Kristine not pleased at Ara?

Column: Freehand
Author: Mario E. Bautista

ARA Mina has just started taping for her first show on ABS-CBN, "Prinsesa ng Banyera", and intrigues are already coming her way.

It's said that Kristine Hermosa, who's the original title-roler in the show, is not exactly pleased with her joining the show's cast.

While she was in front of the camera during a take, Kristine was heard commenting that it's not really Ara who's acting but her boobs.

Ara's defenders, of course, quickly pointed out that she has won several best actress awards for films like "Mano Po" and "Huling Birhen sa Lupa", whereas Kristine has yet to win any best actress award from any award-giving body.

Ara did not hear what Kristine said and Kristine later denied it, but a lot of staffers and crew members heard her and they're now the ones who crack jokes saying "Ara's boobs can act. "

As for Ara, she doesn't want to give it much importance as she wants her relationship with Kristine harmonious on the set.

RIZA ON WILL'S PAST: I CAN'T JUDGE HIM
RIZA Santos doesn't mind if people says she's weird just because she's still a virgin at 21. "My virginity is my gift to my husband and if some people don't agree with me, that's fine, I respect their opinion," she says. "But I also stand by my morals and principles. "

Has she heard about Mariel Rodriguez' harangue against her because she's a virgin? "After I came out, a lot of people informed me about it at nabasa ko rin sa Internet. Ate Mariel and I have already seen each other sa ASAP and Wowowee at nag-usap na kami. I think she had a bit too much to drink that night.

She said she talked with my mom already and I want to give her the benefit of the doubt that she didn't mean to say anything bad against me. It's not true we're filing a lawsuit against her. I don't know kunsaan galing 'yan. I have no negative feelings for her at all. "

She seems just too good to be true. "Well, I'm really a happy person. I love to smile. It's not for me to judge anyone. This is me and if people find that difficult to accept, what can I do?"

She's being linked to Will Devaughn but he is now being linked to various women. What can she say about the rumor he has a sex video with a sexpot? "In my three months inside PBB, I became closest to Will and I have a good gauge of what he is as a person. I can say with a clear conscience na mabait siyang tao, he's really a good person. It's not for me to pass judgment to anyone linked to him. "

Riza is a Viva contract star but she wants to do more shows with ABS-CBN. "I want to do hosting, to sing and dance also, and act in a teleserye. I'm serious about acting so I'm getting myself a coach to polish my Tagalog para mawala ang accent ko. Viva told me they'd include sa cast ng movie na gagawin nina Robin Padilla and Ai Ai de las Alas, so I look forward to that. "

RUBEN ALL SET
RUBEN Gonzaga still can't believe he became the first male big winner in PBB. "May nagsasabing masyadong hysterical at emotional ako when I came on stage after my name was called," he says. "Pero 'yun talaga ang nararamdaman ko and I can't control myself to express my feelings that way. "

Ruben is turning 26 on March 16. Although unknown in Manila, he is a celebrity in Davao as a member of ABS-CBN's Joke Squad that goes around various barangays to pull pranks. He's also a stand up comic in bars acting like a screaming gay that people think he's really one. But he has a wife (they were legally married on cam during PBB) and two kids: a boy who's two years old and a girl who's 10 months old. He's also famous for the Budots dance he popularized in Davao. So what are his plans now?

"It's all up to ABS. May tiwala ako sa kanila about my career. Basta tuluy-tuloy na ako sa showbiz. I really want to act and try both comedy and drama. Idol ko si Vhong Navarro. I hope we can work together. Dahil I won a condo here, plano ko pasunurin na rito ang misis ko't mga anak. Part of my earnings, I'll give to my parents para pampagawa ng bahay nila sa Davao. "

What's the most memorable lesson he got from PBB? "I learned how to value friendship and how to fight for your friendship. I also learned about commitment. "

People want to know if he's related to Toni Gonzaga? "Sana nga. But no, we're not related. Magkapareho lang ang apelyido naman. "

MARK DENIES RHIAN'S SISTER
MARK Herra denies that he has ever dated the sister of Rhian Ramos named Nadine. "I've never even met her," he insists. "Paano kaming makakapag-dinner doon sa restaurant in BF Parañaque na sinasabi nila. I don't even know that restaurant. "

As for Rhian, she has learned to ignore such erroneous information that come from unknown sources.

