Love can wait

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

AS THE day of hearts fast approaches, "Valentine Box Office King" Richard Gutierrez is eager to show the public that his newest Valentine movie, "When I Met U," is easily the best of all the Valentine flicks he has done. Not only because hes paired with special girl KC Concepcion but also because Regal-GMA Films made sure no stone was left unturned to make it a glossy crowd pleaser, shooting it in the most scenic places in Subic and Club Paradise in Palawan. The films original soundtrack is now also out in the market and Richard sings a duet with KC for the films theme song originally sung by the APO.

"Ganadong-ganado ako to record the song with KC kasi sabay kami sa studio and she helped me interpret the song," he says. "Parang siya ang naging coach ko dito kaya lumakas ang loob ko."

The films director, Joel Lamangan, says he has directed a lot of showbiz love teams before but that of Richard and KC is really something special. "Pareho silang very good-looking at pareho ring magaling umarte. Walang ka effort-effort. The rapport is just magical, may electricity ang chemistry nila."

Richard says working with KC in "When I Met U" is sheer joy. Well, after all, love is said to be lovelier and sweeter the second time around. Richard is confident that this film will confirm his status as the "King of Hearts."

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One of the most promising new stars on GMA-7 is JC Tiuseco, first winner of "Survivor Philippines." His full name is John Carlo, born 23 years ago on April 16. Hes graduating this March from San Sebastian College with a degree in management. Standing 511 and weighing 145 lbs., we believe that JCs edge is hes very telegenic and he has an unmistakable star quality. You can find out for yourself by watching him in "Unang Hirit," where he has his own segment every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

JC bested 17 other castaways in Koh Tarutao Island in Thailand where they lived for 39 days. "It was really tough as 45,000 people took the auditions all over the country. We had to pass several interviews plus physical and psychological tests. I lost 20 lbs. during the show. All in all, we had to hurdle 26 challenges. The most dangerous was when we jumped from a boat in the middle of the sea and had to swim about a kilometer to get to the island. Its really scary, also the challenge where we ate scorpions and tarantulas. "

What did he do with the P3 million prize he won?

"I got it intact as GMA-7 paid the taxes. I gave P1.5 million to my parents and deposited the rest in a bank."

The youngest of three kids (his elder siblings are Carlo and Vivian), his parents James Tiuseco and Rosemarie Barrera are both in business. He spent grade school at Chiang Kai Sek in Binondo, high school at Sunny Hill in QC and became a member of San Sebastian basketball team. Hes a perfect role model for the youth as hes an athlete who doesnt drink, smoke or use drugs. He doesnt even eat junk food as it is fattening.

Its common knowledge that his crush is Heart Evangelista. Have they met?

"Yes. She has a new show on Q 11, Fashionista, and I was her first guest. When she asked me, Sinong crush mo? I said, Ikaw. And she said, Youre just saying that dahil kaharap mo ko. My dream is to appear in a regular drama show with her."

But doesnt he have a non-showbiz girlfriend?

"Cool off kami ngayon. Were both so busy halos hindi kami nagkikita. Isa pa, work is my priority now. On February 12, Im being launched by Penshoppe. On February 17, Ill be introduced by GMA in Just U and Me, A Date with JC, and on February 18, Ill be launched naman sa Fanatext so fans can text me."

Is he ready to face showbiz intrigues?

"I think so. Nakayanan ko ngang maging ultimate survivor, so I think Ill also survive showbiz with the help of my manager, Jonas Gaffud of Mercator Model Management with whom I started two years ago."

Incidentally, Jonas (who discovered Bb. Pilipinas Universe winners Gionna Cabrera, Teresa Licaros, Zorah Andam, and Jennifer Barrientos) said he wont help out in the next Bb. Pilipinas pageant anymore after a falling out with Stella Marquez-Araneta.

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Sam Milby says its not true that Anne Curtis and he have reconciled. "I wont deny that I still have feelings for her kasi hindi naman basta mawawala yun, but were just good friends now and were a lot better that way. Shes perfectly free to accept other suitors which wont be surprisingkasi shes very beautiful kaya natural lang maraming manligaw sa kanya."

Is he dating anyone?

"No and I dont have any plans to get into a relationship right now. Ours nga ni Anne suffered because were both so busy. I dont want that happening again as Im still so busy and will even do shows here and abroad."

Hes now doing the "Pop Icons" concert series with "ASAP" colleagues Piolo Pascual, Mark Bautista, Christian Bautista and Erik Santos. "We ourselves are producing the shows with ASAP and were so happy to do it kasiwere really good friends. We also want to learn the ins and outs of concert producing so we formed our own group that we called Sunday Night Productions, kasi nga lagi kaming magkakasama every Sunday sa Victory Fellowship that helps deepen our spirituality."

"Pop Icons" will first be held in Dagupan on February 12, Cebu on February 14, Araneta Coliseum on February 21 and Bacolod on February 28.

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Nikki Gil has come a long way from being the model of the Coke TVC that opened the doors of showbiz for her. After doing dramas like "Rounin" and "Pangarap na Bituin," she now plays Guia in "Pieta," a secretary who witnesses a crime that Miguel (John Regala) did. Miguel orders Rigor (Ryan Agoncillo) to get rid of her but he has a soft spot for Guia so he ends up hiding her from Miguel. Guia loves her blind young sister (Sharlene San Pedro) and she is crushed when her sister gets kidnapped.

