Lani and the art of 'deadma'

LANI Mercado has perfected one technique when it comes to husband Sen. Bong Revilla's womanizing in the past.

"Siguro, other women would have easily given up and run away," she says. "But with me, I have learned to master the art of deadma. Si Bong naman kasi, even at the time na nali-link siya sa iba, hindi nagkukulang sa pamilya namin. You can ask our kids, he's really a good father to them. At ako naman, very important sa akin na buo ang family namin. I'm just so glad my kids are all very caring. Even our youngest boy, si Ram, kapag nakikita niyang nai-stress ako, he'll just say 'Chill, ma. Relax, don't panic' at nare-relax nga ako."

She herself has become controversial because of her reported tiffs with Gretchen Barretto and Ruffa Gutierrez. "Ewan ko nga, may sabihin lang ako o may ginawang wala namang masamang kahulugan sa'kin, nami-misinterpret agad. But I'm glad it's over. Ayoko ng ganung controversies kasi, alam nyo naman, hindi naman ako palaaway na tao."

How come she's not doing any teleserye now? "I just concentrate on 'Moms.' Kasi at the time tinanggap ko 'yung 'Lupin,' grabe. From a taping of 'Lupin' in Subic, I had to rush back to GMA-7 naman for 'Moms,' e wala pa kong tulog. Dun na nga lang ako sa GMA naligo. So sabi ko, kahit nami-miss ko ang acting, ayoko munang magteleserye."

She says the rumor that her show for mothers with Manilyn Reynes and Sherilyn Reyes, "Moms," shown Monday to Friday at 5 p.m. on Q-11, will soon be terminated is not true. "Wala namang sinasabi sa amin at tuloy pa rin ang taping namin," she says. "Hayan nga, they've started airing our early episodes in countries na may GMA Pinoy TV like Japan and Saudi."

We ask her what her son Jolo Revilla is doing now. "Ayun, concentrated siya sa pag-aaral. Sinabihan ko naman sila ni Lovi Poe na mga bata pa sila, so they really should just focus on their studies first. If they're really meant for each other, puede naman nilang ituloy later on."

So she respects the decision of Lovi's mom, former model-actress Rowena Moran, to stop the relationship of Jolo and Lovi?

"Oo naman. I'm also a mother and I know how she feels in wanting to be protective of her daughter. Pero sana, payagan pa rin silang magkatrabaho uli kasi ang lakas ng love team nila kaya nga nag-rate ng mataas yung 'Kaputol ng Isang Awit'."

***

Billy Crawford is the newest endorser of Belo Medical Group. Why did Dr. Vicky Belo get him?

"Kasi world class siya and Belo will be world class soon also as we're opening branches in other countries, including the US," she says. "When I went to Paris in 2005, I was surprised when I entered a big record store there at puro tarpaulins ni Billy ang nasa loob. When I inquired, I was told he's big in France and has three number one records. He really made me feel proud to be a Filipino. Now, he intends to conquer the US also when he returns there in September to promote his new album. And I have a feeling he'll also hit it big there so he's now under contract with us for two years dahil tamang-tama nga na we're putting up a branch in the US also. And before he goes back to the US, we should make him very pogi muna rito."

So what are the procedures she'll do on Billy?

"First, we have to lower his receding hairline, kasi ang wide na ng forehead niya. I want to do hair transplants on him but it will take three months to heal kaya hindi siya puede, so we'll just do bio scalp to help make his hair grow."

"My hair got thinner kasi lagi akong nakasombrero and I also braid my hair kaya nabatak," Billy explains.

"We'll also do body contouring on him with our new machines to contract his abdominal muscles para magkaroon siya ng pandesal sa tiyan. Siempre, aalagaan din namin ang skin niya sa facials," adds Dra. Belo.

Did he ask the permission of German Moreno to be a Belo endorser?

"Kayo talaga, pati yan, ginagawa nyong joke. I can't ask Kuya Germs' permission even if I want to dahil wala siya rito, nasa States."

Will he guest in Kuya Germs' "Walang Tulugan" to promote Dra. Belo? Billy laughed so hard before saying: "Ang sama n'yo. Basta thankful ako kay Dra. Vicky na kinuha niya akong endorser and I promise to plug Belo Medical not only here but also in the US."

Belo has seven branches all over Metro-Manila. For inquiries, call 844-2939 or visit their website at www.belomed.com or email them at info@belomed.com.

***

Alfred Vargas is wondering why he continues to be linked to Jana Roxas, the "Star Struck" discovery who's his co-star in "Nuts Entertainment." "We're good friends dahil nga lagi kaming magkasama sa show, but there's no romantic involvement between us," he says.

Alfred reveals that after he and LJ Reyes broke up, he laid low for a while in the romance department, but he now has a new inspiration, a non-showbiz girl who comes from a good family. "Napaka-private niya so don't ask her name ," he implores. "Mas gusto kong tahimik na lang kami at wala nang maging anumang issue about us."

