Marianna on Cesar: He's too old for me

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

Rikka Dylim hosted Star Magic's dinner for their March celebrants, led by hot teen actor Gerald Anderson who turned 19 on March 7 and was discovered in the first PBB Teens Edition. Is it true he and partner Kim Chiu feel insecure that the second batch of PBB Teens has been introduced?

"No," he says. "Bakit naman kami mai-insecure? There's room for everyone. The important thing is you show that you have talent and not just a flash in the pan. Also, hindi naman kami pinababayaan ng ABS-CBN. Our latest assignment is 'Maligno', where Kim plays a reporter and I'm her cameraman na siyang nakakuha ng picture noong Maligno.

Then we'll be doing the local version of 'My Girl'. We just make sure na sa bawat project namin, we give our best so our fans won't get tired of us at para patuloy rin kaming pagtiwalaan ng ABS. "

This teen discovery from Gen. Santos City has really gone places. His "Sana Maulit Muli" with Kim is now being shown in Taiwan. They made two movies, "First Day High" and "I've Fallen for You". He also did hit dance albums. Last year, he was named best new male TV personality in the 2007 Star Awards and his tandem with Kim was named Guillermo Memorial Park's Most Popular Loveteam.

"Dahil nga sa dami ng blessings ko, I decided to share it with cancer patients on my birthday. I feel that all my achievements won't happen kundi dahil kay Lord kaya dapat lang na mag-share ako with the less fortunate. "

Another March celebrant is Cass Ponti who celebrated her birthday on March 4. She's happy with the good feedback her recent Maxim cover pictorial with the all girl group, Koolchx, got. She's now seen in "Wowowee" and "ASAP 08" and played the sexy friend of Angelo Patrimonio in "Astigs".

Julia Barretto, daughter of Marjorie Barretto and Dennis Padilla, turned 11 on March 10. The cute and bubbly 4th grader was noticed playing the young Claudine Barretto in "Walang Kapalit" and she has since been doing commercials and also became the image model of a clothing line. She was also cast in "Kokey" and "Palos". She enjoys playing tennis and dreams of being a professional athlete.

A new Star Magic talent is Brazilian model Marianna del Rio, who says it's not true she caused the rift between Cesar Montano and Sunshine Cruz. "Cesar is not my type," she says. "He's too old for me. "

She learned to speak English only when she was 14 when she started traveling as a model. Her mom is half Pinay and she came to Cebu last year to visit her grandma. From there, someone took her to Bohol and that's how she met Cesar. She loves soccer and her idol is Ronaldinho. Standing 5'10", she turned 17 on March 14. She now dances in ASAP's Full Circle and is in the cast of "Kapitan Boom", the new Komiks series starring Jon Avila and Jay-R Siaboc.

TONI GETS TIPS FROM SINGING CHAMPS

Toni Gonzaga's recent "Catch Me" concert at Aliw Theatre was a big hit and people who failed to get in then are requesting for its repeat so it'll be re-staged on May 2, 8 p. m. , as "Catch Me Again", also at Aliw in the CCP Complex.

"I have so much to be thankful for as this is turning out to be a good year for me," she says. "Kumita ang first movie ko, 'My Big Love', with Sam Milby, and I'll be doing a new one, 'Amnesia Girl', with Vhong Navarro, based on Adam Sandler's '50 First Dates'. Then hit nga itong concert ko and nasama ako sa 'Maging Sino Ka Man'. Now, I'm hosting PBB Teens Edition Plus and we're glad as it's rating very high. "

Toni is lisping as we talk to her because of her new braces. "I have to put it on for six months for my crooked teeth. But I remove when I act or do hosting. "

How does she prepare for her concert? "I've asked tips from the champions. Erik Santos told me to use a vaporizer for my voice. Rachelle Ann Go lent me the vocalizations in her Ipod. Jed Madela told me not to talk so much in the morning to preserve my voice. Sarah Geronimo said I should drink only Evian water kasi madulas. I followed them all and it helped as I was able to sustain my voice until the end of my concert. But I don't drink Evian anymore, kasi mahal. "

Was her BF Direk Paul Soriano pissed when it was rumored he bought so many tickets to her concert then just gave them away to his relatives to make sure the venue will be filled up? "No. Hindi naman kasi totoo. Maiinis lang siya kung totoo 'yun kasi dapat, secret na lang yun. E, hindi naman, totoo. "

Her guests in "Catch Me Again" are Sam Milby, Gerald Anderson, Allan K, and Vice Ganda, directed by GB Sampedro, produced by Manio Events and Nitram Entertainment in cooperation with Shapes Wear, Redbox, Di Boss LCD, Manila Bulletin, Love Radio, and Star Records. For tickets ranging from P4,000 to P1, 500, call SM Ticketnet at 911-5555 or Nitram at 719-5726.

