Iwa Moto ensnares Valentina role from Katrina

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

Rufa Mae Quinto is elated to be part of a regular series again, "Darna." She plays the role of Francesca, the "kikay" secretary of Raymart Santiago, a magazine publisher who wants to discover the real identity of Darna. How does she feel that she’s just supporting Marian Rivera who plays the title role?

"Walang problema sa’kin yun," she says. "Marian is a dear friend dahil dalawang beses na kaming nagkasama sa ‘Desperadas’ movies at sinuportahan ko rin naman siya noon sa ‘Dyesebel.’ Happy nga akong I’m acting again kasi most of my work now, hosting lang, like in ‘SOP’ and ‘Showbiz Central.’ Puede na ko tumanggap uli ng soap kasi tapos na yung shows ko abroad."

Does she still give the cold shoulder treatment to DJ Mo in "Showbiz Central" after their conflict then because of the Hayden Kho scandal? "Hindi kami magkaaway, pero hindi pa rin kami nagbabatian kundi rin lang sa harap ngcamera. But I appreciate it na he makes an effort na mag-hellosa akin and he assists me when I get off the stage. Only time will tellkung mababalik kami sa dati naming friendship. Ayoko rin kasi ng may kaaway, but ayoko rin magpaka-plastic kundi ko pa feel siyang batiin. Scared pa ako and if ever, siguro, I’d be more careful."

Jessa Zaragoza, the wife of her ex, Dingdong Avanzado, with whom she had a word war, is now also a Kapuso as part of "Rosalinda." Jessa has declared she’s willing to patch things up with her. "Ako rin naman. Matagal na yun so dapat mag-move on na ang lahat. Whatever happened,pinatawad ko na, basta huwag na lang maulit. Kasi nagkabati-bati na kami noon, tapos naulit na naman. So ngayon, parang dedma na lang siguro.Basta ayoko na ng negative vibes sa buhay ko. Kaya nga, kapag wala akong trabaho, I just prefer to stay home at mag-computer."

But it’s said she has a new non-showbiz boyfriend who gave her a house in California. Is it a politician?

"Hoy, kung may bahay man ako sa States, pundar ko yun sa paghihirap ko. Kaya nga panay ang tanggap ko ng shows doon, kasi gusto kong may natutuluyan ako when I’m there. Tungkol sa sinasabing boyfriend ko, ayoko na magkuwento. Kasi when I open up, laging nauuwi sa breakup. So seseryosohin ko muna’t sasarilinin ang isang ito. Tahimik na lang kami para hindi magulo."

***

Erik Santos is said to have a new girlfriend, a Fil-Am whom he met when he did a concert in Alaska. So is he now in a long-distance relationship?

"Magkaibigan lang kami," he says. "Nagulat nga ako nang mabasa kong siya raw ang dahilan ng breakup namin with Rufa Mae Quinto when she came after Peachy na. Although we seldom see each other, we always communicate. Pero walang commitment. Mahirap kasi aside from my career, I’m also in school. Gusto kong maka-graduate this March sa BS psychology course ko sa Centro Escolar University. I really want to have a college degree."

His new album, "Erik Santos: The Jim Brickman Songbook," is a wonderful collection of the tunes written by the noted songwriter. "I’m really a Jim Brickman fan. Since high school, when we have presentations, I’d sing his songs and I never imagined I’d be given the chance to collaborate with him someday. Kaya nga when Star Records told me I’d be singing his songs, talagang wala akong paglagyan ng tuwa ko. I was so excited when I met him in person and I started recording our songs. We chose kung anong mga kanta niya ang isasama sa album and the ones we selected are ‘By Heart,’ ‘If I Just Believed,’ ‘The Gift,’ ‘Valentine,’ ‘My Love Is Here,’ ‘Destiny,’ ‘It’a a Sin to Break a Heart,’ ‘Love of My Life,’ ‘Your Love’ and ‘Where’s the Good in Goodbye?’"

Which song will he dedicate to the Fil-Am girl?

"I think it should be ‘Destiny.’ Magandang-maganda talaga ‘yung song and it can refer to us. Kung ‘Destiny’ talaga namin, kahit we’re worlds apart, siguro magiging kami."

Did he really tell Rufa Mae to just buy her own copy of his album?

"Biro lang ‘yun. And she knows that."

His album will have an Asian release this weekend in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Hongkong. "Excited na ako to go to these places to promote my album. Mr. Brickman is also coming here so we can do a concert together."

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Mother Lily Monteverde was supposed to host a birthday party for Marian Rivera last Saturday night but she decided to postpone it as Marian is already so much in the limelight these days. Marian just had a grand presscon for "Darna" and will have another one for her comedy show with Manny Pacquiao. "SaAugust 29 pa naman ang playdate ng movie niya with Regal na ‘Tarot,’ so sa August 20 na lang yung party kofor her," says the Regal producer.

