Angelica happy with love
life and career

Angelica is one actress we saw really growing up before our eyes. She was only six years old when she started acting and as an adolescent, she went on making movies and TV shows like "Ang TV" and "G-mik." She did major films like "Santa Santita," "Mano Po 3" as the young Vilma Santos and "All About Love" plus top rated teleseryes like "Mangarap Ka" and "Vietnam Rose." Now, she's really making a mark in her anti-heroine role as Scarlet de la Rhea, the woman everyone loves to hate in "Iisa Pa Lamang."

"When I was given the role, I don't know how people will accept my character, but I'm lucky people tell me natutuwa sila. It's a good role kasi hindi siya basta inaapi lang o pa-sweet. Lumalaban siya kapag nasasaktan. I think it's clear naman to the viewers kung ano ang pinanggagalingan ng character kaya minahal din nila. 'Iisa Pa Lamang' is one program na iiyakan ko talaga kapag natapos kasi ang saya-saya namin lagi sa set ng buong cast and crew. Never akong nagkaproblema sa taping so I'll really miss everyone."

An endorser of Bench and Mario D'Boro, she'll next be seen in the all-female gag show, "Banana Split." She's also supposed to do a movie with Star Cinema. Was she really pulled out from OctoArts Films' "One Night Only" because of Katrina Halili? It's Star Magic's Rikka Dylim who answered: "There can never be a pullout because there was never a formal commitment with them. Yes, there was an offer but it was not accepted."

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We got some text messages discrediting the box office performance of "For the First Time" starring Richard Gutierrez and KC Concepcion, saying it didn't fail to match the take of "Very Special Love." We don't know who're sending them as the phone numbers of their senders are unfamiliar. What we did is we asked someone who knows the real box office results of both local and foreign films and he said (he refuses to be named as he also produces films now and then) that it's "For the First Time" who has the edge. "Baka dini-discredit lang yung tandem nina Richard at KC kasi their next movie is with the rival network na," he adds. "Actually, dalawa na ang hits ni Richard this year kasi yung 'My Best Friend's Girlfriend' niya with Marian Rivera, sobra rin ang lakas noon."

At any rate, one incontrovertible fact is that Richard is also a top rater on TV, with his "Codename: Asero" consistent in its high ratings every night. This week, Richard as Grecko/Asero weds Heart Evangelista as Emily. Emily finally believes that she's with Grecko when he kisses her and she feels it's really the man she loves. Grecko shares that he's an undercover agent. Emily is later attacked by some hoodlums but Grecko comes to her rescue to save her. Grecko later figures in a fight over his rival, Dave (Paolo Contis), and with the villainous Vladimir (Elvis Gutierrez).

Grecko's sister (Ysa Villar) reprimands their dad, Ibsen (Richard Gomez), for being such a womanizer, the reason why their mom, Gelyn (Joanne Quintas), tried to kill herself. Ibsen asks for Gelyn's forgiveness and she gives him another chance. Ibsen tries to end his relationship with his paramour, Sandy or Lady Q (Carmina Villaroel). But when they see each other again in a restaurant, they have a secret tryst inside the rest room. When Gelyn sees Sandy there, she walks out on Ibsen.

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Did Sarah Geronimo really expect her movie, "A Very Special Love", to be a blockbuster? "Ay, hindi po," she says at the launching of her new album, "Just Me." "Kasi untested ang team up namin ni John Lloyd, so I really prayed hard na magustuhan ng tao ang movie and I'm so that my prayers were answered and the people really appreciated it."

Did she get a bonus from Star Cinema or Viva Films? "Wala po. Pero sana nga, meron."

Will there be a follow up movie? "I heard we'll shoot one in November for release in Valentine's, after my 'The Next One' concert on November 8 at the Araneta Coliseum.

What can she say about her inclusion in the list of Most Beautiful Filipinas by a glossy magazine? "Siempre, thankful po ako. But I'm sure may magre-react na naman diyan and say hindi ako karapat-dapat. Yung nomination ko for 'Pangarap na Bituin,' ipinagpapasalamat ko rin yun. Lahat, magandang blessings for me."

No doubt her career is doing well. But what about her love life? How does she feel when singer Ronnie Liang says she's his secret crush and he wants to build a mansion for her? "Wala naman siyang sinasabing ganun sa'kin. Hindi naman siya nanliligaw at all. Friendly lang. As of now, meron akong kinatutuwaang isang tao. Kapag nakikita ko siya, sumasaya ako."

A girl or a boy? "Lalaki naman po. Pero secret na lang kung sino siya."

Is he also in showbiz? "Secret na lang din. Nakakahiya naman kung ire-reveal ko kung sino siya."

Her new album has 16 songs and will be launched in "ASAP" this Sunday. The carrier single is the romantic "I'll Be There," a duet with Howie Dorough of the Backstreet Boys, who'll be coming here on September 23 to help promote the album. Why was he the one chosen to do a duet with her? "Kasi sa kanya bagay ang kanta," says Viva exec Baby Gil. The other promising cuts in the album are "I Belong to You," "You're the Love of My Life," "What Have You Done to My Heart," "Where Only Angels Fly," "Look Inside Ourselves," "Kahit Mahal Mo ay Iba," "I Am Falling," and "Dahil Minahal Mo Ako." Watch Sarah do free mall shows on SM Dasmarinas on September 13, Mall of Asia on September 28, SM Sta. Rosa on October 4, SM Fairview on October 12, and SM Clark on October 25.

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Jolina Magdangal's last movie was the hit horror flick "Ouija." She's now back in a romantic comedy and musical, "I.T.A.L.Y. (I Trust And Love You)", and she's optimistic it'll be as successful at the tills as "Ouija".

