Cristine returning to GMA?

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

Marian Riveras detractors who claim her heyday is over since she doesnt have a show now should have been at "Black Magic," the Jag Denim Fashion Show at Mall of Asia last Friday to see how countless fans trooped to watch her sashay on the ramp in their back-to-school collection with a sophistical tailored feel.

Marian was in her element and oozing with confidence as she was no doubt the star of the show, even if there were foreign models around whore taller than her. But her fans who love watching her on TV will see her soon in "Narda," the new title of "Darna" to differentiate from past Darna.

"I continue to train for the role," she says. "Sanay na nga akong lumipad while hanging. Masaya, Im enjoying it. Tuloy rin ang martial arts training ko. They want my movements to be softer, kasi boyish daw, parang lalaki. So gusto nila, maging feminine ang movements ko, pati paglipad ko."

Is it true Darna will have a new costume?

"I think GMA has designed something na mas bagay sakin at magiging comfortable ako. Kasi its difficult to move in a costume na hindi ka comfortable."

So wholl be her leading man?

"Im not sure yet. May mga naririnig lang ako. May nagsasabi si Mark Anthony Fernandez daw, which is fine with me kasi mahusay siyang artista. Im not in a position naman to choose so Ill just trust the management who theyll pick for me."

The name of Mark Herras, who was linked to her before, also cropped up. "Hes just fine with me. Whatever issues we had then, wala na yun. Naayos na. We see each other in SOP at nagkukumustahan kami."

So its just fine with her that Dingdong Dantes will also have a new leading lady in "Stairway to Heaven"?

"Oo naman. But its not clear yet also wholl be paired with him. Kung sinuman yun, Im sure GMA will also make the right choice."

She wont get jealous?

"Bakit naman? Trabaho lang naman ang lahat. Walang selosan."

Its also a big question mark as to wholl play Valentina to her Darna. Is Katrina Halili fine with her?

"Oo naman. Walang problemang magkatrabaho kami uli. Nagkaroon kami ng issue noon sa Marimar pero nagkabati kamit naging friends in the course of the show. Right now, being a woman, I really sympathize with her and I want to help her makabalik sa normal."

Dingdong is said to have her initials tattooed on his leg. Is it true she also had his name tattooed somewhere on her body?

"Naku, kung anuman yung mga tattoo na yun on whatever part of our, sa amin na lang yun, please. Basta importante yun."

Her photos for Jag Black Denim with Will Devaughn were shot on location in Australia. "I enjoyed working with Will as hes an accomplished model at masayang katrabaho. Jag reinvented our looks by giving the fotos a dark edge. Im portrayed here as a sexy temptress."

After the Jag fashion show, Marian went down the stage and shook hands with her countless fans to disprove that she is "suplada at mataray."

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Will Devaughn is happy to be reunited with Marian in the Jag Denim show. They were paired before in "Desperadas 1 and 2."

"Working with Marian is always a joy as shes very professional," he says. "Doing the Jag Black pictorial is the most challenging photo shoot Ive done as I was literally hung upside down on a harness in the Houdini shot where Im wearing studded leather and chains. The Jag creative team does not believe in computer and digital shots so they really hung me nang pabaligtad for five minutes for each take. It took three hours to perfect the pictorial with me also wearing storm washed jeans and horns."

Will is now doing "Precious Hearts Presents: Bud Brothers" with ABS-CBN and he co-stars with controversial doctor-actress Maricar Reyes. "All of us in the cast sympathize with her. She just keeps quiet on the set and we respect her decision to be by herself most of the time. Siempre, we all want to give her space. Women should be honored and respected, not subjected to such a kind of public humiliation."

Will himself was the object of a cellphone sex video where Palmolive Palma of the Baywalk Bodies was said to be doing oral sex on him. He wasnt in showbiz then yet. He denied it and it died a natural death.

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Cristine Reyes was not visible in "Banana Split" last Saturday. Is it because its bruited about that she wants to go back to GMA-7 and be a Kapuso again. We heard there are now arrangements between GMA and her manager, Veronique del Rosario, for her to play Phaedra, the villain to Carla Abellana in "Rosalinda." We thought Cristine didnt want to play supporting roles anymore after she was given a starring role by ABS-CBN in "Eva Fonda." But how come shes now willing to play contravida to a total newcomer?

Looks like GMA really wants their newest bet to stardom to have great support. Jessa Zaragoza has already agreed to play her stepmother, saying shes willing to stay in Manila for good. Is this a confirmation that her marriage to Dingdong Avanzado is really on the rocks? Jessa is said to be not pleased that Dingdong is having another concert with ex-girlfriend Rachel Alejandro again when she already expressed her displeasure when they did a show together.

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It is good Hayden Kho has Dr. Vicki Belo to help him out financially, paying for his lawyers and PR firm to clean up his image. As for Katrina Halili, were told she herself is spending for all her legal battles and her savings will soon be depleted because of her financial obligations. A confidante of hers says some interested parties have expressed their desire to help her but she decided not to accept them as she doesnt want to be beholden to anyone while shes waging a personal battle against the man who ruined her reputation.

