The real ‘Kapamilya Princess’
 

Right now, Angel is just guesting in various shows, like "ASAP," "The Buzz" and even the children’s show, "Going Bulilit." And she’s not helping them rate higher, mind you. Seriously, this does not augur well for her, especially now that KC won the admiration of so many jaded press people after her presscon. She really has such a winning personality, after all, what with her being not only extremely pretty but also articulate and sharp. Her mom Sharon Cuneta surely deserves praise for bringing her up so well.

About KC’s TV special, "From Paris to Pinas," we don’t know why ABS scheduled this on a Sunday at such late an hour, 10:30 p.m., when a lot of people would prefer to sleep early after a tiring weekend as they prepare for work the next day. The public interest in KC is at an all-time high and if they’d show her special on primetime, we have the feeling it will rate even higher.

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Rahyan Carlos is an ambitious young writer-director who did the hit horror film, "Pamahiin," the first episode of "Shake, Rattle & Roll 8," and the forthcoming "Hide and Seek" for Regal. He now comes up with a unique film, "Pitong Tagpo," consisting of seven short digital films about 18 to 20 minutes long each, all shot in real time and done in one long take (tuhog) with no cuts at all, photographed by acclaimed cinematographers Romy Vitug and Jun Aves.

"I want to do something totally different, a movie Filipinos can be proud of and gain critical success even in the international market," he says of his pioneering attempt. "‘Pitong Tagpo’ is about seven journeys, seven lives, seven struggles, seven decisions, all shown in one long drawn out take. This is something really daring as I have yet to hear of any filmmaker who has done a single take that goes on for 20 minutes. But more than the ground-breaking attempt at technique, the more important aspects here are the values and insights we try to impart to the viewers about the challenges one has to face in life and relationships. For this, I like to thank our producers, Creative Futures Inc., for their progressive vision in bankrolling this revolutionary film."

The first story is "Suka," about a grandma who tells her granddaughter about what giving yourself to the man you love means. "Wedding Ring" deals with the skeletons in the closet of a married couple. "Dad" is about a family grappling with emotional traumas from the past. "Star City" is the May-Dcember affair of a young man with a woman twice his age. "Ninoy" concerns the relationship of a waiter and a streetkid who mature in life in the school of hard knocks. "Mariel" is about a single mom’s personal experiences about life and faith. "Toga" is about a father, an overseas worker, who tries to make amends for his long absence to his daughter who’s now about to graduate.

The impressive powerhouse cast combines formidable talents from both film and theater: Diether Ocampo, Cherry Pie Picache, Bembol Roco, Karylle, Vangie Labalan, LJ Reyes, Robert Sena, Vaness del Moral, Isay Alvarez, Maybelyn de la Cruz, Coco Martin, Sheena Halili, Richie Macapagal, Jake Macapagal, Crispin Pineda, Jenny Jamora and child stars Krystal of "Mga Mata ni Anghelita" and Steven Fermo of "Goin’ Bulilit."

"Pitong Tagpo" premieres at the Centerstage of SM Mall of Aisa on October 1 and will have screenings on October 12 at SM Megamall and October 27 at SM North Edsa. Don’t miss it.

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This coming Monday, two new shows, both telefantasyas, are premiering: "Zaido, Pulis Pangkalawakan" on GMA-7 and "Lastikman" on ABS-CBN. We’ve seen the trailers of both shows and they’re similarly impressive. The pilot of "Lastikman" is directed by Chito Rono and it is set in a distant planet. It shows how Lastikman (Vhong Navarro) is born to Dawn Zulueta (a human) and Tonton Gutierrez (an alien from outer space). The lavish production design will remind you of the "Star Wars" flicks.

Dennis Trillo and Iwa Moto are both in the cast of "Zaido." This is their second show together as they’re also in the toprated afternoon "Sine Novela," "Kung Mahawi Man ang Ulap," where they play illicit lovers. This means Dennis and Iwa can now be seen twice a day from Monday to Friday. They’re in "Kung Mahawi" at 3:30 p.m. in "Dramarama sa Hapon" and in "Zaido" on primetime in GMA "Telebabad."