"Ang dami kasing magandang reasons why viewers will enjoy this movie," she says. "Unang-una, first time kaming nagkasama-sama rito nina Rufa Mae Quinto, Dennis Trillo, Eugene Domingo, Mark Herras and Rhian Ramos. Then it offers a beautiful love story among our OFWs and very entertaining musical numbers. At higit sa lahat, it gives them the chance to see life in a cruise ship and to tour various places in Europe. Daig pa nila ang nag-cruise din sila mismo dahil ipapakita rito kung gaano kalaki yung barko and the various delights it offers to its passengers. Tribute din ito sa ating OFWs at ipinakikita kung ano ang sarap at hirap ng magtrabaho ka sa bansang malayo sa family mo. One of the places where we shot na talagang nagustuhan ko is Venice and its beautiful canals. Parang ang sarap mag-honeymoon doon."

The film's theme song is "The Will of the Wind," which is the carrier single of Jolina's new album, "Destiny." "Bagay na bagay ang message nito for all our kababayans working abroad as it tells us to be persevere in our struggles so that we will succeed," she adds.

What's her experience working with the other cast members of "Italy?" "We all bonded well at naging masaya kami kasi nagtatrabaho na, we get to travel pa. Si Rufa Mae, never a dull moment kasi funny siya on and off camera. Bale may love triangle kami kay Dennis dito. Si Dennis naman, tahimik lang pero napakagaling na artista. Si Eugene, parang si Rufa Mae na talagang laging nagpapatawa. All in all, it's been an unforgettable experience for all of us at makikita naman yun ng viewers when they watch 'Italy'."

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This Sunday's "SOP" will feature the entire cast of the hit telefantasya, "Dyesebel," as they have a grand fans day in the show. This is their way of saying thank you to the viewers of the show that made it the No. 1 show on primetime since it started airing in late April. Sure to present special musical numbers to delight the fans of the show are Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Aljur Abrenica, Kris Bernal, Jean Garcia, Alfred Vargas, Mylene Dizon, Michelle Madrigal, Ricky Davao, Teri Onor, Paolo Ballesteros, Jackie Rice, and many more. "Dyesebel" will be ending next month and will be replaced by another fantasy series, "Gagambino."

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Malaysian actress Carmen Soo is excited to be the special guest in "Kapamilya Deal or No Deal." "It's my first time to join a game like this and I'm quite nervous," she says. "I'm also happy to meet the host, Kris Aquino, in person. I've seen her doing the show and she's really a great host."

Carmen is happy to be staying in Manila for a while and she hopes her show, "Kahit Isang Saglit," will be a big hit with local audiences. "So that there will be more co-production deals between our two countries," she adds.

What she's not happy about is the rumor that she's the one who caused the breakup of her leading man and his erstwhile girlfriend. "I don't want to be called a boyfriend snatcher. I'll never do such a thing. My leading man is not even courting me. It's purely work and we deal with each other on a professional level, nothing more."

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The planned meeting between Gabby Concepcion and his manager, Mommy Rose Flaminiano, to settle their differences didn't push through last Tuesday. Mommy Rose didn't make it as she was in Pangasinan and got trapped by the inclement weather. Someone tells us that even if Gabby wanted to drop Mommy Rose as his manager, he cannot easily do that as he has signed a five-year contract with her. "Kaya mabuti pang makipag-ayos na lang siya dahil sa ayaw niya't sa gusto niya, he has no choice but to deal with her for the next five years," says our source. "After all, dapat lang siyang tumanaw ng utang na loob kay Mommy Rose dahil ito ang nag-ayos ng lahat ng kaso niya sa korte na siyang dahilan kung bakit hindi siya makauwi-uwi rito for the past 13 years. Lalabas siyang ingrato if he'd suddenly leave her ngayong natulungan na siya sa court cases niya."

We heard Gabby is asking the help of ABS-CBN bigwigs to help him get out of this dilemma, but we're sure even the ABS bosses are now regretting getting him, considering the mess that he has gotten himself into. As we've said before, he started on the wrong foot and with negative vibes, so what do you expect?

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Is there romance brewing between young Buhay Party List representative Irwin Tieng and ABS-CBN Star Patrol correspondent Ginger Conejero, a former beauty queen who represented California in the Miss Earth pageant?

When Cong. Irwin and his uncle, Solar Films boss Wilson Tieng, hosted a dinner for some press people recently, Ginger was assigned to cover the event and the very much unattached Cong. Irwin was visibly attracted to her. At one point during the dinner, he even went behind Ginger's seat and asked that their picture be taken together. This prompted the writers present to cheer them and tell them: "Bagay kayo."

Cong. Irwin took the time to speak with Ginger and he discovered that she's really a combination of beauty and brains. It looks like the start of something great because when Ginger left for an assignment in Bangkok last weekend, Cong. Irwin even sent her a bouquet of roses as his way of saying goodbye to her.

And how did Ginger feel about this? "I'm flattered, of course," she says. "I thanked him and told him I'm happy to get the roses. He's very much a gentleman."

Ginger is also impressed by Cong. Irwin's honest efforts to help the local movie industry. He's one of the authors of the law lowering the amusement tax from 30 to 10 percent. He's also a fierce opponent of film piracy and he's now against the proliferation of obscene materials on the internet and even in cell phones. He's particularly against child pornography. He has also helped author the magna carta for micro, small and medium enterprises and the tourism act that aims to boost tourism in our country.

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The scriptwriter of such award-wnning films as "Kubrador," "Foster Child" and "Tirador," Ralston Jover, is now directing his first movie, "Bakal Boys (Children Metal Divers)", the story of children in Baseco, Tondo who, for a living, scavenge for iron and metal scraps in the murky waters of Manila Bay. He himself co-wrote the screenplay with Henry Burgos.