Why 'Lobo' fails to soar

"They've been playing the piano since they were three," says proud mama Charlene. "Frustration ko kasi 'yun kaya ayan, sila ang pinaturuan naming mag-piano. Between the two, Atasha plays better kasi si Andres loves dancing more. He even choreographs his own dances."

The twins will be in Grade One in June. "We don't know yet where they'll go, but Aga's dream is for them to study in an international school. Gusto ko naman, 'yung malapit lang sa bahay namin so we can guard and supervise them well."

As a graduation gift, they're bringing the kids to Disneyland in California this weekend. "Then Aga and I will watch the Pacquiao fight in Las Vegas. Aga will stay in the US for only five days kasi he has to return for the movie he's shooting with Anne Curtis. I'll stay there with the twins for two weeks, kaya nga nag-advance taping na ako for my show on Q-11, 'Proudly Filipina.' I enjoyed the last episode we showed with Tingting and Mikee Cojuangco, but this Friday, you should watch the one with Maricel Soriano. Next Friday naman, my guest is Sen. Pia Cayetano, but we won't talk about politics but about how is it to be a mother and her experience when she lost a child. It's a different side of her."

When is she going back to acting?

"When we got married, it's clear that Aga will be more active as he's the man of the house, so I laid low. But now that the kids are bigger, it depends on the project and how it will excite me."

Since she's the last actress to play Dyesebel, will she agree if GMA-7 asks her to do a guest role in their TV version?

"I might. It depends on what role I'll play. Siguro one time lang, I can't do it on a regular basis. My kids learned I did 'Dyesebel' and Atasha told me, 'Show me your tail.' Gusto ko ngang makakuha ng copy ng 'Dyesebel' so I can show it to them. Basta as of now, mas enjoy ako sa hosting. I find my work in 'Proudly Filipina' very fulfilling as I get to interview so many women, not just celebrities, with inspiring stories, like this private school teacher in Leyte who transferred to public school in the rural area and made her students number one in the national achievement test, and another teacher who devoted her time to teaching autistic kids in her home in Antipolo."

How did it feel hosting the Bb. Pilipinas Pageant last Saturday?

"I was the anchorwoman three times but that's really just the first time I hosted it. It felt like a homecoming for me as the other beauty queens were also there."

Charlene won Bb. Pilipinas in 1994 and Aga was a judge then. Dayanara Torres crowned her. Aga and Yari later became an item. But it's Charlene who became Mrs. Muhlach. How does she feel about the bad feedback on Bb. Pilipinas-World Janina San Miguel whose English was laughable?

"I think ninerbiyos lang siya. Kasi, I talked to her later at okay naman ang English niya. It's the first time for her to join a contest so understandable that she's so tense. But she'll do okay kasi they'll still be trained naman. The beauty queens nga today have an edge as they're sent to Colombia for further training. In my time, we were just on our own. But all the winners this year are deserving. They have the chance to prove themselves again in the international arena."

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Chito Rono was at the presscon of his ward Vhong Navarro for "Supah Papalicious" and he said they've shot all the scenes here in Manila of Sharon Cuneta for Star Cinema's "Caregiver." "That's only about 20% of the film," he adds. "Ang 80% will be shot in London. Dapat, may scenes din sa Prague but may problem daw sa permits with their Artists Union, so we'll just focus on London."

The Megastar herself confirmed this. They're leaving for London after the Holy Week with other members of the cast that include John Estrada, Rica Peralejo and Makisig Morales. London is a very expensive city so they have to maximize their stay there to save on production cost. The movie is meant to be Star's Mother's Day presentation in May, just like "Anak" of Ate Vi before.

"This is my comeback movie so gusto ko maging maganda talaga," said Shawie. "It's only when I faced the cameras again that I realized how much I miss doing movies. Grabe. Inspired din ako dahil first time ko to work with Direk Chito and we're all pleased with the rushes of the scenes we've already shot."

Shawie is sad that some writers seem to want her and daughter KC to fight. Someone wrote she was seen crying because KC doesn't want to consult her anymore regarding her own career decisions. It's said KC didn't even inform her that she'll guest in "Maalaala Mo Kaya" and that she'll do a sexy swimsuit pictorial.

