..... here is a story about her superfan.
`Superfan': The gay behind Ate Guy
By Meryll Yan, Contributor
05/16/2009
Before Manny Pacquiao and even before Judy Ann Santos and Sharon Cuneta,
there was one person who epitomized the word "idol" and that was actress
Nora Aunor. Nora is the Filipino dream made real.
Plucked from a life of poverty and obscurity and thrust into the stage, she
started collecting singing trophies at the age of 11 and later won in the
Tawag ng Tanghalan show. The rest, as they say, is history, and the
chocolate-skinned, plain-faced girl would rewrite all the showbiz rules and
go on to become the Superstar.
Philippine showbiz may have already produced a constellation of talents, but
none can yet rival the Superstar, or Ate Guy as she is fondly called by her
supporters. Many a biography has been done on the great Nora Aunor, but none
yet to feature her most loyal devotee — Mandy Diaz.
That is, until now.
Thanks to Clodualdo "Doy" del Mundo Jr., the pen behind iconic films Maynila
sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, Kisapmata and 'Merika, Diaz now gets to tell his
story.
Superfan, the latest digital short film written, produced and directed by
Del Mundo, recounts the life of Diaz, the number-one fan of the Superstar.
It is only fitting that the Superstar would have an equal-wattage fan in the
person of Diaz. If Aunor started her career at 11, Diaz began his fandom
when he was in Grade 1. If Aunor endorsed Coke, Diaz drank Coke. If Aunor
had a movie out, Diaz would be the first to watch it. Even in his deathbed,
Diaz forbade his friends from burying him if Aunor did not visit his coffin.
Diaz did not live in a parallel universe with Aunor. His universe was Aunor.
Having started his obsession with Aunor at a very young age, Diaz would
eventually accumulate a priceless collection of Aunor memorabilia — magazine
covers, gowns, vinyl records and everything else Nora. It is not surprising
that he would become the walking encyclopedia of Aunor's life and career.
In Superfan, del Mundo re-imagines the life of Diaz, who is ably fleshed out
by in the film by veteran thespian Nonie Buencamino.
How did del Mundo channel Diaz's spirit? "I read Mandy's essay, `Himala,'
about his life as a Noranian, and I also interviewed his partner and his
fellow Noranians," recounts del Mundo, and thus resulting in the words for
Buencamino to deliver.
Since Diaz's life revolved around Aunor, watching Superfan is like taking an
audio- visual trip down Aunor's career. Clips from classic Aunor movies
complement Diaz's retelling of his life. The film even includes a bit of
cheek on the Nora Aunor versus Vilma Santos rivalry. If Aunor was the
Filipino Cinderella, then Diaz was her self-styled fairy gaymother.
Humor aside, Diaz's story is really that of a life offered to the service of
his idol. Del Mundo wisely describes the protagonist, "A fan manifests
behavior that is irrational. You cannot explain it." Through the character
of Diaz, we see fame from the point of view of the admiring rather than the
admired. And in him, we see an extreme, but true, version of ourselves —
ordinary people who live vicariously through the bigger, shinier lives of
our extraordinary idols. Although Diaz has already passed away, the mania is
still alive as proven by the colorful cast of true Noranians who are also
featured in Del Mundo's film.
Filipinos are famous for many things — our boxing skills, family values and
universal talent for videoke. Yet one other thing that we can claim is our
national obsession with stars. Between fame and fortune, Filipinos will
choose fame, and this hypothesis is very much true in the life of Mandy Diaz
— the Superfan. If there's a saying that behind every great man is a great
woman, then in the case of Ate Guy, she had a great gay.
Superfan also stars Teri Onor, Raisa Ver, and Mica Torre.
Del Mundo's other credits include Maid in Singapore, Ehemplo, Muni-muni, and
the best picture of the first Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival Pepot
Artista. He is also the chairman of the Philippine Independent Filmmakers
Multipurpose Cooperative.
For inquiries, bookings or special screening requests, e-mail
burukafilms@ yahoo.com