A day visit of showbiz colleagues to Leandro Baldemor in his carvers
Entertainment

A day visit of showbiz colleagues to Leandro Baldemor in his carvers’ workshop and showroom in Paete

Sep 14, 2021, 7:17 AM
Boy Villasanta

Boy Villasanta

Columnist

Filmmaker Armand Reyes (“Palengke Queen,” “Dormitoryo,” “Sana Totoo Na” etc.) has invaded his own region of Laguna when he and fellow film director Neal “Buboy” Tan with their creative consultant Laine Pirote—after their Pola, Oriental Mindoro trip and film shoot—went up Paete, Laguna for a meeting with actor Leandro Baldemor, one of the most prolific members of a family of carvers in the community.

Armand or Arman is from Sta. Cruz, Laguna where he was born, grew up and studied his primary and secondary education.

In college, Reyes went to the University of the Philippines in Los Baños (UPLB). But since Direk Arman is a film artist who goes to as many places as he can—especially during the pre-COVID-19 pandemic—to discover the many unique beauty spots the country could offer.

Meanwhile, Direk Neal is on board another film project and he is eyeing Leandro as one of his stars.

It was a combined business and pleasure provincial trip for the two directors with health protocols—wearing of masks and face shields, applying alcohol and sanitizer and maintaining physical distancing—at their disposal.

The host of the Baldemor art shop was also in his COVID-19 safety gears. It was a successful meet among showbiz friends.

It was also the time to reconnect and to reminisce good old days of their camaraderie. The Baldemors are one of the most sought after carvers of all sorts of items and images, religious or not.

Leandro, while not shooting movies and TV, is the one managing the work station where he manages distinguished sculptors in their town. The famous and world renowned painter Manuel Baldemor is Leandro’s uncle. They are indeed a family of artists.

During the trip where the travelers took the Antipolo route to Paete, Arman recalled his younger days when he would gallivant around Laguna from his hometown, Santa Cruz.

“Naku, pag gusto kong sumimba sa Antipolo, sa Pagsanjan ako dadaan papuntang Lumban, Kalayaan, Pakil, Paete, Siniloan, Famy, tapos, Pililla papunta nang Antipolo ‘yon. Ang saya! Ngayong COVID time, hindi ko na nagagawa ‘yon ngayon lang nang dumaan kami sa rutang ito (Oh! When I wanted to visit and pray at the National Shrine of our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage and the Immaculate Heart Parish Church in Antipolo, my route was the Pagsanjan to Pakil to Famy to Pililla to Antipolo. It was fun and holy. Being in the pandemic, I rarely pass by this route),” recounted Armand.

Reyes and Tan were on their way to Lucban, Quezon to pay a visit to the pilgrim of the Kamay ni Hesus, our story to appear in OpinYon Quezon.


We take a stand
OpinYon News logo

Designed and developed by Simmer Studios.

© 2024 OpinYon News. All rights reserved.