In-person launch of PH sex cinema book star-studded

After its virtual launch late last year, the book “SekSinema (Gender Images in Philippine Sex Cinema Enfolding Pandemia)” written by yours truly, finally, saw its on-site and in-person presentation recently at the Cinematheque of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) at 588 T.M. Kalaw Street in Ermita, Manila. 

Actually, the event was scheduled earlier last January 29, 2022 at the same venue but because of the emergence of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 in the last days of 2021 it was cancelled and waited for more auspicious time like during the observance of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor), also known as the Fall of Bataan last April 9, 2022, the eve of Palm Sunday. It was also the season when the cases of COVID-19 were decreasing and Alert Level 2 was adapted but health protocols were still in place like wearing masks and voluntarily on face shields, applying disinfectants and sanitizers and maintaining physical distancing. 

Beauty queen and actress Maria Isabel Lopez was one of the key figures in the book launch as she had been egging me on to go on with the physical launch of the book. 

Maria Isabel and I divided our tasks. She guaranteed that she would invite stars to attend the gig. “Bigyan natin sila ng responsibilities para um-attend (We give them responsibilities so that they would attend),” Maribel advised me. 

“Imbitahan natinsina (Let’s invite) Elizabeth Oropesa, Gloria Diaz, Lorna Tolentino and others),” she suggested. 

On my part, I sent an invitation to Pilar Pilapil but she declined because the date was the wedding of one of her brothers in Cebu. I also sounded off Chanda Romero but it took weeks for her to respond. “Boy, I’m very sorry for not replying to your messages at once. I’ve been in Cebu for the longest time. I’ve been taking care of my brother who went under the knife. I hope your event was successful,” she wrote in her FB messenger. 

Chanda answered my invite even ahead of the event so I was wondering why she used the past tense as if the launch was already done. It dawned on me that she wouldn’t take note of the exact date of the launch.

Lorna sent regrets because she was in lock-in shoots of “Ang Probinsiyano” in the Ilocandia but she sent her congratulatory remarks. Rosanna Roces was also in LT’s tapings who wanted to go but was impossible. 

I was ambitious enough to gather all the big stars, male and female, because the point in my book is that “sex cinema” isn’t only the torrid kissing or bed scenes but even dramas, comedies, action or fantasy could also be sexy, bold and daring. Come to think of it, a Kathryn Bernardo or a Lito Lapid film is also “sex cinema” precisely because they are assigned sex identifications and gender dynamics in their roles onscreen. On top of it is their private gender ownerships. 

So what’s wrong with sex cinema as long as it’s not outright pornographic or destructive to society or even porn has saving graces to the viewers as escape from harsh realities as abject poverty and sub fantasy to expensive sex shows they can’t afford or to the actors like economic survival. 

I would have wanted Susan Roces, Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Piolo Pascual, Sharon Cuneta, Nora Aunor (who promised me one day she would grace my launch), Vilma Santos because the book is about them and dedicated to them. 

In fairness, I had meaningful guests aside from Maria Isabel like Amanda Amores, and Joy Sumilang (brave and free spirits despite the intrepid performances they had in their films), Stella L, Jean Saburit, Aimee Torres, Tessie Tomas, Liz Alindogan and Yvonne Salcedo. 

I was thankful to filmmakers Jeffrey Jeturian, Ces Evangelista, Frank Rivera, Jek Jumawan, Jay Lozada, Joe Lad Santos, entertainment writers Danny Vibas, Mike Herrera, Tony Paat and Lhar Santiago of GMA News; fashion designers Albert Fugueras, Erick Valeña and Albert Minguez and impresario Richard Hiñola. 

I would also want to thank Yvonne from Japan, Emily Loren from Canada, Rita Magdalena and Julia Lopez from the US, Evelyn Vargas-Knaebel from Switzerland, Ghazi Alqudcy from Singapore, Gina Alajar, Gary Estrada, Liza Diño-Seguerra, Mark Anthony Fernandez who unselfishly shared their thoughts about me and the book on video. 

National Book Development Board Chairman Dante Francis “Klink” Ang II was generous of his time to speak about the importance of reading for nation-building. 

Thanks also to cameraman Paul Lumbaca, Market Monitor publisher Nelly Lumbaca, artist Gem Suguitan, Mass Comm student Kath San Jose, paralegal expert Mario Tolentino, Jason Fernandez of FDCP, among others. 

It was such a star, starry night.