Yeng Constantino, to win the Pinoy Dream Academy Award?

Nominated na naman si Ronnie Liang for expulsion sa Pinoy Dream Academy this Saturday kasama sina Irish Furlerton, Eman Abatayo at ang first timer na si Panky Trinidad.

Pero huwag daw mabahala si Ronnie, ayon na rin mismo sa ilang staff ng PDA at ang 10th at 11th expelled ng PDA na sina Joan Ilagan at Davey Langit dahil super lakas daw ng pride ng Pampanga sa masa at text votes, tulad ni Rosita Bareng na binansagang "Ms. Saturday Night" dahil sa tuwing nominated daw ito ay nagta-transform sa kakaibang personalidad kaya buhay pa rin.

Duda nga ng lahat, maging ang ilang katoto ay si Eman o Panky ang mawawala sa Sabado dahil mahina rin sa text votes si Eman at si Panky naman ay ngayon palang masusubukan kung malakas din siya sa text votes.

Nabanggit din sa amin ng staff ng PDA na kinakarir daw talaga ng manager ni Ronnie na si George Roca ang text votes para mapanatili sa loob ng academy ang kanyang alaga at heto pa, "Hindi galing sa wardrobe department ang mga damit niya, bigay mismo ng manager, dinadala roon, o ma-took mo ‘yun, sobrang alaga to the max."

Samantala, tinanong namin ng diretso ang ilang katoto at mga staff ng PDA at ilang expelled scholars kung sino ang bet nila para maging 1st Star Dreamer ng PDA ay iisa ang sagot ng lahat, si Yeng Constantino dahil total package raw siya as an artist.

Why not Panky, ang tanong namin at heto ang iisang sagot ng mga nakakapanood sa 24/7, "Mahirap si Panky, may attitude, backbiter, maraming reklamo at saka nagko-comment siya ng hindi maganda, ang lakas ng insecurities niya, pati laman ng ATM (automatic teller machine) niya, kinukuwenta na niya, hindi maganda ‘yun."

Naloka naman kami sa kuwentong ito na hindi namin knows kasi wala naman kaming 24/7. Anyway, hindi nga maganda ito for a talent dahil ngayon palang kapag ipinanalo nila si Panky ay parang kumuha na sila ng batong pamukpok sa ulo ng sinumang magiging manager o handler ng pride ng Cebu City.

Baka naman magbago si Panky given a chance nga na siya ang manalo, anyway, matulad din kaya ang rakistang ito kay Rosita na kapag nominated ay gumagaling sa performance night? LINK

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Pops Fernandez as Queen Femina

Ang galing-galing ni Pops Fernandez bilang Queen Femina sa mega-budget musical adventure na ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Ze Moveeh na sa unang pagkakataon ay pumayag siyang maging kontrabida.

"Why not kung maganda ba ang istorya at challenging yung role okey lang sa akin," sey nito.

Napaka-sexy ng kanyang outfit sa pelikula at inamin ni Pops na kung sila pa ng ex-husband na si Martin Nievera ay di ito papayag sa ganoong ka-seksing outfit. Pero ang kanyang mga anak na sina Robin at Ram ay gustung-gusto naman ang kanyang karakter.

"Ninerbyos ako nang makita ko ang isusuot kong costume pero, wala naman akong magagawa dahil professional at istrikto si Direk Joel Lamangan. Kailangan din ito sa istorya," dagdag pa ng singer-actress.

Kasama pa rin ni Pops ang apat na fashionistang Amazonista na sina Say Alonzo (Vilma S), Kitkat (Nora A) Glaiza de Castro (Dina) at Giselle Sanchez (Sharon C).

Si Joel Lamangan ang nagdirek ng ZZZ mula sa screenplay na si Dinno Erece at batay sa best selling graphic novel ni Carlo Vergara. LINK

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Vina Morales to Borgy Manotoc: How could you!?!

Vina Morales is crying. "Foul!" and here’s why:

In yesterday’s edition of Forbidden Questions, the controversial Wednesday segment of Mo Twister’s now-much-talked-about Good Times with Mo program on Magic 89.9 (6 to 9 a.m. Monday through Thursday), guest Borgy Manotoc was put on the "hot seat" and bombarded with 40-plus "forbidden" questions.

Host Mo asked Borgy, "Name three famous women you’ve gone to bed with."

At first, the very hesitant Borgy was silent, so Mo egged him on.

Finally, Borgy named, first, Lana Asanin (the German model, now out of the country, who used to appear on Eat, Bulaga!), and then Victoria London (now also out of the country, last seen as one of Rustom Padilla’s "errand girls" on ABC 5’s The Price is Right).

And the third woman?

After much prodding from the insistent Mo, Borgy whispered to Mo who promptly screamed with glee, "Oh, it’s Vina, it’s Vina, my long-time crush!"

One lady listener, calling from her car, asked Mo who the Vina referred to was and he confirmed, "Vina Morales!"

Then, the "grilling" continued.

Mo: Is it true that you don’t wear underwear?

Borgy: Sometimes but not all the time.

Next question: There are rumors that you are uncut. True or false?

Borgy was mum.

Mo: Why don’t we ask Vina Morales?

For the information of those who can’t wake up early enough, the format of Mo’s Forbidden Questions segment is free-wheeling, no-holds-barred, and Mo’s questions usually focus on such topics as sex (gender of guest or celebrities, positions, who’s good in bed and who’s not, etc.) and ham actors/actresses, and the like.

Anyway, contacted by Funfare for her reaction, Vina was at once shocked, amused, irked and angry.

"I know Borgy. Who doesn’t know him?" said Vina. "But I’m not close to him. The farthest I came close to him was saying ‘Hi!’ That’s all. But going to bed with him? Hello!"

Crying, "Foul!", Vina now wants an "explanation" from Borgy.

"He has to clear my name," said Vina. "What he did was damaging to me. If I have to talk to his mom, Rep. Imee Marcos, to make him correct things, I will."

Mo has been saying that guests he puts on the "hot seat" may or may not answer any question they deem "incriminating." It’s a puzzle why a perceived gentleman like Borgy would kiss-and-tell, and on the air at that! He could have said, "No comment!" or not say anything at all.

"I want to make it clear that what Borgy said was not true!" repeated Vina who, as far as I know, is happily going steady with a very rich Chinese guy. "How could he!"

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Joan Jane Ilagan and Davey Boy Langit

Ang na-expel namang PDA scholar na si Joan Jane Ilagan, na born in Italy, ay dito magpa-Pasko dahil may one-year contract pa sa ABS-CBN.

Hiwalay sila sa Pasko ng boyfriend of one year and five months na si Marco, isang purong Italyano, although may communication sila ever since pumasok siya sa academy.

Asked kung sino ang gusto niyang manalo, si Yeng ang kanyang sagot. Why Yeng?

“Kasi she’s a complete performer. She knows how to sing and dance at may konek with people. She’s a complete package,” pagrarason niya.

Samantala, ang isa pang na-expel na si Davey Boy Langit, born and raised in Baguio, ay tiyak na makakasama ang girlfriend sa Pasko.

No, hindi ang co-PDA scholar niyang si Angie Desahagun, although they shared sweet moments sa academy. Siyempre, ang makakasama niya ay ang real-life sweetheart na taga-Baguio rin.

“Nagkaroon lang ng konting selos, pero naayos naman. Naintindihan niya ang sitwasyon. Okay na kami ngayon. Tipong long-distance pa rin ang drama namin, tulad ni Joan at ng boyfriend niya. Hanggang text-text na lang muna ’pag may pagkakataon,” sey pa ni Davey.

By the way, he is also a songwriter with a few compositions: Spending My Life with You, Sikat Ako and Christmas Wish. LINK

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Pedro Penduko wins over Bitoy’s Funniest Video

Ang Bitoy’s Funniest Video na pala ang katapat ngayon ng Pedro Penduko at hindi na ang Fantastik Kids ni Marky Cielo?

Dalawang magkasunod na Sabado nang nagkatapat ang Bitoy’s Funniest Video at ang Penduko at nanalo ang fantaserye ni Matt Evans kaya naman tuwang-tuwa ang bagets, at surprisingly, last Saturday, November 25 ay muling nanalo ang Pedro Penduko against Michael V sa rating na 21.6% over 19.7%.

Bale 3rd time nang natatalo si Bitoy, isa sa Magandang Gabi Bayan, two years ago at dalawa sa Pedro Penduko ngayong taon?

Panalo rin ang ASAP 06 sa SOP Music Awards last Sunday. In fairness maganda ang ASAP nung Linggo, imagine, napagsama-sama uli ang original cast ng Bagets minus Aga Muhlach, TGIS at Viva Teens na may show na Posh sa QTV.

25th year anniversary kasi ng Viva at sa ASAP ito isinelebra at hindi sa GMA-7 considering na sa kanila ang tv rights ng TGIS at Posh.

Winner na naman as usual ang The Buzz na nakakuha ng 12.7% sa S-Files na 10% lang.

Hindi na nabigla ang bossing ng Dos na natalo uli ang Your Song na 11.4% at Love Spell 10.8% sa Kapuso Movie Festival na Enteng Kabisote uli ni Vic Sotto.

And speaking of Vic, buti na lang nag-rate ang Eat Bulaga over Wowowee last Saturday para sa kasal-kasal ek-ek nila ni Pia Guanio. LINK

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Martin Nievera, napaka-conservative

Although tanggap na ni Pops Fernandez ang relasyon nina Martin Nievera at Katrina Ojeda at pagkakaroon nila ng anak, masyado naman yatang pilit ang isyu na gusto siyang kunin para maging ninang ng anak nito.

Sa presscon ng Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah Ze Moveeh, sinabi ni Pops na anuman ang mangyari, mananatili ang pagkakaibigan nila ni Martin dahil ito ang ama ng kanyang mga anak na sina Robin at Ram.

Kung tanggap ni Pops ang pagkakaroon ng anak ni Martin kay Katrina, tanggap din ito ng dalawa nilang anak ni Martin. Katunayan, welcome kina Robin at Ram ng pagkakaroon ng baby brother.

Samantala, enjoy si Pops sa kanyang ginampanang role bilang si Queen Femina Suarestellar Baroux sa MMFF entry ng Regal na dinirek ng premyadong director na si Joel Lamangan mula sa award-winning graphic novel ni Carlo Vergara. Si Pops bale ang main contravida ng movie.

Sa palagay kaya ni Pops ay papayagan siya ni Martin na mag-suot ng kanyang costume sa Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah kung ito pa rin ang kanyang mister?

"Sa palagay ko hindi," natatawa niyang tugon. "In fairness to Martin, napaka-conservative pa rin niya pagdating sa kasuotan ng babae." link

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Aiai delas Alas Concert sa Klownz

Agad masusundan ang birthday concert ni Aiai delas Alas sa Klownz Araneta. Sa dami kasi ng hindi nakapasok sa unang concert na inabot na ng madaling araw, kung kaya nagpasya ang komedyante na magpanibago ng concert. Kung baga, magiging repeat na ito na gaganapin din sa nasabing lugar, sa Nob. 30 at matangi kay Allan K na mari-retain para sa repeat, may bagong set of guests si Aiai – sina Piolo Pascual at Jaya. Kaya kung ayaw n’yong mahuli na naman ay maaga na kayong pumila para sa tiket. Di kayo magsisisi dahil pasasakitin ni Aiai ang inyong tiyan sa katatawa.

"Hindi ko naman akalain na parang eskarsyunista yung mga dumating para manood ng show, langkay-langkay kasi sila. At dahil medyo late na nang mag-start, kaya late na rin natapos. Sa lagay na yun ay di pa nakakanta ang isa ko pang guest na si Arnelli Ignacio. Sabi ko sa kanya, next time na lang pero, di ko pa rin siya nakuha for the coming show," paliwanag pa rin ng komedyante.

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Vince Aldana Update

WHEN Vince Aldana became 1st runnerup in the CloseUp to Fame search, we felt he should have been the winner. He’s 6 feet tall, has a good physique and clean cut good looks, perfect to make him a matinee idol. No wonder he was named Crush ng Tambayan of “Breakfast” on Studio 23 representing Candy Magazine recently.

Vince was born in Cavite but his family moved to Guam when he was a toddler and he grew up there. The nice thing is he speaks fluent Tagalog. Last year, he chose to return to Manila to try showbiz and he’s now a ward of Veronique del Rosario in her Viva Artist Agency. He’s a regular in QTV-11 youth-oriented show, “Posh,” shown Saturdays at 5 p.m. where he plays a rebellious but good-hearted teener. He’s also the leading man of Katrina Halili in the new Tanduay commercial. VAA has lined up several projects for him, including a new weekly TV show, a film with his crush Anne Curtis, and a new mobile commercial.

Make way for Vince Aldana who now has his own loyal fans who consider him the newest Crush ng Bayan. He’s one newcomer who surely deserves this tag. LINK

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Pops Fernandez favors divorce

“DIVORCE makes more sense.”

’Yan ang bagong paniniwalang binitawan ng Concert Queen na si Pops Fernandez sa presscon ng Metro Manila filmfest entry ng Regal Films na Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah kahapon.

Nag-ugat ang naturang pahayag sa usual na kuwentuhan tungkol sa pakikipaghiwalay at pagpapa-annul niya ng kasal nila ni Martin Nievera (pa rin!).

Ayon kay Pops, although technically ay annulled na ang kasal nila, the fact remains na hindi pa null and void ang kanilang church wedding nu’ng 1980s.

“Mas mahirap at mas matagal daw ang annulment sa church, eh,” paliwanag nito sa mga kausap na writer.

Sa pagkakaintindi raw niya, mas nabibigyang proteksyon ang asawa’t mga anak sa diborsyo kesa sa annulment. Sa divorce kasi, ani Pops, may tinatawag na alimony base sa kinikita ng separated couple.

Magkaiba rin daw ang aftermath ng dalawang proseso sa pagpapawalang-bisa sa kasal. Habang ang annulment ay nagpapalagay na hindi ikinasal ang mag-asawa kailanman, sa divorce raw, kinikilala ang naging kasalan, nagkahiwalay nga lang.

Pero mabilis ding tinanggap ng primera kontrabida sa ZZZ ang katotohanang hindi pa handa ang mga Pinoy para sa diborsyo, dahil sa pagiging dominante ng mga Katoliko.

Samantala, naungkat din ang isyu tungkol sa pag-iimbita umano sa kanya ni Martin na maging ninang ng anak na si Santino sa girlfriend na si Katrina Ojeda.

At ani Pops, tinawagan siya ni Martin para linawin ang naturang statement sa media na sumalubong sa kanya sa airport kamakailan.

Sabi raw ng dating asawa, na-edit out lang ang part kung saan sinabi nitong, “...If it’s appropriate, but I don’t think it is,” patungkol sa pagkuha bilang ninang sa ex-wife.

“The next day pa lumabas ’yung part na na-edit out. Kaso, hindi naman lahat ng nakapanood nu’ng first part ay nakapanood din ng second part,” dagdag paliwanag ni Pops.
Kaya raw lumaki nang lumaki ang issue.

But now she hopes this would set the record straight.

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Wowowee experience

Kakaibang experience din ang naibigay sa amin ng Wowowee earlier that day. Naka-tape na ang aming radio show na Cristy per Minute nang araw na ‘yun dahil pinaghandaan talaga namin nina Nay Cristy ang paglalaro niya sa Willie of Fortune.

Kasama niya sina ka-patid na Jobert Sucaldito, Kuya Ricky Lo, Dolly Ann Carvajal, Fernan de Guzman at si Tita Swarding. Nandun kami sa audience cheering for them at iba talaga ang saya ng live hos-ting ni Willie Revillame. Naobserbahan talaga namin kung paano niya nagagawang patawanin ultimo ang isang paslit. No wonder, napakapositibo ng reviews ngayon at ma-taas ang rating ng show. Hindi namin iniinda kung nakatutok sa amin ang mga kamera habang sigaw kami nang sigaw pa-ra kina Nay Cristy, Jobert, Kuya Ricky at Dolly Ann, dahil aliw na aliw kaming makita silang nakaharap sa TV na kumakanta, nagsasayaw at nag-magic pa si Nay Cristy, bilang bahagi ng pagpapakita ng kani-lang talents.

Nanalo si Jobert, pero tinalo siya ng isang studio contestant na nagawang masagot ang tanong kahit hindi pa ito tapos sabihin ni Willie.

Sa rami ng nag-text sa amin na nakita kami sa Wowowee (mula Laguna, Bicol, hanggang Min-doro, Cebu at Davao), nasukat talaga namin ang lakas ng programa. Consi-dering na nakikiamuyong lang kami sa studio, ha, at nagkataong nabigyan ng magagandang close-up ni Direk Johnny Manahan. Ha-ha-ha!

Sa mahigit 30 text messages na natanggap ko that afternoon, nasa 20 ang nakakita sa amin sa tv habang ‘yung iba ay nagtatanong sa amin kung live din ba kami sa DZMM radio?

Kakatuwa!

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Sexy Shaina Magdayao update

Nakorner naman namin si Shaina Magdayao na super seksi sa kanyang ginawang opening number sa Wowowee.

Nag-promote siya ng Abt Ur Luv na nag-umpisa na yata noong araw ding ‘yun kaya nagawa namin siyang tanungin kung totoong limang mga bagets na kasamahan niya ngayon sa show ang sabay-sabay na nanliligaw sa kanya.

Alam naming si Rayver Cruz ang kapareha niya sa Abt Ur Luv, pero balitang ang isang bagets na binanggit namin sa kanya ang napapabalitang bini-bigyan niya raw ng importansya. In fact, parati raw siya nitong dinadalhan ng pasta na gawa mismo ng nanay ni bagets.

Natawa na lang si Shaina at nag-emote na lahat daw ng sinabi naming names na sabay-sabay nanliligaw sa kanya ay mga kaibigan lang niya.

Mahigpit daw kasing ipinagbabawal na romantically i-involve sila kaya’t nagpaka-safe din tayo sa hindi pagbanggit ng mga names na puro 15, 16 at 17 years old pa lang!

Kakaloka ang mga bagets! LINK

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Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos update

Very refreshing ang description ni Ryan Agoncillo sa pakikipag-dinner nila ng nobya niyang si Judy Ann Santos kamakailan sa mag-sweetheart na Jolina Magdangal at Bebong Muñoz.

Kahit naintriga noon at itinuring pang ‘magkaribal’ ay nanatiling magkaibigan sina Juday at Jolens, na dating magkasama sa youth-oriented show ng ABS-CBN na Gimik. Kapwa masaya ngayon ang dalawa sa kanilang mga lovelife.

Kuwento ni Ryan sa presscon ng filmfest entry nila ni Juday na Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo, halos pareho sila ng sitwasyon ni Bebong na ang girlfriend nila ay mas high-profile at mas sikat sa kanila.

Aniya, ikinatuwa niyang malaman na pareho sila ni Bebong na kinukonsulta muna ng mga partner nila sa mga desisyon na dapat nilang gawin.

‘Yun daw ang ‘endearing’ sa kanilang respective girlfriends na ganu’n kalaki ang tiwala ng mga ito sa kanila bilang nobyo.

Marami rin daw silang napulot na tips kina Jolina at Bebong dahil mas matagal nang magkarelasyon ang mga ito (5 years) habang sila ay magtu-2 years pa lang.

Ang ganda nu’ng dayalog ni Ryan na never niyang tinangkang lampasan o kumpetensiyahin ang kasikatan ng kanyang girlfriend.

Haba-habaan ang hair ni Juday sa dayalog ni Ryan na, "Ang pinakamasarap doon ay ang matawag kong akin siya!"

Sa isyu ng kasalan, ang sabi ni Ryan ay mas gusto na nila na kinukulit sila ng lahat kung kailan sila magpapakasal kesa kung hanggang kailan sila tatagal bilang magsyota.

"Wala pang definite na plano but we’ll get there. Tinatrabaho ko ‘yon para pagdating nu’ng time na ‘yon, wala nang poproblemahin ang partner ko…

"Ayaw naming maging biktima ng sarili naming press release. Basta right now, we’re having a lot of fun. And I’m sure na sulit ‘yung paghihirapan ko," seryosong pakli ni Ryan.

Sa KKK ay talakera ang karakter ni Juday at pakialamera ang mga madir nila (na ginampanan nina Gina Pareño at Gloria Diaz).

Ani Ryan, kabaligtaran ito sa totoong buhay dahil hindi matalak si Juday at never nakialam ang pamilya nila sa kanilang relasyon. LINK

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Sheryn Regis update

IN time for her birthday yesterday, Star Records gave Sheryn Regis a chance to redefine jukebox hits and bare her truest self with the release of her third album, Modern Jukebox Collection.

This 12- track CD boasts a collection of impressive mix of revivals, and originals, which will surely revolutionize people’s perception of jukebox with the modernized arrangements of the tracks and Sheryn’s vocal prowess.

Sheryn’s Modern Jukebox Collection includes Sheryn’s cover version of Leah Navarro’s "Ang Pag-Ibig Kong Ito," which is the album’s carrier single, Joey Albert’s "I Remember The Boy," Vina Morales’ "Alam Mo Ba," Manilyn Reynes’ "Sayang Na Sayang" and Linda Eder’s "After All."

This collection has new compositions from the country’s jukebox maestros: Vehnee Saturno "Di Na Ba Babalik Pa," Larry Hermoso "Bakit Iniwan Mo" Barbie Dumlao "Bago Magbukas," Ricky Sanchez "Ang Lahat Para Sa’yo," and Sheryn’s own composition, Pusong Lito.Sheryn continues to prove that she is the undisputed teleserye theme song queen with the release of her song, Maria FlordeLuna included in the album of the upcoming ABS-CBN soap of the same title. The theme song is composed by the multi-award winning songwriter-producer Jonathan Manalo, who incidentally is Sheryn’s producer in all her previous albums. Their team-up has spawned both critical and commercial success with sales reaching gold or even platinum status. LINK

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Toni Gonzaga on Alessandra de Rossi at Jeremy Marquez

Sa tono ng interview namin kay Toni Gonzaga nu’ng Biyernes ng gabi ay very disappointed ito kina Alessandra de Rossi at Jeremy Marquez.

“Ako na nga ang tumulong para ma-patch-up kung anumang gulo meron sila, ako pa ang napasama,” sey ni Toni.

Kaya ngayon, ni friendship ay hindi niya ma-offer sa dalawa.

“Hindi ko kayang makipagkaibigan sa isang taong sa palagay ko ay hindi ko mapagkakatiwalaan,” aniya pa.

Ay, talbog! Move over Alex and Jeremy, hahaha!

Paano, Toni, kung ikaw talaga ang gusto ni Jeremy at kung manikluhod or magpasagasa siya sa harapan mo just to prove his undying love for you, ano’ng gagawin mo if ever?

“Gawin muna niyang lahat ’yan, saka natin malalaman. Kapag na-overcome niya ’yung mga ... ’pag buhay pa siya pagkatapos nu’n, tingnan natin,” natatawa niyang sagot.

Bakit, wala ka na bang ka-feelings-feelings kay Jeremy ngayon?

“Wala! Ewan ko. Hindi naman. Pero ayoko ng ganu’n. Ayoko ng magulo,” pagtatapos niya.

Ayan, ikaw kasi, Jeremy, hindi mo sinunod ang kabilin-bilinan ng ika-11 utos — ang “’Wag Kang Pahuhuli” ... at ang ika-12 utos na ... “’Wag Kang Lilingon!”

Hahaha!

At meron pa, ’yung ’Wag Kang Liliko sa Kaliwa,” tsuk!

Tsk, sayang ... bagay pa naman sina Toni at Jeremy na magka-partner sa isang Korean telenovela, dahil pareho silang may mga matang singkit ... ilong na kay tuwid ... hahaha!

And speaking of Korean ek, invaluable partnership talaga ang maitatawag sa pagsasanib ng Anak Foundation ni Ka Freddie Aguilar at ng National Boys & Girls Householder’s Assistance Federation ng bansang Korea, ang NB & GHAF, na isang non-profit citizen’s group na itinataguyod ng Ministry of Health ng Korea, sa pamumuno ng secretary general na si Lee Young Hoon.

Samantala, ang Anak Foundation nama’y itinatag ng international singer-composer Freddie Aguilar sa layuning mapag-aral ang mga kabataang kapus-palad.

Dalawang dekada na ring pinagsisikapan ni Ka Freddie na maipagpatuloy ang simulain upang magabayan ang kabataan ng Anak Foundation tungo sa tamang landas ng buhay.

