Ai Ai makes fun of Sharon

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

WHEN Star Cinema offered a project to Sharon Cuneta pairing her with Ai Ai de las Alas, she quickly grabbed the chANCe to work with the Comedy Queen. "I like watching her movies kasi napapasaya niya ako," says Shawie. "Most of the Tagalog movies in my Ipod are hers. "

Ai Ai felt awed when she was told about this. "Nahiya ako," she says. "Biro mo, megastar, nanonood ng movies ko. E, noong 80s, pinapanood ko lahat ng movies at nagagalingan talaga ako sa kanya as an actress. When I learned pumayag siyang magkasama kami sa 'Best Friends Forever', I felt so honored. Wow, ang nag-iisang Megastar, makakasama ko sa movie, wow!"

"Best Friends Forever" will be Star Cinema's 16th anniversary and Mother's Day presentation. "Last year, 'Caregiver' ni Mega ang 15th anniversary offering namin," says adprom head Roxy Liquigan. "This time, 'Best Friends Forever' naman kaya she's officially our anniversary star. "

Roxy showed us the film's full trailer and there are many laugh out loud scenes. Sharon is not afraid of making fun of her being overweight these days and it's incorporated in the script of Mel del Rosario. Her husband, John Estrada, became unfaithful to her because she's fat and has an affair with a gym instructor who happens to be Ai Ai. Shawie and Ai Ai became best friends as Shawie works out in the gym where Ai is an instructor. Ai doesn't know that her boyfriend John is already married, and to her best friend at that. Ai is a single mom, with Empress Schuck as her daughter. Shawie's kids are Miles Ocampo, Nash Aguas, and the fat boy Carl Camo (son of songwriter Lito Camo). Also in the cast are Gina Pareño as Shawie's mom, Chokoleit and Joy Viado as her maids, Enchong Dee as Empress' love interest, and AJ Perez, directed by Wenn Deramas.

Some of the hilarious scenes in the movie show Shawie doing bellydANCing in the gym and having a boxing match on the ring with Ai who makes fun of her "bilbil and katabaan", and also Ai doing pole dANCing. Shawie and Ai themselves recorded the title song, a reworking of an old song once sung by Nikki Valdes.

Roxy says that after "Best Friends Forever", their next offering will be the youth horror flick "Estrella" starring Maja Salvador, Shaina Magdayao and Geoff Eigenmann, directed by Rico Ilarde. Their current horror film, "T2", has so far earned P85 million. "We expect its total earnings to exceed P100 million," Roxy adds.

After "Estrella", their next movie will be the romantic love triangle drama, "And I Love You So", with Bea Alonzo, Sam Milby and Derek Ramsay, directed by Lauren Dyogi. Roxy is now also busy with the new Lorna Tolentino soap, which will also star Gabby Concepcion, John Estrada, Jericho Rosales, Kristine Hermosa and Karylle, to be directed by Jerry Sineneng and to be shot in various locations all over the country.

Is it true their entry in the December filmfest will be the Joseph Estrada-Ai Ai de las Alas movie? "We're not sure yet. Kasi may ruling na those who'll run in the election, bawal na may movie pa in December, lalo sa filmfest. Kung hindi matutuloy 'yun, we're thinking of fielding a Kris Aquino-Willie Revillame entry. "
CONFIRMED: MARIAN IS DARNA

Marian Rivera had her last taping for "Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang" last Monday. It was memorable for her as she was hanged upside down from a tall building during her torture scene. "It's very difficult but I was the one who suggested to Direk Joyce Bernal na ako na mismo ang ibiting patiwarik nang hindi na dayain with a double. Tutal naman, patapos na ang show so I'm willing to do anything sa ikagaganda nito. "

It is now sure that she'll do "Darna", after she received official notice from GMA management about it last Thursday. She is also sure that she'll do a new horror movie with Regal, "Tarot", to be directed by Jun Lana who scored a hit last year with "Kulam". Roselle Monteverde says they're trying to negotiate to get a new leading man for her, someone who she hasn't worked with before. But Marian has no inkling yet who it could be.

