FREEHAND by Mario E. Bautista
EDU MANZANO obviously changed his mind. He said he’s turning his back on showbiz after he ran as vice president, but we now hear he wasn’t able to resist GMA-7’s offer for him to host another game show, “Asar Talo Pero Laging Panalo”. It’d be recalled that he hosted “Game Ka Na Ba” for a long time. “Asara Talo” is an original game show concept where contestants will face the most daunting and challenging tasks, the most hostile audiences, and the most obnoxious remarks to be heard live on national television. This one of a kind game show offers plenty of excitement while giving winners the chance to bring home big cash prizes and giveaways. The contestant will be called Bida, and he should survive the barrage of taunts, insults and boos from the heckling audience. Failure to keep his cool when provoked will make him lose and make the studio audience the winners. “Asar Talo Pero lagging Panalo” will premiere in September.
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LAURICE GUILLEN’S “Tanging Yaman” remains to be one of our fave films. A family drama that won so many awards in the 2000 Metro Manila filmfest, it features a knockout performance by Gloria Romero as the mother afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. Now, 10 years later, Star Cinema comes up with another family drama from Laurice that opens on September 1, “Sa’Yo Lamang”, with a theme song that’s often heard in churches during mass, just like “Tanging Yaman”. It boasts of a powerhouse cast led by Christopher de Leon and Lorna Tolentino, plus Diether Ocampo, Bea Alonzo, Coco Martin, Shaina Magdayao, Zanjoe Marudo, Enchong Dee, Empress Schuck, Miles Ocampo and Lauren Young. Christopher plays the father who goes to work overseas for ten years, leaving Lorna to personally take care of their kids. Laden with family issues and problems, “Sa’Yo Lamang” promises to be a tearjerker that’s sure to tug at the viewer’s heartstrings.
Meantime, Diether finally confirmed that and girlfriend Rima Ostwani have broken up. Earlier, he said they’re still trying to iron things out and save their relationship but this time, he said their busy schedules and conflict of interest were the reasons for their split. “My focus now is my career,” he says. “Heto nga, magkasunod ipapalabas ang two movies ko, ‘Mamarazzi’ on August 25 and ‘Sa’Yo Lamang’ on September 1 kaya super busy talaga ako. May ‘Slow Fade’ pa ko na movie rin with PLDT and Cinema Buhay and I still tape for ABS-CBN’s ‘Rubi’. So, I really have to sacrifice something.”
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DINGDONG DANTES and Marian Rivera had a joint celebration of their birthdays in “Party Pilipinas” last Sunday. They have reason to celebrate as the ratings of their soap, “Endless Love”, went even higher when it was shown on later slot after “ILumina”. What can they say about this? “May sariling following ang love team namin, but more than that, yung magandang story ang nagdadala rito,” he says. “Talaga susundan mo what happens sa love story nina Johnny at Jenny, the characters we play.”
“Also, on and off screen, I think may nakikitang chemistry sa’ming dalawa ang mga tao,” adds Marian. “That’s priceless, kasi hindi mo puedeng puwersahin yun o pilitin. It’s something valuable na nakikita nila sa amin kasi maganda talaga ang rapport namin sa isa’t isa kaya mas masarap talagang magtrabaho. Another factor is mahuhusay ang co-stars namin like Dennis Trillo as Andrew na handa talagang magpakasakit for me even if his mom, Kuh Ledesma, hates me, at si Nadine Samonte as Shirley na gagawin naman ang lahat to make me miserable. Mapipilitan akong sagutin si Andrew pero si Johnny pa rin talaga ang mahal ko kahit malapit na siyang pakasal kay Bella Padilla.”
