First taste of Thai Series; Review of Roy Leh Sanae Rai

I'm now fascinated with watching video clips of Thai series Roy Leh Sanae Rai (2002) or 100 Trickery's Dangerous Passion and Luerd Kattiya (2003) or Destiny of a Princess.  These two shows are both top billed by Jesdaporn “Tik” Pholdee and Phiyada “Aom” Akkraseranee. Roy Leh Sanae Rai is the first ever Thai series I watched.  

Note: I don't know yet what's with RLSR's remake in 2015.  

Review of Roy Leh Sanae Rai (RLSR)

Observing the video qualities, fashion statements, and props (esp. old Nokia phone), I'm not surprised that  RLSR aired in 2002. Despite of this, the story and acting are still very effective to entertain me.

Trivia: Before 2002, the popular foreign shows in the Philippines were Mexican and Argentinian Telenovelas. In 2003 Taiwanese series Meteor Garden became huge hit here, and by 2004, Korean series  started to invade the local television programming.   Recently, GMA Network started to show Thai version of Princess Hours starring Sattaphong “Tao” Phiangphor and Ungsumalynn “Pattie” Sirapatsakmetha.  But I'm not watching it because I have work sched on its time-slot and I’m not fond of watching a remake. If I already watched the original and liked it, I stick to it ( the 2006 Korean Series Princess Hours).    

Going back to RLSR, the first thing that got my interest was Aom’s resemblance to Erich Gonzales. Then the Thai accent, the main actors/ characters, and flow story. Overall I like RLSR, the only things I don’t like in this series is the shouting parts of three characters (the auntie and two prostitutes). I can let go the amateurish acting  (because I don’t know if it’s how Thai usual gestures/ mannerism). And I tried to understand what the writer (s) and director (s) would like to emphasize on their loud personalities.  But it’s really annoying to here these three actors/ characters especially if they shout all at the same time.  They almost pulled down the good presentation of the show. But I just want to clarify it’s just the shouting parts that I don’t like.

( Trivia: Erich  Gonzales did  2012 movie Suddenly it's Magic with Thai actor Mario Maurer)

Hi Tik (Jesdaporn Pholdee)!  

Before RLSR, the only Thai actors I knew were Mario Maurer ( First Love / Crazy Little Thing Called Love), Chantavit Dhanasevi ( Hello Stranger), and Ananda Everingham ( Shutter),  who’s  look-a-like of  PioloPascual for me.   

Actually Tik’s face/aura is similar to most Filipino men because of his complexion and built (I just don’t know how tall he is).  But he’s packaging in RLSR made him look so handsome and lovable. The appeal is there!  I think it’s in the outfits, eyeglasses, hairdo, and muscles.  However his ultimate charm is his effective acting. Even most of the time he received punches and ran (after Aom’s Namnueng), you would feel his desire, jealousy, frustration, and regret in the entire series.  

And though the number of episodes of RLSR is limited to few episodes (if we compare to six months to almost four years run of most Filipino dramas), his Kongpop (sic) showed fluid transitions from being greedy lad to a passionate lover.

 Hello Phiyada “Aom” Akkraseranee!

I actually appreciated Aom more in Luerd Kattiya (LK), but I obviously started to like her in Roy Leh Sanae Rai. I like her versatility from being naive 20ish ordinary girl in RLSR to below 20 years old princess in LK.  Whoever did her makeups, outfits, hairstyles, etc  in LK, Kudos to you!  

If I’m not that impressed with Aom’s character in RLSR, I can say that her acting there was really relatable and effective. It came to a point that you would also hate, forgive, and love Kongpop because you sympathize with Namneung. That's how effective Aom is. 

On why Aom’s role wasn’t so outstanding, it's because that character is so ordinary in general.  It has the ingredients of cliche heroines – you know the "poor girl meets rich boy" and the "rugs to riches" story.  I couldn’t pinpoint what made Namneung special from the other lead female characters I saw before. Perhaps, she’s the only girl who’s brave enough to jump from the second’s floor window?  Or the one who can run in the seashore even she has wound?  

Roy Leh Sanae Rai introduced some Thai culture

For me, the good thing about watching foreign movies/ series is they can show a country's/people's culture. Honestly, I have very limited knowledge about Thailand.  Perhaps it’s just the tuk tuk, temples, “sawadikap,” night market, and other tips from travelers and bloggers.  Incidentally,  the Thai movies I watched before were not really good guides.  Shutter is a horror film, First Love is about school life, and Hello Stranger is about two young Thai  touring in South Korea.

