Annabelle reveals financial help to PA’s widow

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

THE toprating "Zorro" is on its last two weeks and GMA-7 hosted a thanksgiving party with the whole cast attending, led by title roler Richard Gutierrez. "Since we debuted in March, the show always rates high. It’s been a good run for all of us so I want to thank lahat ng kasama ko sashow," he says. "We had fun and definitely, mami-miss ko kayo. Doing this was a big challenge as some folks told us then that viewers don’t like period pieces like this. But I guess we did something right as we’re on top, kahit inabot kami rito ng bagyo, ng buhawi, and even the horses went berserk. ‘Yung 3-hour travel time namin to Bagac, Bataan,naging parang 30 minutes and we’ve memorized na ang bawat poste sa daan. We all bonded well while taping on location and enjoyed every minute of it."

So how’s he dealing with case filed against him by the wife of his late P.A. Nomar Pardo?

"I was shocked when I saw her being interviewed on TV kasi marami siyang sinabing unfair. I’m really puzzled why she resorted to this, puede naman naming pag-usapan ng maayos. I feel hurt when she said wala akong ibinigay sa kanya kahit na singko. Even when Nomar was still alive, I was already sending their eldest child to school. I know Nomar’s goal is for his kids to finish college and I promised his wife na pag-aaralin ko ang mga anak nila. I also told her that I’ll still give Norman’s monthly pay for the next three years, but she rejected that. They want a bigger lump sum of P4 million in cash. I still want to help their kids, but with this, everything is now on hold.

"Nomar was more than just an assistant to me. What happened to us was an accident, the trauma of which will be with me all my life. But I didn’t commit a crime. We’re told six other car mishaps have happened before in that accident-prone area."

His mom Annabelle Rama talks at this point. "I don’t know why she said we didn’t do anything for them during the wake," she says. "The whole four days nung wake, nandun ako every night, tumutulong sa kanya, giving food and letting all our cars be used by them. Hindi lang kami ang nag-abuloy. Lahat ng talents ko, hiningan ko ng donation and, all in all, we collected P160,000 na binigay ko sa kanya. One time, ‘yung father niya, binigyan ko ng P5,000 and siya, binigyan ko ng P2,000 pantaksi. I hope she won’t lie kasi ‘yan ang totoo.

"Nagtataka rin kami kung bakit after more than two months, noon lang siya nag-complain ng ganyan. Kundi kaya si Richard ang nagmamaneho at ordinaryong tao lang, would she have also asked for P4 million?"

Richard’s lawyers said they actually haven’t received any formal complaint, but they’ll issue a counter-affidavit the moment they do so. "Willing ako harapin ang kaso," adds Richard. "I’m also a victim in this accident. I’m just sad that Nomar’s wife chose hostility over friendship about this matter."

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GMA executive Redgie Magno was at the "Zorro" affair and we asked her what’s next for Richard. "The local adaptation of ‘Full House,’" she says. Is it true that they are getting Nikki Gil from ABS-CBN to be Richard’s leading lady? "No. We don’t know nga kung saan galing ‘yun. It’s Heart Evangelista. They clicked before in ‘Codename: Asero,’ ‘di ba? So reunion nila ito."

How about Dingdong Dantes’ leading lady in "Stairway to Heaven"? Have they chosen who’d play the role of Jodi?

"Yes, si Rhian Ramos. Wala pang official announcement, but more or less, sure nang it’s Rhian."

***

Jolina Magdangal is happy that "Adik Sa’Yo" continues to gain more viewers in search of light comedy as opposed to sudsy soap dramas on primetime. "What we offer is a pleasant alternative," she says. "Very fast moving ang storyline and with many funny and romantic scenes, kaya naman when I meet people in public, they tell me talagang naaadik na raw sila sa show. Lalo ngayon, nagkaroon kami ng bagong conflict ni Marvin Agustin dahil na-reveal nang hindi talaga ako buntis kaya ayaw na niya akong pakasalan." What can she say now that her contemporary Judy Ann Santos has gotten married whereas her own wedding plans got aborted?

"I’m really very happy for my kumare. I can see namang masaya siya sa married life niya ngayon. As for me, hindi pa siguro talaga nakatakda. Hindi naman magandang pilitin masabi lang na kinasal ako, ‘di ba? Basta I’ve moved on. What I did is minahal ko muna ang sarili ko and got ready for a new chapter in my life. Bata pa naman ako, kaya go lang nang go. Sa ngayon, pinapasaya ko muna ang audience namin sa ‘Adik Sa’Yo.’"

How come rumors linking her to Rivermaya drummer Mark Escueta persist?

