Robin looks like Queenie’s kuya

"Not exactly naman disappointed," says the show’s production head Redgynn Alba. "Mataas din naman at 34% ang pilot telecast nito, but coming from the 40% of ‘Marimar’ and ‘Dyesebel,’ siempre sasabihing mababa nga. But that’s just to be expected kasi more mature ang material ng ‘Babae,’ unlike before na kuha pati mga batang viewers. Isa pa, masyadong offbeat ang character dito ni Marian as Proserfina at hindi siya basta inaapi. May mystery talaga sa story not immediately evident in the first few episodes. We know it will be a slow burn but it will surely gain more viewers kapag ipinakita na ang flashbacks sa buhay ni Proserfina as the story gets more involving. May pinanggalingan kasi why she’s behaving that way at papunta pa lang doon ang story."

So what’s Proserfina’s secret?

"It will be revealed that she was once a member of a syndicate at ang dami niyang hirap na pinagdaanan doon so she’s trying her best to escape kaya nga napadpad siya sa bahay ni Dingdong. Actually, very sympathetic ang character niya and the viewer will feel for her kapag na-explore na nila nang husto ang mundo ni Proserfina. Basta huwag silang bibitaw kasi paganda nang paganda ang story niya as the days pass by."

This week the show gets more intriguing when Dingdong Dantes as Homer takes Proserfina to a club and she sees Rado (Paolo Contis) there. Rado is the key to her dark and mysterious past. Helene (Angelu de Leon), Homer’s two-timing girlfriend, also discovers who Proserfina really is.

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Robin Padilla looks so young at the presscon of "Totoy Bato." Obviously, the strenuous training he did in Baguio to prepare for the role of the gutsy streetfighter worked so well to his advantage as his charisma is now even more intense. His eldest daughter, Queenie, did a song and dance number as a member of the cast and they look more like brother and sister. Queenie is quite portly for her age and needs to lose about 15 lbs. so she would look younger on cam.

GMA-7 exec Wilma Galvante admits Robin is not easy to work with as he has so many demands that make their budget escalate, but it’s all worth it as you can see the drive and determination he pours into each project that he does for the Kapuso Network. "You’ll really admire him for all the hard work he does to prepare before taping the show," she adds.

"I’ve done other shows on TV but this is definitely one of the biggest," says Robin. "At gusto kong magpasalamat sa lahat ng mga boss ko sa GMA dahil all out ang suporta nila matiyak lang na magiging maganda ang kabuuan ng ‘Totoy Bato.’ Mapanganib ang malalaking stunts na ginawa ko rito at tiyak kong doon pa lang, sulit na ang oras ng sinumang manonood nito."

We have no doubt that "Totoy Bato," another Carlo J. Caparas creation first interpreted on the big screen by the late Fernando Poe, Jr. (for whom Direk Carlo offered a silent prayer when he was called on stage), will be another toprater. The trailer shown is very impressive, filled with big action sequences as well as dramatic scenes as it traces the story of Totoy, a man oppressed in the province by a landgrabber who kills his wife, Elena (Ara Mina), and later makes it as a streetfighter in the big city. "Totoy Bato" is also the touching love story between Robin and his childhood sweetheart, Anna (Regine Velasquez), who was taken to the city as a child by her materialistic stage mom (Deborah Sun) to be a singer. The big cast includes boxing champ Manny Pacquiao as himself, Eddie Garcia as Manny’s former trainer, Ian Veneracion as Totoy’s rich rival for Anna’s affection, Caridad Sanchez as Ian’s grandma, Ronnie Lazaro as Totoy’s good-for-nothing dad, Rommel Padilla as Ian’s brother who’s a syndicate leader, Joonee Gamboa as Totoy’s kind-hearted uncle, Ehra Madrigal as the GRO in love with Totoy, Jolo Revilla as Totoy’s friend in the city, LJ Reyes as Anna’s tomboyish cousin, Mon Confiado as Totoy’s toughest opponent on the ring, and Queenie Padilla as the landgrabber’s daughter.

Also in the cast are Joko Diaz, Daniel Fernando, Charlie Davao, Menggie Cobarrubias, Ralph Padilla, with Camille Prats and Carlo Aquino as the young Regine and Robin. Regine sang the theme song, "Ako’y Sa’Yo," especially composed by Ogie Alcasid for "Totoy Bato."

Directed by Mac Alejandre and Don Michael Perez, this starts airing on February 23.

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GMA Films and Regal are in a triumphant mood. And why not? Their Valentine offering, "When I Met U," is the year’s certified first mega blockbuster. On Valentine’s Day alone, it earned a record-breaking P25 million nationwide, making Richard Gutierrez the undeniable and undisputed king of Valentine movies.

"King Richard rules," his fans gleefully proclaim.

