Maja mum about Geoff

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

IT'S obvious that Maja Salvador only plays a supporting role to Shaina Magdayao in Star Cinema's horror flick "Villa Estrella. " Shaina plays the lead role of Anna, the girl with mysterious recurrent dreams. It's also with Shaina that the film's two leading men are paired, Geoff Eigenmann and Jake Cuenca.

"Okay lang naman po kasi very demanding din ang role ko rito as Giselle, a girl who experiences all the terrifying things present in the resort called Villa Estrella where much of the story happens," she says.

What can she say about Geoff Eigenmann's decision to go back to GMA 7. "I don't think I have any right to meddle with his career decisions. Ginawa namin itong 'Villa Estrella' bago pa siya nag-decide to move back to GMA. But I respect his decision at sana nga, mas maging maganda ang takbo ng career niya ngayon. Dapat naman talaga, kunsaan ka masaya, dun ka. "

Is this also what she feels about her rumored boyfriend, Carlo Aquino, who's now playing a villain role as the murderous brother of Ara Mina in "Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin"? "Hindi ko siya boyfriend, but I'll admit that we're very close. Close siya maging sa family ko dahil dumadalaw siya sa bahay namin. I think happy rin siya sa GMA at hindi naman siya nawawalan ng show kaya happy rin ako for him. "

How did she find Director Rico Ilarde who megged "Villa Estrella"? "First time namin lahat to work with him at sobrang bait niya. Minsan nga, sabi ko, Direk, magalit ka naman. He explains what he wants you to do in a scene in detail at bahala ka na. Gusto niya, natural kind of acting lang, hindi yung teleserye acting na dinadrama nang husto. I'm very proud of this movie. Matatakot kayo talaga. "

SHORT RUN?

AFTER 'All About Eve' ended (replaced by 'Adik Sa'Yo'), the next Kapuso show to end soon is "Totoy Bato" which will have its last telecast on June 26, to be replaced by "All My Life" starring the youthful love team of Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal. It's to be expected that Robin Padilla and Regine Velasquez will end up in each other's arms but right now, things are really very intriguing since Robin has married Ehra Madrigal while Regine is about to wed Ian Veneracion.

GMA is giving Regine another soap after this but she wants to focus first on "Are You the Next Big Star" which she is hosting with Keempee de Leon. The 16 grand finalists were announced last Saturday. She'll also do a movie with Aga Muhlach for Viva Films who wants to release it at the last quarter of this year.

We hope "All My Life", we will rate better than "Adik Sa'Yo". We're sad for the two tandems of Jolina-Marvin and Dennis-Jennica that the first week telecast of their "Adik Sa'Yo" didn't rate as high as previous GMA series on primetime. It's an experiment on the part of GMA to air a romantic-comedy their Telebabad prime slot where melodramas and telefantasyas usually rule. We asked what people think of it and self-appointed analysts are now advancing all sorts of opinions as to why the public won't bite it. "Marvin is just overexposed on GMA sa dami ng shows niya even if management says it's because he's so easy to work with," says one writer. "Tama si Annabelle Rama na malakas siya sa management, but it's not good for the network na palagi na lang siya ang nakikita. "

"Jennica is too young to be paired with Dennis," says another wag. "Walang thrill ang tambalan nila dahil halos ten years yata ang tanda ni Dennis sa kanya. "

"Sa totoo lang, nakokornihan ako at hindi ako natutuwa sa mga ginagawa nila sa show," one non-showbiz guy says. "Mas mahirap kasi talaga gumawa ng comedy kaysa sa drama. "

If "Adik Sa'Yo" wouldn't pick up in the next few weeks, then it's easy to see that just like "Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang", it'll have a short run. GMA should really be up on its toes now lest ABS-CBN succeeds in its efforts to snatch away their lead on primetime in the AGB Mega-Manila ratings game.

'UNFAIR TO DR. BELO'

DR. Vicki Belo's high profile lawyer Adel Tamano guested on Startalk last Saturday and says the complaint filed by Katrina Halili against his client is "unfair. " "Biktima rin si Dr. Belo," he adds. "Inagawan siya ng boyfriend but in spite of that, she kept Katrina as endorser of Flawless. And the case filed against her is just based on haka-haka, not evidence. The burden of proof na siya ang nag-upload ng video is not on Dr. Belo. Na kay Katrina yan and Eric Chua. And there are inconsistencies sa affidavit ni Eric Chua. "

He cited Chua's statement that he left Hayden's condo ahead of Dr. Belo when they took the video from Hayden's laptop. "He doesn't know the guards in the condo have a logbook and it shows that Dr. Belo left at 7:45 p. m. and he left at 8:45 p. m. May one hour siya left by himself with the videos. Marami pang strong evidence showing what he says cannot be true. And take note that Dr. Belo submitted her affidavit ahead of everyone else kasi wala kaming itinatago. Eric Chua submitted his two weeks later after the NBI requested it. Siya ang huli sa lahat. Kinopya pa yung date ng affidavit namin. We have already filed a supplemental affidavit to show that maraming butas sa affidavit ni Eric Chua. "

Lolit Solis says that Eric's accusation that Dr. Belo uploaded the video is not true as he himself previously declared that Dr. Belo left while he was downloading the sex videos from Hayden's laptop. Dr. Belo's son, Director Quark Henares, was also interviewed and he said his mom is so affected by everything that's happening.