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EVER SINCE we wrote that indie films maven Atty. Joji Alonso wants to get Vilma Santos for an indie film meant to be shown in filmfest abroad, Ate Vi’s fans have been asking for the latest development about it. They’re excited for their idol as it might win her best actress awards in international film festivals, like what Atty. Joji did for Gina Pareno in “Kubrador”. We asked Atty. Joji about and she said she already contacted Ate Vi but there’s still no response from the Batangas governor. She also talked to Aida Fandialan, Ate Vi’s girl Friday, about it, but still no response. As for the role, we’re not at liberty to divulge it sincet Atty. Joji wants everything to be under wraps until such time that Ate Vi has given an affirmative response. All we can say is that the material is socially relevant as it’s about the local justice system, as written by award-winning scriptwriter Armando Bing Lao, and the role is really an acting vehicle that Ate Vi (or any other actress, for that matter) has never done before. Atty. Joji says their timetable is for it to be shot next year yet. So, Vilmanians, keep your fingers crossed that Ate Vi will not be so busy with her gubernatorial duties by then and will find enough time to shoot the movie which could very well be set in Batangas for her own convenience.
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SEVEN YEARS after he won as the first Male Starstruck Survivor, Mark Herras’s career as an actor-dancer and TV host continues to be on the upswing. His performance as Rigo Hilario, Heart Evangelista’s leading man in “Langit sa Piling Mo”, is earning praises. “I don’t want to waste the opportunities given to me by GMA-7 kaya nagseseryoso talaga ako sa acting,” he says. “Thanks to Heart also kasi magaling siyang katrabaho. Dati ko na siyang crush, kaya nga hinihintay kong magkaroon kami ng kissing scene sa show. So far, wala pa, e. I also want to thank our director, Gil Tejada, for all his guidance in the show.”
“Una kong nadirek si Mark sa ‘Encantadia’ and he’s really improved a lot as an actor since then,” says Gil. “Ang galing-galing ni Heart in ‘Langit sa Piling Mo’,pero hindi siya nagpapaiwan dito. He now delivers with more intensity.”
Mark is also a host of the reality dance search “Danz Showdown” with SexBomb Izzy Tirazona. It’s a job that fits him as he’s known as the Bad Boy of the Dance Floor. His dancing prowess is definitely an advantage over other actors and dancers in “Party Pilipinas”.
“My dream is to be given more serious roles,” he says. “Gusto yung role na akala mo mabait, pero serial killer pala.”
EDU MANZANO obviously changed his mind. He said he’s turning his back on showbiz after he ran as vice president, but we now hear he wasn’t able to resist GMA-7’s offer for him to host another game show, “Asar Talo Pero Laging Panalo”. It’d be recalled that he hosted “Game Ka Na Ba” for a long time. “Asara Talo” is an original game show concept where contestants will face the most daunting and challenging tasks, the most hostile audiences, and the most obnoxious remarks to be heard live on national television. This one of a kind game show offers plenty of excitement while giving winners the chance to bring home big cash prizes and giveaways. The contestant will be called Bida, and he should survive the barrage of taunts, insults and boos from the heckling audience. Failure to keep his cool when provoked will make him lose and make the studio audience the winners. “Asar Talo Pero lagging Panalo” will premiere in September.
**********
LAURICE GUILLEN’S “Tanging Yaman” remains to be one of our fave films. A family drama that won so many awards in the 2000 Metro Manila filmfest, it features a knockout performance by Gloria Romero as the mother afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. Now, 10 years later, Star Cinema comes up with another family drama from Laurice that opens on September 1, “Sa’Yo Lamang”, with a theme song that’s often heard in churches during mass, just like “Tanging Yaman”. It boasts of a powerhouse cast led by Christopher de Leon and Lorna Tolentino, plus Diether Ocampo, Bea Alonzo, Coco Martin, Shaina Magdayao, Zanjoe Marudo, Enchong Dee, Empress Schuck, Miles Ocampo and Lauren Young. Christopher plays the father who goes to work overseas for ten years, leaving Lorna to personally take care of their kids. Laden with family issues and problems, “Sa’Yo Lamang” promises to be a tearjerker that’s sure to tug at the viewer’s heartstrings.
