ShareThisYes, who is better as Asiong Salonga – former President Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada or his nephew Emilio Ramon (ER) Ejercito?
Both has ready answer.
Showbiz authority Ricky Lo reported on the matter in his latest column stating that at a thanksgiving presscon for his Metro Filmfest best picture “Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story” at Club Filipino, ER, who is governor of Laguna, said he played better than his uncle.
Without batting an eyelash, E.R. said: “Erap was 21 when he played Asiong Salonga. I’m 47 so mas marami akong pinaghugutan. Palagay ko mas maganda ang performance ko.” (Salonga was about 26 when he was shot dead. He was known as “the Robin Hood of Tondo.”)
Erap, who played the role of Asiong Salonga in the original movie in the ‘60s with Guia Gomez as leading lady, claims that he is better.
Erap was not the presscon to react, but Ricky Lo called him and the former President said: “Tell E.R. congratulations. “Sabihin mo sa kanya, ako marami ng Best Actor award, he has none. Naging presidente na ako, siya governor pa lang. He should thank me. Kung walang original, wala sanang remake.”
Told after the presscon about Erap’s comment, E.R. said still joking, “Naging president na rin ako…ng Actors Guild.” Then, he started laughing, according to Ricky Lo.
ER’s version of the movie has earned more than P40 million and is expected to early P60 million or so by the end of the filmfest. The movie bagged 11 awards at the Metro Manila Film Festival, including the Best Picture and Best Director for Tikoy Aguiluz.
While ER was a bit sad at the awards night for not winning the Best Actor award, he appeared magnanimous now, saying Dingdong Dantes was also a good actor.
“What’s flattering is that pinipilahan at pinapalakpakan ang pelikula namin, nakapangingilabot,” he said. “Maganda rin ang Segunda Mano (so far second grosser after Enteng ng Ina Mo), pero mas maganda ang Asiong Salonga dahil Best Picture kami.”
At the start of the presscon, E.R. said that he was happy for Dingdong, describing him as one of the finest actors of his generation, according to Ricky Lo.
“He deserved the award more than I did,” he added, without losing hope. “After all, there are six more award-giving bodies this year, at sana maka-tsamba ako.”
Before the awards night, Kris Aquino (Dingdong’s co-star and co-producer, with Star Cinema) said in a Startalk interview, addressing Dingdong, “Kapag hindi na nanalo, magwawala ka na. Itataya ko ang pangalan ng pamilya ko.”
Because she is Kris Aquino, her comment was taken seriously and blown out of proportion, even if I’m sure she said it in her usual tactless style, said the columnist.
“It would have been better if she didn’t say it,” said E.R. who held no hard feelings against Kris. “Ninang siya sa binyag ng anak ko.”