Nitong November 23, upang higit na mapagtibay ang samahan, nagtungo sa Pilipinas ang mga pinuno ng NB & GHAF para pormal na makipag-ugnayan sa Anak Foundation.

Bahagi ng projekto ang concert ng popular Korean singer na si Mina, na umawit ng sikat na Answer the Phone.

Sina Ji Sang Hwa ng Myong Jak Entertainment at Jae Ko ng MK Production ang promoters ng concert ni Mina sa February 2007. LINK

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Cher Calvin won in the Emmy Awards

She’s the face that greets L.A. with a big smile early mornings on the KTLA TV’s Morning Show, which starts before 5 a.m., Monday through Friday, like the local GMA 7 show Mornings@GMA (now Unang Hirit) where she started her career as a TV host in the mid-’90s before she moved to ABS-CBN.

The good news is that Cher Calvin has just won for Best Newscast in the just-concluded Emmy Awards, the first Filipino, if memory serves me right, to be so honored.

"I can’t believe it," Cher told The STAR in a phone interview as soon as she got home from the event. "It’s very exciting!"

Cher has been with KTLA for more than two years. Before that, she was with Fox Channel in Las Vegas. Both are newscasts, in contrast to Cher’s ABS-CBN show F which was more lifestyle, co-hosted by Angel Aquino and Daphne Oseña.

KTLA opens with Cher doing the newscast. Lately, she has been doing field reporting, together with 1994 Miss USA Lou Parker who competed in the Miss Universe Pageant held that same year in Manila. Herself a beauty queen, Cher was first runner-up in the 1994 Miss New York contest, the winner of which competed in the Miss USA search for the representative to the Miss Universe Pageant.

A Masscom graduate of a New York university, Cher worked as a researcher for some US magazines before she shifted to on-camera work. Born and raised in New York, she’s the only child of former actor Roger Calvin and the late Delia Santos, a psychologist.

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Mariel Rodriguez Update

Less than a year since Mariel Rodriguez shot to fame via Pinoy Big Brother (Celebrity Edition), she has learned a few things on how to stay longer in showbiz. As people say, character defines destiny and Mariel definitely has been building hers by keeping an open mind and an appreciation for the breaks and blessings that continue to come her way.

Here are 10 things about Mariel’s continuing journey in life and in showtown. These are reminders for herself that maybe familiar, others unheard of. Read on.

1. Never give up on your dreams. Many who only have heard of Mariel from PBB think she is a flash-in-the-pan. But the truth is, prior to PBB, she has been part of several TV shows both here and in Singapore where she was slightly noticed. Does she feel vindicated now? Not at all. When asked if she ever felt that her career was going nowhere and if she wanted to throw in the towel, she would tell you straight in the eye that everything (the good and the bad) led to where she is today. Mariel continues to hold on to her dream.

2. Never be complacent. Mariel is not about to rest on her laurels. Even as she is seen on TV, the path towards the next level is already in place. By next year, Mariel will be seen on the silver screen starring in her first movie entitled Agent Ex-boyfriend where she plays leading lady to Vhong Navarro. "There will always be someone prettier, funnier, taller, smarter than you in the business. The only thing that will differentiate one from the other is who maximizes opportunities and who thinks ahead," she says.

3. Replace the negative with positive. Not long ago, intrigue was sown between Mariel and Toni Gonzaga who were said to be emerging rivals. But instead of being bothered by it or merely refuting the rumor, Mariel went out and told people all the things that she admires in Toni. To this day, Mariel is fast to point out not only the good actress and singer in Toni but good qualities and assets of others. You will never hear Mariel talking ill of anyone. It’s just not her.

4. Set goals. In the acting department, Mariel looks up to Claudine Barreto and is willing to do what it takes to be even as half as good a dramatic actress as her idol. She looks forward to attending more workshops. Of course, the exposure she’s getting now in her TV shows is learning from the best teacher that is experience.

5. Stop and smell the roses. Mariel is very busy. Yet she finds time to indulge in the simple things life offers. She confesses to still watch her favorite teleseryes whenever schedule permits. She goes to malls with nary a second thought. Not because she wants to remind herself that at the end of the day she is still the same person, but because she realizes that her job is not her life. At home, on the streets, off-cam, she is as she has always been.

6. Be true to yourself. One of the biggest surprises Mariel has discovered about the relationship between celebrities and the public is this: the more a celebrity shows who he really is – including the flaws – to the public, the more the celebrity will be loved by the public. Mariel’s boo-boo’s on screen? They’re real. As real as anyone else’s. And nothing to apologize for. The public loves it. People see humor in her shortcomings because she makes them feel that if it could happen to her, then it could happen to anyone. Mariel is proof that celebrities, are just like you and me.

7. Listen to both compliments and criticisms. Mariel reads every single text message (sent directly or forwarded to her) fans send her. And she thinks about them. If it’s a compliment, she says, "Thanks, I’ll do more of the same or maybe even improve on it." If it’s criticism, she goes, "Really? If so, I owe it to people to shape up." How could you go wrong with that kind of attitude?

8. Shake things up from time to time. Mariel knows people tire quickly of their celebrities if they show the same thing ad infinitum. That’s why Mariel looks forward to doing the role of a lesbian. Or a drug addict. Anything remote from who she really is. Anything that will truly challenge her. She knows this is the only way to grow: to not stay in the comfort zone.

9. Be realistic. Mariel knows a career in showbiz is not forever. She knows that one day she will retire. And she’s fine with the idea. Mariel also knows that things could change in the blink of an eye. She could be hot today, laos next week. She has accepted this fact long before it happens. She has cushioned herself from heartbreak and regret by being realistic that she does not know everything, and therefore cannot control everything.

10. Smile and the world smiles back at you.

And Mariel Rodriguez’s journey continues as we watch her with a smile. LINK

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Christian Bautista in Mano Po 5

Madaling naka-adjust sa movies si Christian Bautista. Sa first day shooting lang ng Mano Po 5 siya ninerbyos ng husto dahil sa second day, less nerbyos na siya at sa third day at sa mga sumunod niyang eksena’y relax na siya.

"I can say I am improving and I’m ready for more movies. In fact, may next project na ako sa Regal pa rin. Masaya pala," wika nito.

Game rin si Christian sa fight scene nila ni Richard Gutierrez dahil magagawa na raw niya ang napanood sa favorite Chinese movies niya gaya ng Hero at Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Nahirapan lang siya sa Fan Dance number nila ni Angel Locsin dahil hindi siya dancer at impromptu nilang ginawa ang eksena. Pareho raw silang naguluhan ng actress.

Incidentally, first Christmas nina Christian at Rachelle Ann Go as sweethearts ang darating na Pasko. Wala pa raw silang plano but definitely, yayayain niya ang gf na manood ng kanyang unang pelikula at hihintayin ang comment nito. LINK

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The Nativity Film

Ayaw ko pa sanang panoorin ang The Nativity dahil sabi ko, meron pa bang tungkol sa Pasko na di ko alam?

Nagkamali pala ako, ang pelikula served as a reminder kung ano talaga ang Pasko. Ngayon alam ko na, hindi lamang mga materyal na bagay ang magpapasaya sa aking Pasko. Kung ano ito ay inyo ring matutuklasan sa The Nativity, ang kapanganakan ni Hesus. Simula sa announcement ni Angel Gabriel kay Mary ng kanyang immaculate conception at sa paghahanap ng Tatlong Haring Mago ng pinaka-maningning na bituin sa Bethlehem. Ipinakilala rin sa akin ng movie kung sino talaga ang lalaking umakong ama ng Anak ng Diyos at ang babaeng nagluwal sa Kanya. Beautiful!!! Di ko nga napansin na umiyak ako sa eksenang ipinanganak Siya.

Walang di nakakaalam ng istorya ng The Nativity pero, di lahat ay nakakabatid ng kahalagahan nito sa mundo, kung bakit ang anak ng Diyos ay piniling ipanganak sa isang sabsaban sa isang panahon na kailangan ng tao ng isang mananakop.

Maswerte tayong mga Pinoy dahil mas nauna natin itong napanood kesa kay Papa Benedict XVI at sa staff ng Vatican. Ngayong araw pa lamang na ito ipalalabas dun at mga 7,000 ang manonood nito kasama na ang direktor ng movie na si Catherine Hardwicke, ang mga artistang sina Shoreh Aghdashioo (Elizabeth), Oscar Isaac (Joseph) at Keisha Castle-Hughes (Mary) at ang mga producer at writer ng pelikula.

First time ito na may pelikulang magpi-premiere sa Vatican, sa Aulo Paolo VI (Pope Paul Vl Hall.) Magsisilbing fundraising ito para sa pagpapatayo ng isang iskwelahan sa Village of Mughar, Israel, na may populasyon ng Christian, Muslim at Druze at matatagpuan 40 kilometers from Nazareth.

Mapapanood ang The Nativity sa maraming sinehan sa bansa simula sa Dis. 1, ipamamahagi ni G. Wilson Yuloque ng Pioneer Films locally. Si G. Yuloque din ang naging daan para ito mapanood dito sa atin. Ang premiere showing ay dinaluhan ng mga opisyal ng simbahang Katoliko sa pamumuno ni Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales. LINK

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K.I.D.S. Foundation of Diether Ocampo

Giving a kid fish is charity. Teaching him to fish, however, is a noble cause. Non-government organizations like Diether Ocampo’s K.I.D.S. (Kabataang Inyong Dapat Suportahan) Foundation has been trying to do this for the past years.

"We want to reach out to needy youth," says Diether of the many things his foundation is bent on working on.

"K.I.D.S. also wishes to bring a smile on a kid’s face and share the happy childhood most of us have experienced," he says. This is the kind of childhood that is full of playing, loving and caring.

Diether and friends (Mon Castro, Egay Bautista and Kristine Hermosa) have been sharing their blessings for five years now. The idea started from a simple Christmas gathering of friends supported by Pizza Hut which Diether endorses. It was only recently that they realized the need to formalize the foundation and increase the number of people they can help. (Diether and company are silent charity workers). Remember, good news and causes must be heralded. K.I.D.S. Foundation is not a spur-of-the-moment thing as cynics suspect.

Diether explains that it will collaborate with other existing foundations/organizations with similar intentions to improve the life of today’s youth, especially the underprivileged. Sen. Francis Pangilinan, author of the Juvenile Justice Act, supports the causes of Diether’s foundation.

Diether also clarifies that putting up K.I.D.S. is neither a political preparation nor move, though people of Bacoor, Cavite have encouraged him to run for a local office. As Diether puts it, "You need not to be a politician to help."

On Dec. 14, K.I.D.S. Foundation will stage its benefit show entitled Unang Hakbang, also the foundation’s first major project this year. Bamboo, The Dawn, Mayonnaise and Mojofly will grace the event.

Six kids stricken with cancer are the beneficiaries of the fund-raising show. Proceeds of the concert will go to their medical and rehabilitation needs like chemotherapy, wheelchair and operation. K.I.D.S. Foundation also plans to visit hospitals to directly deliver the help (monetary or in kind).

Members of K.I.D.S. Foundation share that anyone can seek their help and they will respond to the need based on its urgency.

More than the financial and emotional help the foundation offers, K.I.D.S. also exists to protect and preserve the rights of a child. Among these are the right to live comfortably, be educated, have a clean, peaceful environment, be heard and respected and have equal opportunities.

The last right, K.I.D.S. Foundation believes, will help financially-challenged youngsters realize their dreams.

"We should come together to help others," challenges Diether. "There shouldn’t be boundaries to do this." LINK

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Gary Valenciano concert: Pure Inspiration

ANG mga taga-Pampanga naman ang aaliwin ni Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano tonight, Nov. 25 sa show nitong pinamagatang Pure Inspiration.

Magaganap ito sa Expo Filipino Pampanga at sasamahan si Gary ng kanyang mga tinatawag na spiritual defense force gaya nina May Ann Casal-Soriano, Melissa Fontano-Alsisto, the Po-werplay at si Mon Faustino bilang kanyang musical director.

Special guests ni Gary sina Joni Villanueva at ang anak niyang si Gabriel Valenciano.

Tickets for Pure Inspiration concert are priced at P2,000; P1,000; P500, P300, and P150 and are available at Philipine Christian Bookstore, Angeles, Pampanga at sa Robinson’s Pam- panga.

Tiyak isang gabing ha-taw sa saya at aliw na naman ang gagawin nina Gary sa naturang lugar.

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Christian Bautista second movie?

May second movie na sa Regal si Christian Bautista after Mano Po 5: Gua Ai Di. He’s ready for more movies at madaling na-relax after working with Direk Joel Lamangan, Richard Gutierrez and Angel Locsin.

Welcome rin sa kanya ang fight scene nila ni Richard, na kukunan that afternoon na may press visit, dahil fave niya ang Chinese movies.

“Okey kami ni Richard, we talk about his cars and interest in firing as well as his new soap. Madali rin kaming naging friends ni Angel. I just found out she likes the Beatles because of his dad. Me naman, I like standard songs and Michael Buble.”

Four songs ni Christian ang gagamitin sa MP 5 — ang theme song na My Heart Has a Mind of His Own, Completely, My Heart Know That You’re The One at Away From You.

Nalaman pala naming involved si Christian sa World Vision-Philippines at baka ma-interview niya si Jerry Yan pagdating nito sa December 8. May pinag-aaral din siyang bata from Cavite at sa paglaki ng kanyang kita, magdadagdag pa siya nang i-sponsor na bata. LInk

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Mico Palanca at Bea Alonzo love affair

Matagal nang natsi-tsismis na mag-on sina Mico Palanca at Bea Alonzo, pero walang confirmation na nanggagaling sa dalawa, ang paliwanag lagi ng leading lady ni John Lloyd Cruz sa Maging Sino Ka Man ay, "Hindi po kami, we’re good friends."

Pero last Thursday night ay magkasamang nanood sa show ni bossa nova singer Sitti sa Metro Bar sina Mico at Bea kasama rin sina Victor Neri with friend Jojo Manlongat, Nadia Montenegro at ang younger sister na si Tanya pero nakakailang kanta palang si Sitti ay nagyaya nang umuwi si Bea.

At in public, magka-holding hands nang naglalakad ang dalawa at hindi na puwedeng i-deny pa ang kanilang two month old relationship (pagkakaalam namin) at iisa ang comment ng mga nakakita, "Bagay sina Mico at Bea."

In fairness, perfect combination sila kaya nagtataka kami kung bakit ayaw pa nilang umamin, especially Bea na tanggap din naman ng fans maski hindi sila ni Loydie dahil vocal din naman ang aktor sa non-showbiz girlfriend niyang si Liz Uy.

And speaking of Victor Neri ay nangangamoy away sila ng girlfriend niyang si Michelle Madrigal dahil huling-huli naming titig na titig siya kay Sitti habang sumasayaw ito sa stage at kinukunan pa ng video sa cellphone niya na hindi naman nakaligtas sa paningin ng isa sa host ng Pinoy Dream Academy sa Studio 23.

At may nagsabi yata na "type ni Victor" si Sitti na sinagot naman ng dalaga na naka-mickrophone ng, "Ha? Di ba may girlfriend ka, si Michelle?" at nagkatawanan ang ibang audience.

Kaya inaasar naman ni Jojo Manlongat ang aktor na indirect na sinabing, "Hindi ka na puwede, ako na lang," kasi ibinuking sa amin ng taga-production na type ng ex-boyfriend ni Angelu de Leon ang charming na bossa nova singer.

Kaya naman maski tapos na ang show ay hindi pa rin umaalis sina Victor at Jojo na tila hinihintay ang paglabas ni Sitti ng dressing room. LINK

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Gina Pareño vs Maricel Soriano

Dalawang aktres ang siguradong magpupukpukan sa best actress debries sa susunod na taon - sina Gina Pareño para sa Kubrador at Maricel Soriano for Inang Yaya. Parehong digital ang nasabing pelikula.

May edge na si Gina dahil nakakailang best actress award na sa iba’t ibang international film festival. Pero siyempre, hindi agad puwedeng patalo si Maricel dahil magaling talaga siya sa Inang Yaya.

Sa best actor, lumulutang naman ang pangalan ni Sid Lucero para sa kanyang impressive performance sa digital film na Donsol na graded A ng Cinema Evaluation Board.

Kung based on performance lang at hindi age factor, seniority at popularity ang basehan, malakas talaga ang laban ni Sid next year. Ang galing niya sa Donsol na dinirek ng baguhang si Adolf Alix. Considering na ito ang first film ni Sid na isang third generation actor mula sa pamilyang Eigenmann. Anak si Sid nina Mark Gil at Bing Pimentel (na in fairness ay mahusay sa kanyang role bilang asawa ni Boyet de Leon sa Maging Sino Ka Man).

Nagpaitim si Sid sa pelikula at nawala totally ang kanyang matinee idol mestizo looks. Pati ang local dialect ng mga taga-Sorsogon ay kuhang-kuha ni Sid.

Sabi ng isa kong friend impressed sa kanya sina Jaclyn Jose at Bembol Roco, parehong mga premyadong artistang kasama rin sa pelikula.

Former swimming team member si Sid nung nag-aaral pa siya sa Ateneo at laking tabing dagat din siya nung nanirahan sila sa Cebu kaya kitang-kita na hindi aral ang pagsisid at paglalangoy niya with the butandings (whalesharks) sa Donsol.

He admits na kinabahan din siya bago kunan ang mga eksena niya with the award-winning cast members: "I feel so small beside them pero mabait sila at inalalayan nila ako. I’ll forever be grateful to Tito Bembol, Tita Jane (tawag niya kay Jacklyn) and of course to Angel Aquino, ang lead actress ng pelikula na tahimik lang pero brilliant din ang pinakitang acting as tourist sa Donsol na may masakit na karanasan sa nasabing lugar.

Ang maganda sa pelikulang ito, walang effort ang director na bigyan ng mga acting moments ang kanyang mga artista, kaya mas realistic at natural ang dating.

In fairness, pang-award din ang original music score ni Jesse Lucas (na pinuri sa Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival) at cinematography ni Eli Balce.

Si Marvin Agustin ang unang nababalitang gagawa ng pelikulang ito. Pero along the way ay nagkaroon ng problema kaya hindi natuloy.

Kung si Marvin ang nag-portray ng character na napunta kay Sid, hmmm, parang maraming adjustment sa part ni Marvin.

Anyway, malamang na pasok din si Angel Aquino for Donsol sa listahan ng best actress nominees kasama sina Cherry Pie Picache (Kaleldo), Maricel Soriano (Inang Yaya) at Nora Aunor (Ingrata), pero kay Gina Pareño malamang ibibigay kasi nga mas senior na at ngayon lang nabigyan ng ganitong role (baka di na maulit).

Sa best actor naman, malamang na ang magiging kalaban ni Sid next year for best actor ay sina Johnny Delgado (Kaleldo), at ang tatay niyang si Mark Gil (Rotonda).

Pero siyempre marami pang puwedeng humabol dahil andiyan pa ang siyam na pelikulang kasali sa Metro Manila Film Festival na tiyak na makikipaghabulan din sa major awards sa susunod na taon.

At any rate, ‘A small, quiet film with a big heart’ ang description ng ilan nating kaibigan sa Donsol na ipalalabas na sa November 29 sa Metro Manila theaters. LINK

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Sarah Geronimo in Dear Heart

Kararating lang ni Sarah Geronimo sa bansa at good news agad ang sumalubong sa kanya dahil finally, plantsado na ang launching flick niyang Dear Heart.

In fact, plano ng Viva big boss na si Vic del Rosario na sa January na ito umpisahan.

Matatandaang ang Dear Heart ay first movie ni Sharon Cuneta sa Viva Films, na naging isang malaking tagumpay at naging daan para makilala si Shawie sa industriya, ganundin ang tambalang Sharon-Gabby Concepcion.

Pero nilinaw ng Viva na hindi remake ang gagawin ni Sarah, kundi inspired lang ng original Dear Heart. Babaguhin ang script nito, na isusulat ni Mel del Rosario at gagawing makabago.

Wala pang napipling leading man, pero personal choice ni Boss Vic si John Lloyd Cruz. Wish niyang payagan sana ang young actor ng Star Cinema.

Pero heto pa ang isang good news: Kasama sa pelikula ang dalawa sa respetado at mahusay nating veteran actors, Christopher de Leon and Eddie Garcia.

Si Eddie ang gaganap na lolo ni Sarah at si Boyet naman ang ama. Matatandaang si Manoy ang gumanap na ama ni Sharon sa original Dear Heart.

Sa fans ni Sarah, puwede kayong mag-suggest kung sino ang napipisil ninyong maging leading man ng inyong idolo sakaling hindi pumuwede si John Lloyd. LINK

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Piolo Pascual at Rica Peralejo

CONFLICTING ang mga pronouncement nina Piolo Pascual at Rica Peralejo. Pa’nong conflicting? Sa previous interviews kasi, laging very vocal si Piolo sa pagsasabing nililigawan (kundi man liligawan na) niya si Rica.

Katunayan, kamakailan lamang ay lumutang ang balitang sila na, ’di ba? Pati kasal nga naitatanong na sa perennial screen partner ni Judy Ann Santos, dahil sa labis na “pagsamba” nito sa dalaga ni Mommy Alice.

Pero sa interview naman ni Rica para sa Canary Films MMFF entry na Matakot Ka sa Karma kahapon, buong ningning nitong dinenay sa press na nanliligaw sa kanya ang aktor.

Aniya, they are “very good friends.” ’Di naman kaya presumptuous lang ang press?

Dinipensa rin ito ni Rica sa hinala ng iba na ginagamit lang siya ni Piolo to probably drum up interest sa lovelife niya, by saying na she doesn’t think so.

Maregalong tao raw talaga si Piolo, pero hindi rin totoong binigyan na siya nito ng engagement o kahit na anong singsing. Ngayon, kung nakatatanggap man siya ng regalo rito, hindi lang naman siya ang binibigyan nito, kundi marami sila.

Pareho raw silang mababaw ni Piolo, dahil simpleng bagay lang sumasaya na sila. Sa kuwento ni Rica, nahawa niya ang aktor sa pangungolekta ng mga sticker tuwing nag-a-abroad sila.

And while aminado siyang hindi mahirap mahalin ang isang God-centered, responsible, mabait at mapagmahal sa pamilyang lalaki gaya ni Piolo, iba raw ang tingin niya sa aktor kesa sa ibang babaing nag-iilusyon sa kaguwapuhan nito.

Matagal na raw silang magkakilala. Coney Reyes on Camera days pa sila nag-meet at sa sobrang boredom daw minsan, nine hours straight silang nag-usap.

Ayaw magsalita ni Rica nang tapos, dahil hindi raw niya alam kung ano ang plano ng Diyos para sa kanya. Posible rin naman daw na si Piolo ang Mr. Right para sa kanya, pero ayaw niyang pangunahan ang mga pangyayari.

As she puts it, “Mangyayari naman ’yun kung talagang mangyayari.”

At habang hindi pa nga nangyayari, wala tayong choice lahat kundi mag-wait and see na lang, ’di ba, Tito Alfie L.?

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Effinboiche Band won Nescafe Soundskool 2006

Ang dalawang taong gulang na bandang Effinboiche mula sa AMA Computer College Laguna ang nanalo sa Nescafe Soundskool 2006 finals na ginanap kamakailan lamang.

Ang grupo na binubuo nina Angelique "Alex" Fuentes, 17 yrs. old sa vocals; Aljo Salting, bass; Marvin Pavero, guitars at John Christopher sa drums ay nanalo sa bigat ng kanilang orihinal na komposisiyon na "Rockstar Engine".

Nag-uwi ang grupo ng panalong P150,000 cash, a contract from EMI Music Philippines at P150,000 worth of band set-up para sa iskwelahan nila.

Napagsa-sama ng Nescafe ang pinaka-magagaling na college bands sa bansa para tumugtog na ipamalas ang artistry at musicality ng mga kabataang Pinoy.

Ang mga lumaban sa finals ay ang Digital Karma ng UP Los Baños; 2nd Squad ng Pines City College, Baguio; Fervent ng Univ. of the Visayas Cebu; Green Peace ng Asian Development Foundation College, Leyte; 4Ps ng University of San Carlos Cebu; Baby in a Box ng Northvalley College Foundation; Amanamin ng DMMA College of Southern Philippines at 5 Feet Below ng University of Southeastern Phils Davao. LINK

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Dominic Ochoa's career update

Like I always say in my shows, one does not wait for victory to come around. You have to claim it for yourself and on your terms so that ultimately, reward is sweeter and well-deserved.

