A wish for more hits

We wish there would be unquestionable hit entertainment shows soon in the country, particularly films screened in movie houses.

We have decided that now is the perfect time to wish the country's entertainers the most rousing shows to counter the depressing departures for the hereafter of icons Nora Aunor, Pilita Corrales and Hajji Alejandro. Add to them the passing of Pope Francis, an Argentinian who is a sanctified idol for Pinoys seemingly even for non-Catholics.

We asked the chatGPT AI if there had ever been other April months in Philippine entertainment history marked by departures for the hereafter, and the app replies none. So be it.

We wish GMA Pictures would announce that Samahan ng Makasalanan is a certified hit, so we can all rejoice for it with varsity cager-turned-actor David Licauco for whom the movie is his first solo headliner (without a loveteam partner in which he portrays a handsome deacon). The film directed by Benedict Mique opened in theaters on Black Saturday.

We know that the concert-movie Wish Date: Spring at the Araneta Coliseum on 20 April was a hit. Its concert headliners were Rey Valera, Nonoy Zuniga, Jessa Zaragoza, Janine Tenoso, Princess Velasco, with the Wish Orchestra as backing band. Its movie top-billers were Kevin Miranda, Angel Guardian and Eula Valdez.

The entertainment event that features a concert-within-a-movie was produced by KDR Music House, a non-Catholic company, so they cannot call its playdate Easter Sunday. They decided to substitute Spring for Easter, which is associated with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, connoting re-birth and springing back to life.

Though the concert part began with Europe's hit "The Final Countdown," it had mainly an OPM repertoire, with Valera, Zuniga and Zaragoza performing some of their mega hit songs in the past, such as “Pangako sa Iyo”, “Kung Kailangan Mo Ako”, “Never Ever Say Goodbye”, and “Love Without Time”. Zaragoza was asked to sing a chart-topping song of her (real life) husband Dingdong Avanzado: “Basta't Kasama Kita”.

Velasco and Tinoso belted out some well-loved songs of Rico Blanco and Eraserheads, including “You'll Be Safe Here, With a Smile” and “Ulan”.

The movie had Miranda doing convincingly well a dual role of two brothers with different mothers and both brothers got romantically involved with a nurse portrayed by Guardian after the death of one of the siblings. Valdez melodramatically portrays mother of one of the brothers. Guardian was engrossing, too, as girlfriend of the look-alike brothers.

Wish 107.5's production arm KDR Music House must have acquired more advanced live production editing equipment which the company used to tell the film's story more dynamically than it did in the past. The company goes on with its innovative feature of having some scenes in the movie acted out live at the venue. When seen on screen, though, the live scenes look tighter and cleaner. The audience at the venue, though, love the live scenes because it gives them the rare opportunity to see the actors in person.

The show had exciting lights and fog effects at the Big Dome.

Wish Date: Spring will be toured this month and in May. Visit KDR Music House social media accounts soon for the tour schedule

The show's overall director is Arnold Sanchez and its musical director is Jason Quitane.

Meanwhile, here, according to AI chatGPT, are the Pinoy movies slated to be released in May: Isang Komedya sa Langit, a fantasy comedy starring Jaime Fabregas, Edgar Allan Guzman and Carmi Martin slated to open on 28 May.

Its publicity yarn describes the film as "whimsical tale of time-traveling priests, blending history, faith, and humor."

GMA Pictures' KMJS Gabi ng Lagim: The Movie is coming soon. It's a horror anthology narrated by GMA 7's Jessica Soho. KMJS in the title refers to the public affairs program Kapuso MO, Jessica Soho. The film has three directors: King Mark Baco, Jerrold Tarog Dodo Dayao.

Barbie Forteza banners another GMA Pictures forthcoming film care titled P77 (Penthouse 77). It's a psycho-horror directed by Derick Cabrido.

No, it's not the supposedly much awaited movie pairing of Forteza with David Licaoco. P77 is no love story after all. Its other top star is child actor Euwenn Mikael.

Let's hope for hit Pinoy movies to make us happy even if their narratives may be somewhat sad or gruesome or hauntingly mysterious. And let's pray for longer lives for our idols.