Hayden-Katrina’s one-night stand on video?

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

IT seems some quarters are really bent on discrediting Marian Rivera in the eyes of the public. Ernie Pecho called her "plastikada" (she allegedly said he’s an "istorbo" when he asked her to sign her poster) in the "Desperadas 2" presscon where she cried because of Karylle’s allegedly enigmatic smile.

Then another writer said she saw Marian doing up a thumbs-up sign to someone as she left the presscon, as if saying "Ok ba ang actingko kanina?" Another one said he heard Marian telling Mother Lily Monteverde as she was leaving: "O, ayan, Mother, pag-uusapan ng pelikula mo." All this, they say, confirms that Marian is maldita andpalengkera, compared to Karylle who is someone with good breeding.

We’re not close to Marian or to Karylle, but if you’d make an objective assessment of what’s happening between them, no doubt that career-wise, Karylle is the one who benefited the most from the controversy surrounding her breakup with Dingdong. (In the same manner that Marian benefited when Angel Locsin chose to move to ABS.) ABS-CBN signed Karylle up, she has a new album with EMI and she’s now also a Bench endorser.

Now, will all the negative stories about her pull Marian down? Her two movies in the filmfest, "Desperadas 2" and "Shake, Rattle & Roll X," will not be a good gauge since she is just one of a big cast. It’s her next TV series that will be a big test for her, "Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang." If it’s a big hit as "MariMar" and "Dyesebel," then it means that she’s intrigue-proof, just like Piolo Pascual who remains to be a big star in spite of all the damaging insinuations casting doubts on his sexual inclinations.

There have been other stars before who got similar negative impressions from the press, but just the same, they never dimmed. In the ‘50s, the late Nida Blanca was even denounced by reporters for punching someone in public. In the ‘60s, Amalia Fuentes became known for being mataray and outspoken. In the ‘70s, Nora Aunor had all sorts of negative stories circulating about her. In the ‘80s, Maricel Soriano became known for being "Ms. Taray" who didn’t hesitate giving reporters a piece of her mind. Despite all the bad press, their luster never diminished.

If Marian’s "Babaeng Hinugot" will be another top-rater, then there’s no doubt the viewing public doesn’t really care what the press writes about her. As for Karylle, we don’t think ABS-CBN really believes she’s lead-star material since, for her first big project with them, "Maruja," she just plays support to another star of theirs whose glimmer has somewhat dimmed, Kristine Hermosa. If ABS thought that all the good publicity being written about her lately would really boost her stock as an A-lister, then she would be have been cast in a lead role no less.

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As for Dingdong Dantes, he made the right decision when he chose not to comment at all about the current tiff between the two women linked to him, Karylle and Marian. "Whatever I’d say might just be misinterpreted," he says. "So it’s better to be silent. First of all, I didn’t get to see that interview with Karylle so I don’t know anything about her smile. The last time I saw her was in Las Vegas pa. Pati nga ako nadadamay sa buntis issue, which is unfair dahil hindi talaga totoo."

What about Marian who’s paired with him anew in their next series? What advice would he give her? "I’d just tell her to merely stick to the truth kasi lalabas din naman kung ano ang totoo. I won’t be surprised nga kung lumala pa ang mga intrigang ito. It’s better to just focus on my work. I’m back to working out diligently to prepare for my role in ‘Babaeng Hinugot.’ May pagka-action kasi ito kaya kailangang fit na fit ako to do the stunts and action scenes they’ll require me to do."

Incidentally, "Babaeng Hinugot" had a teaser trailer shown at the premiere night of "Desperadas 2," along with three other GMA-7 offerings for their Telebabad block in 2009: "Zorro" with Richard Gutierrez, "All About Eve" with Sunshine Dizon, Iza Calzado, Richard Gomez, Jean Garcia and Eula Valdez; and "Totoy Bato" with Robin Padilla and Regine Velasquez. Take note that two of these, "Babae" and ‘Totoy" are remakes of Carlo J. Caparas’ komiks novels that have already been filmed before.

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Playing the role of provinciana Feliza Reyes in "Baler" truly excited Anne Curtis. "Usually kasi, I play the role of a balikbayan from abroad and I speak a lot of lines in English, just like in ‘When Love Begins’ earlier this year with Aga Muhlach," she says. "But here in ‘Baler,’ I play a true Filipina and purong Tagalog ang salita ko. I look at it as a forward move in my career and I’m really honored that Viva entrusted me with this project as it’s really my most challenging role so far. Si Jericho Rosales dito as my leading ang siyang half-Spanish and half-Indio who’s a member of the 57-man Rifle Battalion of the Spanish forces who got trapped inside the church in Baler as the last Spanish contingent who heroically defended Baler against Filipino rebels for 337 long and grueling days."

