Annabelle denies calling Belo

What we like about Richard is that, despite his success, he remains ever humble. He refuses to claim sole credit for the success of his shows and movies. "It’s collaborative work and I want to share the success of my shows and films with all my co-stars, producers, writers, directors and the rest of the production staff," he says. "We all work so hard to give the viewers topnotch entertainment."

Richard admits he’s often sleep-deprived, especially now that he’s finishing "For the First Time" with KC Concepcion (who calls him "takaw tulog") that will be shown on August 27. It’s a very apt title as it’s Richard’s first project with Star Cinema, KC’s very first movie, their first movie with director Joyce Bernal, and their first time to go to Greece where they shot for ten days. Even alone, Richard can be electrifying and send hordes trooping to the theaters. But with KC, their tandem spells magic since they have great chemistry and fantastic rapport.

"So kahit kulang ako sa tulog, it’s all worth it," says Richard. "Happy akong tanggap ako ng tao kahit sino ang leading lady ko. My partnership with Heart Evangelista is so well received and I have no doubt my movie with KC will also be successful."

Aside from TV and the movies, Richard is also busy with so many endorsements. This coming September alone, he’s all set to shoot four new TV commercials. "Nahihilo na nga ako sa pagbibigay ng schedules niya for the commercial shoots," says his mom Annabelle Rama. "Kaya masaya na rin siya kahit iniintriga siya, ang kapalit naman nito, maraming blessings like all these new endorsements. Kaya wala siyang panahong patulan ang mga paninira sa kanya, so ako na lang ang nagre-react para sa anak ko. But now, I already realized na kaysa intindihan ko pa mga intriga, ubusin ko na lang ang time ko in entertaining more offers for Richard and for my other talents. Gaya niyan, iniintriga akong tinawagan ko si Dr. Vicki Belo dahil naiinggit ako sa launching noong isang talent niya. Hindi na ko mage-explain dahil hindi naman totoo. Tutulong na lang ako sa promo ng ‘For the First Time’ kaysa bigyan ko pa ng free publicity ‘yung karibal ng anak ko dahil sa kapapatol ko. Basta ako, thankful sa anak. Napakabait. Walang reklamo. Trabaho lang ng trabaho at laging thankful sa magagandang projects na dumarating sa kanya. Ang problema ko ngayon, gusto ng Star Cinema na umattend siya sa global premiere nights ng ‘For the First Time’ sa Spain, Greece, L.A. at San Francisco in September. So kailangan kong ayusin ang tapings ni Richard for ‘Asero’ at ‘yung commercial shoots niya to accommodate the global premieres."

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Katrina Halili is really hot these days. And controversial, too. She’s said to be the reason why Angelica Panganiban and Roxanne Guinoo were pulled out from the cast of the Metro Manila Film Festival entry, "One Night Only," and are now replaced by Diana Zubiri and Iya Villania. "Natakot yata silang suporta lang sila sa’yo sa movie," one writer tells Katrina during the presscon of "Obra," GMA-7’s new drama show on Thursday nights. "At nainggit ding ikaw, binigyan ng solo presscon ng OctoArts pero sila hindi."

"Wala naman po akong kasalanan dun," she says. "Siguro they have valid reasons kung bakit umayaw sila. But it’s been made clear to me by director Joey Reyes na pantay-pantay ang roles naming lahat and they’re not playing supporting roles dahil each of us, may kanya-kanyang highlight sa movie. ‘Yun naman pong presscon for me, hindi lang for ‘One Night Only’ kundi para sa pagpirma ko ng contract sa OctoArts to do other films like ‘Miss X’."

How about the news that Gov. Vilma Santos rejected the idea of being in the remake of "Miss X"?

"Siempre po, I respect that. Maganda sana kung may cameo siya dahil siya ang original Miss X, pero sobrang busy daw siya talaga as governor kaya hindi siya puede. Understandable naman po ‘yun at huwag nang palakihin pa dahil I’m sure hindi naman niya ako pinepersonal at all."

What can she says to reports that some GMA stars are questioning why she’s the first star to be featured in "Obra" when there are more senior stars than her?

"Ay, huwag naman silang magalit sa akin. Tanungin na lang nila ang management dahil I didn’t ask for this kundi kusang ibinigay sa akin."

Well, we can’t blame the other GMA stars if they’d feel envious since Katrina was not even a runner-up in "Starstruck 1." She was just number 8 among the contestants, and yet, her star is bigger now than the winners. How lucky can she get, indeed! How about the rumor that she’s now going steady either with Marvin Agustin or with ABS-CBN’s Joross Gamboa?