Dominic Ochoa knows this only too well. Nearly 10 years in the business, he acknowledges that his career is in a different plane now. With disarming candor, he says, "I am no longer as hot as I used to be. But I’m still here: learning, improving and moving on. Simply, I’m in the next level." Nowadays, Dominic is not going for the same things as when he was starting. If before, his eyes were dead-set on just playing goody-two shoes roles, our Dominic Ochoa today is gunning to establish himself as versatile player.

Need a character actor? He could be the man. Need a TV host for any format? He could be the man. Need a credible endorser? He could be the man. And, yes, need a leading man? Dominic could be the man as he, in fact, has been there and has done that several times.

"I realize that the ability to go with the flow is the real determinant of success in showbiz," he says. "Let others concentrate on just one thing. I, on the other hand, will cover all the bases." This healthy attitude has already been put to action. Middle of this year, a lot of people saw a new Dominic playing Larry in the top-rated ABS-CBN soap opera, Bituing Walang Ningning. Yet on ABC 5, he is the dapper lead host of Shall We Dance, a celebrity dance contest. Then, of course, there was Dominic endorsing a popular beverage during every other commercial gap for months on end. Part of his job was hosting several Octoberfest stints where people saw yet another side to the talented looker.

Maybe I’m wrong, but at a time when many are unemployed in show business, where Dominic now is certainly enviable.

"Don’t get me wrong. I am thankful that after all these years I am still active," he says. "But I’m the type of person who looks forward all the time. I just don’t train my eyes on what’s here. I’ll count my blessings, yes, but I don’t expect them to be rained down on me without effort on my part. I believe God helps those who help themselves."

Right now Dominic is losing weight. He also has reinvented himself fashion-wise by junking the preppy look for the more sophisticated European chic. Dominic is bent on getting a tan by biking more frequently. He will retain the moustache for now.

All these just so he could fit more roles.

"The more you love your job, the more ready you are to make sacrifices to be effective in it," he says. "Determination cannot do it alone because there are things simply out of one’s control. With fierce competition, discipline will be my edge so that when opportunities arise that no one could meet, I’ll be there, ready."

Underneath the go-getter attitude is a calm achieved for being anchored on a healthy spirituality. Dominic says changes in his personal and professional life recently have brought him closer to God. "I’m not a religious person so I don’t even want to go deeply into it. Besides, I want to keep my relationship with Him personal," he says.

"But this much I know: God is a good and loving God. He knows what’s best for us. If you ask Him for something, He always answers prayers sometimes in many unexpected ways. But if you go back to the first two premises, you know that His response is more than you could’ve asked for. This truth gives me confidence and stops me from asking Him too many questions."

Asked if he still dreams big, Dominic says yes. The difference now, though, is that the dreams are more realistic and always in consideration of the bigger picture. "Showbiz is not forever and whether you acknowledge it or not, it doesn’t change the fact," he says. "So my biggest dream now is this: to prepare for the time when I could just sit back and relax because I struck when the iron was hot," he says. He adds: "Someday I’m going to have a family of my own; spending days in some beach in Hawaii, for example. When that day comes I want to be able to look back and tell myself, ‘You did well, Dom. You seized every opportunity and realized your full potential. Good job.’"

That vision coming true, however, is not about to happen in the next coming years. Given Dominic’s foresight and focus, many more chapters are yet to be written in his story as one of show town’s most versatile talents. Link

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Jay Manalo with Funfare

When Funfare arranged a "body talk" with Jay Manalo, the first thing he asked was, "What are the questions?"

Told that the interview was nothing heavy, that no question would pry into his private life (well, not so much!), Jay smiled and said, "Okay!"

Jay’s attitude was understandable because he has been the subject of "blind items" lately to the effect that he is a gambling "addict." Jay has bared his body, all right, down to his birthday suit. But still, he is loathe to bare his soul.

This much we know about Jay: He grew up in the vicinity of the Arranque Market (along Recto Ave.) where he often passed the night sleeping on stalls put side by side. No wonder he’s street-smart. And he has 10 children by six different women, none of whom is married to him.

And this much is true: More than just a beautiful body (even now that he has matured considerably), Jay is one of the country’s finest actors who can switch with fluid facility between good-boy roles and kontrabida roles. He has six awards (three for Best Actor and three for Best Supporting Actor) to prove it.

These days, we see him Monday through Friday in the GMA soap Bakekang as Christoph, the jobless action star married to Valeria (played by Sheryl Cruz) who’s the arch rival of Bakekang (Sunshine Dizon), the stage-mother fan of Christoph.

Jay stands six feet flat, weighs 190 lbs., wears size-32 briefs and medium/large shirt and size 10.5 shoes.

Do you abuse your body (like most showbiz guys) with work?

"I don’t; I hope not."

What sort of diet do you follow?

"When I lack sleep, I eat and eat. Maybe that’s how my body makes up for it. I don’t worry about getting fat because I lose weight easily."

Even without exercise? Your metabolism must be fast.

"I haven’t worked out for one year now, would you believe! Maybe it helps that before every meal, I take a cup of black coffee so my stomach is half full when I start eating."

What kind of food do you avoid?

"None. But I minimize on fatty and oily food. I take more fish and vegetables."

What’s your favorite fish?

"Tilapia."

And vegetable?

"Anything, except beans which can raise the uric acid in your body."

Do you take snacks between meals?

"No, I don’t. I take heavy meals three times a day, sometimes even four when I lack sleep. It’s hard to memorize your dialogue if your stomach is empty."

How much sleep do you get per night?

"I should get eight hours but the most I can is five to six hours. Hindi ako matakaw sa tulog. My body has gotten used to being active, always moving."

How do you make up for lack of sleep?

"I take power naps on the set."

What’s your favorite sleeping wear?

"Boxer shorts, no underwear, no shirt."

What’s the last thing that you do before going to sleep?

"I read anything light, komiks. And then I pray."

What do you pray for?

"That I can handle my responsibility to my kids."

And the first thing that you do when you wake up?

"Watch TV while having my first cup of coffee for the day."

How much water do you take per day?

"A lot. I’m a water person. I can finish more than one gallon a day. I’m not fond of drinking juice(s); I’m more into fruits."

What’s your favorite fruit?

"Mango, santol, duhat and guavas. Fruits that I grew up with in Bulacan."

Shouldn’t you start working out?

"I used to. But I don’t want to start now, only to interrupt it if I have a shooting or taping. If I do anything, I want it continuous. Now, my workout is playing basketball thrice a week."

How do you unwind?

"Gambling! Oops, joke only! That’s the tsismis kasi about me. Gambling addict daw ako."

Aren’t you?

"I gamble for fun, such as tong-its (a card game). I don’t go to the casino. I must admit that I bet at the horse race. There have been races at our place since I was small. But I’m not a gambling addict."

So what do you do for relaxation?

"I stay home and play with my PS2 (Play Station 2). I watch old movies on DVDs, mostly American and European movies. I try to study how actors then attacked their roles and I learn from them."

Any favorite hideaway?

"Subic. I love Subic. I once lived in Olongapo. Dati rin akong Batang Gapo, eh."

What part of your body is your favorite?

"My eyes."

What part of your body do you think needs some improvement?

"All parts! Not that I’m overweight; it’s just that my whole body needs conditioning."

What part of your body is most vulnerable?

"My head. When I have a headache, I take deep breaths and I sleep."

And what part of a woman’s body do you notice first?

"Her feet and her hands. I presume that if her feet are clean, the rest of her body is also clean. If what you see is not clean, what more the parts that you don’t see?"

How’s your nightlife?

"None. My nightlife is limited to being with friends, shooting the breeze or playing tong-its. The last time I went to a bar was in 2002."

How’s your love life?

"Okay. Doing well."

And your sex life?

"Doing very well. Okay na okay."

Are you vain like most good-looking guys?

"No, I’m not. But I want to look good when I’m out. You know, some people look down on actors, so it helps improve their image if actors behave, and dress properly, in public."

Do you have any favorite fantasy?

"Not so wild. I guess I just want to be a rich man so I can just sit back and relax and enjoy life."

Name three guys you think have nice bodies.

"Christian Vasquez. Brad Pitt. Ken Watanabe."

And three women...

"Jacqueline Yu (the model). Ziyi Zhang. Dawn Zulueta."

Using only body language, how would you make a woman know that you admire her?

"I approach her nicely and tell her. But if the woman is really my type, I get tongue-tied, so I just look and look at her." LINK

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SHARON Cuneta, "Philippine Mega-Concert Tour 2006"

SHARON Cuneta is on the last leg of her hit nationwide “Philippine Mega-Concert Tour 2006.”

She’ll be at Island Cove Resort and Leisure Park in Cavite with special guest Mark Bautista on December 2, 8 p.m. Expect a night of beautiful love songs and OPM classics, including the megastar’s well-loved hits. Promoters of the Cavite concert are confident that the megastar’s presence will draw not just audiences from their province but also from nearby places like Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Tagaytay, Laguna and Batangas. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us, to have Ms. Sharon Cuneta right within our midst. It’s going to be a truly joyful musical event,” they say.

From Cavite, “The Philippine Mega Concert Tour 2006” goes to Cagayan de Oro on December 9 at the Corpus Christi Gymnasium. Special guest for the Cagayan de Oro show is Christopher de Leon. All shows feature Louie Ocampo as musical director.

“The Philippine Mega Concert Tour 2006,” sponsored by Sony Sparkling Wega, McDonald’s, Alaska Milk, Globe, Superferry and Sony BMG Music, is a production of Artist House under Sandra Chavez. It was also successfully staged in Lucena,Pampanga, Cebu City, Zamboanga, and Iloilo, with audience reaction to the megastar always overwhelmingly ecstatic. link

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FILIPINO-Canadian in “Ang Pamana-The Inheritance”

FILIPINO-Canadian stars Darrel Gamotin, Nadine Villasin, Nicco Lorenzo Garcia and Caroline Mangosing lend sparks in a new horror movie, “Ang Pamana-The Inheritance” from the Digital Sweatshop, Incorporated.

Their fine performances blended dramatically with mainstream stars Victor Neri, Phoemela Barranda, Cholo Barretto, and Ketchup Eusebio. Cast in cameo roles are Tirso Cruz III, Jaclyn Jose, Angel Aquino, Susan Africa and Noni Buencamino.

“Ang Pamana-The Inheritance” is the first Canada-Philippines co-production with an all- Filipino-Canadian creative team. According to its director, Romeo Candido, “We embarked on creating a modern Filipino folktale, the kind of bedtime story our lolas would tell us of the ‘homeland’ in the safe bedrooms of our childhood in Canada. The Philippines had a ‘magic realist’ stories before there was even a term for it.”

The movie opened yesterday and is released by Solar Entertainment. The movie is expected to reap more accolade after the Cinema Evaluation Board gave it an “A” rating. link

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Tabing-Ilog cast bonding

IN the tradition of “Tabing-Ilog” comes another youth-oriented show featuring l9 talents of Star Magic.

Most of them are faces that are really new and fresh and products of talent search like Aaron Agassi, AJ Perez, Alfred Gatchalian, Angelo Patrimonio, Chris Gutierrez, Empress Schuck, Joaqui Mendoza, Lauren Young, Mikee Lee, Mikki Arceo and Zia Marquez.

There are also ates and kuyas reserved for Shaina Magdayao, Valeen Montenegro, Victor Basa, Rayver Cruz, Dino Imperial, Denise Laurel and Carla Humphries.

As the title of the show implies, it is about young love—puppy or otherwise. Before the camera rolls, most of them had to undergo a bonding workshop to avoid unprofessionalism and intrigues on the set.

Shaina and Rayver are paired as a loveteam. In real life, Rayver is truly smitten by the charms of Shaina. But she says winning her heart is not really difficult. She just doesn’t favor courtship through texting and Rayver has to keep that in mind.

We were stunned on how tall Rayver has become. He is also bent on pursuing his college studies. He is a very good hip hop dancer.

Christopher or Chris is the son of Maritess Gutierrez and Gloria Romero’s grandson. He is 14 years old and a shy type. Lola Glo advices him to love and be very serious with his work. His mom, Maritess, has another concern. She is on the alert about her son’s grades in school. “Kapag daw po bumaba ang marks ko ay ipapapatay niya ang character ko sa Abt Ur Luv,” the teener says. link

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Ms. Earth 2006 sa Deal or No Deal?

Espesyal ang episode ng Deal or No Deal? bukas (Biyernes) dahil bibisita ang
mga kandidata ng Ms. Earth 2006. Sa loob ng isang gabi, ang mga magagandang
kandidata ng pageant ang hahawak at magbubukas ng briefcases para sa ating contestant.

Mabilis daw na natuto ang mga girls na ito. At nag-enjoy raw talaga sila sa activity. Magdadala naman kaya sila ng swerte? Alamin at samahan si Kris Aquino ngayong Biyernes sa Kapamilya Deal or No Deal?

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Claudine Barretto, pregnant with twins?

Sobrang excited si Raymart Santiago nang nakausap namin ito sa taping ng Lagot Ka Isusumbong Kita kahapon ng hapon. Eh kasi nga, ang tungkol sa pagbubuntis ni Claudine Barretto ang pinag-usapan namin.

Sabi ni Raymart, masyadong maaga pa raw para pag-usapan ang pagbubuntis ni Claudine, pero excited pa rin daw siya dahil kinumpirma na nga ng kanilang doktor na positive ang aktres.

Matagal na raw nilang hinihintay ito kaya dumaan sila sa prosesong may kinalaman sa fertility ni Claudine.

Hindi ganun kalinaw ang paliwanag sa akin ni Raymart, pero ang ginawa raw nilang proseso ay napag-alamang dalawang follicles ang nakapasok sa uterus ni Claudine kaya may posibilidad na maging kambal ang ipagbubuntis nito.

"Maaga pa naman sabihing kambal, pero kahit hindi okay lang," say ni Raymart.

Ang gusto sana ni Claudine ay girl ang maging baby nila at okay lang naman ito kay Raymart. Ang importante raw ay buntis na ito dahil isa raw ‘yan sa plano nila, na magkaroon na ng anak sa susunod na taon.

Wala pa naman daw advice ang kanilang doktor na kailangang magpahinga ni Claudine. Kaya kung puwede raw itong magtrabaho, papayagan naman daw niya ito.

Pero kung ang payo raw ng doktor ay magpahinga ito, kailangan nilang sundin ito at hindi muna magtatrabaho ang aktres.

Excited na rin daw si Sabina sa pagbubuntis ni Claudine, kaya "ate" na raw ang tawag nila sa ba gets.

Mukhang gustung-gusto na raw ng kanilang anak na magkaroon na ito ng kapatid. Link

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Pinoy Dream Academy update

IT was expulsion night again at “Pinoy Dream Academy” last Saturday night. Nominee Jay-R Siaboc was saved by texters’ votes. Irish Fullerton was saved by their teachers. The other scholars voted on the remaining nominees and they voted to save Davey Langit. Joan Ilagan of Italy was the one ousted and she left on Sunday morning, fetched by two girl cousins. Irish, who’s so close to her, cried copiously as they said goodbye.

Sunday night, it’s nomination time again and Davey is once again nominated with a score of 8.01. The other three nominees are Rosita Bareng with 7.93, Ronnie Lian with 7.66 and Yeng Constantino with 7.37 The favorite of the judges, Panky Trinidad, is once again the star scholar of the week with a grade of 8.99, but Director Joey Reyes earlier made a very accurate assessment of her. The viewing public does not like even if she’s very talented. She really turns a lot of people off as she’s “arrogant.” And it’s true. She projects herself as someone superior than the others. May pagka-mahadera and, one time, she’s even making fun of Rosita Bareng’s armpit. What if they make fun of her being obese?

The past week saw the happy reunion of Eman Abatayo with his family in Iloilo and of Yvan Lambatan with his wife, son and parents in Baguio. Ronnie Liang celebrated his birthday and his family came over to the PDA house to be with him. It’s not surprising that Ronnie has many fans, not only because of his good looks but because he projects himself well as a nice guy who does not seem to have any mean bone in his body. Rosita, Yeng and Panky got to play as guests in “Wowowee,” but they didn’t win.

The rules have been changed for the next expulsion night. From now on, only texters’ votes count. The scholar who gets the lost percentage of votes will be kicked out. Also, they now have a Song Request portion where viewers can request their favorite scholar to sing their requested song by texting the name of the scholar and the title of the song to PDA React or through email.

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Gwen Garci and Andrew Wolff undying issue

Si Gwen Garci agad ang naisip ni Andrew Wolff na nagkakalat ng tsismis na nasa Cebu lang siya at hindi nag-abroad.

Nasa England daw si Andrew ngayon with his dad. Sagot ng dalaga, nabalitaan lang niyang ’di talaga umalis ng ’Pinas ang ex-BF at ’di siya ang source ng
balita. Kinalimutan na raw niya ang magulo at maiskandalo nilang relasyon.

In love si Gwen ngayon sa isang guwapong Brazilian model. Ayaw nitong banggitin ang pangalan, basta nakapareha siya ni Rachelle Ann Go sa music video (’di niya maalala kung anong song).

Iba ang guy na ito sa nakita naming kasama niya nang manood ng Pussycat Dolls concert.

Samantala, ikinatuwa ni Gwen ang sinabi ni Cesar Montano na she’s a fine actress at malaki ang potential sa acting.

Sexy din daw siya, flawless at maganda at kung puwede lang pahabain ng limang araw ang shooting ng love scene nila sa Ligalig ay kanyang ginawa, na ipinag-react ni Sunshine Cruz at kinurot ang asawa. link

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Judy Ann Santos at Ryan Agoncillo: Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo

SIGURADONG marami ang magiging interesado sa pelikulang Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo na pinagbibi-dahan nina Judy Ann Santos at Ryan Agoncillo under Star Cinema.

Dumalo ang dalawa sa presscon ng MMFFP ‘06 dahil included nga sa siyam na entries for the Yuletide filmfest ang kanilang mo-vie along with Regal’s, CM Films’, Canary’s, etc .

Ayon sa dalawa, isang kakaibang pelikula raw ang masasaksihan ng tao sa Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo. Ipapakita raw dito ang totoong buhay ng mag-asawa.

“Masarap ma- in love, masarap kiligin, pero pa-ano na kapag pumasok na ang mga realidad ng buhay, do’n na rin papasok ang problema,” wika pa nina Juday at Ryan.

Very true-to-life daw ang ginawang paglalahad sa pelikula ni Direk Joey Reyes. At inamin ng dalawa na nakatulong ang mo-vie para mas maintindihan nila ang kanilang relasyon at ang papasukin nilang buhay bilang mag-asawa.

“Marami talaga ka-ming natutunan sa pelikula. Kumbaga, ‘yung ibang mga problema na hindi pa namin nai-encounter nga-yon ay na-experience na-min sa movie, alam na na-min kung ano ang gagawin ‘pag dumating ‘yun. It’s really a learning experience doing this film,” sabi pa ni Judy Ann na habang iniinterbyu ng press ay nakahawak sa kamay ni Ryan. Link

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Pitong Dalagita ni Direk Cris Pablo

Sa November 29 na rin matutunghayan ang Pitong Dalagita ni Direk Cris Pablo sa ilalim ng Canary Films at tinatampukan nina Angelica Panganiban, Yasmien Kurdi, Nadine Samonte, Valerie Concepcion, Iwa Moto, Cristine Reyes at Jay-R Trinidad. Inspired ng isang true-to-life story na tiyak na kapupulutan ng aral ng mga manonood hindi lamang para sa mga anak kundi maging sa kanilang mga magulang na kadalasang nagpapabaya sa kanilang mga anak.

"Mahuhusay silang lahat! Wala akong masabi sa kanilang pagganap. Kahit mga bata pa, malalalim na ang pinaghuhugutan nila ng emosyon," Ani Direk Cris.

Sa anim na female stars ng Pitong Dalagita, tanging si Angelica lamang ang taga-Dos (ABS-CBN) at ang lima ay taga-GMA-7 pero hindi ito naging isyu sa kanila.

"Ang mga TV networks lang naman ang naglalaban, hindi kami," depensa ni Angelica na obviously ay in love na naman matapos itong makipagkalas sa kanyang on-and-off boyfriend na si Carlo Aquino. link

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Diether Ocampo and his K.I.D.S. Foundation

Pati health ni Diether Ocampo ay tila nagsa-suffer sa walang humpay niyang pagtulong sa mga kabataan via his K.I.D.S. Foundation. Payat ito at humpak ang mga pisngi nung makita namin sa launching ng kanyang foundation na ginawa sa Pizza Hut sa harap ng St. Luke’s Hospital. Kasama sa nasabing launch ang kanyang special girl na si Kristine Hermosa na bagaman at payat din ay tila mas gumanda pa at binagayan ng kanyang bagong timbang.

Inamin ni Diether na nauubos ang kanyang panahon sa nasabing foundation. Kailangan kasi ng panggastos. May mga batang maysakit na kailangan ng operasyon. Merong kailangan maputulan ng paa, paano na ang rehab nila pagkatapos ng operation? Kailangan nila ng panggastos para sa gamot," sabi niya. Isang proyekto rin nila ang pagbibigay ng mga school supplies sa mga bata sa Mountain province na lubhang huli na sa kanilang edukasyon.

"Hanggang ngayon, akala nila ay si Fidel Ramos pa ang pangulo ng bansa. Wala silang kuryente at nang may mag-donate ng generator, napakatagal nilang pinagmasdan ang mga bumbilya dahil first time nilang makakita ng ganun," dagdag pa ng aktor na sa kabila ng kapayatan ay maituturing pa rin na isa sa pinaka-gwapo sa showbiz.

Layunin ng KIDS Foundation na maging daan sa pagpapabuti ng kinabukasan ng mga kabataang mahihirap. link

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Claudine Barretto, pregnant!

FLASH: Barely a week after she denied that she’s pregnant when she and husband Raymart Santiago appeared as "hooked-up" guests on Startalk’s 11th-anniversary episode, Claudine Barretto has told a STAR source that she is, indeed "expecting."

"It’s confirmed," said the source. "Claudine is a few weeks pregnant."

The rough estimate is that Claudine will give birth to her and Raymart’s first child either last week of August or first week of September next year. The couple got married at a fairy-tale mountain-top sunset wedding at the elite Tagaytay Highlands, Tagaytay City, last March 25.

Like her fellow ABS-CBN star Kris Aquino (who’s giving birth to her and husband James Yap’s first child, too), Claudine, according to the source, will go on maternity leave as soon as her OB-Gyne tells her to.

Stand by for follow-up story. LInk

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Bianca King and Say Alonzo, ok na

POST presscon ng Gigil, nagharap sina Bianca King and Say Alonzo para mapag-usapan ang issue sa kanilang dalawa.

While it was actually Say who defended Bianca na hindi ito ang may kagagawan kung bakit siya naiyak noon sa shooting ng Gigil nila sa Boracay, tila hindi nagustuhan ni Say na pilitin siya ni Bianca na magsalita about this sa presidential table pa man din ng last presscon ng Regal Films movie na launching ni Katrina Halili and directorial debut naman ni Jun Lana.

Na-offend lang kasi si Bianca – hindi kay Say – na may ganitong issue na lumabas sa kanila when in fact nga naman, it wasn’t her fault at all daw.

Ang kay Say naman, sinagot na niya nga ang issue defending Bianca, so dapat hindi na siya napilit-pilit pang magsa-lita ulit for reconfirmation at sa harap pa ng press. Mabuti nga, naayos ang hindi nila pagka-kaunawaan right after the presscon together with their common manager na si Arnold Vegafria. Sa-yang ang pagiging roommates at pati na ang pagba-bonding nila kung magtatapos lang sa hindi pagkakaunawaan ng da-lawa. Ang mahalaga, hindi si Bianca ang nagpai-yak kay Say noon sa shooting ng Gigil and pati nga si Say is saying this. All is well that ends well para good vibes lahat when Gigil opens this Wednesday. link

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Pinoy Dream Academy: Rosita Bareng nominated for expulsion

Nanganganib na naman ang pride ng Dubai at Isabela na si Rosita Bareng ng Pinoy Dream Academy dahil muli na naman siyang nominated for expulsion this Saturday kasama sina Ronnie Liang, Davey Langit at ang hinuhulaan ng lahat na magiging 1st Star Dreamer na si Yeng Constantino.

Obviously, hindi nasiyahan ang mga juror sa ipinakitang performance ng apat na scholar nung Sabado kaya sila ang ibinotong mapalayas sa academy.

Among the four nominees ay hati ang mga bumuboto kung sino ang gusto nilang mapatalsik, may nagsabing si Ronnie at yung iba naman ay si Davey.

