From screen partners to rivals

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

KC Concepcion has cooked up a TV special about Paris and her four-year stay there "KC: From Paris To Pinas" to be shown on Sunday, September 23, at 10:30 p.m. "I was gone for 4 yearsat maraming nangyari while I was away," she says. "I want to share with the public all my experiences."

What problems did she encounter and what insights did she gain in Paris? "I realized its not easy to live in a foreign city alone. Now I can relate to people from the provinces who go to study in Manila. My mom had her apprehensions at the start kasi wala kaming relatives o kakilala sa Paris. But eventually, she learned to trust me and accept it. Youre a minority there, so maraming daily struggles. Dito, may driver ako, bodyguard, and we have house helps. Doon, ako lang mag-isa and I do everything, like my own marketing, budget, cleaning my own and the laundry.Na-memorize ko na how to use the washing machine and how much ang kaya kong buhating mga damit. Wala akong kotse dun. I just commute and take the train. I also got terribly homesick. Na-miss ko yung mga halakhakan dito. Palatawa kasi ang mga Pinoy. Nasa culturenating masayahin tayo. My luxury there is being with Pinoys who live there and invite me to have dinner with them. I learned to explore. I just take the train to visit other foreign countries in Europe, like England, my most memorable kasi its my first trip outside France."

Whats her plan now that shes back in Manila? Will she go back to theater after doing "Beauty and the Beast" or will she act on TV or the movies? "Theater is one of the things that ground me. I like its culture and work ethics so Id like to try it again. As for acting, maraming surprises now that Im here. Abangan nyo na lang."

Its good she can still speak Tagalog fluently. "I feel sad that ang ibang Pinoy, ikinahihiya ang Tagalog. But its so valuable to be bilingual as it works to our advantage and helps us learn other languages more easily. Ako, kapag nakakalimutan ko na ang Tagalog, I watch Tagalog shows on the internet."

Like rumored BF Lino Cayetano, shes mum about her love life. Asked if theres any Frenchman who makes her heart sing, she says: "There have been several Frenchmen, but none at the present. My heart sings naman all the time."
So is her heart happy now? "Opo," is her curt reply.

Executive producer Chit Guerrero and writer Cris Violago stayed with KC in Paris for eight days to tape the TV special, which also serves as a travelogue as it takes us to the best spots in the city with KC as our tour guide. To drum it up, she has a letter to the press and it says partly: "Paris is a wonderful city that has taught me a lot. It has also made me love my roots more. Lalong-lalong na ang pagiging Pinoy ko more. Kahit nasa ibang bansa ako, masasabi ko na most of my values are truly Filipino. I hope you enjoy what I have to offer as I give 200% of my energy and love for this TV special."

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After "Lupin," an action series, Polo Ravales is glad to be in the romantic drama, "Pasan Ko ang Daigdig." He reprises the role originally played by Rey Abellana, Tony, in the film version that starred Sharon Cuneta. Tony is the composer who helps Lupe (now played by Yasmien Kurdi) to launch her career as a singer. In "Lupin", he was with ex-GF Ara Mina. Here in "Pasan," another ex-GF co-stars with him, Alessandra de Rossi. Polo has no problem with Alex as they have remained friends, unlike with Ara who remains distant from him.

The other Sunday, it was Polo who was on the hot seat of "Showbiz Central" and he chose not to answer the killer question that was posed to him. He resealed his envelope. So whats the killer question? We heard it wants to know who among his ex-GFs, Ara, Alex and Sunshine Dizon, did he love the most. We cant blame him if he dodged the question. Hes too much of a gentleman in not wanting to hurt the feelings of anyone.

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When Angelica Jones was put on the lie detector test in "Showbiz Central," she was asked if she caused the breakup of Onemig Bondoc and his non-showbiz girlfriend. It was Sheree, Onemigs ex-GF, who told us then that hes about to marry this girlfriend as shes already on the family way. It turns out the wedding did not take place, but the girl, of Filipino-French descent, did give birth to a baby girl who is now three months old. Onemig met her in Europe when he went there a couple of years ago. They now live here in Capitol Hills, Q.C. They plan to get married eventually. Onemig is now the one whos managing their family businesses after he retired from showbiz.

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Richard Gutierrez is glad to be involved with a fund-raising affair for charity like "Rampa for a Cause" while hes waiting for the start of the taping of his new TV show, "Kamandag," and his new movie, "Dagaw." "Inaayos pa kasi ang schedule ko as Dagaw will shoot on location for ten days sa Camarines Norte and Id also have to be taping na for Kamandag by that time," he says.

Hes excited to be directed by Chito Rono for the first time. "Were not doing a horror film like earlier reported dahil wala namang multo sa movie namin. What were doing is a suspense thriller that will drive viewers to the edge of their seats while watching it."

How does he feel about the prospect of "Kamandag," where hes paired with Maxene Magalona and Jewel Mische, being pitted directly against Angel Locsins show at ABS-CBN, "La Loba Blanca?" "Well, Im looking forward to it kung totoo ngang gagawin nga nila yun. I think if ever pagtatapatin kami, it will help both networks dahil exciting na nasa kabila siya at nandito ako sa dami naming istasyon. We used to be partners, now well be rivals, so masaya yun para sa akin. Its a new challenge, not only for me, but also for her. So, in effect, ang mangyayari, pagandahan na lang kami ng show and may the best show win. Basta ako, I will make sure I will give my best para mas mapaganda ang Kamandag."

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Originally titled "War," the first movie team up of Jet Li and Jason Statham is now released here as "Rogue Assassin," and its Li who plays the title role as he is called Rogue in the movie. Hollywood really has to come up with new action stars now that Arnie and Sly are over the hill, while lesser action stars like Jean Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal have also faded away. Even newer ones like Vin Diesel and The Rock also have a hard time sustaining their hold at the box office. In "Rogue Assassin," Li is Rogue, a skilled assassin known who works for both the Japanese yakuza and the Chinese triad. Statham is Crawford, an FBI agent in charge of Asian organized crime operations of both the Triad and the Yakuza in San Francisco. Crawford suspects that Rogue has killed his partner (Terry Chen) three years ago and considers him a mortal enemy.

Crawford does not care if the Chinese gang, led by Chang (John Lone of "Last Emperor"), and the Yakuza, led by Shiro (Ryo Ishibashi) and his daughter Kira (the anime-looking Devon Aoki), will all kill each other. His primary concern is to take revenge on Rogue, a hitman who uses different kinds of weapons, from a high-powered rifle to a Doberman with bombs, to get rid of his victims. Of course, theres an ingenious twist near the end that will surprise both Rogue and Crawford.

The movie has all the usual ingredients action lovers go for, including sequences involving swordplay, gun fights, good chase sequences, well executed hand-to-hand martial arts fight scenes, a high body count, plus plenty of blood and explosions. Now, who excels between Li and Statham? Li is the epitome of a supe rcool bad ass whos very methodical and kills without compunction that, against him, Statham looks quite tame even if he no doubt has the more dynamic screen presence. Lis fight scenes are the real thing and we can say Statham is pretty much relegated to playing support to him. If youre a diehard action fan, you shouldnt miss this one.

Source: Malaya