Cesar Montano’s plans are focused on Bohol

Author: Isah V. Red
Column: Life & Entertainment

Talks are rife about Cesar Montano’s political plans. No, he’s not going to plunge into another senatorial bid. He is simply focusing on Bohol, his home province.

At the recent launch of 2009 Western Union Gold Card Rewards Program at Teatrino at the Promenade in Greenhills, Montano told us that there are no definite plans yet. “The elections are still a year away,” he said. “We will tell you if something more definite crops up.”

While he doesn’t want to be accused of pre-empting his political benefactors, our sources from Bohol have been telling us that the actor, and now host of The Singing Bee on ABS-CBN, has been shuttling between Manila and Tagbilaran in the last couple of years, trying to maintain residency in the province. Wife Sunshine Cruz and the kids have been making Bohol their second home as well.

Meanwhile, Cesar simply enjoys the boon in his career (even if action movies, which was his bread and butter for sometime, have become obsolete in the local industry) as TV host and product endorser.

His latest is Western Union, the money transfer company from the United States that had made Philippines a very profitable stopover. Last week, the company launched the 2009 Western Union Gold Card Rewards Program, which aims at giving “experiential” benefits and offers to Western Union’s loyal customers.

The launch had Phoemela Baranda as host who introduced Cesar to the media and agents that came to the event. Cesar, in Western Union yellow shirt and faded jeans, serenaded the crowd with a song. He even went to the extent of providing the audience with trivia on Western Union.

Perks and discounts

Cesar also informed the crowd on what the Western Union Gold Card has in store for them. “We’re giving cardholders the chance to enjoy the perks of being a loyal customer, like discounts and gifts from Western Union co-promotion establishments, like Abenson HomePlus (5-percent discount on selected items), Dairy Queen (free upsize for every 12oz Oreo Blizzard), David’s Salon ( 15-percent discount on any cash transactions), George Optical (5-percent discount on prescription lenses), Informatics (P300 discount on all courses), Kids Depot ( 10-percent discount on any purchase), Marcela, Marcela MYX, and Kristenzz (10-percent discount on any items), Microtel Inns and Suites (up to 30-percent discount on room rental), Pizza Hut (free spaghetti Bolognese or a Caesar salad for a minimum purchase of P300), Taco Bell (free drink for a minimum purchase of P200), and Xtreme Magic Sing (P250 to P500 discount).

“Western Union always values its customers and their loyalty to us. I can think of no better way to show our appreciation to them than by offering them the privileges to enjoy a special time with their family through watching concerts, or lessening their burden of expenses on food and other daily necessities,” said Patricia Riingen, senior vice president, Pacific and Indochina. “We understand what our customers need and we hope our customers can rest easy with Western Union, trusting that we can deliver on our promise: Kampante sila sa Western Union.”

Montano said that getting a Western Union Gold Card is easy and is free. Customers may go to any Western Union agent location and fill out the application form. A complete list of co-promoters will be given to customers after signing up.

Concert and Gintong Galing talent search

Jericho Rosales was the other major attraction at the launch. He did a version of Gary Valenciano’s “Ði Bale Na Lang” which we learned is in the new CD the actor-turned-singer is releasing this year. He also did, “Beautiful in My Eyes,” which was recorded by Joshua Kadison. The song has been reworked by Jericho and included in the album.

Jericho’s upcoming concerts in Davao, Cebu and Manila on May 16, June 20 and July 4, respectively, are being sponsored by Western Union. And cardholders are going to be given VIP treatment to the concerts. Rosales will be joined by Jed Madela, Yeng Constantino, and Chokoleit.

Supported by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Western Union is also organizing a talent search, “Gintong Galing,” which will offer contestants a once-in-a-lifetime chance of sharing the spotlight with some of the country’s top performers during the Western Union concerts and win a cash prize of up to P100,000.

GMA Telebabad losing steam?

Many concerned Kapuso are asking, “What happened to Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang and All About Eve”?

The question, apparently, is in reaction to the failure of the two drama series to scoop up enough ratings points to get ahead of Kapamilya’s I Love Betty La Fea, which seemed to have had a fresh new appeal to the audience, thanks to Jericho Rosales’ interesting foil to the predictable John Lloyd Cruz, and Tayong Dalawa, thanks as well to the sizzling onscreen romance between Gerald Anderson and Kim Chiu. These two programs are giving the Kapuso programs and production people reason to be nervous these days, and why not?

While Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang is in fact far from Marimar and Dyesebel in its thematic treatment, it only underscores the vulnerability of the tandem of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera. The series seems the perfect vehicle to reorient Marian fans to another dimension of her onscreen persona, but are the fans ready to accept her as Proserfina? Do the fans also want a chivalrous Dingdong in Marimar and Dyesebel portraying a man who seems titillated by a stranger in his bed?

