Don’t blame Joey

"Hoy, hindi ako nang-aaway, ha," Joey quickly qualifies. "Hindi naman ako ang dahilan na bumaba ang rating nila. I think nakita kasi ng viewers ang nangyari sa show nila, hindi dahil sa naging conflict namin nung host."

In his new album, "Kagat Labi," with EMI Records, one of the songs is "Walang Daya." Won’t the people concerned think he’s alluding to the host and the alleged "dayaan" issue, what with part of the lyrcis saying "Ferrari ka ng buhay ko"?

"Aba, ‘pag nag-isip nang ganun, mayabang sila. Basta ako, walang iniisip na ganun."

"Kagat Labi" is inspired by the hot dance craze with lip-biting moves in "Eat Bulaga" that became a popular hit just like his "Itaktak Mo." How come he moved from BMG Records (which released "Itaktak" in his "Joey to the World") to EMI?

"No, hindi ako lumipat. EMI owns the right to ‘Kagat Labi’ so I did the album with them. Nagpaalam naman ako ng maayos kay Vic Valenciano ng BMG and he allowed me to do this. After this, my next album will be with BMG uli."

Joey is the most visible TV personality now. He has daily noontime shows like "Takeshi’s Castle" and "Eat Bulaga," he’s seen in "Startalk" and "Nuts Entertainment" on Saturdays, and in "Mel & Joey" on Sundays. "I need to earn dahil puro sa States nag-aaral ang mga anak ko. Sabi ko nga, baka may university sa Hong Kong na mas malapit-lapit naman dahil ang hirap din nilang dalawin sa New York."

"Kagat Labi" boasts of certified "Joeylicious" songs like "Luhod," an adaptation of Sandwich’s "Sugod" that gives it very gay lyrics. With all the conflicts now in our government, he’s hilariously suggesting maybe the gay population should be allowed to take over. The government will be called "gayvernment" and the form of government will be a "Federacion." Malacanang will be "Malekendend" on the "Papa-sig" River, with the gay army known as "Sandatahang Magnanakaw ng Lakas ng Pilipinas."

Other riotous cuts are "Bikini Mong Puti (Na May Nakangiti)," "Food Na, Eat Na," "Pinagpatong-patong," "Kahit Tuyo" and the "Eat Bulaga" version of "Kagat Labi."

***

At the presscon of "Supah Papalicious," midget comedian Mura says he feels lucky as he gets to work with both GMA-7 (where he appeared in serials like "Super Twins") and ABS-CBN where he gets to do movies with Vhong Navarro.

"I really need to earn as I’m our family’s breadwinner," he says.

His parents and siblings are all based in Guinobatan, Albay. "Kapag kumita ako, ipinadadala ko agad sa kanila. Kasi nagagalit po sila kapag wala akong naipapadalang pera sa kanila. E, mabuti sana kung lagi akong may trabaho. Kung minsan, walang kumukuha sa akin."

Are his siblings as small as him? "Hindi po, malalaki po sila. Ako lang po ang ganito (midget)."

Then why don’t they find work so they won’t just depend on him? "Kasi ako raw po ang maganda ang trabaho rito sa Manila."

Each member of the cast of "Supah Papalicious" was asked what’s so super about them. This is Mura’s answer: "Super kayod po ako para may maipadala akong pera sa pamilya ko sa probinsiya."

Don’t you just admire him for being so devoted to his family?

***

Recently, it was reported that Sheryl Cruz bought a house in Makati and her Fil-Am husband Norman Bustos is following her here and they’ll settle down in Manila for good. But now, the cat is out of the bag. They have filed for divorce in the US and they say it’s because it’s difficult to maintain a long-distance relationship.

Well, people had been telling them about this even when Sheryl just started to return to show business here two years ago. But she said then her husband perfectly understands the need for her to find her own fulfillment through acting. Rumors then floated that they’ve broken up but Sheryl kept on denying it.

Norman himself now says that they’ve parted amicably and they still talk. As a matter of fact, he’ll be coming over here in May to attend the birthday party of their daughter Ashley. He even said that they’ve actually been separated for three years now after Sheryl chose to make a showbiz come back. Both of them say there is no third party involved in their split up.

***

Raymond Gutierrez has no doubt carved his own niche in showbiz as a TV host, as compared to his famous twin brother Richard, who’s better known as an actor and matinee idol. The fact that his program, "Showbiz Central," is now the leading showbiz-oriented show on Sunday will attest to this. Now, Raymond is doubly excited with his new assignment as host of the very first "Pinoy Idol."

