Jasmine Curtis Smith Gets Great Feedback For Her Short But Meaty Role As The Young Manisan In 'Sahaya'

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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Pinoy Showbiz

Arjo Atayde's 'Bagman' Premiered At Trinoma And Gets Very Encouraging Feedback

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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Pinoy Showbiz

Sen. Joseph Victor 'JV' Ejercito Advocates The Modernization Of Our Railways And Infrastructure For A Better Mass Transport System

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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politics

Ana Roces Returns In GMA's 'Sahaya' As One Of Title-Roler Bianca Umali's Oppressors

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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Pinoy Showbiz

Derrick Monasterio Heads Star-Studded Cast Of Youth Summer Movie About Hunks & Babes, 'G! Lu' (Go! La Union!)

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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Pinoy Showbiz

Conductor Gerald Salonga Wields The Baton As Resident Conductor Of The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra

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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