Pero may staff ng Dos ang nagsabi sa aming, "Mahirap na talagang magtanggal ngayon dahil 10 na lang sila, nakikita mo na kung sino talaga yung dapat na matira sa top six. Alam naman nating may sablay si Rosita, pero ang gusto ng tao sa kanya, lumalaban talaga siya maski alam niyang maraming kulang sa kanya.

"Di ba nga sa usapan nila ni Yeng, kung sinuman sa kanila ang manalo, sana maghati sila sa premyo. Si Yeng ang gusto ni Rositang manalo."

Anyway, ito ang nasagap naming top six according to survey na pinag-uusapan sa Dos, Yeng, Yvan, Chad, Jay-R, Irish at Rosita. link

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Sarah Geronimo updates

Pati pari pala fan ni Sarah Geronimo. Imagine, naka-tsika ko lang siya sa blessing ng two-door apartment ni Ms. Maridol Bismark ng Philippine Star, aba nagkwento na si Fr. Anton Renoblas na gusto niyang magkaroon ng CD ni Sarah. And take note, gusto niya, may autograph ni Sarah ang copy na mapupunta sa kanyang CD.

Nakakatuwa si father kasi alam niya kung ano talaga ang background ni Sarah at kung saan ito nakatira.

Father talaga, very showbiz. Obvious na marami siyang alam sa showbiz. Anyway, nagsi-serve sa isang community si Father, mukhang nice siya.

Back to Sarah, kasama namin sa nasabing blessing ang mommy ni Maridol na sa Amerika naka-base. Naku, nanghihingi rin itong si Mommy ng CD na may autograph kaya lang, nasa Amerika si Sarah. "Sikat na sikat si Sarah sa Amerika. ‘Yung isa kong kaibigan gusto niya may autograph," sabi ng mommy ni Maridol.

Naglilibot kasi ngayon si Sarah sa Amerika. Umalis siya three weeks ago kasama sina Mark Bautista, Jimmy at Kris Lawrence para sa repeat ng The Other Side of Sarah. link

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More Commercials for Manny Pacquiao

Hindi pa man nakakabalik si Manny Pacquiao mula sa successful bout with Erik Morales, inuulan na siya ng offers ng product endorsement. Ipinabasa sa amin ng isang kaibigan ang text message ng isang taga-ad agency na nagpapatulong para makuha ang boxing champ to endorse their product na kahit sikat na, dodoble ang sales ‘pag nadagdag si Manny na endorser.

Pati talent fee na ibabayad kay Manny kung tatanggapin nito ang offer ay ipinabasa rin sa amin at pwede pa raw madagdagan. Kahit hindi kasing-laki ang halaga sa napanalunan niya sa laban nila ni Morales, malaking halaga pa rin yun at malapit sa figure na ibinabayad sa mga sikat at in-demand na endorsers ngayon. Bawal magbigay ng clue kung anong product ito na ginagamit for personal hygiene at daily na ginagamit ng tao. link

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Sam Milby and Piolo Pascual: update

Marami na ang nakapapansin sa nuances in acting ni Sam Milby na tila junior na siya ni Piolo Pascual.

‘Yung mga paggalaw-galaw ng ulo, tilting and some facial expressions eh mistulang si Papa Piolo nung nagsisimula pa lang itong magkapangalan.

Si Papa Piolo raw kaya ang acting coach ni Papa Sam? Palagi raw magkasama ang dalawa, kulang na lang eh gawin silang labtim?

Meron ngang nagtext sa amin (+63917-476-5498 ) at nagtatanong: "Totoo po bang sina Sam Milby at Piolo Pascual na ngayon?"

Kasi raw, kung saan-saan nakikita ang dalawa na magkasamang gumigimik at nagsa-shopping, nanonood ng sine?

Abah, mah at pah, ‘noh! Basta ako, I’m happy for the both of them. Kung saan kayo maligaya mga Papa, supot, este suportahan ko kayo!

By the way, ano nga pala ang SIZE ng mga supporters n’yo? Buy ko kayo pati na mga walking shoes para sa paglalamyerda n’yo!

Sey naman ng isang dating maka-Piolo: "Naku, nanganganib ang career ni Piolo pag ganyang nakikita na siya sa akting ni Sam, baka maglipatan na ang mga fanatics ni Piolo lalo na ngayon at nawalan na siya ng leading lady like Juday na ka-compatible niya!"

Oh yeah? Let’s wait and see then! No harm meant po, ha. link

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Zia at Wyn-Wyn Marquez

Alam ba ninyo na ang half-siblings na sina Zia at Wyn-Wyn Marquez ay magkasing-edad lamang at araw lamang ang pagitan ng kanilang kapanganakan? May 10, 1992 isinilang si Zia (Izabella Krizia) habang nauna lamang ng ilang araw sa buwan din ng Mayo 1992 ipinanganak si Wyn-Wyn. Pero hindi ikinakaila ni Zia na isa umano si Wyn-Wyn sa pinaka-close niya sa kanyang mga half-siblings.

Iisa ang ama nina Zia at Wyn-Wyn, ang TV host-comedian at dating mayor ng Parañaque na si Joey Marquez. Ang dating actress-turned businesswoman na si Brenda del Rio ang ina ni Zia habang si Alma Moreno naman ang ina ni Wyn-Wyn.

Sina Zia at Wyn-Wyn ay parehong nasa showbiz na rin. Nasa rival TV network si Wyn-Wyn habang si Zia naman ay kabilang ng Star Magic ng ABS-CBN.

"I love showbiz. Kahit noong maliit pa ako ay mahilig na talaga ako sa showbiz. Kahit sa school productions ay mahilig akong magsasali," aniya.

Nasa second year high school na si Zia sa Reedley International School. Kahit nakatira siya sa kanyang mommy kasama ang ate niyang si Jowee Ann Marquez, linggu-linggo ay nagkikita sila ng kanyang daddy (Joey Marquez) at kung minsan ay natutulog umano siya sa bahay nito.

Labing-isang magkakapatid sina Zia sa magkakaibang-ina. link

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Sarah Geronimo sang the Philippine National Anthem

May ‘K’ nang taguriang Concert Princess ang pop star na si Sarah Geronimo dahil pawang successful ang mga concerts nito hindi lamang dito sa Pilipinas kundi maging sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng mundo.

Padating sa linggong ito si Sarah galing sa kanyang successful series of concerts sa Amerika (Anaheim, California, Washington, D.C., New Jersey at Las Vegas, Nevada) kung saan siya nagtanghal ng kanyang The Other Side of Sarah. Naging special guests niya rito sina Mark Bautista, Kris Lawrence at Jimmy Marquez. Bukod pa sa kanyang US concert tour, hinangaan siya nang husto sa kanyang pag-awit ng Philippine National Anthem ("Lupang Hinirang") sa most-awaited rematch nina People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao at ng Mexican boxer na si Erik Morales. link

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Camille Prats vs Angelica Panganiban

Hindi naniniwala si John Prats sa isyung nakitang nakipag-halikan ang kapatid na si Camille Prats kay Derek Ramsey sa birthday party ni Deo Endrinal. Malabo raw mangyari ‘yun dahil silang magkapatid ang magkasama the whole time sa party.

Kinontra ito ng ilang press na nasa party dahil may time raw na si Angelica Panganiban ang kasama ni Camille. That night, nagkabati finally ang dalawa kaya lang, baka muling mag-away dahil sa Camille-Derek issue eh, mag-on na raw ang binata at si Angelica.

Nasa Australia pala si Derek kaya ‘di ma-interview tungkol sa kissing scene tsika. Nag-text ito kay Camille para mag-sorry dahil nahihiya para sa dalaga. Nangako itong sa kanyang pagbalik ay magpapa-interview para linawin at itanggi ang isyung halikan. link

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Gina Pareño wins Best Actress in Amiens

The Philippines scored a double win, one in the Amiens International Film Festival (France) and another in the Torino International Filmfest (Italy), where Gina Pareño won Best Actress for Kubrador and Brillante Mendoza’s Manoro bagged the Cinemavvenire special award respectively.

It is Gina’s third Best Actress award for Kubrador. The first came from the Osian’s Cinefan in New Delhi and the second from the Brussels Filmfest of Independent Films.

Manoro, on the other hand, comes from a recent victory at the just-concluded Cinemanila International Film Festival, where it won Best Picture and Best Director honors.

The film was cited for its ability to analyze Filipino reality and its contribution to Filipino culture.

Kubrador won the FIPRESCI International Critics Jury Prize for Best Film at the 28th Moscow International Film Festival in Russia last July. Produced by lawyer Joji Alonso’s MLR Films and directed by Jeffrey Jeturian, it revolves around jueteng and chronicles the life of Amelita, a jueteng bet collector.

Manoro is a stirring drama shot in Angeles City about an Aeta community in the 2004 national elections. Written by Ralston Jover, who also wrote the script of Kubrador, Manoro stars Jonalyn Ablong, Edgar Ablong and Aeta non-actors.

Other winners in the Amiens Filmfest are 10 Canoes, 150 Spears & 3 Wives (Australia) – Best Film; Special Jury Prize – Dreams of Dust (Burkina Faso/Canada/France); Best Actor – Damian Alcazar for A Wonderful World (Mexico), Audience Award and Amiens City Award – A Wonderful World by Luis Estrada.

Other winners in the Torino Filmfest are Honor de Cavalleria (Spain), Best Film and Special Jury Prize; Guatemalan Handshake (USA), Best Director and Special Jury Prize; Notes by a Trackman (Kazakhstan) and Bled No One (Algeria/France), Fipresci. Link

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Aaron Agassi album

Mas sikat pa ngayon si Aaron Agassi bilang singer kesa bilang aktor sa ABS-CBN. Okey ang sales ng kanyang debut album na Right Next To Me. Si Aaron ang napiling ka-duet ni Katelyn Traver ng US na dumating dito on promo tour. Ang I’ll Make It Real ay music video na, a most requested item sa MYX music channel.

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Pinoy Big Brother Teen Joaqui Mendoza

Pangarap din pala ni Pinoy Big Brother Teen Joaqui Mendoza na makasama sa Real Pinoy Fighter, ang reality show ng ABS-CBN na umeere tuwing Lunes after ng Bandila.

Black belter sa taekwondo si Joaqui at libre ang tuition niya sa Ateneo de Manila University with free dorm pa dahil isa siya sa pambato ng school sa mga competition.

Aminado ang bagets na ‘tirador’ siya kapag nasa ibabaw ng ring, pero outside the ring ay hindi na niya ginagamit ang nalalaman sa martial arts.

"You don’t need to show naman po to others what you know in martial arts, dapat may self-discipline ka. And I don’t go for streetfighing," esplika ng isa sa cast ng Pasko Na, Santa Ko ng Love Spell.

Ultimate wish ni Joaqui ngayong Christmas o New Year ay, "Makapag-tour po sa buong Asia or Europe at makabili ng sports car." link

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Shaina Magdayao: updates

She is one year short of becoming a debutante. However, Shaina Magdayao blooms and glides like one this early. Why? She has a promising young life and showbiz career – a privilege and a blessing many wannabes and young ladies her age envy.

How time flies! Shaina spent 11 fruitful years in showbiz and still counting. She has unmasked only half of what she can offer to tinseltown.

"I’m ready to do mature roles as long as the material is good," quips Shaina when asked if she will kiss teeny bopper roles ABS-CBN has given her goodbye. But being ready is just half the battle. The teener has to win the heart and get the nod of her conservative father. It’s a baptism of fire even older sister Vina Morales went through. So, a possible cover on FHM magazine is a no-no at the moment.

Meantime, Shaina is enjoying wholesome and safe projects like the upcoming Rounin, Star Magic Presents, Love Spell and ASAP ’06, where she performs with onscreen partner Rayver Cruz.

Asked what’s the real score between her and Rayver, Shaina offers, "He is not courting me. We’re not even sweethearts and we’re not MU (mutual understanding)." Shaina adds that she is happy the way their loveteam is going. It’s not everyday young actresses like her get to sing and dance with their partners, says Shaina. What endears Shaina to Rayver is his infectious positive energy.

This energy and their chemistry will be seen more when Star Magic Presents: All About Your Love hits the small screen soon. The show follows the tradition of youth-oriented programs like Gimik and Tabing-Ilog.

The Shaina-Rayver loveteam is just one of the many pairings to be featured on Star Magic Presents. Hopefully, the new Star Magic Presents will get a Saturday timeslot where most young people have the time to tune in. Shaina is also part of Regal Films’ movie Happy Hearts.

Aside from showbiz, Shaina is also busy managing the family-owned business Ystilo salon. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the Berkeley Commonwealth branch. She is also finishing her secondary education at Angelicum and is bound to take up a psychology or a business course in college.

Recently, Shaina turned 17 and celebrated the special day with her family and friends. She wanted the occasion simple and intimate. When she turns 18 next year, Shaina prefers to have another intimate party or to travel to Europe instead of having a grand birthday bash. "A debut is not just for a night," says Shaina. This says a lot about Shaina’s other plans. One of them is to reach out to the less fortunate, particularly cancer patients. She plans to put up a foundation that will provide financial and medical assistance to them.

"I don’t consider everything work," says Shaina of her career. "I just love what I am doing." link

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Charisse "Chai" Fonacier: ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Dream Academy

Charisse "Chai" Fonacier has proven that there’s no harm in trying when friends from Cebu nudged her to audition on ABS-CBN’s reality search Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA). Try she did, and since then, she has been exposed to a lot of career opportunities.

Back in Cebu, Chai worked as writer-researcher of the variety show Sabado Na, Game Na at the ABS-CBN regional station. She and two of her friends agreed on trying their luck on PDA but she ended up the only one who auditioned.

"I didn’t expect I would be chosen. I just went on with my work and continued playing as vocalist of my band until I received a call," she shares.

Off she went to Manila, leaving behind her work and the band Balde ni Allan. Chai stayed in the Academy for more than two months. She was evicted after losing one vote from co-scholars against Emman.

Being included among the 20 scholars vying for the Star Dreamer title and trained under prominent personalities in the music scene are enough reasons for Chai to rejoice. Not everybody endowed with singing ability has the chance to learn and banter with the likes of master Jim (Paredes) who always inspires scholars to do their best and teacher Moy (Ortiz) with whom Chai became close, as she always pours out her heart to him.

"I came out not too early and not too late. Sakto lang. I have learned a lot and God wants me somewhere else now," she says.

Chai’s stay in the Academy has widened her horizons. She has gone out of her comfort zone and has changed her views about herself. She admits being at ease with ethno-rock and alternative songs while harnessing her skills in pop and R ’n B.

"I have learned to accept myself more and not think about my weaknesses. I may not be the best performer in the whole world but I’ve come to realize that God gave us worthy talents," she says.

Aside from singing, Chai composes songs like Dear Me and Matchstick Girl which she wrote while inside the Academy.

The 21-year-old Masscom graduate of UP Cebu has added cooking to her skills as co-scholar Rosita Bareng taught her how to cook adobo, chicken curry, chopsuey and pancit.

Chai now misses the company of scholars especially her happy moments with Panky Trinidad and sweet moments with Davey Langit for whom she reportedly developed a special feeling. She considers her bonding with them unforgettable.

Among the scholars left in the Academy, Chai’s top three choices are Panky, Yeng Constantino and Yvan Lambatan as they all perform well.

She plans to put up her Belgian Waffle franchise in Cagayan de Oro where she originally came from. This will serve as additional source of income for her family who maintains an Internet shop in the province.

As her PDA stint ends, Chai’s journey in finding her way as a singer, actress or host begins.

Her experience in theater plays during college made her interested to try acting on TV which co-scholar Kristoff Abrenica is doing nowadays on Super Inggo and Let’s Go.

Chai also wants to delve into hosting as connecting with televiewers when she guested on Star MYX fascinates her.

"I like the idea of talking or sharing views with people while learning a thing or two from a topic," she ends. link

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ABS-CBN: A Kapamilya Christmas

Ngunit kahit na anong mangyari,

Ang pag-ibig sana’y maghari,

Sapat nang si Hesus ang kasama mo,

Tuloy na tuloy pa rin ang Pasko

These lines from an Apo Hiking Society original Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Pasko, given a new flavor by Orange & Lemons, perfectly captures the message of ABS-CBN’s Christmas Station ID (SID) 2006 — Angat ang Ligaya ng Pasko.

"For Filipinos, Christmas will always be celebrated, the hard times, notwithstanding," says ABS-CBN vice president for Creative Communications Management (CCM) Robert Labayen when asked about the SID’s theme. "Pinoys only need warm embraces, shared laughter, intimate moments and a simple noche buena to have a memorable celebration of Christmas. After all, the essence of Filipino Christmas lies in our love for family."

Indeed, the people behind the SID made sure images used were consistent with the premise of the special plug. Felix Nafarette of CCM adds, "If you would pay attention to the props used in the SID, you would see that those are made from recycled materials because that’s how Pinoys are – marunong mamaluktot kapag maikli ang kumot."

The Christmas SID, directed by Marie Jamora, marks ABS-CBN’s first time to venture into Station IDs after more than a year and a half.

"But, it was all worth the wait," quips Kathrina Sanchez of CCM. "After seeing the final version of the SID, the stress of the many weeks of planning, the tedious four-day shoot and the numerous, long hours spent for editing instantly vanished. We are very happy with the outcome of this year’s Christmas SID."

With the immense talents of the entire production crew, which includes director of photography Odessy Flores, the 2006 ABS-CBN Christmas SID perfectly translates a very strong, inspiring Christmas message through impressive visuals – masterfully photographed scenes with colors blended superbly to create the appropriate holiday mood.

But more than just being an eye-candy, Kathrina adds the SID also touches the core of each Kapamilya because it also features a dose of heartwarmingly real scenes that highlight the values Filipinos have. These scenes, of course, feature the ABS-CBN stars and their Kapamilyas – the public, the ordinary people.

The SID, for example, shows how Sarah Geronimo and John Prats show concern for someone in prison, while Kristine Hermosa and Diether Ocampo play Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, respectively, to give importance to the Pinoy’s love for God.

But, the strongest message of the SID is the Filipino’s love for its Kapamilyas.

Dolphy, during the shoot, was quoted as saying, "I really like being part of ABS-CBN Station IDs kasi kumpleto lahat tayo."

True enough, more than a hundred Kapamilya stars participated in the SID. During his scene, Dolphy was surrounded by Kapamilya icons Susan Roces, Maricel Soriano and Judy Ann Santos.

Sharon Cuneta was in her usual bubbly self the whole time she was on the set, while Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby, who just got off their plane from the US, gamely joked with Sharon and everyone on the location.

Aga Muhlach with wife Charlene Gonzalez and Willie Revillame had time to exchange stories during the shoot. Showbiz royalties Boy Abunda, Ai-Ai de las Alas and Kris Aquino graced the gathering.

Instead of reading other people’s heartwrenching testimonials, Maalaala Mo Kaya host and ABS-CBN executive vice president Charo Santos-Concio opted to give children a grand time with her kiddie stories. Meanwhile, Claudine Barretto led the roster of Star Magic talents in the SID.

ASAP ’06 mainstays Zsa-Zsa Padilla, Vina Morales, Gary Valenciano and the Champions Christian Bautista, Rachelle Ann Go, Sheryn Regis and Erik Santos also had fun during the taping.

Also taking part in the celebration were ABS-CBN’s News and Current Affairs personalities like Korina Sanchez, Ted Failon, Bernadette Sembrano, Julius Babao and Karen Davila.

The SID also features a number of couples, real or reel – John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo, Jericho Rosales and Heart Evangelista, Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson, Maja Salvador and Jason Abalos, Shaina Magdayao and Rayver Cruz and Angelica Panganiban and Jake Cuenca.

"It" Girls Toni Gonzaga, Mariel Rodriguez, Bianca Gonzales, and Nikki Gil lent their pretty faces to the plug, while Albert Martinez, Vhong Navarro, Matt Evans, Sam Concepcion, Zanjoe Marudo made sure female fans were not shortchanged.

Pinoy Dream Academy headmaster Jim Paredes, with his scholars, also made his SID debut.

Not to be outdone, child wonders Makisig Morales, Jairus Aquino, Sharlene San Pedro, Nash Aguas and other Goin’ Bulilit cast members, provided youthful energy during the shoot.

The ABS-CBN Christmas Station ID 2006 is only one of ABS-CBN’s way of reminding its Kapamilyas that, no matter how hard times are, "sa Kapamilya mo, tuloy na tuloy ang Pasko." link

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Aubrey Miles vs Katrina Halili

Magagalit kay Aubrey Miles ang fans ni Katrina Halili sa sinabi nito sa radio show ni Mo Twister na ang sexy star ang worst actress para sa kanya.

Ang trailer yata ng Gigil ang napanood at pinagbasehan ng comment.

Hihingan namin ng reaction si Katrina sa comment na ito ni Aubrey at sana ’di siya umiyak.

Magkasama rin sila sa Super Noypi at mabuti’t tapos na ang pelikula.

Baka kasi magdedmahan ang dalawa kung may shooting pa. Pero sa sinabing ito ni Aubrey, baka lalong magka-interes ang tao na panoorin ang launching movie ni Katrina sa Regal, to know kung bakit siya ang napiling worst actress ni Aubrey.

Sayang din at ’di naitanong ni Mo kung agree ba si Aubrey na si Katrina ang sexiest Pinay batay sa survey ng FHM.

Maganda sanang malaman ang sagot ng girlfriend ni Troy Montero. link

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Phoemela Barranda

MASAYA at masarap ngayong kausap ang TV host model-turned-actress na si Phoem. Hindi man makulay ang kanyang buhay-pag-ibig dahil nasa cool-off stage sila ng BF na member ng isang sikat na banda, balanse naman ang buhay niya.

Actually kilala namin ang naturang band member dahil minsan na itong naikuwento ni Phoem sa amin, pero dahil hindi naman niya binanggit ang name nito during our press interview, wa muna kami sa pagka-mention nito. Mukha kasing may usapan talaga sila tungkol sa kanilang cool off status.

“Ganun yata talaga. Hindi naman fair na wala kayong sapat na oras para sa isa’t isa kaya medyo cool off muna. Distansya kumbaga. But we’re good friends ha,” habol pa ni-to.

At dahil napag-usapan ang supposedly magandang pakikitungo, hiningi namin ang opinion ni Phoemela tungkol sa relasyong Alessandra de Rossi at Jeremy Marquez, knowing well na minsan ay naging bahagi rin ng kanyang buhay ang binata.

“Wala po ako sa posisyon para magsalita. Pero ang general assessment ko base na rin sa aking personal na naging relasyon dati kay Jeremy, siyempre, pabor ako kay Alex. Sinusuportahan ko ang naging desisyon niya and I’m praying for her na sana ay makatagpo siya ng talagang lalaki na hindi siya lolokohin,” ang malaman na pahayag ni Phoem.

Hindi man diretsang tinugon ni Phoem, pero sa kanyang pagbabahagi, consistent naman pala ang mga tsika tungkol sa pagiging babaero ni Jeremy. link

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Empress Schuck in Maalaala Mo Kaya

Huhusgahan ngayong gabi, Biyernes, sa Maalaala Mo Kaya si Empress Schuck dahil siya ang pinakabida sa kuwentong rape ng kanyang tunay na ama.

Nagulat kami dahil sa edad na trese ay tinanggap ni Empress at ng kanyang ina ang role na rape victim at paano ito nabigyan ng magandang acting ng dalagita sa murang edad?

Katwiran sa amin ng taga-Dos, "Matagal na naming nakitaan ng lalim sa pag-arte si Empress kaya’t in-offer sa kanya ang role na rape victim at sa maniwala ka o hindi, take one siya, huh?’

"Kaya nga alaga siya ngayon ng mga director at ng Star Magic dahil next to Claudine Barretto siya when it comes to acting."

Ka-join din ang dalagita sa programang About Our Love na kapalit sa natsuging Star Magic Presents.

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Big Brother Teen mommy Jamilla Obispo

Malaking kita at conflict sa schedule ang dahilan kung bakit hindi nakasama si Pinoy Big Brother Teen mommy Jamilla Obispo sa Pasko Na, Santa Ko episode ng Love Spell na mapapanood na sa November 26 hanggang December 31.

Nagtataka ang entertainment press na dumalo sa press launch ng LS kung bakit wala si Jamilla gayung alam nilang nag-cast pictorial na ito.

Ang katwiran ng program unit manager ng Love Spell na si Nini Matilac, "May personal po siyang commitment."

