Cristine wants to move back to GMA7?

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

IS it true Viva Entertainment's Veronique del Rosario is no longer satisfied with the way ABS-CBN is giving exposure to their talent, Cristine Reyes? After "Eva Fonda," she was given the afternoon soap "Bud Brothers" where she was paired with Jake Cuenca. But their story ran only for more than a week and it's not surprising if Viva felt that Cristine is being neglected. "Kasalanan din naman niya," a source tells us. "Binibigyan siya noon ng sarili niyang show, 'Bandida', but she didn't accept it. "

Last we heard, a negotiation is now being conducted for Cristine to return to the Kapuso station. But is GMA willing to get her back?

'I'M NOT SELFISH'
Yasmien Kurdi used to be considered the top star of afternoon dramas as her soaps like "Pasan Ko ang Daigdig" and "Saan Darating ang Umaga" were hits. But it's record has since been toppled by "Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin" starring Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal. Doesn't she somehow feel insecure about this?

"I'm not selfish at hindi ako envious sa tagumpay ng iba, so hindi ako insecure sa ganyan," she says. "What's important is pare-pareho kaming nasa Kapuso network so ang tagumpay nila, tagumpay ko rin, lalo na nga't pareho kaming galing sa Star Struck. I'm happy na mataas ang ratings ng show nila. "

She's been idle for some time because she chose to concentrate on her studies for a while. "Enjoy kasi talaga ako sa pag-aaral. But now, heto't balik ako with not just one but two shows. Sunday afternoons, mapapanood ako sa 'Madrasta' in 'Dear Friend' with Iwa Moto and on late Thursdays naman, I'm in 'SRO Cinemaserye's Suspetsa' with my StarStruck batchmates Jennylyn Mercado, Nadine Samonte. "

She's glad that she focused on her summer classes for her course, International Studies, at New Era University as she got high grades scoring a flat 1 in Eco and Math. "Gusto ko talagang balansehin ang school at work ko as an actress. Hindi naman ako forever sa showbiz, di ba?"

She's glad to be working with Jen and Nadine in "Suspetsa. " All of them expressed support to their beleaguered batchmate, Katrina Halili. "Basta kailangan niya kami, nandito lang kami para damayan siya," she says.

What happens to her in "Suspetsa"? Yasmien hemmed and hawed like she didn't know how the story goes. "Ayoko ikuwento, baka mapre-empt," she says. How's that for enticing viewers to watch their show?

MARIAN'S NAME TATTOOED ON DINGDONG
LOOKS like Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes no longer hide their relationship now that they're no longer paired in a show. When Marian was asked in the show of John Lapus who her boyfriend is, she replied: "Si Jose Sixto Dante III. " This is the real name of Dingdong.

As for Dingdong, some writers saw him at EDSA Plaza when Sharon Cuneta launched her new album there. He was on his way to the gym and they asked him if it's true he had Marian's name tattooed on his leg. "Sa akin na lang yun," he says.

Upon the prodding of the writers, he finally showed his right leg and on its base, the letters MGD are tattooed. MG is for Marian Gracia (Marian's real name) while D is for Dantes. You can draw your own conclusions from that.

RIOTOUS TIME IN 'HITW'
WE visited the taping of "Hole in the Wall" last Friday and we had a riotous time watching the contestants fall into the pool each time they fail to pass through unusual holes with cut-out shapes on walls that rush towards them. The show has an added attraction starting this week that makes it more thrilling to watch. Each team of three contestants will now have a celebrity team captain and contestants will be students from various schools.

Tonight, Monday, UST headed by Aiza Seguerra will be up against the University of Eastern Philippines headed by Sex Bomb Rochelle Pangilinan. Tomorrow, Tuesday, Angelu de Leon leads San Beda and they'll be up against Ateneo led by Iwa Moto. Wednesday, PUP will be led by Dayana Meneses versus PNU led by Bearwin Meily. Thursday, it's La Salle led by Gian Magdangal versus UP led by Rich Asuncion. On Friday, the team captains will be Benjie Paras and Carlene Aguilar and they'll be leading whoever will win in the preliminary matches of the previous days.

