Isabel Granada fails to get
full payment for int'l film

And it's true that when it comes to having good PR, Ruffa and her brother Richard are on the top of our list. They're among our most approachable and solicitous celebs. Wonder what Lani has to say about this.

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Richard Gutierrez left for Los Angeles yesterday (Thursday) to attend the Visionary Awards at Kodak Theatre (where the Oscars are held) to receive an award along with Rudy Fernandez, Francis Magalona, Tito, Vic and Joey of "Eat Bulaga" to be held on Friday night in California (Saturday morning here). The fans of Richard in the US are all excited that he's able to attend the awards night so they can see him in person. Many of them will be coming from different places and will just wait for his arrival at the Kodak Theatre. After the awards night, he will be joining his parents, Eddie Gutierrez and Annabelle Rama, and they will watch the "Pacquiao vs. Marquez" rematch in Las Vegas.

What can Richard say about GMA Films proposing to ABS-CBN to do a co-production film that will pair him with KC Concepcion? "I'm praying na sana, magkatotoo. I'm excited to do it. KC is very beautiful, talented and has a great personality. I saw her in 'Maalaala Mo Kaya' and she can act well kaya I'm really looking forward to working with her. They tell me a lot of viewers are looking forward to do that kaya sana naman, pumayag ang ABS sa co-production venture na ito."

Richard is thankful that GMA-7 allowed him to advance the taping of some episodes for his hit show, "Kamandag," so that he can leave for abroad. Tonight, don't miss "Kamandag" as it will show the fierce fight that Richard as Vergel has with a giant anaconda called Kurka, which recognizes him later as the son of Haring Saban (Gardo Versoza). Kurka says he is the guard of the king's sepulchre and points to Vergel where it can be found. Vergel was able to retrieve it.

Meantime, some cops investigate Abdon (Ariel Rivera) who is not aware that his son, Lucero (Mark Anthony Fernandez) has kidnapped Jenny (Jewel Mische) and is now being held against her will in their bodega. In turn, Lily (Maxene Magalonz), is presented to Haring Gulag (Zoren Legaspi) and Doro (Mike Nacua) reveals to her that Vergel and Kamandag are really one and the same person. As for Ragona (Sunshine Dizon), she is shocked when informed that Boyong might be her real son.

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Isabel Granada just returned from Oman where she shot an international movie, "Pirate's Blood." "I was there during the first half of February at puro foreign stars ang kasama ko," she said at the presscon of "Kaputol ng Isang Awit."

"The title of the movie is 'Pirate's Blood' and it's a horror movie produced by an Indian producer. The producer just saw me performing in 'Zaido' at pinatawag nga ako."

Is it true she had a problem on the set of that film? "During the shoot, wala. But after, 'yun, hindi nila maibigay ang 50 percent balance ng talent fee o uuwi na ako sa Pilipinas. The producer said he was deceived by one of his associates so they lacked funds. What he did is just to issue a postdated check para makaalis ako. This will mature on March 22 pa. I just hope hindi tumalbog kasi hindi ko na sila mahahabol. Magrereklamo lang siguro ako sa embassy natin sa Oman.

"Pero blessing naman, when I got back here sa Manila on February 23, I got a call from GMA-7 at kasali nga raw ako sa 'Kaputol ng Isang Awit' that starts sa 'Dramarama sa Hapon' today at 3:30 p.m. O, 'di may trabaho ako agad," Isabel said.

Her role is meaty. "I play a big record producer na magpapasikat kina Glaiza de Castro at Lovi Poe," she related. "Aside from my income sa showbiz, suwerte rin kami ng husband ko (Geryk Genaskey) dahil okay ang takbo ng business naming pawn shop, foreign exchange, at franchises ng Mini-Stop at Western Union sa Angeles City. The Lord is good to us."

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Drs. Willie and Liza Ong are close to our hearts not just because we consider them good friends but because of their commitment to help others, especially the poor. They were able to help a lot of indigent patients with their "Makabayang Duktor" TV show that stopped when RPN-9 was taken over by Solar TV. They now guest in ABS-CBN's "Salamat Doc" show on Saturday mornings. Their "Medicine Blue Book" is a best seller that sold 200,000 copies on its 7th edition. They have now published a new book, "Survival Guide for Doctors (And Non-Doctors Too)," that is in line with Doc Willie's being a founder of MIND or Movement of Idealistic and Nationalistic Doctors for which he got the Outstanding Physician Award from the Department of Health and JC International Senate. He and wife Liza have long been urging their colleagues and other health workers to stay home and give more free medical services to the poor.

"There's a serious brain drain in our country," they say. "The goal of most doctors and nurses is to leave and work abroad. We're now making the rounds of medical schools and hospital to encourage them to serve our country. Some 200 hospitals have already closed down due to lack of doctors."

Their pioneering book gives tips to health workers and other professions on how to be successful in their respective careers, how to study better and improve one's memory, how to deal with superiors and co-workers, and how to network and lobby for causes. You may order the book by calling this number, 831-9842.

Docs Willie and Liza are now also endorsing Vitahart, a food supplement that has Omega 3 from fish. This lessens bad cholesterol and makes the heart very healthy. What they didn't know is that we're already taking it once everyday and it's very reasonable as the cost is only P15 per capsule.

"It took us a month to decide if we'd endorse it and we agreed because it's really a good product accepted by both American and Philippine heart associations," says Dr. Willie. "We're not getting any money for plugging it for Unilab. Instead, Biomedis' general manager Dante Sibug will just give donations to our charity foundation to help a baby with congenital defect, a blind kid, a lady with thyroid problem, and many other poor patients."

Doctors Willie and Liza believe this is the Lord's purpose for them: To help the needy. Now, if only there are more people like them. That's why we're personally praying for them. May their tribe increase!

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An entry in the Cinemalaya backed out because they couldn't find the right actors for the role. Entitled "434456," this is about an Indian widower fondly called Jimmy 5-6 who belongs to a group of Indian migrants in our country. Jimmy is in his early 40s and has two kids, a son who's about 21 and a daughter who's about 13. Jimmy speaks fluent Hindi and rides a motorcycle as he lends money to needy vendors around town. Producer UFO Pictures has called for auditions to cast these characters but no one turned up, so if you're interested, you may call producer Raymond Lee at 0917-3950048. We suggest to Raymond that he get in touch with Mike Vergel (brother of Beverly and the late Ace Vergel), who looks so Indian because his late dad, Mike Ramchand, was one. At least, he already has acting experience. For the role of the son, they can try Jay Alcantara, who's also Indian and has appeared in films before.