Annabelle again on warpath

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

Annabelle Rama is on the warpath once again. In "Showbiz Central" last Sunday,the object of her ire is the lawyer of PEP, Sandy Coronel. She reacted to the interview of "Startalk" with Coronel the day before. "Hindi ka magaling na lawyer," she said. "Magaling pa ko sa'yo. "Ang pinag-uusapan dito, issue ng PEP. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit galit na galit siya, nanlilisik ang mga mata niya at lumalabas ang litid niya. Parang siya ang owner ng PEP. Bawal daw tumuntong si Richard sa mall ng mga Gokongwei. No need na pagbawalan si Richard kasi ang fans ni Richard, sa SM nagpupunta dahil, sorry Liza Gokongwei, walang tao sa mall nila. Mainit pa. Bagong lawyer ka lang, 'Day, wala kang alam. Biro mo, nilihis mo ang issues. Bawal na raw si Richard at ang mga alaga ko sa magazines ng Gokongwei.

"Never akong nagmakaawa sa kahit anong magazine na i-feature ang mga alaga ko. 'Yan ngang writer nila sa Yes ang tawag nang tawag sa'kin para ma-interview si Richard. Kung ayaw nyo silang i-feature, okay lang, kasi hindi na naman kayo credible. Biruin nyo, isama ako sa list n'yo ng most influential. Ni hindi nga ako college graduate at wala naman akong impluwensiya sa industriya, paano ako naging influential? Kaya isosoli ko 'yang award na 'yan. Hindi n'yo kayang pabagsakin ang anak ko dahil si Richard, napakabait na tao. Attorney, gusto mo yata mag-artista kaya lagi ka sa TV. Sorry, di kita ima-manage. "

The lawyers of Annabelle and Richard were called on cam to talk about the case filed against PEP for the alleged guntoting incident involving Richard. "Ilabas na lang agad nila 'yung sinasabi nilang witness," says Atty. Santiago. "Ang tagal na nilang sinasabing may witness sila, wala naman silang pinapakita. All those involved in the incident (Michael Flores, Director Mark Reyes, and other guests in the party of Direk Mark) already said walang nangyaring ganyan. Ang tagal na rin ng sinasabi nilang imbestigasyon nila, hindi pa rin tapos. "

We agree with the lawyers, the sooner PEP presents their witness who saw the incident, the better for them.

MAUI BANNED IN CEBU?

Maui Taylor took the lie detector test in the Don't Lie to Me portion of "Showbiz Central. " Most of the questions focused on her various body parts. "Kung pinaretoke mo sila, just say yes or no," says host John Lapus.

Your nose? Maui said yes and it's true. Your chin? She said yes and it's true. Your tummy? Again, it's yes and it's true. Maui added that she underwent body contouring in 2004 and after that, she just maintained her slim figure by working out. Her behind? She said no and it's true. "Malaki na talaga ang behind ko," she adds. "Mana 'ko sa mommy ko. " Her bust? She said yes and it's true. "Pero balak ko nang paliitin kasi di na siya proportioned sa body ko at mabigat na siya. "

The last question is about a controversial bikini fashion show she did in Cebu. Is it true the governor there banned her for holding it on Holy Week? She said no and it's true. "We did the show, Easter Sunday na," she adds. "I was with Jennifer Lee and Paolo Paraiso. Actually, we edited na nga our bikinis kasi they wanted us to wear something really skimpy but we said, kung puede, 'yung dala na lang namin. We're just guest performers there. We signed a contract and we're just doing our job. "

MICHAEL VOUCHES FOR RICHARD

THE co-stars of Richard Gutierrez in "Zorro" and its crew members all speak highly of him. They say he's "mabait, marunong makisama, mapagkumbaba and never throws his weight around the set even if he's the show's title roler. " This is the reason why they don't believe that Richard pointed a gun at Michael Flores during the birthday party of Direk Mark Reyes.

"Nagkatrabaho na kami ni Richard noon sa 'Kamandag' and he's so easy to work with," says Michael. "Wala talagang anumang away that happened between us. "

"Even when I was a total newcomer paired to him for the first time in 'Captain Barbell', talagang mabait na si Richard, very accommodating and supportive," says his leading lady Rhian Ramos. "Kaya nga good karma siya kasi lahat ng naging shows niya sa GMA, all topraters, just like 'Zorro' na kahit siya sinisiraan, mataas pa rin ang ratings. "

Call it magic, call it charm, but whatever it is, "Zorro" continues to rate well that it's even helping the ratings of the other shows in GMA 7's Telebabad on primetime. "Zorro" has a great involving story, first rate production values and the biggest asset is Richard himself who's dashing and debonaire as the masked and caped rider who fights for the oppressed Indios.

This week in "Zorro", Rhian as Lolita helps hide Zorro in her room while TJ Trinidad as Ramon is chasing him. Ramon suspects that the man behind Zorro is an aristocrat because he finds a button that he believes belongs to Zorro and it looks very expensive. He burns all the properties of the church to punish Padre Felipe (Ricky Davao) for helping Zorro.

