Namet Gid Eh!

I watched Namets! last night and was lucky enough to have a glimpse of Angel Jacob and Christian Vasquez who were sitting on the row in front of me. They played the role of Cassie Labayen and Jacko Teves, respectively, the two former lovers whose lives got intertwined through their love for food.

Namets is a story about food with romance as a side dish. Negrense cuisine takes center stage through Namets. I doubt if there was somebody in the audience who was not craving for food after watching the movie. Prepare for a gastronomic ride on what makes Negrense food unique.

The use of Hiligaynon as the movie’s language proved to be a wise decision. I couldn’t imagine Namets to be in any other language. Get a load of your typical Ilonggo expressions, Bords, Parts, Yuga, Tikalon,  and don’t forget the Gid, the Te and the Eh.

Aside from Christian Vasquez, the cast are mostly Negrenses and they are not just starlets, mind you. Peque Gallaga, Dwight Gaston, and Monsour del Rosario, with the special participation of Joel Torre and Ronnie Lazaro. Top caliber actors, homegrown Negrenses.

Angel Jacob is not an Ilongga but I laud her for doing her homework. Her accent can pass up for an Ilongga’s except that I think she was a little high pitched in some parts of the movie. In my book, she passed the role of a Bacolod girl with flying colors.

I also like the humor of the movie and the interesting characters. Peque Gallaga as Boss Dolpo reminds me of Marlon Brando in The Godfather. He did nothing else but munch on his food and talks gibberish. Dwight Gaston did a brilliant job as his assistant/right hand.

There’s also Joel Torre as a caveman who happens to discover fire and what do you know, chicken inasal. Ronnie Lazaro plays the farmer who’s starving to eat meat and planned on cooking his son’s pet chicken, goat and dog. His family ended up eating noodles after his son told him that if he kills his pets, his father might as well kill him.

I encourage everyone to watch and support the movie. If you’re an Ilonggo, all the more reasons to watch Namets, because it’s about you and your culture. You can still catch the Bacolod screening until Sunday, November 30. DVDs and VCDs will be available this December so grab yourself a copy as I am also planning to buy one. The proceeds from the Visayas Caravan will be for the benefit of Tapulanga Foundation.

Namets! is showing exclusively at the following venues:

• SM Bacolod:  November 24 –30, 2008 SM Cinema 3
• SM Iloilo:  December  1-6, 2008  SM Cinema 7
• Ayala Center Cebu: December 6, 8-10, 2008 Ayala Cinema 4

For reservations, please call:

• Bacolod: (034) 495-0936 / Rhea Sol – 0919-744-7706
  
• Iloilo: Eden – 0929-777-0734 Cebu: Tina – 0908-987-473
• Cebu: Tina – 0908-987-4731
  

I have nothing but praise for the people behind Namets! I am no movie critic but I love the movie and I’m giving it my two thumbs up. I’m sure all those who watched it felt the same way. Kudos to the people who made Namets! possible.

PRODUCTION STAFF

Exec. Producer/Director: Jay Abello

Screenplay: Vicente Garcia Groyon

Line Producer: Heather Europa

Cinematography: Anne Monzon

Production Design: RJ Lacson

Editing: Fiona Borres

Music: Vince de Jesus

Sound Design: Raffy Magsaysay

Production Manager: Ryan Diño

Associate Director: Borgy Torre

2nd Asst. Director: Praise Rufin

CAST

Jacko Teves: Christian Vazquez

Cassie Labayen: Angel Jacob

Boss Dolpo: Peque Gallaga

Oscar: Dwight Gaston

Rodrigo Labayen: Louie Zabaljauregui

Imelda Teves: Michelle Gallaga

Nena Teves: Marivic Lacson

Babyboy Labayen: Monsour del Rosario

Farmer: Ronnie Lazaro