Cesar's 'secret girl' shows up

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

STELLA PEÃALOSA is the girl from Germany who once captured Cesar Montano's heart. She's now in Manila and just finished her first movie, "Sapi," where she plays the title role of Ada, a girl who gets possessed. "But it's really mystery as viewers will not be sure if I really got possessed by an evil spirit or I'm just making it up," she says.

How did she prepare for the role? "I took acting workshops and I watched movies about possession, like 'The Exorcist'. "

What happened to her and Cesar? "My mom produces shows of local artists in Bonn, Germany, where I was born and raised. He did a show there and that's how we met. We went steady for two and a half years. But I was so young then, only 18, I was going back and forth here, then I decided to continue my studies so we lost touch. I got to finish my business course and was already working with an American company but I got bored. I told myself I want to give myself a chance to try showbiz while I'm still young or I might regret not doing it later. Tamang-tama, someone asked my mom to co-produce this movie and a good role nga was offered to me so I grabbed it. "

So does she still have communication with Cesar? "Not in person. But he did text me saying he wishes me well now that I've decided to try showbiz. "

Cesar's wife, Sunshine Cruz, is the jealous type. Does she know about this? "I don't know. Wala naman sigurong masama sa text. "

How come she speaks fluent English and Tagalog? "Kasi, even in Germany, my parents talk to me in English and Tagalog kaya hindi German lang ang alam ko. "

Stella also sings well and she has an older brother who is an opera singer, married to a German girl. Is she happy with her performance in "Sapi"? "I've seen it and I'm satisfied naman. After this, there's another project that will be filmed in Germany, with English subtitles. I really want to be a better actress in the future. "

PAULEEN RECONCILES WITH MICHELLE

Pauleen Luna proves she is a professional. She was present at the launching of "Luna Mystika" last Tuesday even if her maternal Lola Mercedita Jimenez was just buried that morning at the North Cemetery. The day before, Nov. 10, was her birthday, and she spent it at the last night of her Lola's wake. She's still in mourning as she's very close to her lola who was brutally shot to death by holduppers on Nov. 5.

As one reporter said: "Buti pa si Pauleen at present sa presscon kahit namatayan, samantalang sina Sheryl Cruz at Romnick Sarmenta who both play important roles, hindi sinipot ang presscon. "

In "Luna Mystika," Pauleen plays the role of a small fairy (like Tinkerbell in "Peter Pan") along with Michelle Madrigal. At the presscon, it's obvious that they've patched things up as they were presented on stage at the same time and they were both in harness and lifted high up in the air as their characters both have wings and can fly in the show. Pauleen says she was the one who called up Michelle on the phone before their first taping day. "Gusto kong magkaayos na kami before we start working together," she says. "O ayun, nagkausap kami at okay na at bati na kami. "

During tapings, folks would see Pauleen crying. "Naaalala ko kasi ang lola at hindi ko maiwasang umiyak. But I do it during my private moments. Ayoko namang maistorbo ang show dahil lang sa grief ko. "

Attagirl, Pauleen. And happy birthday. (Warmest birthday greetings also to "Eat Bulaga" producer Malou Choa Fagar who celebrated another milestone a day after Pauleen did. )

YUL HAS AFFAIR WITH 12-YEAR-OLD

CONGRATS to Yul Servo for winning the best actor award at the 35th Brussels International Filmfest for his performance as cuckolded husband in "Torotot," directed by Maryo de los Reyes. Yul was there to personally receive his award. It's his third time to win there after "Batang Westside" (his first movie) and "Naglalayag" with Nora Aunor, also directed by Maryo de los Reyes. Yul is now in "Betty La Fea" and will also be seen in the Cinema One entry, "Dose," where he plays a gardener who becomes the object of affection of a 12-year old boy.

Film editor Tara Illenbergger's directorial debut, "Brutus", about two Mangyan kids who travel down the river from their mountain home to carry illegal logs to town, won as best Asian film.

Congratulations to two Cinemalaya Filmfest products that got A ratings from the the Cinema Evaluation Board: "Concerto" (a story about a family and their friendship with some Japanese soldiers during World War II) and "100" (with Mylene Dizon playing the role of a woman who wants to do 100 things she has never done before afterlearning that sheâs dying). They'll be shown soon in theaters so don't miss them.

RICKY D. HALL OF FAMER

Ricky Davao has won many awards for films like "Saranggola," "Minsan May Isang Puso" and "Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya. " He now has another feather in his cap. He just received the Hall of Fame award as best actor in theatre from the Aliw Awards last Tuesday night held at the Manila Hotel. This is for four best actor awards he won in "Bongbong at Kris" (1988), "Sawi" (1997), "Insiang" (2002) and "Speaking in Tongues" (2003).

