Can Carla Abellana pull it off as Rosalinda?

Author: Isah V. Red
Column: Life & Entertainment

Today is judgment day for new TV star Carla Abellana as GMA-7 pilots the much-anticipated Filipinization of the Mexican telenovela Rosalinda.

If the local version of Thalias Marimar kicked up a largely unknown starlet named Marian Rivera to the firmament of stardom, can GMA-7s version of Rosalinda make a star out of Carla Abellana?

The answer will start to form after tonights pilot of Rosalindas local version. We will see how it fares against the much established series on the other network, namely Only You and Tayong Dalawa, both are in the top 3 in nationwide surveys, TNS or AGB Nielsen.

Rosalinda was originally planned to be the next drama series for GMAs most prized star these days, but even prior to pre-production stage, GMA executives saw Carla Abellana whose beauty easily attracted them.

While she is not exactly a new face on television (she graced several television commercials prior to signing up with GMA-7 to play Rosalinda), she wasnt someone very familiar to many primetime TV drama fans.

The decision to hire an unknown that has a pretty face and untarnished image may be a real gamble for the network desiring to dominate the broadcast industry nationwide, yet it is admirable at the same time. The Kapuso network may indeed be scrambling for stars to populate its primetime block, and giving someone of Carlas quality a chance to be in the limelight might just be its ace in the business.

Totally the opposite of Marian Riveras personality, Carla is a sweet, soft-spoken young woman. She punctuates her sentences with the Filipino word Opo or phrase Hindi po when answering questions from the movie press, endearing her even to the harshest of critics she faces in a group interview.

The 23-year-old college graduate (she majored in psychology) says she never had an ambition to be in show business. I focused on my studies and I finished it.

Before she decided to finally take a chance on show business, she was working in a real estate companys human resources department. It was a good-paying job, edifying as one colleague said, but, she said, Many people are without jobs, and here I am being offered without any effort to get that job, so why not take the chance?

She may be from a dysfunctional family, yet it seems she had been surrounded with love to grow up with a positive and happy disposition. Carla is the granddaughter of LVN actress Delia Razon. She is the offspring of Delias daughter and once 80s matinee idol Rey PJ Abellana.

Her smile is infectious even to people who find her no more than a star wannabe. Already, Carla is winning people to her side. We hope the show wins audiences as well.

Ginas son also rises

Fernando Jose Altamirano is one character in the Mexican telenovela Rosalinda that had many Filipino women swooning every night of the week during its run on televisions in the Philippines.

Starting tonight, a new generation of audiences could start swooning and drooling over GMA Networks new matinee idol Geoff Eigenmann as he plays the Filipinized character of Fernando Jose in Rosalinda.

Geoff is the middle son of Michael de Mesa and Gina Alajar and grandson of Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil. The acting genes are definitely in Geoffs DNA. Just a little tweaking and he can be the next drama actor of this era.

In the last couple of years, Geoff lingered among many others in the Kapamilya network that only has a few names rotating in shows. His return to the Kapuso network (where he actually started, as a chubby teener) was a dramatic one. Immediately, the Kapuso executives commissioned him a role in Sineserye, after which no less than Atty. Felipe L. Gozon announced him on national television as the networks choice for the role of Fernando Jose.

The sudden kick to big ticket on television has yet to sink in Geoffs consciousness. All he knows is that he has a job and hes not going to be idle. I am very grateful and amazed at how things are happening very fast, the very good-looking Eigenmann intimated to us. When I moved here, I told Perry [Lansigan] I just want to play roles and it didnt matter how big or small the role is. I just want a job.

But job it is he got and the role is much bigger than what he actually wished for. I am glad, and I promise I will give my best in recreating the role of Fernando Jose.

The return of Halili and Paulate

Making Rosalinda more colorful and interesting is the return on primetime by Katrina Halili, as Fedra, older sister of Rosalinda.

The actress who is fighting a legal battle to have Hayden Kho, a dermatological surgeon, indicted for video-taping their intimate coupling, didnt stay long during the press presentation, obviously to avoid being interviewed about the scandal.

If she chose to be aloof this time, it is simply avoiding saying things that might be prejudicial to the case she has filed against Kho.

