Cristine-Dennis split fake?

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

Cristine Reyes is wondering why it's rumored that she didn't really break up with Dennis Trillo and they still see each other secretly. "Sa maniwala sila't hindi, wala na kaming communication ni Dennis since we decided to split dahil sa sobrang dami ng trabaho namin," she says. "May ibang nanliligaw but sorry, I'm too busy now with work at mas tahimik ang buhay ko nang walang lovelife. Sabi nga ng co-workers ko, mas fresh-looking daw ako at blooming kaysa noong may boyfriend ako and I believe it's true kasi wala na kong pinoproblemang relasyon. "

What can she say about some writers calling her bagong Pantasya ng Bayan? They even say she has eclipsed Bea Alonzo in "Betty La Fea" and Anne Curtis in "Dyosa" as she's now the new attraction on ABS-CBN's Primetime Bida with her "Eva Fonda" rating well and she's also in the cast of "Kahit Isang Saglit" that ends this week and in the Saturday gag show, "Banana Split. " She has even eclipsed her own Ate Ara Mina who no longer has a show after moving to ABS. Some even go to the extent of saying she's a better actress than her sister.

"Sana huwag na lang kami pagkumparahin kasi ayoko ng may kaaway," she says. "I'm trying my best to befriend all Kapa-milya stars at baka magkaroon lang ng negative reaction when I'm compared with them, e nauna sila sa'kin sa ABS. I'm just too happy with the blessings and projects that come my way. As for Ate Ara, I'm sure she's just resting now at mabibigyan din siya uli ng bagong project. As for our acting, marami na siyang napanalunang awards as best actress at ako, nagsisimula pa lang, kaya unfair sabihing better actress ako sa kanya. "

Her senior co-stars in "Kahit Isang Saglit," Christopher de Leon and Albert Martinez both attest to the fact that she shows much promise as an actress and she can be a Vilma Santos or Hilda Koronel in the future. "I'm really flattered sa papuri nila at sana nga magdilang-anghel sila. "

Cristine plays the title role in "Eva Fonda," a poor girl who dreams of a simple life with boyfriend Joel (Jason Abalos). But her life becomes complicated when she works in the house of a rich couple, Jean Saburit and Mark Gil, whose son, Baron Geisler rapes her brutally. Directed by Jon Red and Frasco Mortiz, "Eva Fonda" gives Cristine the chance to show her acting ability to the max. She's supported by Sylvia Sanchez as her mom and also Rustom Padilla, Joross Gamboa, Hazel Ann Mendoza, Princess Ryan, and Alma Moreno (the original Eva Fonda) in a special role. "Eva Fonda" is shown weeknights after "Pinoy Fear Factor: Argentina, South America. "
MYLENE HARD TO BEAT

Mylene Dizon is hard to beat as this year's best actress for her effortless but totally enthralling portrayal of a dying young woman who tries to iron out all the kinks in her life and do all the things she has planned on doing before she finally expires in "100. " The directorial debut of Chris Martinez who wrote the scripts of "Bridal Shower," "Bikini Open" and "Caregiver"), "100" will remind you of the classic Japanese film, "Ikiru," and the more recent Jack Nicholson starrer "The Bucket List. " What makes "100" different is it's told with liberal touches of humor (like the scene where all the women, including the maid, all go skinny dipping), along with scenes of genuine pathos that will touch your heart.

Joyce (Mylene) knows that her condition cannot be cured anymore so she chooses to spend the remaining three months of her life with her loved ones: best friend Ruby (Eugene Domingo), mom Eloisa (Tessie Tomas), brother (Simon Ibarra) and former boyfriends TJ Trinidad (who is married to someone else) and Ryan Eigenmann (who chose to join the priesthood and ultimately gives her extreme unction. )

The film opens with breathtakingly beautiful shots of the crater of Mt. Pinatubo that give us the urge to also suddenly visit that place. Among the to-do things Joyce listed in post-it notes that she pastes on her wall are simple things like cooking her favorite dishes, going to a spa, having a manicure-pedicure and sleeping all day to more serious matters like choosing her own casket and reconciling with the Lord.

The scene where she tells Ruby that she has returned to God after feeling sore at Him when her dad died and her boyfriend junked her is one of the most poignant scenes in the film. What's nice about the film is that it does not force or manipulate you to cry but you do since everything just flows naturally. Be sure to catch it in SM theaters.

