Echo denies wooing Karylle

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

THE first taping day of the third Dingdong Dantes Marian Rivera teamup, "Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang," took place last Monday. Because it’s action-oriented, both of them are excited with this new show as it’s entirely different from their first two shows, "Marimar" and "Dyesebel."

"We both prepared for our roles," says Dingdong. "Ako, araw-arawsa gym kasi I gained some weight during the holiday season when I had a vacation in Boracay with my family. It was my only time to bond with them well kasi pagbalik ko sa Manila, puro trabaho na naman."

So they were not together last Christmas? "No. Marian went home to her grandmother in Cavite for her vacation. Nagkita na lang kami noong New Year’s Eve sa GMA countdown and then sa taping na."

As for Marian, she welcomes her action role. "At least, hindi ko kailangang sumayaw dito na a la-Marimar o mag-underwater swimming ng may buntot a la-Dyesebel," she says. "’Yun nga lang, I have to be careful kasi kailangang hindi muna mapuwersa ang paa kong nagkaroon ng fracture at nalagyan ng cast for sometime. Hindi puedeng biglain at baka umulit daw."

Now that both of them are free and single, is there a possibility that they might really hook up with each while taping this third show of theirs?

"Naku, huwag nyo na lang kaming pangunahan," she implores. "Basta tungkol sa lovelife, ayoko munang pag-usapan. Napagbintangan na nga ako noong may kinalaman sa breakup nila kaya mas mabuti pa, iwasan na lang ‘yan. Mas mabuti pang pagandahin na lang namin ang aming bagong show."

What can they say about the allegation that their show is copied from Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" where they played a married couple who are both assassins? "Ang alam ko, this is based on a komiks novel of Direk Carlo Caparas that was written in the ‘80s pa," says Dingdong. "E, bago lang ‘yung kina Brad Pitt, ‘di ba? So, ibig sabihin, mas nauna ito kaysa roon."

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Jericho Rosales says he’s astonished that some quarters are linking him to Karylle and one writer even said he’s her ardent suitor. "It’s said kinuha ko ang cell number niya and since then, panay na ang tawag ko sa kanya," he says. "Not true at all. I did get her number, but that was noong pareho pa kaming managed by Genesis. ‘Yun lang ‘yun, kaya natatawa na lang ako dahil matagal na akong merong number niya. Tapos, nanganak na ang tsismis. Para raw akong batang tuwang-tuwa nang mabigay sa’kin ang number niya at nag-date na raw kami. Tuwang-tuwa rin daw ako kasi magkakasama kami sa remake ng ‘Maruja.’ E, ni hindi pa nga sure kung tuloy ang ‘Maruja.’ They’re still checking daw kung puede naming gawin ‘yun. Ang alam kong sure na, ‘yung movie na pagsasamahan namin ni Kristine Hermosa with Carmen Soo sa Star Cinema. ‘Yun, tiyak na tuloy na. Nakakahiya naman kay Karylle. Baka sabihin ginagamit ko siya just to be talked about. Right now, I’m still enjoying being single, getting to know myself better in the process."

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Helen Gamboa’s last acting job on TV was six years ago in "Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan." "I’ve been going back and forth to the US after that, so it’s only now that ABS-CBN got to offer me another show, ‘Tayong Dalawa.’ I gladly accepted it kasi acting is really my passion and I’m not here naman just for the money," she says. "I really like my role as I’m playing acontravida. I hold the key to the story at kami ng anak ko rito, siAgot Isidro, ang magpapahirap kina Gina Pareno at Cherry Pie Picache."

Her comeback is in time with her husband Tito Sotto’s movie comeback also in "Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After." "He’s so happy for me as he knows how much I love and enjoy acting."

Helen’s memory remains very good. We asked her and Gina Pareno if they’ve worked together before and Gina doesn’t remember anything. But Helen said that they did work together in the movie "Ang Boyfriend Kong Baduy" directed by the late Joey Gosiengfiao and they were also together briefly in "Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan." Since she’s now back with ABS-CBN, would she accept it if she’s offered to do a show with John Lloyd Cruz who was once the boyfriend of her daughter Ciara Sotto?

"No problem with me kasi may pinagsamahan din naman kami ni John Lloyd noong sila pa ni Ciara. I can’t say anything bad against him."

Is it true she was the one who was against him for Ciara and even ordered a character check on him?

"No, not at all. Walang ganun. But I did tell them ni Ciara na it’s good if they’d both finish their studies first. I was not just concerned about my daughter, but also about him. Maganda naman talagang makatapos ng pag-aaral, ‘di ba? Si Ciara nga, nakatapos na ng music and voice studies niya since then. I’m not the kind of mother na nakikialam sa love life ng mga anak ko. You can ask them, from my eldest up to Ciara, I never tell them, huwag si ganyan o si ganito. Kasi, let’s face it, sila naman ang makikisama, hindi ako, ‘di ba?"

What can she say about Ciara’s current boyfriend?

