Helen Gamboa enjoys being a ‘heavy’

Author: Isah V. Red
Column: Life & Entertainment

In the ’50s, “heavy” in Hollywood parlance meant a woman that gives the leading lady a difficult time.

It came to pass that Hollywood “heavies” had become extinct, like the dinosaurs. Yet, in Philippine entertainment, the “heavy” is in resurgence, thanks to the nightly slew of soap operas on either the Kapamilya or Kapuso channels.

One star that is visibly enjoying being a “heavy” is the ’60s song-and-dance star Helen Gamboa. She is Elizabeth in the third highest rating series nationwide Tayong Dalawa, top-billed by the Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition discoveries Gerald Anderson and Kim Chiu.

Helen is so overwhelmed by the response she is getting from friends, fans of yore, and even those who are not familiar with her that she treated close friends in the media to dinner at Florabel’s at The Podium recently.

Former Senator Tito Sotto, Helen’s husband, was with her for a brief period giving wife a hand in entertaining her guests. But all eyes were on the Bang-Shang-A-Lang lady whose star is shining through in her portrayal of a scheming woman who will do anything for her emotionally unstable daughter, Ingrid (that’s the name of my one-and-a half Shih-Tzu that is as normal as any dog her age is), and which is played by singer-turned-heavy as well Agot Isidro. Elizabeth and Ingrid’s tandem is perhaps the most loathsome on primetime television these days.

“I am so grateful to Charo [Santos] for giving me this opportunity, and also to Deo Endrinal [who talked to her on the role] and everyone else in ABS-CBN who have faith in me as an actor,” Helen said.

Helen was reluctant at first to accept the role given the image that she has for years. When Endrinal and the battery of writers explained how her character will be a major factor in the development of the plot, that gave her enough reasons to give it a try.

“Now, Charo would tell me, ‘see, I told you’ when she’d read good words about me as Elizabeth and see how people would react to my role,” she said.

Helen is amazed at how her character affects many people. “I am anticipating people would throw tomatoes at me, but they tell me they love what I do in the show. People I don’t know and meet anywhere… church, mall or parties… they tell me that they love me as Elizabeth. Some even call me by the name of the character I play.”

The series has been extended for a couple more months and that means audiences will be seeing more of Helen in the show. There were rumors that her character will be killed off, but she said she knows nothing of the development of the series. “We get our scripts a day before the taping,” she said.

Okay, we’ll hang on to the show, Helen.

Bowing out today

Two series are bowing out today. In the afternoon, we will see the last episode of Paano Ba Ang Mangarap? We can now heave a sigh of relief that finally Lissa will be liberated from the stranglehold of the cruel and inhumane Valderramas (do these kind of people really exist?) and live a normal life with his son Junjun and husband Eric. Starstruck survivors Mark Herras and Jennylyn Mercado star in the series and prove that they can be the stars that the network expect them to be.

The story of Nicole (Iza Calzado) and Erika (Sunshine Dizon) comes to an end tonight in All About Eve.

The series started on the wrong foot and now the network did the right decision to end it quick because it’s not making waves, and neither ripples. The problem: too much tweaking many All About Eve fans no longer recognize the story.

Lesson learned: When adapting a Korean drama to Philippine television, just follow the given plotlines, so that fans can continue enjoying the series in a local setting, unless the material has never been shown on local TV, then writers can have a freehand in tweaking the story to their hearts’ delight. (The same happened with I Love Betty La Fea, which was miles away from the original, it flopped!)

We are very happy that it’s finally ending tonight, even if I never took a look at it after the first three nights and found the episodes very disappointing. Sorry, guys!

Top 5 shows nationally

Here are the top five shows in the country, figures supplied by TNS. All five shows are on the Kapamilya network. This was based on the overnight ratings last June 1.

1. ABS-CBN—May Bukas Pa, 37.9 percent

2. ABS-CBN—Only You, 36.1 percent

3. ABS-CBN—TV Patrol World">TV Patrol World, 32.8 percent

4. ABS-CBN—Tayong Dalawa, 32.7 percent

5. ABS-CBN—Boys Over Flowers, 27.2 percent

Naturally, GMA Network, which doesn’t subscribe to TNS, has a different ratings results, but focuses mainly on Mega Manila and Urban Luzon with figures supplied by AGB Nielsen.

Jazz Wednesdays at Merk’s

Jazz Nights at this June features Merk and Friends with world-class performers mounting a special show on all Wednesdays of June.

Merk and Friends led by Richard Merk sings with Jacqui Magno and Pat Castillo.

Richard, known as Prince of Jazz, is son of Annie Brazil, the Queen of Jazz, who is now US-based. Talented vocalist Jacqui Magno joins Merk and Friends on June 17 while Pat Castillo shares the stage on June 10 and 24.

