Iya returns to first love

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

Iya Villania left Blacktown in Sydney, Australia where she grew up to pursue a singing career here in Manila. But something happened along the way. She got into acting, TV hosting, doing endorsements. She started with GMA-7 but moved to be a Kapamilya. Now, six years since she came to Manila, she finally got back to her first love, singing, with the release of her debut album, aptly titled “Finally”.

“I was just 16 when I came here after my manager, Arnold Vegafria, saw me perform as front act for Geneva Cruz in Sydney,” she says. “I signed up with Viva Records and I’d record only one song a year kaya mabagal talaga. Finally, this year, they told me to focus on the album at natapos ko rin, with Arnold helping me choose some of the songs in it. I was in high school when I got here and I finished it in Colegio San Agustin. Now, I’m a graduating psychology major sa La Salle, cum laude. ”

While she’s here, she found love in TV host Drew Arellano and they’ve been on for four years. What’s Drew’s reaction to the album? “He’s not a very musical person but I let him listen to my songs. Okay naman daw. ”

Which of the songs in her album will she dedicate to him? “‘Always’ and ‘All Over Me’. ”

One of the songs in her album is “My First Broken Heart”. Is it also for Drew? “No. It’s a puppy love I had for a Spanish guy when I was in grade school. It lasted for about a week. ”

What makes Drew endearing to her? “We’re both close to our respective families and to each other’s families. Drew’s mom is here in my album launch with my own mom and I also showed my album to his dad, Atty. Aga. ”

Her co-host in “Us Girls”, Cheska Garcia, just got married to cager Doug Kramer. Doesn’t she somehow feel envious? “Nakakai-inggit din. Cheska is such a happy bride and it’s nice that they now go home to each other, no need anymore to make or find time to be with one another. But Drew and I are not ready to settle down yet. I’m only 22 and he’s 28. We have to take our time muna as there are a lot of other things that need to be done. ”

Does she compose songs? “I do, but I never get to finish them. Walang ending. ”

What kind of album did she do? “They say it’s guitar driven pop but it’s really fusion of R&B, ballad, pop rock, wala lang dance track. The other songs in my album are ‘Spell’s Broken’, ‘Morning After’, ‘Definitely Lonely’, ‘Do You Think We’ll be All Right?’, ‘It Takes a Man and a Woman’, ‘I Never Cry’, ‘Poison’ and ‘With Me Tonight’, all done as labor of love. ”

Watch Iya do free shows to promote her album on November 9 at SM Southmall, November 22 at SM Manila and SM Marikina on November 29.

NOT ONE BACKS OUT

Ryan Agoncillo didn’t have a TV show for so long. Now, he’s back on ABS-CBN with a vengeance with not just one but two shows, the afternoon drama series “Pieta” that started last Monday and the primetime reality show “Pinoy Fear Factor” that starts on November 10, both daily shows. Add to that his “Talentadong Pinoy” on ABC-5 and he’s got three regular shows all in all.

He’s very excited with “Pinoy Fear Factor” that they shot on location in Argentina for 38 days. He’ll be guiding 12 good-looking contestants in their tough journey involving physical strength and mental determination as they hurdle a series of challenges held ala-Hollywood involving big stunts. “It’s a combination of heart-pumping action and heart-warming real life drama,” says Ryan. “The 12 participants all stay inside a boot camp, El Campo Miedo, and compete with each other fiercely in front of the camera. One factor they had to fight off is the extremely cold weather since it’s winter in Argentina when we shot it and the temperature drops to as low as one degree celsius. Local viewers will be proud of our participants as they’re so brave that some actually broke ‘Fear Factor’s’ existing records. Hindi talaga biro ang pinasok nila, pero fighter talaga ang Pinoy kasi walang kahit sinong umatras. ”

The last one standing will be called El Ultimo Participante and win P2 million cash plus house and lot from Avida of Ayala Land. The show premieres November 10, after “Betty La Fea”. The first five contestants are: LJ Moreno, 27 years old, an actress-pre-school teacher. She has been seen on TV and the movies but she opted to finish college and went into teaching.

Phoemela Baranda - 27. “The Buzz” and “Star Patrol” host who started as a fashion model.

Ram Sagad - 23. This former NCAA basketball player won in a body beautiful contest sponsored by Century Tuna. He’s a well built hunk who stands 6 feet tall.

Jamie Ann “Janna” Dominguez - 18. She’s from a poor family in Dagat-Dagatan, Malabon. Her mom abandoned them to work in Japan while her dad remarried and also went to Japan as a construction worker.

Marion Angelo de la Cruz - 21. A hunky soccer player and student, he grew up in Vienna, Austria. His dad is a driver in an embassy while his mom works as a cleaning lady. Although he grew up abroad, he speaks Tagalog well and prefers Pinays over liberated Austrians.

NOT DUMB TO WIN

IT’S Halloween, the night when ghouls and goblins roam and Kris Aquino dons a special Cinderella costume by Pepsi Herrera for tonight’s Halloween episode of “Kapamilya Deal Or No Deal”. Her 26K Girls are also dressed up in various spooky and colorful costumes like white lady, black witch, catwoman, Volta, and other familiar figures while they do their dance routines carrying their trademark briefcases.

The guest celebrity player is the alluring RR Enriquez of “Banana Split” who’s determined she’s not dumb like what most people think and she’ll do her best to win a huge cash prize, the P2 million jackpot no less, if possible. RR comes to set dressed in a revealing Wonder Woman costume.

“Sayang naman ang pagka-Wonder Woman kung hindi ako mananalo ng malaking premyo,” she says.

