Claudine, Angel settle differences

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

AN ABS-CBN website posted the results in their poll as to who is their No. 1 Drama Princess. The poll ran for several days and ended recently. Bea Alonzo got the highest score with 36 percent equivalent to a total of 11,689 votes. Kim Chiu follows her with 31 percent or 10,316 votes. Just like in the FHM search for the Sexiest Women, Angel is again in the third player with 23 percent or 7,445 votes. The fourth placer is Anne Curtis who got 6 percent or 2,047 votes. Last but not the least is Roxanne Guinoo who's No. 5 with only 4 percent or 1,366 votes.

Take note that Bea won even if she has no drama show at the moment as they're still taping her "Betty La Fea." And take note that they only searched for the No.1 Drama Princess. Does this mean that they're Drama Queens are Judy Ann Santos and Claudine Barretto? How about at the Kapuso station? Who do you think will be numero uno when they conduct a poll now among their current actresses? Email your reply to us at mmhannah143-@yahoo.com.

Going back to Angel, we heard ABS-CBN already made her and Claudine Barretto face each other a couple of days ago so they can settle their differences. Well, if Angel didn't transfer to ABS, she wouldn't be having problems like this since when she was still with GMA, she was the undisputed No. 1 star there with the success of all her shows. But of course, when you ask Angel about this, she'll continue to proclaim that she is very happy with her decision.

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Angelica Panganiban (how come she's not included in the search for ABS-CBN's Drama Princess) faced the press with boyfriend Derek Ramsay to show that they're still going steady and have not broken up as earlier reported. So why did she cry when the press asked her about Derek?

It was Derek who answered for Angelica: "Kasi sobrang nakulitan na siya sa paulit-ulit na pagtatanong tungkol sa amin. Ilang beses na niyang sinagot, pero wala pa rin daw tigil sa katatanong kaya kaysa mainis siya, umiyak na lang siya. Nakakahiya nga kasi pati yung isang model, her name was dragged at pilit na nili-link sa akin at dahilan daw ng paghihiwalay namin, hindi naman totoo."

We're inclined to believe this as it also happened to Kim Chiu at the presscon of "My Girl" recently. The press was grilling her about Gerald Anderson. She kept on insisting they're just friends and the writer kept on saying they're already on, so Kim just cried. When Diether celebrated his birthday recently, the same thing happened again. The press kept on asking him about Kristine Hermosa. He already answered seven times that they're definitely history but they still kept on insisting they're on. Diether kept on smiling patiently and no, he didn't cry no matter how so kulit some writers can be.

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Diether Ocampo celebrated his birthday quietly last Saturday, July 19. He had dinner with non-showbiz friends at a place called Purple Feet inside a wine depot. Then last Tuesday, he gave a special blowout to some friends from the press, raffling off CD players to those who attended the affair he hosted at Pizza Hut Morato Rotonda.

Asked how old he is, he said he decided to stop counting when he became 27 years old. The important thing is he feels (and looks) as young as ever, what with his lean physique in perennial tip-top shape because of his diligent workouts. His career continues to do well. ABS-CBN gives him one assignment after another, like "Palimos ng Pag-ibig," "Princess Sarah," "Margarita," "Rounin," "Maligno" and now "Iisa Pa Lamang"- all of them hits. Now, he is also in the cast of two new movie, director Quark Henares' "Rak en rol" and director Joey Reyes' Metro filmfest entry, "One Night Only."

"Siguro, yung patuloy na magandang takbo ng career ko, siyang kapalit ng kawalan ko ng love life," he says, insisting that after his romance with Kristine Hermosa fizzled out, he still has to find a replacement for her. "Pero sana, may dumating nang iba, para ma-enjoy ko rin naman."

Doesn't he communicate with Kristine anymore? "Oh, we do communicate. On my birthday, she even called me up to greet me. She was in the States that time for a show. Friends pa rin naman kami."

What's the best birthday gift he got? "It's a card made by a nine-year old boy named Alfred. He's suffering from bone cancer and is confined at the Philippine Orthopedic Center. We're trying to help him and other kids like him. His card is very meaningful for me."

What is his birthday wish? "Sana madagdagan ang oras in one day. Kasi, feeling ko, kulang na kulang ang 24 hours in one day for me to be able to do all the things I want to do."

Diet continues to be active with his charity works in connection with his KIDS Foundation. "Recently, we just brought school supplies to the children living in the mountains of Benguet and Banaue.

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Richard Gutierrez came home from shooting his movie with KC Concepcion in Greece happy to know that his new TV series, "Codename: Asero," is rating very high.

While he was away, his leading ladies called the "Asero Girls" (Heart Evangelista, Bubble Paraiso, Chariz Solomon and Francine Prieto) visited the Philippine Orthopedic Hospital in time for the 30th National Disability Week. The kiddie patients at the Children and Spinal Wards were all elated to see them. Heart led the prayer asking for the full healing of all the patients. She was in tears by the time she ended her prayer as her heart went out for these children. She approached one weak patient and they prayed together.

"We're all happy that we were able to visit them at nakasama namin sila," say the "Asero Girls." "We wish we could do more for them para mas maging magaan ang anumang problemang dinadala nila."

