ONGRATULATIONS
to Gina Pareno for winning the best supporting actress award in the 3rd Hong
Kong Asian Filmfest for her performance in Dante Mendoza’s "Serbis." Gina went
to Hong Kong to accept her award. It wasn’t the first time she won an
international acting trophy since she was previously honored in international
film festivals as best actress for Jeffrey Jeturian’s "Kubrador."
Honestly, though, we don’t think Gina plays a supporting
role in "Serbis." Her role as the aging matriarch of a family living inside a
dilapidated movie theater is a lead part and she should have been nominated in
the best actress category.
Gina was the only Filipino who won. Most of the other
awards were won by Japanese films like "Departures" (best foreign language
film in the Oscar), "Tokyo Sonata" and "Still Walking."
***
Still part of the promo of "Zorro," Rhian Ramos took the
lie detector test in the "Don’t Lie to Me" portion of "Showbiz Central" last
Sunday which happened to be their 100th episode. Sad to say, most of the
questions to Rhian were uninteresting. First question: She plays Lolita in
"Zorro," a girl pressured by her parents to marry someone rich. In real life,
will her parents also pressure to marry a rich guy? She said no and it’s true.
Next question: In her last debut, she wanted Richard
Gutierrez to be her escort but he didn’t make it as he was abroad. Did he feel
sore at Richard because of this? She said no and again, it’s true.
Now that you’re paired with Richard anew, would you say
your relationship is now more than friends? She said no and it’s a lie.
In "Zorro," you studied Spanish. Have you ever said "Te amo"
(I love you) to Richard? She said no and again, it’s a lie.
All we can say is this is it was hard sell just to promote
"Zorro." Ayaw nina JC De Vera at Jewel Mische ng ganyan.
***
Alma Moreno tied the knot with Marawi City Mayor Fahad
Salic in Muslim rites held on the beach last Saturday at Vista Mar Resort in
Cebu. Her eldest son Mark Anthony Fernandez confirmed this with the press.
"It was just a small affair with family and some close
friends," says Mark. "Dapat sana, sa April 9, pero biglang na-decide
na gawin na kaya napaaga ang wedding. No media involved kasi my
mom wanted a quiet wedding. Lahat kaming anak niya, nandun. We can see
she’s happy so we’re happy for her."
We heard there will be a second wedding to be held at
Marawi City later.
***
After playing a gay merman in "Dyesebel," Paolo Ballesteros
is now playing another gay role in "Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang" as
Marian Rivera’s effeminate best friend. Obviously, he doesn’t mind being
typecast in playing gay roles.
"Not at all," he says. "Alangan namang tanggihan ko ito,
e ang daming walang trabaho ngayon, ‘di ba? Isa pa, may anak na akong
sinusuportahan kaya dapat lang na mas maging masipag ako sa pagtatrabaho.
Malay mo, next time, straight role ang i-assign sa’kin.
Keempee de Leon, after a series of gay roles, hayan at lalaki naman at
ladies man pa ang role niya sa ‘Babaeng Hinugot’."
His daughter is named Kiera Claire and is now three months
old. She stays with her mom, Paolo’s girlfriend named Karen, who used to live
in the US but is now living with her family in Baguio. "Lagi ko silang
dinadalaw roon basta may free time ako," he says.
In "Babaeng Hinugot," Paolo was mauled in one scene by
another Paolo, Contis, who plays the villain Rado. "Dahil pinagtatanggol ko
si Marian as Proserfina, ako ang binugbog ni Rado at masyadong
makatotohanan ang panggugulpi sa’kin ni Paolo kaya nagkapasa-pasa
talaga ako. But no complaints, kasi maganda namang lumabas ang eksena."
This week in the series, Homer (Dingdong Dantes) finds out
that Selena (Jackielou Blanco), the supposed mother of Proserfina, is actually
an impostor. He informs Proserfina about this and he helps her escape from
Rado’s mansion.
***
It will be an exciting battle of teen players this Saturday
on "The Singing Bee." Team PBB Teens will be represented by winner Ejay Falcon
along with Beauty Gonzales and Nikki Uysiuseng. Team Star Circle Teen will be
represented by winner Erich Gonzales with Arron Villaflor and Charles
Christianson. They will be up against the "Underage Girls" of Melissa Ricks,
Empress Schuck and Lauren Young. Also competing are Team Image Models of
Regine Angeles, Victor Neri and John James Uy, and Team Sexy Young Stars Hazel
Ann Mendoza, Joseph Bitangcol and Marvin Raymundo. They will be fighting the
defending team of jockeys called Team Hinete.
On Sunday, the competing teams are Team Rak en Roll of
comedians Empoy, Ruben and Keanna Reeves, Mega Pretty Divas of impersonators
Ate Shawie, Anton Diva and Pretty Trishza, Team Simpatico of Epi Quizon,
Smokey Manaloto and Gio Alvarez, Team Laugh Trippers of Ethel Booba, Brod Pete
and Jeffrey Tam and Team Bigatin of overweights Arlene Muhlach, Minnie Aguilar
and Atak. The competition will be very fierce and grueling. In the end, a new
team will defeat the Team Hinete. Which one would win? You have to watch for
yourself to find who’ll be the new defending champions on Sunday night.
***
We have just seen the official DVD of the blockbuster
"Twilight" as released by Viva Video and it’s something that lovers of the hit
cult film should own as a collector’s item. It contains so many additional
features not found in the movie version. The DVD includes the full theatrical
trailer, a director’s introduction with the deleted scenes and extended
scenes, a conversation with novelist Stephanie Meyer (who wrote the book on
which the movies is based), plus the music of the movie called "The Heartbeat
of Twilight." The other special features are "Becoming Edward," "Becoming
Bella," director Catherine Hardwicke’s "Vampire Kiss Montage" and Edward’s
"Piano Concert," and music videos of "Bella’s Lullaby Remix," "Decode" by
Paramore, "Supermassive Black Hole" by Muse and "Leave Out All the Rest" by
Linkin Park.
"Twilight" is the Romeo and Juliet type of story between a
mortal girl, Bella (Kristen Stewart) and a vampire, Edward (Robert Pattinson).
Made for only $37 million, it has since earned about $400 million worldwide.
In the Philippines, it’s a big hit that raked in over P200 million, making it
the Numero Uno love story since "Titanic." Watch the "Real Deal
Special" on Twilight on Studio 23 on March 29, with a replay on April 15, at
1:30 p.m.
The VCD of "Twilight" is available at P299, regular DVD at
P375 and special 2-disc edition DVD at P750, now available in all video stores
nationwide.
***
Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco is on his last term and, by 2010, he intends to
run as congressman of the district of Navotas, which will have its own
representative and no longer just be joined with Malabon. He’s now grooming
his younger brother, John Reynald, to replace him as mayor.