He is truly a hero of mine. I enjoy him so much and it was just such a thrill.

“You never knew what he was going to do. I sort of had to be the through-line through everything and he always said the script was a suggestion (laughing). So I’d be waiting for my cue but he’s very generous with other people around him and that is rare because he could easily steal any scene. He’s fearless. He’s so comfortable allowing other people to have their moment too which is also rare in comedy.”

• • •
The first time I met Lea Dizon, a budding filmmaker, was at a screening of a Filipino movie in LA. The exotic beauty later invited us to the screening of her directorial debut, a short comedy titled “How to Eat Bacon,” at the USC (University of Southern California) School of Cinematic Arts where she is taking her masters degree in film.

A University of the Philippines graduate, Lea is hard working, persistent and focused, especially when it comes to filmmaking. Very passionate and dedicated to her craft, Lea directed another short, a comedy-love story, “Angel’s Bread,” which was co-produced by another Filipina, Pia Chikiamco.

“I would love to be known as a Filipino filmmaker in Hollywood,” the Angeles City native disclosed.

After three years at USC, Lea is now set on doing her thesis film, “Delikadesa,” a short film in Tagalog that is set in the ’80s in Manila. “I need all the help – financial or otherwise – for this film and I am not embarrassed to ask for help,” she said.

Lea explained, “My thesis will be an earnest, charming, poignant movie set in Manila. Eighteen-year-old Paolo is about to go to his engagement dinner to his pregnant girlfriend. While the two families are going crazy trying to plan the wedding and his life, all Paolo wants to do is to tell them that he doesn’t want to get married. It’s for sure a family drama, a comedy of errors, and a coming-of-age film about learning that sometimes doing the wrong thing is the right thing to do.” Visit the website, www.leawdizon.com/delikadesa, to find out more about the film.

In order for Lea to make her thesis film, she will need to raise $20,000. Lea pointed out, “No donation is too small or too big. When you give $6 you are buying one of our crew members one of his or her ten meals during the shoot. About 30 people will be helping to make this film. $110 will enable me to buy a can of film – leaving me with just 16 cans left to purchase. $275 buys an hour of the eight hours that I need to transfer the movie from film to High Definition. $1,000 helps me rent the Super 16 camera.”

She stressed, “I will be grateful for anything that people can extend to me. I am certain that all together we can make this movie, a dollar at a time. Being able to make this film will be the best graduation gift I can ever receive.”

Lea added that they are targeting to be in production in the first week of May in LA. She said, “This film will be submitted to film festivals in the US and abroad. It is my hope that this film not only open doors for me as a filmmaker but will also give honor to my country. I am humbly and boldly asking you to invest in this dream and in myself and help me take this town by storm.”

Formerly a Manila journalist, Los Angeles-based Janet Susan R. Nepales is a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

E-mail the writer at jrnepales_624@yahoo.com for your comments and questions.