But the real fear today among FPJ’s heirs is not that Susan might be not be very giving. It has more to do with: if there is something to give at all.

One businessman who was close to FPJ says that he believes that the actor did not leave any money when he died of coronary thrombosis last year. In fact, it is not farfetched to believe that FPJ was neck deep in debts at the time of his death. “Lubog sa utang,” the businessman says.

This same businessman, who contributed heavily to FPJ’s campaign describes the man as a “one day millionaire,” someone who was ubos biyaya, the kind who had no qualms spending all his money in one day, confident that the wealth would come pouring in again the next day and the next.

Furthermore, the businessman claims, FPJ was a very proud man. He refused campaign donations from people he did not personally know; even from those he knew but felt had a personal interest in his victory.

According to the businessman, FPJ even refused Joseph Estrada’s contribution to avoid the misconception that the former president may have a personal stake in his (FPJ’s) candidacy. It got to the point, says the businessman, that when the campaign funds started to dwindle, FPJ reached into his own pocket and spent his personal money.

Another source, an actor who requests anonymity, says that Susan may have a real big problem when her husband’s two love children — Ronian and Lovi — decide to sue, as rumored, for a piece of their father’s supposed wealth. Mrs. Poe may particularly have a problem with Anna Marin, the mother of Ronian who, less than three months into FPJ’s death, reportedly already hired a lawyer to look after the interests of her son.

Ire and loathing at the Metro Manila Film Festival

The 2005 Metro Manila Film Festival ended over the weekend the same way it started: in controversy.

If the first day brouhaha hovered only around such relatively minor snafu as the lateness of the opening day parade and some confusion in theater assignments, the endfest dispute centered on a much more serious nature; alleged anomalies in the awards selection.

The noisiest of the protesters were Lily Monteverde of Regal Entertainment, and film director Joel Lamangan, who helmed “Blue Moon,” Lily’s entry that, she alleges, was the biggest casualty in the shady awarding process of the festival.

Never mind that “Blue Moon” had won best picture, best screenplay, best story, texters’ vote for best picture and “most gender sensitive” of the 10 entries. Lily’s beef was that if her picture won all these awards, how come, its director did not win best director?

Lily also questioned the selection of the film “Kutob” as the the Gat. Antonio Villegas Award recipient, the highest award bestowed in the festival. The award, in memory of the festival founder, is given to a film “that best showcases and exalts Filipino values.” Lily argues that “Kutob” is about a psychotic young man who goes on a killing spree. “What Filipino values are depicted in this film?” Ms. Monteverde thundered.

The lady producer also beefed that her other entry (on co-producer credits), “Mulawin” did not win a single award inspite of the fact that the film was the only entry that received an A from the Cinema Evaluation Board. If “Mulawin” was deemed a superior film by the CEB, why did it fail to win a single award?

Lamangan also has issues of his own. The esteemed director questioned why, if Jose Javier Reyes won best director for “Kutob,” why did the film not win in other categories as it should logically follow?

Lamangan charges that he has been victimized by the politics that has long been a part of the festival and believes he was denied the best director award because of his open criticism of the government.

The major winners in the filmfest were Marvin Agustin, best actor for “Kutob”; Zsa Zsa Padilla, best actress for “Ako Legal Wife”; Jose Manalo, best supporting actor for “Enteng Kabisote”; and Cherrie Pie Picache, best supporting actress for “Ako Legal Wife.”

At the height of her anger, Mother Lily threatened to boycott future MMFFs, saying she will also ask other film producers to do the same. The Regal matriarch added that she knew all along that the MMFF “was a mafia” and that it has always been dictated by politics but that she kept quiet for fear of being refused participation in the highly profitable annual film event (total earnings of the recent MMFF has reached P300 million). But this time the festival has gone too far, says Lily.

“It’s time we producers, who keep this thing going every year, do something about it,” Tiger Lily declares cryptically.