"Marvin and I were together in Virginia sa States to promote GMA Pinoy TV and since then, dinadalaw-dalaw niya ako, type daw niya ko, pero nali-link din naman siya kay Diana Zubiri, ‘di ba? So I don’t think serious siya. As for Joross, mga tatlong beses na kami lumabas, but it’s a group date. Wala namang ligawang nangyayari kasi wala naman siyang sinasabi. Sa totoo lang, wala akong lovelife ngayon. Trabaho muna."

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Jomari Yllana was one of the hosts of TV5’s launch as he’s hosting one of their new shows, "Philippines’ Scariest Challenge," a horror reality game show visiting haunted houses and other eerie locations.

Jom has no shows with either GMA-7 or ABS so he’s a bonafide freelancer. "Hosting is a new challenge for me kaya excited ako," he says.

How come there are persistent rumors that he has called it quits with Pops Fernandez?

"Not true, kami pa rin. Mali ang mga tsismis na hiwalay na kami. Hindi rin totoong nag-live in kami o nagli-live in dahil wala kaming planong mag-live in."

One story says they parted as he doesn’t get along well with Pops’ two sons, Robin and Ram?

"Naku, okay na okay kami. Ako pa nga sumasama kay Robin ngayon sa gym as he wants to lose weight before he starts his career as a recording artist as he really has a good voice like his dad (Martin Nievera). Ipinakilala ko na rin sa kanila ni Ram ang anak ko, si Andrei (by Aiko Melendez) at okay kaming lahat. I don’t meddle with the way Pops brings up her sons dahil wala naman akong karapatan. Boyfriend niya lang ako and I know my limitations."

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Director Cathy Molina has perfected the formula of making a feel good "kilig" movie that will surely please the crowd. Her new work, "A Very Special Love," is a by-the-numbers romance whose familiar elements you’ve already seen before in her past films like "You Got Me," "You Are the One," "One More Chance," and even other formulaic rom-coms from the Star Cinema factory like "I’m Falling for You" by Lino Cayetano and "My Big Love" by Jade Castro.

The hero, Miggy Montenegro (John Lloyd Cruz), just like Sam Milby in "My Big Love," is once again the one with a big problem, and the heroine, Laida Magtalas (Sarah Geronimo), is this positive force of life with a sunshiny disposition that will put Pollyanna to shame, just like Toni Gonzaga in "My Big Love." As usual, there’s a scene where the lovers have a confrontation scene in the rain and the ending is once again this pa-cute reconciliation scene set in the street where the hero tries to kiss and makeup with the heroine with whom he earlier had a misunderstanding.

Don’t forget to give the well-meaning heroine a supportive family, just like Toni’s own family in "My Big Love." And be sure to add more pa-cute elements like those post-its pasted on coffee mugs and the ludicrous sun dance routine. Most of all, don’t forget the "pampakilig" scenes like John Lloyd offering pizza as a peace offering to the sulking Sarah, the videoke scene where he sings "Kailan," and that scene where he forces the prudish Sarah to say "sex." Just make sure all such ingredients are not forgotten and viewers will certainly fall in love with it. Well, the tried and tested formula has worked several times before, so if it ain’t broke, why fix it, right? And it did work again with "Very Special Love" which is said to be a bonafide hit.

But the core of the story about a new graduate who works as an assistant for the editor of a girlie magazine was borrowed from "Ugly Betty" and John Lloyd’s interpretation of his role as an uber mean editor is actually the sullen male version of Meryl Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada." And mind you, John Lloyd is good, no, very good. His kind of acting is effortless, conveying his emotions effectively mainly through his big round eyes. Turns out he’s very angry as he has a chip on the shoulder because his mom is a "kabit" and he has an ax to grind against his dad’s first family, particularly with his elder half-brother (Rowell Santiago), who’s overly strict with him. John Lloyd truly redeems this movie from its formulaic origins.

As for Sarah Geronimo, the role is tailor-made for her. She’s packaged as a young comedienne who doesn’t mind making herself look foolish and she accomplishes the role’s intentions for her. Overall, the movie is a light-as-a-feather, overly cute confection that will win the hearts of hopeless romantics who go for shamelessly cute movies like this that’s presented with good, glossy production values just like most other Star Cinema flicks. Take note that the film is so self consciously glossy that in the rain scene, everyone’s drenched but John Lloyd’s face seems to be waterproof it doesn’t get wet at all and remains glossy. How so terribly, utterly cute!