FREEHAND by Mario E. Bautista
JUST LIKE other stars who get married for the second time, John Estrada is asked if he’d invite ex-wife Janice de Belen to his wedding next to year to Brazilian beauty queen Priscilla Meirelles. “I don’t think she’d come even if we invite her,” he says when interviewed on the set of “Agua Bendita”.
At the opening of Shinagawa Lasik and Aesthetics Clinic, Priscilla was a guest and was also asked about this. “We’re not close ni Janice but she’s always welcome to come,” she says. “I don’t know if it’s appropriate kasi she and John are not close. But we invited all their children who’ll be part of the wedding entourage. The girls will be junior bridesmaids and their son, Yuan, will be junior best man with Richard Gomez as senior best man. We also invited Luigi (Janice’s son with Aga Muhlach) and it’s up to him if he’d want to come or not. I want it sana to be an intimate beach wedding but John has so many friends so we’re expecting around 200 people.”
As for Janice, when interviewed on the set of “Endless Love” where she plays Marian Rivera’s cruel mom, she’s more concerned about John’s financial obligations to their kids. “Let’s be happy for them but, as of now, mag-isa lang akong nagtatrabaho for our four children,” she says. “They all go to school and everyday, marami silang needs na ako lang mag-isa ang nagbibigay.”
She wouldn’t admit it but it hurts her that so much will be spent for her ex-hubby’s coming wedding. “Dinala ko na ito noon sa court at may decision na about his obligations to our kids. I just wish na sana, gampanan niya ang mga obligasyon niyang yun kahit na ganyang magkakaroon na siya ng bagong family.”
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KC CONCEPCION was not at the launching of Piolo Pascual as endorser of Zesto Corporation’s Quickchow Instant Mami but she was brought into the picture when brand manager Tet del Rosario (mom of Star Magic talent Martin del Rosario) was asked if the intend to get KC as co-endorser someday, what with KC’s mom as the endorser of Quickchow’s competitor. Editor Eugene Asis quips that KC is already a part of the product as the letters KC are right in the middle of Quickchow. The issue between Piolo and KC’s camp over the twits posted by his alleged Inigo against KC has been settled after Piolo apologized on TV and said that his son doesn’t even have a Twitter account.
So why did they get Piolo as endorser of Quickchow? “He’s our only choice as he’s the epitome of good product quality,” says Tet. “He excels in various fields: acting, sports, singing, hosting. He encompasses all kinds of people and genders. Our campaign is called Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang? Sa TVC, Piolo says that, kasi sa dami raw ng noodles na natikman niya, bakit ngayon lang niya natikman ang Quickchow.”
Does Piolo really eat instant noodles? “Oh yes. I grew up eating noodles as ours is a noodle eating country. This is the best if you have an active style. Sa taping, pag pagod at puyat ka and you want something quick, Quickchow is perfect for me. Mabubusog ka talaga.”
Would he bring it as “baon” to his tapings of “Noah”? “Oh yes. Nanghihingi nga yung mga kasamahan ko kasi kilala rin nila ang Quickchow as it’s a quality brand.”
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IS EAT BULAGA scared of their new competition Pilipinas Win na Win? “Should we be?” says their ever amiable executive producer Malou Choa Fagar. “Hindi naman sa pagyayabang but we just celebrated our 31st anniversary. Through the years, kung ano-anong shows na ang itinapat sa amin, they’ve come and gone but heto pa rin kami after more than 3 decades. I’d like to think may loyal following na talaga ang ‘Eat Bulaga’ na kahit anupang show ang itapat sa amin will stick with us.”
What’s nice about “Eat Bulaga” is that it’s not just entertaining but has also helped countless people with their generous reach out programs like EB Scholars that sends poor but deserving students to school and EB Heroes that recognizes ordinary people who help others unselfishly. They’ve also constructed a school building in Quezon with free school supplies. Now, they’re helping various barangays in the Juan for All, All for Juan segment. Honestly, with the show’s laudable social consciousness, they have nothing more to prove, as seen in the survey ratings that show EB remains to be the leading program in its slot.
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AFTER playing the role of a “bugaloo” or pimp in the new “Working Girls”, Director Joel Lamangan is glad that he’s an actor once again in the new film of internationally acclaimed filmmaker Dante Mendoza, “Captured”, a French-German co-production about hostage-taking by the Abu Sayyaf that will be shot here next year and meant for international release. “Take note, ang kaeksena ko is the famous French actress Isabelle Huppert,” he says when we saw him at the preview of Fanny Serrano’s “Tarima”. Other local actors who’ll play kidnappers are Coco Martin, Jhong Hilario, Ronnie Lazaro and Ketchup Eusebio.
