AS expected, sobrang tinao ang premiere night ng pelikulang In the Name of Love, which co-
stars Aga Muhlach and Angel Locsin for the first time.

That night’s audience ay an appreciative bunch dahil ang reaction nila sa halos every scene was, to say the least, euphoric.

In the last few scenes, when Angel finally confessed what she had to do in the name of love, wala yatang ’di lumuha, including Ruffa Gutierrez, who was among the many celebrities in attendance.

Bulong sa amin ni Raymund Isaac, favorite lensman ng halos lahat ng celebrities, magkatabi sila ng upuan ni Ruffa at habang pinanonood nila ang movie, lalo  nga ang nabanggit na eksena, nagdu-duet daw sila sa pagsinghot.

“That’s how effective that particular scene is,” susog pa ni Raymund.

“How Aga reacted to Angel’s pangungumpisal ay talaga namang so moving, napansin namin ni Ruffa na ’di lang kami, actually, ang sumisinghot at umiiyak, pati mga katabi namin.”

And guess what? Halos lahat ng katabi nina Ruffa at Isaac, celebrities din, mga kaibigan nina Aga at Angel.

For example, andu’n si Lea Salonga and husband Robert Chen, who had overwhelming comments for the movie.

We also overheard Star Cinema managing director Malou Santos talking to Aga and Lea na tuloy ang pelikula nilang dalawa.

Wala raw dapat mag-produce nu’n kundi Star Cinema.

It will be recalled that Star Cinema produced Aga and Lea’s last film together, Sana Maulit Muli, which Olive Lamasan also handled.

Olive is the director of In the Name of Love.

The latest we’ve heard is that Lea’s husband, Richard, wishes to co-produce the Aga-Lea movie with Star Cinema.

Richard’s company produced the animated movie, RPG Metanoia, fifth placer bilang box-office hit sa nakaraang Metro Manila filmfest (MMFF).

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In any case, among those whom we spotted at the premiere night were some of stars of Imortal, ang katatapos na series ni Angel with John Lloyd Cruz sa ABS-CBN.

Andu’n sina Vivian Velez, Nikki Valdez at Jake Roxas, who expressed the wish na magkaroon din sana siya ng pagkakataong makagawa ng movie na tulad ng In the Name of Love.

We also saw Bubbles Paraiso with elder brother Paolo Paraiso and some other friends of Angel na “taga-kabila,” meaning GMA-7, one of them, Maxene Magalona, who came in late.

Galing pala si Maxene sa panonood ng concert ni Justin Bieber sa SMX Concert Grounds.

Kaya sa blowout na lamang for the cast and production staff sa Chef’s Quarter sa Megamall humabol si Maxene.

Naispatan din nga pala namin si Senator Mike Zubiri kasama ang magandang wife niyang si Audrey.

Tuwang-tuwa si Jake Cuenca sa kai-entertain ng mga tao who showered him with congratulatory remarks for his performance.

Gayundin si Carmi Martin, who also stood out sa acting as Jake and Ryan Eigenmann’s mother and  wife to a man she abhorred and never natutuhang mahalin.

Carmi’s husband was played by stage director Leo Rialp.

When we saw Ryan, sabi namin sa kanya, he deserves to die. Yes, that’s how effective he was in his role as a kontrabida. Isusumpa mo talaga siya.

Binatang-binata na si Makisig Morales. Once the big star in his family, he was just a chaperone sa batang kapatid na si Maliksi, gumanap naman bilang anak ni Smokey Manaloto.

Honestly, we feel happy for Smokey, who’s busy  not just with In the Name of Love but Green Rose as well bilang kaibigan ni Jake.

Sa pelikula, gumaganap si Smokey bilang friend ni Aga.

Marami namang matang nakatuon kay Emilio Garcia nang dumating siya na may “bitbit” na magandang bagets, artistahin.

Still young at 14, halos kasing-taas na ni Emilio ang bata, who turned out to be his eldest daughter.

Her name is Gaby at may balak ngang mag-artista ang bagets. She is in third year high school sa Montessori, Greenhills.

Nakatatandang kapatid ni Aga ang papel ni Emilio sa In the Name of Love.