Jenny using Valerie?

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

JENNY MilIer is being accused of using Valerie Concepcion to gain media mileage and public sympathy. When Jenny got to Dr. Vicki Belo's 18th anniversary ball at Makati Shangri-La (this was three weeks ago), there were no seats available for her so Elize Estrada, who works with Belo Clinic, accompanied her to the table of Valerie where a seat was still vacant.

They requested Valerie to let Jenny sit there first while they're looking for a place for her. Valerie allegedly rejected her twice, saying the seat is reserved for her friend, Angel Locsin.

Jenny got embarrassed and went away but Elize informed Valerie about it and she approached Jenny to say sorry, to which Jenny said, "Sana be more careful next time at huwag mo nang gawin sa iba. " Valerie now denies that she rejected Jenny, saying that she couldn't give up the seat as Angel just texted her that she's about to arrive. But when she was told Jenny was offended, she quicky apologized to her. Jenny is still smarting but she says she doesn't want to be accused of using Valerie for her own gain.

Well, talk about making a mountain out of a molehill. But now, things have taken on a new dimension. The latest development is that Valerie allegedly turned down Jenny as she is a good friend of Claudine Barretto, who as everyone knows, is the arch enemy of Angel Locsin. One Valerie defender asks: "Teka, bakit nagkaroon ng ganung factor?"

If this were true, maybe ABS-CBN should step in again and make another move to try patching things up between Angel and Claudine to prevent the small bonfire from turning into a conflagration now that even their respective friends are said to be involved.

SHOW COLLISION UNINTENTIONAL

SOME concerned fans of Richard Gutierrez are complaining why GMA-7 scheduled the free birthday show of Dingdong Dantes with Marian Rivera at the Big Dome on August 27, which is also the opening day of Richard's movie with KC Concepcion, "For the First Time. " They say Richard is also a treasured talent of the Kapuso network, so why did they have to stage the show of Dingdong on the same day as the start of Richard's movie?

This is another case of making a big issue out of nothing. "For the First Time" will open on the morning of August 27 and it'll be shown the whole day. All those who want to see it first can troop to theaters as soon as they open, and they will still have time to watch Dingdong and Marian's birthday show in the evening. Those who don't get to see Richard and KC's movie on the opening day can still go watch it on its succeeding days of exhibition at theaters nationwide.

"Besides, hindi naman ang GMA ang nag-schedule ng show nina Dingdong on August 27," says someone from GMA. "It's the management of Araneta Coliseum dahil 'yun na lang daw ang available date nila. So hindi sinasadyang makasabay ng show ang opening date ng movie ni Richard. "

Those who want to get the free tickets to "Let's Celebrate- The Dingdong-Marian Birthday Blowout", can get them at the ticket distribution today and tomorrow at the GMA 11th Jamboree Gate from 9 a. m. to 4 p. m. . This will be on a first come, first served basis. You can also win tickets by watching "Dyesebel" every night. Just answer a question and send it to 4627 for Globe and to 367 for Smart subscribers. Dingdong and Marian plus their very special guests have prepared some hot musical numbers for all of you so grab your ticket now.

'HUSH, HUSH'

WE were able to interview the mother and daughter team of Laurice Guillen and Ina Feleo at the TV 5 presscon for their intriguing drama series, "Hush Hush," about showbiz, aired Wednesdays at 7 p. m. and Sundays at 1 p. m. .

"The show centers on the Spotlight Talent Agency that handles the careers of several young celebrities," says Laurice. "It was Tonyboy Cojuangco himself who asked me to pitch an idea for a new show. I gave them several story concepts and they chose this one about showbiz, which is actually conceived by Ina. I now act as the line producer. I also co-wrote and co-directed the pilot and second episodes with Jade Castro (of Cinemalaya's "Endo"). The third episode was directed by Jade and the fourth, by Jay Abello (of Cinemalaya's "Ligaw Liham" and "Namets"). We pegged the characters on real life celebrities, pero siyempre, naiba na from their sources. Then we held an audition to get the cast. Tapos, I conducted a workshop and we determined who'd be best to play which character. I think it'd click kasi Pinoys love showbiz chismis so much and this one is really about artistas, showing what happens to them in real life and what goes on behind the scenes. All the incidents we portray, based on stories na nangyari sa totoong buhay. The narrator is played by Cheska Iñigo, a former starlet who's bitter kasi hindi siya sumikat.