According to hosts Michael V and Ogie Alcasid, the show has become such a hit that they're called Yaya and Angelina wherever they go and people ask them how they can join "Hole in the Wall".

NO GAY RELATIONSHIP FOR FIL-BELGIAN NEWBIE
MEANWHILE, one of the attractions in the show is the male lifeguard, a Fil-Belgian cutie with whom Yaya flirts unabashedly. We got to interview him and he says he doesn't like Yaya as he'll never get into a gay relationship.

His real name is Edouard George. His mom is from Sorsogon while his dad is from Brussels, but he was born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland with his two younger brothers. His parents have separated. His mom chose to stay in Geneva while his dad now works in Palawan. Born on September 20, 1989, he's been in Manila for a year. When he first got here, he didn't even know how to speak English as he speaks French more fluently. Now, he's learning how to speak Tagalog as well since he wants to try being an actor. He was asked to join the all male group Capuccinos and the Mossimo Bikini Summit but he already got busy taping for "Hole in the Wall" so he begged off.

NEWCOMER GETS GOOD ROLES
ONE of the new stars in "Lipgloss" is Louise de los Reyes, who's also given a starring role in the Peque Gallaga movie for Sine Direk, "Agaton and Mindy. " She plays the title role of Mindy. How was she discovered by TV 5 for "Lipgloss"? "I've done 'Ang TV 2' sa ABS before and some TV commercials, then someone told me to take the audition at 'yun, napasama ako agad sa first season pa lang ng show," she says. "Now that it's on its 4th season, apat na lang kami from the original batch na natitira: Maxine Eigenmann, Kevin Lapena, Charina Suzara at ako. The rest were either killed or left our school na. My character in the show is also named Louise. In a previous episode, I was raped by my boyfriend, Fred Payawan, who later joined the seminary. Dahil dun, natakot ako sa boys. In the 4th season, magkakaroon ako ng bagong crush, si Niko Ibaviosa. "

She's turning 17 on September 1 and is in another TV 5 show, "Lokomoko High," and she's glad her first movie is with Peque Gallaga no less. "I learned so much from him. I also took the audition there and I feel so blessed that he chose me. I also learned a lot from Ms. Cherie Gil, who played our teacher in the movie. Napakabait niya. My role as Mindy is very challenging kasi I have bipolar disorder. "

PADILLA BROTHERS FINALLY ACCEPT BB
BB Gandanghari finally got to see brothers Rommel and Royette Padilla at the birthday party of their sister Rebecca held at a bar in Malate. They haven't really seen each other since he came out of the closet as BB. BB came at past midnight and he hesitated when he saw his macho brothers inside.

Both are very vocal in saying she shouldn't have killed their brother Rustom to be BB. But his brothers who welcomed him and called him "Sister". So they all hugged each other like old times and it's clear to BB that his brothers now welcome him. Too bad his other brother, Robin, didn't make it to the affair as he's busy taping for "Totoy Bato", to make their family complete. But Robin has previously declared in a TV interview that he's accepting BB for what he (she?) is and what makes BB happy will make him happy, too.

SPECIAL CARABAO
THE national animal, the carabao, gets special treatment tonight in "I Witness. " Passing the town church for the annual Carabao Festival in Pulilan, Bulacan, carabaos were made to kneel before their masters, not just a sign of piety but obedience of these gentle giants. Townfolk and visitors from neigHBOring municipalities had thought this would be a fun afternoon spectacle.

But an unusually large carabao refused to kneel. The adamant carabao violently toyed with its handlers, causing a mini stampede beside the church. The carabao took a long manic run through the crowd, wildly towing its wagon and three other carabaos tied to it.

Howie Severino and his I-Witness team discover that the delinquent carabao is a Bulgarian Murrah Buffalo, imported during the 90s to enhance the gene pool of its docile and undersized Philippine cousin. Experts say that crossbreeding the native carabao with the Bulgarian Murrah Buffalo creates a hybrid that produces more milk and meat, yielding better income to farmers but they are by nature more aggressive and takes longer time to tame. Don't miss this gripping docu on the carabao tonight after "Saksi" on GMA-7.

Source: People's Journal