Lilia Cuntapay and Nonong de Andres: The Two Faces of Philippine Horror Cinema

It is that time of the year once again when it is alright play dress ups and scares ourselves with various stories of horror. This will be the first time I will be doing this Halloween Special which might be a main feature here at CMABLOGS. I am a big fan of horror films, local and foreign ones alike. While there have been various fictional horror film icons which I grew fond of watching as a child (Freddy Kreuger, Chucky, Jason, Leatherface, Pinhead, and Mikhael Myers to name a few), I can't deny it that there are a few local ones which gave scared me as a child. Every Filipino already know such icons like aswang(s), mananaggal(s), tikbalang, kapre, various lamang lupa, and ghosts, but now it is time to look back and recognize two Philippine actors behind such usual icons. Let's talk about Philippine horror cinema's Lilia Cuntapay and Nonong de Andres.



More photos can be found at Lilia Cuntapay's Facebook Fan Page. Lilia Cuntapay is the legendary queen of Philippine horror.

Lilia Cuntapay is a Filipina actress who usually plays various iconic horror characters in various Philippine horror films. She got her break in various Shake, Rattle & Roll films, specifically in 1991's Shake, Rattle, & Roll 3's "Yaya" segment. She usually play as either a witch or an "aswang". She also made appearances in various television shows' Halloween special or episodes as either a witch, aswang, black/white lady, or a ghost. In a politically incorrect Philippines (show business specifically) where pretty faces are the usual protagonists and the not so pretty ones either becomes comedian/comedienne or lands a role to play various horror characters, the best thing that they discovered is Lilia Cuntapay. I can still remember how she appeared on various Halloween specials of my favorite television shows ( like Magandang Gabi Bayan Halloween Specials) and various horror films, she scared me to death specially when these horror specials do some really cool jump scares at that time. I was but a fledgling back then and thinks appears scary if they appeared as one. She isn't any particularly ugly and might have been a pretty woman in her younger years, but the wrinkles in her skin, her toothless mouth and long (white) hair brought by her old age is probably a major factor in being stereotyped in various horror roles.

Lilia Cuntapay has never been the main actor in a film and has always been an "extra" in various films and television shows besides the horror genre. Either as a passerby or just an old scary woman. But this November 2011, there will be a special indie film which solely feature the exploits, experiences and filmography of Lilia Cuntapay. Check out Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay here:



Official trailer of SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION FROM LILIA CUNTAPAY, a Cinema One Originals entry. Showing on November 9 to 15, 2011 at the Shang Cineplex. An interesting (if not hilarious) documentary chronicling the woman behind various horror roles in Philippine cinema.



Nonong de Andres is a Filipino actor who usually plays kamatayan (harbinger of death), or bangkay (corpse). His old age, frail, and extremely skinny "buto't balat" physique is what usually lands him in roles like a substance abuser (drug addict), alcoholic, old bum, homeless guy, zombie, kamatayan (spirit of death), and aswang. Like Lilia Cuntapay, he has always been an extra to various films ranging from action, horror, family and even sexy ones.

Check out a special feature (low quality Youtube uploaded video) on the real lives of Lilia Cuntapay and Nonong de Andres on GMA 7's Tunay na Buhay here:



It is not all fame and glamor in a life of a horror actor, nor it doesn't reverse the process of aging. See what is it like to be in the shoes of Lilia Cuntapay and Nonong "Bangkay" de Andres on the video above.

Behind the seemingly scary characters they play, hides the pain and joys of an everyday person. They might be actors behind some of the most scary Filipino movies, but they are still human beings. Their contribution to the Philippine horror cinema and show business as a whole are worthy of recognition and respect.

"DAYO sa Mundo ng Elementalia" The First Filipino Full-Length Digital Animated Movie Premiere Night

First of all, I would like to give thanks to my good friend Azrael for including me to the premiere night of the first Filipino full-length digital animated movie "Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia"




Kudos to you my friend

Well, my quest or "pagdayo ko sa Dayo" from Dasmariñas Cavite to SM Megamall is a path filled with long hours of traffic. The road to Manila is bustling with vehicles inducing a heavy traffic. This time I've anticipated the traffic, so after i received a plurk from Gab asking me to what time will I leave for SM Megamall (venue for the Dayo movie premiere), upon reading that plurk, I immediately fixed and readied myself and at exactly 2:55 I was on the Bus going to MRT station in Pasay.