In Roy Leh Sanae Rai, I get to know a little bit of  Thai wedding ceremony, law about marriage (conjugal properties/ divorce), businesses (harem), and day-to day lives.  RLSR also let me feel that Thai series/ culture is almost the same with Filipino series/ culture. I can relate straightaway.  I didn’t feel alienated the first time I watched Korean, Taiwanese, Japanese, and Chinese dramas. Perhaps, it’s rooted in different traditions, fashion, gestures, lifestyle, and more.  Surprisingly, I felt in RLSR that I’m just watching a local drama even I’m hearing words that I don’t understand (Thank you very much for the English subtitles!).

Minus again in shouting parts, I appreciate more the Thai language/accent through RLSR.  I find it amusing whenever the actors throw lines (especially whenever Kongpop explains and Neung is angry) that I just understand emotionally. In my ears, their accent is fusion of Kapampangan and Ilocano  with punch of Ilonggo dialects. It’s as appetizing and chewable as sweet tamarind candies (oh I like Moniegold hohoho!). I really like the way they pronounce Chermarn/ Laila Boonyasak’s character- Ponfah (Pon-Fa-ha)... Am I right that Thai showbiz/actors are conservative?  I didn’t see Aom and Tik  kissed literally.

 RSLR’s has ordinary story with exciting scenes

Given its cliché plot, the strengths of Roy Leh Sanae Rai’s story comes from its exciting scenes toward climax.  I like the idea that the two prostitutes (one is Suwatjanee Chaimusik) are the ones who helped to reveal the wrongdoings of Kongpop’s bad Auntie (Boom Runya Siyanon) and Ponfah (Laila Boonyasak). By the way, that's the only time I appreciated Suwatjanee Chaimusik’s shouting. 

Chemistry. At first I wasn’t sure if there's chemistry between Tik and Aom, but that changed especially when Kongpop dragged/abducted his wife from a condo and locked her to an isolated beachfront house. In reality that’s kidnapping (you should not force and lock someone even that someone is your wife). However, RLSR finely pointed out that radical action is what make the lead characters realize their love for each other. It looked romantic, particularly when Namnueng gave up, forgive, and admit her feelings.

Another Musical Cruz: 16 Fun Facts about Angelina Cruz

Babad ka man o mej lang sa local showbiz ay imposible ata na walang  artistang Cruz kang makikilala.  Kahit sa music scene ay umaariba ang showbiz clan na ito sa pangunguna nina Sheryl Cruz, Geneva Cruz, at Donna Cruz.  Pero kung ang singer-actress Sunshine Cruz man ay mas nakilala sa pag-arte, heto na ang kanyang  16-year old daughter na si Angelina Cruz. Isa na itong ganap na recording artist sa pamamagitan ng kanyang self-titled EP (Extended Play) sa ilalim ng Universal Records.

Narito ang 16 fun facts about Angelina Cruz na ibinahagi n'ya mismo  sa media conference ng kanyang EP kamakailan sa Café Dominique:

1.       Nang dahil sa Ukelele - Sa kanilang magkakapatid daw ay s’ya ang hindi  obvious na singer.  Pero dahil nahilig si Angelina sa pagtugtog ng ukelele at pag-cover n'ya ng kanta gaya ng Can’t Help falling In Love ay ay nalaman ni Sunshine Cruz ang kanyang talento. Hayon, doon na nagtuloy-tuloy hanggang sa makaabot na s’ya sa  pagiging part ng Universal Records.

Angelina with mom  Sunshine Cruz and Universal Records officials

2.       Debut single ay ‘Sumilong ka’ - nakaabot na sa lagpas ng 1.6 million streams ang kanyang debut single na Sumilong Ka. At sa music video nito naipakita ang  kanyang pagiging ukulele player.

3.       Cute na cute sa pagkanta ng Taglish - Ang “Kaya mo ba” ay isa sa paborito niyang single sa  kanyang EP.   Na-cute-an daw s'ya rito dahil Taglish o pagkanta na palipat-lipat sa dalawang lengguwahe.

4.       Not used to Upbeat – Isa pang paborito niya sa kanyang debut project bilang Universal Records artist ay ang “The Best of You.” Na-challenge daw  siya rito dahil upbeat ito, na isang genre na hindi  niya dati ginagawa.