Ganu’n ka-simple ang pagtatakip ng bossing kay Jamilla na taliwas naman sa nalaman namin na ang tunay na dahilan daw ay hindi feel ng dalagang ina ang kanyang role bilang maid na inaapi ni Aiai delas Alas bukod pa sa ilang eksena lang siya sa anim na linggong episode ng LS. Say pa ng aming source sa Dos, "Nag-inarte na kaagad si Jamilla, namimili na ng role, ayaw ng atsay, gusto yata bida siya agad."

At nang alamin namin sa teen mommy ang dahilan niya, "Sabit po sa schedules, may out-of-town show po ako nu’ng araw mismo ng taping ng LS, e, nagpa-pull out po ako kasi mas malaki ang kikitain ko sa out-of-town. Naintindihan naman po nila ako. Di bale po next time, hindi na ako tatanggi, nataon lang po talaga." link

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A Palanca winner’s new world

It’s but natural for director Jun Lana to feel on pins and needles these days as his debut flick as a filmmaker, Gigil, is about to be shown. Jun is a Palanca Award Hall of Famer, having won five first prizes in the annual literary contest.

He first won in 1991 for his play, Mga Estranghero at ang Gabi, later filmed as Mga Pusang Gala. In 1996, he won in the best TV script category for Daigdig ng mga Taksil (later filmed as a movie on lesbianism, Tatlo Magkasalo, starring Ara Mina) and the best screenplay category for Sa Pusod ng Dagat (filmed by director Marilou Diaz Abaya for GMA Films.) His other award-winning scripts are Barber’s Cut (yet to be produced) and Milagroso (made on TV as a Lenten special and now nominated as Best Teledrama in the Asian TV Awards.)

GMA 7 then got him to work regularly for them. He is now creative consultant for its drama series, like Atlantika, Captain Barbell and Magpakailanman.

"My contract with GMA expires this December and I don’t think I’d renew it as I want to write some stuff for other people and not just be tied down with one company. But I owe them a lot as they gave me my break as a director."

He first tried directing in the defunct Kakabakaba horror series and now megs the weekly telefantasya Fantastikids. Does he think Gigil is a good directorial debut for a full-length film?

"From the start, I knew it’s going to be a very commercial project and my main concern is for it to earn at the box-office, not to win critical praise or awards," he says. "I can’t say no to Mother Lily as this is my bayad utang to her for financing my filmmaking studies at the University of Melbourne, Australia, two years ago. Hopefully, when this makes money, I can ask her to let me do the kind of projects I like to do."

Wasn’t he supposed to also direct the Metro-Manila Filmfest entry, Mano Po 5, Gua Ay Di?

"Yes, it was first assigned to me, but I had to back out as the shooting was delayed. By the time the cast was ready to shoot, I was supposed to start my episode in the trilogy for Gawad Kalinga about the Leyte landslide, Umiyak Man ang Langit, starring Maricel Soriano, which I have since completed filming."

Jun was born in Makati on Oct. 10, 1972, but when he was two years old, their family moved to Legaspi City in Bicol.

"I had a lonely childhood there. I had no playmates. I have a younger brother but we didn’t grow up close. My dad abandoned our family when I was four. I never saw him again. I searched for him later and I was able to track him down in Hawaii where he has another family. Last I heard, he had a heart attack and I never got to visit him. At seven, we returned to Manila and it was when I was in grade school that I fell in love with reading plays, like those of the late Boy Noriega. That’s how I got to start writing plays. My first three-act play was produced when I was in high school at the Dominican School. I won my first writing prize for a one-act play I wrote in college, Exodo. I finished Communication Arts at UST in 1992. My uncle, Fr. Tamerlane Lana, was then the rector."

Was it hard to do Gigil? "We shot 80 percent of it in Boracay for 12 days. It’s quite easy as most of the stars I worked with are from the Kapuso network, except for Ketchup Eusebio who plays a boatman in Boracay and Say Alonzo is Katrina’s best friend. They’re from ABS."

Why the title Gigil? "It’s a play on words since there are different kinds of gigil. Katrina plays China, a girl who works in a call center. Nanggigil siya sa galit when her groom, played by Boom Antonio, runs away from her and she discovers that he’s really gay. She then goes to Boracay to nurse a broken heart and meets Felix, played by Alfred Vargas, a dive master, na gigil na gigil naman sa beauty niya. But she suspects he’s also gay. Si Bianca King naman, gigil na gigil kay Alfred but Kat thinks he’s only using her as a front to make himself look macho. Since the story is set with the beautiful beaches of Boracay as main locale, we can say that all the members of the cast, nagpa-sexy rito wearing skimpy swimsuits. I admire Kat. Walang kaarte-arte sa katawan even in her love scene with Alfred on the beach. It’s very erotic, complete with sand, a bonfire, and waves lashing on the shore. They have good chemistry on screen, just right for this kind of feel-good romantic comedy with a dash of sex."

So what will be a dream film for him? "I have this script called Mona Lisa SMS. It’s about a scandalous sex video transferred from one cellphone to another and how it affects the lives of the characters involved in it. It’s something definitely more serious and I’m thinking of producing it myself if there would be no other producer willing to finance it." link

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Rica Peralejo is staying put in the U.S.?

Rica Peralejo is reportedly staying put in the U.S. for a while.

Nag-concert yata siya sa ilang cities doon with Piolo Pascual at Sam Milby at nag-decide na i-prolong ang bakasyon.

Tutal nga naman, wala siyang permament show sa ABS-CBN.

Did we hear it right na balak ni Rica na bumili ng bahay sa Amerika (’yan ay kung hindi pa siya nakabibili) at du’n na eventually manirahan?

May isa yata siyang elder sibling na du’n na based.

Sabi ng nagbalita sa amin, wala raw kinalaman ang pagpapakasal ni Bernard Palanca kay Meryll Soriano sa desisyon ni Rica.

She has long mended her broken heart daw.

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Nene Tamayo suspension

NAKALOLOKA pala ang cause ng suspension ni Ne-ne Tamayo sa TV Patrol World.

Second time naming na-meet ang first PBB winner sa photo shoot ng Shake, Rattle & Roll 8. Hindi namin siya nakausap noon sa birthday presscon ng Star Magic ng ABS-CBN, so we really tried to get to know the unassuming reserve soldier from Romblon.

Nene is part of SSR 8 episode na Yaya kasama sina Iza Calzado, Sheryl Cruz, TJ Trinidad and Nash Aguas. Napaka-down-to- earth ng girl at may sense magsalita. Sobrang may sense nga, the things she talk about, nakawiwindang na, pero very matter-of-factly lang niyang ikinukuwento.

Hindi na pala siya napapanood sa TV Patrol World. No, she has done nothing wrong and wala ring kinalaman ang TV Patrol World dito.

Napagsuspetsahan pala kasi siya ng military that she recruits for the Magdalo group na siyang nag-attempt ng coup noon laban sa administrasyon ni GMA.

Nene insists this is not true, she is just a reservist and has nothing to do with the Magdalo group, but ABS-CBN could not do anything daw dahil may ongoing investigation pa rito. link

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9 Entries Sa Metro Manila Film Festival 2006

Tiyak na matutuwa unang-una si Mother Lily dahil ang kanyang hinaing tungkol sa pagpapalabas ng nine official entries ng dalawang magka-ibang petsa ay nalutas na.

Sa presscon na ipinatawag ng Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) para sa media briefing ay nilinaw ni Chairman Bayani Fernando, over-all chairman ng MMFF na sabay-sabay nang ipalalabas ang nine official entries sa Kapaskuhan. Ang MBC sa ikatlong pagkakataon ay nakikipagtulungan sa MMFFP ’06 executive committee sa pagdaos ng series of promotional activities para magkaroon ng kaalaman ang mga manonood at tangkilikin ang filmfest.

Ang nine official entries ay Shake, Rattle and Roll ng (Regal Entertainment), Mano Po 5 (Regal Entertainment), ZsaZsa Zaturnnah (Regal Entertainment), Tatlong Baraha (Violett Films), Enteng Kabisote 3: The Legend Goes On and On (OctoArts Films), Karma (Canary Films), Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo (Star Cinema), Ligalig (CM Films) at SuperNoypi (MAQ Productions). link

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Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo

Wala kaming angal kahit kalahati ng mga MMFF entries last year ay mula sa Regal — kina Mother Lily at mga anak niya.

Isipin na lang ninyo — kahit nagtitipid sila sa talent fees — kung ilang film stars at workers ang binibigyan ng trabaho nina Mother.

Kung ang Star Cinema ay may entries, Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo, ilan kaya ang taga-ABS-CBN na nabigyan nila ng trabaho maliban kina Judy Ann Santos at Ryan Agoncillo?

Pero tingnan naman ninyo ang mga taga-ABS-CBN sa mga pelikula ng Regal.

Sina Keanna Reeves, Roxanne Guinoo, Joseph Bitangcol, Janus del Prado, Aaron Junatas, Yuki Kadooki, TJ Trinidad, Nene Tamayo, Nash Aguas, Cassandra Ponti, Empress Schuck, Eugene Domingo, Mico Palanca, Sergio Garcia, Mykho Aquino at Charles Christianson sa Shake, Rattle & Roll 8 lang.

Sina AJ Dee at Ketchup Eusebio sa Mano Po 5.

Sina Zsa Zsa Padilla, Pops Fernandez, Chokoleit at Say Alonso sa Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah.

Sina John Pratts, Sandara Park at Victor Neri sa Super Noypi.

In short, two dozen talents ng ABS-CBN ay nasa Regal filmfest entries. link

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Philippine TV Ratings (Nobyembre 10-13)

Mataas ang rating ng anniversary episode ng Startalk nu’ng Sabado, ganu’ndin ang ‘Bebot’ portion ng Eat Bulaga na pinanalunan ni Mark Herras.

Narito ang overnight TV ratings ng mga programa ng GMA 7 at ABS-CBN 2 nu’ng BIYERNES (Nobyembre 10):

SiS 12.8% vs. Homeboy 12.1%;

Yellow Handkerchief 19.7% vs. Game Ka Na Ba 16.9%;

Eat Bulaga 24.8% vs. Wowowee 22.1%;

Daisy Siete 20.1%, Makita Ka Lang Muli 16.9% at Now and Forever 14.3% vs. Kapamilya Cinema 13.3%;

Jewel in the Palace 15% vs. Pangako sa ‘Yo 17.9%;

24 Oras 26.5% vs. TV Patrol World 26.2%;

Captain Barbell 32.4% vs. Deal or No Deal 28%;

Atlantika 27.8% vs. Super Inggo 29% at Maging Sino Ka Man 23.3%;

Bakekang 29.5% vs. Maalaala Mo Kaya 23.7%;

A Rosy Life 22.7% vs. Crazy For You 12%;

Bubble Gang 15.2% vs. Pinoy Dream Academy 15.2% at Bandila 8.2%.

SABADO (Nobyembre 11):

Eat Bulaga 31.9% vs. Game Ka Na Ba 18.7% at Wowowee 19.9%;

Startalk 16.9% vs. Nagmamahal Kapamilya 11.6% at Let’s Go 10.4%;

Wish Ko Lang 17.2% vs. Star Magic Presents 12.2%;

Fantastikids 15.7% vs. Komiks 22.9%;

Bitoy’s Funniest Video 27% vs. John En Shirley 15.1%;

Pinoy Pop Superstar 21.7% vs. TV Patrol 23%;

Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho 19.6% vs. XXX 21.9%;

Imbestigador 22.3% vs. Pinoy Dream Academy 20.6%;

Hokus Pokus 15.9% vs. Aalog-Alog 10.3%;

Showbiz Stripped 9.7% vs. Sports Unlimited 5.6%.

LINGGO (Nobyembre 12):

SOP 13.2% vs. ASAP 17.4%;

Kapuso Movie Festival 16.8% vs. Your Song 16.2% at Love Spell 13.5%;

S-Files 11.7% vs. The Buzz 16.8%;

Mahiwagang Baul 17.9% vs. Goin’ Bulilit 16.5%;

Hoo U 16.9% vs. TV Patrol 16.5%;

Mel and Joey 19.1% vs. Rated K 21.9%;

All Star K 15.4% vs. Sharon 16.4%.

LUNES (Nobyembre 13):

SiS 15.3% vs. Homeboy 10.6%;

Yellow Handkerchief 20.3% vs. Game Ka Na Ba 18.1%;

Eat Bulaga 24.4% vs. Wowowee 22.6%;

Daisy Siete 17.8%, Makita Ka Lang Muli 14.8% at Now and Forever 12% vs. Kapamilya Cinema 15.7%;

Jewel in the Palace 16.8% vs. Pangako Sa ‘Yo 15.9%;

24 Oras 29.8% vs. TV Patrol 27.8%;

Captain Barbell 31% vs. Deal or No Deal 30.6%;

Atlantika 27.3% vs. Super Inggo 29.6%;

Bakekang 31.4% vs. Maging Sino Ka Man 22.4% at Pinoy Dream Academy 19.4%;

A Rosy Life 22.9% vs. Crazy For You 13.3%;

Lagot Ka Isusumbong Kita 15.4% vs. Bandila 7.8%.

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Angelica Panganiban and Derek Ramsey?

Tila mala-rosas na naman ang paligid ng young star na si Angelica Panganiban, ang pangunahing bida sa pelikulang Pitong Dalagita ng Canary Films. Bukod kasi sa magandang takbo ng kanyang career, may bago na namang nagpapatibok ng kanyang puso ngayon, ang model-turned actor na si Derek Ramsey.

Nung nakaraang Linggo sa The Buzz, sinabi ni Angelica na priority umano sa kanya ngayon si Derek. Indirectly, may unawaan na silang dalawa na co-star din niya sa MMFF entry ng Canary Films, ang Matakot Ka sa Karma na mula sa panulat at direksyon ni Jose Javier Reyes. link

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Aiai delas Alas on Love Spell

Ang taray naman ni Ms Aiai delas Alas sa role niya sa Love Spell na ipalalabas na sa Nov. 26, mala-Devil Wears Prada ang drama niya dahil pawang gawa ng tatlong kilalang designers ang mga corporate attire niya na talagang kinarir pa niya at pinag-ipunan daw, say mismo ng taga-production.

Say nga ni Aiai sa amin, "Gawa siya ng mga kaibigan kong designers like Maxi Cinco at JC Buendia. Ang sinagot ng production ay yung costume na pang-Santa Claus."

At ganito rin ang pahayag sa amin ng taga-Love Spell, "Kay Ms. A po lahat yung mga magagandang damit kasi hindi naman namin kaya yun, mga distinct costumes lang po ang amin."

Pasko Na Santa Ko ang title ng LS na mapapanood sa November 26 hanggang December 31 na kasama rin sina Vhong Navarro at ang Pinoy Big Brother Teens headed by Gerald Anderson, Kim Chiu, Mikee Lee, Matt Evans at iba pa mula sa direksyon ni Erik Salud.

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Phoemela Baranda in Ang Pamana (The Inheritance)

Marami ang nagulat sa napakaraming review ng pelikulang Ang Pamana (The Inheritance), isang horror picture ng PC3 Global Reach Canada, na binubuo ng mga Fil-Canadian immigrants, dahil pawang mga papuri ang sinasabi tungkol kay Phoemela Baranda. Di kasi kilalang artista sa TV o pelikula si Phoem kundi host ng mga showbiz talkshows at isang commercial and fashion model.

Sa dinami-dami ng mga artista natin ngayon, mapalad si Phoem na makuhang bida sa pelikula, silang dalawa ni Victor Neri, kasama ang mga Fil-Canadian actors na sina Darrel Gamotin, Nadine Villasin, Nicco Lorenzo Garcia, Caroline Mangosing sa direksyon ni Romeo Candido.

"Nag-audition ako for the role, marami kami," pauna ng model/host. "Pinabasa lang naman sa akin ang script for the movie, tapos ibinigay na nila sa akin ang role. (She plays Vanessa, eksperto sa paggamit ng kanyang physical charm to get what she wants. Sa isang eksena ay inakit niya ang kanyang pinsan habang nasa influence ng drugs.)

"Hindi ko ikinahihiya ang role ko. Alam ko, maiintriga na naman ako dahil dito pero, di ko na ito inisip. I’m glad nagustuhan nila yung performance ko, meron pala akong natatagong galing sa pag-arte na nailabas ko," pagmamalaki niya.

Dahil sa Ang Pamana, maraming oportunidad ang dumarating kay Phoem. Nakuha siyang bida, kapareha ni Sen Lito Lapid, sa isang movie na lalabasan nilang mag-aama, ang 3 Baraha.

Inamin niya na pinaghuhugutan niya ng akting yung mga hindi magagandang pangyayari na naganap sa buhay niya.

"Tapos na ito, I’m happy now, maganda ang takbo ng career ko, kahit pa cool off muna kami ng boyfriend ko (isang band member)," sabi niya. — VERONICA R. SAMIO

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ABS-CBN bares 70% hike in profit

Despite an industry-wide slowdown in advertising spending, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. reported a 70 percent jump in its net profit for the first nine months of the year to P694 million, boosted by stable airtime revenues and license fees from DirectTV.

ABS-CBN chief financial officer Miguel Navarette said gross revenues rose slightly to P12.95 billion while parent airtime revenues remained stable at P7.26 billion due to revenue contribution from non-traditional advertising or creative buys such as product intrusions and product placements.

Navarette said license fees from the migration of DTH (direct-to home) subscribers in North America to DirectTV’s platform amounting to P825 million also boosted revenues. The figure is 34 percent higher than the previous level.

However, in the third quarter, ABS-CBN’s net profit fell by eight percent to P178.9 million compared with P194.5 million the same period a year ago, while its revenues declined to P4.50 billion from P4.92 billion on lower sales from services, licenses and goods.

Navarette said operating income also grew 19 percent to P1.5 billion, with operating margins up by 12 percent from only 10 percent a year earlier.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) increased by five percent to P3.15 billion, translating to an EBITDA margin of 24 percent.

Navarette also said that ABS-CBN’s audience share in Metro Manila continued to improve last month, averaging 34 percent compared with GMA Network’s 40 percent. This, he said, was made possible by the significant improvement in its programming despite the disparity in signal quality.

In the third quarter, ABS-CBN’s audience share was 33 percent as against GMA’s 42 percent.

Navarette said ABS-CBN’s primetime audience share averaged 35 percent in the third quarter of the year, an improvement from the previous quarters.

He said that the network continues to lead TV ratings outside Metro Manila. In Davao, it had a market share of 72 percent versus GMA’s 17 percent; in Dagupan ABS-CBN had 57 percent while GMA had 28 percent; and in Cebu, 62 percent versus GMA’s 27 percent.

"We’re dominant in areas where we have no signal handicap," Navarette said.

He expressed confidence that revenues will continue to grow next year due to the company’s ongoing efforts to go into digital TV to resolve the wide disparity in TV ratings, and the elections, which will boost advertising spending.

He said the network is laying down the groundwork for nationwide TV rating that should affirm ABS-CBN’s dominance outside of Metro Manila. link

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Pinoy Dream Academy updates

And speaking of Pinoy Dream Academy ay lusot na ang naghihingalong scholar na si Rosita Bareng ng Dubai dahil ang apat niyang nomination ay nabura na sa taas ng scores na nakuha niya sa last Saturday night performance niya in fact pangalawa siya kay Panky Trinidad ng Cebu sa may pinakamataas ng grade.

Maging ang jurors na sina Louie Ocampo, Jimmy Antiporda at Cookie Chua ay nagulat sa lakas ng mga hiyawan at palakpakan kay Rosita at ang sangkaterbang streamers niya, maging sa text votes ay lumalaban din ang pride ng mga DH kaya’t hinulaan siyang mapapasama talaga sa top 6.

Maging sina 8th and 9th expelled scholars na sina Chai Fonacier at Michelle Bond ay bilib sa fighting spirit ni Rosita dahil every week daw ay may ipinapakita itong kakaiba.

"We love ate Rosita, she has a good heart, grabe ang mga pinagdaanan niyang hirap sa buhay, palaban talaga siya," sabi ng dalawa, but unfortunately, hindi si Rosita ang kanilang bet para maging Grand Star Dreamer, either kina Yeng Constantino, Panky Trinidad at Yvan Lambatan.

Samantala, ang apat na nasa probationary period ngayong linggo ay sina Davey Langit ng Baguio, Jay-R Siaboc, Jr ng Cebu, Iris Furlerton ng California at Joan Ilagan ng Italy. – REGGEE BONOAN

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World Championship of the Performing Arts (WCOPA)

Mula sa isang sumali rin at nanalo sa ginanap na World Championship of the Performing Arts (WCOPA) sa Hollywood kamakailan lamang, napag-alamam ko, na bagaman at lahat ay nakapag-uwi ng medalya hindi lahat ay nakapag-participate sa ikalawang bahagi ng paligsahan, ang grand finals. Nagtanong kasi ako kung wala ba ni isa mang Pinoy na natalo sa nasabing paligsahan? Sabi ko, tila lahat ay nakapag-uwi ng mga medalya at bagaman at bilib ako sa talino ng aking mga kababayan, tila sobra naman ang swerte nila at wala ni isa mang umuwing talunan.

Meron daw kasing dalawang segment ang WCOPA, ang elimination round at ang grand finals na kung saan para makasali ang isang contestant, kailangan meron siya ng nire-require na certain percentage na mula sa kanyang score sa elimination round.

Sa mga sumali, iisa lamang ang nakapasok sa tinatawag nating grand finals, ang Cercado Sisters na nanalo sa sinalihan nilang dibisyon, ang Junior Group Division. Ang Cercado Sisters ay isa sa mga nanalo sa isang pakontes din na isinagawa ng QTV 11 na pinamagatang Fam Jam hosted by the father and daughter team of Francis and Maxene Magalona.

Last year, sa nasabi ring pakontes, tanging si Jed Madela lamang ang nakapasok sa grand finals. Katunayan ay inilagak na siya sa WCOPA Hall of Fame bilang kauna-unahang Filipino Asian na nanalo sa WCOPA. Taun-taon ay performer na siya sa nasabing paligsahan at tatayo bilang isa sa mga judges.

Sa mga sumaling Pinoy, ang umabot lamang ang score sa kinakailangan para makasali sa finals ay si Jaramie Marquez, na naka-based sa Hongkong.

Hindi rin naman matatawag na talunan ang mga Pinoy na ipinadala natin sa WCOPA dahil nagpakitang gilas sila at nabigyan ng hindi iisa kundi maraming medalya pero ito ay sa elimination round lamang at hindi sa grand finals. link

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Metro Manila Film Festival 2006

Moviegoers will see four fantasy films, two horror movies, one romantic drama, one romantic comedy and one suspense thriller in the 32nd Metro Manila Film Festival Philippines, which reels off on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

The announcement was made yesterday at a media briefing held at the Aliw Theater VIP Lounge, where the nine official entries were revealed.

They are:

• Shake, Rattle & Roll 8 (Regal Entertainment) starring Keanna Reeves, Roxanne Guinoo, Sheryl Cruz, Iza Calzado and Manilyn Reynes;

• Mano Po 5-Gua Ai Di (Regal Entertainment) starring Angel Locsin, Richard Gutierrez, Lorna Tolentino, Tirso Cruz III and Gina Alajar;

• Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah (Regal Entertainment) starring Zsa Zsa Padilla, Pops Fernandez and Rustom Padilla;

• Tatlong Baraha (Violett Films) starring Lito Lapid, Mark Lapid and Maynard Lapid;

• Enteng Kabisote 3: The Legend Goes On and On (OctoArts Films) starring Vic Sotto and Kristine Hermosa;

• Matakot Ka sa Karma (Canary Films) starring Gretchen Barretto, Rica Peralejo and Angelica Panganiban;

• Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo (ABS-CBN Films) starring Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo;

• Ligalig (CM Films) starring Cesar Montano and Sunshine Cruz and

• Super Noypi (MAQ Productions) starring Mark Herras, Jennylyn Mercado, Sandara Park, John Prats and others.

Unlike last year’s filmfest which had 10 official entries, this year’s event is down to nine films since the 10th, the sex comedy Short Time, was not able to meet the filmfest deadline. The film, according to producer Orly Ilacad, will be shown on a regular playdate next year instead.

The traditional parade of stars, set Dec. 24, will start on Quezon Ave. and end up at Sotto St. within the CCP Compound. Awards night is set on Dec. 29.

Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC), which co-produces the annual event together with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), will also mount two raffle promos.

In Guess the Best, listeners of MBC stations DzRH, Love Radio 90.7 and Yes 101.1 will be asked to make bold predictions on who they think will win the top awards.

Cash sa Pelikula will give moviegoers a chance to win more cash prizes as they watch more Metro Filmfest entries.

