FREEHAND by Mario E. Bautista
BARBIE FORTEZA says she got nervous when told she’d be acting with Maricel Soriano in “Pilyang Kerubin”. “Kasi when I was first told I’ll play a pilya role in ‘Pilyang Kerubin’, my mom said gayahin mo si Maricel sa ‘Inday Bote’ at ‘Super Inday’ sa pagkapilya niya roon,” she says. “Tapos now, kaeksena ko na. Not only that, bilib talaga ako sa kanya. When I saw her in ‘Inang Yaya’, iyak kami ng iyak ng mom ko.”
So how is it acting with the Diamond Star? “Nakatrabaho siya ng mom ko noong umeekstra pa at sabi, mabait daw. So when I first met her, tinatantiya ko muna kung mabait nga and I found out mabait nga siya talaga. Nagtutulungan kami sa batuhan ng linya at sa blocking.”
She’s turning 13 on July 31. What are her plans? “Opo nga, teenager na ko. Pero wala akong plans na mag- party. Kung wala akong taping, lalabas lang kami ng family ko, gaya ng dati. Ever since, di naman ako nagpa-party.” So will she now entertain Joshua Dionisio if he’d woo her? “Ay, wala pong ganun. Super best friends na lang kami. Di namin naiisip na mago-on kami.”
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THIS IS UNSOLICITED advice to GMA. If they want “Pilyang Kerubin” to have a better fighting chance against its rival, then they should make sure it starts on time. What happens now is that “24 Oras” always runs 10 to 15 minutes overtime. When “Kerubin” finally starts, its rival show has already had a good head start. All their efforts to beef up the show by guesting top stars like Maricel Soriano in it would be useless if it’d always start late. It’s okay if “24 Oras” were reporting earthshaking news but most of the time, as someone told us, “kung anik-anik lang” to lengthen the show. Also, they should stop distributing hard copies of promo photo at presscons that are very expensive. Other stations and companies now just issue CD’s or, more conveniently, just email fotos to writers and publications. This way, they would be able to economize more on their expenses. They should also stop giving away those buttons with program titles as most writers just throw them away.
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TJ TRINIDAD is a hit as Martin in “Diva”, the man Regine Velasquez and Glaiza de Castro fight over. He’s about to wed Regine but Glaiza wants to snatch him so she drugs him and they end up in bed. Glaiza videotaped it and said she’d release their sex video if he’d wed Regine. “With ’Diva’, nalaman ng tao I can sing so I’m really grateful to be part of it, lalo na nga’t naging napakabait ni Regine sa akin considering her stature. She’s so humble and kind.”
Do you know that TJ has also written, co-produced (with Richard Gutierrez and Christian Gonzales for his company, Black Bus Films) and directed his debut film that will be shown at 9 tonight at the CCP in Cinemalaya, “MKAK (Mga Kinahinatnan ng Aking Kabalbalan)”? “The lead character is John, a young lawyer who’s promiscuous and is diagnosed to be HIV positive,” he says. “I planned to offer it to Dennis Trillo but he’s busy so I played it myself. I got the idea from my doctor brother who knew of a case of false diagnosis. With me are Gina Alajar as my boss with whom I have an affair, Nonie Buencamino as her husband, Jodi Sta. Maria and Bobby Andrews as the nurse and doctor in the clinic where I was diagnosed with HIV, Epi Quizon and Ketchup Eusebio as my friends, Che Ramos as a girl I had an affair with, and Ricky Davao and Leo Martinez as senior lawyers in the office I work for.”
Does he really plan to direct? “Yes, kasi as an actor, I see the whole process of filmmaking and now that I’ve tried directing, I’m so happy doing it, so fulfilling. I’ve seen the film and I’m satisfied with my work. It’s just so difficult to direct oneself, lalo na when it comes to blocking.”
Who are his favorite directors? “Lars Von Tier, Paul Anderson and Coen Bros sa foreign, Mike de Leon, Carlitos Siguion Reyna and Ishmael Bernal sa local.”
He intends to show his film in filmfests abroad. “I hope this will help promote HIV awareness.”
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ABS CBN STAR Magic talents born in June and July include Xian Lim, who turned 21 on July 12 and is now seen in the Cinemalaya entry, “Two Funerals” by Gil Portes, and on TV, “Elias Paniki” with Jake Cuenca in Agimat. How was it working with Tessie Tomas in “Two Funerals”? “Napakabait niya. She guided me in each scene and even invited me to dinner with her family. I didn’t think I’d be in that movie kasi I took the audition, e I always fail in auditions so I was surprised when Direk Gil sent me the full script later. This is the first time I auditioned na akong nakuha.” He’s now also shooting “Mamarazzi” for Regal directed by Joel Lamangan. “I play the lover of Arron Villaflor, who’s the gay son of John Lapus in the story.”
