Marian is Pacman’s leading lady

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

Marian Rivera has started taping her version of "Darna" and she’s elated that her pictorials in her Darna costume elicited positive feedback from both the public and the advertisers who saw her in the GMA trade show. "It’s really very encouraging kasi kahit hindi pa nagsisimula ang airing ng show, marami nang nagsasabing bagay na bagay ako as Darna," she says. "Ako naman, tuwang-tuwa rin as I’m one of the very few actresses who got to play both Dyesebel and Darna roles."

But did she really reject Katrina Halili as her Valentina?

"I’ve already said na hindi ko magagawa yan dahil bilib ako sa talent ni Kat. Siya ang isang dahilan kung bakit very successful noon ang ‘Marimar’ as she’s a very effective contravida,so I’d really welcome working with her again but mas pinili niya angvillain role na Fedra sa ‘Rosalinda’ kasi mas mild daw ang pagkakontrabida nito."

She’ll be fighting snakes in "Darna." Isn’t she scared of them?

"Hindi ko pa masabi. But they already warned me that they’ll be using real snakes so hinahanda ko na ang sarili ko para diyan. Sabi pa nila, ipupulupot daw nila sa’kin yung mga ahas. Medyo kabado ako pero kailangang panindigan ko ang pagiging Darna."

What can she say about Cristine Reyes being number 1 in FHM this year and she’s just number 2?

"Okay lang ‘yun. Thankful pa rin ako kasi kahit nga hindi pa ako nagse-sexy pictorial for FHM, number 2 pa rin ako."

What does Dingdong Dantes say about her playing Darna?

"He’s happy kasi he knows how excited I am to be Darna. Marami siyang reminders, like mag-ingat sa action scenes,lalo na kapag naka-harness ako para hindi maaksidente. Also, bilin niya, right after each take, magsuot agad ako ng robe to cover my body."

Aside from "Darna," she’s about to wrap up work for her first movie this year, the horror flick "Tarot," directed by Jun Lana, who gave us the hit "Mag-ingat Ka sa Kulam" last year. She’s paired with Dennis Trillo, with whom she shares the same manager, Popoy Caritativo. What’s her role in "Tarot"?

"I play a girl who can tell the fortune of other people using tarot cards, a gift I inherited from my grandmother. ‘Yung giftko, na-extend in foretelling who will die soon, so I get to warn people about to die para maiwasan nila ito. Ang problema, nagkaroon ng balik sa akin. It’s my loved ones who start dying one after another. Two days na lang at tapos na kami rito and it’s really scary. End of August daw angplaydate."

***

We were surprised to see Snooky Serna at the storycon of "Sagrada Familia," the new film of director Joel Lamangan who just completed photography for "Dukot" where Snooky is also cast. It will be recalled that Snooky came so late at the last shooting day of "Dukot" that Direk Joel got so mad and sent her away. He also decided to yank her out of the cast of "Sagrada Familia," vowing he doesn’t want to work with her again. But Snooky did her best to show her remorse to Direk Joel and, the soft-hearted director forgave her.

"I really resolved not to get her anymore," says DirekJoel. "But I changed my mind after she talked to me seriously to apologize. Snooky is a good actress and I don’t want to deprive her of doing a good role like the one she’ll play in ‘Sagrada Familia.’ I believe in her acting capacity and she promised me she will not be unprofessional again so I want to be more humanitarian also at kinuha ko uli siya. Everyone deserves a second chance."

For her part, Snooky says she’s not going to talk anymore.

"Some things are better left unsaid," she says. "Hindi na ako magsasalita, gagawin ko na lang. But I’m really thankful to Direk Joel for considering me again for this great role in ‘Sagrada Familia.’ My prayers will also be for you, Direk. I now realize how good a person you are."