As of presstime, the festival executive committee, headed by overall chair Bayani Fernando, has yet to decide whether they will show the nine entries simultaneously or in two parts – the first on Dec. 25 to Jan. 1, the second on Jan. 1 to 10.

Lawyer Espiridion Laxa, member of the executive committee, says that if the members decide to show the entries simultaneously, the filmfest period will run for 10 days, or up to Jan. 3. But, if the entries will be shown in two parts, the filmfest will run for a longer period.

This year’s target, says Fernando, is P500-M, proceeds of which will benefit the Mowelfund, the Anti-Film Piracy Council and the Film Academy of the Philippines. link

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Sandara Park, Joseph Bitangcol

Noong Linggo ay nagkaroon ng birthday show sa Zirkoh-Timog si Sandara Park.

Tuwang-tuwa ang young actress dahil dumating doon si Mother Lily Monteverde.

Isa kasi si Sandara sa mga artista ni Mother Lily sa Super Noypi.

Dumating din sa show ni Sandara si Mark Herras na kasama niya sa nabanggit na pelikula, pero siyempre, hindi pwedeng magkaroon ng intriga sa pagdating doon ng young actor dahil nakabantay sa birthday girl ang boyfriend niyang si Joseph Bitangcol. link

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Michelle Bond on Ronnie Liang

"Ronnie (Liang) is a very nice guy, but he’s not my type as a boyfriend," ito ang one line ni 9th expelled Pinoy Dream Academy scholar Michelle Bond nang makatsikahan namin.

Alam ni Michelle from the start na crush siya ng kapwa scholar na si Ronnie dahil nahuhuli niya ito sa mga tingin hanggang sa umamin na nga ito ng harapan during their open forum weeks ago.

Nakangiti pa rin ang maganda at mabait na dalagang Norwegian dahil in fairness ay mabait naman din sa lahat ang pride ng Pampanga kaya’t dedma siya.

Ang kaso, hindi pala type ni Michelle ang mga ipinapakitang pagki-care ni Ronnie sa kanya at hindi naman niya ito sinasaway dahil ayaw niyang masaktan ang damdamin nito at sa kapwa global scholars na sina Irish at Joan lang niya nasasabi ang tunay niyang damdamin sa binata.

Ending nung paglabas ni Michelle ng academy last week ay saka naman inilabas ni Joan ang saloobin ni Michelle towards Ronnie na ikinagulat ng dalaga.

"I’ve never thought that Joan will do that, kasi nga I told them what I feel," esplika ni Michelle na habang tinititigan.

Anyway, hindi talaga magugustuhan ni Michelle si Ronnie dahil may 7 years na siyang karelasyon, si Minh Vu, isang Vietnamese na sa Norway naka-based at by December ay uuwi rito ng Pilipinas para makasama siya sa Christmas at New Year.

Martial Arts experts ang boyfriend ng dalaga at sa katunayan ay may sarili itong school sa Norway kung saan siya mismo ang nagtuturo sa mga sumasali sa competition sa ibang bansa. link

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Masculados: Chard Sevilla

Kahit aktibo pa si Chard Sevilla bilang myembro ng Masculados, unti-unti naman niyang inaasikaso ang kanyang solo singing career. Kamakailan lang, napanood namin siya bilang opening act sa concert ni Jayson Sia sa Arkdia.

Naka-apat na taon na pala siya sa showbiz bilang isang professional singer. Kahit kasi noong hindi pa siya kasali sa Masculados, palagi na siyang nasa supporting cast ng mga live concerts ng mga sikat na singers.

Pinalad naman siyang mapasali sa Masculados noong mag-audition siya kay Direktor Maryo J. delos Reyes. Sa grupo, nakapaglakbay na si Chard sa buong Pilipinas at maging sa Japan.

Naranasan niya ang kumanta sa mga pinakamalalaking venue, kung minsan kasabayan pa ang mga kilalang recording stars.

Bilang pagdiriwang ng kanyang 4th anniversary sa showbiz, itatampok si Richard sa kanyang solo live concert sa Makuhari Bar na matatagpuan sa Leon Guinto, Malate, sa Nobyembre 27, 10NG. Special guests sina Maoui David at Star In A Million finalist Jayson Sia. Nandun din ang H2) Band na siyang tutugtog bilang back-up musicians at maghahandog din ng kanilang numbers.

Dahil kay Direktor Maryo J. ay nakalabas na rin si Chard sa mga pelikula at TV drama series. link

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Maging Sino Ka Man, extended

Masayang ibinalita ni Anne Curtis sa presscon ng ‘Wag Kang Lilingon na extended ang Maging Sino Ka Man, ang soap nila nina Bea Alonzo, Sam Milby at John Lloyd Cruz sa ABS-CBN. Dahil sa soap kung bakit may bangs siya nang dumalo sa presscon, character change raw ‘yun.

Tinatawanan lang pala ni Anne ang panunukso ng press sa kanila ni Sam. Mabait at gwapo ito kaya lang, gaya sa kaso ni Zanjoe Marudo, wala pa siyang nararamdamang kabog sa dibdib. Pero, kasama ang Fil-Am sa top three list ng actress sa pinaka-gwapong male celebrities. Share sa first place ang twins na sina Richard at Raymond Gutierrez, Derek Ramsey at Sam.

Okey lang kay Anne na wala siyang pelikula sa Metro Manila Film Festival dahil may international premiere naman ang WKL after it’s local opening on November 15. Narito ang schedule ng world premiere: Nov. 17, Guam; Nov. 19, Athens, Greece; Nov. 24, Los Angeles; Nov. 25, San Diego; Nov. 26, Las Vegas; December 2, Dublin, Ireland; Dec. 10. Rome, Italy at Dec. 17, Paris, France. link

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Dolphy's birthday

Maganda na naman si Zsazsa Padilla nang humarap sa media para sa unang presscon ng kanyang pelikulang Zsazsa Zaturnnah na isa sa siyam na MMFF 06 entries.

Parang kailan lang nang makita siyang payat na payat at nanlalalim ang mga pisngi’t mata pero, eto na siya, tatlong linggo lamang matapos ang kanyang bladder bypass at di lamang niya na-recover ang kanyang dating pangangatawan at ganda. Para nga siyang di nagkasakit gayong isang mahirap na operasyon, pitong oras, ang pinagdaanan niya.

Inamin ni Zsazsa na talagang pinilit niyang maging aktibo agad para sa madali n’yang paggaling. Katunayan, nasa ospital pa siya’t nagpapagaling ay dumalo na siya sa blessing ng restaurant ng best friend niya, nagpaalam lamang siya sa mga doktor niya.

"Mabuti na lamang at natapos na namin ang principal shoot ng ZsaZsa Zaturnnah bago ako naoperahan, kundi baka nakita yung operation scar ko. At baka di ko nakayanan yung napaka-physical na demand ng movie. Alam n’yo bang nagkasugat-sugat ako habang ginagawa ko ang ZsaZsa? Dalawang beses din, akong nadapa," aniya sabay pakita sa amin ng mga galos niya sa mga kamay at tuhod na tinatawag niyang Zaturnnah’s scars.

Bukod sa postprod ng Zsa Zsa, pinaghahandaan na rin ni Zsazsa, kasama ang mga anak na sina Zia at Nicole, ang 80th birthday ni Dolphy next year.

"Gagawin namin itong bongga, ang theme ay 20s, Godfather, si Dolphy ang gagawin naming Marlon Brando, complete with hat," kwento ng aktres who admitted na pinaka-malaking inspiration niya sa pagganap ng ZsaZsa Zaturnnah ay si Dolphy. "Yung mga atake ko ng role ko, parang si Dolphy. I remember before na every time na makita kong nagba-bading si Dolpy ay nata-turn off ako dahil parang totoo siyang bading. Sa mga ganitong role, I think lahat ng comedian, pati si Vic Sotto, ay may influence ni Dolphy," dagdag pa niya. link

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Pinoy Bands Jams UP Diliman for Cancer Patients

Delta Pi Omicron Sorority and Philippine Cancer Society presents "RELAY FOR LIFE" - a 15 hour benefit concert for cancer patients and survivors. Pinoy bands like 6cyclemind, uprising band Callalily, Datu's Tribe, Kiko Machine, Matilda, Menaya and a lot more join together for one cause -- to give HOPE for all cancer victims. The concert highlights with the lighting of a gigantic HOPE symbol at UP Diliman campus.

The event will be on November 14 - gate opens at 4pm at UP Grounds near Faculty Center in UP Diliman. Participating sponsors were OMRON, StagEventure Unlimited, Toshiba, Red Ribbon, Aquabest,Azta Urban Salon, Nestle Philippines and Pi Omicron Fraternity. For details and inquiries contact Deg 09273863550 or Kat 09065061669. link

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Chin Chin Gutierrez in Pandanggo

AFTER starring in award-winning indie film shot in New York, “Rigodon”, where she played the lonely wife of an American, Chin Chin Gutierrez now stars in another indie film based on a local dance, “Pandanggo”, about women who dance in Obando to have kids. “In both films, I get to sing the ‘Awit ni Santa Clara’,” she says.

“Pandanggo” is a trilogy that is an entry in the Cinema One filmfest. Chin Chin stars in the episode, “It Takes Two to Tango”, directed by Wilfred Allan Galila. She plays a career woman who lives in with Raymond Bagatsing but as she learns to dance the tango, she gets attracted to her dance partner, Andre Tiangco. The other two segments are “Sayaw ni Aling Espie”, directed by Dennis Empalmado and starring new actress Marife Necessito as an infertile wife who dances in Obando, and “Agogo Macabago”, directed by Ruelo Lozendo and starring another newcomer, Dominique, as a modern woman who finds connection with an ancient fertility lore.

In her episode, Chin Chin really gets to dance the tango. We ask her what’s the public reaction to her villainous role as Sam Milby’s meddlesome mom in “Maging Sino Ka Man”. “It’s generally positive,” she says. “A lot of people watch it and even my friends told me they thought I won’t be successful in playing the role of a very rich woman who wants to control everyone around her. But all of them say now na kaya ko naman pala, na-carry ko.” link

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Anne Curtis and Sam Milby?

IS Anne Curtis really secretly on with Sam Milby, her leading man in “Maging Sino Ka Man”? “Natatawa nga ako sa nagsulat noon,” she says. “I never hid any of my past boyfriends. Kung kami talaga ni Sam, I’ll admit it. Kaso nga, hindi, e. Magkatrabaho lang kami talaga.”

Anne gets a new leading man in her “Uyayi” episode of “Wag Kang Lilingon”, Marvin Agustin. “He plays my boyfriend na ginamit kong bait to catch the killer in a hospital where I work as a nurse. I’m suspecting it’s a doctor, Raymond Bagatsing, who’s the murderer. What happened is that I put Mar-vin’s life in danger and the story becomes even more terrifying.”

Anne says she has no boyfriend now but she wants the be a mom when she’s 25, which is 4 years from now. “I want to be a young mother. No need to get married, gusto ko lang ma-experience to have my own child. Advice ni Cherry Pie Picache (an unwed mom herself) to have a baby at 25 kasi siya, 30 plus na nang mag-baby at mas mahirap na raw. I want to have twins, a boy and a girl. Pero kung isa lang ang ibibigay sa’kin, I want a baby boy.”

And who will be the dad? “I want someone Latino o Spanish mestizo, ‘yung katipo ni Antonio Banderas o ni Enrique Iglesias na perfect ang features. Di ba Enrique’s mom is also a Pinay? Kaya ang pogi niya.”

In which case, Sam Milby is definitely out as he does not look Latino at all. link

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Gwen Garci's erotic scenes with Cesar Montano

MAY direktang pagpayag si Sunshine Cruz sa pagkakapili kay Gwen Garci bilang isa sa mga leading ladies nila ni Ce-sar Montano para sa filmfest entry titled Ligalig.

Sa nasabing film, pinag-uusapan na agad ang sobrang ‘erotic and sexy’ scenes nina Cesar at Gwen na ipinagdara-sal nilang makalusot sa MT-RCB. Mismong si Sunshine ang nagkuwento sa amin kung gaano ka-sexy ang nasa-bing scenes nina Cesar kaya’t naitanong namin kung hindi ba siya nagselos?

“Ako talaga ang nag-suggest na kunin si Gwen. Nang mabasa ko kasi ang script, siya agad ang pumasok sa isip ko na babagayan nung role. Selos? Hindi naman ako buntis, eh. Kapag buntis lang naman ako medyo selosa dahil alam mo na, feeling pangit at mata-ba kapag ganun,” ang masa-yang pagkumpirma ni Sunshine na siya ring Line Produ-cer ng naturang pelikula.

Bale second venture ito ng CM Productions at medyo ma-rami na raw silang natutuhan sa business. Inamin ni Sunshine na nung ginawa nila ang Panaghoy sa Suba, may ilang mga nakasama sila na medyo nagsamantala sa kanilang pagiging baguhan sa film production.

This time around ay naiwasan na nila ang mga iyun kaya’t naging dobleng hirap para sa kanya ang lahat. Hindi nga naman biro ang mag-asi-kaso ng halos lahat ng may ka-ugnayan sa movie as Line pro-ducer, plus the fact na siya ang leading lady ni Buboy (Cesar) sa pelikula. Magsisilbi rin ka-sing comeback movie ito ni Sunshine (dahil mas mauuna kasing ipalabas ang Inang Yaya kung saan si Maricel So-riano ang lead) after eight years siyang mabakante sa showbiz.

Bukod sa asawang siya ring direktor at nagsulat ng is-torya, kasama nila sa Ligalig sina Katya Santos, Celia Rodriguez, Alvin Anson, Rommel Montano, ang paboritong Boholano nina Cesar na si Re-becca Lusterio, at si Johnny Delgado,na gumaganap bilang ama ni Cesar, na may ka-kaibang twist sa kuwento.

“I am pretty excited for this one dahil unlike Panaghoy, puro interior at halos mabilis namin itong natapos,” tsika pa ni Sunshine. link

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Sexy Angelica Panganiban and Katrina Halili

SPEAKING of Angelica Pa-nganiban, sila ni Katrina Halili ang mga pinakaba-gong gin beauties.

Si Angelica ang bagong model ng Ginebra Bilog at may calendar na siya for next year. Sexy lang daw ito, hindi as daring ng na-unang calendars noon. Angelica joins another ABS regular Anne Curtis sa Ginebra na endorser naman ng GSM Blue. Just like Anne, magka-karoon din daw ng commercial si Angelica for Ginebra Bilog. After her Santa Santita noon, switching forth and back na talaga si Angelica from sweet to sexy roles. Kahit nakakapag Love Spell at Your song pa rin siya na meant for young audience, may mga Ginebra pa rin siya for her mature fans.

Si Katrina ang pinakabagong Tanduay girl na magkakaroon ng series of commercial. Actually, ipi-napalabas na ang first niya, pero nasa dulo lang siya. It is her introduction nga raw kasi for the commercial series. The Gigil star of Regal will also do a calendar for the said inumin. This plus her VCD/DVD direct to vi-deo feature na Katrina Halili’s Fantasies na ma-bibili na. Ang ganda ng support promos for Gigil na magbubukas this Nov. 22. Inililinya na kasi si Katrina as the newest sexy girl of Philippine movies. link

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Korean Dance Diva Mina, nude pictures?

MAY nude pictures pala ang Korean Dance Diva na si Mina (full name Shin Min-A na ang meaning ay Korean Jewel) na magtu-two-night concerts sa Pilipinas.

Halaw sa kanyang website www.shimmina.com, ang nude photo album na ginawa niya this year ‘to in-spire her fellow Korean athletes’ na kasama sa 2006 FI-FA World Cup.

Sa football din kasi nagsimula ang career niya noong 2002 nang kinunan siya ng photographers sa World Cup in her bandana skirt and Korean flag blouse thinking she was a Korean actress at umikot sa buong mundo ang kanyang picture as the ‘World Cup Girl.’ Mina used this popularity to launch her debut album that year too, ang Rendezvous. Nasundan pa ito ng two more albums, 2004’s Re:Turn 2 Mina and last year’s K.I.S.S.

Nasa K.I.S.S. album ang kantang Answer the Phone, ang isa sa mga pinasikat noon ng StarStruck sa Pilipinas na sina-yaw nina Mark Herras. Ito rin ang titulo ng kanyang two-night concerts this Nov. 24 sa Araneta Coli-seum and Nov. 26 sa Clark Field Expo sa Pampanga produced by Myong Jak Entertainment and Live Artist. Special guest star si Christian Bautista in both shows that will start at 8 p.m.Join din ang Ar-yan Dance Group and Mike Chua and ticket prices start at P300 for both venue and up to P3,000 for Clark at P5,000 naman for Araneta.

Answer the Phone: Mi-na Concert in the Philippines is for the benefit of Freddie Aguilar Anak Foundation. link

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Maria Flordeluna Eliza Pineda, madaling umiyak

Malaking hirap ang pinagdaanan ni Eliza Pineda para makuha ang title role sa bagong soap ng ABS-CBN, ang Maria Flordeluna.

Nang tanungin namin siya kung bakit siya ang napili sa maraming nag-audition, sabi niya, "Siguro po, mabilis po talaga kasi akong umiyak."

Ayon kay Direk Jerry Sineneng, marami talagang mga mahuhusay: "As a director, ito yata ang pinakamahirap na desisyon para sa akin. Pero umangat talagang ito si Eliza sa lahat ng dumating."

Isa pa sa mga nag-audition para sa lead role ay ang bagets na kasama ni Eliza sa Goin’ Bulilit na si Kristel Fulgar. Siya naman ang nakuha para sa kontrabida role sa serye.

Excited si Eliza sa nangyayari sa kanya. Ito na ang pinakahihintay niya mula nang naging regular siya sa Goin’ Bulilit.

Mahigit 1,300 kids ang nag-audition para maging bida sa serye na sumikat sa radio series of the ‘70s at TV series nina Jun Jison at Tony Carandang of the ‘80s.

Matagal na rin si Eliza sa ABS-CBN. Napasama na siya sa ilang episodes ng Maalaala Mo Kaya. Batang Desiree del Valle siya sa Bituin ni Nora Aunor.

Siya rin ang batang Bea Alonzo sa on-going serye ng Maging Sino Ka Man. Gumanap din siya ng bibong anak ni Piolo Pascual sa pelikula nila ni Judy Ann Santos, ang Till There Was You.

Mapapanood din sa Maria Flordeluna sina Vina Morales, Albert Martinez, Eula Valdez, John Estrada at Liza Lorena, Nash Aguas. Abangan ang airing nito this month. link

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Dayanara Torres, visit

Maganda pa rin si Dayanara Torres at hindi pa rin nawawala ang kanyang charm na kinagiliwan sa kanya noon ng mga Pinoy.

Kahapon sa presscon niya bilang celebrity endorser ng Beverly Hills 6750 Cosmetic Surgery & Skin Institute sa 6750 Bldg. sa Ayala, Makati, ang tamis ng mga ngiti niya habang nagbabalik-tanaw sa kanyang magagandang alaala sa Pilipinas.

Aniya, puno ng wonderful memories ang kanyang 4-year stay rito sa ‘Pinas dahil bukod sa very warm ang mga tao ay sobrang naging at home siya rito sa atin.

Nami-miss niya raw ang dati niyang shows na ASAP at Eazy Dancing.

Gusto niyang makita ang dati niyang ASAP co-hosts na sina Pops Fernandez, Martin Nievera at Ariel Rivera na naging mga kaibigan niya, pati na ang staff at mga PA na naging katrabaho niya dati.

Sayang at wala siyang time dahil 3 days lang siya rito.

Na-miss din ni Yari (palayaw ni Dayanara) ang Filipino food at in fairness ay marunong pa rin siyang mag-Tagalog. Nang tanungin siya kung sinu-sino ang tatlong tao na pinakanami-miss niya sa ‘Pinas, natawa siya at sumagot ng, "Anong gusto mo? Alam ko!" sabay hirit ng, "Nice try!"

Binanggit niya ang tatlong naging leading man niya sa pelikula na sina Cesar Montano (Type Kita Walang Kokontra, 1998), Gary Valenciano (Hataw Na!, 1996) at ang ex-boyfriend niyang si Aga Muhlach (Basta’t Kasama Kita, 1995).

Touched daw si Yari na pagdating niya rito ay sinalubong siya ng kanyang Pinoy fans sa airport. Updated sa kanya ang fans niya na nakakabalitaan at nakakatsikahan niya sa kanyang website na www.dayanara.net. link

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Edu Manzano for senator

Nagdadalawang-isip pa si Edu Manzano na tumakbo bilang governor ng Iloilo, although quite a number of Ilonggos are urging him to do so. Isang true-blooded Ilonggo pala itong si Edu. Doon siya ipinanganak at lumaki.

Nakausap namin si Edu sa fund-raising “auction” of paintings at iba pang antique furnitures (some donated and others consigned) sa Luna Garden Tower, Rockwell, Makati City.

Noon din namin nalaman na ang talagang plano ni Edu ay tumakbo bilang senador. Kasi, in a recent visit to Iloilo dahil sa trabaho bilang Optical Media Board chief, nakasalamuha niya ang ilang political leaders. Ang mga ito ang nagbigay sa kanya ng ideya na tumakbo bilang governor sa kanyang “tinubuan.”

By the way, the fund-raising auction was a project of Alay sa Bansa (ALAB), na ang isa sa pinakamasigasig na proponents ay si Fr. Tito Caluag. ALAB’s primary objective is to start programs for youth leaders under the National Youth Conference on Caring Leadership (NYCCL).

The organization was launched on Nov. 7. Fr. Calauag turned 48 on Nov. 4.

* * *

While talking to Edu, biniro namin siya na dapat may First Lady na siyang ipinakikilala bago pa magsimula ang kampanya. Did we hear it right na going strong ang relasyon nila ng isang maganda at popular radio-tv newscaster?

Nakapagtatakang sobrang secretive si Edu about his lovelife. While he doesn’t admit it, neither does he deny it naman.

We personally believe na bagay sila. Magiging malaking tulong din ang girl sa political career ng aktor. O, Edu, start “weaving” both your marital and political plans, ha. It’s a good six months before the elections. link

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JC de Vera, Ehra Madrigal at Nicole Anderson nag-guest ASAP’06

Gaano katotoo na naka-hold daw ang lahat ng guestings ng mga alaga ni Annabelle Rama na sina JC de Vera, Ehra Madrigal (ate ni Michelle Madrigal) at Nicole Anderson sa mga shows ng GMA-7 dahil nag-guest daw ang tatlo sa ASAP’06 last Sunday?

Nagulat daw ang mga bossing at staff ng Siete nang ma-monitor nilang may production number sa programang katapat ng SOP ang tatlong alaga ni Bisaya gayung mainstay sila ng SOP Gigsters.

Tanong namin sa nagkwentong bossing sa amin, "Di ba wala ng Gigsters?"

"Hindi naman totally wala na, kasama na siya sa SOP at kung hindi man kasama yung tatlo that day sa SOP, hindi ibig sabihin na totally wala sila, e, bakit sila nag-guest sa ASAP, e, katapat ng SOP ‘yun?" katwiran sa amin.

Aba’y oo nga, bakit nga ba nag-guest ang tatlong Gigsters sa ASAP?

Teka, may kontrata ba ang tatlong bagets sa GMA-7 para pwede silang bigyan ng disciplinary action? link

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ABS-CBN head Deo Endrinal: birthday

Isa kami sa inimbitahan sa birthday party ng isa sa business head ng ABS-CBN na si Deo Endrinal last Tuesday night at nagulat kami dahil pagpasok palang namin sa entrance ng venue ay namataan na namin ang mga GMA-7 stars na sina Marian Rivera, Lovi with Cogie Domingo, ilang familiar faces na taga-Siete rin.

Say nga namin sa aming sarili, na sure bang si Deo ang may pa-party dahil maraming Kapuso stars?

At pagpasok sa loob ay nandun na nakaupo ang big stars ng ABS-CBN headed by Kris Aquino with hubby James Yap, Matt Evans with girlfriend Olyn Maimban, Say Alonzo, Rico Gutierrez, Rico Robles talent managers Manay Ethel Ramos, Dolor Guevarra, Manny Valera, Dondon Monteverde, Popoy Carotativo, Joji Dingcong, Chit Ramos, Shirley Kuan, Alfie Lorenzo, movie producers Malou Santos, Mother Lily Monteverde, Veronique del Rosario-Corpus with husband and many more.