Ricky remains to be one of our busiest working actors. He just won a best supporting actor award as the invalid father in "Endo" and gained more kudos for his performance as the abusive father of a little boy in "Boses. " He now plays the role of a priest who's pitted against an influential faith healer in "Sapi," the father of Angel Locsin and King of the Cowboys in Bukidnon in "Land Down Under" and the gay lead character in Jeffrey Jeturian's "Parangal. "

7 NEW MOVIES FROM Cinema One

Cinema One Originals Digital Filmfest has officially announced the seven entries that will vie for various awards and will also be shown in various colleges in Metro Manila from November 19 to 27, with awards night to be held on November 28 at Dolphy Theater of ABS-CBN. Regular run is from December 3 to 10 at Robinson's Galleria Indie Sine. Here are the entries:

"Alon" - Written and directed by Ron Bryant, this is a May-December affair between a young girl, Charee Pineda, and a lonely older man, Mark Gil (who won best actor for another Bryant film, "Rotonda"), who's married to the dying Eula Valdes.

"Dose" -Written and directed by Sennedy Que, it's about the tender and passionate friendship between a boy on the verge of adolescene (Fritz Chavez) and their hunky gardener (Yul Servo. ) It also stars Irma Adlawan and Emilio Garcia in a special role.

"Yanggaw" (Addict) - This is a horror drama about a family, with Tetchie Agbayani and Ronnie Lazaro as the parents, whose lives are changed by a curse that turns their daughter into an aswang (Aleera Montalla of "Ataul for Rent"). It also stars Joel Torre, Dwight and Monette Gaston and Manu Respall, written and directed by Richard Somes. The movie is in Ilonggo, with English subtitles.

"Motorcyle" - written and produced by Karlo de Guzman, directed by Jon Red, it's a road movie from Manila to Vigan where a young man (Jason Abalos) discovers some hidden truths about himself and his family. Also starring Jao Mapa, Kat Alano, Shamaine Centenera, Lovely Rivero, Lance Raymundo, Joji Lorenzo and Noni Buencamino.

"Imburnal" - Written and directed by Sherad Anthony Sanchez, it has already won the Lino Brocka Grand Prize at the recent Cinemanila Filmfest Digital Lokal. Shot in Davao, it stars local boys and is about young men about to get into manhood while finding quantum of solace in their own little worlds.

"UPCAT" - Written by Alfred Reyes and Inna Salazar, directed by Carlo Roman Olivarez, this is about three youngsters (Felix Roco, Yasmin Neri and Joseph Roble) who all want to pass the UP College entrance exams looking forward to a brighter future. Also stars Bembol Roco, Mark Gil and Malou Crisologo.

"Kolorete" - Written by Sherad Anthony Sanchez and directed by Ruello Lorenzo, this is a period zarzuela told with songs and music about the disparity and lack of trust between rich landlords and their poor peasants, starring theatre actor-singer Roeder Camaniag, Judith Javier (now singing in the Venetian Macau), Frank Garcia, Chiqui Xeres Burgos, Edgar Sandalo, Melody Amor (Renamed Althea Vega in Walang Kawala. --Ed. ), and many more, shot in San Miguel, Bulacan. More about each entry later.

JC WILLING TO WORK WITH YASMIEN

HOW does JC de Vera feel that Yasmien Kurdi refers to him as "that person"? "Okay lang," he shrugs. "She can call me anything she wants basta huwag lang siyang magagalit sa'kin. "

Yasmien insinuated at the presscon of her new show, "Saan Darating ang Umaga," that he's the one who doesn't want to work with her anymore. Is this true? "No. I'm willing to work with her anytime. It's the GMA management who tells us kung sino ang makakasama namin in our next projects. I think I'm paired with Rhian Ramos now in 'La Lola' para hindi naman magsawa ang viewers sa'min ni Yas after being paired in three successive shows. Kaya siya rin naman, she has a new leading man (Dion Ignacio. )"

This week in "La Lola", JC as Facundo will do everything to patch things up with Lola (Rhian Ramos) who he surprises when he fills up her home with roses. But Sabrina (Angelika de la Cruz) will do everything to drive them apart. She gets Facundo drunk then calls up Lola to ask her to come to his house. Lola sees Facundo and Sabrina in a compromising position and will get more jealous. Facundo tries to explain but she won't listen and tells Gary (Keempee de Leon) what she saw in Facundo's house. She doesn't know Sabrina is only after Facundo's money. Vicky (Sheena Halili) tells Sabrina that Lola and Facundo seem so in love so Sabrina announces that she has a relationship with Facundo. Lola is dismayed and calls someone to forget Facundo.

As for Don Aguirre (Eddie Garcia), he's worried about their rival company, La Primera. He looks for Lola in their meeting and when she comes without any presentation, he gets disappointed, so Gaston (Marvin Agustin), suggests his own proposal. Don Aguirre wonders who the mysterious primary investor is of La Primera. It'll be revealed later that the mystery woman is no one else but Susanna (Eula Valdes), who wants to bring down Don Aguirre's Distileria Lobregat as she has a personal ax to grind against Aguirre.

Source: People's Journal