Katrina: I'm sexier than Marian

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

Katrina Halili is such a good sport. She doesn't mind if she's only number 2 to Marian Rivera in FHM's list of Sexiest Women. "Okay lang sa'kin kasi magkasama kami sa 'Marimar' noon at sexy naman talaga siya," she says. "Also, dalawang beses na akong nag-top sa FHM kaya wala na akong dapat patunayan pa. "

So who's sexier betweeen the two of them? "Siyempre, mahal ko ang sarili ko, kaya sasabihin kong ako," she laughs.

Is it true she and "Magdusa Ka" leading man Dennis Trillo are more than just friends? "Enjoy ako working with him and he's a good friend and leading man. Nagkukulitan kami sa taping. We did some hot love scenes sa "Magdusa Ka," pero hanggang doon na lang 'yun. Friend ko si Cristine Reyes. E, di ba sila ang nali-link, alangan namang ligawan pa ko ni Dennis. "

OctoArts Films boss Orly Ilacad hosted a special lunch at Guilly's when Katrina signed up a multiple movie contract with them. Her first film will be the December filmfest entry, "One Night Only," a sex comedy that happens in a motel for only one night, written and directed by Joey Reyes. She'll play the role of a mistress of a congressman (Ricky Davao) and co-star with ABS-CBN stars Angelica Panganiban, Roxanne Guinoo, Valerie Concepcion, Diether Ocampo and Joross Gamboa. In late October, she'll shoot the new version of "Miss X" in Amsterdam, where she'll recreate the Vilma Santos role, written by Eric Ramos and megged by Gil Portes, the original director. Since Mark Gil was Vilma's leading man in the first movie, it was suggested that they get Mark's son, Sid Lucero, as Katrina's new partner. What happened to her contract with Regal?

"Four picture 'yun for two years. I did 'Gigil', 'Super Noypi' and 'Shake Rattle & Roll 9' with them. Expired na yun. But if Mother Lily wants me to do another movie with them, gagawin ko. "

What really happened in the FHM affair where she was reportedly snubbed by ABS-CBN's Riza Santos? "Malapit kami sa isa't isa sa dressing room and I smiled at her pero masama ang tingin niya sa akin, so nainis ako at tinitigan ko talaga siya. Hindi lang naman daw akong sinungitan niya. Pero hindi ako nagagalit sa kanya. Naisip ko lang na baka wala siya sa mood o nahihiya siya, kasi ganun din ako kung minsan. Ang payo ko lang sa kanya, huwag siyang magsusungit. "

RIZA: I DIDN'T MEAN TO OFFEND ANYONE

RIGHT after we talked to Katrina, we got to talk to Riza Santos herself, second big winner at the PBB Celebrity Edition 2, at the Viva office. "I was so surprised when I learned I snubbed a lot of people at the FHM affair last Thursday (July 17)," says Riza. "I didn't mean to offend anyone. I like Katrina as I even bought a DVD of her 'Gigil' movie. Tapos there were two other GMA girls daw who complained that inirapan ko sila (Alyssa Alano and LJ Reyes). I don't even know nga what irap means. I know it'll be my word against theirs, pero hindi ko sila talaga kilala dahil I only watch ABS shows. Even when I was in Canada, I only watched TFC so I don't know them. E, ako, kapag hindi ko kilala, hindi ko basta binabati. What happened that night was I went inside the dressing room to put on the corset that I was supposed to wear in the show. But it won't fit at ayaw masara yung zipper at the back. I called three production assistants to help me and what they did was tinahi na lang yung likod ng corset. All the while, I was so nervous it might fall off.

"Under pressure ako, kaya siguro sabi nila masungit ako. Also, I wasn't wearing my contact lens and I'm negative . 5 nearsighted kaya hindi ko nakikita ang mga mukha nila. So even if they're smiling at me, I won't see it. Sorry. I never meant to make deadma to them or tingnan sila ng masama. If I offended them, sana maunawaan nila ako, I apologize and I offer my hand in friendship. Kapag kakilala ko naman, ako pa nga ang unang bumabati, like kay Alessandra de Rossi. I even introduced myself to her. Ganun din sa EB Babes kasi nakasama ko sila sa movie so I greeted them. Hindi ako suplada kahit kanino. "

As of now, she's praying everything will be ironed out soon as she expects to promote her new movie, "Double Trouble" with Dolphy and Vic Sotto, on GMA-7 shows, including "Startalk" that lambasted her last Saturday since Alyssa is part of that show. "Ayokong may nagagalit sa akin kaya sana patawarin na lang nila ako. Hindi naman intentional na hindi ko sila ma-acknowledge. It was just blown out of proportion. "

DIETHER: SANA, MAY DUMATING NANG IBA

Diether Ocampo celebrated his birthday last Saturday, July 19, quietly. He had some dinner with non-showbiz friends at a place called Purple Feet inside a wine depot. Then last Tuesday, he gave a special blowout to some friends from the press, raffling off CD players to those who attended the affair he hosted at Pizza Hut Morato Rotonda.