Their love story here is a la-Romeo and Juliet. "Forbidden love talaga kasi I am the daughter of a rebel leader, Phillip Salvador, while Jericho’s working with Spaniards. Pero ipinaglaban pa rin naman ang aming pag-iibigan and we’re ready to die for each other magkita lang kami. Even if this is about the war against the Spaniards, ‘Baler’ is still basically a love story."

Jericho has nothing but praises for Anne. "She’s a top caliber actress who displays a fine sensitivity in front of the camera. Very professional pa, laging punctual sa set, at preparado na with her lines. I had a nice time working with her."

Although they’re currently both single, they pooh-pooh any allegation that they’re now attracted to each other. "We’re both more work-oriented kaya kahit i-link kami to help the movie, I don’t think the people will believe it," says Anne.

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As they say, the plot thickens. Friends of Dr. Vicki Belo are said to have been the ones who were able to gather some evidence against her boyfriend Hayden Kho while rolling in the hay with Katrina Halili. It’s said that a sex video no less of Hayden with Katrina was presented to Dr. Vicki so Hayden can no longer deny the rumor that something fishy really happened between them.

To verify this, we tried to get in touch with Katrina through the people behind her filmfest entry, "One Night Only," but all they’d say is that Katrina denies everything and she refuses to be interviewed about it. What aggravates the problem, so we heard, is that Katrina’s current squeeze, Kris Lawrence, is said to have already asked her about it. Katrina previously sounded like she’s already in love with Kris as he shows her so much respect. But with this turn of events, will Kris remain as devoted to her as before?

Some folks, though, say that this might just be a gimmick to help promote not only the Belo Medical Group but also Katrina’s movie, "One Night Only," since it’s said that what transpired between Katrina and Hayden is "one night only."

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Nina Jose did quite well in the first movies she did with Regal, "Shake Rattle & Roll X" and "Desperadas 2." She has a more noticeable role in "Shake" as the first victim of the murderous nun played by Jean Garcia. She was punished, tortured and had a violent death. Later on, she appears again towards the end as a ghost. How was it acting with Jean?

"I just love her," she says. "We have the same manager, si Direk Manny Valera, and she was so considerate and helped me in our scenes together. I also love her daughter, Jennica. Kahit Kapuso sila at Kapamilya ako, nagkasundo kami."

In "Desperadas 2," Iza Calzado suspects Nina of having an affair with her doctor husband TJ Trinidad. In fairness to Nina, she was able to hold her own in that scene where there are four characters, including her, who have to talk simultaneously and explain to Iza why she shouldn’t get jealous. How was it acting with Iza and TJ?

"Pareho silang mabait. Stars like them are ideal to work with for newcomers like me kasi hindi sila maramot kapag kaeksena mo sila. They’re willing to give you a chance to shine. Si Ate Iza, napakabait, kahit tinusok-tusok niya ko ng knife sa leeg in one scene. Kuwentuhan kami sa set at binigyan pa niya ko ng baon niyangsalad. As for Kuya TJ, we’ve already worked together sa ABS kaya comfortable na ko sa kanya."

How about her directors, Joel Lamangan of "Desperadas" and Topel Lee of "Shake"?

"Kay Direk Joel, honestly, kabado ako noong una but he’s helpful. I took it as a learning experience working with him. As for Direk Topel, very cool siya sa set, hindi naha-high blood, pero magaling. Nahirapan ako ng husto sa episode namin dahil nilagyan ako ng prosthetic make up at naligo ako sa dugo, pero okay lang. Maganda naman lumabas ang episode naming ‘Class Picture.’"

How come the fans of the Kim Chiu-Gerald Anderson love team continue to say nasty things about her?

"I heard so many hurtful things said about me pero hindi na lang ako kumikibo."

They say she’s seducing Gerald.

"Ay, hindi po ako ganung klase ng babae. I’m not leading him on like what they accuse me of. You can even ask him kung ginagawa ko ‘yun sa kanya."

We heard Kim is cold to her and she even mentioned in "The Buzz" that she’s really jealous of her.

