MARIA - Deadly, Brutal, Violent, And We Love It!

I love that action films are getting a revival like Buybust, and I think it is time that they will push Philippine cinema further. I was excited to know that Viva Films will be offering another action movie with Maria. Directed by Pedring Lopez and stars Cristine Reyes, and co-production with BlackOps Studios Asia and Psyops8.

Though its simple name for a title, it has an interesting story that leads to a complicated and gritty network of violence. Maria is a revenge story of an assassin who is out for blood when her family gets caught in a war that involves politics and drugs. But she does not do revenge peacefully, because of her past she is built to fight and it will get really violent.

It was a wise choice to have Cristine Reyes to play Maria because she is into martial arts, fitness, and also a mother. Features that makes her fit to do the strenuous work needed to do as she fights her way to all her enemies.

REEL DEAL: This Year's Cinemalaya Best Actor Dante Rivero In “1ST KO SI 3RD” Exclusive At Ayala Mall Cinemas

After four decades, Cory (Nova Villa) and Third (Freddie Webb) cross paths again that will change the entire course of their twilight years.  Married to Alejandro (Dante Rivero), Cory initially avoids rekindling the past but the inevitable happens and finally finds herself loving each moment when their first date is finally realized.   Revolving around Cory, a recently retired government employee, the seductive idea of rekindling her first love has posed a challenging proposition for Cory. 

Dante Rivero, on the other hand, plays Alejandro, a very touching portrayal of a man in his 60’s seeking to come to terms with his wife’s attempts to rekindle a romance with an old flame out of marriage’s monotony.   “ 1st Ko Si 3rd” won Best Actor Award for Dante Rivero’s performance in the film and was one of the box office top grossers in this year’s Cinemalaya Film Festival.

REEL DEAL: Versatile And Endearing Actors Nova VIlla, Freddie Webb and Dante Rivero Star In "1ST KO SI 3RD"

Before flying off at this year’s Official Selection to Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), the Nova Villa-Freddie Webb onscreen reunion, “1st Ko si 3rd” will open exclusive at Ayala Malls Cinemas nationwide starting November 12. 

Written and directed by Real Florido and included in the New Breed Category of this year’s Cinemalaya Indpendent Film Festival (Year 10), “1st Ko si 3rd” introduces the audience to a 65-year old woman, Cory (Villa) married to Alejandro (Dante Rivero) who gets reunited with her 1st love, Third (Webb) and finally the supposed 1st date happens five decades after they got separated.

“1st Ko si 3rd” also bagged this year’s Cinemalaya Best Actor Award (Dante Rivero). Director Florido muses on the movie’s theme on love and life especially among Filipinos who face the twilight years of their lives, “When we hear about first love, the first things that we imagine are the fondest memories of a person's young love. We instantaneously recreate this image of how they look like back in the days. This time, I want to flip the lenses. I want to show the other side –the point of view of the one who is looking back at a distant memory and at the same time be able to narrate a story of love and life through the eyes of ageing people.  This film aims to do just that. Cory’s story is more than just about her 1st love. It is also about a person’s apprehensions and fears in the life that is waiting during retirement—a reflection of the life of most Filipino retirees.”

REEL DEAL: The Love Feels In “1ST KO SI 3RD” - Exclusive At Ayala Cinemas Starting November 12

“1st Ko si 3rd” made its debut in this year’s Cinemalaya X’s and has generated most of the “feels” amongst all the entries in the New Breed category.   Before heading to compete at the prestigious Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), “1st Ko si 3rd” is going to be shown in (Phils.) theaters nationwide exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas starting November 12.  

“1st Ko si 3rd” is about Corazon (played by Nova Villa), a recently retired government employee who's been married to Alejandro (Dante Rivero) for the past four decades.  But their monotonous marriage is about to change when Corazon and Third (Freddie Webb), her first love, crosses path once again after their abrupt separation in the past.  Initially avoiding the opportunities to meet up with Third, Corazon finally finds herself rekindling old feelings and living each moment with the first love of her life.

REEL DEAL: 1st Ko Si Third Trailer Released

With the countdown to cinemalaya comes close, we can now see more information about the featured films like Real Florido's "1st Ko Si Third" starring Nova Villa, Dante Rivero and Freddie Webb.

Bringing the love story of young love at old age proves that first love never dies. Cory, who after all these years gets a letter from his first love and asks her to be with her  to cherish lost moments of love and laughter. We now take a peek at the trailer of the movie which in some way or another would also make you relate to our personal first love experiences.

Also starring in the movie are Coleen Borgonia, Denise Barbacena, Ken Chan, Nova Villa, Lara Morena, RJ Agustin, and Ruby Ruiz.

1st Ko si 3rd is written and directed by Real Florido  and will be showing at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Ayala Cinemas on August 1 to 10, 2014.

Cinemalaya 2014: 1st Ko Si Third SPOTLIGHT

Cinemalaya is days away and with the growing number of patron to this film festival, lets take a look at one of the entries staring Nova Villa with "First Ko Si Third"

First, Second, Third

Nova Villa "takes a chance with the one that got away"

When you retire and fate gives you a chance to pursue your first love, would you?

Follow Cory, who is in her 60's, as she takes a leap to reignite an old flame in a story that would give an interestingly different look at love in 1st Ko si 3rd, an official entry to the 2014 Cinemalaya Film Festival.

The movie is about that "what if" of the heart and giving it a second chance. The lead character, Cory, is played by veteran comedienne Ms. Nova Villa who once again is partnering with her on-screen duo, Mr. Freddie Webb. The latter is playing Cory's love interest, Third.