Meantime, Diether finally confirmed that and girlfriend Rima Ostwani have broken up. Earlier, he said they’re still trying to iron things out and save their relationship but this time, he said their busy schedules and conflict of interest were the reasons for their split. “My focus now is my career,” he says. “Heto nga, magkasunod ipapalabas ang two movies ko, ‘Mamarazzi’ on August 25 and ‘Sa’Yo Lamang’ on September 1 kaya super busy talaga ako. May ‘Slow Fade’ pa ko na movie rin with PLDT and Cinema Buhay and I still tape for ABS-CBN’s ‘Rubi’. So, I really have to sacrifice something.”
**********
DINGDONG DANTES and Marian Rivera had a joint celebration of their birthdays in “Party Pilipinas” last Sunday. They have reason to celebrate as the ratings of their soap, “Endless Love”, went even higher when it was shown on later slot after “ILumina”. What can they say about this? “May sariling following ang love team namin, but more than that, yung magandang story ang nagdadala rito,” he says. “Talaga susundan mo what happens sa love story nina Johnny at Jenny, the characters we play.”
“Also, on and off screen, I think may nakikitang chemistry sa’ming dalawa ang mga tao,” adds Marian. “That’s priceless, kasi hindi mo puedeng puwersahin yun o pilitin. It’s something valuable na nakikita nila sa amin kasi maganda talaga ang rapport namin sa isa’t isa kaya mas masarap talagang magtrabaho. Another factor is mahuhusay ang co-stars namin like Dennis Trillo as Andrew na handa talagang magpakasakit for me even if his mom, Kuh Ledesma, hates me, at si Nadine Samonte as Shirley na gagawin naman ang lahat to make me miserable. Mapipilitan akong sagutin si Andrew pero si Johnny pa rin talaga ang mahal ko kahit malapit na siyang pakasal kay Bella Padilla.”
**********
EVER SINCE we wrote that indie films maven Atty. Joji Alonso wants to get Vilma Santos for an indie film meant to be shown in filmfest abroad, Ate Vi’s fans have been asking for the latest development about it. They’re excited for their idol as it might win her best actress awards in international film festivals, like what Atty. Joji did for Gina Pareno in “Kubrador”. We asked Atty. Joji about and she said she already contacted Ate Vi but there’s still no response from the Batangas governor. She also talked to Aida Fandialan, Ate Vi’s girl Friday, about it, but still no response. As for the role, we’re not at liberty to divulge it sincet Atty. Joji wants everything to be under wraps until such time that Ate Vi has given an affirmative response. All we can say is that the material is socially relevant as it’s about the local justice system, as written by award-winning scriptwriter Armando Bing Lao, and the role is really an acting vehicle that Ate Vi (or any other actress, for that matter) has never done before. Atty. Joji says their timetable is for it to be shot next year yet. So, Vilmanians, keep your fingers crossed that Ate Vi will not be so busy with her gubernatorial duties by then and will find enough time to shoot the movie which could very well be set in Batangas for her own convenience.
**********
SEVEN YEARS after he won as the first Male Starstruck Survivor, Mark Herras’s career as an actor-dancer and TV host continues to be on the upswing. His performance as Rigo Hilario, Heart Evangelista’s leading man in “Langit sa Piling Mo”, is earning praises. “I don’t want to waste the opportunities given to me by GMA-7 kaya nagseseryoso talaga ako sa acting,” he says. “Thanks to Heart also kasi magaling siyang katrabaho. Dati ko na siyang crush, kaya nga hinihintay kong magkaroon kami ng kissing scene sa show. So far, wala pa, e. I also want to thank our director, Gil Tejada, for all his guidance in the show.”
“Una kong nadirek si Mark sa ‘Encantadia’ and he’s really improved a lot as an actor since then,” says Gil. “Ang galing-galing ni Heart in ‘Langit sa Piling Mo’,pero hindi siya nagpapaiwan dito. He now delivers with more intensity.”
Mark is also a host of the reality dance search “Danz Showdown” with SexBomb Izzy Tirazona. It’s a job that fits him as he’s known as the Bad Boy of the Dance Floor. His dancing prowess is definitely an advantage over other actors and dancers in “Party Pilipinas”.
“My dream is to be given more serious roles,” he says. “Gusto yung role na akala mo mabait, pero serial killer pala.”