"Nagulat nga ako when I heard her say that on air. Kaya pala cold siya sa akin. Kasi when we were still in ‘PBB Teens,’ she wasn’t like that to me. Ngayon, kung hindi ko siya babatiin, hindi niya ako babatiin. But she’s not like that to our other co-stars. But I want to assure friends lang kami talaga ni Gerald. Pwera na lang kung liligawan nga niya ko, then, may chance siya."

At PBB then, wasn’t she wooed by housemates Fred Payawan and Bam Sta. Romana who even addressed her then as Goddess?

"Yes, pero ayoko talaga mag-boyfriend kasi I want to focus on my career. Sabi nga nila, malamig daw ang Pasko ko. But it’s not, with my family and friends around me."

It’s said she’s a threat to Cristine Reyes at ABS-CBN since they’re both willing to go sexy.

"I love Cristine. Mabait siya. Kung magkakaroon man ng rivalry between us, I want us to be friends pa rin."

Since she’s under contract with Regal, someone suggested she should do the remake of the hit Rio Locsin 1979 launching movie, "Disgrasyada." "I’m willing to go sexy talaga, basta may ipapakitang acting. Ayoko nung sexy lang pero walang kuwenta."

She says she doesn’t know yet what her next assignment with ABS-CBN would be after "My Only Hope." But we heard she’ll be in the cast of a new sexy-action series called "Bandidas."

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Kudos to writer Roy Iglesias and Director Joel Lamangan as they succeeded in making "Desperadas 2" better and truly funnier than the first one. To begin with, the characters are more involving in the sequel that starts with a well edited prologue giving brief flashbacks of what happened to the four half-sisters (Ruffa Gutierrez, Rufa Mae Quinto, Iza Calzado and Marian Rivera) in the original.

Now, Ruffa as Isabelle is no longer much of a spoiled brat, in better terms with her sisters, and is now living in with her boyfriend, Jay R. Rufa Mae as Patricia, the sexologist, has separated for good from her gay husband, Wendell Ramos, who now wants to have a sex change operation. She also finds new romance in a super rich congressman, Christian Vasquez.

The previously childless Iza as Stephanie is now finally a mother but suffers from an acute case of post-partum blues that makes her suspect that her husband, doctor TJ Trinidad, is having an affair with his nurse, Nina Jose. Marian as Courtney is now married to her boyfriend, Will Devaughn, but she becomes even busier as a designer that she neglects her wifely duties, prompting Will to leave her alone so she can have more space for herself.

The problems of each of the sisters are compounded by the arrival of a new half-sister, Lugaluda Lugalu (Ogie Alcasid in a female role), daughter of their mom (Nova Villa) with the king of a small island called Kuelani. The sisters first treat Lugaluda with condescension but she does each of them a good turn that makes them eventually embrace her wholeheartedly as a real sister.

Ogie as a woman has the most colorful role here in the sequel. She arrives during a private gathering fully garbed in their nation’s costume and doing a rib-tickling ethnic dance. It’s a hilarious scene-stealing role indeed for Ogie and he does it quite effortlessly, going into town with an all-stops-pulled kind of performance.

In fairness to his four sisters, they each have their own highlights. Ruffa has really evolved to be a fine comedienne and her scenes with her precociously perceptive daughter, played to the hilt by Sophia Baars, are all funny. Rufa Mae makes the most of her breakdown scene when she discovers that her lover is a jueteng protector who’s using her in his illegal activities.

Iza is laugh-out-loud hilarious in the scene where she suspects TJ and Nina are making love but discovers that it’s only her randy yaya who’s having a tryst with her "bagets" boylet. She later confronts TJ and Nina on the stairway, showing them she’s been training as a martial arts fighter. Marian, in turn, sees action with her stalker (Alex Cortez) who tries to kidnap her.

Among the guys, it’s Wendell Ramos who shines as Rufa Mae’s gay husband who cross-dresses in the final scene and finds a new boyfriend in "Starstruck" discovery Paolo Avelino. It’s not only the actresses who serve as eye candy by also Jay-R and Will Devaughn who have their own disrobing scenes, particularly when they go to Wendell’s spa to take a dip in the jacuzzi without knowing he’s gay.

Director Lamangan deserves a pat on the back for guiding all his actors well and for his well-chosen locations. Definitely, "Desperadas 2" is an improvement over the first one.

Source: Malaya

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