Alessandra de Rossi as Kapuso

Author: Isah V. Red
Column: Life & Entertainment

Im okay, Alessandra de Rossi says. She is one of the stars we knew on GMA Network now working in projects we see on ABS-CBN.

The transfer, she tells us, has been mutually agreed upon by her and manager Manny Valera. It seems that all roads lead to ABS-CBN now, she quips in jest.

De Rossi, like her sister Assunta, has for many years been very loyal to GMA Network, yet moved to the network that for many years, too, she saw as competitor. It wasnt easy, she describes the feeling, but I am coping with life.

Her first-ever special appearance in the Kapamilya network was when she played the role of an antagonist in Bettys (Bea Alonzo) life as the ex-secretary and ex-lover of Armando (John Lloyd Cruz) in I ª Betty La Fea.

The character I play [Cristina Larson] was supposed to stay only for two weeks, De Rossi explains, but she came back for another two weeks.

De Rossi is now moving to another series, Komiks Presents Mars Ravelos Dragona, with Shaina Magdayao. I play the villain, she tells us.

No, I cant be Dragona, she says matter of factly.

Sadly, De Rossi, one of the better actors of her generation, has never played lead in any of the series she was in. In movies, yes, I did play lead, but never on TV, she said.

In the Pedicab episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, Alessandra portrayed the wife of a someone afflicted with schizophrenia.

ABS-CBN says a lot more TV projects are lined up for De Rossi apart from Komiks Presents Mars Ravelos Dragona where she will breathe life to a very special and important character in the series. This is also the reason she has to be taken off the cast of I ªBetty La Fea so that she could focus on this series.

The multi-awarded actress Alessandra, though at first, lived under the shadow of Assunta de Rossi, has now created her mark in the entertainment industry.

What is very sad is that she has to move to another network where her talent is harnessed more fully, we hope.

Pietas Turko

Singer-actor Lance Raymundo is excited to be in ABS-CBNs re-interpretation of Pieta, a feature film in the 80s by Carlo J. Caparas that starred Ace Vergel.

Raymundo has been tapped to play Turko, the antagonist in the life of Rigor (Ryan Agoncillo) and her mother (Cherie Gil).

I read the part, Raymundo tells us. Luckily I got a call to return after the audition.

Toto Natividad, who is directing the series, was around during the auditions. I think he liked what he saw, Raymundo says.Raymundo finds playing the role of Turko very challenging. Being the leader of a gang is very far from what he is in real life.

He has just wrapped up work on Fidel, in which he plays a Filipino worker in the Middle East who is jailed for killing his employer who has abused him sexually.

Drilon back in Bandila

Ces Drilon is back after spending time in suspension. She joins Korina Sanchez and Henry Omaga Diaz in Bandila.

Is that good or bad news? Well, to those who dont really like Drilons style of reporting, it is bad. The news was relayed to us by ABS-CBN Corporate Communications to set things straight. Karen Davila is not moving out of TV Patrol World, aside from the weekly morning program Wonder Mom, which has been extended to an hour after favorable feedback from viewers.

Koreanovela still surging on GMA-7

This month, Koreanovela fans can follow the crazy adventures of four rough and rowdy friends in Sakurano.

Tough and no-nonsense Sharon (Joe Chen) and her friends AJ (Ming Dao), Francis (Jerry Huang) and Blue (Jason Hsu) are a month away from graduating from Ying Ye School. As much as they want to get out of the institution, so is Sharons father, a policeman, looking forward to his retirement.

One day before Sharons fathers retirement, the four are caught in a fight with a rival gang in school, and are expelled.

Sharons father appeals to the school principal regarding the case of his daughter and her friends. Unfortunately and under odd circumstances, the principal loses his gun during their meeting.

The missing gun will definitely put the policemans retirement on hold. So as a compromise, the principal agrees to let Sharon, AJ, Francis and Blue stay in school in return for searching for it.

It is in that month before graduation that Sharon discovers a lot of things about herself. Amidst the chaos of looking for the lost weapon, Sharon suddenly finds herself falling for the gangs leader and her closest friend AJ.

Although he continuously denies it, AJ also falls for Sharon, but then the rich and handsome Francis starts showing his affection to the spunky girl. Only Blue seems to be the silent witness to it all.

The four need to find the missing gun to ensure their graduation and Sharons fathers retirement, but what else will they discover in their search? What mystery surrounding Ying Ye School are they going to unfold? Moreover, how are Sharon, AJ, and Francis going to get out of their own messy love triangle?

Honored

The Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) recently awarded GMA Networks head of corporate affairs Carmencita G. Arce the title of Accredited Public Relations (APR) practitioner last Sept. 16 at the 15th PR Congress held at the Hotel Intercontinental Manila.

The APR title denotes the utmost professionalism in the PR industry characterized by the persons expertise in her field and steadfast ethical practice of her work. It is bestowed only after undergoing a stringent screening process administered by the foremost PR practitioners in the country.

Along with Arce are Maria Lourdes Espina, corporate affairs manager of Total Philippines, and Edgar Timbungco, editorial services and media relations director of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide-Manila.

George Michael arrested, again?

From the Web, we got this update.

Shamed singer George Michael reportedly begged cops not to charge him for possession of drugs after he was caught red handed in a public toilet.

Michael was arrested recently after being caught in a loo on Hampstead Heath in north London for possession of crack cocaine and cannabis. He was later released with a caution. The caution was [issued] for the possession of Class A and Class C drugs, cocaine and cannabis, a spokesperson for Scotland Yard told the Telegraph. He was released and no further action will be taken.British tabloid The Sun now claims Michael tearfully begged the boys in blue not to charge him, saying that a conviction could get him barred from Americawhere hes due to perform at an AIDS benefit gig next month.

George, 45, allegedly claimed his charity would lose $2million in ticket sales if he had to cancel his appearance.

The Careless Whisper hitmaker (real name Yorgos Kyriakou Panayiotou) has since issued a statement lamenting his arrest.

He said, I want to apologize to my fans for screwing up again, and to promise them Ill sort myself out. And, to say sorry to everybody else, just for boring them.

Perks

Belo Medical Group recently signed a memorandum of agreement with Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles.

Through PALs Mabuhay Miles Program, Belo will offer exclusive discounts and specials on selected services to Mabuhay Miles Elite, Premier Elite, Million Miler and SportsPlus Card members.

In photo during the sealing of the new partnership between Belo Medical Group and PAL Mabuhay Miles are (seated from left): PAL VP for marketing support Felix Cruz, Belo Medical director Dr. Vicki Belo and PAL AVP for product loyalty marketing Barbara Aragon. Standing (from left) are PAL program development and communications officer Kit Javier, PAL program development and communications manager Ria Domingo, Belo Medical Group CEO Eric Soriano, and Belo institutional marketing manager Princess Velasco.

Source: Manila Standard Today