Richard as Antonio finds new friends in Circo del Bueno. He promises Michelle Madrigal as Juana that he will help look for her missing brother, Agustin (Bodie Cruz). His dad, Don Roberto (Joel Torre), does not approve of his friendship with Juana who is a servant. Don Roberto connives with Don Carlos (Leo Martinez) for Antonio to marry Lolita.

'DON'T TAKE US SERIOUSLY'

MICHAEL V is one of the most visible faces on GMA-7. He's in "Eat Bulaga" at noontime, on "Bubble Gang" on Friday night, "Bitoy's Funniest Videos" on Saturday night, and now, he'll also be seen Monday to Friday at 6 p. m. on the new game show, "Hole in the Wall". Isn't he afraid of overexposure?

"Hindi naman dahil iba-ibang characters ang nakikita ng viewers sa 'kin," he says. "Tulad nitong sa 'Hole in the Wall', game show hosts naman kami rito ni Ogie Alcasid with us playing our Angelina and Yaya characters kaya sadyang naiiba ito dahil first time kami magho-host ng game show na mga babae kami. "

Some folks say Ogie has the stronger role as the spoiled brat Angelina. Doesn't he feel insecure about this? "No. Sinasabi nga, baka magkasapawan kami, but no such thing will happen dahil matagal na kaming magkasama at bigayan kami. Meron din namang nagsasabing they sympathize more with Yaya dahil si Angelina, sobrang destructive, inaapi ako at tinatawag na loser. So, balanse lang kami.

But what we guarantee is that talagang lahat ng manonood ng 'Hole in the Wall', masisiyahan. Kami mismo, kapag nakikita namin what the contestants go through para mapagkasya ang sarili nila sa butas sa wall, tawa na kami nang tawa. "

Michael and Ogie came dressed as their characters in the presscon of "Hole in the Wall. " Isn't it hard to be garbed in women's clothes? "Okay lang naman. Kaya lang mainit yung wig namin, lalo ngayon summer. Pero sanay na rin kami. "

What does his wife and kids say about his being in drag? "Wala, kasi nakadamit babae rin ako sa bahay, e," he laughs. "Huwag nyong seryosohin ang mga sagot namin ni Ogie, ha. In character kami, kaya puro kalokohan din ang sagot namin. Okay lang sa family ko as they know I'm just playing a role. Dahil nga sa ginagawa kong 'yan, nabigyan ko sila ng sarili naming bahay at kotse. "

"Hole in the Wall" started airing last night before "24 Oras".

THEY'RE STILL HERE

JOBERT Sucaldito's birthday bash at Borromeo Steakhouse last Thursday was star-studded. Stars we haven't seen in a long time were there like Liz Alindogan, Daria Ramirez, Azenith Briones, Dinah Dominguez and Juliana Palermo who sports a becoming new hairdo and came with her hunky boyfriend named Erik. Jodi Sta. Maria came with dad-in-law Sen. Ping Lacson. Also present were Mocha, Ronnie Liang, Josh Santana, Joross Gamboa, Jackie Aquino, and many more. To Jobert, many happy returns and God bless you.

ABUSERS SHOULD BE PUNISHED

Ted Failon used to be our neigHBOr in Commonwealth Ave. when he was still residing in North Susanna, which is adjacent to our own place, New Intramuros Village. He and Judy Ann Santos were immediate neigHBOrs before he moved to Tierra Pura. Ted is one of the nicest helpful persons we've met so we can't believe that he'd be directly involved in the death of his wife, Trina Etong.

We sympathize with Ted not only for his loss but because of the inhuman treatment the people in his household got from the police. We saw on TV how they were treated like common criminals even if there was no warrant of arrest issued for them. We pray to the Lord that they will receive justice for the maltreatment accorded to them and the abusive cops be punished. We also pray for Ted who's going through very difficult times. The media has turned what happened to his family into a circus. May the Lord give him strength and courage in realizing that like everything else, in due time, this, too, will pass.

JORDAN SHOULD KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT

AT the presscon of "Kambal Sa Uma" where he plays a villain role to Melissa Ricks, Jordan Herrera denied he has ever had a relationship with any gay. Because of this, his self-confessed former lover, Jojit de Niro reacted when interviewed in a radio show and said Jordan should just refrain from saying such things. Jojit said it's not only with him that Jordan was involved with but also with other gays. Jordan probably learned a lesson from this and next time, he'd just keep his mouth shut.

BIGGER THAN WINNERS

STILL, with regards to "Kambal Sa Uma," two of its stars, Melissa and Jason Abalos, were contestants in ABS-CBN's Star Circle Quest who were both eliminated. But now, they're even bigger and busier stars than those who won, Hero Angeles and Erich Gonzales. Jason has already even won best actor awards for "Endo. " This only goes to show that you don't have to be the big winner in talent searches to make it big in showbiz.

Source: People's Journal