Angel has yet to let Luis taste her cooking

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

EARLIER, it was plugged that GMA-7s next telefantasya will be "Captain Barbell Meets Darna." Now, the latest news is that Darna will fly solo, this time played by Marian Rivera. Controversial GMA executive Wilma Galvante, along with Annete Abrogar and the heirs of the late Mars Ravelo, says they deemed it better to just do a solo story for Darna and their unanimous choice for the flying heroine is Marian who was present at the meeting.

"Im really surprised," she says. "I thought well just meet about a new project. I didnt know Darna na pala and I want to thank GMA for their continued trust in me."

"Darna" last flew on the air in 2005 starring then GMAs fair-haired girl Angel Locsin. Marian is the only girl who can claim that she played both classic Mars Ravelo creations, Darna and Dyesebel, on TV. Before her, Vilma Santos did both roles on the big screen. Theres not definite date yet as to when the new Darna will be shown, but it surely will different from the previous version done by Angel.

"Im excited," says Marian. "Kailangang mag-work outpa ako para mas bumagay ako sa two-piece costume ni Darna. I promise pagbubutihan ko nang husto para hindi naman ako mapahiya sa GMAat sa kahat ng followers ni Darna."

Marian had her last taping for "Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang" last week. It was memorable for her as she was hanged upside down from a tall building during her torture scene. Shell do a new horror movie with Regal, "Tarot," directed by Jun Lana who scored a hit last year with "Kulam." Roselle Monteverde says theyre trying to negotiate to get a new leading man for her, someone who she hasnt 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 dont know. Wala pa namang sinasabi sakin. But if ever, I dont see anything wrong with that. Weve 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 akong 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.

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Angel Locsin didnt know she loves to cook until she played the role of Jillian, a chef, in "Only You." "Its so enjoyable pala and I realize I could make a career out of cooking," she says. "Gusto ko ngang seryosong mag-aral nito kasi when you have your own family, I think hindi ka mapapahiya sa husband and kids mo kung magaling kang magluto. As of now, meron na ring ilang dishes na alam kong lutuin, liketalangkanin, combined talangka and kanin. I learned them while were taping Only You in a culinary school in Korea."

Has she made her boyfriend Luis Manzano taste her cooking?

"Hindi pa. Ayoko muna kasi baka kapag natikman na niya, lalo siyang ma-in love sakin at mag-propose na," she laughs. "So huwag na lang."

She misses Luis very much as hes now in New York shooting the movie "In My Life" with his mom, Gov. Vilma Santos. "Ang tagal naming hindi nagkasama kasi before he left, ako naman ang nasa Korea with Sam Milby and Diether Ocampo taping Only You on location for three weeks din. Pagdating ko rito, sandali lang kami nagkasama at siya naman ang umalis. Pero okay lang, talagang were both more focused on our work."

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Derek Ramsays career is on a roll. After being paired with Maricel Soriano in "T2," hes now shooting "And I Love You So" with Bea Alonzo and "Broken Hearts" with real-life squeeze Angelica Panganiban. Hes also the leading man in two new ABS-CBN shows. He is the mysterious man in Kristine Hermosas past and present life in the TV remake of the film about reincarnation, "Nasaan Ka Maruja?" to be shown on Saturdays 6 p.m. Hes also the childhood sweetheart of Anne Curtis who figures in a love triangle with Zanjoe Marudo in "The Wedding," to be shown on primetime starting May 11.

At the "Maruja" presscon, Derek admitted Kristine was once his crush. "Noon yun, I was attracted to her physically, but not anymore as I now have Angel (Angelica Panganiban) in my life, " he says.

But even if he admits being serious with Angel, he says hes not ready to start his own family. "Im so busy right now at hindi ko sila mabibigyan ng sapat na oras. Later na lang siguro, kapag readyna ako. Personally, I dont believe you need to get married pa. But Im willing to change my mind if Angel wants us to marry as I really love her very much. If ever Id get married, I want to have a big family, mgasix kids."

Is this the reason for the rumor that Angel got pregnant but had an abortion?

"Thats really foul. Someone saw us at Medical City. Sinamahan ko siya as shes been having tummy aches. Tapos nasulat na agad na preggy raw siya, which is not true. And if ever shed get preggy, I dont believe in abortion. Im pro-life kaya itutuloy namin yun."

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At the birthday dinner hosted by Mother Lily for Ricky Lo (April 21) at Choi Garden in Greenhills, 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 didnt 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. Im just wondering kung bakit bino-broadcast pa niya. Why doesnt she just talk to me directly kung gusto nga niyang bumalik?"

She has a valid point. What about EB Babe Lian Paz? Shes been absent from "Eat Bulaga" for quite sometime. Is it true shes pregnant, courtesy of boyfriend Paolo Contis?

"She took a leave of absence for three months. Shes been diagnosed to have a cyst on her ovary that is the size of a golfball. Shes 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 longer before she can dANCe again."

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Viewers have noticed that Rufa Mae Quinto and DJ Mo seemed to be quite cordial with each other when they were finally both present in "Showbiz Central." People are asking if theyare friends again. Someone told us, though, that Rufa Mae is just being polite in front of the camera.

"Youd think theyre okay when theyre on cam, but backstage at sa dressing room, she still doesnt 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."

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Congratulations to our broadcaster friend Pia Hontiveros, host of "Strictly Politics" and news ANChor on ANC. Shes 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 Lords reward for all their indefatigable service to the non-profit organization that aims to create more stable and lasting marriages.

Source: Malaya