A more mature Mark

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

WHAT does Mark Herras think of ex-girlfriend Jennylyn Mercados decision to sue a tabloid that published the pictures of the baptism of her baby son without her permission?

"She has every right to do so kasi nakiusap naman siyang huwag nang ilabas yun but they still did so," he says. "They should have respected her request kasi kami ngang godparents, ni hindi na sinabihan to attend it. Tapos, nilagay pa nilang nandun daw ako sa foto, when I knew about the affair after it happened."

Mark is going daring in his new soap with Jennylyn, "Paano Ba ang Mangarap," where he plays the role originally portrayed by Christopher de Leon. "Its not that daring. More mature lang kasi di naman puede puro tweetums na lang lagi. I have a love scene with Chynna Ortaleza na naka-boxer shorts ako. Dapat may swimming pool scene na naka-trunks akobut even director Joel Lamangan said hindi bagay sakin kasi payat anglegs ko, so Ill just wear boxers again. I go to the gym four times a week now to have a better physique. Pangit naman kasing paghubarin ka, tapos walang porma ang katawan mo. Im now taking whey protein also. Hindi naman para maging bato-bato ang muscles ko, pero gusto ko lang magkalaman ng konti, but lean. Magkakaroon din kami ng love scene ni Jen,pero later pa kukunan at yun lang puede sa TV. Sa story, her first love is Hero Angeles, whos my brother na favorite ng mommy naming si Bing Loyzaga. But he dies, kaya ako ang pumalit sa kanya sa puso ni Jen."

Hows it working with Hero?

"Okay naman. Maganda nga kasi Startstruck winner ako sa GMA-7 at Star Circle Quest winner naman siya sa ABS,tapos ngayon, pinagsama kami in one show."

What can he say now that his ex-girlfriend Lian Paz of EB Babes is now the current squeeze of Paolo Contis?

"Paolo is my brother as we have the same manager, Manay Lolit. He asked me kung okay pa ba kami ni Lian and I told him matagal na kaming wala. Kung happy sila, Im happy for them also."

But how did he feel when Lian said in "Startalk" that Paolo is more "tunay na lalaki" than him?

"Ibig niyang sabihin, pekeng lalaki ako, bading. Ako, bading?" he laughs. "Such remarks, hindi na lang pinapatulan. Binabale wala na lang yan. Hahaba pa, e mas tutok ako sa career ko ngayon kaya nga matagal na kong walang girlfriend."

Its said hes courting Ina Asistio.

"No, were just close friends ng buong family niya. She was just 15 when we were paired in Mga Mata ni Anghelita. Masyado pang bata. Now, shes just 17. But kasundo ko even her mom, si Tita Nadia, at mga kapatid niya. They even took me to an event in Davao with them at nag-enjoy ako."

So wholl be his Valentine date?

"Siguro, my mom na lang. Nagkasakit si Mama at ngayon lang naging okay uli, so ilalabas ko na lang siya dahil matagal na siyang hindi nakakalabas ng bahay."

***

Marian Riveras role as the kooky and free-spirited Proserfina who messes up the very orderly and organized world of straight-laced business executive Homer (Dingdong Dantes) in "Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang" seems tailor-made for her.

"May pagka-jologs ang character at di ba sinasabi nilang jologs ako, so bagay nga sakin," she laughs. "Masayahin si Proserfina but she had a sad past kaya fighter talaga siya. Fighter din naman ako, hindi ako paaapi, kaya I can identify with her. Ang kaibahan lang, may kapatid siyang addict, si Mart Escudero. Ako naman, wala. May mga kapatid ako sa ama, pero nasa Spain sila."

At the presscon of "Babaeng Hinugot," the cast members were introduced one by one on stage in a manner that looks like theyre appearing in a stage play, complete with elaborate sets. Then the pilot episode was shown and most writers were laughing at the antics of Marian as the mysterious stranger who intrudes into Dingdongs bedroom, shocking him when he wakes up in the morning with Marian by her side. The shows other stars are Carmi Martin as Dingdongs sexy and controlling mom, Hera; Jackie Rice as Dingdongs rebellious sister who marries a poor boy, Cassandra; Prince Stefan as his brother, Aristotle, who join the priesthood but is in love with Lovi Poe; Sherilyn Reyes as his aunt, Galatea; Alyssa Alano as the dumb maid, Citas; Eugene Domingo as the meddlesome mayordoma, Madel; Angelu de Leon as his gold-digging girlfriend, Heleen, who has a secret lover, Boom Labrusca; Paolo Paraiso as his best friend, Mike; Paolo Contis as Marians persistent suitor, Rado; Francine Prieto as Rados lover, Shiela; and Carlene Aguilar as Angelus accomplice, Clarisse.

Marian is now being convinced by friends to buy her own house but she wants a condo unit instead. "I dont need a big house kasi sololang naman ako. My lola and mom have houses of their own in Cavite. More comfortable for me to stay in a condo, also more secure than in a big house. Im just renting my unit now in Mandaluyong near my managers, Popoy Caritativo, so I want to get my own unit na."