"Baka nga naman malagyan pa ng ibang kulay o magkaroon ng kung anong issue, kaya huwag na lang," says our source. "There are also offers to do out-of-town shows but she decided to focus on the casemuna and all the hearings, pati sa PDEA kasi pinagbibintangan siya ni Hayden at ina nito na isang addict. Ayun, nagpa-drug test na siya sa kanila. But she has not been given any assignment by GMA for several months now. Her last was as a guest in Dear Friend, so wala talaga siyang bagong income. Meron sana siyang two new endorsements but they backed out because of the scandal. Malaki talaga ang nawala sa kanyang income dahil sa kaguluhang ito."

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Chynna Ortaleza plays the evil contravida Maya who makes Jennylyn Mercados life miserable in "Paano Ba Ang Mangarap?" and she says her fans chide her for oppressing their idol when they see her in public. "Even when I do out-of-town shows, people call me Maya. Merong natutuwa, meron din namang takot sakin thinking mataray talaga ako in real life."

Is she willing to do another villain role?

"Oo naman. Im ready for any kind of role. Its nice to do character roles and I think GMA is really trying to mold me to be a character actress. As long as the role is challenging, Im willing to do any role dahil I know mas mahahasa roon ang talent ko sa pag-arte."

"Paano Ba Ang Mangarap?" is ending this week but she has no new assignment yet. "While Im in between shows, magre-rest muna ako kasi Paano is really nakakapagod. Noong last two days namin, 30 hours kami ni Jennylyn, dire-diretso. Nakahiga na kami sa sahig sa sobrang pagod. But even if Im not working, busy pa rin ako sa studies ko sa UP Open University."

How about her boyfriend, Railey Valeroso?

"Okay. Kami pa rin. Six years na kami on July 1."

Will wedding bells ring soon?

"Naku, hindi pa. Right now, were both busy, so sinisingit lang namin yung pagkikita namin. No need to rush naman, siguro pag 30 na kami."

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Noranians must be glad that last weekend, the winners in the hit game show, "The Singing Bee," was the team of Nora Aunor impersonators, so they will now be the defending champions this weekend.

"Tribute namin kay Ate Guy ang pananalo namin dito at sisikapin naming magtagal as champions," says Lady Gay.

They will be up against the representatives of bands Soapdish, Moonstar 88, SinoSikat, Kenyo, and The Bloomfields.

On Sunday, they will be facing gay contestants Ate Glow, Vice Ganda, IC Mendoza, DJ Laila, sexy girls Krista Ranillo, Regine Angeles, Jaymee Joaquin, Aiza Marquez and Jennifer Ilustre, and macho guys Alwyn Uytingco and Ketchup Eusebio.

Host Cesar Montano is very happy as their ratings continue to go up.

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Two of Star Magics celebrants are Mara Lopez, daughter of Maria Isabel Lopez, and Nico Antonio, son of celebrity lawyer, Atty. Joji Alonso.

Mara turned 18 on May 20 and she was at the Cannes Filmfest with her mom, who plays the role of the butchered prostitute in Brilliante Mendozas award-winning entry, "Kinatay."

"Im happy for my mom for her to be part of an internationally acclaimed film," she says. "Its my first time for me to be in such a prestigious festival and its a memorable experience for me."

Mara is graduating from her Com Arts course at La Salle soon. She has finished an indie film by a US-based filmmaker, "Sta. Mesa," that won the Special Jury Award at the San Francisco Asian-American Filmfest where she played a sampaguita vendor who falls in love with a Fil-Am balikbayan from New Jersey. She is also filming "Junkshop," with Ronnie Lazaro.

Nico is glad to be a part of Star Magic. The eldest of 4 kids, he was 11 when his parents separated. "Nagrebelde akot nagluko sa pag-aaral," he says. "But when I became 16, I realized sarili kong buhay ang sinisira ko at hindi sa kanila so I reformed myself. I majored in European studies at the Ateneo and Im now in law proper at San Sebastian."

His younger siblings, Angela and Rafael, are also taking up law at the Ateneo. Their youngest, Manuel Luis, is a high school sophomore. He loves acting and singing and has done some plays and movies. He has also appeared in ABS-CBN shows like "Maalaala Mo Kaya" and now plays a lawyer in the new teleserye of Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa, "Dahil May Isang Ikaw." In "ASAP," hes part Voyzboys with Guji Lorenzana, Ronnie Liang ang Jay-R Siaboc. They will have a show at Metrobar on August 8. He also sings the theme song of the directorial debut of Bing Lao, "Biyaheng Lupa."

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Q Channel 11s family cooking show, "Daddylicious" of Chef Nino Logarta, will have the culmination of their Kids Summer Cooking Worshop on Saturday with his young apprentices, Yumi and Miggy, preparing special dishes: Squid Escabeche, Bibingka Souffle and Pureed Carrot Soup. Favorite guests Mommy Gidget and her daughter Karel will be the judges. Joining them are the parents of Yumi and Miggy, plus Chef Ninos two daughters, Cy and Tia. There will be a graduation ceremony where a certificate of completion, a kitchen tool box starter kit, and of course, their very own toques will be waiting for both Yumi and Miggy. Will Yumi and Miggys kitchen masterpieces pass the judges taste? Find out this Saturday, 10:55 a.m., on Q Channel 11

Source: Malaya