And since it’s also her birthday, then that means they will have a twin birthday party. "Yes, para sabay kami. After that, may premiere night ang ‘Tarot’ on August 24, so sunod-sunod ang eventsnamin until its opening date. By that, established na sa air ang dalawang new TV shows niya, so she can concentrate sa promotion ng ‘Tarot’ which is the scariest horror movie I’ve seen so far.Wa etching."

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Iwa Moto as Valentina seems totally at ease with the live snakes on her head when she attended the "Darna" launch.

"May alaga po talaga akong cobra sa bahay kaya sanay na ako sa ahas," she says. "I even kiss it."

One writer joked that she might be referring to the "cobra" of her boyfriend. "No, a real live snake. You can come and visit me at home para makita n’yo."

Why is so jubilant playing Valentina?

"I’ve played other villain roles before but si Valentina, ibang level siya. Bata pa ko, napanood ko na ang ‘Darna’ movies. Idol ko si Darna but si Valentina, mas nakakaintriga, di ba? Ibang klase siya. Ngayon, ako na si Valentina, so feeling ko, wow, bongga, ang ganda! Even as a child, fascinated na ako sa snakes. Maski sa zoo, I love watching snakes. Nagtataka nga yung friends ko sa’kin. Siguro dahil nakatakda pala talagang balang araw, ako ang gumanap na Valentina."

But she’s aware that it was Katrina Halili who was first considered to play it?

"Yes, pero hindi ko po inahas ang role sa kanya, ha. Siya ang may ayaw, and please, don’t compare us na lang. Malayo na ang narating niya at friends kami, kaya huwag na kami intrigahin. Doon ako sa machines niya sa bahay niya nagwo-workout para ma-maintainkong payat ang katawan ko."

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Gelli de Belen announces that she has joined Boy Abunda’s Backroom’s league of talented artists. She grew up in the public’s eye from being a child and teenstar to being an award-winning actress for "The Secrets of Sarah Jane," effective product endorser and a fine TV host who is now seen every morning in GMA-7’s long-running talk show, "Sis," along with sister Janice and Carmina Villaroel. Happily married to Ariel Rivera, they have two sons, Joaquin Andres and Julio Alessandro. And why did Gelli choose to be managed by Backroom after her original manager, the late Douglas Quijano, passed away? Well, simply because Ariel has been managed by Backroom for the past 17 years. "I am looking forward to a great partnership with Backroom. Boy is practically family and I am happy to be under his wings now," Gelli says.

Gelli enjoys her role as Zoren Legaspi’s emotionally unstable wife in "All My Life" on GMA-7. She doesn’t know that her husband is already having an affair with her nurse, Jenny Miller, while her supposed daughter, Kris Bernal, is actually the daughter of Manilyn Reynes and Romnick Sarmenta.

For inquiries about Gelli de Belen, call Backroom at 4351108 and 4351120 or email at backroomtalents@pldtdsl.net,

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Viva Entertainment’s first cable channel Pinoy Box Office (PBO) is celebrating its sixth anniversary with big shows and features. Fans of top love teams will get to see their biggest hits in "Heart 2 Heart," Saturdays from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.: Judy Ann Santos and Wowie de Guzman in "Dito Sa Puso Ko" and "My Pledge of Love" on August 15; "TGIF" stars Bobby Andrews and Angelu de Leon in "Laging Naroon Ka" and "Wala Na Bang Pag-Ibig" on August 22; and your favorite teenybopper love teams featuring Dingdong Dantes and Antoinette Taus, Polo Ravales and Sunshine Dizon, and Dino Guevarra and Kim delos Santos in "Honey, My Love, So Sweet" and "Kiss Mo Ko" on August 29.

In "Directors Rule," the country’s top filmmakers show off their masterpieces, Sunday, 3:30-9:30 p.m.: Augusto Salvador follows with "Parak: The Bobby Barbers Story," "Alas Dose" and "Eseng ng Tondo" on August 9; Emmanuel Borlaza with "Kahit Wala Ka Na," "Paano Tatakasan Ang Bukas" and "Bituing Walang Ningning" on August 16; Ben Feleo with comedies "Pinagbiyak Na Bunga," "Titser’s Enemy No. 1" and "Ang Boyfriend Kong Gamol" on August 23; and, Eddie Rodriguez with "Bad Boy," "Bakit Iisa ang Puso" and "Maging Sino Ka Man" on August 30. The celebration doesn’t end here as PBO premieres two exciting specials: "Quicktrip" (an indie film about two gay men and the sacrifices they make to earn a living. It airs on August 14 at 9:30 p.m.) and "Back2Back2Back: All Hits Live," the hit concert of Side A, Freestyle and MYMP as they perform all their greatest hits on August 28 at 9:30 p.m.

To liven up the party, PBO will also be having its "Anniversa-Treat" watch and win promo. Get a chance to win hot premium items and other surprises. Don’t miss out on the fun! Hook up to PBO to enjoy all these anniversary treats by calling your local cable operator now! PBO can be seen on Cignal Digital TV Channel 38, Destiny Cable Channel 37, Cable Link Channel 38, and on all major cable systems nationwide. To get the latest PBO programming schedule, visitwww.viva.com.ph.

Source: Malaya

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