"I should know kung nag-meet na ang sister ko at si Mark," she says. "Yung sinasabing nagdi-dinner pa sila in a Korean restaurant, malaking kalokohan. Huwag na lang pansinin. "

As for his alleged date with Jennylyn Mercado while she's still on with Patrick Garcia, Mark prays that rumormongers will stop messing up the lives of the couple now that Jen is preggy. "Kawawa naman 'yung dalawa, hindi pa nila patahimikin. I haven't seen Jen for so long kaya tigilan na nila kami. "

Mark is just happy he's too busy with work now he has no time to dwell on intrigues. He's in the afternoon soap, "My Only Love", and is now also taping for the primetime show, "Joaquin Bordado".

CHRISTIAN, RACHEL WAITING FOR LORD'S SIGN
AFTER CHRISTMAS, the next big event is Valentine's Day and on February 13, Wednesday, Rachel Ann Go and Christian Bautista will have a Valentine show with Sarah Geronimo and Erik Santos, "All 4 Love", at the Big Dome.

At its presscon, Christian sang "Fixing a Broken Heart" while Rachel sang "Don't Say Goodbye". Both songs fit their situation now perfectly. They say they broke up but people are curious why they remain so sweet to each other even in "ASAP". Is it all just a gimmick?

"We're not going to use our own relationship as a gimmick," says Rachel. "Kahit naman hindi na kami, we maintain our professionalism in our work and we remain friends. "

Are there no awkward moments between them when they perform together? "We're okay kasi may pinagsamahan naman kami," says Christian. "Our friendship naman is solid. "

Is there no possibility of reconciling? "Anything can happen in this life, but only God knows kung magkakabalikan nga kami. "

"We tried," adds Rachel. "Humingi kami ng sign kay Lord and ayaw talaga pa Niya. Siguro dahil hindi pa rin kami talaga ready, so mas okay na 'yung ganito. "

So is Christian now courting other girls and is Rachel accepting other suitors? "No, I'm not courting anyone. We're just taking our time and if the time comes na kami pa rin talaga, then we're ready. We're not closing our doors naman on each other. "

"Hindi rin ako nagpapaligaw sa iba," says Rachel. "We just need to spend more time apart for us to grow and mature separately. "

How will "All 4 Love" be different from their past concerts before? "We're more experienced and mature now compared to the time we first had a concert together at Araneta four years ago," says Christian. "We'll sing songs that cover the four phases of love: courtship, being in love, breaking up and moving on to wait for new love. "

"All 4 Love" is produced by ASAP Live, directed by Marvin Querrido and with Georcelle Dapat as overall director. Special guest are Pooh and G-Force Dancers. For tickets, call Araneta or Ticketnet at 911-5555.

SICK AND TIRED OF SHOWBIZ ISSUES
GLENNA Tiburcio emailed us to say she's sick and tired of some old issues in showbiz. She says: "Since it's 2008 na, sana tantanan na ng fans niyang naninira sa kanya si Rhian Ramos.

Lalo lang nila itong pinapasikat. Tigilan na rin ng ABS-CBN at GMA ang awayan at demandahan nila. Wala namang pakialam ang viewers diyan sa patalbugan nila sa ratings. Siraan sila nang siraan, hindi maganda tingnan. Tigilan na rin ang mga issue tungkol kina Dennis Trillo at Carlene Aguilar.

Kung anuman ang problema nila ngayon, sila rin ang may kasalanan niyon. Hindi sila issue of national concern, no? Tigilan na rin ang issue tungkol sa tunay na relasyon nina Kristine Hermosa at Diether Ocampo. Pareho na silang laos kaya wala nang interesado, gaya nina Jericho Rosales at Heart Evangelista na wala na ring career. Ganun din sina Pops Fernandez at Martin Nievera, Ogie Alcasid at Regine Velasquez, Mylene Dizon at Paolo Paraiso.

Nakakasawa na at nakakasuka na ang lovelife nila, sa totoo lang, kaya tantanan na. As for Jennylyn Mercado, the sooner matanggap ng fans niya na wala na siyang career dahil sa pagbukaka niya para tanggapin si Patrick Garcia na naging dahilan kaya lumobo ang tiyan, mas makakabuti for all the parties concerned. 'Yun namang nanay ni Jennylyn na nagtatanong kung paano sila kakain, aba, e di magtrabaho po kayo at huwag basta umasa sa kanya. "

Source: People's Journal