Congressman Tieng on sex videos

Doctor and former TV personality Hayden Kho’s “sex videos” gained popularity that it landed on many of the major dailies’ front pages and paved the way again for the public to re-examine its stand on such “immoral” behaviors.

Even before the break of this controversy, party-list Rep. Irwin Tieng of Buhay has already foreseen that such acts will forever haunt the country if a bill will not be passed to protect the victims.

This is the reason Tieng, along with fellow lawmakers Carissa Cosculluela and Rene Velarde, authored House Bill 4315, which aims to penalize the mere act of recording or any attempt of recording private act or acts, including but not limited to sexual act, and other violations of the privacy of an individual which would cause public ridicule, without the consent of the parties.

The House bill not only punishes the participants but also the “owner” and the “sharer” of the materials.

The proposed punishment for this unlawful act is not less than six months or more than six years and a fine of P100,000 but not more than P500,000. If the offender is an alien, he shall be subject to deportation proceedings, after complying with the penalty of imprisonment and fine for such violation.

“We have to protect the dignity of the Filipino people,” says Tieng. “This is our duty as Filipinos.”

Tieng feels strongly for this bill because technology has helped perpetrators of this malicious acts to easily penetrate the public.

Black Magic

Jag moves another stride farther as it reinvents itself from being a basic jeans wear, to a classic premium denim line. “Black Magic,” Jag’s premium denim fashion show, is all set to leave a mark, solidifying its status in the industry as the number one denim brand.

Where can you best launch Jag’s latest collection but in the Philippine Fashion Week?

A stylized version of Jag’s SS collection and a preview of the FW 2009 were showcased in this fashion show, carrying the universal mystical theme of “Black Magic.” The show took audiences on an indulgence of the sexiness of denim and the magic it can do, with the different tiers of the brand—Antifit, Jag Classic, and its newest premium denim line, Jag Black.

The show featured two of the country’s stars: Marian Rivera, Jag’s newest and hottest muse, with chunk Will Devaughn.

The collection segments included Anti fit, which is known for its signature customized jeans. The complex constructions applied in denim is distinct in this particular collection; an immense devotion to craftsmanship that is definitely a must-see denim breakthrough.

For Jag, the stylized SS collection is launching a different approach to the denim lifestyle, adding the tribal techno-folk into its styling. Inspired by the new trend of a global drive to awareness, all the diverse elements from the aquatic universe, desert nomads, and other cross cultures, unpredictably paired with denim brought forth the gypsy vibe of this theme.

Lastly, Jag Black, the brand’s latest premium denim line, is featuring its high-end creations in a dandy manifesto look.

A mixture of elegance, modern artistic edge and some androgynous styling is the distinct character of this collection. All these rich influences merged to create the vital light distinct in this dark and mesmerizing exhibition.

The Back to School collection, this time with a sophisticated tailored feel, was the highlight of the show.

Apart from the impressive array of denim masterpieces, Rannie “The Boss” Raymundo, the first Filipino magician to lecture and perform in the biggest World Magic Convention in Las Vegas, had a special participation in the show. Special guests were Lloyd Zaragoza, Pinoy Fear Factor Participantes Jana Dominguez, Jose Saralosa, Manuel Chua, and Phoemela Barranda, basketball stars PJ Walsham, Rico Maierhofer and Cholo Villanueva.

BCI Asia Top 10 Architects for 3rd consecutive year

For the third year in a row, G&W Architects with chairman Architect Gilbert C. Yu, was again honored as one of BCI Asia’s Top 10 Architects in a ceremony held last March 26 at the Renaissance Hotel in Makati City.

An enormous feat by being included in this elite list, G&W has also won this highly sought-after recognition in 2007 and 2008.

BCI Asia—the prestigious award-giving body—is a well-renowned regional construction information center and industry interchange network. BCI Asia gathers and disseminates information, news and technology in the Asia-Pacific region’s booming construction industry. The BCI Asia Top 10—a much regarded honor in the industry—monitors numerous projects around the Asia-Pacific region and provides an overview of architects designing the greatest volume of buildings in seven regional markets in Asia. This annual competition brings out the who’s who in the industry and primarily aims to encourage the leading firms to strive for the creation of responsible and innovative architecture. From inception, the Top 10 Awards were among the most coveted prizes in architecture in Asia.

This year’s BCIA Asia Top 10 Architects victory marks the third consecutive year since G&W Architects started joining the yearly competition. This momentous victory is a proud testament to the continued commitment, dynamic professionalism and passion for innovative products that G&W prides itself as the leaders and trailblazers in the country’s architecture and construction industry.

Present to receive the prestigious award during the said event were the G&W team of Architect Daniel Terence Yu— chief executive architect; Architect Kenneth C. Uy—senior associate; Architect Richard Garcia—senior associate; Architect Marreen Yu—senior associate; Gibson Yu—business development and marketing head; and Architect Princeton Chua, project management head.

Source: Manila Standard Today

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