Nikki has been in the series for just a few weeks but viewers are now raving about her performance, saying she has better chemistry with Ryan than Krista Ranillo whose character, Martha, is currently in the States after she got pregnant. What can Nikki say about this?

"Well, Im glad viewers like my performance in Pieta," she says. "Some of them are telling me nga that theyre waiting for Kristas character to come back so we can have a showdown."

Nikki is also part of the episode in "Your Song" last Sunday where she starred with her rumored beau Billy Crawford, along with her ex-boyfriend Gab Valenciano and Rachelle Ann Go. How is it working with both her current and her ex?

"Hindi pa naman kami ni Billy, but writers pressure mena umamin. Kung meron mang dapat aminin, hindi dapat manggaling sakin kasi akong babae. Mahirap ding mag-commit since hes leaving again for abroad. As for Gab, friends naman kami, so no problem. Friend ko rin ang current niyang si Rachelle so maayos naman kaming lahat sa taping. Im also part of the new show, Florinda with Maricel Soriano. I play the daughter of Cherry Pie Picache who blindly obeys what my mom tells me. Im also a regular in ASAP 09 and as VJ in MYX."

Despite her busy sked, she continues her studies at the Ateneo majoring in English literature. Her advocacy is to foster reading awareness as spokesperson for National Book Development and World Vision. "Ang dami na kasing hindi nagbabasa ngayon," she adds. Recently, she was also named as one of People Asias Women of Style and Substance. This is justified since Nikki is rare in showbiz. Shes a devout Christian who wears a purity ring as part of True Love Waits, young people who will give up their virginity only after marriage. "When I get married, I will replace the purity ring with my wedding ring and I will give the purity ring sa magiging anak ko."

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LJ Moreno was at the victory party of "Status: Single." We told her we admire her guts when she ate 20 live cockroaches in "Pinoy Fear Factor." Shes brave and feisty that we thought shed be staying in the game until its ending two weeks from now. "Akala ko rin, but I ran out of breath in the challenge where we were locked inside a glass coffin that was submerged in water," she says. "But I did stay in Argentina until the end of the show. Wala na nga lang ako sa El Campo Miedo and I lived in the quartersng crew. Kaya I know who won as the Ultimo Participante, kaya lang I cannot reveal who. Bawal."

So how is the Argentinian guy linked to her named Maxie?

"We still communicate. Kaya lang, mahirap ang long distance. He wants to visit me here kaya lang nag-start na ang isang bagong Fear Factor doon so he cant leave. Pero ang guwapo niya talaga. Sabi nga nila, kung magkaka-baby kami, maganda raw tiyak ang lalabas."

We heard her ex-boyfriend cager Jimmy Alapag has hooked up with Koolchx girl Gemma Fitzgerald?

"Yes. Napalitan nga ako agad. Pero wala na rin sila. Friends naman kami ni Jimmy now. Nag-uusap kami."

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We told Nacionalista Party president Sen. Manny Villar that he looks younger now than when we last saw him before Christmas.

"Siguro dahil I have less stress," he says. "Unlike when I was senate president na stressed out ako sa dami ng trabaho, lalo na when I mediate pag may nag-aaway na mga senador. But Im still busy with my various advocacies, lalo na yung pagtulong ko sa overseas workers natin na nadehado sa abroad at gusto ng umuwi."

How come its rumored that hes really with the administration and not the opposition?

"If thats true, bakit ako inalis as senate president? Right after I admitted that, yes, Im running for president in 2010, biglang naalis ako and kung anong mga paninira na ang pinalabas against me. But Im happy that at the last SWS survey for government officials in November-December 2008, I got a very high satisfaction rating of 74%, higher compared to the 61% of VP Noli De Castro, 22% of Speaker Prospero Nograles and 30% of Supreme Court Justice Reynaldo Puno. Maski sa Pulso ng Pilipino Yearend survey for preference for president, ako rin ang topnotcher with 17%."

What can he say that so many other politicians want to run as president, like MMDAs Bayani Fernando, Sen. Mar Roxas, Sen. Dick Gordon, Mayor Jojo Binay, Sen. Ping Lacson, Sen. Chiz Escudero, and Sen. Loren Legarda.

"O, di mas masaya. Kaya lang, its too early pa to say kung sino talaga ang lalaban when 2010 comes. Magkakaroon pa ng mga pagbabago diyan."

What can he say about Vilma Santos being convinced to run for vice-president?

"Vilmanian ako, e. Mabango si Vilma sa tao. She has good chances of winning."

Since returning OFWs are a primary concern of his, what advice can he give to those who are returning home due to the global meltdown?

"I advice them to start their own business and join the ranks of budding entrepreneurs now sprouting in various parts of the country. As such, they will also create employment opportunities for our kababayan. Our partys Pondo sa Sipag, Puhunan sa Tiyaga program is open to all OFWs who want to start their own business. Last year, we selected 16 entrepreneurs from all over the country and awarded them P100,000 as additional capital, like Pacifico de la Cruz of Bulacan who started his own itikan with only 185 ducks that now have grown to more than 3,000 dahil sa kanyang sipag at tiyaga."

Sen. Villar introduced us to Mang Pacifico who gave us a big package of balut and red eggs from his farm. "Only an entrepreneurial revolution will give our country a winning chance in the worlds economic arena," adds Sen. Villar.

Source: Malaya