Wake-uppers:
Scene: The 80th birthday celebration of Juanita Cempron
Melicor last Feb. 16.
Scene: Thousands of barangay (village) officials here support the move of Liberal Party vice presidential
candidate Leni Robredo to extend the term of barangay officials from three
to five years during the 2nd Barangay Officials Day of the Liga ng mga Barangay (League of Barangays)-Bohol chapter, in this province, on Saturday (Feb.
20). Robredo, minus her running mate, Mar Roxas, told at least 6,000 barangay
officials present that she believes that her “barangay reform bill” will give
more opportunities for the barangays to grow and become more self-sufficient to enable them to serve their
constituents. She said a three-year term is too short for barangay officials.
* * *
Saban Films is apparently releasing I Am
Wrath, a vigilante thriller starring John Travolta as a gun-wielding
engineer, set to release on April 29.
The newly released movie trailer of I Am Wrath looks intense as hell.
The film centers on Travolta who plays a man out
for vigilante justice after a group of corrupt cops are unable to catch his
wife’s killer.
I Am Wrath, directed by Chuck
Russell, also stars Christopher Meloni, Sam Trammell, Amanda Schull and Rebecca
De Mornay.
Not that the movie is aesthetically done, but a
Boholano actor, Rex Alba, is in the trailer who has a fight with two-time Oscar
nominee Travolta near the end of the trailer. That made the movie more intense!
The production of the film was
in Columbus, Ohio last Spring.
“It was
a blessing that I got this role,” said Alba.
He said there were 5,000 who
auditioned in the movie for a Korean gangster role, which eventually went to
Alba.
“Chuck Russell was hesitant at
first because I am not tall and I am not Korean looking,” he said.
Alba took 20 weeks of acting under John Casablancas
Model and Talent Management. He also brought a lot of wardrobe choices fitting
for the scene. During the shooting scene, there were at least 100 actors that
day.
“A lot of them have previous experience in acting
and modeling. I tried to stay calm and look professional,” he shared.
Russell asked him if he had previous experience in
film, Alba told him he was part of Kapalaran, a soap opera in the
Philippines shown 13 years ago (directed by another fellow Boholano director RD
Alba), where he played a hired killer.
“That experience probably helped,” explained Alba.
They were sent to the set to audition in front of
other assistant directors, stunt, cinematographer and other crew members. Three
had remained including Alba. After the auditioned, he
overheard someone was chosen, a taller white guy for the role.
 |
US-BASED Boholano actor Rex Alba
appears in
action-thriller I Am Wrath which stars John Travolta.
Contributed Photo
|
But, to his surprise, Russell came out of the room,
pointed at him, "You are my gangster!”
“I was shocked,” he recalled.
He was then introduced to Travolta and Chris
Meloni.
“He is the best actor I’ve
worked with, he interacts with the background actors and very detailed iya pag
act, he counts how many sequence needed,” said Alba.
In the trailer, Alba plays his
role so natural yet intense.
“I felt good portraying the
role, it was the blessing of God that made it happen,” he said.
Alba said it was his childhood
dream to become an actor. A student leader in
high school and college days, Alba was known for his dancing prowess.
“Yes, but nobody believed in me.
Even my dad told me, ‘I’m not that tall nor that good looking.’ I didn't
believe it gonna happen,” he said.
 |
REX ALBA is in the I Am Wrath trailer who has
a fight with two-time Oscar nominee Travolta.
Contributed Photo
|
Rex, a physical therapist by
profession, is also a financial advisor and endurance athlete. He is also the
NBA Philippines/PhilBoxing correspondent in the US.
He has also a cameo role in Dog Eat Dog, In Search of Fellini, Tiger, My Blind Brother, 478 and The Land.
* * *
Bohol’s oldest man to
be buried today
A great great-grand father believed to be Bohol’s
oldest man who died at the age of 107 will be interred today (Feb. 21).
Pedro Laquinta Samuya, born in 1908, passed away
last Friday (Feb. 12) night. He was seriously ill after an incident last week,
his grandchild Katherine Pozon- Laquinta said.
A funeral service for the late Samuya will be held
at the St. Isidore Church at 12 noon after which his remains will be interred.
According to records, Samuya was born on June
17, 1908, the oldest man in Bohol and oldest former government official
ever live.
Samuya was a retired Boholano guerrilla warrior,
teacher and municipal mayor when he was younger.
Asked about the key to longevity, Samuya was
quoted as saying his secret to long life was “simple living, strong faith in
God and vegetables.”
Samuya had four children who are still alive:
Quirino, 72, a retired elementary teacher; Requillo, 70, a retired teacher and
town mayor of San Isidro in Bohol; Liliosa, 67, a retired budget officer; and
Cecilia, 66, a retired master teacher.
He had 18 grandchildren, 13 great grand children
and 15 great great grand children.
Samuya taught automotive engineering at the Cebu
Institute of Technology (CIT) in 1934-1940. He joined the Antequera Bolo
movement during the second world war in 1942-1945. He taught elementary at San
Isidro Central School in 1946-1966.
 |
RETIRED Boholano guerrilla warrior,
teacher and
municipal mayor
Pedro Samuya dies at 107.
File Photo/Leo Udtohan
|
When barangay Agbun of Antequera (then became
barangay of Catigbian town) was created into San Isidro town in 1969, Samuya
was the first appointed mayor. He was also the first elected mayor from
1970-1980.
In 1977, he was awarded as one of The Outstanding
Mayors of the Year from the Philippine Life for “his outstanding local
executive who has rendered distinguished and exemplary performance in the New
Society.” In 1978, he also received the Defender of Good Government,
Outstanding Mayor of the Year and Model Citizen of the New Society from the
members of the Executive Development and Research of the Philippines for
his “performance in the field of education, health, peace and
order, social welfare and your effort in bringing up the ideals of good
government closer to the people.”
In 2014, he was conferred with an unusual award as
"the centennial man and public official ever live" by the provincial
government of Bohol during the 160th Bohol Day.
He also created the San Isidro High School
and also founded the senior citizens association in his hometown.
* * *
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