He’s happy now that after “Pilyang Kerubin”, he gets to play his most lovable role yet as a dead father whose soul inhabits the body of a yellow Labrador in GMA-7’s new drama series “Bantatay”, a combination of the dog Bantay and Tatay. As Bernard Razon, he plays the kind veterinarian in an animal clinic he inherited from his father. A loving husband and doting father of three, he was forced to take on the responsibilities of both a father and a mother after his wife Marcella (Gelli de Belen) is kidnapped by their evil relatives. Armed men soon break into their home and kill Bernard right in front of his children. He’ll have a hard time accepting his death and will do anything to remain “alive”. So much so that he is actually willing to take on the form of a dog just to be able to look after his children and get his wife to come home to them.
A certified Kapuso, Raymart also starred GMA-7 shows including Kool Ka Lang, Lagot Ka Isusumbong Kita, Who’s Your Daddy Now?, Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan, Gagambino, Darna, and also taped an episode for his wife’s self-titled drama anthology Claudine, Claudine Barretto’s first show as a Kapuso. He’s happy to star in his first light drama series and unleash his softer, more compassionate side. He will also have the chance to showcase his comic timing that viewers find most endearing about him. Bantatay, replacing “Langit sa Piling Mo”, also stars Gelli De Belen, Jennica Garcia, Carl Guevarra, Elmo Magalona, Camille Pratts, Gary Estrada, Kier Legaspi, Al Tantay, Marissa Delgado, Prince Stefan, Renz Valerio, Krystal Reyes, Maybeline Dela Cruz, Jessie Corcuera, and Jim Pebangco, and is directed by Don Michael Perez.
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TWO OF TIRSO CRUZ and Lyn Ynchausti’s kids are both in the cast of “Grazilda”, Bodie and Djanin Cruz. Both got assignments on their own and not just because of their dad. Bodie, 25, is an international studies graduate from La Salle. He was with Pinoy Big Brother before then moved to GMA where he did “Zorro” with Richard Gutierrez. He’s the second son as their eldest brother is TJ, who doesn’t want to join showbiz and now works in a hospital. In ‘Grazilda’ that’s seen after “Survivor Philippines”, he plays Ben, the older brother of Geoff Eigenmann. Djanin is 22, the youngest child and only girl. She first ventured into acting as a friend of Carla Abellana in ‘The Last Prince’. She’s also a La Salle graduate, majoring in business management. Their parents told them to finish their college studies first before joining showbiz. She plays Anatalia in “Grazilda”, one of Cinderella’s cruel stepsisters. She loves doing contravida roles and took an acting workshop with Vangie Labalan and Nanding Josef. Are they aware of how popular their dad was during the heydays of the Guy and Pip love team? “Oh yes,” says Bodie. “We’ve seen some of their movies and we know they have lots of supporters.” And what’s their favorite Guy and Pip movie? “’Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit’,” says Djanin. “My dad won several best actor awards for his performance in that film and we’re so proud of him.”
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WILLIE REVILLAME is definitely moving to TV 5 and his new show will start on October 10, 2010 that is said to be a lucky date as it’s triple ten. Unlike in ABS where his show was on noontime, the one on TV5, titled “Willing-Willie”, will be starting at 6 PM, reminiscent of past early evening variety shows like “Oras ng Ligaya” and “Trio Los Bobos”. If it clicks, it might just change the current pattern of early primetime programming now populated by soaps and newscasts. It will have totally new sets and co-hosts and is said to have the full support of TV5 top honcho Manny Pangilinan who welcomes Willie to TV 5 warmly. This means Willie’s meetings with Kapuso execs didn’t prosper so he’s now with the Kapatid network. “Kailangan na talaga magbalik ni Willie sa ere kasi milyones ang nawawala sa kanya sa bawat araw na hindi niya mai-plug ang endorsements na hawak niya,” someone told us. What about his court case with ABS? “Mga abogado na niya ang bahala roon. Basta focused siya ngayon sa pagpapaganda sa bago niyang show.”
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ARE THEY or aren’t they? We’re referring to Richard Gutierrez and Solenn Heussaff who we saw together on the flight to Cebu and, more recently, were seen out on a date watching the Drew Barrymovie rom-com,”Going the Distance”. We heard they also go to the same gym at Polo Club together. Despite persistent rumors that Solenn is his new girl after breaking up with Jewel Mische, Chard is consistent in his pronouncements that they’re just friends. Solenn even confided to a friend that Chard is the jealous type. Whether she admits it or not, being linked to an established big star like Chard will no doubt help Solenn become more familiar to the public. This early, someone’s suggesting that since she’s making waves in “Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown”, now the highest rating primetime show per AGB Nielsen ratings, GMA-7 should definitely include her as one of the leading ladies in Chard’s next assignment, the return of Captain Barbell, and also in his projected Valentine movie, “Maybe This Time”, with Anne Curtis.
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DOC FERDZ RECIO is the first castaway to be evicted from “Survivor Philippines Celebrity Edition” after Princess Snell voluntarily resigned. In the Survivor FaceBook account, many viewers have expressed their surprise at what happened to him as he’s been performing very well in the challenges and is a potential leader. But the rules in “Survivor” have been changed. It’s no longer all the members of the tribal council who vote on who’d be sent home but just the leader which is, in this case, Buhawi. When Doc Ferdz was interviewed by Raymond Gutierrez, he admitted that Buhawi must’ve felt insecure as he’s one of the strongest castaways. He said he thought it’s Mycah who’d be evicted as she already wanted to quit, but already had an inkling he’d be ousted when Mico Aytona told him earlier that some of their tribe members perceived him as a threat. But he says he’d treasure the experience of working with the celebrities who were with him in the island. His personal choice to win is Elma Muros.
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JOHN LAPUS covered the recent Cosmos Bash and showed film clips of Kapuso actors baring their torso on stage for screaming fans to ogle at, with Aljur Abrenica doing the opening number. Others who paraded on stage were Brapanese hunks Daniel Matsunaga and Fabio Ide, Carl Guevarra, Prince Stefan, Dion Ignacio, and Starstruck V’s Steven Silva and Rocco Nacino. Steven might have been the winner, but it’s Rocco who’s part of the ten and is now more popular than him. He was later featured in John’s Don’t Lie to Me portion where he’s predicted to be GMA’s next Aljur. Also featured in “Showbiz Central” last Sunday is primera contravida Cherie Gil in The Story of Your Life segment that paid tribute to her and the Eigenmann family, and former sexpot Camille Roxas who revealed she has decided to separate from her Fil-Singaporean husband who she married only last April. She said she’s a battered wife and her husband started physical abuse just one month after their marriage in Singapore. He’d say sorry and she’d forgive but after more beatings, she chose to end their marriage and returned home to Manila. The last straw was they went out with another former sexpot, Via Veloso. Her husband got so jealous that he kicked her hard on the side in the middle of the street while they’re having a fight, giving her broken ribs. She’s now working on the annulment of their marriage in Singapore.