Direk Joel emphasizes that "Sagrada Familia" is not a remake of "Kisapmata" by Mike de Leon or "Insiang" by Lino Brocka. The script is written by Racquel Villacencio and it’s about one of the ill effects of mothers being separated from their families to earn a living abroad. "Snooky is a caregiver who went to Italy to be able to send her daughter, Lovi Poe, to medical school," says Raquel. "Bright kasi yung bata kaya gusto niyang mapagdoktor. Two years ang contract niya. When she returned home, she discovers that her husband, Emilio Garcia, is hiding their daughter in another province. It turns out that Lovi is pregnant and the father is Emilio himself."

How will it be different from past movies of the same theme? "Definitely, iba ang sitwasyon, iba ang treatment. Charo Santos and Hilda Koronel didn’t go sexy in ‘Kisapmata’ and ‘Insiang.’ Dito, Lovi will definitely go sexy," says Direk Joel. "The material really calls for high drama and it’s a great acting vehicle for all concerned. Lovi will hate me for the things I will make her do, but ganyan naman lagi ang mga artista. They hate me when I make them do things for the movie. But after they’ve won acting awards, they love me na."

"Sagrada Familia" is produced by a new outfit, Legalas Entertainment, who will enter it in international filmfests.

***

The singing trio called La Diva just signed up with Sony Music for their first album, co-produced with GMA Network. Individually, Jonalyn Viray, Maricris Garcia and Aicelle Santos have their own solo albums with GMA Records. In 2007, they were asked to sing the new theme song of "Sis" and it was noticed how great they sing as a team. In May 2008, they were formally launched as La Diva in "SOP."

It’s Danny Tan who acted as their arranger and coach. He’s also instrumental for them to cut their first album as a group with Sony. On hand at their contract signing were Sony bosses Rudy Tee and Ciso Tan, with GMA big wigs Wilma Galvante and Ida Henares.

"Malakas talaga sila as a group," says Rudy Tee. "We’re optimistic their first album will be a big hit."

The album will have 14 cuts, mostly revivals like songs from Destiny’s Child and Jason Mraz. It will have the original theme song composed by Danny Tan for "Rosalinda," along with the theme songs of La Diva in soaps like "Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan" and "Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang."

They’ll soon record the songs in their album which is slated to be released in September or October.

***

GMA executive Wilma Galvante reveals that after La Diva, they will co-produce the debut album of Aljur Abrenica. "We have great plans for our talents," she says.

We congratulate her as the ratings of "Rosalinda" have gone up steadily and it’s already 30% plus on its first week. "Twenty-six percentlang noong first telecast because we our pilot episode was one and a half hour. Kasi we have to follow the story to the letter as specified in our contract with the Mexicans. When you average that, mababa nga lalabas. Also it started kasi na wala pa sina Carla Abellana and Geoff Eigenmann. Pinanganak pa muna ang characters nila and they were shown as kids, which we also cannot just change dahil nasa contract din ‘yun. But now that they’re grown ups, ayan, tumaas na ang rating."

Will she make a move to patch things up between Robin Padilla and the creative team of writer Suzette Doctolero?

"Naku, okay naman yang mga ‘yan. Sa ‘Joaquin Bordado,’ that also happened but they eventually kissed and made up, so I’m confident magkakabati rin yan kasi si Robin, napakamagalang niyan."

What’s their next project for Robin?

"Wala na muna this year. Once a year lang naman talaga siya sa amin. I think he’ll do a movie muna. At kami naman, wala nang ibang action program kasi papasok na si Marian Rivera as ‘Darna.’"

Have they chosen the leading ladies for Dingdong Dantes in "Stairway to Heaven" and Richard Gutierrez in "Full House"?

"’Stairway’ will start in September and we haven’t chosen anyone yet. We’re looking for an actress who’d fit the role of Jody na frail, sickly, sympathetic kasi she’ll die in the end, ‘di ba? As for Richard, meron nang napili pero hindi pa namin puedeng sabihin kung sino."

Marian is actually perfect for the lead role there.

"May ‘Darna’ na siya. Also, she’d be in the Manny Pacquiao sitcom, ‘Show Me Da Money.’"

Source: Malaya

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