The Homer-Proserfina tandem might work on the big screen, but it makes for a boring exercise on television as the plot doesn’t go forward and the characters don’t evolve at all.

The problem with All About Eve is obvious. The production team wanted to make its own version of the story that many people around the world loved. Yet, these are the same people who are going to watch the Filipino adaptation, but apparently due to the carelessness of the writing and directing team have lost them to Tayong Dalawa, unfamiliar the story may be but interesting enough for them to stay late at night.

An avowed All About Eve fan told me that GMA’s version is giving characters that are minor in the original Korean drama major back stories (which I presume refer to the characters being played by Richard Gomez, Jean Garcia, and Eula Valdez) and seemed nearly non-existent in the original version. Writers should have been told that All About Eve has a following that is nearly cult in nature, and which means that they can watch the same series over and over again, and not get tired of it. When the same series is remade, this following gets upset.

GMA-7 should do a quick fix to this now badly rating show by excising scenes involving Gomez, Valdez, and Garcia and go directly to the conflict involving Erika, Nicole, Warren and Kenneth. That, we hope, could change the course of this series.

Thank God for Robin Padilla, otherwise Carlo J. Caparas’s Totoy Bato might have suffered the same fate.

Padilla holds the audience like no other, and even without Manny Pacquiao, Totoy Bato will continue to draw in the audience. This is the only drama series that remains unbeaten in the ratings in Mega Manila so far.

Now, I don’t have to be the doomsayer for any network, but if either of the network loses touch with the audience, which is very dynamic, I must say, ratings will continue to be unstable for both and neither of the network can claim leadership in the broadcast industry.

Another Eigenmann joins Kapuso

Maybe GMA Network needs something like this, a new acquisition. Since the last wave of exodus from Kapamilya, the Kapuso network has become staid, uninteresting.

Now, Geoff Eigenmann, which Star Magic has kept for some time and without significant development in his life and career, finally saw the light and joined fellow ex-Kapamilya Dennis Trillo, Alfred Vargas, Hero Angeles, Marvin Agustin, and Paolo Contis as a Kapuso artist.

Geoff (pronounced simply as Jeff) has replaced JC de Vera in a weekly series that used to be in the time slot of Obra. He will co star with Marvin Agustin.

Recently, Geoff signed an exclusive contract with GMA Network. He was accompanied by his mother actress Gina Alajar and talent manager Perry Lansigan. Also in the contract signing were GMA EVP and COO Gilberto Duavit, GMA president and CEO Atty. Felipe Gozon, GMA SVP for Entertainment Wilma Galvante, and senior program manager Redgie Magno.

Can the Survivors take on the Nestea Fit challenge?

The finalists of Survivor Philippines have been through a lot to prove how tough they really are. However, the challenge isn’t over yet for these intrepid individuals as they try to hurdle summer’s biggest event—Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit ’09.

Touted as summer’s most awaited event, Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit ’09 will feature action-packed beach volley action, concerts, fashion shows and lots of parties, challenges that Survivor Philippines finalists Jace Flores Jr., Kiko Rustia, Kaye Alipio, Nikki Dacullo, Rob Sy, Vern Domingo and Pinoy Sole Survivor JC Tiuseco will surely love to conquer!

Also joining the fun are popular bands 6Cycle Mind and Sandwich. 6Cycle Mind brought the house down with their popular tunes while designer PJ Arañador showcased his latest collection via a fashion show dubbed Hot & Fit Body of Work at SM Mall of Asia Bay Area last March 6.

In Davao at the NCCC Mall on March 28, avail of limited edition Nestea Fit sandos and sports bottles and enjoy a game of virtual beach volley or take part in hip-hop classes. While at Parkmall in Mandaue City Cebu on April 18, enjoy fashion shows, performances by local bands and other fun activities.

Other activities that will make Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit ’09 more enjoyable for everyone include the heart-stopping beach volley matches from the country’s top collegiate teams and cool theme parties that will surely transform your summer into a season of excitement and absolute fun.

So this summer, Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit ’09 promises to be like no other, thanks to the hottest celebrities, cool bands and exhilarating beach volley action.

Ted Failon, live in concert?

Hard-hitting broadcast journalist Ted Failon led almost 5,000 runners in warming up for dzMM Takbo Para sa Kalikasan Year 10, held last March 8 in Manila.

Joining him onstage were fellow dzMM anchors Ambet Nabus, Laila Chikadora, Cory Quirino, Onse and Ahwel Paz. Also attending the fun run for the benefit of the La Mesa Watershed were Vice President Noli de Castro and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. dzMM station manager Angelo Palmones said they plan to make Takbo a nationwide event next year.

Source: Manila Standard Today

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