Iza torn between Karylle, Marian

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

Iza Calzado feels sad about what's happening to Marian Rivera and Karylle. "They're both my friends so ayoko ring magsalita at all about them," she says. "Kasama ko si Marian sa 'Desperadas 1 and 2' at naawa ako talaga nang makita ko siyang umiiyak. Si Karylle naman, naging good friend ko in 'Encantadia' kaya close kami. I even volunteered nga to give her moral support sa 'ASAP' when she was launched last Sunday, kaya lang hindi ako pinayagan ng GMA-7 and I understand naman their decision. Basta I don't want to take sides and I just pray for both Marian and Karylle na magkaayos na sana silang dalawa dahil Christmas pa naman at kailangan natin ng peace one earth. "

Iza refuses to talk about her reported breakup with U. S. -based businessman Jerry Garcia. "I don't want to talk about my personal life. Hindi naman showbiz si Jerry so spare him. "

Jerry just arrived from the U. S. and someone told us the reason she wouldn't talk is that they're still supposed to talk things over and might just reconcile. But although Iza wouldn't open up, her dad, Lito Calzado, is more talkative. He said there's definitely no third party involved. Jerry has already asked to Iza to get married as he's already 35 years old and wants to start his own family. But Iza is scared that Jerry might ask her to settle down in the States when she still loves her acting career so much and feels she has yet so many dreams she wants to achieve.

In "Desperadas 2", Iza plays the role of TJ Trinidad's wife who had a hard time getting pregnant in Part 1. "This time, nagka-baby na ako pero nagkaroon naman ako ng post partum depression at naging sobrang selosa. Doctor dito si TJ at pinagselosan ko ang nurse niya, si Nina Jose. Also, nakaaway ko si Rufa Mae Quinto dahil na-pirate niya ang yaya ko. "

Iza is also busy renovating the house in Acropolis that she bought from Rufa Mae. "Gusto ko, bago lahat ang furniture. Maraming gastos but I want to start right. Bagong taon, bagong bahay. "

'AYOKONG MAGING NEGATIVE'

Ai Ai delas Alas says she's getting very tense as Christmas approaches as her own entry, "Ang Tanging Ina Ninyong Lahat" is up against formidable opponents at the box office. "The first 'Tanging Ina', walang kasabay sa mga sinehan, 'no?" she says. "E, ngayon, ang daming kalaban. May Tito, Vic and Joey. Makakahilera ba ko sa kanila, e tinitingala't nirerespeto ko ang mga yan. Tapos, may mga sexy pa like Ruffa Gutierrez at Katrina Halili na puro comedies din ang entries. Ano ba 'yan? Kaya ang panalangin ko lang, kahit hindi malampasan ang kinita ng unang 'Tanging Ina', sana naman, makapantay itong bago kong movie. "

So there's pressure on her? "Oo naman. Kahit naman ayokong ma-pressure, imposibleng hindi ko ma-feel dahil may mga expectation na ang mga tao. Pero malakas ang kutob kong kikita ito kasi sa trailer pa lang, nakita sa loob mismo ng mga sinehan, ang ganda na ng response ng viewers, e. "

No doubt she's the comedy queen these days. Who does she think will inherit her throne? "Ay, ayoko nang mag-mention ng name at baka magkaroon pa ng issue. Ayokong maging negative these days at baka maapektuhan ang movie ko, sumemplang pa sa takilya, 'no?"

What can she say about Deo Fajardo's claim (Robin Padilla's manager) that they will sue for libel if Ai Ai continues to insinuate that she had an affair with Robin that is bad in his religion as a Muslim?

"Alam nyo, in fairness to me, wala naman talaga akong sinabing si Robin 'yun. Maski i-rewind nyo pang mga tape nyo, wala talaga. Nag-assume lang ang ibang tao na si Robin yun. Pero ako, ayoko talagang idamay si Robin kasi hindi naman siya kasama rito sa 'Tanging Ina'. At saka may pamilya 'yung tao kaya 'wag nang guluhin. Tungkol naman dun sa religion, naku, no comment na lang ako. Ayoko namang mapasali sa anumang panananalig nila. Basta, sinabi ko nang hindi si Robin 'yun kaya wag nilang i-assume na siya nga 'yun. At 'wag n'yo na kong tanungin kung sino nga ba 'yan dahil secret ko na lang 'yun for the rest of my life. Nagkaroon na nga ako ng vow of celibacy, 'no? Ngayon naman, vow of silence. Ayokong maging nega, please. Baka maging nega rin ang movie ko, ayoko!"