Didn’t he have second thoughts playing a gay role since he’s rumored to be one? “No, because I’m comfortable with who I am”.
How about Arron, who turned 20 on July 5? “I’ve played Sarah Geronimo’s gay friend before in ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’, so this is not new to me. Kaya lang, mas grabe ang pagka-gay ko rito kasi I wear women’s clothes at hindi alam ng dad kong si John Lapus na, like him, bading din ang anak niya.”
He’s part of Giggerboys that’s seen in “ASAP”. How does he feel that colleagues Robi Domingo, AJ Perez and Sam Concepcion are in “Cinco” but he’s not? ”I felt mas okay nga sana if all of us were there para solid yung group in doing our first film together but okay lang kasi I’m in ‘Mamarazzi’ naman and I also play Jason Abalos’ best friend in ‘Bianong Bulag’.”
Is it true he and Jasmine Curtis (sister of Anne) are now on? “No, I really like her but I heard she has an Aussie boyfriend.”
Hiyasmin Neri turned 20 on July 18. A BS Clothing Technology major from UP, she’s best known as the leading lady of Felix Roco in the Cinema One indie film “UPCAT”. On TV, she played Zanjoe Marudo’s cousin in “The Wedding” and Kim Chiu’s best friend in “Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo”. She’s now also hosting a show in The Knowledge Channel. Jane Oineza, who turns 14 on July 22, is a former child star (“Goin Bulilit”) last seen in “Magkano ang Iyong Dangal” as the young Bangs Garcia and in the film “Miss You Like Crazy” as Bea Alonzo’s sister. She was paired with Kristoffer Dangculos in “Ligaw na Bulaklak” who is now known as Kristoffer Martin in GMA-7’s “Endless Love”. “Sasabay sana ko sa kanya mag-audition sa GMA but ABS didn’t allow me,” she says. “Pero wala pa naman silang binibigay ng bagong show sa akin.”
Igiboy Flores is also a ”Goin Bulilit” graduate best known for spoofing female characters. He’ll turn 14 on July 31. He was last seen as the son of Ai Ai de las Alas in “Ang Tanging Pamilya”. Mark Sarayot started as a child actor playing the young Matt Evans in “Pedro Penduko” and “Kambal sa Uma” and the young Ejay Falcon in “Katorse”. He turns 13 on July 23 and now plays the brother of Jason Abalos in “Bianong Bulag”. He comes from a political family in Laguna but he now avoids politics after his uncle, mayor of Mabitac, was killed in an ambush.
BARBIE FORTEZA says she got nervous when told she’d be acting with Maricel Soriano in “Pilyang Kerubin”. “Kasi when I was first told I’ll play a pilya role in ‘Pilyang Kerubin’, my mom said gayahin mo si Maricel sa ‘Inday Bote’ at ‘Super Inday’ sa pagkapilya niya roon,” she says. “Tapos now, kaeksena ko na. Not only that, bilib talaga ako sa kanya. When I saw her in ‘Inang Yaya’, iyak kami ng iyak ng mom ko.”
So how is it acting with the Diamond Star? “Nakatrabaho siya ng mom ko noong umeekstra pa at sabi, mabait daw. So when I first met her, tinatantiya ko muna kung mabait nga and I found out mabait nga siya talaga. Nagtutulungan kami sa batuhan ng linya at sa blocking.”
She’s turning 13 on July 31. What are her plans? “Opo nga, teenager na ko. Pero wala akong plans na mag- party. Kung wala akong taping, lalabas lang kami ng family ko, gaya ng dati. Ever since, di naman ako nagpa-party.” So will she now entertain Joshua Dionisio if he’d woo her? “Ay, wala pong ganun. Super best friends na lang kami. Di namin naiisip na mago-on kami.”
**********
THIS IS UNSOLICITED advice to GMA. If they want “Pilyang Kerubin” to have a better fighting chance against its rival, then they should make sure it starts on time. What happens now is that “24 Oras” always runs 10 to 15 minutes overtime. When “Kerubin” finally starts, its rival show has already had a good head start. All their efforts to beef up the show by guesting top stars like Maricel Soriano in it would be useless if it’d always start late. It’s okay if “24 Oras” were reporting earthshaking news but most of the time, as someone told us, “kung anik-anik lang” to lengthen the show. Also, they should stop distributing hard copies of promo photo at presscons that are very expensive. Other stations and companies now just issue CD’s or, more conveniently, just email fotos to writers and publications. This way, they would be able to economize more on their expenses. They should also stop giving away those buttons with program titles as most writers just throw them away.
**********
TJ TRINIDAD is a hit as Martin in “Diva”, the man Regine Velasquez and Glaiza de Castro fight over. He’s about to wed Regine but Glaiza wants to snatch him so she drugs him and they end up in bed. Glaiza videotaped it and said she’d release their sex video if he’d wed Regine. “With ’Diva’, nalaman ng tao I can sing so I’m really grateful to be part of it, lalo na nga’t naging napakabait ni Regine sa akin considering her stature. She’s so humble and kind.”