At siyempre, present ang presidente at CEO ng Dos na si Mr. Gabby Lopez III, SVP for News and Entertainment Charo Santos-Concio, VP for Entertainment, Cory Vidanes, SVP for Star Magic Johnny Manahan, head PR ng SM, Rikka Dylim at lahat ng business heads sa Channel 2 at iba pang executives ng bawa’t programa. link

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Star Magic talent Victor Basa, virgin?

Napa-owws lahat ng nakarinig kay Star Magic talent Victor Basa nung banggitin niyang ‘virgin’ pa siya. Sino nga ba naman ang maniniwala na sa edad niyang 21 ay hindi pa siya na-bautismuhan?

Pero seryoso si Victor dahil diretso siyang nakatingin sa mga reporter na nagtanong sa kanya, "Kung ayaw ninyong maniwala, I don’t care, basta alam ko ang totoo. Simple lang naman ang sagot ko, walang chance kasi na mangyari ‘yun and besides I am a very conservative person, iba kasi ang pagpapalaki sa amin ng parents ko, that’s why I still keep my virginity."

At doon lang kami medyo naniwala sa baguhang aktor na mahirap talagang paniwalaan lalo’t may image siyang sexy dahil member pa siya ng Cover boys na kinabibilangan nina John Lloyd, Zanjoe Marudo, Rafael Rosell at iba pa.

Ice hockey player pala itong si Victor kaya malalaki ang muscles nito sa braso.

Living on his own si Victor at an early age ay marunong na siyang mag-budget ng kinikita niya at aminado siyang loveless siya ngayon dahil career ang priority niya.

Ka-join si Victor sa bagong programa ng Star Magic na may tentative title na All About Our Love mula uli sa direksyon ni Erik Salud. link

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Jimmy Marquez, won at the 9th Shanghai Asia Music Festival

Isang gumagawa pa lamang ng pangalan ang umuwing victorious mula sa pagsali niya sa 9th Shanghai Asia Music Festival na ginanap nung mga huling linggo ng Oktubre sa studio ng Shanghai Broadcasting Corp.

Siya si Jimmy Marquez, 2nd runner-up sa Search For a Star In a Million Season 2. Mula siya sa Toledo, Cebu at graduate ng MassComm Major in Broadcast Media sa San Jose Recoletos. Dito sa Maynila niya balak gumawa ng career at nakasama na siya sa concert tour ni Sarah Geronimo sa US.

Mayro’n nang CD Lite si Jimmy na nagtatampok sa mga awiting "Tanging Ikaw", "Hanggang Ngayon", "Hero", "I Was Looking For Someone To Love" at "Minsa’y Naging Bahagi Ka" na isa sa dalawang kinanta niya sa Shanghai. Ang isa pa ay ang "Today".

Nag-uwi si Jimmy ng isang glass trophy at $1000 in cash. link

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Carlo Aquino at Angelica Panganiban update

Marami ang nagsasabi na mas mabuting walang relasyon ang dating magdyowang Carlo Aquino at Angelica Panganiban, nagiging matagumpay ang kanilang sari-sariling career, dahil napagtutuunan nila ito ng pansin.

Tulad na lang ni Carlo na itinuturing ng Viva Artist Agency, na pinamumunuan ni Veronique del Rosario-Corpuz, na ang 2006 ay breakout year ng kanilang alaga. Sa taong ito, pinatunayan ni Carlo na nakakakawala na siya sa teen-star mold.

Dalawang best actor awards ang tinanggap niya, isa sa ENPRESS, para sa Indie Film na Pagkagising Mula sa Kamulatan at ang ikalawa ay mula sa PMPC TV Star Awards para sa Scapular episode ng Maalaala Mo Kaya.

Habang ang mga kasamahan at kasabayan niya ay hindi malaman kung sasama sa mga naglilipatan ng istasyon, o mananatili sa ABS CBN, mas pinili ni Carlo ang pangalawa at di siya nagkamali, isang magandang assignment yung pagpapareha nila ni Sarah Geronimo sa Bituing Walang Ningning. Masusundan pa ito ng isa pang serye sa TV.

May isa siyang serye na napapanood sa GMA, pero TAPE ang nagprodyus, ang Makita Ka Lang Muli kasama sina Roderick Paulate, Andrea del Rosario at Celia Rodriguez. May plano rin ang Viva na i-full blast ang kanyang musical career.

"I’ve been blessed this year and I’m grateful," ani Carlo who refuses to talk about his ex-girlfriend, Angelica Panganiban! link

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Nescafe Soundskool 2006 Finals

FIVE of the most sought-after bands today—Bamboo, Hale, Parokya ni Edgar, Sugarfree and Hilera—will jam with the 10 competing college bands in the Nescafe Soundskool 2006 Finals on November 11 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

Now on its second year, Nescafe Soundskool gathers the best college bands from all over the Philippines to compete for cash and other prizes, not the least of which is the opportunity to land a contract with EMI Music Philippines.

The annual event has become more than a band competition. Nescafe Soundskool is a rare opportunity for college bands to experience performing at a professional level for a larger audience. With the welcome participation of some of the hottest acts in the Pinoy music scene, it has become a much anticipated concert event as well.

The finalists will be rubbing elbows with an elite list of Pinoy A-list performers, all of whom have something to teach upcoming talents.

Inspiring performances

Nescafe Classic endorser Bamboo had a landslide victory at the 19th Awit Awards. With five awards, including the coveted Album of the Year and Best Rock Song for “Hallelujah,” Bamboo serves as an inspiration for Filipino musicians.

Since bursting into the scene with “The Day You Said Goodnight,” Hale has also been consistently hitting the charts and raking in awards. Most recently, Hale’s video for “Kung Wala Ka” bagged the 2006 MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards’ title for “Favorite Pop Video.” Hale is the official endorser of Nescafe 3-in-1.

Also set to perform at the Nescafe Soundskool finals is Pinoy band extraordinaire Parokya ni Edgar, who, for the past decade has redefined the local music scene with its unique ability to combine humor with a distinctly Pinoy identity.

Similarly, Sugarfree has managed to carve a loyal following among Pinoys for lyrics that connect with the common man.

Last, but certainly not the least, Hilera, last year’s Nescafe Soundskool winner, joins its fellow EMI artists to perform songs from their debut album.

This year’s batch of finalists will undergo an intensive seven-day training program at the Nescafe Soundskool workshop from November 4 to 7 to be held in the paradise island of Boracay and will be continued in Manila. At these workshops, they will have the chance to jam with two of the country’s hottest bands, Hale and Sugarfree in preparation for their big night.

Bands from Pines City College (Baguio), University of the Philippines (UP)-Los Baños, University of Santo Tomas (UST), AMA Computer College (Laguna), University of the Visayas (Cebu), Asian Development Foundation College (Leyte), University of San Carlos (Cebu), Northvalley College Foundation (Davao), DMMA College of Southern Philippines, and the University of South Eastern Philippines (Davao) will perform their original compositions to take that all important first step towards possible fame and fortune in the highly anticipated finals.

Nescafe Soundskool 2006 tickets are sold for only P50. Interested parties may reserve tickets by calling the Nestle Consumer Services at 8980061 or through Big Picture at 7181311-13 or purchase them at the venue entrance on the day of the event. Likewise, each ticket entitles the bearer a raffle coupon for a chance to win a barkada package trip to Boracay for a group of five.

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No probation night in Pinoy Dream Academy

THERE will be no probation night this Saturday in “Pinoy Dream Academy”. Last Sunday night, the results of the performances of the remaining 11 PDA scholars were announced and Michelle Bond got her fifth nomination with a low score of 7.35, so she is automatically being expelled. Nominated along with her were Jay-R Siaboc who got a score of 7.92 (this is his first nomination), Irish Fullerton (7.83, her second nomination), and Davey Langit (7.52, also his second nomination.)

Last Saturday night, the four nominees were Chai Fonacier, Eman Abatayo, Ronnie Liang and Rosita Bareng. Ronnie was saved by texters’ votes. The teachers saved Rosita. The scholars then voted on Chai and Eman. Eman got 6 votes, while Chai only got 5, so she had to go.

She left the PDA house on Sunday morning and was fetched by her dad. Before she left, she was able to have some poignant bonding moments with Davey Langit of Baguio, who she confessed is her crush.

So now, there are only 10 remaining scholars: Yeng Constantino (our personal favorite), Jay-R, Eman, Irish, Ronnie, Davey, Richard, Yvan Lambatan, and the only two scholars who have never been nominated so far: Panky of Cebu and Joan of Italy. link

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Gretchen Barretto and Tonyboy Cojuangco

Maraming sinabi si Gretchen Barretto sa first presscon niya ng Matakot Ka Sa Karma ng Canary Films at tiyak na may magri-react. Halimbawa, dalawa lang daw sa pamilya Barretto ang kalaban niya, pero ’di pinangalanan dahil alam na raw ng tao.

Bitin si Gretchen dahil ang bilis natapos ang presscon at type pa nitong makipag-tsikahan sa press na, after 12 years, noon lang uli niya nakita. Tinanong nito si Orly Ilacad kung kailan ang next presscon. Nagda-dub na rin ito, na ikina-excite rin.

Biniro si Gretchen na dahil nasa showbiz na uli siya, magriregalo na siya sa press people sa Pasko. Natawa ito nang ipaalala naming ang last gift na natanggap namin from her ay fruitcake.

“Ganu’n? Ibabalik ko uli ’yun. Hahaha!”

Si Jo-Ann Maglipon ang susulat sa libro ni Gretchen at sa tanong kung ’di ito makadaragdag sa conflict nila ni Claudine Barretto at ng Summit, ang sagot, iba siya at iba ang kapatid.

Saka, ’di pa sure kung Summit ang magpa-publish, dahil baka siya na ang mag-publish nito. May nag-suggest na gawing Poor Little Rich Girl ang title ng libro, na pinag-iisipan niya.

Pinagtripan naming alamin ang suot ni Gretchen mula ulo hanggang paa. Ang black bag niya ay Marc Jacobs, pero kay Dominique raw ’yun (anak niya). Ang earrings niya ay Hans Braumann, ang white polo ay Balenciaga, ang belt ay Valentino, ang jeans ay Seven, at ang black shoes ay Robert Clergio.

Ang ganda ng sinabi nito sa relasyon nila ni Tonyboy Cojuangco. Sabi nito: “I try extra hard to be faithful to him and not to let him down, I can’t say this relationship is forever, things change. I don’t know, he’s 20 years older than me but I know I love him and I can’t sleep without him.” link

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Paolo Paraiso and Mylene Dizon, hiwalay na?

Sinagot ni Paolo Paraiso ang isyung hiwalayan nila ni Mylene Dizon nang namataan namin siya sa fashion show ng Folded and Hung sa Rockwell nu’ng Lunes nang gabi.

Ayon kay Paolo, siya ang umalis sa bahay na tinutuluyan nila ni Mylene at umuwi muna siya sa bahay ng kanyang mga magulang.

Basta, okay naman daw sila ngayon at madalas ang kanilang pag-uusap lalo na’t pagdating sa bata.

Kung sino sa kanila ang walang trabaho, iyun ang mag-aalaga ng kanilang anak at wala raw problema iyun.

Wala pa raw ideya ang kanilang anak sa ganung set-up nila ni Mylene at saka na lang daw nila ito ipaliliwanag kapag medyo nakaintindi na ito.

Hindi pa raw isinara ni Paolo ang kanyang puso para kay Mylene. Umaasa pa rin daw siya na magkakaayos sila at maging sila muli. Hindi pa raw napapanahon ngayon at marami pa raw silang dapat ayusin.

Itinanggi ni Paolo ang isyung pera ang dahilan ng hiwalayan nila. link

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Dayanara Torres Visit: update

A few days from now, darating dito si Dayanara Torres, ang Miss Universe of the 90’s na naging showbiz star dito sa atin.

Dito siya nagkaroon ng TV show, natuklasan that she could dance and host a show, gumawa ng pelikula at nagkaroon ng first showbiz celebrity boyfriend, si Aga Muhlach.

Those were the days na akala natin na ipinapagawa ni Aga ang kanyang Ayala Alabang palatial home for her as the mistress of the mansion. Ay, hindi pala!

Sayang, akala namin babalik siya for a new show or a movie pero as an endorser lang pala ng kung anu-ano lang.

Makatutulong kaya ito kay Dayanara o gusto niya lang tulungan ang iba riyan… sa business nila.

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Michelle Bond expelled sa Pinoy Dream Academy

Cancelled ang text votes this week para sa Pinoy Dream Academy dahil automatic nang na-expell si Michelle Bond dahil siya ang nakakuha ng pinakamababang scores from the jurors regarding her performance last Saturday night.

Mukhang expected na ni Michelle na lalabas siya dahil wala siyang reaction nung banggitin sa kanya ni headmaster Jim Paredes na automatically expelled siya.

Mas nag-react pa dahil nag-iiyak ang kapwa niya global scholars na sina Joan ng Italy at Irish ng California.

At ang isa pang na-tsuging scholar dahil tinabla siya ng kapwa scholars ay si Chai Fonacier ng Cebu City dahil hindi niya nabigyan ng justice ang awiting "Get Here" ni Oleta Adams.

Samantala, gaano katotoo na paaabutin daw sa top six si Rosita Bareng ng teachers sa PDA? At si Michelle naman daw ay isasama sa isang programa sa Dos? link

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Angelika dela Cruz and Derek Ramsey

Grabe ang mga fans nina Angelika dela Cruz and Derek Ramsey. Sangkatutak ang request nila sa e-mails na gawing loveteam ang dalawa. Grabe as in sa isang araw mga ilang e-mail ang pumapasok sa inbox ko.

Hay hoping sila na magkasama pa ang dalawa sa project ng ABS-CBN.

Naku mga dear, sana maka-move on na rin kayo tulad ng mga idol n’yo. Kasi parang mas may project pa sina Angelika and Dominic Ochoa after nilang mag-partner sa Bituing Walang Ningning.

Heto ang one sample ng request nila na ini-email nila sa mga bosses ng ABS-CBN at sa napakarami na ring entertainment writers and editors.

Minsan daw ay napanood nila ang dalawa sa Nagmamahal Kapamilya at nakita nila ang rapport sa dalawa.

Well, tingnan natin kung makikinig ang management sa request ng mga e-mail sender o kung dedma na lang forever. link

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Martin Nievera and baby Santino Martin Nievera

Darating si Martin Nievera isa sa mga araw na ito’t may one night show siya sa Premiere Theater ng Mall of Asia sa November 24. Billed This Is The Moment: An Evening of Celebration na farewell concert niya ito sa kanyang local fans dahil pupwesto na naman ito sa isa sa mga hotel sa Las Vegas. One year ang pinirmahan nitong contract dun.

Sa pagbabalik ni Martin, tiyak na sasalubungin siya ng mga tanong tungkol kay Katrina Ojeda at sa baby nilang si Santino Martin Nievera. Ang pagpapakasal kaya nila ni Katrina ang susunod after the baby’s birth?

Nabanggit ni Martin right after isilang si baby Santino na dadalhin nila ito sa ‘Pinas para makita ng kanyang relatives at relatives na rin ni Katrina. link

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Gretchen Barretto "tell all" book: update

After Pilar Pilapil created a considerable stir with her "tell-all" biography Pilar Pilapil: The Woman Without a Face which, if you ask me, left more questions than answers (such as what exactly did her father do to her when, at 14, she was called to a room for some scolding and her dad locked the door – "And that’s how I knew how cruel (my father) could be," said Pilar), guess who’s planning to put out the same, perhaps even more controversial, autobiography – yes, Gretchen Barretto!

Like Pilar, Gretchen has a colorful story to tell, full of intrigues and drama, far more titillating than all her movies put together. If she does "tell all" as she’s threatening to do, will Gretchen include the men in her life (among them a drama actor over whom Gretchen nearly took her own life and for whom she became "unfaithful" but all in her thoughts, and the actor-politician whose life, said Gretchen, "I have made happier"), the family feuds she has been enmeshed in (against her own family with whom she isn’t on speaking terms up to now and against her "mother-in-law" Imelda Cojuangco with whom, according to Gretchen, she has already made peace), and her rise from humble beginnings to her present "looked-up-to" status by starting to work (initially as a model) at age 14?

"I talked to Pilar and she said that I’m too young to be writing an autobiography (memoir)," Gretchen told a curious group of movie writers at yesterday’s lunch presscon for her comeback movie, Canary Films’ Karma (a trilogy directed by Jose Javier Reyes, an entry in this December’s Metro Filmfest). "Dapat daw when I’m older. But then, people are curious about so many things about me and I want to hear them straight from me. The book would be nothing heavy; it would be easy reading unlike," she added with a laugh, "my movie Karma which is horror, my first time to do such a movie."

Her comeback movie would have been Kapag Tumibok ang Puso (Not Once But Twice), produced and starred in by Sen. Bong Revilla, but it was nipped in the bud when a little controversy erupted when Bong’s wife Lani Mercado frowned over the project. (Bong and Gretchen were once romantically linked to each other.) Gretchen was replaced by 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman.

But before she buckles down to writing even the first word of that book (will it rattle Gretchen’s beloved Tonyboy Cojuangco...will Tonyboy discover things that he doesn’t know, yet, about his ladylove of 12 years?), Gretchen will first devote full-time to her newly-revived movie career.

"How did I feel facing the (movie) cameras again?," asked Gretchen whose last movie was the 1994 action-romance-drama Ikaw Lamang where she had as leading man Raymart Santiago. "I didn’t know that he would end up my brother-in-law," Gretchen added, again with a laugh (she was laughing throughout the presscon she attended one hour late even if she was the one who fixed the time at 11 a.m. because, according to the movie’s PRO, Gretchen would have to fetch daughter Dominique from school). "I had a kissing scene with Raymart. O, naunahan ko siya, di ba?" (Referring to estranged sister Claudine, now Raymart’s wife).

Initially, Gretchen was supposed to be in the cast of the Vic Sotto starrer Enteng Kabisote (which Canary Films boss Orly Ilacad is co-producing with Vic’s M-ZET Films, also for this December’s Metro Filmfest) but Gretchen is happy that she ended up in Karma. "They told me that horror films are a hit during the Metro Filmfest."

In the episode called Kama, Gretchen plays a lady haunted by an antique bed she bought, not knowing that it belonged to a woman (Tanya Garcia; the two other stars are Rica Peralejo and Angelica Panganiban) who died of child birth.

The role practically confines Gretchen in bed, so she won’t have a chance to display her much-talked-about jewelry which are, according to one observer, so expensive that you could end up vision-impaired if you look at them under the spotlight. During the presscon, Gretchen was not wearing any jewelry, except for a pair of big, round earrings. Fancy?, asked a clueless movie writer. Her face taking on a fleeting expression of disapproval, Gretchen touched the earrings and said, "No, real!" But thank goodness she won’t be wearing jewelry (not even "fancy" ones?) during the Parade of Stars on Dec. 24 that ushers in the annual 10-day festival, or she might be criticized again by what she called "envious" people.

Asked what happened to Desperada, the Regal comedy inspired by the US hit TV show Desperate Housewives which would have starred her with Ruffa Gutierrez and Dawn Zulueta, Gretchen said that it’s "on hold" pending clearance of some papers (the fine prints of Gretchen’s contract, etc.).

Why did she have to return to the topsy-turvy world of showbiz when she’s living like a princess...a lady of leisure "envied" by some of her colleagues?

"I want my ‘sense of self’ back," explained Gretchen who, these past 12 years, has been practically living in the shadow of Tonyboy. "Parang I lost my own identity. If I had a new dress, a new pair of shoes, new pieces of (jewelry) or anything new, people easily concluded, ‘Ah, bigay ni Tonyboy!’ It’s a nice feeling to earn your own keep, to spend your own money. But, unlike others who decided to return to showbiz for the money, I’m back to have that ‘sense of self’ back."

Wouldn’t it create any tension between her and Tonyboy?

"I don’t think so," said Gretchen. "It should not," adding, again with a laugh, "men should be proud that their (wives) are not only beautiful but are also popular."

Being popular, of course, means being talked about but Gretchen doesn’t mind. She’s immune to gossips, having survived the relentless showbiz grind.

Asked who her daughter Dominique, 11, looks like, Gretchen said, "When people see Dominique, they tell her, ‘Oh my gosh, you look like your dad!’ Naaawa naman ako sa kanya. She should look more like me. But then," she thought aloud, "it’s better that she looks like Tonyboy to put a stop to the rumor that her father is somebody else. But Dominique is growing up to be a lovely young lady. Nagiging kikay na siya."

With her "sense of self" restored, is Gretchen returning to showbiz (although it seemed that she was never really gone because she was constantly in the news) with less emotional burden?

Well, there are some more kinks in her life waiting to be ironed out (her row with the other Barrettos, etc.).

Meanwhile, let’s sit back and wait for Gretchen’s "tell all" book and let’s keep our fingers crossed that, unlike Pilar Pilapil, she will answer all the questions everyone has been wanting to ask her (but didn’t have the guts to) instead of raising a trail of others. link

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Janet McBride update

Isa na sanang malaking star ngayon ang Fil-Australian young actress na si Janet McBride kung hindi nito iniwanan ang showbiz. Sa kanyang pag-alis, maraming ispekulasyon ang naglabasan na kesyo, nagpakasal ito sa controversial DJ na si Mo Twister at nagkaroon sila ng anak pero ito’y personal na pinabulaanan ni Janet.

"Gusto ko lang i-clarify na hindi ako nagpakasal at nagkaroon ng anak sa Amerika pero meron akong bagong ‘baby,’ ang Makita Ka Lang Muli," aniya.

Habang hindi ikinakaila ni Janet na nagkikita at magkaibigan (?) pa rin sila ni Mo Twister, mas gusto umano niyang mag-focus (muli) sa kanyang showbiz career ngayon.

Magaling na artista si Janet na kanyang pinatunayan sa Tanging Yaman at mahusay din siyang host. Sa kanyang pagbabalik-showbiz, natutuwa siya at agad siyang nabigyan ng trabaho, hindi nga lamang ng dati niyang home studio, ang ABS-CBN kundi ng TAPE, Inc. at ang GMA-7.

Simula sa araw na ito ng Lunes (Nov. 6) ay mapapanood si Janet sa panghapong teleserye, ang Makita Ka Lang Muli.

Bakit hindi siya bumalik sa ABS-CBN na siyang nagbigay sa kanya ng malaking break?

"Alam ng ABS-CBN ang pagbabalik ko pero wala pa silang mai-offer sa akin. Nagkataon naman na may ready project na ang TAPE, Inc. at GMA-7 sa akin kaya ko tinanggap pero hindi naman ito nangangahulugan na ayaw ko nang magtrabaho sa ABS-CBN kung saan ako nagsimula," paliwanag pa niya.

Sa pagbabalik ni Janet kung kelan marami ang mas bata sa kanya na nagsulputan, may chance pa kaya siyang makabawi?

Hintayin na lang natin! link

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Maria Donna Taneo and Jimmy Marquez won Asia New Singer Competition

Having survived the tough finals round of Search for a Star in a Million Season 2, it did seem like Jimmy Marquez would be able to take on any kind of singing contest and come out with flying colors. But the Asia New Singer Competition was something else. Now on its ninth year, the music festival brings together the finest young talents from the region. They bring along a variety of musical influences, a diversity of temperament and cultures as varied as the slant of their eyes and the color of their skin.

This year there were 24 entries and they came from the Philippines, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Korea, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Singapore, China, Macau and Mainland China. Thanks to a common love for music, contestants easily established camaraderie among themselves. But when the competition went full gear last Oct. 28 and 29, it was clear that although they have become friends, those kids were out to win the top prizes no matter what.

But you know how Pinoys are when faced with seemingly formidable odds, they rise beautifully to the demands of the occasion. It was no different in Shanghai. Jimmy believes several reasons did it for him. He had to nurse an awful head cold throughout his stay in Shanghai but it helped that the fellow contestant from the Philippines was Maria Donna Taneo, an old friend from Cebu whom he had known since college. Though in competition, they ended up supporting one another.

And then there were his songs, Today and Minsa’y Naging Bahagi Ka, two moving love songs, both composed by Vehnee Saturno. The latter is one of the cuts in his debut CD Jimmy Marquez.

Vehnee is the writer of songs like Be My Lady, Isang Lahi, Forever’s Not Enough, Only Me and You and many others. But aside from his success as a local hitmaker, he has also become the most award-winning composer in the international music festival circuit. If I remember right, the Shanghai songfest alone had already given him two Best Song wins and those are aside from Silver Prizes for Rachelle Ann Go and Aryana. Vehnee has this unexplainable knack for creating songs festival judges like and choosing interpreters who will win.