Did she apologize to Robin because of that? "Hindi, kasi ano'ng ia-apologize ko? Wala naman akong sinabing siya 'yun. I didn't even mention his name at all. Nahihiya lang ako na nadawit siya rito but knowing Robin, he understands the situation. Alam niyang hindi ko siya ilalagay sa kompromiso. Alam niyang mabait ako and I don't mean harm to anybody. "

Another shocking revelation that Ai Ai admitted during the "Tanging Ina" presscon is that the rumor that she got married in Las Vegas is indeed true. "Pero 2002 pa 'yun. Huwag nyo nang itanong kung sino at inilibing ko na 'yun sa limot. "

We guess this would start another round of speculation about her and her complex lovelife.

'SB' CONTESTANTS' DIFFERENT STORIES

COMEDIAN Kitkat competes again in "The Singing Bee" this Sunday night after her ex-boyfriend allegedly stole her savings. The first time she joined, she won P80,000 and that money was taken by her ex as well. "I have filed a case against him. I really want him to be punished," she says.

Kitkat is back to her usual perky self she says she'll probably have a lonely Christmas. "I'll just work hard kahit Pasko as I still need to pay the debts na iniwan niya sa'kin. "

She faces tough competition in "Singing Bee" as Pooh (who won P2 million in "1 vs. 100," will be playing too along with Janna Dominguez, an eliminated participant in "Pinoy Fear Factor. " Janna says that presence of mind will be the key in the game. "Sometimes you know the song but when you panic, you forget about the lyrics," she adds.

The sexy 18-year-old Janna now appears in "Eva Fonda," where she plays a maid with a liking for her employer's son Val, played by Baron Geisler.

When asked to comment about Baron's possible court case, Janna expressed concern for him. "Baron is like my mentor in acting. He's also a family friend. I'm really sad to learn that the issue is still not over. He will always have my support. "

Meanwhile, Pooh is determined to win again in another ABS-CBN game show so he can start another school project for the kids in his hometown in Samar. Also competing this Sunday are fellow comics Bayani Agbayani, Vice Ganda and Long Mejia. Before them, the boys from the movie "Baler," Mark Bautista, Bernard Palanca, and Ryan Eigenmann, will engage in a musical warfare also on the "Singing Bee" tonight, Saturday. Two Kapamilya viewers can get the chance to watch "The Singing Bee" in ABS-CBN by joining the "PEP Insider's Dream: Panalo Bawat Pilipino promo. " To join, just register and login to http://www. pep. ph/pepid. Promo will run until January 15, 2009.

NOT JUST A FILM ABOUT DYING

SOME people might think "Magkaibigan" is a film about dying but we personally belive it's a film that celebrates the significance of having close family ties and the beauty of lasting friendships. The truth is it's difficult to make this kind of movie, which is acknowledged as inspired by the friendship of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada with the late Rudy Fernandez, since you already know how it will end: Christopher de Leon, portraying the role of the best friend, Ato, will die.

The challenge for writer-director Joey Reyes is how to make it an absorbing film even if you can already predict the ending. And we're glad to say that Joey, the astute and sensitive filmmaker that he is, succeeds in giving us a totally engrossing and moving film by dwelling on the touching relationships between the various characters. You will sympathize with all of them as the characters and their interpersonal dealings with each other are all well defined. You feel like you're not really just watching a movie but the lives of your own relatives and friends as the situations shown in the story are all very realistic.

Another big asset is the fine ensemble acting the whole cast renders, from Christopher de Leon and Dawn Zulueta as his loving wife, Jinggoy Estrada as his childhood friend with Maricel Laxa as Jinggoy's supportive but feisty wife, to their respective children (Empress Schuck and AJ Perez as Boyet's kids and Ryan Julio and Justin Plummer as Jinggoy's sons), the other friends of Boyet and Jinggoy (Tirso Cruz III and Bobby Andrews and their wives) to the doctors who look after Boyet (Racquel Villavicencio and Lui Manansala. )

So many of our writer friends cried during the press preview. We did, too, particularly in that scene where Ato is saying his final goodbye to wife Eden (Dawn). We remembered our own wife Victoria who also passed away this year. At least, in their case, they were able to prepare for Ato's departure and said their final farewell to each other. In our case, Vicky just collapsed while at work, went into coma, and we never even got to say goodbye. Dawn is just brilliant in that heartbreaking scene where she finally breaks down and cries to Maricel saying" "Nagpaalam na siya. At pinayagan ko na siya. "

"Magkaibigan" is one of the year's most poignant films so be sure not to miss it. The theme about the departure of a loved one might be too heavy for the holiday season but it's also a reaffirmation of the circle of life. People come, people go, but there's also hope, with the Lord's help, that the future holds a brighter tomorrow. In our case, we look forward to the new year with the birth of our eldest son's first child in January (the birth month of our wife) and she's a baby girl they are also naming Victoria.

Source: People's Journal