Do you know that TJ has also written, co-produced (with Richard Gutierrez and Christian Gonzales for his company, Black Bus Films) and directed his debut film that will be shown at 9 tonight at the CCP in Cinemalaya, “MKAK (Mga Kinahinatnan ng Aking Kabalbalan)”? “The lead character is John, a young lawyer who’s promiscuous and is diagnosed to be HIV positive,” he says. “I planned to offer it to Dennis Trillo but he’s busy so I played it myself. I got the idea from my doctor brother who knew of a case of false diagnosis. With me are Gina Alajar as my boss with whom I have an affair, Nonie Buencamino as her husband, Jodi Sta. Maria and Bobby Andrews as the nurse and doctor in the clinic where I was diagnosed with HIV, Epi Quizon and Ketchup Eusebio as my friends, Che Ramos as a girl I had an affair with, and Ricky Davao and Leo Martinez as senior lawyers in the office I work for.”
Does he really plan to direct? “Yes, kasi as an actor, I see the whole process of filmmaking and now that I’ve tried directing, I’m so happy doing it, so fulfilling. I’ve seen the film and I’m satisfied with my work. It’s just so difficult to direct oneself, lalo na when it comes to blocking.”
Who are his favorite directors? “Lars Von Tier, Paul Anderson and Coen Bros sa foreign, Mike de Leon, Carlitos Siguion Reyna and Ishmael Bernal sa local.”
He intends to show his film in filmfests abroad. “I hope this will help promote HIV awareness.”
**********
ABS CBN STAR Magic talents born in June and July include Xian Lim, who turned 21 on July 12 and is now seen in the Cinemalaya entry, “Two Funerals” by Gil Portes, and on TV, “Elias Paniki” with Jake Cuenca in Agimat. How was it working with Tessie Tomas in “Two Funerals”? “Napakabait niya. She guided me in each scene and even invited me to dinner with her family. I didn’t think I’d be in that movie kasi I took the audition, e I always fail in auditions so I was surprised when Direk Gil sent me the full script later. This is the first time I auditioned na akong nakuha.” He’s now also shooting “Mamarazzi” for Regal directed by Joel Lamangan. “I play the lover of Arron Villaflor, who’s the gay son of John Lapus in the story.”
Didn’t he have second thoughts playing a gay role since he’s rumored to be one? “No, because I’m comfortable with who I am”.
How about Arron, who turned 20 on July 5? “I’ve played Sarah Geronimo’s gay friend before in ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’, so this is not new to me. Kaya lang, mas grabe ang pagka-gay ko rito kasi I wear women’s clothes at hindi alam ng dad kong si John Lapus na, like him, bading din ang anak niya.”
He’s part of Giggerboys that’s seen in “ASAP”. How does he feel that colleagues Robi Domingo, AJ Perez and Sam Concepcion are in “Cinco” but he’s not? ”I felt mas okay nga sana if all of us were there para solid yung group in doing our first film together but okay lang kasi I’m in ‘Mamarazzi’ naman and I also play Jason Abalos’ best friend in ‘Bianong Bulag’.”
Is it true he and Jasmine Curtis (sister of Anne) are now on? “No, I really like her but I heard she has an Aussie boyfriend.”
Hiyasmin Neri turned 20 on July 18. A BS Clothing Technology major from UP, she’s best known as the leading lady of Felix Roco in the Cinema One indie film “UPCAT”. On TV, she played Zanjoe Marudo’s cousin in “The Wedding” and Kim Chiu’s best friend in “Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo”. She’s now also hosting a show in The Knowledge Channel. Jane Oineza, who turns 14 on July 22, is a former child star (“Goin Bulilit”) last seen in “Magkano ang Iyong Dangal” as the young Bangs Garcia and in the film “Miss You Like Crazy” as Bea Alonzo’s sister. She was paired with Kristoffer Dangculos in “Ligaw na Bulaklak” who is now known as Kristoffer Martin in GMA-7’s “Endless Love”. “Sasabay sana ko sa kanya mag-audition sa GMA but ABS didn’t allow me,” she says. “Pero wala pa naman silang binibigay ng bagong show sa akin.”
Igiboy Flores is also a ”Goin Bulilit” graduate best known for spoofing female characters. He’ll turn 14 on July 31. He was last seen as the son of Ai Ai de las Alas in “Ang Tanging Pamilya”. Mark Sarayot started as a child actor playing the young Matt Evans in “Pedro Penduko” and “Kambal sa Uma” and the young Ejay Falcon in “Katorse”. He turns 13 on July 23 and now plays the brother of Jason Abalos in “Bianong Bulag”. He comes from a political family in Laguna but he now avoids politics after his uncle, mayor of Mabitac, was killed in an ambush.