When asked his age,he said he decided to stop counting when he became 27 years old. The important thing is he feels (and looks) as young as ever, what with his lean physique in perennial tiptop shape because of his diligent workouts. His career continues to do well. ABS-CBN gives him one assignment after another, like "Palimos ng Pag-ibig," "Princess Sarah," "Margarita," "Rounin", "Maligno," and now "Iisa Pa Lamang," all of them hits. Now, he is also in the cast of two new movies, Director Quark Henares' "Rak en rol" and Director Joey Reyes' Metro filmfest entry, "One Night Only. "

"Siguro, yung patuloy na magandang takbo ng career ko, siyang kapalit ng kawalan ko ng lovelife," he says, insisting that after his romance with Kristine Hermosa fizzled out, he still has to find a replacement for her. "Pero sana, may dumating nang iba, para ma-enjoy ko rin naman. "

Doesn't he communicate with Kristine anymore? "Oh, we do communicate. On my birthday, she even called me up to greet me. She was in the US that time for a show. Friends pa rin naman kami. "

What's the best birthday gift he got? "It's a card made by a nine-year-old boy named Alfred. He's suffering from bone cancer and is confined at the Philippine Orthopedic Center. We're trying to help him and other kids like him. His card is very meaningful for me. "

What is his birthday wish? "Sana madagdagan ang oras. Kasi, feeling ko, kulang na kulang ang 24 hours for me to be able to do all the things I want to do. "

Diet continues to be active with his charity work in connection with his KIDS Foundation. "Recently, we just brought school supplies to the children living in the mountains of Benguet and Banaue.

YOUNGER MEN FOR JEAN

Jean Garcia's co-stars in "Loving You" are all younger than her: Polo Ravales, JC de Vera, John Prats, Yasmien Kurdi, Kris Bernal and Aljur Abrenica. Didn't she somehow feel uncomfortable in their company? "No, it's very refreshing for me to work with them," she says. "Feeling ko, bagets din ako. Mababait sila at binabarkada nila ako kaya hindi ako nailang at all in the scenes na magkakasama kami. This is a feel-good romantic movie at talagang I felt good while we were shooting it. "

For the first time, Jean consented to do a love scene in "Loving You. " "Never pa akong nakipag-bed scene sa past movies ko at hindi rin ako sanay sa mga kissing scene. Pero dito, yun ang gusto ng direktor naming si Don Cuaresma so no choice ako. Si Polo Ravales ang naka-devirginize sa akin dito. I agreed to do it kasi comfortable naman ako in Polo's company dahil friends nga kami at nagkaroon na rin kami ng kissing scene noon on TV in 'La Vendetta'. And take note, hindi lang isa kundi dalawa ang love scenes namin dito. Yung isa, shower scene pa na naliligo kami at hubad talaga ang likod ko. At in fairness, puro take one. Tiyak na lalo kaming mali-link after people see our romantic scenes in this movie. Friend ko rin si Direk Don who directed me noon sa isang soap sa ABS-CBN at maganda pa ang script kaya ginawa ko lahat ng eksenang pinagagawa sa akin. "

In real life, will she have a problem if she's really older than her boyfriend? "No, okay lang yun sa'kin. Or kahit pa yung lalaki ang much older than me. For me, age doesn't really matter. What really matters if is you really love each other, you get along well together, you have the same brain wave length and also heart waves para naman you can speak the same language at maging successful ang relationship ninyo. "

What can she say about her and Polo's billing in the film's poster, where JC de Vera and Yasmien Kurdi's names are much bigger than theirs? "HIndi naman ako billing conscious. For me, ang mas mahalaga, kung mahusay ba ang arte mo at iyun ang siyang mas magmamarka sa viewers. "

As we were talking to Jean, her kids Jennica and Kotaro arrived. "Naku, pinangako ko kasing manonood kami ng new Batman movie kaya ayan, sumunod sa akin. "

Jean is very happy that Jennica's acting is getting good feedback. "She has proven na kaya niyang magdrama in 'Dear Friend' and nagko-comedy naman siya sa 'Kim Sam Soon. ' My son naman who's now six years old, very bright in school. He goes to Xavier School in Greenhills. I'm really proud of my kids. "

Jean is raising them as a single mom. "Never akong umasa ng tulong mula sa mga ama nila. Kasi kung magi-impose ako, baka ma-disappoint lang ako. I'm just happy that the Lord gives me so many blessings kaya I can raise them by myself. "
CHRISTIAN OR IÑAKI?

IT was a sad night for real life sweethearts Miguel and Bea at "Pinoy Dream Academy" last Saturday. As expected, Bea was the one expelled. During the last few minutes of the Live Gala Performance Night that showcased the sensuality of the scholars, hosts Toni Gonzaga and Billy Crawford revealed that Bea got only 25. 15% while Miguel got a much higher 74. 85%. After Bea's exit, the bottom four was announced: Bunny, Miguel, Christian, and Iñaki. The mentors opted to save Miguel while the scholars voted to save Bunny, so it's either Christian or Iñaki who would have to say goodbye tomorrow night. To support your favorite probee scholar, key in PDA space IÑAKI or PDA space XTIAN on your cellphones and send to 231 for Smart and Talk & Text, and Addict Mobile subscribers and 2331 for Globe, TM, and Sun subscribers. You can also vote online thru www. pinoydream aca demy. com. ph.

Meanwhile how's Miguel doing now that Bea's no longer with him in the Academy? How will Christian and Iñaki prepare for a possible expulsion? Don't miss PDA 2 from Monday to Friday on Uberture, 5:30 p. m. , and Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 Primetime, after "My Girl" on ABS-CBN. You can also watch the Scholars everyday on Studio 23, 12 noon to 2 p. m. and 24/7 online via TFCNow Video Stream (www. ABS-CBNnow. com). For online updates, check out Pinoy Dream Academy 2's official website: www. pinoy dreamacademy. ph

Source: People's Journal