Lovi Poe not ready yet
for serious commitment

"Jolo has cleared that he’s still courting me and I’m not yet sure kung sasagutin ko siya," she says. "He’s nice. He has introduced me to his family at sina Tito Bong and Tito Lani are also very nice. Okay rin siya sa mommy ko. But I’m not sure yet kung ready na akong mag-commit kasi I’m working and also going to college. I might not have the time for a serious relationship yet. Pero kung sakali, kung sakali lang, ha, he’ll be my first boyfriend."

Has she met Jolo’s love child? How does she feel about this? "Yes, once pa lang. About that, I don’t judge him. Kasi kung jina-judge ko siya, I won’t entertain him anymore."

What happened to her and Prince Stefan who’s also very vocal about liking her? Some folks say she didn’t entertain him because Prince is not the son of a senator. "I’m not like that naman. Okay naman kami ni Prince, but we seldom see each other."

Is it true when she turns 19 on February 11, she’d be ready to pose for FHM? "No, not true! If ever I’d do, magagalit ang papa ko (FPJ). Baka bumangon yun."

Her first movie, "Shake Rattle & Roll 9" is a big hit. Mother Lily says it earned P80 million during its entire run. "Nakaka-tuwa nga to be part of a blockbuster movie. Mother said may follow up movie raw ako. I’ll be in ‘Ultraelectromagnetic Love,’ based on three hit songs of the Eraserheads. I’ll be in the ‘Magasin’ episode. Sana nga matuloy. I’m also supposed to do a new album and I’m excited as it will include my own compositions."

She’ll miss their "Zaido" tapings. "I enjoyed my role as Mona, a female reporter, at nag-bonding kami talaga ng husto rito nina Diana Zubiri, Kris Bernal, and even our male-co-stars kaya mami-miss ko sila. Now that it’s on its last week, watch out for the final episodes that are more exciting and suspenseful than ever before because of surprising twists in the story."

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Isabel Granada is also glad that GMA-7 got her to play a role in "Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan," where she played Luna. "Dahil sa kanila, nagka-regular exposure uli ako sa TV," she says. "And I’m sad now that the show is about to end. I’m just hoping masundan ito ng bagong assignment."

Is it true she has separated from husband Geryk Genasky? "No, we’re still together with our baby. We even did a sci-fi movie together last year, ‘Xenoa,’ shown in SM Theaters."

After "Zaido," she’s all set to do a movie that will be shot in Oman in the Middle East. "The producer is also a Pinoy and he’s the one who gets us to do shows sa iba’t ibang cities in the Middle East. This time, pelikula naman ang ipo-produce niya."

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Yasmien Kurdi was on vacation from January 13 to 24 in Dubai (where she spent her childhood) after her afternoon soap, "Pasan Ko ang Daigdig" ended. "I was supposed to see my dad there but it turned out he’s in Lebanon then kaya hindi kami nagkita," she says. "I just talked to him on the phone and he said he’ll visit me here in Manila. But I met my old friends and they took me sightseeing, pati sa desert safari which is exciting. They’re happy for me for my success in showbiz here."

She turned 19 on January 25. "Tamang-tama nga, nakauwi na ako rito on my birthday. Nanood ako ng concert ng My Chemical Romance as my treat to myself. I wore a photographer’s pass kaya I was allowed to get near sa singers nilang idols ko, sina Michael at Gerald. Para akong fan talaga na nagpapirma ng autograph and had picture taking with them."

So how’s her partner, JC De Vera? "I don’t know. Ni wala pa ngang birthday gift sa’kin ‘yon. But I’ll see him when we start taping our primetime soap, ‘Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita,’ soon. Last weekend naman, February 1 and 2, I was in Singapore for the premiere night there of Regal movie naming ‘Bahay Kubo.’ Then on February 19 to 25, fly naman akong US for a concert with Jolina Magdangal."