"I was with our team when we held auditions in Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Batangas, Davao, Iloilo, Mega-Manila, Dagupan and Clark," he says. "I saw for myself the thousands upon thousands of aspirants who all want to join the singing contest. Grabe ang enthusiasm nila. From this multitude of wannabes, a total of 178 Idol hopefuls made it to the final list of the judges and bagged a rare chance of competing in the phenomenal singing contest, but they still have to endure another tough round of eliminations before we can finally come up with the crème de la crème  of top 12 contenders."

As the host of the first "Pinoy Idol," Raymond says he aims to enliven the show with his own charming antics and to boost the fighting spirit of each contestant. The judges are talent manager Wyngard Tracy (who made a good impression in "Celebrity Duets"), singer-composer Ogie Alcasid, and singer-actress Jolina Magdangal. They vow to give constructive criticism and colorful comments that will help improve the singing and performing abilities of each hopeful during the course of the show.

GMA-7 now holds the airing right of the "Idol" franchise, owned by Fremantle, which is a big hit in various countries and has become the breeding ground of many singing artists. Big cash prizes and a singing contract await the grand champion of "Pinoy Idol," definitely the biggest talent search in the world that now comes to the biggest TV network in the country, to start this April.

***

Baron Geisler might have elicited negative feedback for his drunken appearances in "PBB Celebrity Edition" but no doubt his stint there helped revive his career. He is now in three new movies, Star Cinema’s "Supah Papalicious," Viva’s "Torotot," and the Cinemalaya entry, "Jay," directed by Francis Pasion.

"It’s nice to be part of a fun and wholesome movie like ‘Supah Papalicious’ at nag-enjoy akong katrabaho rito sina Vhong Navarro, Valerie Concepcion, Makisig Morales at Kitkat," he says. "Sa ‘Torotot’ ni Direk Maryo J. de los Reyes, ibang klase namang Baron ang mapapanood dahil I play a very challenging, mature role na ibang-iba sa mga nagawa ko na before."

About his love life, he reveals that his new inspiration is the Cebuana TV host Diane Monsanto of PBB Season 2. He even has pictures of her in his cellphone. "I really like her and I’m hoping na maramdaman din sana niya na gusto ko siya."

As of now, he has also resolved to clean up his image. "I want to show people that I’ve changed at gusto ko maalis ‘yung impression nila sa’king bad boy ako at lasenggo. I know it won’t be easy dahil sa napanood nila sa akin and I can’t do it overnight. But in due time, I know mapapatunayan ko sa kanilang nagbago na nga ako and I want to thank the people who’re giving me another chance."

***

Asked who he prefers to play Darna when he does "Captain Barbell Meets Darna," Richard Gutierrez quickly replied: "Si Marian Rivera. We’ve worked together in ‘My Best Friend’s Girlfriend’ kaya palagay na loob namin sa isa’t isa. Kaya lang, malayo pa ‘yun dahil she’ll do ‘Dyesebel’ muna."

Meantime, his own show, "Kamandag," is heating up. The evil Gulag (Zoren Legaspi) is about to kill him as Vergel/Kamandag, and also his mom, Alicia (Eula Valdes), but his fire-breathing ally, Ragona (Sunshine Dizon), helps him.

Lily (Maxene Magalona) tries to escape from Adlak who wants to rape her, but his brother Vergel defends Lily and they fight. Adlak asks Vergel to choose who he wants to free: his mom Alicia (Eula Valdes) or Lily. As for Jenny (Jewel Mische), Lucero (Mark Anthony Fernandez) got mad at his dad Abdon (Ariel Rivera) when he found out that it’s Abdon who told Ditas (Ehra Madrigal) to get rid of Jenny.

***

We saw the World Pyro Olympics staged near the SM Mall of Asia last year and it was really a spectacular show of dazzling fireworks. This year, it will fire up our summer nights on April 5, 12, 19 and 26, and May 3. La Mancha Pyro Productions, that brought it in 2005, continues the tradition this year by producing the much-awaited show once more, bringing in the masters of the international pyrotechnics industry to compete for the coveted grand prize.

On the night of their respective performances, each country displays their brightest fireworks for 20 minutes. The schedule is as follows: April 5- China and Germany, April 12- Japan and Canada, April 19 - Italy and Venezuela, April 26 - France and Korea, May 3 - Australia and the Philippines. Being the host country, we will not compete but just stage our own unique fireworks creations.

The World Pyro Olympis is done in partnership with the Department of Tourism. Each year, hotel occupancy increases and restaurants and establishments in the area are filled with thousands of spectators, with droves of tourists coming from all over. Don’t miss the World Pyro Olympics this summer.