"Oh, we get along fine. Mabait siya, matalino, very responsible. But it’s not true they’ll get married soon. Marami pa kasing gustong gawin si Ciara so I think marriage can wait. Mas focused pa si Ciara sa pagkanta niya and in February, she’s going back to the US for the project she’s doing there."

What can she say about her co-stars in "Tayong Dalawa"?

"Maganda ang naging samahan naming lahat, pati the young stars na sina Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson and Jake Cuenca. We’re like a family at masaya lagi kaya hindi kami napapagod kahit maghapon ang taping. It’s really an honor and a privilege to be working with Gina, Cherry Pie, Agot, and our directors, Ruel Bayani and Trina Dayrit."

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Phillip Salvador has won 23 best actor awards for films like "Cain at Abel" and "Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim," but this is the first time he won a best supporting actor plum as the father disillusioned by his two kids in "Baler" and he loves it. "First time ko rin manalo sa Metro Manila Filmfest so I really welcome this," he says. "Once, nagka-entry ako, ‘Rubia Servios,’ where I played the rapist of Vilma Santos. Everybody says malaki ang chance ko to win, but dinedma ako ng jurors. Ngayon lang naulit and I’m really thankful that this time, nakuha ko na ang trophy. I also want to thank our director, Mark Meily, for entrusting the role of Daniel to me. This is really a blessing"

Before this, Phillip also appeared in the indie movie "Mainit na Tubig" which was never shown theatrically and in "For the First Time" as KC Concepcion’s dad. Now, he’s happy with his wife Emma Karen Ledesma and their two-year-old son Phillip Israel Christian Salvador, nicknamed Pics for his initials.

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TV 5’s youth-oriented show, "Lipgloss," seen Saturdays at 5 p.m., is having a reformat with two of their stars, Cheska Garcia and Sam Concepcion, booted out of the show. A new recruit in "Lipgloss" is "Be Bench" winner Carlo Guevara, Ogie Alcasid’s groom in "Desperadas 2," who was borrowed from ABS-CBN’s Star Magic to figure in a love triangle with newcomers Czarinna Suzara as Julivee and Neil Coleta as Caloy. The character of Neil as Caloy is a fresh addition to the cast. He is poor but becomes the object of affection of overnight millionaire Julivee.

Caloy can hardly believe that the rich heiress would fall for a "jologs" like him. Totally devoid of guile, Caloy is thrust into a series of challenges to prove his love for Julivee, who in turn, tries to shield him from the snide remarks of their snooty classmates.

Another addition in the cast is "Pinoy Big Brother: Teens’" Matt Evans who’ll play Nikko, a young actor who’s the cousin of the character played by Sam. This is Matt’s second show with TV 5 as he also plays Eugene Domingo’s younger brother in "Everybody Hapi," shown Sundays at 6 p.m. Matt will be reunited with two of his batchmates in "PBB Teens," Fred Payawan and Mikee Lee, who’ve been with "Lipgloss" since it started. Also being introduced in "Lipgloss" is a neophyte recruited from TV 5’s "Talentadong Pinoy," a talent search seen Saturdays at 7 p.m. hosted by Ryan Agoncillo that’s rating very well. This is Jessa Joy Mendoza, a good singer who’ll play Carla, the sister of Caloy, played by Neil.

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Most of our choices as best films in 2008 are products of the Cinemalaya Filmfest: "Jay," "Boses," "100" and "Brutus." Now, we have something to look forward to again in July when the 2009 Cinemalaya Filmfest unfolds at the CCP. They’ve just announced the ten finalists they’ve chosen for this year’s festival: "24K" by Ana Agabin; "Ang Nerseri (The Nursery)" by Vic Acedillo, Jr., "Ang Panggagahasa Kay Fe" by Alvin B. Yapan; "Astig (Mga Batang Kalye)" by GB Sampedro; "Colorum" by Jon Steffan Ballesteros; "Dinig Sana Kita" by Mike E. Sandejas; "Engkwentro" by Pepe Diokno; "Last Supper No. 3" by Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel; "Mangatyanan (The Blood Trail)" by Jerrold Tarog; and "Sanglaan" by Milo Sogueco. Each will receive an initial seed investment of P500,000 from Econolink Investments (which is not really much these days and ABS-CBN Cinema One’s entries are luckier in that they get P1 million each). The final winning entry will be given an additional grant of P200,000 plus the Cinemalaya Trophy during the awarding rites on July 26, 2009 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. All the films will be screened during the 2009 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition on July 17-26, 2009 at the CCP.

Now on its fifth year, the Cinemalaya is an all-digital film festival and competition that aims to discover, encourage and honor the cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity.

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The year 2009 has just started, and so with the awards-giving season in the US. Here’s a summary of the winners of various award-giving bodies there so far, to culminate in the Oscar Awards in February:

San Diego Critics Society - Best director: Danny Boyle for "Slumdog Millionaire," Best picture: "Slumdog Millionaire." Best actor -Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler." Best actress - Kate Winslet in "The Reader."

