After Casting Unknowns In His Past Films, Director Lav Diaz Has No Less Than Piolo Pascual & John Lloyd Cruz Starring In His New Work, 'Hele Ng Hiwagang Hapis'

IT'S A CASTING coup for Director Lav Diaz whose past award-winning flicks like "Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan" (eight hours running time) and "Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon" (four hours) starred mostly unknowns who have remained unknowns even after their movies got much international acclaim.

In his new movie, "Hele ng Hiwagang Hapis (Lullaby of Magical Sorrow)", Lav gets to cast two of the biggest stars of ABS-CBN Star Magic, Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz (we do hope Lloydie has better luck with this one than with "Conman").

Along with them are ex-sweethearts Alessandra de Rossi and Sid Lucero, plus Sid Lucero's aunt, Cherie Gil, and old reliables like Bernardo Bernardo, Angel Aquino, Ronnie Lazaro, Susan Africa, Nonie Buencamino. Also joining them later are Joel Torre, BB Gandanghari, Cebuano actor Matt Daclan and rocker Ely Buendia.

The film is now being shot on location in Lake Bulusan in Sorsogon. We're told they'll be holed up there to shoot nonstop for one week straight. But with the rainy weather we're experiencing these days, we're sure their shooting will be adversely affected.