  

5.       Iilan lang ang kanyang friends sa showb -   Ito ay dahil hindi naman s’ya fulltime sa showbiz. Priority pa rin umano niya ang kanyang pag-aaral.  Ilan daw sa kanyang friends sa showbiz ay sina Frankie Pangilinan at Leila Alcasid.

6.       Mas Committed ang paggawa ng album/EP – Na-curious ako kung paano niya hinarap ang hamon ng pagre-record o in general ng pagiging singer.  Base kasi sa mga napanood kong interviews niya ay para s’yang mahiyain.  Pero sabi ni Angelina ay ang pinagkaiba ng pagsalang sa variety shows sa pagre-recording ay mas committed s’ya na magawa at mapabuti ang  kanyang pagkanta.Dito rin ay mas nakakapag-practice s’ya.

7.       Sunshine to Angelina: “Know your place” - According kay Angelina, ilan sa payo ng kanyang inang si Sunshine Cruz sa pagkanta ay palaging mag-ensayo at  know her place na  dapat palagi s’yang maging humble.

8.       Working with Inigo Pascual is exhilarating –     Featuring sa track niyang “Paraiso” ang singer-performer na si Inigo Pascual. Sabi niya ay “fun” and “exhilarating” ang makasama ang Dahil Sa Iyo singer lalo na’t upbeat din ang kanilang kanta. Dagdag pa ng dalaga ay noong una ay ginamay n’ya ang genre na ito pero nakuha rin niya in the end.

9.       Collaborate with Julie Anne San Jose, Claudia Barretto, and Donny Pangilinan – Sabi ni Angelina ay gusto n’ya maka-collaborate ang lahat ng UR artist at ilan na nga roon ay sina Julie Anne San Jose, Donny Pangilinan, Claudia Barretto, at Shanti Dope.

10.   Diego Loyzaga is good in singing – Isa sa gusto rin n’yang maka-collaborate ay ang kanyang kuya (kapatid sa amang si Cesar Montano) na si Diego Loyzaga. Sabi niya magaling din itong kumanta at nakapag-perform na rin silang dalawa sa ASAP.

11.   Want to do original songs- May mga singers na sumikat sa paggawa ng cover songs at mayroon naman ‘di sanay   na kumanta ng ganito.  May ilan na ang layunin talaga ayay magkaro ng trademark song, habang may iba na kinakabahan  na hindi mag-hit kung  susubok na mag-all original. Kaya tinanong ko si Angelina kung alin ang mas gusto n’ya. Anya, mas gusto n'ya ang originals na kung saan mag-i-start s'ya from scratch.   

12.   Songwriter Angelina- Kasama sa kagustuhan n'ya na mag-start from scratch ay ang mag-venture sa songwriting. Sabi niya sa next EP niya ay nais n'yang makasama rito ang kanyang mga kathang kanta. Pero anya hindi siya ang songwriter na makasulat lang, she wants to take time to do it.

13.   Group chat with her fans- Ito paraan niya  ng pakikpag-interact niya sa kanyang mga fans.

14.   Make a name for herself -   Mula sa angkan ng mga artista… pero 10 years from now ang gusto pa rin ni Angelina ay gumawa ng sarili niyang pangalan sa industriya.

15.   Drawer/ Sketcher - Ang isang dahilan na hindi inakala ni Angelina na sa singing siya malilinya ay dahil noong bata siya ay pagdo-drawing at sketching ang kanyang hilig. Parang naisip pa nga raw n’ya na mag-take ng architecture. Baka daw sa next EP niya ay i-incorporate ang kanyang mga drawings.

16.   Into Business – priority ni Angelina ang kanyang schooling at currently ay ang tini-take n’ya na college course ay may kinalaman sa business management.

Available na ang Angelina( EP)  on iTunes,  Apple Music, Deezer, Amazon, and Spotify 

  For other  facts and trivia  about Angelina Cruz- visita na sa Hitokirihoshi Channel

Part 2: 5-10 of 15 Good Young Filipino Actors

I guess maraming young actors ngayon ( at 'yong mga dati rin) ang dumaan sa pagka-frustrate kapag hindi sila nabibigyan ng chance to shine. Bilang manonood ay nakaka-frustrate din naman magsayang ng pera at oras (lalo na sa sinehan) kung disappointing ang performance ng star na binigyan ng pagkakataon para magbida o magkontrabida.  Kaya  bilang pagkilala sa mga awesome, narito ang second  5 ng 15 young actors na napanood o sa tingin ko ay good Young Filipino actors (under 30):

Movie Poster ng Die Beautiful (SM City Fairview)

(Arranged according to age per batch) 

Part 1 of the list  <here>

Edgar Allan Guzman, 29

Nabanggit ko dati na  si Edgar Allan Guzman o EA, dahil effective ang acting,  ay mapapabilib kang “pogi” at  “lodi” mo s’ya.  Ganito  kasi na-feel ko noong napanood ko s’ya sa Unofficially Yours, Deadma Walking, Ligo na U Lapit Na Me, at isang episode ng Maalaala Mo Kaya (kasama si Kim Chiu).    