Southeastern Film Critics Association - Best director: Danny Boyle ("Slumdog"). Best actress- Anne Hathaway in "Rachel Getting Married." Best actor - Sean Penn in "Milk." Best picture - "Milk"

Austin FIlm Critics Assn - Best director - Christopher Nolan ("Dark Knight"). Best actress - Anne Hathaway ("Rachel"). Best actor - Sean Penn ("Milk"). Best picture - "Dark Knight."

Phoenix Film Critics Society - Best director: Danny Boyle ("Slumdog"). Best actress - Meryl Streep ("Doubt"). Best actor - Sean Penn ("Milk"). Best picture - "Slumdog Millionaire."

Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics - Best director- Danny Boyle ("Slumdog). Best actress - Anne Hathaway ("Rachel"). Best actor- Sean Penn ("Milk"). Best picture - "Slumdog"

Toronto Film Critics - Best director - Jonathan Demme ("Rachel Getting Married"). Best actress - Michelle Williams ("Wendy & Lucy"). Best actor - Mickey Rourke )"The Wrestler"). Best picture - "Wendy & Lucy."

Washington DC Film Critics - Best director - Danny Boyle ("Slumdog"). Best actress - Meryl Streep ("Doubt’). Best actor - Mickey Rourke ("Wrestler"). Best picture - "Slumdog."

NY Films Critics - Mike Leigh ("Happy Go Lucky"). Best actress- Sally Hawkins ("Happy Go Lucky"). Best actor - Sean Penn ("Milk"). Best picture - ("Milk").

Los Angeles Film Critics - Best director - Danny Boyle ("Slumdog"). Best actress - Sally Hawkins ("Happy"). Best actor - Sean Penn ("Milk"). Best picture - the animation film "Wall E."

National Board of Review - David Fincher ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"). Best actress - Anne Hathaway ("Rachel"), Best actor - Clint Eastwood ("Gran Torino"). Best picture - "Slumdog."

As you can see, the ones with the most number of wins are Danny Boyle as best director for "Slumdog Millionaire," Anne Hathaway as best actress in "Rachel Getting Married" (she plays Rachel’s drug-addict sister), Sean Penn as best actor in "Milk" (he plays the first openly gay public official to be elected in California), and "Slumdog Millionaire" as best picture (a combination of Hollywood, Bollywood and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire").

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We’re not surprised that the musical "Atang" will be restaged at the UP Wilfredo Ma. Guerrero Theater in Palma Hall later this month and first week of February due to insistent public demand. It’s really the best local stage presentation we saw in 2008. It works because of the intelligently written script by Floy Quintos which is matched by the astute direction of Alex Cortez.

Floy is really amazing as he has made the successful crossover from theater to showbiz, being the writer-director of the long-running "Startalk." This he does for the benefit of his pocket, while he does plays to satisfy his soul as a creative artist. Floy is quite a prolific playwright and has been active last year with plays like "Ang Kalungkutan ng mga Reyna" (which won the Palanca award), "Kudeta," "Isang Panaginip na Fili," and his Tagalog adaptation of such opera classics as "La Boheme" and "Die Fledermaus." He has also written hit plays like "St. Louis Loves Dem Filipinos," "Shock Value," "Wagi," and "Fluid." We have no doubt he’d be a National Artist someday.

Alex teaches theater arts in UP and is thoroughly experienced in all aspects of theater from acting to set designing and directing. He has also appeared as an actor in films like "Noon at Ngayon" and "Curacha" and on TV in "Lastikman." Both of them chose Ayen Munji Laurel to play the lead role in "Atang."

"She’s really the perfect choice as she is so focused on her craft," says Alex, who’s Ayen’s professor in UP. "She gets so immersed in her role that it almost becomes obsessive for her when it comes to performing."

Floy directed Ayen in her very first play, "Lives." When Ayen was still living in the palace in Brunei, she imported Floy to direct live productions there. "We were looking for someone to play the lead role in ‘Atang’ when Ayen visited her husband Franco Laurel who was then appearing in our play, ‘Isang Panaginip na Fili’," recalls Floy. "Right there and then, Alex and I said, there’s our Atang. She got excited when we told her about the project and immediately expressed her desire to do it."

As for Ayen, she’s thankful to both Floy and Ayen to play Atang de la Rama, the "Queen of Zarzuela." "It’s really so fulfilling to act and sing again on stage and the feedback so far is very encouraging," she beams. "It’s really an honor and I’m so proud to portray Atang, a National Artist who’s really a gem in the history of local entertainment."

"Atang" will have its rerun on January 28, 29, 30, 31, February 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, at 7 p.m., 10 a.m., and 3 p.m. For tickets at only P250 each, contact Luz de Luna at 0917-6206224, 0922-8206224; Dulaang UP Office: 926-1349; 433-7840; or call their landline at 981-8500 loc 2449.

Source: Malaya

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