"Super affected siya," he said. "First of all, she was the one betrayed. Biglang naging public circus and she found out may video rin siya, tapos ngayon, siya pa ang mastermind when she's a victim in all this. We're all very sad about it. Si Katrina was my star in Regal's 'Super Noypi'. In spite of what she did to my mom, kinuha pa rin siyang Flawless endorser. Pero ayan, nagdemanda pa. I mean, you're the one who took someone else's BF away and then you're going to do this? It doesn't look good, di ba?"

JOBERT'S CUCUMBER

A STORY about radio and TV host Jobert Sucaldito is circulating on the net. It says he was rushed to the hospital as a 5-foot inch cucumber got stuck in his anus. "Nakakatawa nga kasi nagluluto raw ako nang maupuan ko yung cucumber na nakatayo," he says at the launch of the debut album of his ward, singer Benj. "Ano ba ko? Nagluluto nang nakahubad at walang pants kaya nang mapaupo ako, tuloy-tuloy pumasok sa'kin yung cucumber? Ridiculous, di ba? Kaya huwag nang patulan yan. "
LISTEN TO BENJ

MEANWHILE, Jobert believes in the talent of Benj, whose full name is Benjamin Cruz. The 5th of 6 kids, his second brother died at Hyatt Hotel when Baguio was hit by an earthquake in the early 90s. A photo journalism grad from the University of the Cordilleras, he was born and raised in Baguio. He's been singing with choir and theatre groups since high school and also joined a lot of contests, including a singing competition at ASAP where he won and became the lead singer of the Red Circle Band that lasted for almost a year on TV.

Philippine Airlines then hired him as a flight steward. He's been traveling all over the country for six years now and there's an invitation for him to fly international but he also sings in a lounge with a band called Seal of Benjamim so he decided not to accept it. "Napagsasabay ko naman nang maayos ang dalawang trabaho ko, so enjoy ako rito," he says. "I took acting workshops at ABS and I guested in some teleseryes, but my passion is really singing. "

His self titled album has five songs, with his revival of Rod Stewart's "I Don't Wanna Talk About It" as carrier single. It's now the most requested song in his home city, Baguio. The very talented rockballadeer also directed and edited his own music video. The four other songs are all his original compositions: "Let It Begin," "Ride On," "Don't Cry" and "Sana Ako Na nga. " Benj admits having a girlfriend. "Six years na kami. " On June 18, he will officially launch his album at a presscon in Baguio then hold a show to launch it at SM Baguio on June 26. Benj is managed by Dennis Arce who also manages two other singers: OJ Mariano and Josh Santana.

TITO DOUGS DIED IN SLEEP

CONDOLENCES to the family and talents of well loved manager Douglas Quijano who passed away at 64 in his sleep on June 13 in his resthouse in Lucban, Quezon with good friend Cesar Evangelista. His talents include Richard Gutierrez, Richard Gomez and wife Lucy, Jomari Yllana, Joey Marquez, Gelli de Belen, John Estrada and many more. He started as a movie reporter then branched out to talent management amd also movie producing. His wake is held at Heritage Memorial Park.

GMA MARKS 59

GMA celebrates its 59th anniversary with "Greater and Grateful at 59. " a 90-second plug premiering this Sunday on SOP showcasing the themes of love, goodness, anxiety, hope, and trust as it announces their new shows. The celebrated Mexicanovela Rosalinda is remade starring fresh new beauty Carla Abellana. In the plug, she walks through an alley showered with petals towards love interest Geoff Eigenmann (Fernando Jose). This will be airing in July. Kapuso primetime superstar Marian Rivera soars to even unimaginable heights as Darna . Marian was handpicked by the Network to revive the all-time favorite comics character, who is a favorite among young viewers. The highly acclaimed Survivor Philippines starts its exciting second season this August, still with A-1 host Paolo Bediones ushering in the new batch of exciting castaways as he boards a helicopter to tease Survivor fanatics. Kapuso's charm Dingdong Dantes stars in Stairway to Heaven. He goes through a carnival of thoughts, but remains hopeful in the g
ame of love. Telebabad's pride Richard Gutierrez is the male lead in Full House. Away from his usual hype for action, this one finds him thrilled for family, love, and a long lasting relationship. The omnibus plug is directed by GMA AVP for Post Production Operations Paul Ticzon. Multi-awarded cinematographer and GMA VP for Post Production Ding Achacoso is the director of photography, while Vince Gealogo served as assistant director. Ingrid Navarro from GMA Post stood as producer.

Source: People's Journal