Harvey Bautista: Gone Binatilyo

WHAT IS IMG? During her introduction at the 65th Miss Universe grand coronation event, outgoing Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach looked back on her reign before announcing that she has signed with IMG. What is IMG? It is the “prestigious” (as described by Boy Abunda) talent management company headquartered in New York. It represents some of the world’s biggest sports stars and models such as Gigi Hadid, Lily Aldridge, Gisele Bündchen and Ashley Graham.
LOST IN TRANSLATION. Miss Universe host Steve Harvey asked Miss Universe Philippines Maxine Medina her top six question, “What is the most significant change you’ve seen in the world in the last 10 years?”
The question was translated into Pilipino by the Pilipino translator.
Maxine, who opted to answer in English, replied, “In the last 10 years of being here in the world, is that I saw all the people bringing in one event like this, Miss Universe. And it’s something big to us that we are one, as one nation we are all together.”
Lawyer Raymond Fortun commented on Facebook: “You know what lost it for Ms PH? The translation for “What is the biggest change in the world xxx” is “Ano ang pinakamalaking PAGBABAGO and NOT pangyayari. It is understandable that our candidate got confused and gave a less-than-ideal answer. Considering that ‘change’ was a byword during the last elections, this should have been a no-brainer. Sayang, but okay lang, we still did well. Good job, Maxine! You did our country proud.”
Despite all these inputs, Maxine’s answer was vague, her message unclear. It did not make a mark among the judges, making them decide not to include her in the top three, thereby losing her chance to win the 2017 Miss Universe crown.
Lawyer Fortun commented about public-speaking, “When one joins a contest where the audience or panel of judges play a part, it is always best to know who your listeners are and “connect” with them. Otherwise, they will lose interest or.... yeah, give a less than stellar score. We did well in an international contest today, but a gentle shoutout to those who will prepare our contestants in the future. ‘Know’ the judges. ‘anticipate’ what they want to hear. ‘Prepare’ our bets to give those answers with confidence. If you need help in anticipating, just send me a PM (private message). I want our bets to win as much as you.”
In the end, Maxine gave the best approach to the controversial answer, “Let’s move on.”

WHAT THE ILAWOD DID TO HARVEY. The water elemental ilawod is said to take its victim downstream, but in the case of actor Harvey Bautista, 13, it does the exact opposite in Ilawod, now making the rounds of the American theater circuit.
A long list of ABS-CBN’s pre-pubescent actors and now stellar figures such as Kathryn Bernardo and Julia Montes came from the Sunday kid star cradle gag show Goin’ Bulilit as conceptualized by Bobot Mortiz and Linggit Tan.
Harvey, trained in comedy there when the director’s daughter discovered him while malling and his parents approved of him joining the 11th batch of long-running tweener show with “pareng” Bugoy Drilon, among others. He impersonated his father, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, in “Umagang Kay Bongga,” a spoof of week mornings show “Umagang Kay Ganda.”
At 10, he did a music video of “Troublemaker,” the original song by Olly Murs featuring Belinda Mariano as megged by The Jumpcat Experiment. He showed his rarely seen talent in singing and he did reasonably well.
Harvey’s chinito looks and acting inclination originate from the Bautista family of actors (actor-director Herminio “Butch” Bautista, former actor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista and stage actor Harlene Bautista) and his mother, ex-professional choreographer now 2nd District Quezon City Councilor Teresa “Tates” Gana.
Hizzoner’s youngest offspring “graduated” from Goin’ Bulilit last year upon reaching the show’s compulsary “retirement age” of 13. Asked to audition for Ilawod, his first attempt outside ABS-CBN, Harvey’s body type, emotional makeup and convincing tryout got him the coveted role.
Introduced in Dan Villegas’ spooky scarefest by Quantum Filma, Harvey is 12-year-old Ben who shines by underplaying his brooding role of an adolescent son of the demonized family of reporter Dennis (Ian Veneracion) and accountant Kathy (Iza Calzado) and their daughter Bea (Xyriel Manabat).
Based on expertly executed Transrealism script by Yvette Tan, the equally challenging three teener roles, proficiently structured script and well-balanced helming proved the least experienced Harvey delivered the most convincing performance with his minimalist acting.
The Ilawod, the water elemental from downstream (ilaya is its upstream equivalent) latches on to online reporter Dennis as he covers an exorcism rite with photographer Carlos (Epy Quizon) in a far-away barrio by a river rushing. Strange things start to happen once he gets back to his family in a swanky condominium building.
The family members begin to change in alarming ways. Ben is drawn to the girl Isla (Therese Malvar), perennially clad in a white underdress, who mysteriously reappears every time he passes by the common swimming pool after school. His sweet behavior slowly turns foul when he falls for her seduction.
Ben becomes moody and develops a fascination for the razor blade. Unsuspecting, his father Dennis, attempting to bond with his now surprisingly distant teener, encourages him to bring his new girl friend to their condo unit. Isla proceeds to claim Ben’s soul by seducing him in an implied shower sex scene.
Falling for the seduction of demon in disguise Isla, he attempts a soft porn scene, getting devirginized in a carefuly handled implied shower sex scene.
Gone binatilyo with the unfailing smoothness of liquid, a faultless one, Harvey is taken in the upstream of recognition. He is so exceptional it made his father shed tears during the celebrity premiere.