ILLY Crawford had
a grand launch at Trinoma as the new endorser of Human. He was the finale in a
fashion show topbilled by his female counterpart, Isabella Diaz Daza, who looks
a bit overweight on the ramp. Ben Chan, owner of both Human and Bench, was
seated in front during the fashion show and he says he prefers Billy to be with
Human than with Bench.
"Kasi mas human naman talaga ako," Billy quips after he
performed three songs for the audience who really went wild when he started
singing and dancing on stage. This is really his forte as he rules the stage
when he performs with his electrifying dance moves.
How does it feel being a model for Human?
"Honestly, I was surprised when I was told by my manager
Arnold Vegafria that they were getting me. I didn't expect it as I'm not a model
naman but a performer. But I got excited and now, I feel it's a pleasure and a
privilege to model for them. I tried their jeans and shirts and I'm very pleased
with them. Talagang bagay na bagay sa akin pati ang fit."
Has he settled his rift with German Monreo?
"I feel so sad about it and I really want to talk him na kasi
I'm leaving next month after hosting 'Pinoy Dream Academy.' By September 17, I
have to go to Europe to launch my new album there and then to the US, so it will
take a longer time before I can come back here kaya I want to settle it na. Kaya
lang, I've become so busy with my daily hosting job for 'Pinoy Dream Academy'
kaya hindi rin ako makahanap ng time. I want to tell him na sana nga, magkausap
na kami para mawala na anumang tampo niya sa akin. Mas mabuti kung kaming dalawa
lang."
He's one of the top 10 Celebrity Centerforlds of Cosmopolitan
Mag's 2008 Bachelors and he has just done a sexy pictorial for them. "I didn't
want to do it sana as I've never done it before. But Arnold said I should do it
so I did. I've never posed without my clothes on but so far, happy naman ako sa
result ng pictorial ko with them."
Is this the start of his career as a sex symbol?
"No, this is the start of my being more Human."
Is it true he and "Pinoy Dream Academy" co-host Nikki Gil are
now an item?
"We do go out but with other friends. She's nice and pretty
and we have a lot of fun when we're together but I'm not making ligaw to her. I
can't kasi hindi naman ako magtatagal dito."
***
Ryan Agoncillo was surprised when he learned after coming
back from the "Eat Bulaga" show in the US that ABS-CBN has chosen him to be the
host of their new reality show, "Pinoy Fear Factor."
"I knew that I screwed up the audition and didn't give my
best," he says. "So I thought hindi ako nakuha kasi marami kaming nag-audition.
Also, I was told then I'd be hosting 'Pinoy Dream Academy,' pero hindi naman
nangyari. Kaya I'm really surprised but thankful na sa'kin napunta ang 'Pinoy
Fear Factor' kasi six months din ako natengga na walang job sa ABS-CBN after 'Ysabella'."
Ryan is leaving next week with the show's unit head Laurenti
Dyogi, eight other crew members, plus the 12 daring Pinoy contestants recruited
after extensive auditions all over the country. They will be flying to Buenos
Aires, Argentina in South America and stay there to tape the show for more than
30 days. Will Juday Ann Santos be visiting him there?
"No, pinag-usapan na namin ito and I told her hiwalay muna
kami dahil mag-o-OFW muna ako para may gastusin kami for our wedding. She's also
busy, so she can't travel to visit me. Two days ang travel time going there via
Kuala Lumpur and South Africa, then another two days ang pabalik dito, so hindi
practical. Ang worry ko rito is my mental state. I've never been far away that
long from my family and friends, and now from Juday pa, so I know I'd get
terribly homesick. I spent 30 days in Europe, but I was with Juday. Now, she'll
also be far from me. Bale ba, winter pa naman doon at 1 degree lang ang weather
kaya sobrang lamig."
Won't he be attracted to other girls while he's away?
"I promised to Juday that I'd be faithful to her. Absence
makes the heart grow fonder, 'di ba?"
Have they set a date for their wedding? "Not yet. Kasi nga,
lagi kaming out of the country. Hopefully, when I come back from South America,
we'll get to sit down and plan it seriously."
So what happens to the talent show he's hosting with ABC-5?
"We'll advance some tapings that they can show while I'm
away. It'll be shown every Saturday. 'Pinoy Fear Factor' will be shown Monday to
Friday night, kapalit ng 'Pinoy Dream Academy'. Pagbalik ko, baka simulan din
ang taping ng drama show offered to me, the TV remake of 'Pieta.' They're trying
to get Lorna Tolentino to play my mom but we don't know yet kung puede siya."
That involves a lot of action scenes, will he be ready to do
them?
"Why not? Maski sa Hollywood, parang may revenge of the nerds
ngayon, 'di ba? Who would have thought James McAvoy will be good in 'Wanted'?"
***
We ask director Lauren Dyogi how sure are they that no one
will back out among the 12 finalists they'll bring with them to Argentina, like
what to Ross and Jet in "PDA."
"We held auditions all over the country and they're all
subjected to a rigid battery of physical and psychological tests. The selection
process took two months. Mahaba ang process kasi we have to apply for their
papers, visa, insurance. We made it clear that if they back out, there will have
to be some punishment or penalty as we're also spending for their fare and
accommodations there. Madugo talaga."
There are six boys and six girls. The guys are identified as
the lover boy, the "papalicious" chef, the basketball player, the struggling
Tondo dad, the funny Austrian and the "promding" veterinarian. The girls are
identified as the glam goddess (an actress-model), the hot mama, the new Miss
Body Beautiful, the party bombshell, the daredevil chick and the flawless girl
from Dagat-Dagatan.
