Pops’ past and present
loves get along fine

"Akala ko, he’s just saying na fan siya of our love team, but it turned out to be true dahil for this concert, he’s full of suggestions on what songs we’ll sing. Dapat ‘yung gusto raw ng fans na gaya niya. He said, "Fan n’yo ko at bilang fan, itong mga gusto kong marinig." At one point during the pictorial for ‘Missing You,’ may suggested shots na hindi namin makuha ni Martin kasi, ever since, wholesome ang projection namin. This time, they want it more mature, sexier. We asked Joms how to make it natural, more real, so dinemo niya kay Martin. Dun sa shot na magkalapit kunwari ang lips namin, siya pa ang nagsasabing ‘Closer, closer pa’."

Jom says he accepts the fact that he’ll always have a love triangle with her and Martin. "Siguro nga, kasi up to now, we have fans who continue to hope na puede pa rin kaming magbalikan. Hindi na siguro maaalis ‘yun. It’s good Jom is artista rin so he understands it. At first, akala ko, he and Martin won’t get along well but it turned out all you need is to break the ice and they get along fine."

How’s she and Martin after their last fight over the issue of their sons being called monkeys by Katrina?

"We’re now more open with each other. We even check on each other sa cellphone kung okay ba ang isa’t isa. We’re in much better terms now and we really want this concert to please our fans kasi the last time we did a show together was six years ago pa."

Pops is thankful that 2008 was a good year for her. "I had a successful ‘Divalicious’ concert series in Dubai, the US and various provinces here. Tapos hit din ang ‘Divas 4 Divas’ concert namin nina Kuh, Zsa Zsa and Regine and in March and April, we’ll have a US tour. Nakuha akong celebrity endorser ng Sta. Lucia Realty and I was part of the Global Peace Festival. For my birthday last Dec. 12, I was able to share my blessings by distributing gift bags to indigent patients at the PGH Cancer Institute. Pero sad ako noong Christmas kasi for the first time, my sons Robin and Ram weren’t with me. Nasa US sila so I spent Christmas with my mom (Dulce Lukban) in her new house. Noong opening na ng presents, I really missed my sons but they called me up saying happy sila sa Disneyland."

Pops assures the fans of her love team with Martin that they’ll give their best in "Missing You" on February 6. "It’ll be our Valentine date with them," she beamed.

What about the rumor that Martin has split with Katrina and has a new girlfriend?

"Ay, sorry. Martin and I maybe friends now pero hindi naman ako nag-uusisa kung sinong girl ang kasama niya ngayon. I can only speak about my own love life. Basta I can see masaya siya ngayon."

In a separate interview, Jom said she’ll be the last woman in his life. What can she say about this?

"Really? Well, sana nga. That idea is fine with me. Right now, we’re still discovering each other at may conflicts pa rin paminsan-minsan. What’s good is that we really try our best to work things out. ‘Yun naman ang importante."

***

Rufa Mae Quinto is turning 31 in May and the title of her new film, "Status: Single" suits her perfectly as she’s really still single. Can she see herself being single all her life?

"No. I really want to get married and have my own family. Kasi my parents separated when I was still young at wala akong buong pamilya kaya ‘yun ang gusto kong mangyari sa’kin. Ayokong magkaroon ako ng broken family."

But how come she has the reputation of being a playgirl who’s had so many boyfriends?

"Wala naman masama run kasi I’m looking for Mr. Right. At never ko naman silang pinagsabay-sabay. And up to now, I’m single kasi marami akong obligasyon sa buhay, mga pinag-aaral na kapatid at pamangkin na scholars ko. I believe in God’s time, ibibigay Niya sa akin ang tamang lalaki at ayoko Siyang madaliin kaya enjoy life and career muna ako. Pero willing din akong i-give up ang career ko if I could really find the right husband."

In the movie written and directed by Joey Reyes, she plays Doris, a 30-year-old virgin just dumped by her boyfriend, Mark Bautista. All her friends (Desiree del Valle, Mylene Dizon, Angelu de Leon and LJ Moreno) have gotten married and she’s the only one single. "Ganun din ako in real life. Lahat ng kapatid ko, nag-asawa na at may mga anak na."

Aside from Paolo, Alfred and Mark, her other leading men in "Status: Single" are Rafael Rosell and Jon Avila. It seems she’s partial to Jon as they were seen dating when they watched "The Spirit" together. "I admit namang kinikilig ako kay Jon and I admitted that to him. Nababaitan ako sa kanya at siya ang naging pinaka-close ko sa lahat. We do go out together watching movies o we dine sa The Fort. Pero hindi kami, friends lang. We don’t know kunsaan makakarating ‘yun but as of now, may kilig lang. Pero lahat ng leading men ko sa movie, pare-parehong guwapo at maganda ang katawan. Wala kang itatapon sa kanila. Kaya lang, ‘yung iba, may girlfriends na. Si Jon lang yata ang wala. Pero kahit guwapo siya, as of now, dumating na ko sa point na hindi basta guwapo lang ang gusto ko. I want someone na may deep sense of responsibility at matatanggap na marami pa kong ibang sinusuportahan, like ‘yung lola ko pa."

She says she personally called Lolit Solis to find out what she’s got against her since it’s Lolit who first circulated the rumor that she also had an affair with Hayden Kho. Lolit said it’s just a case of miscommunication and promised to just help her promote her new movie "Status: Single" that opens on January 28 since two of her wards are in it: Paolo Contis and Alfred Vargas.