Is it true that GMA newcomer Carla Abellana, also a Regal contract star, will be cast with her in "Nieves", the full length version of her "Encanto Slayer" episode in 'Shake, Rattle & Roll X' last Christmas? "I don't know. Wala pa namang sinasabi sa'kin. But if ever, I don't see anything wrong with that. We already met each other at the trade show of GMA and she even asked me to have her picture taken with me. Sinabi pa niyang lagi niya ako noong pinapanood sa 'Marimar'. May mga nang-iintriga nga na parang gusto kaming pag-awayin pero ayokong pumatol sa ganyan. "

This week, the wedding of Marian as Proserfina to Dingdong Dantes as Homer is aborted when Marian gets kidnapped. This will lead to a suspenseful series of events that will make the show more and more exciting until it reaches its explosive climax.
SECRET WEDDING REVEALED

IT'S confirmed. The Catholic wedding rites of Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo is scheduled to be held in a church somewhere in Tagaytay on Saturday, May 2, with reception at Le Souffle at The Fort. All sponsors and guests have been sworn to secrecy so as not to reveal any other details about the wedding. This is the reason why Juday can't shoot for her Regal movie with Ogie Alcasid, "Oh My Girl". She's busy attending to the details of their nuptials. Her dad, Manny, has already arrived from the U. S. to give her away to Ryan.

Her new ABS-CBN show with Ryan, the romantic comedy "George & Cecil", directed by Joey Reyes, is definitely showing soon after their wedding. Juday plays George, a policewoman whose real name is Georgina, while Ryan is Cecil, a chef whose full name is Cecilio. Juday wishes to have their honeymoon in Mexico but considering how busy they are now, they would have to postpone this later. They will spend their first night together at the new home they bought in Alabang to be their love nest.
'TALK TO ME DIRECTLY'

AT the birthday dinner hosted by Mother Lily for Ricky Lo at Choi Garden in Greenhills last Tuesday night, we asked Malou Choa Fagar if she saw the interview with Gladys Guevarra in "Showbiz Central" where Gladys called on her saying she wants to go back to "Eat Bulaga". "No, I didn't get to see it as I was in New York at that time for the 'Eat Bulaga' show in Atlantic City," says the ever amiable Malou. "But people told me about it. Nag-guest din daw siya in 'Cool Center' at yun din ang sinabi niya. I'm just wondering kung bakit bino-broadcast pa niya. Why doesn't she just talk to me directly kung gusto nga niyang bumalik, di ba?"

Well, she has a valid point there. What about EB Babe Lian Paz? She's been absent from "Eat Bulaga" for quite some time. Is it true she's pregnant, courtesy of boyfriend Paolo Contis? "She took a leave of absence for three months. She's been diagnosed to have a cyst on her ovary that is the size of a golfball. She's now taking medication but her doctor advised her to rest for a while para makuha sa treatment and no need for her to be operated on dahil that will take her longer before she can dANCe again. "

RUFA MAE, MO NOT OKAY YET

VIEWERS have noticed that Rufa Mae Quinto and DJ Mo seem to be quite cordial with each other when they were finally both present in "Showbiz Central" last Sunday. People are asking if they've patched things up and are friends once again. Someone told us, though, that Rufa Mae is just being polite in front of the camera.

"You'd think they're okay when they're on cam, but backstage at sa dressing room, she still doesn't talk to him at all," says our source. "Nagpapaka-professional lang si Rufa Mae as host for the sake of the show. She can do interviews with him dahil part ng work nila 'yun, pero hanggang dun na lang. She says hindi naman niya kailangang maging kaibigan si Mo, basta katrabaho lang. "

TV HOST PREGNANT

CONGRATS to our broadcaster friend Pia Hontiveros, host of "Strictly Politics" and news ANChor on ANC. She's unexpectedly pregnant with her fourth child with hubby Awo Barbaro Pagkalinawan of the PNP. They already have 3 kids aged 17, 14 and 8. Pia is now 42 while Awo is 46 so this will be their "huling hirit". They are currently the president couple of the Marriage Preparation Foundation, Discovery Weekend and their new baby must be the Lord's reward for all their indefatigable service to the non-profit organization that aims to create more stable and lasting marriages.

Source: People's Journal