Why hold the tapings in Argentina?
"The franchise for 'Fear Factor' from Endemol is very
expensive," says Direk Lauren. "It's easier to mount it there than to
reconstruct here all the riggings and other contraptions they use for the
various challenges and stunts. We'll be working with their men na sanay na sanay
na and are experts in doing the show for other countries which also taped their
'Fear Factor' there. So far, 31 other countries have also taped there including
Portugal, Turkey, Croatia, Spain, Netherlands, and Finland. It's really better
to tape it there for the safety of the host and the contestants."
The top winner will win P2 million plus a house and lot from
Ayala Avida worth P2.5 million.
***
Valerie Concepcion looks so sexy at the launching of her
exercise video called "Slendance," an easy to follow 30 minutes workout that is
a combination of aerobic exercises, coordination, endurance and mental workout.
"We launched Slenda last March as the ideal herbal supplement
for losing weight as it contains resveratrol from grapes," says Valerie. "It was
such a hit and now, this DVD will be the ideal companion for that para mas
gumanda ang ating katawan and become more physically fit. The dances here is a
combination of hiphop, Latin and club designed to be easily practiced anywhere,
even at the privacy of your own home so you don't have to pay going to a gym
anymore. Ang maganda pa rito, once na-master mo na 'yung different 'Slendance'
moves indicated here, you can also start to show off your moves in social dance
gatherings at tiyak na hahanga ang lahat sa galing mong sumayaw. 'Slendance'
really makes exercise very easy and a lot of fun for a healthier, slimmer and
more beautiful you."
The "Slendance" video is now available at all record bars and
on ABS-CBN's Starrry Starry online store. Visit their website at
www.gonatural.com.ph or text Slenda, Name, and add your birthday, email address
and send to 0920-9192929.
Valerie is slated to do the OctoArts Metro filmfest entry,
"One Night Only," to be directed by Joey Reyes. But what's this we hear that
she's been pulled out from the movie by ABS-CBN?
Valerie asked her manager directly if this is true and Becky
Aguila replied that as far as they know, Valerie is still part of the project
and she's happy to have a filmfest entry. Someone then told us that it was her
co-stars Angelica Panganiban, Diether Ocampo and Roxanne Guinoo who were not
allowed to do it. Valerie is managed by Becky and not a contract star of ABS-CBN
so they can't forbid her to leave the project.
***
Michael V guested in the ABS-CBN tribute to Dolphy's 80th
birthday, which is a good gesture since Dolphy is very vocal in saying Michael
is the best among our young comedians today. And his being identified as a
wholesome comedian is the reason why he refuses to do a kissing scene with
Francine Prieto in "Codename: Asero." In the show, they are both geeky
scientists who invent new weapons for the secret agents in the Advocate Agency.
As the show's nerdy love team, it'll be nice to show them kiss but Michael said
no.
"No offense meant to Francine pero personal decision ko 'yun
as a family man," he says. "Ayoko kasing magtaka at malito ang mga anak ko. Isa
pa, hindi naman kailangan talaga. Kung gusto nila, dayain na lang nila and get a
double for me. I just want to concentrate on my role as an inventor, si Bodgie
X. In the future, kami ni Janno Gibbs, who plays Agent Geron, will also be
involved in some missions and we'll do action scenes while making people laugh.
Sa ganun, okay ako, but sa kissing scenes, pass ako diyan."
In this week's "Codename: Asero," Michael and Janno try to
penetrate the Empire Agency of Zeus (Richard Gomez) but they fail. It's good
they were able to escape and were not held captive. As for Grecko (Richard
Gutierrez), he's now alive again as Agent Asero, but he has no memory of his
past at all. He also shows no emotion whatsoever. He undergoes rigid training
and Zeus is amazed at his agility and dexterity, surpassing all his previous
expectations. His first mission from Zeus is to kill all the members of the
Advocate, where he used to work. Emily (Heart Evangelista) sees Grecko by chance
and she's so mad that he doesn't recognize her. Geron explains to her what
happened. She then goes to a friend, Rodel, as ordered by her Lola Bertita (Caridad
Sanchez), but Rodel is under the influence of drugs and tries to rape her.
***
We attended the "Pondo sa Sipag, Puhunan sa Tiyaga" Awards
Night held Saturday night at the Laurel House on Shaw Blvd. Nacionalista Party
and Senate President Manny Villar awarded a total of P1.6 million to the 16
budding entrepreneurs from different regions across the country who were chosen
from thousands of entries who'd get a capital grant of P100,000 each.
The winners are Region 1's Sarah Dabucon and Margarita Allado,
Region 2's Albino Francisco, Calma Arcala, Albert Dulnuan, Elizabeth Africano
and Solomon Maylem, Region 3's Pacifico de la Cruz, Region 4's Antonia
VIllanueva, Region 5's Marianne Olano, Region 6's Roland Madera, Region 7's
Lucresia Saga, Region 12's Elizabeth Rafal, Caraga Region's Ernesto and Alicia
Paglinawan, and CAR's Marie Saclag and Regina Madio. Their products were earlier
showcased in booths set up at Market Market.
"We give recognition to these entrepreneurs who have
exemplified the Filipino spirit of excellence and resilience in their fields
amidst trying times," says Sen. Villar, who thought of the project. "Not only do
we acknowledge their abilities but also encourage them by providing with
additional capital. We expect their feats to inspire our countrymen to follow
their lead and also take the path of entrepreneurship to spur our economy. We're
optimistic that our list of Pondo winners will grow each year as the
Nacionalista Party plans to make this event an annual affair."