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Three Star Magic kid stars just celebrated their birthdays. Celine Lim is one of their busiest child actresses. She played the little Kim Chiu in "Sana Maulit Muli" and the daughter of Jodi Sta. Maria in "Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara" whose doll, Chelsea, is evil. "Dahil po doon, laging hinahanap sa akin ng mga tao si Chelsea," she says. "Scary siya talaga at lagi kong napapanaginipan kaya nagdarasal na lang ako sa gabi bago matulog." A third grader in Taytay United Methodist School, Celine is not only good in drama but also does comedy in "That’s My Doc" as Butching. She turned 8 on January 10.

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Fraz Yap was seen in "Prinsesa ng Banyera" as the young Rafael Rosell. He has also appeared in "Maalaala Mo Kaya," "Palos" and "Astigs." A 6th grader at OB Montessori, he turned 13 on January 12. EJ Jallorina was a regular in "Mga Anghel na Walang Langit" and "Goin’ Bulilit." Now a teener and a 3rd year high school student at Nazarene Catholic School, he gave an impressive performance in "Goin’ Bulilit" as the impersonator of Boy Abunda and in the acclaimed indie film, "Pisay," as the alter ego of director Aureaus Solito. He’s going to France this week to represent the movie in the International Indie Festival and is also doing Dinno Erece’s "Manay Po 2" as Jiro Manio’s gay best friend. He turned 15 on January 21.

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Chariz Solomon is currently attracting attention as the resident comedienne in the "Struck Attack" portion of "Startalk" every Saturday. Because of her good work there, she is now cast in the Valentine movie, "My Best Friend’s Girlfriend." "I play Marian Rivera’s best friend," she says. "We both work in a club. Dancer ako and she’s a waitress. Pokpokita ako who dances in stag parties. Nang hindi ako pumuwede one time, siya ang pinadala ko to earn extra money and that’s where she meets Richard Gutierrez na best friend pala ng boyfriend niyang si JC De Vera."

Is she really funny in real life? "Naku, madrama po ang buhay ko sa totoong buhay. Eldest po ako at breadwinner sa limang magkakapatid at 13 pa lang po ako nang mag-solo kami. Si mama, nagtatrabaho sa Japan at may asawa ng hapon. German po ang papa ko at nasa States naman. Buti, bago sila naghiwalay, kinuha kami ni papa ng educational plan kaya nakakapag-aral kaming lahat," Chariz shares. "But as of now, wala na silang pinapadalang sustento sa amin. Nasa college po ako sa UST when I joined ‘Starstruck.’ Isa ako sa unang naalis."

But now, she’s even busier than those who stayed on. "Suwerte lang po, Rommel Gacho of ‘Starstruck’ invited me to guest sa ‘Startalk’ and they liked my work kaya pinabalik-balik ako hanggang maging regular na nga po ako," she says. "Now, I also play Gladys Reyes’ best friend in ‘My Only Love’ at kasama rin po ako sa ‘Zaido, Pulis Pangkalawakan’ as the assistant of Paolo Ballesteros."

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Sid Lucero, son of Mark Gil with Bing Pimentel, is the newest Eigenmann actor in showbiz. He made a splash in his first movie, "Donsol," for which he won awards. He continues to win awards this year for "Tambolista" (Best Actor in the Cinema One Filmfest) and "Selda" (Best Actor in the Gawad Tanglaw). In "Selda," he plays a prison inmate who gets violated by Allan Paule and later has a touching affair with Emilio Garcia, but its director, Paolo Villaluna, says this is no "kabaklaan" movie.

"Don’t see ‘Selda’ as a gay film or you’d be disappointed," adds Sid. "Mas mahaba and more explicit ang love scene ko rito with Ara Mina kaysa kay Emilio."

In his next assignment, Sid goes mainstream in Regal’s "Manay Po 2." He replaces Luis Alandy as the lover of Polo Ravales. Luis reportedly had a tiff with Regal.

"Ito po, walang pretensiyon na hindi siya kabaklaan," says scriptwriter Dinno Erece.

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PERSONAL: My wife, Victoria Arcega-Bautista, vice chancellor of the UP Open University, passed away from brain aneurysm at 12:05 p.m., Sunday, February 3. She’s now at the Sta. Maria della Strada at Katipunan Avenue beside La Vista. Please pray for the repose of her soul.