"We do date. Pero mali yung naisulat na kami na raw. As of now, I appreciate ‘yung sincerity niya and I can see he respects my family, lalo na ang parents ko. That’s very important for me, ‘yung makasundo ng family ko ang sinuman na magiging kasama ko. Where it’s going from here, hindi pa sure."

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Sarah Geronimo turned 21 last Saturday, July 25, and she’s glad that Viva gave her a five-day vacation as she really needs some rest. She went to a secret hideaway to have some bonding time with her family. At the recent opening of Unica Hija’s new store in SM Fairview where she’s the image model, we asked her how it felt to be 21. "Nakaka-tense, tumatanda na ako. Mas maraming expectations."

Would she like to be more independent now?

"’Yung aalis na ako sa bahay namin? Ay, no po. Enjoy ako being with my family. I don’t think anyone can take better care of me than my mom and dad. But I do want to have more involvement sacareer ko, kasi dati inaasa ko lang lahat sa Viva at kina mama. This time, I want to have more say sa lahat ng ginagawa ko, even in the endorsements that I will do."

How about having a boyfriend?

"I don’t think I’m ready. Ewan ko nga kung bakit pine-pressureako lagi tungkol diyan. I mean, I don’t feel it’s a priority. Hindi ba magiging kumpleto ang buhay ng isang babae kung wala siyang boyfriend? As it is, sobrang busy ako ngayon, wala rin akong time for him,kung sinuman siya."

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After Angel Locsin and Sam Milby, it was Diether Ocampo’s turn to host a thanksgiving party for the success of their primetime soap, "Only You." Diet knows how to share his blessings as he earlier distributed goodies to 2,000 kids in San Fernando, Pampanga last weekend, a regular charity event he holds for his KIDS Foundation and as part of his birthday celebration on July 19. "I really have a lot to be thankful for as the Lord has given me so many blessings," he says.

One these blessings is his current girlfriend, 23-year-old Rima Ostwani. "She’s the perfect partner. Napakabait niya, very matureang outlook in life at masarap kausap. I used to look for the right one. It’s when I stopped looking that the Lord led me to the right girl. So it’s really best na ipagpasa-Diyos mo na lang kaysa yung ikaw pa ang naghahanap. Rima is younger than me but I’ve learned so much from her. She has taught me to be more appreciative of the everyday blessings na dumarating sa buhay ko. Kasi kung minsan, nasa harapan mo na, hindi mo pa nare-recognize."

He’s glad he’s also in better terms with ex-wife Kristine Hermosa. "Okay na kami. Wala kaming problema. We’ve both matured and moved on. I appreciate her help when I collapsed in the States. Our friendship and mutual respect for each other, hindi na mawawala yan."

So how’s his health? "I did a series of cardiological and neurologic tests in the US, lahat negative. When I came home, pinaulit ko yun dito and the doctors said napagod lang siguro talaga ako dahil wala akong tulog at may jetlag pa ako. I have the heart of an athlete daw. Dahil dun, I realized life is too short. You work so hard at marami kang nakakaligtaan. Of all my birthdays, this one is the most meaningful as I now know that every day is a gift."

His role as Jonathan in "Only You" endeared him to viewers. What’s next?

"Na-extend pa ang ‘Only You’ for two weeks because of high ratings, but even before this ends, I’ve already started taping for another new soap, pero di pa puedeng sabihin kung ano."

***

Sherwin Ordonez has been on TV for nine years. Last year, he did his first movie, "Kurap," for director Ronnie Bertubin, and he won the Star best new movie actor award for his performance. Now, he’s getting more acting offers. He’s in Bertubin’s new movie, "Last Viewing," and will also shoot Joel Lamangan’s "I Luv Dream Guyz" starting next week.

"The award really helped para mapansin ako," he says. "In ‘Last Viewing,’ I play Janice de Belen’s younger brother who takes care of our father in the province. Si Janice ang nagsusustento sa amin kaya lagi niya akong sinusumbatan. It’s a touching drama. It’s an honor na makasama ko rito si Janice dahil fan niya ako ever since. I really watch her movies. ‘Dream Guyz’ naman is my first gay film. I play a dancer who falls in love with another man, Jao Mapa. Kabado ako kasi the script calls for Jao and I to have love scenes. It’s comforting to know that, in real life, pareho kaming hindi gay kundiboth married with kids."

His wife is the vocalist of an all-girl band which is now abroad. "Sa akin naiwan ang two kids namin. The eldest, Matt Raven, is nine years old and studies in Ateneo. The younger one, Gabriel, is only 6 months old. Ako ang nag-aalaga sa kanila."

Source: Malaya

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