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‘Magbo-boyfriend lang ako when the right one comes along. – Sarah Geronimo’
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Sarah waiting for Mr. Right
CONCEPCION is both nervous and excited with the coming telecast of "Lovers in Paris," which is obviously special for ABS-CBN since they invited all movie writers for its big presscon.
"Siyempre I’m nervous as the original was the highest rater among Koreanovelas," she says. "Also because first teleserye ko ito and I pray people will watch it. But I’m more excited as we’ve been working hard on this for six or seven months na and finally, heto, maipapalabas na rin."
How is the local version different from the original?
"Hindi ko exactly ginaya yung Vivian in the Korean version kasi nga Filipino version naman ito at magkaiba kami even sa looks dahil I look more mestiza. Also, binigyan ako ng more back story. Sa original, it’s not explained why she’s studying in Paris. Dito, viewers might ask kung paano ko nakakapag-aral sa Paris when I’m a poor girl from Tondo, so pinakita yung family life ko, with Melissa Mendez and Rico Soliman as my parents. Pinag-ipunan talaga ng father ko ang tuition fee for me to be able to study in Paris. Pagdating naman doon, I ran out of money so pumasok nga akong katulong kay Piolo Pascual and also meet his nephew, Zanjoe Marudo."
Some folks say she won’t be credible in the role of a servant or "katulong."
"It’s really a big challenge for me, kasi nga I grew up having a sheltered life. But honestly, when we shot our scenes in Smokey Mountain in Tondo as our location, eye-opener for me and with the help of our director FM Reyes, I hope I’m able to give justice to the role."
How is it working with Piolo?
"I really admire his discipline. Para siyang guro. He teaches me by example in his being punctual and about one’s well being. Very supportive siya in our scenes together kaya naging very comfortable ako sa kanya."
Aside from Piolo and Zanjoe, also in the cast are Christopher de Leon as Piolo’s dad, Rachel Anne Wolfe as Zanjoe’s mom and Piolo’s sister, Maricar Reyes as Piolo’s first wife, Mark Gil as an executive in Piolo’s company, Assunta de Rossi and K Brosas as KC’s friends, Hyubs Azarcon as Piolo’s assistant, and Ching Arellano and Aaron Junatas as KC’s relatives. It starts airing on September 28 replacing "Tayong Dalawa."
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Is Pauleen Luna scared that she might annoy the fans of the Mark Herras-Jennylyn Mercado love team now that she plays villain who tries to snatch Mark away from Jen in "Ikaw Sana"?
"It’s only a role," she says. "Most viewers now know how to separate reality from what they see on TV, so I see no problem.:"
Although she and Dennis Trillo are no longer an item, she sympathizes with him over the tragic drowning of his friend in Boracay. "We saw each other at the wake of JB Bordajo and he told me he’s recovering slowly. Nag-taping na siya uli sa ‘Bubble Gang.’ But we can’t expect him to forget what happened that fast. Traumatic naman talaga yun. I told him God has His own reasons for what happened and wala na tayong magagawa so the best thing to do is just pray. I also told him nandito lang ako as a friend to also pray for him."
She doesn’t want to elaborate as to why her budding relationship with Dennis quickly ended. "Let’s just say I want to set my priorities right and as of now, work talaga ang priority ko. I’m so glad after ‘Adik Sa’Yo,’ heto GMA gave me a new show right away, ‘Ikaw Sana’ that’s airing tomorrow. It’s only now I’m given this kind of opportunity so I want to give it my all. At any rate, if Dennis and I are really meant for each other, puede pa naman yun in the future."
She dismisses the rumor that Mark Herras, with whom she’s been linked before, is the reason why she distanced herself away from Dennis. "Not true. Mark and I became close friends but we were never on. Ang dami talagang lumalabas na hindi totoo, like sinabi ko raw weird si Dennis, wala naman akong sinasabing ganun. He’s okay, wala lang kaming chance to work on our relationship."
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Joel Lamangan is certainly the busiest TV and film director today. After "Adik Sa’Yo," he now directs Mark and Jen in "Ikaw Na Sana." He also directed them earlier in "Paano Ba ang Mangarap?," which was a hit. On the big screen, he has two films in the can: the political thriller "Dukot" and the gay dance-drama, "I Luv Dream Guyz." He’s now lensing two new films: "Sagrada Familia" with Lovi Poe and Snooky Serna ("Three days na lang kami") and just started "Mano Po 6" with Sharon Cuneta, Christopher de Leon, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Dennis Trillo, Boots Anson Roa, Sid Lucero and as Sharon’s daughter, Heart Evangelista (so Dennis gets his wish to finally work with Heart, and in a movie at that, not just on TV). He’s also set to start shooting a new indie drama, "Burak," about the dregs of our society, written by Palanca winner, Eric Ramos.