One of the attractions of "Zaido" is the splendid costumes of many characters. Designers Noel Flores and Bill Gustilo made sure the three Metal Heroes (Dennis Trillo as Gallian the Blue Zaido, Aljur Abrenica as Cervano the Red Zaido, and Marky Cielo as Alexis the Green Zaido) have colorful futuristic costumes that will be attractive to kids and will rival those of the original "Shaider." "Star Trek," and "Power Rangers."

Redgynn Alba, the show’s program manager, said they made various modifications from the original "Shaider," the rights of which they acquired from Toei Company.

"We can’t use ‘Shaider’ but we can allude to it," she adds. "We used many of the characters in the original but changed their names, to indicate this is the fourth installment in the ‘Shaider’ series."

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Sunshine Dizon shrugs off the rumor that she’s now managed by Becky Aguila and is also moving to ABS-CBN. "I don’t know kung saan galing ‘yan when I just signed up a two-year exclusive contract with GMA-7," she says. "My manager remains to be my mom (Dorothy Laforteza). Bakit naman ako aalis pa sa GMA when I’m happy with the shows they’re giving me?"

The GMA management is also happy with Sunshine as her two title-rolers, "Bakekang" and "Impostora," were both top raters on primetime. This early, a new solo drama series is being prepared for her and taping starts in mid-October. But first, she’ll have a much-deserved vacation in Boracay.

What can she say about Angelu de Leon’s revelation that she’s the girlfriend of Jojo Manlongat in "Showbiz Central"? "I’m not affected kasi hindi naman kami close. Kung gusto niyang mambuking, ‘di mambuking siya nang mambuking. We’re not friends, so walang isyu du’n. Basta as of now, I’m happy with my life."

There’ll be exciting complications in "Impostora" as it ends tonight. Vanessa (Sunshine) will continue to use Leandro (Luis Alandy) and tell him to tinker with Nicholas’ car so he’ll have an accident. Betty (Jean Garcia) ties up Sara (the impostora) and puts a bomb near her to kill her. But Vanessa arrives and Betty tries to convince her to leave because of the ticking bomb. But it’s too late, the bomb explodes and someone dies. The series ends with a wedding, but we won’t tell you who the bride and groom are. Find out when the show ends tonight as one major character goes insane.

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Ayen Munji just signed up a management contract under GMA Artist Center. Everyone knows she’s rich and doesn’t have to work anymore. So how come she’s now like some newcomer who’s starting with GMA-7?

"That’s true, a lot of friends ask me: Do you still need to work?" she says. "But you know, that’s a misconception. Even if you have the means, that doesn’t mean you can just remain idle. In my case, I’m an artist, I have this passion for music and acting na kailangang mabigyan ko ng outlet. Isa pa, my kids are bigger now. My eldest is 16 and the youngest is 5. But even if I’d be busy with work, my family remains to be my priority. It’s GMA’s SVP Wilma Galvante who asked me if I’d like to sign up with them. Nagkita kasi kami when I was a juror sa ‘Pop Star Kids.’ Ako naman, I welcome the opportunity of working with them. I’m really excited kasi ang babait nila sa GMA, both the staffers and the artists."

If she’d be given a choice, what kind of show would she like to do?

"I’m hoping masali sana ako sa ‘SOP’ kasi nandoon ang lahat ng singers. Also, I’ve worked with Ogie Alcasid, Regine and Jaya before kaya kilala na nila ako. I’m also open to hosting a lifestyle show or a ‘Wish Ko Lang’ kind of show where I can help people. As of now, they’ve not given me a regular show yet. I’m doing the round of guestings in their various shows. I guested in ‘Moms’ and in ‘All Star K,’ na ninerbiyos ako nang husto. I’m also open to acting. They asked me if I could do character roles and I said I’m really more of a character actress kasi that’s how I was trained in the theater. Okay sa’kin ang mother roles kasi may anak na naman akong teenager. Puede rin akong magkontrabida at ready ako sa magdamagang taping."