Vice Ganda as “Praybeyt Benjamin” invades U.S. theatres

Dec. 7, 2011 - PRLog -- Just when film critics and moviegoers were saying that it would be very difficult to top the six-week box office gross earnings of the Star Cinema-Viva Films produced romance-drama “No Other Woman” which reached P278 million in the Philippines, then came the surprise record-setting performance of the two film outfits’ action-comedy, Praybeyt Benjamin.

The laugh-a-minute movie trip starring today’s hottest Philippine comic act, Vice Ganda, and equally sizzling male lead star Derek Ramsay, has already broken all movie ticket sales records in the Philippines, reaching over P320 million in just 20 days, making it the highest grossing Filipino film of all time.

Starting December 9, moviegoers in the U.S. will finally get the chance to see what the major buzz is all about when Praybeyt Benjamin invades movie theatres in the following cities: Aiea, HI; Las Vegas, NV; Cerritos, Orange, North Hollywood and San Diego in Southern California; and Union City, Milpitas and San Bruno in San Francisco Bay Area.

“This has been an exciting last quarter for Filipino films,” said Kerwin Du, TFC’s Head of Theatricals.  “We had back-to-back box-office successes with ‘No Other Woman’ and ‘A Mother’s Story’ here in the U.S., exceeding all expectations.  With Praybeyt Benjamin, many are predicting a three-peat in the making.  For us at TFC, we just want to continue providing our kapamilya with the best in Filipino entertainment at the movies, especially during the most cheerful season of all.”

Vice Ganda is Benjamin “Benjie” Santos VIII, deemed a disgrace by his military general grandfather (played by Eddie Garcia) to their clan of heroic warriors and soldiers because… well, they asked so they’re told – yes, he’s gay.  

But Benjie is happy as he is and as a teacher of cultural dances in a public school.  He is loved and accepted by his family.  But then the country is attacked by terrorists and goes under civil war.  Military service becomes mandatory as many are vanquished or have fallen captives, including Benjie’s grandfather.  Benjie fears for his father (played by Jimmy Santos) whose health is deteriorating, so he secretly enlists himself in the military, unfortunately finding himself in a platoon of misfits that is fortunately (for Benjie) being headed by hunky commander Brandon Estolas (Derek Ramsay) for whom Benjie falls head over heels.  

Will Benjie of the warrior Santos clan be able to muster all his masculine strength and save his grandpa and the rest of his war-torn country for freedom, justice, equality and a possible future with dashing Brandon?

Joining Vice, Derek, Eddie and Jimmy is an accomplished, versatile cast composed by Nikki Valdez, DJ Durano, Vandolph Quizon, Carlos Agassi, Dennis Padilla and Kean Cipriano, among others.  At the helm is comedy genius Wenn V. Deramas of “Tanging Ina” film series fame.

Catch Vice Ganda, Derek Ramsay and the hilarious cast of Praybeyt Benjamin on these dates in the following cities and theatres:

December 9-15

LOS ANGELES-CERRITOS
Cerritos Stadium Cinema
12761 Towne Center Drive
Cerritos, CA 90701

LOS ANGELES-ORANGE
Orange Stadium Promenade
1701 W. Katella Avenue
Orange, CA 92868

LOS ANGELES-NORTH HOLLYWOOD
Century 8
12827 Victory Boulevard
North Hollywood, CA 91606

SAN DIEGO
UA Horton Plaza
475 Horton Plaza
San Diego, CA 92101

SAN FRANCISCO-UNION CITY
Century 25
32100 Union Landing
Union City, CA 94587

SAN FRANCISCO-MILPITAS
1010 Great Mall Drive
Milpitas, CA 95035

SAN FRANCISCO-SAN BRUNO
Century at Tanforan
1188 El Camino Real
San Bruno, CA 94066

LAS VEGAS
Regal Village Square Stadium
9400 W. Sahara Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89058

HAWAII
Pearlridge West Theatres
98-1005 Moanaluna Road
Aiea, HI 96701

For more information, please visit www.abs-cbnglobalmovies.com.  Check also the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjuQj8CkRLc



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About ABS-CBN International
ABS-CBN International was created over 15 years ago to be of service to all Filipinos. With the launch of The Filipino Channel (TFC), the company became the first and most successful Filipino content distribution company in the U.S. The company offers telecommunication, retail, theatricals, money remittance and cargo services, online audio and video streaming, IPTV, On Demand, along with philanthropic support for Filipinos and the communities they now call home. Based in Redwood City, CA, ABS-CBN International is a subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation, the Philippines’ largest entertainment and broadcasting company, through ABS-CBN Corporation's wholly-owned subsidiary, ABS-CBN Global Hungary Kft. For more information, visit www.abs-cbnglobal.com.