SINGING PRIESTS LAUNCHED

SONY BMG Music launched the hit album released in 30 countries worldwide, "The Priests" at the Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord on the 5th floor of SM Megamall (it's our first time to be there and it's so beautiful) with a mini-concert that featured the world renowned Madrigal Singers and a group of local priests called Six Priests in the City composed of Frs. Steven Zabala, Allan Samonte, Eric Santos, Joel Joson, Rey Pascual, and James Nitollana. It was a great show that made us feel Christmasy since they sang a lot of festive Christmas carols.

We just listened to "The Priests" album as we type this and many of the songs can give you goosebumps as they're so movingly rendered. The Irish priests featured here are Frs. Eugene O'Hagan, Martin O'Hagan and David Delargy. Produced by Mike Hedges, the album is a celebration of faith, spirituality, love, humilty, tolerance and the power of the human spirit. It has 14 great cuts that include classics like "Panis Angelicus," "Pie Jesu", "Abide With Me," "O Holy Night," "Be Still My Soul," plus the Latin "Ecce Sacerdos Magnus" and "Domine Fili Unigente" and the German "Mit Wurd und Hoheit Angetan. "

The three priests in the album met at St. MacNissi's College in Derry where they realized their musical prowess as a trio of singers. They pursued their vocation training at The Seminary in Belfast where they also studied singing under Mr. Frank Capper, MBE. They concluded their training in Rome where they were invited by the Pope's secretary, Monsignor Magee, to sing for the Pope in the sacred liturgy. Each now lives the life of a full time parish priest and they see the opportunity of releasing their album as an opportunity to further forward the faith and spread the word of God through the international language of music.

A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS FOR Manny Villar

MANAY Lolit Solis invited us at the stately Laurel Mansion along Shaw Blvd. for a Christmas lunch hosted by Sen. Manny Villar. Was he shocked when he was ousted as Senate President? "No, hindi na ko nagulat kasi they've long been attempting to replace me," he says. "E, ngayon, tumaas nang tumaas ang rating ko as the first choice in presidential preference surveys, kaya nagpursigi silang maalis na ako. "

How come some parties say he's not really an oppositionist but a secret Gloria Arroyo supporter? "If that were true, bakit ako inalis sa puwesto ko, di ba? But no regrets. Ngayon, less pressure for me. Hindi biro maging Senate president kasi maraming nag-aaway and it's stressful. Now, I also have more time with my family and also my advocacies, lalo na 'yung pagtulong ko sa oppressed OFWs natin maltreated abroad at gusto nang umuwi rito. "

He's turning 59 on December 13. How will he spend it? "Mainly with my wife, mom and kids. We'll go to church, then have lunch and dinner together. Ganundin kami pag Christmas. Then after Christmas, we usually go abroad to have some peace and quiet for ourselves na kami lang ang magkakasama until the New Year. "

What's his birthday wish? "Same as Christmas wish, mabawasan ang corruption dito sa atin and to lessen poverty. Sobrang dami ng taong naghihirap. "

He just personally greeted and fetched 30 migrant workers who arrived at the airport then treated them to lunch at the Singing Cooks and Waiters Restaurant and gave them gift packages and raffle prizes. Does he think there'll be a united opposition in 2010? "Sana at sana nga, matuloy ang election kasi pinipilit nila ang chacha which everyone thinks is really for term extension. Ako naman, hinihintay ko lang ang bendisyon ng Nacionalista Party for me to run. "

PLDT MYDSL HOSTS CHRISTMAS PARTY

PLDT myDSL hosted a Christmas party for the press as thanksgiving to their successful drive that featured Lorna Tolentino. Their PR, Gary Dujali, gave away an expensive Mac laptop as grand prize (won by Ogie Diaz), plus other laptops, Ipods, landlines, and other items. They now have a PLDT MyDSL 25 Days of Christmas Laptop Blowout segment in "Eat Bulaga" hosted by Pia Guanio. Subscribers have the chance to win 25 Acer, MSI Wind,Neo, Dell and other laptops and wireless routers to be raffled off until December 20, Monday to Saturday. Now is the best time to get PLDT MyDSL as you still have the chance to win a laptop. Winners can be seen at www. myworldmydsl. com.

For those who won't win here, they still can win in the Ultra Broadband Blowout at the SM Mall of Asia and SM North Edsa on December 11 to 17 for a full week of blowout. Then there's also the Raid Upgrade promo where you can win instant prizes with their PC partners in various malls. They also launched two new commercials in Cebu. One features TV host-model Nikki Taylor and the other one features Fr. Ernie Javier, SJ of Sacred Heart Boys High School who lauds PLDT MyDSL for providing connectivity between him and his staffers.

Source: People's Journal