JERRY OLEA
Sa tanang buhay ni Charo Santos-Concio, meron na bang tomboy na nagparamdam, nagpalipad-hangin o nanligaw sa kanya?
Natigilan sandali ang septuagenarian na si Ma’am Charo bago malumanay na sumagot: “Siguro crush. Oo, crush siguro. Tapos ako, may pagka-inosente. Naive.
“Naive, di ba? I don’t put meaning. Wala akong malisya. So, nagiging barkada, di ba? Walang malisya, e!
“Saka noong araw naman, ano pa, e… di ba? I mean medyo… medyo… medyo… anong tawag doon?
“Ahhmm ‘repressed.’ Is that the right word?”
Closeted?
“Hindi. Pero kahit na may pagka-out, medyo gentlemanly.”
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CHARO SANTOS AND BOOTS ANSON RODRIGO AS LOVERS
Nakapanayam ng PEP Troika si Ma’am Charo sa 81st birthday celebration ni Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo noong Enero 30, 2026, Biyernes, sa Club Filipino, Greenhills, San Juan City.
Nang magbigay si Ma’am Charo ng birthday message, isiniwalat niyang minanifest nila ni Tita Boots na gumawa ng movie kung saan ang papel nila ay lovers.
Sa pagkakatanda ni Ma’am Charo ay Marso 2025 nila iyon minanifest ni Tita Boots nang magkasama sila sa isang event doon din sa Club Filipino.
Pagbabalik-tanaw ni Ma’am Charo: “We were meeting with a different set of producers and directors.”
Nasa Portugal para sa isang master class si Direk Brillante Mendoza nang mag-reach out siya kina Tita Boots at Ma’am Charo para sa pelikulang Until She Remembers, kung saan lovers ang papel nila.
Naturalmente, pumayag agad sina Ma’am Charo at Tita Boots. At maluwalhati nilang natapos ang shooting noong Oktubre.
“Kasi nga, siguro parang hinihintay namin. Binigay siya ng universe,” pagmamatwid ni Ma’am Charo.
Paano ang trato nila ni Tita Boots sa isa’t isa?
Napangiti si Ma’am Charo: “I’ve always held her in high esteem. I’ve always had that respect. I’ve always looked up to her.
“She’s my idol. Idol ko talaga. She’s truly a kind person, and a very genuine person.
“You don’t have to see each other every day. But every time you see her, she seems to know what’s happening in your life.
“Meron siyang genuine interest for other people. So, nakaka-touch iyon, di ba?
“In the movie industry, where everyone is kinda busy, thinking about ‘What’s my next project,’ di ba…
“So siya, parang alam niya yung nangyayari sa mga kasamahan niya sa show business.”
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NOEL FERRER
Sina Charo Santos-Concio, Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo, at Barbie Forteza ang tatlong bida sa pelikulang Until She Remembers.
Isiniwalat ng direktor na si Brillante Mendoza na in character agad si Barbie pag nag-report sa set. Akala tuloy ng ibang production staff ay supladita si Barbie.
Kumusta sila bilang maglola sa movie?
“Ay! Chika! Oo, di ba? Magkasama kami sa isang kuwarto. Kami actually, kaming tatlo,” tugon ni Ma’am Charo.
“Magkasama kami sa isang dressing room. So, alam mo naman during breaks, during lulls, di ba? Chikahan, ayan.
“Ako ang pinakamachika. Ako yung, ‘Kumusta ka? What’s your favorite food? What’s your favorite color?’ Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
“Parang slumbook, di ba? You break the ice.”
Ipinapanood na sa kanila ni Direk Brillante ang movie. Ano ang impression niya?
“Masakit. Naiyak ako. Masakit siya,” mabining sagot ni Ma’am Charo.
“Masakit but at the same time, you feel happy that in their lifetime, they were able to live their truth.
“Mahirap yun for people coming from the silent generation and boomer segment na lalabas ang katotohanan.
“Na you finally give yourself the opportunity to say, ‘This is the person I love.’”
Nasa cast din ng Until She Remembers sina Vince Rillon, Eric Quizon, Albert Martinez, Angel Aquino, Erlinda Villalobos, Perla Bautista, Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, Angel Latorre, at Bianca Kierulf.
Nakatakdang ipalabas ang pelikula sa select local cinemas umpisa Pebrero 25.
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GORGY RULA
Marami ang nasorpresa na dream project pala nina Charo Santos-Concio at Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo na gumanap bilang lovers sa pelikula.
Nakaka-surprise na tinupad nila yun sa Until She Remembers ni Direk Brillante Mendoza.
“Na-surprise kayo? Ako din, na-surprise!” bulalas ni Ma’am Charo.
“Alam mo — not for myself, ha — na-surprise ako that Tita Boots even suggested it.
“She was the one! Sabi niya, ‘Charo, gawa tayo ng pelikula.’ ‘Ay! Of course, Tita Boots!’ sabi ko, ‘Ano ko yan, nasa bucket list ko yan.’ Di ba?
“I mean, to be able to finally do a film with your idol. Tapos sabi niya, ‘Pero sana, hindi magtita at mag-ate.’ ‘Anong naiisip mo, Tita Boots?’
“‘Lesbian lovers.’ Sabi ko, ‘Ohh, Tita Boots, nagbibiro ka! Nagbibiro ka, e!’
“Sabi ko, ‘Papayagan ka ba first ng husband mo?’ Di ba? Tapos sabi ko, ‘Ang Santo Papa, baka may masabi.’ Di ba?
“She is the pristine image, ganoon. And alam ko, saradong Katoliko siya, ganyan.
“Not just discriminating, ha? Pero yung imahe. Imahe, persona.
“Sabi niya, ‘No! I’m game!’ Sabi ko, ‘Have you spoken to your husband about it?’ ‘Yeah!’
“‘Are you sure? I mean, nasabi mo ba na ganito? Baka mamaya, may love scene tayo! Naku, alam mo na!’ Ha! Ha! Ha!”
Ang nag-love scene ay ang young Catherine (Angel Latorre) at young Concha (Bianca Kierluf).
THE BATHING SCENE
Poignant ang eksenang pinaliguan ni Concha (Ma’am Charo) si Catherine (Tita Boots).
Tumango si Ma’am Charo, “Oh yeah… and I think, there’s this element of trust between the two of us.
“She was so relaxed. I was also so relaxed. We were both not anxious doing the scene.
“Parang it was the most natural thing to do between people who love each other, who care for each other.
“Na paglilingkuran mo at pagsisilbihan mo, lalo na may sakit siya, e. May sakit siya. So parang caregiving was not a burden for me.
“So hanggang sa pagpapaligo, natural. Tapos, there’s trust. There’s trust, di ba?
“Sabi ko, ‘Tita Boots, ha, dito kita aanuhan. Ito ang ira-rub ko.’ You know, you talk about it because you choreograph the scene together.’”
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