Also returning to GMA-7 is Roderick Paulate, in his first-ever GMA Telebabad series as Florencio. If you still remember, Paulate was Vilma Santos co-host in Vilma, which was aired on the network before Ate Vi decided to become a local politician.

The other stars that populate the new series include Sheryl Cruz as Valeria Altamirano, Ariel Rivera as Alfredo, Gary Estrada as Javier, Glydel Mercado as Soledad, Jessa Zaragoza as Evangelina, Yul Servo as Roberto and Sherilyn Reyes as Dulce; together with Ryza Cenon as Abril, Mike Tan as Rico, Mart Escudero as Beto, Sheena Halili as Becky, Marco Alcaraz as Anibal, Marky Lopez as Julio, Carlene Aguilar as Rodora, Ayen Munji-Laurel as Berta, Gian Magdangal as Gerardo and Krystal Reyes as Lucy.

Jojo A. finds a new home

After a days hard work, what better way to chase your stress and worries away than to relax and be humored on the jazzed- up late night talk show of Jojo A., All The Way!, now roosting its distinct brand of comedy on its new home on TV5.

With Jojo Alejars funny hosting antics enlivened with new gimmicks and segments, it isnt surprising that the show has managed to have a strong cult following thats now adding to the number of viewers switching to TV5.

A complete package of comedy, information, spoof, satire and entertainment, Jojo A., All The Way! is news and issues presented in a light way with featured celebrities and guest personalities on a one-on-one casual interview. On its pilot episode last June 1, the show featured Dingdong Dantes who revealed that he is not closing his doors to a lot of possibilities regarding his career, particularly venturing into politics and going international in showbiz, Dingdong also confessed, amidst the sex scandal controversies, that he too has a video, but immediately flexes his answer as a jest.

To give the show a humorous Pinoy touch, new and different segments are done every night, with Monday segment Anak ng Foto where two photos of known celebrities, politicians and famous people are merged to picture the outcome of their offspring, supplied with an apt and funny nickname for their hybrid. Tuesday brings you to the on-location look of the show in TriBya (Trip Byahe) Rockman n Punk,while Wednesday has the Di Kita sa Camera Cafe, an offshoot of Camera Cafe with extra froth of humor.

ToPic of the Night, a.k.a. TOking Pictures of the Night during Thursdays shows pictures of newsmakers and famous people with funny captions and dialogues on bubble text. Utol Ko Bros. Bitay or Mr. Groovy is performed every Friday, with this Fridays episode featuring a mini dance tribute to Jojo A.s ultimate idol, Michael Jackson.

The show also features live performances from bands and solo artists, and all sorts of crazy things that Jojo A. has been trademarked with doingturning the late night show into a habit for Pinoys to wrap up their day with its brand of entertainment and laughter.

Stay up and watch the funny and very candid Jay Leno of Philippine TV, Jojo Alejar, on Jojo A., All The Way! set against a cityscape background of interesting news and entertainment matched with a mugful of wit and humor. Make Jojo A., All The Way! an entertaining bedtime ritual Monday toFriday, 12 midnight, on TV5.

Lobo wins at Banff World TV awards

The fantasy-thriller television series that marked the debut of Angel Locsin on ABS-CBN, Lobo, was hailed as the winner for the Teleserye Program category in the recent 30th Banff World Television Awards held at Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Canada recently.

Chosen from over 800 entries from 29 countries, only 23 were chosen as category winners.

Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, FM Reyes and Jerry Lopez Sineneng, Lobo was a high-rating primetime series starring Locsin and Piolo Pascual.

Banff World Television Festival is dedicated to world television programming, including its creation and development.

Lobo is now available on DVD from Star Home Video.

Hiyas ng Quezon City 2009 crowned

Eighteen-year-old Bernadette Solero was recently crowned Hiyas ng Quezon City by the beauty pageants main sponsor Councilor Ariel Enrile Inton in a ceremony held at the Entertainment Center of the SM North Edsa.

Solero is a fourth year criminology student at the Philippine College of Criminology who became P20,000 richer that Saturday evening. Representing Barangay Tatalon, her runners-up include Sara Mae Reyes (second runner-up) and Jennielyn Natividad (first runner-up). Angelica Jones performed during the presentation. Mayor Sonny Belmonte graced the occasion as guest speaker.

Source: Manila Standard Today