Alfred's role in the hit "Dyesebel" series as Erebus has become more interesting. He confronts Arana (Jackie Rice) for the lies she's been spreading about him and Dyesebel. Arana will ask for his forgiveness but Erebus cannot trust her anymore. Meantime, Amafura (Rufa Mae Quinto), wants to get back the powerful white pearl that Cassandra/Berbola (Michelle Madrigal) stole and she plans to use the black pearl to retrieve the white one.

Dyesebel (Marian Rivera) gets jealous when she sees Fredo (Dingdong Dantes) kissing Cassandra and the two women have a fight. Fredo sides with Cassandra and this makes Dyesebel sad. Shiela Mae (Kris Bernal) discovers the truth that she's just an adopted child and confronts Ava (Jean Garcia) about this. She runs away from home because of this.

***

So far, three contestants have won millions in "The Singing Bee," two of them are celebrities, Rachel Alejandro (who won P1.2 million) and Aiza Seguerra (who took home P2 million) and one is an ordinary wage earner who finished journalism, Steno Padilla, 21, who also won P1 million.

A lot of people lauded Aiza Seguerra when she decided to withdraw from the contest after bagging P2 million as she could have gone on and on until she got defeated by another contestant.

"I don't want to be greedy," says Aiza. "I want to give a chance to other people. Ang dami ko nang natanggap na blessings, e. Also, I promised myself na kapag nanalo na ako ng milyon, kusa na akong titigil and that's exactly what I did."

Aiza is leaving soon to join the cast of the hit Broadway musical "Avenue Q" that will be performing for two months in Singa-pore. "Singing Bee" host Cesar Mon-tano takes his hat off to Aiza.

"Magaling siya dahil alam niya ang lyrics ng maraming kanta," he says. "Baka kung nag-patuloy siya, P3 million or more pa ang napanalunan niya. I admire her for not being swapang and giving way to other contestants."

***

Nina Jose's loss is Katrina Halili's gain. After Mother Lily didn't allow Nina to do "One Night Only," OctoArts FIlms' entry in the December filmfest, the project was offered to Katrina Halili and she's very happy to accept it. Directed by Joey Reyes, it will also star Angelica Panga-niban, Roxanne Guinoo and Valerie Con-cepcion. Take note that they're all Kapamilya while Katrina is Kapuso.

"Wala naman sigurong magiging problema kahit taga-GMA 7 ako at puro taga-ABS sila," says Katrina. "Marunong naman akong makisama and I expect na magiging friends kami while doing the movie."

Aside from "One Night Only," OctoArts' boss Orly Ilacad is offering Katrina the remake of one of Vilma Santos' biggest hits, "Miss X," filmed in 1979 in Amsterdam where she played a prostitute in that city's famous red light district. "Excited ako, sana matuloy," says Katrina. "I'm so honored kung ako nga ang gagawa ng movie na dating ginawa ng isang Vilma Santos. At makakarating pa ako sa Europe kung dun din kukunan uli ang pelikula."

***

The Cinemalaya entry, "Boses," was not a part of the original ten films accepted by Cinemalaya. It was just a replacement for "Antiparang Basag" that backed out. Now, it turns out to be one of the year's most intensely moving films so far, brilliantly acted by the entire cast and directed with great sensitivity by Ellen Ongkeko Marfil, based on the script of Froilan Medina and Rody Vera.

The story starts with the camera peeping through a hole showing the already intoxicated Marcelo (Ricky Davao) continuing to drink by himself. Cops arrive with some concerned neighbors to ask Marcelo where he is hiding his 7-year-old son, Onyok (Julian Duque), who he often brutally beats up. It turns out the camera is taking the view of the badly battered Onyok who's imprisoned inside a cabinet. The cops arrest his dad and Onyok is taken to a shelter for abused kids headed by Amanda (Cherry Pie Picache).

Onyok cannot speak as his vocal chords were damaged when something was rammed down his throat. In a hut behind the shelter lives Amanda's grouchy brother, Ariel (Coke Bolipata), an accomplished violinist who has become a recluse after his wife or girlfriend (this is one of the few things in the film that is not clear), Bianca (Meryll Soriano), killed herself (why she did so is also nebulous). He whiles his time away by playing the violin. The other kids in the shelter think he's crazy, but Onyok is drawn to his music and the two of them, both lonely and alienated souls, make a connection. Ariel lets Onyok play the violin and the boy turns out to be a prodigy who learns very fast and becomes a virtuoso violinist in no time at all. But Marcelo won't leave them alone and keeps trying to get Onyok back.

How Onyok finds his voice through music is a heartrending tale that will move you to tears. Coke Bolipata is an award-winning musician in real life who studied at the prestigious Julliard School of Music in New York. Julian Duque is really one of his students. The film's climax, which is a tribute to the beauty of music and its power to heal, shows them playing Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" and you can't help but feel triumphant for both of them. They're not only good musicians but also very good actors, playing their respective roles with much persuasion, which is really something considering that they are acting with seasoned award-winners like Ricky Davao and Cherry Pie Picache, who are also both splendid in their respective roles.

Just like "Jay," this film deserves a wider release in theaters nationwide. Fortunately, it has been adopted by the UNICEF, DSWD and Council for the Welfare of Children as part of their campaign, Children Against Violence, and will be shown in schools.