She’ll now be seen twice on Sundays as she’s also in “Paparazzi” at 2:30 PM Sundays. “Yes, so my weekends will be busy and I have several stylists to help me make sure that my wardrobe and my look are different in each show.”
On Sunday, they’ll show those who took the auditions in Manila, Cebu and Davao. There will be 18 finalists: 13 from Manila, 3 from Cebu and 2 from Davao. Will jurors Audie Gemora, Joey Reyes, Ryan Cayabyab, Raymond Isaac and her mom Annabelle Rama also be there? “Yes, we just didn’t invite my mom today kasi baka matalbugan pa niya ako. E, sa twitter nga, talbog na ko ni Mommy ngayon. Inaaway kasi ko pati sa Twitter so sabi ko, di ba puede i-text mo na lang sa’kin kaysa sharing it with everyone sa Twitter?”
What can she say about her mom giving Angeli Pangilinan a dressing down where even Gary Valenciano has now come into the picture? “Anuman yung dahilan why sumakit ang loob ko about Tita Angeli, wala na yun. Kasi lang, when my mom called me, mainit pa ang ulo ko at naikuwento what happened, without me knowing that an hour later, magkikita sila ni Tita Angeli sa birthday party ni Ogie Alcasid. As for Tito Gary, I have so much respect for him and like him, all I want is peace and love.”
What exactly did Angeli tell her? “Ayoko ng balikan. You must ask her na lang mismo.”
How come she twitted that she’s ready to have another child? “That’s not what I mean. I had a general checkup sa St. Luke’s kasi after my brother Ritchie Paul got sick, the doctor suggested pa-check up kami and so I did. The OB-gyn told me my ovaries are very healthy, marami pang eggs, so I can still have kids. That’s what I put sa Twitter but I don’t have any plans of having any more children. And besides, sinong ama? It’s just nice to know puede pa pala ako.”
So why doesn’t she accept Smartmatic boss Cesar Flores? “I already told him that we’ll just be friends. I’m not ready to have another relationship now. Maraming mga desente at guwapong umaaligid diyan, but work and my daughters lang ang focus ko ngayon.”
How did she feel when DJ Mo put one over her when he presented to her his fotos with Rhian Ramos and demanding the P100,000 prize she promised to those who can show pictures of them together? “Naisahan talaga ako doon ni Mo. But my challenge is only for ‘Paparazzi’ viewers and my Twitter followers. I didn’t tell Mo to hire his own photographer at magpakuha sila ni Rhian ng picture all over Manila, so hindi counted yun at gaganti na lang ako sa kanya. At least, now, confirmed ng may relasyon sila ni Rhian.”
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AFTER A LONG absence, Yasmien Kurdi is back in “Grazilda”. We just feel sad for her as she has played lead roles in such hit soaps as “Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita” and “Pasan Ko ang Daigdig”, and yet, she’s now relegated to a villain role as Glaiza de Castro’s evil stepsister in “Grazilda”. We were looking forward to asking her what happened to her but she was a no show at the “Grazilda” presscon. The official reason given is she has sore eyes. But some writers she probably just wants to avoid being interviewed as to why she now plays supporting roles.
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NEWCOMER GWEN Zamora was visibly flattered when we told her she looks like a young Monica Belucci, the Italian bombshell best known for “Malena”. “Yes!” she blurts out. Unlike the Starstruck newbies who underwent through so many workshops, trials and tribulations but have yet to make it on primetime, stardom was handed to Gwen on a silver platter in her role as Cinderella in “Grazilda”.
“I feel so blessed kasi who’d not be happy to play a popular fairy tale character like Cinderella. Every child loves her and everyone loves her story, so I’m really thankful to GMA for giving me this role. This is my first show and I’m acting with some of the best actors in the industry kaya may pressure na pagbutihin ko ang trabaho ko so they won’t regret trusting my talent and giving me this break.”
How is it working with Glaiza de Castro? “She’s great, mabait. At first, siya ang evil stepsister ko rito sa Fantasia. Magaling talaga siya umarte. Later on, the roles will be reversed at siya ang aapihin sa mundo ng mga tao where she’ll be transported by my fairy godmother, Jolina Magdangal. Si Yasmien Kurdi naman ang magiging evil stepsister niya roon na aapi sa kanya.”
Aside from “Grazilda”, she also plays the leading lady of Vic Sotto in “Agimat ni Enteng”. “Starstruck ako kay Bossing Vic noong una, but he’s very nice and accommodating kaya I felt comfortable agad.”
Is she ready for intrigues? “Yes, my papa, who’s a model in Melbourne, told me it should be into one ear, out the other.”
Her dad is French-Italian while her mom is Pinay. They met in Paris when her mom worked there and her dad followed her mom to Manila. She’s paired with newcomer Benedict Campos in “Grazilda”. Who else would she like to be her leading man? “Si Aljur Abrenica. I saw him sa ‘Party Pilipinas’ at namula ko when he said, ‘Hi, I’m Aljur.’ I like guys kasi na very Pinoy looking then machong-macho ang dating.”
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THE FILM ‘TARIMA’ has a touching theme song composed by Sherwin Castillo, “Napapagod Din ang Puso”, sang with much feeling by MJ Ringor. “I was singing in a private affair when Tita Fanny Serrano heard me and asked me to sing the theme song of his movie,” says MJ, a contemporary of Erik Santos in “Star in a Million”.
“I won sa weekly finals then at nasali ako sa wild card but it’s Erik who won. I felt frustrated, sabi ko siguro it’s not meant for me, so I focused on my studies. I finished Industrial Design in UST then put up my own business, M2Builders which is now into construction and interior design. But now, doors are opening for me so I’m taking the chance again as I want to inspire people with my music, which is really my first love.”
The third in a brood of four, he’s 25 and very much single. MJ stands for Manuel Jun. His dad, Manuel Sr., is a well known doctor in Baguio and his mom is a registered nurse. The good feedback ‘Napapagod Din ang Puso’ on AM & FM radio prompted him to launch his singing career. Vehnee Saturno produces an album for him with three originals including the “Tarima” theme song, and three revivals: “Only Me and You”, “Sana Naman”, and “Hiram”. This early, he’s also preparing for a Valentine concert, “My Jealous Heart”, concept and direction by live events and indie director Ronald Carballo, at Teatrino Greenhills on February 14 & 15, 2011.
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MARIAN RIVERA’S voice cracked when Pia Guanio interviewed her in Behind the Wall on Showbiz Central when she declared: “Proud ako na wala akong tinatapakang tao at wala akong ginamit para makilala ako.”
She’s obviously referring to Bela Padilla and her fans inside the studio expressed their support for her. We heard those in charge of “Endless Love” have already arranged a meeting between her and Bela to iron out whatever kinks they have between them. In all fairness to Bela, we were there during her presscon and she kept on imploring the press “Huwag nyo na kaming Gawain ng issue at pag-awayin dahil mahirap namang nagtatrabaho kami sa set ng galit-galit kami.” It turns out that Bela really has no designs for Dingdong Dantes so Marian has no reason to get jealous since Bela is already Jason Abalos’ special squeeze. But you know how some writers can phrase their questions in such a way that stars are still put on the spot no matter how safe they try to answer. Marian is no longer in the business and she should know that such intrigues between stars are part and parcel of showbiz reporting to make readers more interested in what they write. No doubt, though, that all this conflict between them will help generate more interest for “Endless Love” to see if they’re really feuding even on screen.