A Dasmarineños Route To The Metro

Dasmariñas, Cavite to SM MegaMall EDSA, Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong City Route

Here is me again acting oh so wise (even though I'm not) to guide my fellow Dasmarineños and fellow Caviteños the quickest (as far as I know of) and safest (I hope so) route from Dasmariñas Cavite to SM MegaMall EDSA, Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong City. First of is to ride a bus heading to Pasay MRT/LRT Station (You won't miss it, unless you are waiting at the wrong lane). Drop off at the MRT Station. Avail a MRT train ticket going to Ortigas Station (It is the quickest route but you have to endure the rush of people using the train as well). From Ortigas Station it is just a couple more walks until you reach SM Megamall and Ta-Dah! You are there.

I arrived at SM Megamall at around 5:00 in the afternoon so that calculates to an approximate two hours of travel time via the bus and train from Dasmariñas to Mandaluyong. I read Azrael's direction in my phone to where will the Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia premiere will be and saw it after a couple of floors and ride at the escalator. After seeing the venue I continued to Megatrade Hall 2 for the 3rd Toys and Collectibles Christmas Fair 2008 or Toycon event where Azrael is, and man! There sure are lotsa toys ranging from the cheapest 3 for 100 and as expensive at 5000 to 10000 Pesos worth of toys (I haven't seen nor asked if there are other toys which costs way more beyond that because I'll just drool over them hahaha). I scour for toys in the 3 for 100 section toys which is highly possible for my kind a job and living (hahaha) but failed to find the right toy for me so in the end I ended up window shopping and drooling over toys and other collectibles at the 3rd Toys and Collectibles Christmas Fair 2008.







For more Toycon Photos Visit Azrael's Coravege Here:

3rd Toys and Collectibles Christmas Fair 2008 - DAY 1 photo coverage

Az later bids farewell to his friends at Toycon because of the Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia premiere. We got down over at cinema 10 and saw a horde and almost a stampede(oh well, i guess i am exagerating a bit too much hehehe) of movie goers excited for the premiere of the the first Filipino full-length digital animated movie Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia









We are some of the bloggers whom were lucky enough to be the first to watch the very first premiere of the very first full-length digital Filipino animated movie entitled Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia



This is Ada one of my adorable blog friend and source of these grabbed photos while my camera is out hahahaha. thanks Ada. you can visit her blog at ADAPHOBIC.COM





Yes! We braved and dared to walk the red carpet hahahaha.



While we wait for the stars to come to stage and for the premiere a small program was conducted which features some trivia questions and interesting facts about the movie Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia. My two friends Ada (http://www.adaphobic.com) and Carl (http://thewebmagazine.blogspot.com) joined the trivia question. Go bag em all bloggers! Hahaha but what about the kids? XD







Pictures by Carl Valenzona of The Web Magazine (http://the webmagazine.blogspot.com)

We eventually went in Cinema 10 to reserve some good seats for a nice view of the movie. After some time Az, Monique, Carl, Monchst, Sire, Trixie and Azrael went out to grab some "grub" which took them some time which I later found out was because of the stars arriving at the Stage and some celebrities and Philippine television faces.



Minutes away from the actual premiere of Dayo. After some short program and games for the kids, the suspense and long wait is finally over. Here comes Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia.



Prrrrtttt!!!! The movie is now over with me and Az going out with the movie goers who just saw the first ever full-length Digital Filipino animated movie (and I couldn't emphasize the "first ever full length Digital Filipino animated movie" even more hahaha). What's missing? Uh, yeah, the actual movie. How was it like? Well, all I can say is you go watch it this coming December 25, 2008 at your local cinemas or you may go to other blogs and spoiler websites to find out more about the story hehehe.



This was after we went out cinema 10... and nope i was not in shock hahahaha. I am waiting for my friends to finish up taking photos of the crowd and the celebrities.





After the movie we went two more floors to accompany Az to bid farewell to his colleagues at the Toycon. Before we went there, we saw these "cute" Winnie The Pooh and Tigger Photo-Op corner and decided to fool around with it. hence The Bloggers are transported from Elementalia to "Elementarya" hahaha.. because only kids from elementary or elementarya are fond of Walt Disney characters (or I could be wrong) Hahahaha





It was a fun day together with my fellow Blogger plus the fact that we are the first people to watch the first full-length digital Filipino animated movie "Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementali"