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    Mario Bautista, has been with the entertainment industry for more than 4 decades. He writes regular columns for People's Journal and Malaya.
    Showing posts with label Pinoy Showbiz. Show all posts
    Showing posts with label Pinoy Showbiz. Show all posts

    Mar 21, 2019

    9:59 PM
    JASMINE CURTIS SMITH gets her second show from GMA-7 in “Sahaya” after she appeared in “Pamilya Roces”. Some folks now wonder why she accepted to play a mother role to Bianca Umali in the story and even her sister, Anne Curtis, has called on GMA to her more substantial shows.

    “But Bianca and I don’t appear naman together in the show,” she says. “Sa akin magsisimula ang story with my role as Manisan, which will be played later by Mylene Dizon. I’m happy to be part of the show kasi first time ko play na isang katutubo, member ng indigenous tribe called the Badjaos. Before the taping started, I studied their culture and tradition, along with the other members of the cast, and it’s very enlightening. I even did a Badjao dance workshop. I hope the show will make us understand our Badjao brothers even  more.”

    As the young Manisan, she’ll fall in love with a Manila boy, played by Gil Cuerva, and gets impregnated by him. But she’s betrothed to marry another Badjao guy, played by Benjamin Alves, whose mother, Snooky Serna, oppresses her.  “Kahit maikli ang role ko, I’m very happy with it,” adds Jasmine.

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    9:55 PM
    ARJO ATAYDE is excited as his digital series, “Bagman”, has started streaming on iWant.  It had a special preview at Trinoma and the response is very encouraging. He considers this as his most challenging project to date as he plays the title role of “Bagman” and the show required him to do action and dramatic scenes he has never done before.

    “It starts with me as an ordinary barber na tahimik ang buhay,” he says. “But for the sake of my family, napilitan akong sumubok na gumawa ng illegal para sa governor namin. Nakalusot naman at after that, nagtuloy-tuloy na ang paglubog ko sa corruption at hindi na ako makaahon pa. No holds barred ang violence sa action scenes dito kaya very thrilling talaga lumabas on screen.”

    Ajo and Maine
    Arjo wants to clarify that he and Maine Mendoza are just exclusively dating and not yet officially on. He’s not fazed by bashers who are fans of Maine’s love team with Alden Richard. “Basta I’m very, very happy po. I think that’s what matters now. As far as my career is concerned, ABS-CBN is taking good care of me, so I can’t complain. About my personal life, it is also good right now. I’m really happy so kontento po ako. What you see na mga pino-post namin ni Maine is what you get.”

    He doesn’t seem to hesitate to defy his bashers when it comes to Maine. “As I said before, she’s worth fighting for, so dedma na lang siguro ako kanila. I’m really happy. And I see her also happy. And I think that’s all that matters to me.”

    Maine has introduced him to her parents and he admits being scared at the start.  “Well, of course, I think every guy naman would be scared to meet the family of the girl he’s courting but but I faced my fears. I have to and I want to because I want to show that malinis ang intention ko sa anak nila. Okay naman sila. They were nice to me and I’m happy I did it.”


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    9:42 PM
    SEN. JV (for Joseph Victor) EJERCITO is personally concerned about the sad plight of the local film industry where most home grown movies flop at the theaters nowadays. “Siempre, dyan nagsimula ang aming ama (current Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada), diyan siya nakilala, kaya handa akong suportahan ang ating local film industry,” he says.

    “I’m always willing na suportahan kung anuman ang mga hakbang na gagawin ng legislators nating nasa showbiz din, like Senate Pres. Tito Sotto at ang maraming members of congress na galing sa pag-aartista, led by Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos. Kung kailangang babaan ang buwis sa film producers at ang bayad ng mga tao sa sinehan, dapat, gawin natin yan para mapabalik ang moviegoers sa panonood ng sine. Sana, mabuhay muli ang industriya ng pelikula rito sa atin kasi nakakalungkot naman kung mawala ito gayong part ito ng ating kultura all these years.”

    Sen. JV is glad with the recent approval of the Universal Health Care (UHC) law that he supported. “The UHC is one of the reasons I fought for the restoration of almost P16 billion funds for the health facilities enhancement program in the 2019 budget. It makes medical consultation and many basic laboratory tests affordable and accessible. Dito sa atin, bawal magkasakit dahil mahal ang gastos. Under the UHC Law, mas abot-kaya na ang pagpapagamot dahil kahati na ang gobyerno sa mga gastusin. Makakatulong din ito sa movie workers na hindi miembro ng MOWELFUND kaya importanteng magkaroon tayo ng health card.”

    Sen. JV is so busy campaigning in various parts of the country and he is happy that people give him warm acceptance wherever he goes. One of his advocacies is to push for a more extensive use of trains in our country as our primary means of mass transportation.

    “We need to develop and modernize our infrastructure for the Philippine National Railways,” he adds. “This will foster growth and progress in the provinces. Right now, we are in a crisis situation when it comes to our transportation system at infrastructure development at diyan tayo napag-iwanan nang husto ng mga katabi nating Asian countries with their now modernized railways systems.

    "E, tayo, our population is growing steadily. 106 million na tayong mga Pinoy, at ang mga sasakyan, padami nang padami, so lalong nagsisisiksikan lalo rito sa Metro-Manila. Only train systems all over the country can be the best solution for our transport problems and I promise to devote all my attention to the approval of legislation on this once I get re-elected in the senate.”

    Sen. JV will be 50 years old on December 26. He is married to Ma. Hyacinth Lotuaco and has two sons, Jose Emilio and Julio Jose. He started his career in public administration as mayor of San Juan in 1991 when he was only 32 years old. He then became a congressman before being elected into the senate, so you can say he’s really a seasoned public servant. He is currently vice chairman of the House Committee on Local Government.
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    Mar 20, 2019

    9:59 PM
    ANA ROCES’ last appeared in “Pamilya Roces” as one of the three wives of Roi Vinzon but her character was quickly killed. She’s now cast in GMA-7’s newest primetime show, “Sahaya”, shown after “Kara Mia” which had its successful debut this week.

    “And hopefully, hindi naman siguro papatayin agad ang character ko rito as Irene,” she says. “Wife ako rito ni Zoren Legaspi who plays Harold at anak namin si Ashley Ortega as Lindsay. Hindi ko alam na si Zoren pala ang tunay na ama ni Bianca Umali as Sahaya, dahil naanakan niya si Mylene Dizon as Manisan bago pa kami ikinasal. When I find out about this, magiging hostile ako kay Mylene at mainit ang dugo ko kay Bianca.”

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    9:51 PM
    Derrick Monasterio with Ruru Madrid, Kiko Estrada, David Licauco
    DERRICK MONASTERIO was last seen as a special guest in the pilot week of “Dragon Lady” opposite Bea Binene. He doesn’t know yet as to when he will get a new soap from GMA-7. “But okay lang kasi I’m busy with two new movies,” he says at the storycon of “G! LU” (which means ‘Go! La Union’), a youth oriented film intended for release this summer produced by Arnold Vegafria with Ben Chan and Rein Entertainment, the production company of Lino Cayetano and Philip King. King is also the film’s writer and director.

    “Aside from ‘G! LU’, I’m also in the comeback movie of GMA Films launching comedian Tekla in his first starring role,” adds Derrick.

    In “G! LU”, he will co-star with five other young hunks: Ruru Madrid, Kiko Estrada, Enzo Pineda, David Licauco and Teejay Marquez. Their leading ladies are beauty title holders managed by Arnold: Miss Philippines World Katarina Rodriguez, Bb. Pilipinas runner up Chanel Morales, Miss Eco Tourism Cynthia Tomalla, Miss Multinational 2017 Sophia Senoron, Miss Multinational 2018 Kimi Mugford, and model Michelle Dee, the daughter of Melanie Marquez and Derek Dee. Shooting will start soon on location in San Juan, La Union, now the new in place for young people as far as beach resorts are concerned.

    Is Derrick aware that they will be required to show off their bodies in the movie? “Yes, of course. It’s a beach movie and we will be shirtless in a lot scenes as we will be shown surfing. We'll be in swimming attire, especially the girls who will be in bikinis.”

    Is he doing any special preparation for his beach scenes? “No, I always work out naman three times a week so I just need maintenance to be in good shape. Siempre, I have to be ready kasi all the guys here are buff and into physical fitness so for sure, we’ll be compared with each other.”

    The movie’s director, Philip King, is a newbie and this is his directorial debut. We ask him why chose such a difficult project with such a big cast, and to be shot on location at that, for his first project? “I’m aware that it’s a demanding project but I think I’m ready. And the material is near to my heart as it’s about a barkada and, when I was single, I had my own barkada so the material is near to my heart and I can re
    late to the characters in the movie.”

    Arnold Vegafria says the movie is different from other youth films shown recently as all the members come from rich families. No one comes from a life of poverty. They belong to a group called the Valley Boys Club and the movie is about the last seven days of summer when they’re about to graduate from college and have to push the limits of their youthfulness.
    Derrick plays Brian, whose family owns shipping and trucking empires started by his grandpa. He’s in a rivalry with his cousin, Ryan played by Enzo Pineda, who happens to be their grandpa’s favorite. A near death experience in La Union will make them re-evaluate their relationship as rival cousins.

    Ruru plays Albert, the smartest member of the group who’s an honor student as a software engineer. He’s paired with newcomer Kimi Mugford, who plays an aspiring singer-songwriter. Kiko Estrada is Carlos, the coolest member who just wants his friends to live their best lives ever, often referred to as “maangas but sweet”.

    David Licauco is Patrick Dy, the richest barkada member as his Chinese family owns a huge chain of shopping malls in Metro-Manila and he is the heir apparent to the empire. He is often pressured to be like his tycoon dad and this somewhat clouds his own view of himself.

    Teejay Marquez is Ramon, the chick boy in the group who’s the captain of their soccer team but he suffers a knee injury and is forced to undergo rehabilitation, during which time, he becomes close to his male nurse and discovers his true self and sexual orientation.

    Arnold Vegafria has worked with Regal, Star Cinema and GMA Films. He also produces the local franchises of the Miss World and Mr. World pageants. He feels he’s now ready to tackle more creative pursuits like film production and is optimistic that “G! LU” will be a blockbuster and he hopes it will be finished in time for the opening of classes in June.

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    12:57 PM
    CONDUCTOR GERALD SALONGA wields the baton for the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and will now have to shuttle between Kuala Lumpur and Manila for the whole of 2019.  He takes on a new job as resident conductor of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO).

    After working as assistant conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 2016 and still currently for the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, Gerard now wields the baton for the MPO. He learned about his new job in May 2018, while he was in Kuala Lumpur to conduct one of the concerts of the MPO.

    “At that time, the general manager sat down with me and let me know of their intention to invite me to be their next resident conductor,” Gerard shares. “Naturally, I felt great about it. I’ve known about that orchestra since they were founded in 2008.” (Visit the website for full history www.mpo.com.my)

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    12:48 PM
    BUSINESS LEADER & PHILANTHROPIST LUCIO TAN received the ALAB Award from the Anvil Business Club which held its induction of new officers on March 15 attended by top government and business leaders and celebrities at Century Seafood Restaurant in Manila.In the same occasion, Anvil led by chairman Wilson Lee Flores and president Patrick Cua conferred on Dr. Lucio C. Tan its inaugural “Anvil Leadership Award for Business Excellence” (ALAB Award) in recognition of his “inspiring business success, outstanding community leadership and magnanimous philanthropy”.

    One of Asia’s wealthiest billionaires according to Bloomberg News & Forbes magazine, the self-made entrepreneur Lucio Tan is chairman of LT Group, Inc., Philippine Airlines (PAL), Philippine National Bank (PNB), Asia Brewery, Tanduay Distillers and many others. Tan is also chairman emeritus of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII).

    Witnesses at the ALAB Award conferment ceremony for Dr. Lucio Tan were Trade & Industry Ramon Lopez, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Employers Confederation of the Phil. (ECOP) chairman Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr., Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of  & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) president Domingo Yap, Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCI) chairman George Barcelon, Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) chairman Jesus L. Carranza and China Embassy Commercial Counsellor Jin Yuan.

    Among the celebrities who also graced Anvil’s 28th anniversary event were Senator Grace Poe and her son Brian Poe Llamanzares, former Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, former Senator Bong Revilla and wife Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado Revilla, former PNP chief Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa, Malabon Vice-Mayor Jeannie Sandoval among many others.

    Leading the 2019 Anvil Business Club board of directors are chairman Wilson Lee Flores, president Patrick Cua, Hubert Chua, Jayson Sze, Christopher Yae, William Lim, Jr., Lexter Ang, Eusebio Lu, Jr., Christopher Go, Joeben Tai, Vicente Sy, Richmond Co, William Villanueva, Kenneth Dee, Aldrin Chua, Wilynda Chua, Claudine Sy, Sheryll Yu, Katherine Yap, Ian Cheng, Cherie Haw, Lorina Tan.

    Among past leaders still active with Anvil include chairman emeritus George Siy, honorary chairmen Michael Tan, Jeffrey Ng, Bernard Go, Peter Mangasing, Reynold Siy, Marcelo Co, Wilfred Co, Eduardo Cobankiat, Roy Chua, Michael Chenglay and others. 

    Among the diverse civic, cultural, economic and other undertakings of the organization includes promoting international investors to come to the Philippines; promoting business activities in provincial areas outside Metro Manila; socio-civic and cultural projects like 2009 donation of the larger-than-life Confucius Monument for Rizal Park’s Chinese Garden to honor all teachers of the world and holding an annual Teacher’s Day tribute to educators every birthday of Confucius on September 28; different forums and workshops with renowned business leaders; giving scholarship grants and also donating relief supplies during natural calamities.

    Anvil Business Club recently gave away 10,000 tikoy to urban poor families of Camarin and Barracks communities in north Caloocan City.
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    Mar 19, 2019

    10:30 PM
    Kaye with RK Bagatsing in NANG NGUMITI ANG LANGIT
    KAYE ABAD was married to PBB Housemate Paul Jake Castillo in Cebu on December 9, 2016 and she gave birth to their first baby, a boy named Joaquin on December 22, 2017, also the same birthday of Paul Jake. Her last TV show was “Two Wives” in 2015.

    Now, she’s making a comeback in ABS-CBN’s new morning soap, “Nang Ngumiti ang Langit”, that starts airing on March 25, produced by the business unit of Ruel S. Bayani. She plays the mother of new child actress Sophia Reola in the story. So how is it to act as a mom now that she’s a mother in real life?

    “It’s kinda weird,” she says. “How will I explain it? Dati na nga akong gumaganap na mom, but now, mommy na ako talaga. Being one really helped me in my emotions. Hindi kasi ako masyadong reliant sa technique as an actor . Now, it’s easier for me to assume a nanay part at ipasok ang sarili ko sa character, kasi nga I’m no longer just playing a role kundi mother na talaga ako ng isang real baby boy.”

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    10:25 PM

    CHANEL LATORRE gets her biggest break on TV as Samantha, the wife of Arjo Atayde in iWant’s Digital series, “Bagman”.  Chanel has done many acclaimed independent films shown in festivals abroad, like “Bagahe”, “Magkakabaung”, “Babagwa”, “Baka Siguro Yata”, “Woman of the Ruins”, “Alimuom”, “Maid in London”. She has also done an international movie in Hongkong, “Wan Chai Baby”, where she played a domestic helper who got into trouble after her American employer was murdered.

    “More than one hundred kaming nag-audition for that role and I felt so lucky when I was the one chosen by the American director, Craig Addison,” she says. “Another international film I did is for Brillante Mendoza, ‘Prey’, where I played a writer and got to act with French actress Isabelle Huppert.”

    Chanel Latorre with Arjo Atayde
    Two other memorable films she did are “Of Sinners and Saints” where she played the battered wife of Polo Ravales who gets into a relationship with a priest who helps battered women, played by Italian actor Ruben Maria Soriquez, and “Maratabat” where she had a very realistic rape scene with the late Kristoffer King that somewhat traumatized her. On TV, she has appeared in many teleseryes mostly on GMA, like “Legacy”, “D’Originals” and the latest was “Contessa”.

    In “Bagman”, produced by Dreamscape for iWant Digital, she plays Samantha, the pregnant wife of Arjo Atayde, a barber who becomes the “Bagman” or intermediary of a corrupt governor played by Raymond Bagatsing.

    “When my mother and I first saw Arjo Atayde as a contravida in ‘Ang Probinsyano’, my mother and I quickly noticed how good an actor he is,” she says. “My mom even said, ‘this boy will hit it big someday at sana, makatrabaho mo yan balang araw’. So, when they got me to play his wife here in ‘Bagman’, the first person I called up was my mom to tell her na ako ang kapareha ni Arjo sa bagong series na ito.

    Chanel with the cast of BAGMAN on iWANT
    "Arjo is really good and he seems to improve in every project. I’m really thankful to be part of this project. It is a very daring leap from the traditional stories that we usually see on TV. Just like Netflix, iWant has a big potential in offering streaming services at sana, mapapanood din ito sa buong mundo to show our ingenuity and talent sa entertainment industry.”

    The first 6 episodes of “Bagman” can now be seen on iWant, the next 3 episodes on March 27 and the final 3 episodes on April 3, using IOS or Android apps or web browser iwant.ph.You can also access it through Chromecast at Apple Airplay.

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    Mar 18, 2019

    11:15 PM
    Alex Calleja
    REGAL ENTERTAINMENT takes a gamble in launching rocker-TV host Teddy Corpuz in “Papa Pogi”, directed by another comedian, Alex Calleja. Alex started as a stand up comedian and he helped stand up comedy to gain a wider audience with his Funny Fridays show at Teatrino in Greenhills with other comedians, like Nonong Ballinan and Victor Anastacio, who now both appear in the very first movie he has directed, “Papa Pogi”.

    In the global search conducted by Laugh Factory for the funniest person in the world, he emerged as the number two. He then later appeared in films like “The Reunion”,  “Unli Life” and the best is “Buy Bust”, He has also published his own book of jokes with ABS-CBN Publishing, “Lakas Tawa”. Now, he is a film writer and director in “Papa Pogi” which had a successful premiere at Trinoma last Monday night. Vhong Navarro, Karylle and other stars showed up to show their support for the ribtickling movie.

    Teddy Corpuz
    Teddy Corpuz plays a photographer who comes from a family that was cursed by a woman spurned by one of his ancestors. All the guys in their family are born ugly, including his own dad, played by Joey Marquez. To break the curse, he has to fall in love and marry an ugly woman. He first falls for Venus, played by Donna Cariaga, his plain looking assistant, but when she hears him saying he’s not really in love with her, she goes out crying and gets hit by a car.

    His new assistant is a beautiful and sexy girl, Helena, played by Myrtle Sarrosa. If he’d fall for her, then the curse would not be broken because she’s not ugly, but there’s a big twist in the story, so Teddy still succeeds in breaking the curse and they beget good looking children.

    Lassy Marquez
    Teddy has his own funny moments but, truth to tell, the funniest scenes in the movie belong to the two Marquez guys. First is the wheel-chair bound Joey Marquez who had such funny antics with his sexy caregiver.

    Then there’s Lassy Marquez who plays Teddy’s gay assistant called Becks. Lassy has more number of truly hilarious scenes, like when he suddenly starts screaming and it turns out he’s looking at himself in the mirror, and when he lied and his nose starts to bleed.

    Lassy is Reginald Marquez in real life and like Vice Ganda, he started as a stand up comic and singalong host in comedy bars like Punchline and Laffline. He then started doing bit roles in films like “Sisterakas”, “Beauty and the Bestie” and “Fantastica”. We won’t be surprised if he’d get his own solo movie someday.

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    1:17 PM
    DJ CHA CHA, the famous MOR DJ who is tagged as the Nag-iisang Dyosa sa Balat ng Radyo and whose full name is Czarina Marie Balba, is now also a movie star. He plays Lorena, the friend of Gelli de Belen and Bayani Agbayani in the Horseshoe Studios’ romcom, “Pansamantagal”, that opens today in theaters nationwide.

    “Ten years na akong DJ and I’ve also appeared on TV shows before, but usually, I just played myself just like when I joined PBB Lucky 7 as a housemate, “ she says. “Kaya naiiba itong ‘Pansamantagal’ kasi I am playing a role. Nagtatrabaho ako doon sa beach resort kunsaan nagbabakasyon sina Gelli de Belen at Bayani Agbayani and naging friends ko sila. Ako yung tumatalak sa kanila kasi pareho silang sawi sa pag-ibig.”

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    1:00 PM
    MOWELFUND is now celebrating it 45th anniversary with Boots Anson Roa as its President and Trustee.  Since its establishment in 1974, the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc. (Mowelfund) has consistently and continuously dedicated its initiatives and programs for the benefit to of its 4,000 members who are all movie workers.

     This Saturday and they will have groundbreaking rites for their new building at 1 PM. The celebration kicks off with a thanksgiving mass to be officiated by its Welfare Director and Trustee Fr. Larry Faraon.

    Recognition will be given to major benefactors led by its founder, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada. Other benefactors include Mother Lily Monteverde, Susan Roces-Poe, Antonio Tuviera, film producer/distributor Ng Meng Tam, German Moreno (posthumous), Jaime Baltazar of CMB Film Services, Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corporation, Andrew Tan of McDonalds Philippines, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Metro Manila Development Authority, Film Development Council of the Philippines, and the Quezon City local government. 

    They will then launch an online platform, mowelfund.com, with Captivate Solution. Boots says: “In keeping with the signs of the times, Mowelfund goes digital. It now has a dynamic online platform, www.mowelfund.com, that will promote greater awareness for its social welfare and educational programs. Mowelfund is also undertaking a better database automation system enabling us to open up an additional 100 slots for new members.”

    They will also have a bonsai plant livelihood project for members in cooperation cooperation with EDTS Water Bonsai Marketing. Recognition will also be given to Mowelfund employees who’ve been working with them for 20 years and also to those former employees who have already retired. Also in the offing are greater prospects in film education through increased workshops on specialization and intensive filmmaking, collaborations with academic institutions with film schools, and the organization of the Mowelfund Film Institute alumni association of acclaimed indie filmmakers.

    There will be free medical and dental services offered to Mowelfund members and also parlor games, raffles and fellowship for the children of members. All Mowelfund members are encouraged to attend this anniversary affair whose tagline is “Onward to Greater Change for the Movie Worker”.

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    Mar 17, 2019

    8:27 PM
    SNOOKY SERNA was last seen in “Pamilya Roces” as the sister of Gloria Diaz who turns out to be the mother o Andre Paras. She’s happy to have a follow up show right away, “Sahaya”, where she plays a contravida role as Salida, the mother of Benjamin Alves who doesn’t like Manisan, played by Jasmine Curtis Smith, for her son.

    “Scheming yung character ko rito,” she says. “Akala mo, mabait, pero mapagkunwari pala. Mapagmahal siya sa anak niya, pero mapaghiganti sa daughter in law niya. Ako ang dahilan kaya mahihiwalay si Bianca Umali as Sahaya from her mom, Manisan, who’s played by Jasmine Curtis Smith as a young woman, and later by Mylene Dizon. I really have to work hard on my role kasi nakakapanibago. Kasi nung kabataan ko, specially when I was a child star, ako yung laging api-apihan, kinakawawa, sinasampal.

    "But now, ako yung matapobreng nananakit, nananabunot kaya maiinis talaga sa akin ang viewers. So big challenge for me ito and I welcome it kasi bagay sa age ko now that I’m 52 years old na. E, nung teenager ako, napagdaanan ko na rin yang roles ni Bianca Umali at yung love team-love team nila ni MIguel Tanfelix.  Multi-faceted ang villain roles, maraming layers, kaya masarap paglaruan sa age ko ngayon.”

    When it comes to her personal life, Snooky is very open in her relationship with former Bulacan politician, Ramon Villarama.

    Snooky Serna with Jasmine Curtis Smith
    “Four years na rin kami. But before we had a relationship, matagal kaming naging magkaibigan, about 28 years. Wala akong masasabi about our relationship. I’m just thankful to the Lord that he came into my life and he’s helping me to be a better person.”

    Do they intend to tie the knot someday? “Wala sa plano namin yan as of now. Tumigil na rin nga siya sa politics as he’s so busy with his businesses. He owns a school at siya ang chairman. At marami pa siyang ibang negosyo. Also, may mga bagay pa kaming dapat ayusin before we think of marriage.”

    How is the relationship of her BF with her two daughters? “Ay, okay na okay sila. Magkakasundo sila. I’m really grateful na we all get along fine, pati ako with his family. There’s no conflict at all, thank God!”
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    8:17 PM
    BAYANI AGBAYANI says 2019 is turning out to be a good year for him. “Ako kasi, hindi nagpaplano, e,” he says. “Sa akin, basta kung ano yung dumating, tinatanggap ko. E, this year, ang daming blessings na galing mula kay Lord. After doing supporting roles, heto, I have two movies na ako ang male lead. Nag-guest naman ako sa ‘I Can See Your Voice’, nagustuhan nila at ginawa akong regular.”

    Bayani played supporting roles in “Woke Up Like This” and “Mary, Marry Me”. Now, he is Gelli de Belen’s leading man in “Pansamantagal”, that opens on March 20, and in a new movie with Ai Ai de las, “Feelennials”, produced by Pops Fernandez.

    “Hindi ko rin ine-expect ang projects na ito na magbibida ako, e. Like I said, di ako nagpaplano ng buhay ko, e. Nobody knows the future, so i-enjoy mo lang kung ano ang ibinibigay ni Lord sa iyo. I never expected nga na balang araw, mag-aartista pala ako. Si God ang nagpaplano for me. Nagsimula ako, P.A. or production assistant, then writer sa ‘SST’ sa GMA, ‘Salo-Salo Together’, then kinuha na ako nina Randy Santiago to perform with them kasi natatawa sila sa’kin. P50 per show ang bayad sa’kin, na binibigay ko naman sa nanay ko. So nagpapasalamat talaga ako sa Panginoon, all these years, hindi Niya ako pinababayaan.”

    In “Pansamantagal”, he plays Leo, a writer who’s having problems in his personal life so he goes to the beach to chill and relax. There, he meets Gelli de Belen as Agnes, who has problems of her own, and the two lonely souls start a beautiful friendship where one thing can lead to another.

    “Daring ang movie sa language kasi we use the Tagalog words for sex organs and meron ding cuss words. Pero hindi naman mahalay ang dating, natural lang na parang kapag nag-uusap tayo sa totoong buhay. Dahil dito, R-16 siya, which is okay lang kasi 50 years old na ako and I think it’s about time na mag-try naman ako ng ibang material na ganito kaseryoso at katapang, kasi dati lagi akong pa-wholesome, e.”

    How is it working with Gelli de Belen? “Ever since, fan na talaga ako ni Gelli, e. Kasi magaling siya kahit saan mo dalhin, comedy man or drama. So pangarap ko talagang makatrabaho siya. Unang natupad ang pangarap ko nang magkasama kami sa isang TV sitcom sa TV5, at ngayon, heto, sa pelikula na. Napakagaan niyang katrabaho, masarap kabatuhan ng linya, at talagang nagtutulungan kami para mas mapaganda ang bawat eksena namin na matatapang ang mga dialogue.”

    Will he take his kids to watch the movie? “This is my first movie na hindi puede ang mga bata. Lahat ng hindi ko pa nagagawa before sa pelikula, ginawa ko rito. Okay naman kasi 50 years old na ako. Ang mga anak ko, puro babae, apat sila, aged 22, 18, 16 and 11. So yung 11 lang ang hindi puedeng manood. Pag nanood siya, papaluin ko siya. Sasabihin ko, bakit nanood ka niyan, hindi puede yan sa’yo. Pero yung tatlo, may sarili na silang pag-iisip and I think masasakyan naman nila kung anuman ang mensaheng gustong ipahatid ng ‘Pansamantagal’ tungkol sa pakikipagrelasyon.”


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    Mar 16, 2019

    10:32 PM
    MIGUEL TANFELIX considers his role in “Sahaya” as Ahmad, a Badjao native, as one of the most colorful and challenging roles he has ever played. “Childhood friends kami rito ni Bianca Umali, who plays Sahaya,” he says. “We really studied Badjao culture to familiarize ourselves with the characters we play. A special set was built on a beach in Batangas to be the Badjao village where we live. Marami rin kaming underwater scenes so we had to learn ni Bianca how to dive and swim underwater. Love ko na siya rito since bata pa kami, but a city boy, Migo Adecer as Jordan, will come so magiging love triangle kami.”

    His love team with Bianca, known as Biguel, has a huge fanbase since they were first paired in “Nino” and did several other soaps together. Rumors say that they were really on even off cam but things went sour when Ruru Madrid enter the picture.
    “The truth is never naging kami,” he says. “Nagpaalam ako noon sa lola niya na manliligaw but I was told, huwag muna, so I didn’t pursue it.

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    10:22 PM
    TEDDY CORPUZ, vocalist of the band Rocksteddy who branched out into TV via “Showtime” is now a movie star. He plays the title role in “Papa Pogi”, which opens in theaters on Wednesday. He says he couldn’t believe it when Regal Entertainment offered the lead role to him.

    “I’ve played supporting roles before in some movies, but iba ito, kasi leading man ako,” he says. “Siempre excited ako, pero sobrang nervous also kasi I never even thought na pambida ako. But when I read the script, sobrang nakakatawa and I felt I contribute something to make it even funnier for the viewers. I play Romeo, isang lalaking sobrang habulin ng chicks.”

    teddy corpuz as papa pogi with leading ladies donna cariaga & myrtle sarrosa
    His movie is directed by Alex Calleja, who is a bonafide comedian himself. “What’s nice about Alex is that he didn’t impose his ideas on me. He gave me freedom to improvise and make my own contributions para mas maging hilarious ang pelikula namin. So what we offer now is a movie that is pure laugh trip from start to finish. Malilimutan nyo lahat ng problema nyo when you watch ‘Papa Pogi’. Garantisado yan.”

    Teddy doesn’t hide the fact that he’s already a family man off cam. His wife is Jasmin Mangahas and they have a daughter, Angelica Phoebe, and a son, Theodore John. “Sila ang unang-unang excited na nabigyan ako ng break na magbida sa isang pelikula,” he adds.

    He has two leading ladies in the movie, PBB Teen Edition 4 winner Myrtle Sarrosa and new comedienne Donna Cariaga. “May kissing scenes po ako sa kanilang dalawa, pero nagpaalam muna ako sa misis ko para alam niya na may ganoon akong eksena at hindi siya mabigla pag pinanood niya ang movie sa premiere night nito ngayong Monday night sa Trinoma,” he says.

    They are supported by Joey Marquez as his father, Lassie, Dawn Chang and Hashtags Zeus, Nikko and Luke. He says he invited his co-hosts in “Showtime” like Anne Curtis, Vhong Navarro and Vice Ganda to support his launching flick’s premiere night. “Sana naman, dumating sila,” he prays.

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    10:17 PM
    GMA SHOWS ‘Kara Mia’ and ‘Inagaw na Bituin’ made waves all over social media and were among Social Wit List’s top 10 most-buzzed-about new shows worldwide for February 2019. These shows were the only entries from the Philippines and Southeast Asia that made it to the list.

     The Social Wit List is released by New York-based international media business news website WorldScreen.com which ranks the top ten most-buzzed-about shows in social media, measured by tweets and posts, during their premiere. In their respective pilot dates last month, Kara Mia hit the second spot while Inagaw na Bituin ranked sixth among the shows from across the globe.

    Kara Mia, a fantasy-drama series headlined by Barbie Forteza and Mika dela Cruz, ranked the second highest which gained at least 29,000 tweets. According to the site, viewers applauded the show’s #RemarkableSpecialEffects, #GreatPerformanceByTheMainActresses and their representation of #FilipinoFolkloreOnScreen, which were the buzz words that resonated with social media users. Even before its premiere, netizens and viewers were already curious about the series’ unusual premise which generated viral posts online.

    inagaw na bituin cast
     On the other hand, GMA’s musical-drama Inagaw na Bituin starring Kyline Alcantara and Therese Malvar garnered at least 21,000 tweets with hashtags such as #GreatCast, #InterestingStory, #ExcitingEpisode, and #ALotofSuspense.

     These well-loved Kapuso dramas are under the helm of esteemed directors Dominic Zapata (Kara Mia) and Mark A. Reyes V (Inagaw Na Bituin). Other programs in the list were Kuzgun (Turkey), Io sono Mia (Italy), The Four Brasil, El valor dela verdad (Peru), American Soul (USA), Tek Yürek(Turkey), La mejor canción jamás cantada (Spain), and Desus & Mero (USA).

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    Mar 15, 2019

    5:41 PM
    MYLENE DIZON is back with GMA-7 in “Sahaya” after doing “Good Son” with ABS-CBN almost a year ago. “I’m a freelancer so puede ako kahit saang network na kumukuha sa’kin,” she says. “I just go where the work is. Here, I play the mom of title-roler Bianca Umali and I like the project as it enlightens viewers about the culture of our indigenous countrymen, the Badjaos.”

    Even before the interview with Mylene started, she already requested not to ask her questions about her tiff with John Estrada while they were doing “Good Son”. But John is now also with GMA. Is it okay for her to work with him in a future project? “I don’t think so,” she says. “Next topic na lang, please.”

    John was asked the same question at the presscon of “Kara Mia” and he feels the same way. “Huwag na lang siguro,” he says.

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    5:34 PM
    DIRECTOR MIKHAIL RED made waves when his film, “Birdshot”, got a lot of acclaim, won awards here and abroad and was bought for exhibition on Netflix. His next film, “NeoManila”, starring Eula Valdez was released by TBA Studios but hardly attracted viewers as it was not promoted at all.

    And now, his first horror movie, “Eerie”, is a co-production between Star Cinema and a Singaporean company. It stars Charo Santos, Bea Alonzo and Jake Cuenca and it’s scheduled to be released simultaneously on March 27 in the Philippines and various other Asian countries. He’s now doing two new movies, “Dead Kids” for Globe Studios starring Sue Ramirez and other teen stars, plus the zombie movie, “Block Z”, for Blacksheep Productions starring the Liza Soberano-Enrique Gil love team.

    Mikhail has definitely surpassed the accomplishments of his dad, Raymond Red, another indie filmmaker who never got to do mainstream projects the way Mikhail is doing now. Some folks claim that cinema is moribund because of other platforms like live streaming and cable TV. What’s his take on this?

    director mikhail red with bea alonzo & charo santos in EERIE
    “Personally, I take it more as a challenge for us young filmmakers so we can come up with film projects that will disrupt the system, di ba?” he says at the presscon of “Eerie”. “Like in the case of ‘Eerie’, it’s a co-production and we try to export films to find a larger audience. We have to widen our market. ‘Eerie’ is the first film in a six-picture deal with an international company, Cre8 Productions.

    "So we filmmakers are forced to adapt, be more inventive, come up with different genres. And it’s nice for Star Cinema to partner with international companies, with their roster of actors who can also go international. This forces us to be on our toes to create more interesting stories for the medium. So for me, we are now really living in very exciting times kasi hindi magiging stale ang cinema at hindi paulit-ulit na lang ang mga ginagawang pelikula.”

    He just wants to remind producers not to rush their film projects. “Itong ‘Eerie’, we started pre-production work on it in 2017, started shooting in early 2018, then we had our world premiere in the Singapore Filmfest late last year. And now, we’re releasing it internationally. Ganun talaga. Dapat hindi minamadali. Hindi pinipilit tapusin kasi may playdate na. You should have enough time to shoot, develop the script, do pre-prod, to polish the post-prod like color, sound, music. Otherwise, the quality of the movie will suffer.”

    Wasn’t he intimidated directing Charo and Bea in “Eerie”? “Actually, I’m more excited than intimidated. I’m excited to work with Star Cinema as it’s the biggest local film company that we have now.  So this is a milestone for me. It’s a dream come true to work with Bea and Miss Charo and it turned out they’re both open to collaboration, so I will never forget the experience of working with them. Mas matagal na sila sa akin sa industry kaysa sa’kin, so lahat ng scenes nila, puro take one, laging perfect. When I got to know them in the course of the shoot, sobrang fun sila to work with at ang gaan ng atmosphere sa set.”

    Charo butts in at this point and says: “He surely knows his craft. He has a shotlist of the scenes we’ll do and he knows the film language, so we simply trusted him.”
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    Mar 14, 2019

    8:28 PM
    GELLI DE BELEN just finished doing the heavy drama “Ika-5 Utos” on TV and she’s now doing comedy for the big screen. She was just seen in “Ang Sikreto ng Piso” and she now follows this up with “Pansamantagal”, which is written and directed by Joven Tan and opens in theaters on March 20. “Pansamantagal” is not your usual slapstick comedy but a romcom with a heart and a touch of drama. Gellli is paired for the first time with comedian Bayani Agbayani. So how’s the experience?

    “We’ve worked together before, mostly sitcoms on TV, but this is our first movie together na kami pa ang magkapareha,” she says. “Iba ang working relationship namin ngayon ni Bayani rito. Siguro dahil mas mature na kami, we’re more comfortable with each other. First time namin to play romantic leads together and we help each other with our lines. We ask each other: how can we make this line funnier? Or more meaningful?”

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