This time around, he had Jimmy and Maria Donna, for whom he also wrote two songs, You Make Me Whole and Only When Our Hearts Unite. He was confident about their capabilities but it was not going to be easy. This year’s batch had talent and star quality in massive doses. For a while there the Filipinos were ready to concede victory to Mainland China’s delegate Alan Dawazhuoma. Extremely attractive, she had a voice that can go from traditional Chinese to New Age and to pop and seemed like a sure winner.

Also quite strong were the cool R ’n B tones of Hariyati Zaynab of Sri Lanka, the jazzy style of Aigul Adidhanova from Kazakhstan, the impressive soprano of Eleanor Cassar from Malta, the sexy energetic appeal of Latin heartthrob Fabrizio Faniello, also from Malta and the adorable singing and dancing by Sista Five, a group of five pretty sisters from Japan.

Only a few points from the international panel of jurors separated the winning entries. At the end of finals night, Maria Donna had scored the Gold Prize of a trophy and $5,000 while Jimmy emerged as the Silver Prize winner with a trophy and $1,000. For the first time in our music history, two local singers ran away with the top prizes in a major competition. It was truly sweet victory for the Filipinos who once again proved themselves tops where music is concerned. And in the case of Jimmy and Maria Donna, they also showed the winners often hail from Cebu.

Filipinos have the gift of music. Check out karaoke joints one evening and you will surely find singers who deserve recording contracts in an instant. And Cebuanos seem to have more of this gift than others. This was proven true with the legendary Pilita Corrales and is happening again with newcomer into the bossa nova scene, Raffi Quijano. Now with Maria Donna’s and Jimmy’s performance in Shanghai, there are two new names to add to the list. link

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GIANNA "iya" Marie Ginez of Pinoy Dream Academy

GIANNA Marie Ginez, known as Iya inside the Pinoy Dream Academy, was voted out by her fellow PDA scholars.

Shattered dreams? What’s it like the day after her expulsion?

“Kung ako lang, ayoko pa po talagang lumabas. Siguro po, may ibang plano si Lord para sa akin. Feeling ko, enough na ’yung natutunan ko sa loob para mai-apply ko sa labas.

“Nanghihinayang nga po sina Daddy, pero sabi niya, tanggapin na lang kung ano’ng nangyari. Inaasahan din kasi nila na makaaabot ako hanggang sa finals.

“Sweet Love ’yung kinanta ko -- at bago ’yun, nagdasal ako: ’Kahit po ma-expel ako, bigyan n’yo lang ako ng chance na maging maganda ang performance ko na tatatak sa mga tao.’”

Apektado si Iya sa kanyang expulsion. In fact, humagulhol siya nang husto nang matanggal sa academy.

She is 21 and hails from Sta. Maria, Pangasinan. She has vowed to move on and follow her dreams. Isang learning experience ang eight weeks niyang pamamalagi sa academy. link

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Gloria Romero and Chris Gutierrez

Matutuwa nito si Gloria Romero dahil finally, magkakaroon na rin ng regular show ang apong si Chris Gutierrez. Kasama ang 14-year-old sa youth-oriented show ng ABS-CBN.

Matagal nang hinintay ng bagets na magkaro’n ng regular show na maipagmamalaki sa kanyang lola. Nag-guest na siya sa ASAP, Game Ka Na Ba?, Komiks at Homeboy pero, iba ang regular show dahil every Saturday siya mapapanood ‘di lang ng kanyang lola.

Dancing, acting at cooking ang special skills ni Chris. Yung dancing, sarili raw niyang talent, ang acting, namana niya sa lola niya at ang cooking, nakuha niya sa mommy niyang si Maritess Gutierrez na isang magaling na chef. link

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Elise Pineda: Flordeluna ng ABS CBN

Gagawin na sa TV ng ABS CBN ang isang popular radio hit nung 70’s. Pinamagatang Maria Flordeluna, napili ang batang si Elise Pineda para gumanap sa title role na tatampukan din nina Vina Morales, Albert Martinez, Eula Valdez, Lisa Lorena at ang mga batang sina Nash Aguas at Kristel Fulgar na nag-audition din for the role pero sa halip ang role ng batang kontrabida ang ibinigay sa kanya. Mga 1,300 na kabataan ang nag-audition.

Si Elise ang gumanap na batang anak nina Piolo Pascual at Judy Ann Santos sa Till There Was You. Batang Bea Alonzo naman siya sa Maging Sino Ka Man. Napasama na rin siya sa mga episodes ng Maalaala Mo Kaya at naging batang Desiree del Valle sa Bituin. link

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Christian Bautista, Asian Pop Idol

May karapatan nang tawaging Asian Pop Idol or Asian Pop Prince ang dating 4th placer sa kauna-unahang Star in A Million ng ABS-CBN na si Christian Bautista dahil bukod sa Indonesia, Malaysia at Thailand, sa Singapore naman mainit ngayon ang kanyang signature hit song na "The Way You Look at Me" na mahigit pitong linggo nang namamayagpag sa radio at hindi mapatid ang mga requests na nagmumula sa mga radio listeners. Ang nasabing awitin ay nag-no.1 sa loob ng dalawang linggo sa hit station sa Singapore na 987-FM. Nung nakaraang Lunes, October 30, ang top radio program DJ na si Shan Wee ay nagpasimula ng SMS voting kung ano ang gusto nilang next single ni Christian at pinili ng mga ito ang sariling komposisyon ni Christian na "Please Don’t Go".

Napatunayan namin na talagang sikat na sikat si Christian sa Indonesia dahil pini-pirata na rin ang kanyang album doon.

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Cassandra Ponti: update

Sosyal din itong si Cassandra Ponti. Imagine, kung 'yun ibang ex-PBB housemate, gone na ang career at back to normal life, si Cass nakapagpagawa na ng sariling bahay sa Davao. Basta dream house niya raw ito at siya mismo ang nag-design at nag-landscape. Definitely, milyun-milyon.

Almost three years bago natapos ang nasabing house sa Davao na ngayon ay tinitirhan ng kanyang mother at kuya. "Ang tagal bago natapos kasi no’ng simulan ‘yun, nagmo-model model pa lang ako, three years ago," sabi ni Cass habang ka-tsika namin sa saloon ni Bambi Fuentes somewhere in Timog Avenue in Quezon City.

Seven bedrooms ang nasabing house, tatlo ang comfort rooms at American ang concept. Up and down ang house na siya mismo ang namili ng mga gamit.

Pero ang lot, hindi na niya binili. Namana 'yun ng mother niya sa kanyang lola. At buhay pa ang lola nang simulan niyang ipagawa ang bahay. "Nagsisimula pa lang ako no'n. Maliit pa lang ang kita ko no'n. Eh after PBB, nagtuluy-tuloy ang work so itinuloy ko na ang pagpapagawa," sabi ni Cass.

Bukod sa nasabing bahay, naka-aquire na rin siya ng brand new car worth almost P1.5 million. Siya mismo ang nagda-drive. Sayang nga naman kung magha-hire pa siya ng driver.

Pero may experience agad si Cass sa nasabing car. Three day old pa lang ang nasabi niyang car, naibangga na niya. Nasa EDSA siya no'n na sobrang traffic eh automatic ang car kaya nang bigla niyang matapakan ang gas instead na break ayun sumalpok.

"Hindi naman masyadong matagal ginawa saka, may insurance naman," sabi ni Cass.

Hindi pa niya nababayaran ng buo ang nasabing car. Pero nag-down siya at 18 months to pay - P35,000 a month.

Sa President's Tower din siya nakatira at nagri-rent ng almost P15,000 a month.

Kaya malamang na magkaroon ng inggit factor ang iba kaya hindi na surprise kung iintrigahin siya.

Anyway, sunud-sunod ang project niya ngayon. Kasama pala siya sa pelikulang Enteng Kabisote, Shake, Rattle and Roll (LRT episode).

Sa Enteng, role ng police woman sa side ni Bossing Vic. Marami raw siyang action scenes sa movie pero hindi siya nagpa-double.

Sa Shake, Rattle and Roll naman, kasama niya sina Manilyn Reynes and Kempee de Leon.

Parehong entry sa Metro Manila Film Festival ang nasabing pelikula. link

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Filipino-American actors – Adam Jacobs and Ali Ewoldt in Les Misérables

Two Fil-Am actors are set to shine on Broadway as stars of the Cameron Mackintosh hit musical Les Misérables which will be restaged starting on Nov. 9. Here’s the full report from The Filipino Reporter news editor Edmund Silvestre, Funfare’s New York correspondent:

Alan Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s smash hit musical Les Misérables is back on Broadway four years after the show ended its 15-year run, with seven Tony Awards including Best Musical (1987). And this time, two Filipino-American actors – Adam Jacobs and Ali Ewoldt – are cast in major roles as lovers Marius and Cosette in the show’s limited six-month engagement.

The third longest running show on Broadway history, this Victor Hugo musical set during the French Revolution – produced by Cameron Mackintosh and directed by John Caird – will officially open on Nov. 9 at the Broadhurst Theater.

Les Miz is continuing its non-traditional casting – believed to have started when Lea Salonga, months after leaving Miss Saigon (another Mackintosh hit musical) was cast in 1993 as the first Asian actor to play the street waif Eponine.

Alexander Gemignani, a Caucasian in the role of Jean Valjean, leads the new multicultural cast that also includes Norm Lewis, an African-American, as Javert; and Daphne Rubin-Vega, a Latina, as Fantine.

This is Adam Jacobs’ Broadway debut, after playing Marius for over a year on tour.

Aaron Lazar, who co-stars as the stirring Enjolras, told Playbill, "Adam looks like Superman playing Marius. He brings a lot of heart and passion to it. He’s fantastic."

Adam, 27, grew up in Half Moon Bay, California, and was raised by his Filipino mother and his Russian, Dutch, Jewish and Polish father.

At age five, he saw Yul Brynner in The King and I. "I was mesmerized," he said. "Because I sat through it and didn’t cry, my mom says she knew I’d become an actor."

The NYU grad got his big break on the tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella; there, he took over the role of the Prince from another Fil-Am leading man, Paolo Montalban.

Just three months ago, the 5’10" Adam was married to Kelly Kohnert, a singer-dancer who’s appearing in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

Asked what attracted her to Adam, Kelly says, "His totally electric smile and beautiful teeth. He’s also got a great bod. And I love his voice. When I first heard him sing, I just melted."

This is also Ali Ewoldt’s Broadway debut as Cosette.

The 25-year-old Fil-Am joined the national tour in the ensemble last September and was invited to audition for the Broadway return. Before long, she was at a second audition, with Cameron Mackintosh present. Ali says she had a feeling she was in good shape at the callback when she was the only Cosette in the room. She remembers Mackintosh was very quiet, watching events unfold. When the callback was over, she recalls, "He got up and gave me a hug and a kiss."

"I grew up listening to Les Miz," she told The Journal News (NY). "That was the big show when I was younger. It was the first show I ever memorized. My brother Greg and I would act it out."

Ali (or Allison Anolin Ewoldt) starred in the regional staging of West Side Story as Maria, Beauty and the Beast as Belle, Fantasticks as Luisa, The King and I as Tuptim, and Aladdin as Jasmine at Disney’s California Adventure. Her family lives in Pleasantville, New York. Her mother, the former Leah Vergara Anolin, is from Pangasinan, who married Robert Ewoldt.

When she was at Yale University, Ali said she was free to get involved in productions of all stripes: classical, contemporary and even opera. When the Yale Opera was looking for another soprano for The Marriage of Figaro, Ali got the call. She took the next step toward making theater a career when an agent came to see a friend perform and liked what she saw when Ali took the stage.

She says she finds her psychology degree, which she earned in 2003, "surprisingly relevant," particularly as she’s reading Les Miz and trying to get inside the head of Cosette – Fantine’s daughter and the ward of Jean Valjean – who falls in love with a student leader.

"I love Ali. She’s such fun to work with," said Adam Jacobs. "She’s like a little bird. Ali’s delicate and beautiful and everything I think Cosette should be."

"Adam has the perfect voice for Marius, and he’s a really warm and great guy," Ali responded.

Adam said being half-Filipino is "definitely a plus" in helping him land roles.

"When I was 15, I played a Native American," he shared. "I’ve also played Latinos a lot. Sometimes, you do fall through the cracks or you’re told you look too ethnic. For example, I’ve always wanted to play Tony in West Side Story, but I look too much like I could play Bernardo. Maybe I could play Tony in the winter because I’m not as tanned then. (Laughs.)"

When Les Miz’s previews opened on Oct. 23, theater critics described the chemistry of Adam and Ali as "mesmerizing," and their performance "magical."

The action in Les Miz begins in 1815 as Jean Valjean, a man condemned to 19 years of hard labor for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family, finds only hatred and suspicion when he is released on parole. Meeting one man who believes in him, Valjean breaks his parole to begin a new life. The story truly begins as Jean Valjean crosses the landscape of early 19th century France, always pursued by the righteous police inspector Javert. From his adoption and love of the orphan Cosette, to the darkly funny plots of the thieving Thenardiers, from the soaring revolutionary fire of the student rebels who fight on the barricade in the streets of Paris to the final confrontation between Jean Valjean and Javert, the story of Les Miserables is one of love, courage and redemption. link

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Pinoy Dream Academy: Ronnie Liang

Kung the last two weeks ay nagkaroon ng laban ang dollars at pesos natin sa text votes -- ayon sa local texters at sympathizers ng mga Pinoy Dream Academy scholars ng Dos -- this week ay panay local scholars na ang mga nasa probation list.

Noong October 21 expulsion night, si Chad (Richard Peralta ng Sydney) ang na-save ng text votes.

Si Irish (Fatima Irish Fullerston ng California) naman ang topnotcher ng text votes (39.21%) noong Sabado (October 28).

This week, labanan ng locals -- sina Rosita (Barent) ng Isabela, Chai (Charisse Fonacier) ng Cebu, Eman (Emmanuel Abatayo) ng Iloilo at Ronnie (Liang) ng Pampanga.

Sina Ronnie at Eman ang mga first timers sa probation (for expulsion) list. Gulat na gulat kami na nasa lowest three ang dalawa sa performance. Baka hindi nila type ang mga kanta nila.

Mabuti this week, dahil in the running sila for the 8th expulsion case, mabibigyan sila ng solo number.

Noong unang nag- meet-the press ang mga PDA scholars, hinanap kami ni Eman dahil nalaman niyang taga-Iloilo rin kami. Isang accountancy grad siya na nagkahilig sa banda.

Kilala naman namin si Ronnie Liang early this year pa nang dinisqualify siya sa Pinoy Pop Superstar ng GMA for having a manager, George Roca, na isang kaibigan.

Ilang beses din nag-guest sa radio program naming Showtime si Ronnie bago siya nag-graduate last April ng BS in Education, major in General Science mula sa Holy Angel University ng Angeles City.

Natutuwa kami sa pagtatapos ni Ronnie sa kolehiyo dahil alam namin na siya ang nagpaaral ng sarili niya by working sa McDo at Video City sa kanila.

On the side, rumarampa rin siya sa ilang fashion show -- at 21, six footer siya -- at nakalabas na rin siya sa pelikula.

Lumabas siya bilang ‘inspirasyon’ ni John Pratts sa Ako Legal Wife. Ewan kung nabayaran na siya ng kanyang talent fee for that short role.

Naniniwala kami na ang pagtatagal ni Ronnie sa loob ng PDA ay makatutulong sa kanya nang malaki. He has the makings of a matinee idol-crooner with his height, build and looks.

Mukhang pang-showbiz talaga siya. A pride of PDA. link

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Philippine TV Ratings

Narito ang overnight ratings ng mga programa ng GMA-7 at ABS-CBN 2 noong LUNES (Oktubre 30):

Gokusen 14.8% vs. Wansapanataym 16.1%;

SiS 16.3% vs. Homeboy 14.7%;

Yellow Handkerchief 18.1% vs. Game Ka Na Ba 20.2%;

Eat Bulaga 25.2% vs. Wowowee 25.2%;

Daisy Siete 21.2%, Pinakamamahal 12.8% at Now and Forever 12.3% vs. Kapamilya Cinema 24%;

Jewel in the Palace 23.8% vs. Pangako sa ‘Yo 18.2%;

24 Oras 24.1% vs. TV Patrol World 27.7%;

Captain Barbell 34.9% vs. Deal or No Deal 27.6%;

Atlantika 28.5% vs. Super Inggo 28.6% at Maging Sino Ka Man 24.4%;

Bakekang 29.8% vs. Pinoy Dream Academy 20.6%;

A Rosy Life 22.7% vs. Crazy For You 18.1%;

Lagot Ka Isusumbong Kita 15.6% vs. Bandila 11.3%.
Link

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Viva Hotmen Jerome Ocampo sex video?

Matagal nang tinigbak ng Viva Artist Management ang Viva Hotmen, pero hanggang ngayon ay maintriga pa rin ang all-male sexy group na ito.

Hindi matapus-tapos ang isyung ang ibang mga dating miyembro nito ay nabubuhay na lang sa "bookings" sa mayayamang bading.

Ang iba sa kanila ay nasa Japan at nagho-hosto.

Si Jerome Ocampo ay matagal nang bumalik sa Seattle, Washington, pero lately ay nabalitang may sex video siya.

Ayon sa mga kuwentuhan, nagma-masturbate si Jerome sa sex video na ito at patingin-tingin at pangiti-ngiti pa sa camera.

Obvious daw na aware si Jerome na kinukunan siya ng video habang nagma-masturbate siya.

Dahil wala kaming contact kay Jerome, ang scriptwriter turned talent manager at very close sa kanya na si Dennis Evangelista ang inusisa namin tungkol sa sex video na ‘yon.

Ayon kay Dennis, aware si Jerome sa kumakalat na sex video. Pero nag-deny na raw ang binatang-ama (may naanakan ito rito sa ‘Pinas bago bumalik ng Amerika) tungkol doon.

Wala raw itong sex video.

"Baka kamukha lang daw niya. Hindi naman daw siya pervert para magpakuha ng ganoon. Wala raw siyang ginagawang ganoon.

"Kahit ang mga naging girlfriend daw niya noong nandito pa lang siya sa Philippines, never siyang kinunan ng video habang nagma-masturbate.

"Feeling ko rin, kamukha lang niya ‘yung nasa sex video," pahayag ni Dennis.

Nakikiusap daw si Jerome na patahimikin na siya ng mga intrigero’t intrigera dahil pinipilit na niyang mamuhay nang tahimik sa Seattle, Washington.

"Malayo na siya sa showbiz. Right now, dalawa ang trabaho niya sa Amerika at balak na rin niyang mag-aral uli.

"Feeling ko, wala na rin siyang balak na magbalik sa pag-aartista," pahayag pa ni Dennis. link

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Pinoy Dream Academy: Moy Ortiz

Maraming viewers ang naiinggit sa mga scholar ng Pinoy Dream Academy lalo na yung mga gustong matutong kumanta dahil libreng natuturuan ang mga scholar ng The Company led by voice master Moy Ortiz.

Oo nga naman dahil mahal ang serbisyo ng nasabing grupo kapag nagpabayad sila dahil yun ang pinaka-sideline nila.

At para sa mga hindi maka-afford ng serbisyo ng grupo ay may bagong video na Sing Like A Champion ang Viva Video na mismong The Company ang magtuturo ng iba’t ibang techniques ng tamang pagkanta. Kasama rin siyempre ang tunay na champions na sina Sarah Geronimo at Rachelle Ann Go at ituturo rin nila ang kanilang techniques kung paano sila nagwagi sa singing contest na sinalihan nila.

Walang kumukwestiyon sa galing ng grupo ni Moy, pero kapag dumarating na ang performance night ng PDA scholars every Saturday ay abut-abot ang kaba ng The Company dahil kung hindi nakuntento ang jurors sa performance ng bawa’t scholar ay sa kanila nagri-reflect, "Siyempre kasi sina Moy yong voice coach nila, so kung palpak, meaning palpak din ang turo nina Moy," esplika ng taga-Dos.

Kaya pala kapag napipintasan ang performance ng bawat PDA scholar ay napapangiwi si Moy at nakasimangot at mas lalo raw siyang natsa-challenge.

Hindi binanggit sa amin kung sinong jurors ang medyo kinatatakutan ng scholars, pero duda namin ay nangunguna sa listahan si Jimmy Antiporda na medyo brutal sa kanyang mga side comment. link

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Matt Evans, dati walang pang-tuition ngayon wala namang time mag-aral!

Katuwa ring kausap ang young actor na si Matt Evans na mas nakilala nang ibigay sa kanya ng ABS-CBN ang role ng Pedro Penduko na balitang mai-extend. Supposedly ay 20 episode lang sila, pero ngayon ay madadagdagan daw dahil sa consistent daw ang rating since mag-start itong mag-air.

Anyway, kakatuwa siyang kausap dahil parang hindi pa siya masyadong showbiz. Wa siya care sa pagkukwento tungkol sa background niya before and after niyang mag-join sa Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition.

Before, hindi raw gaanong maayos ang house nila at kawalan din ng datung ang rason kung bakit hindi siya nakatungtong ng college. Buti na lang at napasali siya sa PBB or else baka nagwo-work siya by now.

Ngayon din, anytime na gusto niyang mag-aral, ia-avail ang scholarship na napanalunan niya sa PBB, puwede. ‘‘Noon may time akong mag-school pero wala naman akong pang-tuition. Ngayon namang meron na, wala naman akong masyadong time na mag-aral,’’ sabi ni Matt na isa sa October birthday celebrators ng Star Magic.

Napaayos na rin daw niya ang house nila at ang nagpapa-excite ngayon ay ang nabili niyang kotse worth P160,000. Second hand car ito pero very thankful siya dahil in a little period of time ay napagawa niya ang house nila, may kotse na siya at nakakabili na siya ng gusto niya.

Actually, pwede na sana siyang bumili ng brand new car, pero umiiwas siyang magkautang. ‘‘Takot ako sa utang eh. Ok na yung second hand, ang importante may nagagamit ako sa taping,’’ he said.

Anyway, hindi na dini-deny ni Matt ang tungkol sa kanila ng housemate niya sa PBB named Olyn. Open ang relationship nila kahit partner niya sa Pedro Penduko si Melissa Ricks. link

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Bea Alonzo, pagsusuotin ng magic camison sa Maging Sino Ka Man

Mukhang hindi lang si Mother Lily Monteverde ang gagamit ng ‘magic camison’ na nagbigay swerte sa mga youngster noon dahil gagaya na rin ang Star Cinema.

Yes, magsusuot na rin ng magic camison si Bea Alonzo sa Maging Sino Ka Man at kukunan siya habang naliligo sa batis kung saan sila napadpad ni John Lloyd Cruz.

Ang tsika sa amin ng taga-MSKM, "Wet look po ang eksena, hindi ko lang alam kung may bra o magdo-dobleng sando si Bea para hindi bumakat ang boobs niya. Siyempre wholesome image si Bea, eh."

Hindi rin pa raw knows ng aktres na may ganitong eksena dahil hindi pa ito napag-uusapan. Kaya sana raw ay pumayag ito dahil kailangan sa istorya.

At ano naman ang isusuot ni John Lloyd?

"Actually, hindi ko alam kung maliligo rin siya, baka pwedeng hindi, pwedeng oo, siguro naka-boxer shorts kasi ‘yun naman talaga ang gamit niya, hindi pwedeng mag-brief lang, ayaw niya," katwiran pa sa amin.

E, sina Anne Curtis at Sam Milby, wala bang eksenang sabay ding naliligo?

"As of now wala akong alam, maliban do’n sa kissing scene na natsika ko na sa ‘yo," say uli sa amin.

So, kung si Anne ay nag-two piece kasama si Sam, si Bea naman ay naka-wet look kasama si Loydie, ganda ng eksena ng Maging Sino Ka Man, huh? – REGGEE BONOAN

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Christian Bautista tops in Singapore

fter making a name for himself, and spinning one hit song after another in Indonesia, Asia’s Pop Idol Christian Bautista has conquered Singapore this time around. His killer track The Way You Look At Me, has been penetrating major Singaporean radio stations in the past seven weeks.

The Way You Look At Me even landed the No. 1 spot for two straight weeks in top radio station 987 FM.

Shan Wee, 987 FM DJ, has initiated a SMS poll that would determine Christian’s next single release. After delighting listeners with Christian’s live performance on air, votes were cast. 987 FM’s avid listeners have chosen Christian’s own composition, Please Don’t Go, from his international album Completely.

This does not only affirm Christian as a consistent international hit maker, but a budding composer as well. link

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