Robin’s a good kisser

In her new movie, "Ikaw Pa Rin, Bongga Ka Boy," she plays Dr. Baby Holmes, an aging veterinarian who’s worried that she might be too old to have her own child so she asks Robin Padilla to sire a child with her. "May boyfriend kasi ako rito, si Allen Dizon. For 15 years, pinapaasa kong pakakasalan niya ko, pero kapag niyayaya ko na siyang pakasal, laging may katwiran, like it’s the year of the rat at malas daw yun. Minsan naman, year of the giraffe daw, e wala naman palang ganun, so ayun, nilayasan ko siya and I save the life of Robin nang mabulunan siya in a restaurant and nearly died. In return, he promised me that he’d do any favor I’d ask of him at ang hiningi ko ngang favor is anakan niya ako."

The movie is directed by her favorite director, Wenn Deramas, who also gave her such hits as "Tanging Ina," "Cute ng Ina Mo" and "Kapag Tumibok ang Puso." "I’d like to thank Direk Wenn kasi the character that I play here is very realistic, compared to before na lagi akong mukhang cartoons."

So how is Robin Padilla as a leading man? "Lahat ng narinig ko about him before, totoo pala yun. He’s really a gentleman. We have two kissing scenes and one love scene and he didn’t take advantage of me kundi the other way around. Ang sarap niya humalik, kaya tinira ko siya. You should see our love scene inside a car, naku, ang ganda hindi lang ng chemistry namin kundi pati ang aming biology and algebra."

Does she have a new TV show with ABS-CBN? "Wala nga. I thought may gagawin kami ni Maricel Soriano, but hindi natuloy, so puro movies na ang gagawin ko ngayon. After ‘Ikaw Pa Rin,’ I’m doing ‘Tanging Ina Ninyong Lahat,’ sequel to the first ‘Tanging Ina,’ where I’ll become the president of the Philippines. Ito raw ang magiging entry sa Metro filmfest ng Star Cinema. In August naman, we’re hoping to start the movie that I will be doing with former Pres. Joseph Estrada."

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His "Soul in Love" concert at the Mandarin’s Captain’s Bar last November was a hit and fans clamor for its repeat, so Jay-R is now staging it again as "Soul in Love Revisited" on Saturday, May 3, 9 p.m. at the same venue. The concert features Jay-R singing the 18 songs in his new album, also titled "Soul in Love," that features standard romantic soul classics like "She’s Out of My Life," "100 Ways," and "Love Won’t Make Me Wait," released by Universal Records and is now nearing gold status.

"I never thought my first album of revivals would be the big success it turned out to be," he says. "All I really wanted was to put a new twist to the old that I grew up with and learned to love."

The songs he interprets in his album were first popularized by the best proponents of Motown and R&B like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Al Green, Barry White and James Ingram, and this is also his own personal tribute to them. For his "Soul in Love Revisited" concert, he will have Iya Villania as his special guests. "But there are other surprise guests," he adds. "Ayoko lang sabihin kung sino as it’s more exciting for the audience when they watch the show and see my other guests jamming with me. I chose Yia as I believe she’s really a good singer. I’m doing a duet with her for her forthcoming debut album with Viva Records. It’s a remake of Atlantic Starr’s ‘Always’. I am also helping my niece, DJ, with her first album. She grew up in the States, just like me and my friend Kris Lawrence. I see a lot of potential in her and she’s really someone to watch out for."

After his album of revivals, he’ll next come up with a new album of original songs, some of which are his own composition. "I’ve also asked Vehnee Saturno to compose new Tagalog songs for me as I really miss doing Tagalog song. In my next album, I go back to my roots as it will feature a more mature R&B, the kind that’s more laid back and appeals to the easy listening type crowd."

Jay-R continues to be part of GMA-7’s Sunday show, "S.O.P." As an actor, he was last seen opposite Ruffa Gutierrez in "Desperadas." Any new teleseryes? "None. I don’t want to do overnight tapings muna kasi lagi kong puyat. What I want to do is plan to stage my ‘Soul in Love’ concert in a bigger venue."

For tickets to his Captain’s Bar show, produced by James Blanco, call ALV Events at 633-9825 to 27.

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Allen Dizon is happy to be part of "Ikaw Pa Rin, Bongga Ka Boy." "It’s really a big honor to be working with Robin Padilla and Ai Ai de las Alas, two of the biggest names in local showbiz today," he says. "Sa mga eksena namin ni Ms. Ai Ai, I was really nervous as I’m not really a comedian. Pero sa husay niya sa comedy, madadala ka talaga at naging masaya ang mga eksena namin. She’s a natural comedian at mukhang second nature na for her ang magpatawa ng tao. I play her first boyfriend here na maraming alagang aso. I keep making her hope that we’ll get married someday when the truth is, I’m just after her free services as a veterinarian for my dogs."

Allen is really bent on changing his image as a sexy actor to a more serious one after he won the FAMAS and Star best supporting actor awards last year for his touching portrayal of an aging male prostitute in "Twilight Dancers." "I started acting in 1998," he says. "Imagine, naka-ten years na ko sa showbiz. Lahat ng mga kasabay ko noong sexy actors and even actresses, wala na. Ako na lang ang active. I thank God for that and also Viva that continues to support me."

He started in the pito-pito films of Regal like "Tatlong Makasalanan" and "Babae sa Bubungang Lata."

"Lahat ng klaseng sexy films nagawa ko, like ‘Molatta,’ ‘Init ng Katawan,’ ‘Motel,’ ‘Tukaan,’ and I even played a gay role in ‘Tumitibok, Kumikirot.’ But I consider ‘Twilight Dancers’ my best film dahil doon ako nanalo."

Now, he has also become a producer, with ATD (his initials) Entertainment Productions. His first venture is "Paupahan," formerly "Crossroads," written by Dennis Evangelista, directed by Joven Tan and cinematography by Romy Vitug. "It’s about several characters who live in one area, but they do not know each other. The cast includes Ms. Gloria Romero, Snooky Serna, Angelu de Leon, Krista Ranillo, Joseph Bitangcol, Mon Confiado, Kirby de Jesus, and Jay Manalo. I play the leader of a boy group, parang Viva Hot Men, na ibinubugaw ko. Later, nakarma ako for being a pimp."

Allen will also soon start a new sex-drama for Viva, "Room 213" with Gwen Garci, directed by New York based director Keith Sicat.

It’s a case of love at first sight for Joross Gamboa when he sees Victor Basa. This is in a new series of "Your Song" where the theme song is Erik Santos’ "Here I Am". Joross plays Bobby while Victor plays John. The problem is Jen (Alex Gonzaga) is in love with Bobby, but the bigger problem is that Jen is the sister of John! Bobby is a culinary arts graduate and the chef of their restaurant. John is a law graduate who has failed the bar exams twice, so he needs to take it again.

Bobby will do everything just to get John’s attention! And Jen will not stop until she gets Bobby’s heart. She would always give gifts and bake something for Bobby. Little do they know that they are consulting the same article in a magazine about capturing someone’s heart.

Who will win in this bizarre love triangle? Is there really a loser in love? For Jen and John, what will they choose, the love for their sibling or the love they feel for somebody special? These three young stars were handpicked for this story because Joross and Victor have been commended for their portrayal of gay roles and Alex Gonzaga has proven to be a versatile actress, effective in both drama and comedy. Don’t miss this different kind of romance starting May 4 after "ASAP" on ABS-CBN.

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