No wonder their show, the grandest and first-ever sci-fi-romantic show on television, is the most watched action adventure series of today. It continues to show impressive ratings since its July 14 premiere, posting a remarkable overnight rating of 40 percent on its pilot episode. The episode showcased heart-pounding action scenes in different scenic places in Dubai .The impressive ratings of "Codename: Asero" in its first week of airing show that an action adventure series is preferred by primetime TV viewers, both children and adult alike, over traditional dramas. Unlike heart-breaking dramas, "Codename: Asero" provides a new breeze on the telebabad block with its state-of-the-art effects and excellent cinematography that showcases the breathtaking spots in Dubai and in Bataan. The intriguing and fast-paced story of the show never fails to sustain the interest of modern day viewers.

While GMA-7 has proven that action-packed adventure programs can be very successful in the evening block, the Network continues to produce quality drama programs particularly in the afternoon block via Sine Novela. "Our afternoon soaps that rate from 22 to 26 percent even top the drama series of other stations shown on primetime," says amiable GMA exec Wilma Galvante. "Sine Novela, that currently features classic movies-turned-TV series 'Magdusa Ka' and 'Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan,' continue to post even higher ratings compared to the primetime shows of rival networks."

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Maricris Garcia is the third and last big winner at "Pinoy Pop Superstar." Just like other recent winners, she can make "birit" to the highest octave. But her voice is so versatile that she can also show that you don't have to belt your lungs out to demonstrate superb vocal power. GMA Records has just released her first album, "Mahal Kita," with 12 memorable ballads that show the beautiful range of her vocal artistry.

The youngest of four kids, Maricris turns 21 on September 26. A tourism major at La Consolacion Caloocan, she's quite tall at 5'7" and some writers are urging her to join a beauty pageant. "You have good oriental features and not just another mestiza," they say. "Para ikaw ang maging singing beauty queen. Pag pinakanta ka nila sa abroad, maloloka sila."

The good-natured Maricris just keeps on laughing. How did she feel when some writers said it would have been better if her first runner up, Brian Termulo, won instead of her? "Well, I won't take it against them kasi ganun naman talaga when you win, some people will say na mas deserving si ganito. You can't please everyone. Pero okay naman kami ni Brian. Pareho kaming sa Sta. Maria, Bulacan nakatira and we even text each other."

Maricris formed a singing group called La Diva with other PPS alumnae, Jonalyn Viray and Aicelle Santos. Someone said they should stage their big own concert as they already have their own following in "SOP." Is it true they really have a rivalry in real life and are at odds with each other when not facing the camera? "Naku, hindi po. We're all good friends, kasama na yung boys ng PPS, sina Gerald Santos, Harry Santos, Brennan Espartinez and Brian."

Maricris' voice is familiar to those who watch GMA-7 soaps as she has sang the theme songs of "Marimar," "Mga Mata ni Anghelita," "Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita," the love song in "Joaquin Bordado" (duet with Marc Tupaz), and the new version of "Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan" that she sings with Jonalyn and Aicelle.

The title track of her album is "Mahal Kita," the theme song of "Marimar" originally sung by Gerald Santos, but the carrier single is "Bakit Ikaw Pa Rin," a remake of a song in the '90s written by Larry Hermoso that Maricris beautifully renders in a soulful R&B style that is piano-based. Another remake is "Thank You" by Tyler Collins. The album has nine original songs: "With You," "Since Then," "Umiibig Na Ba," "Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin," "I Love You Still," "Kung Sana Bukas," "Kaligayahan Natin" (duet with Brennan Espartinez), "Nang Dahil Sa'Yo" and the Ogie Alcasid contribution, "Huwag Mong Iwan ang Puso." Watch Maricris as she does free shows to promote her album at SM Clark on August 3, SM Dasmarinas on August 10, SM Bacoor on August 17, SM Fairview on August 24, and SM Sta. Rosa on August 31.

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Ronald Arguelles of ABS-CBN Cinema One is happy that their best picture winner in their digital filmfest last year, "Confessional," won the best picture award in the 10th Asian Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema held in New Delhi on July 19. "All the foreign critics who watched the film were so impressed," says Ronald. "Even ordinary Indian viewers liked it and said they can relate to it as the situations of corruption among government officials portrayed in the movie are also encountered in India."

"We didn't expect to win over ten other entries from various countries," says director Jerold Tarrog who also played the lead role of the documentarist in the film. "But it's a great feeling to know that the film connected with the viewers as they had nothing but wonderful positive comments about it after the screening."

The movie also won as digital films of the year plus four other awards including best direction and best screenplay from the 24th PMPC Star Awards. Now, you'll have the chance to watch this highly original film when it's shown at the Robinsons Galleria Indie Cine starting August 31. "Ito pa lang ang recent movie na nanalo ng award abroad that is not about utter poverty at hindi rin tungkol sa kabaklaan," Ronald proudly proclaims. And we are inclined to agree that it's true.

The film is about a neophyte documentarist who goes to Cebu to film their annual street mardi gras there. He then meets a former mayor (Publio Briones, who won best supporting actor in the Cinema One filmfest and deserves it) who says he's ready to make an admission of all his past sins on camera. The film's climax shows an actual on-cam assassination that will shock you. After this, Cinema One will also show at Robinsons Indie Sine another film they made, "Tambolista", directed by Adolf Alix.

Source: Malaya