"I really don't know kung bakit pati kaming mag-ina, iniintriga pa," she said. "KC even dedicated her first appearance in 'Maalaala' to me at kung ako man, may katawang kasing ganda ng sa anak ko, aba, 'di magpapa-pictorial din ako. The truth is I'm not managing my daughter's career kundi si Sandra Chavez, kaya hindi ako nakikialam sa kanya. I can share my thoughts but I will never make pakialam, kaya huwag na lang sana kaming intrigahin at pag-awaying mag-ina."

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Yeng Constantino is the "grand dreamer" in the first "Pinoy Dream Academy" (PDA)

"I have so much to be thankful for since then," she says. "I won a condo unit for me and my family at hindi na kami squatter. I had my own album na naka-triple platinum and I had my own solo concert. Tapos, ilang beses akong nakapunta sa States to do shows there. And to think, when I took the audition, muntik na akong maging 'thank you girl' lang. Ni hindi pinatapos ni Direk Lauren Dyogi ang song ko at nag-thank you siya agad sa akin, so sabi ko naman, 'Thank you lang po?' Natawa siya and called me back, tapos, pinapirma na ako. Ayun, nakasali nga ako sa PDA."

And the rest, so they say, is history. She eventually bested 19 other scholars and even won best song awards from the Metro-Manila Filmfest and FAMAS for her composition, "Hawak Kamay," that was used as the theme song of "Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo." Now, she has released her own album, "Journey."

What can she say about observations that she's a tomboy? "I admit namang boyish ako, kasi lagi nga akong nakapantalon at rubber shoes. Pero sa porma lang po 'yun. Sa puso, girl pa rin ako. Sabi nga nila, dapat, mas maging glamorosa na ang projection ko ngayon. Siguro, in due time, pero kailangang ma-ging comfortable muna ako para hindi ako mag-mukhang trying hard."

What advice can she give to the next batch of scholars?

"Just be yourself, but give your best. Maging totoo lang sila and don't pretend na they're someone they're not. Mas mamahalin sila ng viewers."

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This is an email from Tweetums del Prado: "Naku, ha, hindi ko ma-take na pinatay si Anne Curtis as Celine sa 'Maging Sino Ka Man.' Buset! Even if viewers already knew that she'd die dahil nagkasakit siya ng cancer, parang hindi pa rin madaling matanggap na tinuluyan siyang tigbakin sa show. Dapat, patayin na rin nila si JB a.k.a. Sam Milby dahil hindi ko rin mate-take na kay Toni Gonzaga na siya ipapareha. Tapos ipakita na lang na magkikita sila ni Anne sa heaven. Baka mas mag-rate pa ang show. Sa totoo lang, one reason kaya ayaw mag-rate nito ay dahil Ingglisan nang Ingglisan ang lahat ng characters at parang hindi na ito Tagalog program. Ngayong si Charo Santos Concio na ang president ng ABS-CBN, siguro naman, mas matututukan niya ang mga programa nila para hindi sila inilalampaso ng kabila sa ratings."

This one is from Gigi Granada: "Why do you think 'Lobo' is not rating high when it's filmed like a movie with good production values? The acting of all the stars is also good, especially Piolo, Angel and Shaina Magdayao who's an even better actress than her sister Vina. How come it's not doing well?"

One reason we can think of is the fact that the concept of 'lobo' or werewolf is alien to the Filipino mythical sensibility. We don't have it in our folk tales like the dwende, nuno sa punso, aswang or manananggal. Perhaps the show would have rated higher if Angel Locsin was just made an "aswang," and viewers will find it easier to relate to that as seen in the huge appeal and success of such past movies as "Aswang," "Anak ng Aswang," and "Sa Piling ng Aswang." Even before, we already wrote that many local viewers might not understand the title "Lobo" and this is exactly what happened, with many people asking us: ano ba 'yung lobo? Maybe the ABS-CBN think tank will learn a lesson from this.

(mmhannah143@yahoo.com)