Darryl Yap claims Pepsi Paloma, Charito Solis were ‘close’ friends. Images: Facebook/Darryl Yap
Despite the court-issued gag order, nothing can stop film director Darryl Yap from further spilling details about his upcoming movie about the late sexy star Pepsi Paloma, this time to say that the latter shared a close bond with the late veteran actress Charito Solis.
On his Facebook page on Sunday, January 19, Yap spoke about Paloma’s friendship with Solis during her short-lived showbiz career, as he posted a sepia-toned photo of Solis and Paloma, with the two actresses sharing a good laugh at something.
“Kailangan ng bawat isa ng Charito Solis sa kanilang buhay. Lingid sa kaalaman ng mga nagmamarunong — ang pagkakaibigan ni Charito Solis at Pepsi Paloma ay higit pa sa pagtuturingan ng magkapwa-artista. Si Charito ang sandalan at hingahan ni Pepsi pagdating sa mga problema at pinagdadaanan sa showbiz,” he wrote.
(We all need a Charito Solis in our lives. Unbeknown to those who those know-it all, the friendship between Charito Solis and Pepsi Paloma goes beyond their jobs as actresses. Charito was Pepsi’s pillar and strength when it came to dealing with problems and struggles in showbiz.)
The director-screenwriter also bared that it was Solis — accompanied by the late Jaclyn Jose — allegedly visited Paloma at the morgue at the time of her death, and claimed her body so that she could be given a proper burial.
Paloma died on May 31, 1985 at age 18.
“Kasama ni Charito Solis si Jaclyn Jose na tumungo sa morgue noon matapos mabalitaan ang pagpanaw ni Pepsi,” said Yap. “Si Charito Solis ang tumubos sa bangkay ni Pepsi, inasikaso niya ito upang maiayos at mapaglamayan. Kahit pa nagkasamaan sila ng loob at hindi nag-usap ng ilang taon. Kailangan natin ng Charito Solis sa ating buhay.”
(Charito Solis and Jaclyn Jose went to the morgue upon finding out about Pepsi Paloma’s death. Charito Solis was the one who claimed Pepsi’s body from the funeral parlor and took care of her funeral arrangements This despite that they had a falling out and were not on speaking terms for years. We need a Charito Solis in our life.)
Yap is directing the movie, titled “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma,” scheduled for a February release, made controversial by a confrontation scene between its lead star Rhed Bustamante (as Paloma) and Gina Alajar (as Solis) which dropped the name of actor-host Vic Sotto as rapist of the sexy star.
Incidentally, Solis would co-star with Vic Sotto years later in his long-running TV comedy series, “Okay Ka, Fairy Ko,” where she played the actor’s meddling fairy mother-in-law.
Despite claims of its February screening, two officials of the MTRCB earlier told INQUIRER.net that no material of the movie has yet been submitted for review.
Yap made his post a few days after the first hearing of the habeas data petition filed by Sotto before the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court, and after the same court issued a gag order on the parties to refrain from speaking about the case.
Denying the alleged rape, Sotto filed the habeas data case in a bid to compel the Yap and his fellow respondents to use any information about him in any portion of the movie, or its promotional materials, in all platforms, saying there is a threat to his life and security, as well as to those of his family because of it.