Find out if she’d be lucky on Halloween night and if she did win a big windfall or went home empty handed tonight at 6 p. m. on “KDOND” on ABS.

SAD, SAD YEAR

THIS year has so far been a sad one for showbiz people as so many of its denizens passed away or saw their loved ones going to the great beyond.

Among those who said goodbye were action star Rudy Fernandez, comedian Zorayda Sanchez, Directors Felix Dalay, Gilbert Perez, Abbo de la Cruz, Cirio Santiago and Khryss Adalia, writer Billy Balbastro, talent manager Angie Magbanua, radio icon Tiya Dely Magpayo, actress Joy Soler de Castro, and the mothers of Edu Manzano, writers Ethel Ramos and Ces Evangelista, vice mayor Herbert Bautista, producer June Torrejon, the fathers of Gabby Concepcion and writer Roldan Castro, the sister of writer Nitz Miralles, and the brother of writer Rowena Agilada.

From our own family, our mother in law, Lourdes Maceda Arcega, passed away on January 1, followed by my dear beloved wife who had brain hemorrhage on January 31 in UP Los Banos, went into coma, and passed away on February 3. Let’s all pray for the repose of their souls as we experience another All Saints’ Day.

EMPOWERING THE FILIPINO

ABS-CBN NEWS and Current Affairs empowers the Filipino people through citizen journalism with the launch of “Bayan Mo, i-Patrol Mo” following the success of its “Boto Mo, i-Patrol Mo” elections advocacy campaign in 2007.

This now covers a wider array of concerns, allowing the public to send reports on corruption, anomaly, crime, tragedy, etc. , using only the internet or their mobile phones. “We welcome any reports from anything under the sun that needs to be addressed. Just like before, we will validate first any tip or information we will get before pursuing the story and airing it on television,” said ABS-CBN head of News Gathering Charie Villa. Chosen stories will be featured through the network’s multi-platforms television via segments “TV Patrol World">TV Patrol World,” “Bandila,” and “Umagang Kay Ganda,” cable via ANC, radio via DZMM, and internet via www. ABS-CBNnews. com. To send in your reports, just text IREPORT <name, address, message> and send it to 2366 or you can also email it to ireport@ABS-CBN. com. ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs first thought of empowering the people through new media in the election campaign “Boto Mo, iPatrol Mo” in 2007 where the public patrolled their votes and sent in reports on election fraud, anomalies, and violence. This landmark campaign already garnered recognitions from various award giving bodies that include the Philippine Gold Quill Award of Excellence, Anvil Award of Merit, Honorable Mention in the Asia-Pacific PR Awards and the sole Philippine entry to have won the coveted International Quill Award of Excellence given by the International Association of Business Communicators.
STAR MAGIC’S OCTOBER CELEBRANTS

STAR MAGIC’S Rikka Dylim hosted lunch for their October celebrants, led by top child actor Nash Aguas who feels sad he’s not included in Regal’s “Shake Rattle & Roll” entry this year in the Metro filmfest. “Two years po akong kasama doon,” he says. “First was in the “Yaya” episode of Shake 8 then in Christmas Tree episode of “Shake 9” kung saan nanalo po akong Best Child Actor sa filmfest awards night. Baka hindi kailangan ng bata sa new “Shake” movie. Pero okay lang kasi may entry pa rin ako sa ‘Dayo’, a full length animated na ako ang nag-dub ng lahat ng lines ng batang bida, si Buboy. ”

A winner of Star Circle Quest for Kids, Nash has been part of hit shows like ‘Gulong ng Palad’, ‘Calla Lily’, ‘Lobo’, ‘Goin Bulilit’, and ‘Flor de Luna’. He turned 10 on October 10 and celebrated it as the special episode of “Boy and Kris” that day. Nash will be part of a new show, “Batunting”, to air next year directed by Wenn Deramas.

Matt Evans turned 20 on Oct. 22. He gained fame as the lovable and funny Fil-Am in “PBB Teen Edition 1” and gained stardom in “Pedro Penduko” which ran for several seasons. He was also in “Princess Sarah”, “Your Song”, and now, “Iisa Pa Lamang” where he plays Gabby Concepcion’s brother and is paired with Melissa Ricks. He’s also in “ASAP” as a member of Dynamite Dance Crew.

RR Enriquez joined the White Castle Girl search but only landed as a runner-up. But she took the audition in “Wowowee” and became part of the noontime show as one of the sexy girls who hand out giveaways and prizes to contestants. She clicked with viewers in her projection as a dumb girl who speaks crooked English and became one of the hosts herself. She turned 22 on Oct. 19 and she got another break as a comedian in the gag show “Banana Split”.

Nina Dolino was discovered as a tadjock in “Wazzup Wazzup” where she was linked to Archie Alemania, much to the dismay of Mickey Ferriols who later found out the rumor wasn’t true. She later hosted “Break the Bank” and became a member of the sexy female group Koolchx. She is now a mainstay in “Pieta” as a girl in love with Ryan Agoncillo. The sexy morena turned 26 on Oct. 26.

Pica Lozano is a Star Circle 16 member who’s also a hair stylist like his dad. But, he stresses, they’re not gay. He’s very artistic and is into painting, sculpting, singing, dancing, and acting. He turned 19 on Oct. 21. He feels sad that he has yet to have a regular show after their launching. “Sa batch namin, only Kristel Moreno has a regular show on ABS as part of ‘Betty La Fea’,” he says. “Ako, hanggang guesting lang sa “ASAP. ” I’m giving myself until early next year and if nothing happens pa rin, I’ll just go back to school kasi nag-stop muna ko this year sa communication course ko in San Beda. ”

Source: People's Journal

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