"The movie is really doing well since it opened on Wednesday but noong mismong Valentine’s Day, lalong lumakas sa takilya," says Mother Lily Monteverde. "Word of mouth is indeed the best publicity. Kasi lahat ng nakapanood ng ‘When I Met U’ from the premiere night and the following days, they have nothing to say but positive comments about it. It quickly spread that it’s one of the best romantic movies ever made kaya mas maraming na-curious na manood. We have a feeling magiging malakas pa ito until its second or even third week."

Even the reviews about the movie are all positive, praising the acting of both Richard Gutierrez and KC Concepcion, plus the beautiful locations and glossy production values, no doubt warming the heart of director Joel Lamangan since people say his film is even better than the first movie that the Richard-KC love team did.

"No comparisons na lang, please," he says humbly. "We owe it first to GMA Films and Regal kasi they didn’t scrimp on the budget. Shooting on location with a cast and crew of about 80 people in Club Paradise in Coron, Palawan where we stayed for more than week is very expensive but they didn’t complain at all. Both Richard and KC have their personal stylists for the movie na kasama pa namin sa Palawan. That’s an added extra expense pero wala rin silang complaint at all dahil talagang kailangang alagaan ang looks ng both lead stars. And of course, we also owe it to Richard and KC as they not only look good together and have fantastic chemistry kundi pareho silang magaling na artista."

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"Super Manuel" in "Pinoy Fear Factor" is accused by his co-participantes to have a Jekyll and Hyde personality. In the challenge where they used their mouth to pick up strawberries from a conveyor belt that is also filled with meat and corn powder, Jommy tied with Janna and host Ryan Agoncillo made Manuel decide who should be saved between them. He chose Janna. Jommy said Manuel just pretends to be a friend.

Four elimination rounds ago, Jose also made the same accusation, saying Manuel is only nice to the girls as they are easier to beat later in the game, adding that he appears humble and helpful on cam but is very mean off cam.

LJ Moreno, who was booted out but later stayed with them in Argentina until the show ended, says she never felt "Super Manuel" has a scheming personality. "I don’t think he’s plastic," she says. "Even if he did scheme, I’d understand him since we’re in a competition. I honestly think he’d win simply because he is strong and has a lot of guts."

LJ has since returned to showbiz, did the movie "Status: Single" and guested in various shows. The show is ending this week and don’t miss who will be part of the Final Four and who’d be the "Ultimo Participante" who’d win P2 million cash plus house and lot in "Pinoy Fear Factor" after "Betty La Fea" on ABS-CBN and on "PFF Special Edition," Saturdays at 7 p.m. on Studio 23.

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JC Tiuseco says there’s no rivalry between him and Chris Tiu even if people keep on comparing them with one another. "We’re both basketball players, we’re both Chinese-Filipinos, and now we’re both into hosting," he says. "The difference lang nga is sumali ako in a reality show kaya ako nakilala. Siya naman, kinuha agad ng GMA na host, but I don’t compete with him or anyone. Isa pa, ako, I’m willing to try acting. Siya raw, hindi. Also, I’m willing to be photographed shirtless. Siya raw, ayaw."

JC was launched recently as the new celebrity endorser of Penshoppe, eclipsing Victor Basa and Akihiro Sato.

"Wala rin kaming rivalry nina Victor kasi they model underwear, I don’t," he adds.

He’s now the image model of their new line of fragrances called Elements, available in two scents representing man and woman.

Flame represents women who can be fiery and unpredictable. It’s floral and fruity.

Ice represents men who can be cool, calm and collected, laced with elegant notes of amber, musk, cedarwood and moss. Both are priced at only P369 per bottle.

In the launch, JC did a sexy James Bond ballroom dance number with female model Solenn Heusaff. We didn’t know he has lots of fans who kept on screaming each time he appeared on stage at the Trinoma Garden.

JC says he has God to thank for all the blessings coming his way. "Susunod ang GMA-7 kasi utang ko sa ‘Survivor’ kaya nakilala ako agad ng tao. So many opportunities came after I won. Ang hinihintay ko na lang ngayon is my first acting assignment. I want to try action-drama kasi ang dami ko namang ginawang stunts sa ‘Survivor’ kaya I can feel na puede na kong sumubok ng action."

It’s said that auditions for "Survivor 2" will soon be held. What advice can he give to those who want to join?

"Just be yourself. Don’t pretend to be anyone else kasi lalabas din sa interviews and psychiatric test kung sino ka talaga ka kaya magpakatotoo na lang from the start."

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GMA Network received flak over the controversial jingle used in the "Tripid Handog Edukasyon" campaign of the network’s marketing arm, GMA Marketing and Productions, Inc. (GMPI). It now reiterates its position that GMPI merely commissioned the making of the said jingle. Composer Gary Granada claimed that GMA Network allegedly used his lyrics and study to come up with the approved jingle of the said campaign. GMA says this is a lie. GMPI first hired Granada to write the melody of the campaign jingle and provided him with the original lyrics. But GMPI and its client for the said campaign rejected Granada’s study. Granada refused to come up with another version. Left with no choice, GMPI commissioned another songwriter, Charo Unite, to compose another melody according to client specifications.