PEP: Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote leads 36th MMFF entries

Based on official figures as of December 29, 2010, Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote is still the leader in the box-office race in the ongoing 36th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). The annual film festival screens Filipino films exclusively in theaters from December 25 to January 7, 2011. Ric Camaligan, president of the National Cinemas Association of the Philippines and member of this year's MMFF executive committee, informed PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) that the action-fantasy film starring Vic Sotto and Senator Bong Revilla currently leads the eight official entries. Camaligan declined to give the actual box-office figures. Instead, he gave the ranking of the Top Five leading films based on box-office receipts nationwide: 1. action-fantasy film Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote; 2. family drama-comedy Ang Tanging Ina Mo Rin (Last na To!); 3. suspense thriller Dalaw; 4. horror film Shake, Rattle and Roll XII; and 5. 3D animated film RPG: Metanoia. The other MMFF entries are, in no specific order, the comedy-fantasy Super Inday and the Golden Bibe, the comedy Father Jejemon, and the drama-film bio Rosario. When PEP asked about the combined box-office receipts of the eight entries, Camaligan revealed that ticket sales reached P310 million by the festival's fifth day (December 29). This figure represents an increase of 25 percent compared to the same period last year. He is confident that the earnings of 2010 will surpass the P451 million earnings of 2008 and the P437.6 million total gross earned in 2009. Camaligan also pointed out that Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote—produced by GMA Films, APT Entertainment, OctoArts Films, M-Zet Productions, and Imus Productions—performed very well at the start of the two-week film fest. "There's still a chance they [Ang Tanging Ina] can catch up, but Agimat will most probably win in the box-office race because, in the first two days, they were very much ahead. "More than P10 million ang lamang ng Agimat nung first day pa lang and almost the same on the second day," revealed the MMFF execom member. PEP's official Twitter account—called Scoopbox—revealed that the box-office figures on the second day (December 26) are as follows: 1) Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote - P25.7 million 2) Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na 'To!) - P17.8 million 3) Dalaw - P11.3 million 4) Shake Rattle and Roll XII - P8.1 million 5. RPG: Metanoia - P4.8 million 6) Super Inday and the Golden Bibe - P3.1 million 7) Rosario - P2.3 million 8) Father Jejemon - P1 million On December 26, the Gabi ng Parangal of the 36th MMFF took place at the Meralco Theater. Ang Tanging Ina took the most number of trophies, including Best Picture. The eight entries that competed in the 36th MMFF are as follows: Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na To!) Genre: Comedy Director: Wenn Deramas Cast: Ai-Ai de las Alas, Eugene Domingo, Marvin Agustin, Nikki Valdez, Carlo Aquino, Alwyn Uytingco, Shaina Magdayao, Serena Dalrymple, Jiro Manio, Cherry Pie Picache and Xyriel Manabat Produced by Star Cinema Dalaw Genre: Horror-Drama Director: Dondon Santos Cast: Kris Aquino, Diether Ocampo, Gina Pareño, Alessandra De Rossi, Karylle, and Empress Schuck Produced by Star Cinema and CineMedia Father Jejemon Genre: Comedy Cast: Dolphy, Cherrie Gil, Roy Alvarez, Maja Salvador, Ejay Falcon, Moymoy Palaboy and Nash Aguas Director: Frank Gray Jr. Produced by RVQ Productions Rosario Genre: Drama-Film Biography Cast: Jennylyn Mercado, Yul Servo, Isabel Oli, Dennis Trillo, Sid Lucero, Ricky Davao, Dolphy, Chanda Romero, Eula Valdez, and Phillip Salvador Director: Albert Martinez Produced by Studio5 (TV5) and Cinemabuhay International RPG: Metanoia Genre: 3D animated film Cast: Featuring the voices of Zaijian Jaranilla, Eugene Domingo, Mica dela Cruz, Aaron Junatas, Jairus Aquino, Vhong Navarro and Aga Muhlach Director: Luis Suarez Produced by Star Cinema and Ambient Media Shake Rattle & Roll XII Genre: Horror Director: Zoren Legaspi ("Mamanyika" episode); Topel Lee ("Isla Engkanto" episode); and Jerrold Tarog ("Punerarya" episode) Cast of "Punerarya:" Carla Abellana, Sid Lucero, Mart Escudero, Nash Aguas, Gaby Dela Merced Cast of "Isla Engkanto:" Andi Eigenmann, Rayver Cruz, John Lapus, Kristel Moreno, Nina Jose, Regine Angeles Cast of "Mamanyika:" Shaina Magdayao, Elijah Alejo, Ricky Davao, Mahal, Jackie Lou Blanco, Carmina Villaroel, Rita Avila Produced by Regal Films Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote Genre: Action-Fantasy Director: Tony Reyes Cast: Vic Sotto, Bong Revilla, Gwen Zamora, Sam Pinto, Amy Perez, Bing Loyzada, Aiza Seguerra, Oyo Sotto, Barbie Forteza, Joshua Dionisio, Jhake Vargas, Mikylla Ramirez and Ruby Rodriguez Produced by GMA Films, APT Entertainment, Octo-Arts Films, M-Zet Productions and Imus Productions Super Inday and the Golden Bibe Genre: Fantasy Director: Mike Tuviera Cast: Marian Rivera, John Lapus, Pokwang, Jake Cuenca, Jillan Ward, Cherry Pie Picache, Jestoni Alarcon, Mylene Dizon, Tricia Santos, Jhake Vargas and Buboy Villar Produced by Regal Entertainment. - Jocelyn Dimaculangan, PEP