SUGARKLED

Sdlkoz

By BOY VILLASANTA


The decision of mall chain SM to ban R-18 rated films in its cinemas across the country has had far-reaching effects. Not only did it practically kill the soft-porn film genre, it also forced sexy actresses--or as Filipinos call them, "bold stars"--to venture outside show business to find professional and personal fulfillment.

Three such actresses were at the Philippine Movie Press Club Night at Zirkoh bar and restaurant: Nika Madrid, Raja Montero and Tracy Torres.

Madrid starred in at least seven soft-porn flicks from 2003 to 2006, from the unsubtle "Sex Sandal" to the double-meaning "Unang Tikim "and "Kainan sa Highway ".

Montero on the other hand was one of the moneymakers for El NiƱo Films. She starred in films like "Katas" in 2003 and made one movie a year in the same sexy genre. Her last acting job was in 2007, when she was cast as a hotel resort guest in the Cristine Reyes launch vehicle "Green Paradise" directed by Hong Kong director Kant Leung and Filipino filmmaker Bing Santos.

Torres, who became known for her quotable quote, "No to War! Not to Peace!", when "she protested" against the war in Iraq back in 2003. She made her protest by shouting her slogan and waving her banner in the buff--she was covered only by a thin coating of body paint.

Starting over
As guest performers for the PMPCevent, the former boldies showed off their other talents--and spoke to about the changes they made in their lives.

Madrid sang a couple of songs, proving that she could really carry a tune. She's far from setting her sights on a singing career, though. Instead, she's doing her best to earn her nursing degree.

ā€œGa-graduate na po ako sa nursing sa May. Nang pumasok po sa ako showbiz noong 2003, nag-aaral na po ako non pero tumigil ako at nag-artista.,ā€ Nika said.



Raja Montero was another would-be-nurse-turned-bold star. She entered showbusiness in 2002 but now that the soft-porn genre is in the doldrums, she decided to go back to school. This time, she's taking up an undergraduate course in Hotel and Restaurant Management.

She also sang and gyrated seductively onstage during the PMPC Night but she said that her days of performing sexy acts for a living are over.

The biggest reason she quit is her boyfriend--young Chinese businessman Raymond Quan. ā€œI love him so much. I dont wanna offend him. I want him to be proud of me,ā€ the former sexy star said.

The couple are planning to get married next year.

Torres, meanwhile, is busy managing her own bazaar in Greenhills. She sells precious stones and crystals. She admitted thought that she still does sexy dancing at some gigs.

ā€œMinsan lang naman po. ,ā€ she said, somewhat defensively.