***

Anne Curtis wants to make it clear that Sam Milby and she are just friends again. "Pero hindi po kami nagkabalikan like what others wrote," she stresses.

Is it because Sam is now being linked to Rhian Ramos after he visited the set of "La Lola"? "No. He told me that he visited the taping of La Lola but its because of Say Alonzo, ka-batch niya sa Pinoy Big Brother. Talagang good friends sila and shes now in La Lola kaya dinalaw niya. Nagulat na nga lang siya when his foto with the cast came out in the papers at sila na ni Rhian ang nili-link sa isat isa."

So whats preventing her from reconciling with Sam?

"Wala, we just want to take it slow this time. Were just enjoying ourselves at ayaw naming padala sa pressures ng iba na bagay talaga kami or we should be together again."

Anne is the new endorser of Swatch Original Skin, along with Angelica Panganiban. It was Billy Crawford who suggested their names to Swatch big boss Virgie Ramos. "Theyre both beautiful and sexy kaya bagay silang endorser ng Swatch," says Billy, who acted as the host at the Swatch presscon.

"Pero bakit kaya ang girlfriend niyang si Nikki Gil, hindi niya nirekomenda sa Swatch?" one writer asks. "Does this meanhindi beautiful and sexy si Nikki for him na gaya nina Anne and Angelica?"

***

Annabelle Rama must really love hubby Eddie Gutierrez that much. As Eddie turns a year older on February 6, she stages a pre-Valentine concert specially dedicated for him at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Ballroom on February 7.

"Lahat ng songs na kakantahin nina Pops Fernandez, Vernie Varga, Pokwang, Iya Villania at Rochelle Pangilinan, dedicated ko kay Eduardo," she says. "At suwerte siya kasi ang lakas ng benta ng tickets, huh. Suportado pa ng both GMA-7 and ABS-CBN ang show."

Her son Raymond will be hosting the show. Raymond showed hes also a good singer in "S.O.P." where he sang for the first time. Will Annabelle ask him to also do a song number in the concert?

"Why not? Im really proud of him kaya dapat kantahan niya ang daddy niya dahil birthday nito."

If you want tickets for the show, call 727-3536 and ask for Ilyn.

***

Star Magics Rikka Dylim is back after a grand vacation in the US and she announces that theyre offering a series of public workshops again this coming March. The basic acting workshop will be handled by award-winning directors and actors like Bodjie Pascua, director Maryo J. Delos Reyes, director Mel Chionglo, Vangie Labalan, "Cirque de Soleil" acting coach director Phil Noble and Ricky Lee. Heading the group is director Rahyan Carlos.

Aside from the acting workshop for teens and adults, there will be acting workshop for kids, dance workshop and film and TV production workshops. No professional experience is necessary. This will be on a first come, first served basis. Registration is on February 28 and March 1. Limited slots only! For inquiries, call ABS-CBN Star Magic 415-3828 or 415-2272 local 5142.

Star Magic also held its party for their stars born in January and four of them are recruits from "Pinoy Dream Academy": Jay-R Siaboc, Gemma Fitzgerald, Panky Trinidad and Ronnie Liang.

Gemma is the Fil-Aussie girl whos now part of Koolchx. She turned 23 on Jan. 1 and says she gained a lot of weight lately, so shes determined to lose the excess pounds.

How is she and AJ Dee after their breakup?

"Oh, that was a year ago. He was the one who broke up with and later, bumabalik sakin, ayoko na. I found another boyfriend, Jimmy Alapag, pero hindi rin nagtagal. We broke up four months ago and as of now, career muna ako. Mga kasama ko sa Koolchx, aside from our singing stints in ASAP and Wowowee, may dramas din sila, like Nina Dolina in Pieta and Princess Ryan in Eva Fonda. Us girls who dont know how to speak Tagalog, like Michelle Murenec and Malaya Lewandowski, walang ibang show so I got myself a tutor as I want to be serious with my acting."

Jay-R turned 22 on Jan. 21. He also gained weight. "Thirty pounds ang nadagdag. For more than a year kasi, I was so busy doing one show after another, like Pangarap Na Bituin, Palos, Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara and Kapitan Boom. Late last year, napahinga ako so I just ate and slept. Dun ako lumaki. Now, they say papayat muna akobefore they give me a new show."

How is his girlfriend Irish Fullerton?

"We were together in the US last Christmas and New Year but she stayed behind as her mom got sick. Shes returning here on February 18. I will have shows in Metropolis Alabang on February 8 and in San Mateo, Rizal on February 20."

Panky is the punk rocker in their batch. She was chosen to sing the theme song of "Dragonna" and now does a lot of gigs with her own band. She turned 23 on Jan. 21.

Ronnie Liang is the balladeer who popularized the hit song "Ngiti". He now plays a meaty role in "I Love Betty La Fea" as the former seminarian who becomes an executive in Ecomoda. He will be doing a Hong Kong charity show on February 22 and US show in June. He celebrated his birthday by sharing his blessings with the old folks at Golden Acres. He finds this charity work more fulfilling than having a big party. He wants to continue this good deed every year. Ronnie turned 24 last January 31.

Source: Malaya