Joel has just finished directing “Mamarazzi” with Eugene Domingo. “Sobrang funny. Ine-edit namin, tawa kami ng tawa. Mahusay talaga si Uge. Kaya na niyang magdala ng movie on her own. Sila lang nina Diether Ocampo at John Lapus ang experienced stars dito. All the rest, puro bago at bata na, like Carla Abellana, Andi Eigenmann, AJ Perez, JC Tiuseco, Arron Villaflor and Xian Lim. In fairness to them, hindi sila nagpahuli. They all deliver.”
Joel informs us that his Cinemalaya entry, “Sigwa”, starring Dawn Zulueta, Tirso Cruz III, Gina Alajar, Zsa Zsa Padilla and other stars, will be shown at the Brussels and Montreal International Filmfest, just like his other acclaimed film “Dukot” that is now being shown all over the world. It will have its premiere night at Robinson’s Galleria on August 28, 7 Pm, and another screening there on September 11 sponsored by the United Fire Volunteers Association. It will then have screenings in the U.S. and Dubai.
Going back to Direk Dante, sorry we weren’t able to go to his recent 50th birthday celebration last due to heavy rains. But we want to congratulate him for the latest international honors his film “Lola” got: the best cinematography award at the 31st Durban Filmfest in South Africa and the best picture award at the 8th Asian Filmfest in Rome where it bested 17 other countries in the main competition.
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CLAUDINE BARRETTO feels relieved that she and ex-BF Mark Anthony Fernandez are in good terms once more. They had a good working relationship while taping the final episode for her drama series that will be shown tonight where they are shown in a wedding scene shot in Subic. It will be replaced by the sitcom, “Jejemom”, starring the ubiquitous Eugene Domingo. GMA now wants to pair Claudine and Mark in a forthcoming daily soap.
Claudine is also touched with her leading man in the romantic drama, “In Your Eyes”, Richard Gutierrez. “He really made an effort to greet me noong birthday ko kahit hirap na hirap silang kumuha ng signal doon sa island where they’re now taping ‘Survivor Philippines Celebrity Edition’,” she says. “Gumawa talaga siya ng paraan just so he could greet me happy birthday and he told he’ll do his best para makatulong pa sa promo ng movie naming before its August 18 playdate.”
JUST LIKE other stars who get married for the second time, John Estrada is asked if he’d invite ex-wife Janice de Belen to his wedding next to year to Brazilian beauty queen Priscilla Meirelles. “I don’t think she’d come even if we invite her,” he says when interviewed on the set of “Agua Bendita”.
At the opening of Shinagawa Lasik and Aesthetics Clinic, Priscilla was a guest and was also asked about this. “We’re not close ni Janice but she’s always welcome to come,” she says. “I don’t know if it’s appropriate kasi she and John are not close. But we invited all their children who’ll be part of the wedding entourage. The girls will be junior bridesmaids and their son, Yuan, will be junior best man with Richard Gomez as senior best man. We also invited Luigi (Janice’s son with Aga Muhlach) and it’s up to him if he’d want to come or not. I want it sana to be an intimate beach wedding but John has so many friends so we’re expecting around 200 people.”
As for Janice, when interviewed on the set of “Endless Love” where she plays Marian Rivera’s cruel mom, she’s more concerned about John’s financial obligations to their kids. “Let’s be happy for them but, as of now, mag-isa lang akong nagtatrabaho for our four children,” she says. “They all go to school and everyday, marami silang needs na ako lang mag-isa ang nagbibigay.”
She wouldn’t admit it but it hurts her that so much will be spent for her ex-hubby’s coming wedding. “Dinala ko na ito noon sa court at may decision na about his obligations to our kids. I just wish na sana, gampanan niya ang mga obligasyon niyang yun kahit na ganyang magkakaroon na siya ng bagong family.”
**********
KC CONCEPCION was not at the launching of Piolo Pascual as endorser of Zesto Corporation’s Quickchow Instant Mami but she was brought into the picture when brand manager Tet del Rosario (mom of Star Magic talent Martin del Rosario) was asked if the intend to get KC as co-endorser someday, what with KC’s mom as the endorser of Quickchow’s competitor. Editor Eugene Asis quips that KC is already a part of the product as the letters KC are right in the middle of Quickchow. The issue between Piolo and KC’s camp over the twits posted by his alleged Inigo against KC has been settled after Piolo apologized on TV and said that his son doesn’t even have a Twitter account.
