A year of blockbusters for RP

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor ERIC T. LORETIZO Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

What will be the next blockbusters to be staged in this country? It is now Oscar season in the United States and all the big productions and their characters are palpitating over their chances of being chosen among the best of the year, and earn, not only the coveted bald statuette, but also the honor of being listed among the greatest and best of Tinseltown.

In the Philippines, we, too, had great productions, or shows that could match the most celebrated efforts of moviedom's geniuses. And they are not fanciful creations of highly imaginative minds, they are all true-to-life events with real people in the starring roles.

The only question is, which of them is deserving of the highest award for its impact in the economic and political lives of the Filipino people?

The blockbusters and record-breakers of the year are truly inimitable ones. We had the Juetengate issue that dragged on for months because it involved, not only incumbent officials, but also members of their families. And it had all the elements of a winner; money, intrigue, sex and high drama. Charges and countercharges were also made, but the ending remains to be seen yet.

Then we had the still unsolved mystery story entitled "Hello Garci". Although it fired the imagination of every Pinoy, it still belongs to the unfinished story category. Before Garci, the leading character in the cartoon could surface, we had "The Fertilizer Story", which, like the classical Gone with the Wind, ended with the lead actor walking away, with no government agency making a move to bring him home.

The next hit was the "Calibrated Preemptive Response", or CPR, believed to have been produced with the cooperation of the military, that was intended to deal with hordes of protestors. Close on its heels came another box office hit, titled "Executive Order 464", the angst over which continues as it freezes in the High Court. Sure to bag the most awards, though, is the latest, "Proclamation No. 1017". Box office returns have not yet been reported.

To these all, the Stampede at the Ultra and the Landslide in Leyte are just trailers or, shall we say, "Intermissions".*