She now acts as the publicist of the agency and she knows all the inside stories of the stars working for them. As a line producer, mahirap gawin ito sa laki ng cast as we have 10 mainstays, pero okay lang. It's a good opportunity for me to learn the ropes of how to work as a producer. I'm renting the entire 4th floor of Mowelfund at doon ang set namin. 'Hush Hush' ang title kasi ganun naman talaga sa showbiz kapag may gustong ilihim, di ba? O, hush hush 'yan, sa atin na lang ito. "

INA NOT INTIMIDATED BY MOM

Ina Feleo is glad to be nominated as best actress in the Urian Awards for her acting in "Endo," which already won her the 2007 Cinemalaya best actress award. She conceived "Hush Hush" but still had to audition to be a cast member. "Matagal ang deliberations nila to get the right mix for the characters. I play Sarah, galing sa mahirap pero sumikat bilang artista at lumaki ang ulo," she says. "Sarah is very insecure kaya she's manipulative, scheming, maldita. Mahirap for me to play her as I'm not like her in real life na naninira ng ibang tao. "

Is it difficult to be directed by her own mom, Laurice Guillen? "No. Masarap nga kapag mommy ko ang nagdidirek sa'kin. Kasi I already took two acting workshops under her, kaya familiar na sa'kin ang style niya. Naninibago lang ako sa blocking niya when we use just one camera, kasi parang theatre ang style. "

The big cast includes Krista Ranillo, Valeen Montenegro, Bernard Palanca, Dominic Ochoa, Joem Bascon and Brazilian actor Bruno Folster. How is it working with them? "Ngayon ko lang sila nakatrabaho at masaya kami sa cast dahil nag-bonding kami agad. Lahat kami, enjoy at excited magtrabaho. "

Ina used to be a champion ice skater and she was once featured in "Tanging Yaman" doing ice skating. "I don't do that anymore, pero puede pa rin siguro. " She is also in the cast of Juday Ann Santos' new teleserye for ABS-CBN about nurses. "I play a nursing student and Juday is our trainer. "

BRAZILIAN HUNK LOVES MANILA

BRUNO Folster currently sings in "SOP. " "Hush Hush" is his first regular drama. His mom is Brazilian and his dad is Italian. He grew up in Sao Paolo, Brazil. How did he get to Manila?

"I've been modeling in Hong Kong, Japan and Thailand and all my co-models tell me, Go to Manila, maganda doon, and so I did," he says. "I fell in love with the Philippines and with showbusiness. Now, I'm trying my best to learn Tagalog. I have a teacher but I learn more by studying at home with a book and a tape. "

Born on May 7, 1987, he was taking up business administration in Brazil when he decided to go into modeling. "I've also done some acting in Brazil, but in Portuguese. I only learned how to speak in English when I started working abroad. I guested in 'Marimar' and now I play a bigger role in 'Hush Hush' as a foreigner who's trying to make it in local showbusiness. "

Laurice says they don't know Bruno at all when he came to the auditions. "Pero nang magsalita na siya, sabi ko, kunin natin ito kasi naiiba siya, walang katulad," she says. "We adjusted one role to accommodate him and so far, okay naman siya. "

Doesn't he get homesick? "No. I live alone in a condo but I have many friends here now so I don't feel lonely at all. " Watch Bruno in "Hush Hush" this Wednesday at 7 p. m.

BUGOY'S FATE

LAST week, the scholars of Pinoy Dream Academy 2 got a big surprise when the Comedy Concert Queen Ai Ai de las Alas visited to teach them how to effectively handle themselves while performing on stage. The scholars learned how to cope with limitations and compensate for production shortcomings with projection. This was in line with the mini-concert that the scholars did, where a lot of technical troubles happened, like mikes that don't work and their voices being distorted. Fortunately, the scholars weren't unnerved and just used what they learned from Ai-Ai to pull it off.

Their Voice Mentor Monet Silvestre got confined in the hospital due to infection but is now back inside the Academy after a week. Cris and Sen had a squabble after Cris chose Miguel over Sen when the scholars had to choose who between them should be saved from expulsion. Sen was hurt by what Cris did and ignored Cris for a day. But they soon reconciled and fans are now thrilled that they are sweeter than ever!

Probee Scholars Sen and Bunny were allowed to talk on the phone with a loved one, Sen with twin brother Jansen while Bunny with her dad, Mr. Johnson Gayo. Last Saturday night, Sen got 60. 35% of the votes while Bunny got only 39. 65%, so she had to go. Her husband Chivas was there to fetch her.

Last Saturday was one of the best performance nights in PDA ever. Two scholars sang together singing different songs for counterpoint. The best pair for us was Poy (Sarah Geronimo's "Forever's Not Enough") and Van (Peabo Bryson's "Maybe". ) Laarni also did well with "On the Wings of Love," paired with Bugoy, no wonder she became the Star Scholar of the week. Bugoy was again in the top 3. We notice he's a favorite of the jurors. But let's face it, even if he'd win, we don't think he'd really make it big as (like we've said before) TV is a very visual medium. He'd just be like Ruben of Davao who won in the PBB Celebrity Edition 2 but just went back to oblivion. When we look at Bugoy, he reminds us of the late Carding of the Reycards, so probably, he should look for his own Rey.

The four scholars with the lowest scores were Sen, Iñaki, Cris and Miguel. Sen was saved by the mentors. Tonight, the other scholars will vote on who they'd want to save. Honestly, we don't know why Miguel was included in the bottom four when he did quite well that night.

Source: People's Journal