I think he’s doing right naman when it comes sa acting at pagpili ng projects. In fact talagang kapuri-puri ang performance niya sa Deadma Walking.  IMHO ang kailangan na lang n’ya ay string of commercially successful films pa para umalagwa ang kanyang karera. Promising sana ang tambalan nila ni Kim, pero puwede rin s’ya sa mga linyahan ngayon nina Bela Padilla at Alessandra De Rossi sa indie films. 

JM de Guzman, 29

To be honest, hindi pa ako nakapanood nang bongga ng anumang teleseryeng napagbidahan ni JM de Guzman.  Pero kung pagbabasehan ko ang mga pelikula niya na napanood ko, na mostly hit independent films, ay hindi kataka-taka na tuloy-tuloy ang kanyang mga proyekto mapa-TV o pelikula.  He’s also a living proof ng good actor  na kayang i-overcome ang bad issues ( but I hope okay na s'ya).  Sarap din balik-balikan ang kanyang performance sa Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank (part 1) at That Thing Called Tadhana.

Dominic Roco, 29

Napanood ko na ang ilang minor roles n’ya, pero  hindi ko s'ya masyado napansin dati. Naiba noong nagbida s'ya sa Ang Nawawala dahil doon ko na-realize na may ibubuga ito  kahit pa hindi masyado masalita ang kanyang role. Mayroon s’yang angst at saka comedic timing na minsan lang lumabas pero dale ka talaga.  

 Incidentally, after nito ay wala na akong naalalang napanood na ibang project ni Dominic. O naguguluhan pa rin ako kung sino si Dominic at Felix Roco? Good thing kasama s'ya sa Contessa na pinagbibidahan ng ni Glaiza De Castro.

Arjo Atayde, 27

Bilang manonood walang masyadong bearing sa akin kong kung ang pinapanood ko ay anak ng isang artista. Sa umpisa lang naman 'yang pa-publicity na mula sa angkan na ganito o ganire at bandang huli ay i-appreciate mo ito kung magaling talaga.  Sa kaso ni Arjo Atayde, hindi s’ya nakakahiyang ipakilala na anak ni Sylvia Sanchez at kahit 'wag pa nga i-mention kasi pinatutunayan ni Arjo na ang trabaho n'ya ang magpakilala sa kanya.

On the other note, hindi man ako avid viewer ng Ang Probinsyano ay sa ilang beses kong napanood ito at nandoon si Arjo ay wow talaga ito.  For his age, nakakabilib na kaya niyang  gawin 'yong ganoong  kabigat na pagkokontrabida. Iyong mukha n’ya ay parang boy-next-door especially dahil sa kanyang dimples (tuwang –tuwa ako sa dub smash at dance videos n’ya).  Sayang hindi ko na napanood  ang Hanggang Saan na pinagbibidahan nilang mag-ina, pero base pa rin sa mga  napanood kong video clip ay binigyan n'ya ng magaling na suporta si Sylvia roon.

Christian Bables, 25

Sa lahat ng binanggit ko sa listahan na ito ay si Christian Bables ang isa pa lang na proyekto ang napanood ko. Subalit kahit 'yon pa lang ay markado na para masabi ko na may ibubuga ito sa acting. Sa Die Beautiful ay gumanap siyang si Barbs Cordero, ang beki best friend ng bidang karakter na ginagampanan ni Paolo Ballesteros.

Bago ang movie na ito ay totally hindi kilala si Christian, so ang impression ko ay siguro bading o  silahis talaga ito, ang galing e. Pero hindi punto rito kung bading s’ya o hindi in real life, kundi nasa galing ng acting n’ya. Extra bonus na lang kung first time n‘ya gumawa ng gay role kasi challenging ito just in case and yet, he pulled it off. Ano pinagkaiba ng kanyang pagkakaganap at pagkakagawa ng Barbs Cordero sa iba? Hindi lang nagmukhang sidekick o supporting role, kundi nagmukha na rin s’yang bida.