How’s her budding relationship with Daniel Matsunaga who plays Xavier in “Langit sa Piling Mo”? “We go out, getting to know each other better. I’ve introduced him to my parents and they like him kasi simpleng tao, very good looking but not at all mayabang. I’m enjoying his company as he shares stories I’ve never heard before and places I’ve never been to since he’s so well travelled.”
So is their relationship headed to something more serious? “I don’t know. He said he’d miss me when I leave for the States. It all depends if he’d continue his friendship with me kahit tapos na kami working together in ‘Langit sa Piling Mo.’ I don’t really want to rush things. I live one day at a time.”
Is she really leaving Annabelle Rama as her manager? “I’m still under contract with her up to next year and it’s my mom and dad who make decisions about these things.”
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NOEL FERRER is today’s busiest manager-agent with 22 talents: Ryan Agoncillo, Paolo Bediones, Bayani Agbayani, Luis Alandy, Marco Alcaraz, Joross Gamboa, Rainier Castillo, Edgar Allan Guzman, Rodjun Cruz, Jeffrey Espiritu aka Mr. Fu, Dingdong Avanzado, Cogie Domingo, Louie Heredia, Kim Atienza, Iza Calzado, Chris Tiu, Simon Atkins, Ardie Bascara, Andrew Miguel, Mark Manicad, Joaqui Valdes and James Blanco. Some of them will participate at Enchanted Kingdom’s 15th anniversary as Celebrity Storytellers. “Reading, literacy and education are part of our advocacy and this is our way of paying back to the public who supports us,” says Noel when we joined him last Sunday to meet the president of Enchanted Kingdom Mario Mamon and wife Cynthia Romero who’s VP and chief operating officer.
On Grandparents’ Day on September 12, living legend Anita Linda will be the special storyteller with the launch of the DVD of her film “Adela” under Sony. Bayani will do the storytelling on September 26, Marco on October 3, Joross on October 8, Luis on October 17, Mr. Fu, Edgard Allan, DJ Myke Salomon and Rodjun will have a special Halloween presentation on October 31, and Paolo Bediones on December 12, all at 4 PM at the Bandstand. The First Asian Sky Wizardry Fireworks Competion will be held on October 2-3, 9-10 & 16-17, with local fireworks companies participating along with Singapore, Malaysia and China. Also to be held is the Search for Enchanted Kingdom Little Prince and Princess along with talent showcase 4:30 PM on weekends. A new ride, Ekstreme Free Fall, will start on October 17. For Halloween, there will be a special Haunted Village. Now ongoing is the Simon and Silver Magic show at Mascot Elgar’s Tent, to be followed by Imagine, a special musicale on life. Enchanted Kingdom is open from Thursday to Sunday, with fireworks at 8:30 pm. You may call them at 584-3535, 584-4326 to29 or log on to www.enchantedkingdom.ph.
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IS PAOLO BEDIONES happy with his move to TV5 where he now hosts “Aksiyon” and “USI”? “Oo naman, no regrets,” he says. “It’s great to see something small growing bigger each day like TV5. I’m happy to be a part of it as it expands rapidly. By next year, we’ll have new business offices in the Fort and six buildings with new big studios at Pioneer St., Mandaluyong. We’re also improving our signal pati sa provinces. By January, covered na ang entire Philippines in coordination with Smart and PLDT that’s also owned by Mr. Manny Pangilinan. More new shows are being introduced in October, like the new morning show ‘Alas Cinco sa Cinco’, the news journal ‘Jorno’ by Luchi Cruz Valdes, the game show ‘House Or Not’ that’ll give away houses hosted by Joey de Leon, and the talent search ‘Star Factor’. Our newscast, Aksiyon, will have early and late night editions also using the latest new technology, Avid, which is totally digital.”
We told him “USI” is very informative and well researched but it’s not rating that well since it’s up against showbiz talk shows. “That’s why we’re moving it to a later timeslot at 9 PM, possibly on a Saturday or Sunday.”
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AT THE LAUNCH of Dingdong Dantes as endorser of Asia Yaosho, the number one Filipino superstore in Japan owned by Mr. Masaki Sato, he won’t answer any question about his alleged conflict with Bayani Agbayani at the recent birthday party of Ogie Alcasid. “Wala yun,” he says. “I don’t want to talk about it kasi wala naman yun.”
Is it true he confronted Bayani because the comedian spat out the milk he was drinking into Marian Rivera? This was when he guested in an episode of “Show Me Da Manny” as a Bondying with an oversized milk bottle and Marian as his yaya. “Walang ganun, ayokong pag-usapan yan. Walang kinalaman si Marian dun.”
Bayani says he won’t ever offend Marian as he knows she’s GMA-7 royalty, adding that Dingdong was very calm and what happened was just magnified by some people. He and Marian are also in good terms. Once, they saw each other at a showbiz function and Marian even introduced him to her mom.
We ask Dingdong if it’s true he and Marian will be paired with other partners after their hit soap “Endless Love”? “Yes, that’s true. She’s going to a big fantasy series while I’ll be paired with Regine Velasquez in the rom-com, ‘I Heart U, Pare’. May movie din siya na iba ang kapareha, ‘Super Inday and the Magic Bibe’.”
Dingdong did a series of pictorials for Asia Yaosho that will be used for print ads and billboards in Japan. “I’m also doing a TVC for them and, next year daw, I’ll go there on a personal appearance to promote Asia Yaosho that offers only the best Pinoy products from dried fruits to fresh vegetable, canned goods and cosmetic items to our kababayans who live in Japan.”
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THERE ARE CONFLICTING reports about Eugene Domingo’s “Mamarazzi”. Some say it failed at the tills while others say it did well. To verify, we asked supervising producer Manny Valera about it. “Mother Lily is very happy with the box office outcome of our 50th anniversary presentation,” he says. “After earning more than P5 million on opening day, it raked in more than P25 million during the long holiday weekend so Mother Lily wants to congratulate Eugene for the film’s success.”