"I respect Manay Lolit kaya hindi naman ako nagagalit sa kanya," says Rufa Mae. "I’m glad nagkaliwanagan kami. So ‘yung mga nangyari sa’kin last year, forgive and forget na lang dahil 2009 na."

But in last Saturday’s "Startalk," Manay Lolit says Hayden Kho admitted to her and Ricky Lo that he did have an affair with Rufa Mae after Katrina Halili. "Hindi na lang daw niya inamin kasi ayaw niyang dumami ang kaaway niya," adds Lolit. Now, wonder what Rufa Mae can say about this new revelation from Hayden?

***

Piolo Pascual turned 32 yesterday, January 12, but he didn’t have a party. Instead, he just went to a slum area in Malabon to distribute food and other supplies to indigent residents. "That’s what I always do on my birthday," he says. "I do it kasama ang mga pamangkin ko to encourage them to help others. Last Christmas, we also went to a hospice for the terminally ill at namigay ng mga regalo sa patients. Kasama ko rin ang friends ko sa prayer group namin like Erik Santos, Sam Milby and Mark Bautista. It’s really worthwhile kasi to share your blessings and time with the needy."

He doesn’t really have any birthday wish. "Wala na for myself kasi ang dami ko ng blessings. I just want to be able to serve. For this year, I told the Lord na mas gusto ko pang makapag-render ng service and think of myself last. We really have to serve others in different ways, be more compassionate."

Is it true he’s dating KC Concepcion?

"She’s part of our prayer group to attend our Bible study. Ilang months na. When there’s a chance, we got out with our group of friends. Kasama rin diyan sina Yeng Constantino, Direk Joyce Bernal, and Crystalle Henares, daughter ni Dra. Vicki Belo."

Piolo believes his first movie with Angel Locsin, "Love Me Again," will be a hit as its another crowd-pleasing romance, the forte of Star Cinema. Director Rory Quintos says it’s the hardest movie she has made so far, harder than "Dubai." "Mahirap doing location shoot in Bukidnon and in Northern Australia," she adds. "We had to deal with animals, like the cattle and the horses, also the kangaroos in Australia na tsambahan talaga ang pagkuha. In Australia, we shot in the outback na three hours away from the nearest store kaya kapag wala na kaming makain, we eat kahit lumang tinapay, until the Filipino community there found us and brought us food. Tatatlo crew members namin doon kaya I asked the actors including Piolo, Angel, at sina Dimples Romana, AJ Dee and Ronnie Lazaro, to help us in preparing the shoot. They carry the heavy equipment and even the lights, kaya lumaki ang muscles nila roon. But we’re proud of our movie. I’m sure viewers will like it."

"Love Me Again" will also be shown in the US at Seattle (Parkway Plaza Stadium, Enero 23-29), Las Vegas (Regal Village Square Stadium, Ene­ro 23-29), San Diego (UA Horton Plaza, Enero 23-29), Honolulu (Regale Dole Cannery Stadium 18, Enero 23-29), Guam (Micronesia Mall, Enero 23-29) and Chicago (Pickwick Theatre, February 6-12).

***

Kim Chiu says she feels pressured each time writers ask her about her relationship with Gerald Anderson. "Pinipilit kasi kaming paaminin na kami na," she says. "When we said may mutual understanding na kami, gusto naman malaman kung kailan exactly kami nagkaroon ng MU, e hindi ko nga matandaan na may formal kaming napag-usapan na mag-MU na kami, basta naramdaman na lang namin na ‘yun. But even if may understanding kami, pero pam-friends lang at hindi ‘yung may commitment kasi ayoko pa talaga ng serious commitment at this point."

Sounds confusing, if you ask us. We believe they’re just saying this to give in to writers who want them to admit they’re on. They’re also doing this to please the fans of their "Kimerald" love team who want them to be real sweethearts on and off cam, especially now that their new primetime soap, "Tayong Dalawa," is about to be shown. And what can Gerald say about Pauleen Luna’s accusation that he hid behind Kim when they saw each other at the Metro filmfest parade of stars?

"I didn’t really hide," he says. "We’re on an open stage so how can I hide? Kaya lang, iniiwasan ko nang magkaroon pa uli ng controversy. But next time I see her, I promise na babatiin ko siya. I’d like to think tapos na ‘yung anumang issue about us. It’s definitely over and very last year; 2009 na ngayon."

So would he behave now? "I’d like to think I’ve always behaved well. But now, to avoid intrigues, talagang hindi na ako lumalabas kundi sa trabaho lang. I learned a lot from that issue with Pauleen. Natutuhan kong kailangang mag-isip munang mabuti talaga. Maski kay Kim nga, nag-sorry ako kasi nadamay pa siya sa intriga and writers were asking her about it gayong wala naman siya talagang alam. Mabait talaga si Kim and very understanding. Kaya ngayon, puro trabaho na lang muna ako. Magkasama nga kami nung Christmas but nung New Year, I went home to my mom sa Gen. Santos City kaya na-miss ko siya."

He and Kim are happy that their "Tayong Dalawa" will be ABS-CBN’s first salvo for 2009. "That means they really trust our love team so much kaya sana, panoorin talaga ito ng mga tao," says Kim.

"Hindi naman kami mapapahiya as this is the best teleserye we’ve ever done," adds Gerald.