He directed Pauleen and Dennis in "Adik Sa’Yo" so he saw how their relationship blossomed. Would he also know why it ended?
"Ay, hindi ko rin alam," he says. "Mismo ako, nagtaka why their relationship ended when the show ended. Pero bata pa naman sila, marami pang puedeng mangyari sa buhay nila."
How about Mark and Jen?
"Their wonderful chemistry remains. I directed them when they were teeners in ‘Blue Moon’ and, definitely, mas nag-mature at gumaling ang acting nila."
How come the theme of the "Ikaw Na Sana" presscon is Christmas and they even invited a choir to sing carols live during their presentation. "The -ber months have started and gusto namin, kami ang mauna sa pagbati sa press ng ‘Maligayang Pasko.’ Also, the story ends on Christmas Day at talagang the show will run up to Christmas kaya bagay na bagay na mag-presscon kami na Kapaskuhan ang motif."
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What will Sarah Geronimo do if she were Taylor Swift and Kanye West would say the award she got should be for Beyonce?
"Siguro, like Taylor, tatahimik din lang ako. Pero masakit yung ginawa sa kanya.. Biro mo, babawiin yung award sa’yo. Buti si Beyonce nilapitan siya later to uplift Taylor’s ego and self-esteem."
What if she were Rihanna?
"Ay, lalayasan ko si Chris Brown. Bakit niya ako sasaktan? Kaya nga my parents are always praying for me to get a man of God na mabait talaga."
As usual, the press continues to pressure her to have a boyfriend soon.
"Magbo-boyfriend lang po ako when the right one comes along. Ba’t naman kailangang madaliin ako? Happy naman ako with what I have now kahit bahay-trabaho lang ako. Saka very busy ako sa career ko kaya huwag n’yo na kong pilitin. Gaya ngayon, I am preparing for my fourth big concert at Araneta Coliseum, ‘Record-Breaker,’ on November 7."
"Record-Breaker" is based on her new song that reminds one of Lady Gaga. Will she be performing like Lady Gaga too?
"I saw her concert. Sobrang daring and her clothes, so revealing. Hindi ko kaya yun, dadaanin ko na lang sa attitude. This new concert will be bigger and more exciting than my three previous ones, not only in terms of music but also visually, sa production values."
Is she still doing her new movie with Judy Ann Santos?
"Next year na po kasi I’m busy with the concert nga and after this, I’ll leave for a European concert tour starting in Milan."
What about the proposed movie with Gerald Anderson?
"Baka next year na rin po, pero uunahin yung kay Ate Juday."
She’s the current Box Office Queen because of "Very Special Love" and she’ll probably win it again next year for "You Changed My Life." Which does she prefer: acting or singing? "First love ko pa rin po ang singing. Saka mas may pressure pag may bagong movie kung kikita nga kaysa kung sa concert lang."
Tickets to "Record Breaker" range from P315 to P3150, now available at SM Ticketnet, 911-5555, or Viva Concerts at 687-5853, local 620 and 627.
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Jomari Yllana is only 33 years old, but he plays the father of Ogie Alcasid, who’s 42, in "Yaya and Angelina, The Spoiled Brat Movie." "Okay lang yun, comedy naman ito," he says. "Part yun ng what’s funny about the movie."
He’s going to the US for his company, Fearless Prods., that brings foreign artists here but he has to postpone his trip as he’s now in two GMA-7 shows: "Rosalinda" and "Celebrity Duets." Last week, he did a duet with Radha Cuadrado (granddaughter of the legendary actress Lolita Rodriguez) and tongues wag as they’re already being linked even before. "Wala kaming relasyon ni Radha," he stresses. "She’s a staffer in my company kaya lagi kaming magkasama. She’s also my vocal coach for ‘Celebrity Duets’ kaya kinuha ko siyang ka-duet. Wag na lagyan ng malisya."
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The ABS-CBN folks are in jubilant mood when we attended the presscon of "Lovers in Paris." Boy Abunda reported in "SNN" that "In My Life" earned P20 million in its opening day. "Sobrang lakas talaga," says ABS-CBN PR head Roxy Liquigan. "Nagdagdag na nga kami ng mga sinehan starting tomorrow as we have a long weekend dahil holiday sa Monday."
But Ate Vi is also in mourning as Atty. Espiridion Laxa, who produced a lot of her movies for Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productios, including "Dama De Noche" for which she won her first FAMAS best actress award, just passed away due to prostate cancer. She hosted the mass at Heritage Memorial last Friday night. Let’s pray for the repose of his soul.
Ate Vi went to Cebu last Saturday to attend a seminar for public officials along with her department heads at the Batangas capitol. On Wednesday, September 23, she’ll go to the United States and Canada to attend the international premieres of "In My Life" there. Her son Luis Manzano left already with John Lloyd Cruz as they’ll also do shows there for "ASAP."
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