So why did they get Piolo as endorser of Quickchow? “He’s our only choice as he’s the epitome of good product quality,” says Tet. “He excels in various fields: acting, sports, singing, hosting. He encompasses all kinds of people and genders. Our campaign is called Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang? Sa TVC, Piolo says that, kasi sa dami raw ng noodles na natikman niya, bakit ngayon lang niya natikman ang Quickchow.”
Does Piolo really eat instant noodles? “Oh yes. I grew up eating noodles as ours is a noodle eating country. This is the best if you have an active style. Sa taping, pag pagod at puyat ka and you want something quick, Quickchow is perfect for me. Mabubusog ka talaga.”
Would he bring it as “baon” to his tapings of “Noah”? “Oh yes. Nanghihingi nga yung mga kasamahan ko kasi kilala rin nila ang Quickchow as it’s a quality brand.”
**********
IS EAT BULAGA scared of their new competition Pilipinas Win na Win? “Should we be?” says their ever amiable executive producer Malou Choa Fagar. “Hindi naman sa pagyayabang but we just celebrated our 31st anniversary. Through the years, kung ano-anong shows na ang itinapat sa amin, they’ve come and gone but heto pa rin kami after more than 3 decades. I’d like to think may loyal following na talaga ang ‘Eat Bulaga’ na kahit anupang show ang itapat sa amin will stick with us.”
What’s nice about “Eat Bulaga” is that it’s not just entertaining but has also helped countless people with their generous reach out programs like EB Scholars that sends poor but deserving students to school and EB Heroes that recognizes ordinary people who help others unselfishly. They’ve also constructed a school building in Quezon with free school supplies. Now, they’re helping various barangays in the Juan for All, All for Juan segment. Honestly, with the show’s laudable social consciousness, they have nothing more to prove, as seen in the survey ratings that show EB remains to be the leading program in its slot.
**********
AFTER playing the role of a “bugaloo” or pimp in the new “Working Girls”, Director Joel Lamangan is glad that he’s an actor once again in the new film of internationally acclaimed filmmaker Dante Mendoza, “Captured”, a French-German co-production about hostage-taking by the Abu Sayyaf that will be shot here next year and meant for international release. “Take note, ang kaeksena ko is the famous French actress Isabelle Huppert,” he says when we saw him at the preview of Fanny Serrano’s “Tarima”. Other local actors who’ll play kidnappers are Coco Martin, Jhong Hilario, Ronnie Lazaro and Ketchup Eusebio.
Joel has just finished directing “Mamarazzi” with Eugene Domingo. “Sobrang funny. Ine-edit namin, tawa kami ng tawa. Mahusay talaga si Uge. Kaya na niyang magdala ng movie on her own. Sila lang nina Diether Ocampo at John Lapus ang experienced stars dito. All the rest, puro bago at bata na, like Carla Abellana, Andi Eigenmann, AJ Perez, JC Tiuseco, Arron Villaflor and Xian Lim. In fairness to them, hindi sila nagpahuli. They all deliver.”
Joel informs us that his Cinemalaya entry, “Sigwa”, starring Dawn Zulueta, Tirso Cruz III, Gina Alajar, Zsa Zsa Padilla and other stars, will be shown at the Brussels and Montreal International Filmfest, just like his other acclaimed film “Dukot” that is now being shown all over the world. It will have its premiere night at Robinson’s Galleria on August 28, 7 Pm, and another screening there on September 11 sponsored by the United Fire Volunteers Association. It will then have screenings in the U.S. and Dubai.
Going back to Direk Dante, sorry we weren’t able to go to his recent 50th birthday celebration last due to heavy rains. But we want to congratulate him for the latest international honors his film “Lola” got: the best cinematography award at the 31st Durban Filmfest in South Africa and the best picture award at the 8th Asian Filmfest in Rome where it bested 17 other countries in the main competition.
**********
CLAUDINE BARRETTO feels relieved that she and ex-BF Mark Anthony Fernandez are in good terms once more. They had a good working relationship while taping the final episode for her drama series that will be shown tonight where they are shown in a wedding scene shot in Subic. It will be replaced by the sitcom, “Jejemom”, starring the ubiquitous Eugene Domingo. GMA now wants to pair Claudine and Mark in a forthcoming daily soap.
Claudine is also touched with her leading man in the romantic drama, “In Your Eyes”, Richard Gutierrez. “He really made an effort to greet me noong birthday ko kahit hirap na hirap silang kumuha ng signal doon sa island where they’re now taping ‘Survivor Philippines Celebrity Edition’,” she says. “Gumawa talaga siya ng paraan just so he could greet me happy birthday and he told he’ll do his best para makatulong pa sa promo ng movie naming before its August 18 playdate.”