JERICHO'S MALAYSIAN LEADING LADY NO THREAT TO HEART

Jericho Rosales feels lucky to be chosen as the leading man of the first ABS-CBN-Malaysian government co-production, a TV series that will pair him with Malaysian actress Carmen Soo.

He was selected because he became very popular after his soaps "Pangako Sa'Yo" and "Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas" became big hits there. Carmen is seated beside him as we interview him.

She's very pretty and has a winning personality. How does Echo find her?

"I just met her today in the morning of the presscon then we had lunch together," he says. "She eats a lot. " Carmen laughs and admits she's a big eater. "She's nice and friendly and I think we'll have a good time working together. We'll start with a workshop in Malaysia on April 4. Then I'll stay there for taping for two months starting April 30, tapos punta kami rito sa Manila and we'll tape here for two months also.

Bale four months namin gagawin ang series that will be shown simultaneously later this year in both our country and Malaysia. I was really surprised when ABS offered me this project, but I feel good as it's a challenging one and I promise to give it my all.

I'm now shooting a movie, 'Subject: I Love You', at tamang-tamang matatapos ito, we'll start the taping for our TV show. "

He doesn't know yet what the title will be. "The script is still being written, but it's sure to be directed by Gilbert Perez. I have a feeling magiging malaki ang impact niya in both the Philippines and Malaysia. "

So what happens to him and GF Heart Evangelista? "She understands this is part of my work kaya magkakalayo kami nang matagal. But she doesn't have to feel insecure about it dahil secure na secure naman ang relationship namin. "

MISS TEEN CANDIDATE BETTER THAN BB. PILIPINAS WINNER

IT'S summer again and it's time once more for Miss Teen Philippines International, now on its 5th year. This is one beauty search that focuses on intelligence and good communication skills of the contestants and not just on their beauty of face and figure. The winner last year is Maxine Monasterio from Cagayan de Oro. Born on December 30, 1990, she's a sophomore at Xavier University majoring in psychology.

A combination of beauty and brains, she's a consistent dean's lister and also an athlete who got an award for athletics. She won the pageant as she gave the best answer in the Q&A portion. We've talked to her and she's really articulate, unlike Bb. Pilipinas World Janina San Miguel who became the object of derision because of her crooked English. Her 1st runner-up is Priscilla Nati-vidad, the deaf girl from Davao who's now a housemate in PBB Teens Edition.

The pageant this year started its screening of candidates in 10 cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, plus screenings in Pinoy communities abroad. From these preliminaries, 30 finalists will be chosen to represent their respective regions in 2008 National Pageant to be held at the CAP Auditorium in Davao City on May 31, with delayed telecast on June 8 in Studio 23. Before this, they will have a 10-day caravan that will make the girls travel from Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin Island to Bukidnon and Davao.

They will be Youth Ambassadors of Eco-Tourism who will experience the true treasures of our country from beautiful coastlines to pristine landscapes and forests.

The winner will get P100,000 cash, a four-year college scholarship, a personality development course, plus various gifts from the sponsors and a one-year training course from Yes Environment and Life Speed Events that includes capacity building, environmental education and leadership training. Pageant organizers are Stanley Fernandez (managing director), Monique Morales (creative director), Jackie Aquino (pageant night director), May Salvano (operations director). For inquiries, call 672-3876 or log on to www. missteenphils. com.

THE DIFFICULT PART OF MARRYING ISABEL

Paolo Contis says his relationship with Isabel Oli is his longest ever, after Carol Banawa, Desiree del Valle, Nancy Castiglione and Bubbles Paraiso. "Two years and two months na kami and we're still doing okay," he says. "If the Lord wills it, siguro kami na nga talaga ang meant for each other.

She has many good qualities that I really appreciate. When I celebrated my 24th birthday on March 14, she surprised me with a very expensive Louis Vuitton gym bag. Kasi, galit na galit siya doon sa ginagamit kong gym bag dahil tattered na raw, halos malasog na, pero ayaw ko pang palitan. She told me ang porma-porma ko, pero ang gamit kong gym bag, ka-cheapan, so tinodo na niya ang gift niya sa akin and she gave me a real classy bag. "

He seems to have found his ideal mate. Will they be tying the knot soon? "No. There's no reason for us to be in a hurry.

We want to give ourselves another two years before we seriously think of getting married. I'm still having my own house built. I want to be really financially stable muna before we settle down. It's easy to get married but what happens after that is the difficult part at 'yun ang gusto naming paghandaan muna nang husto. Right now, we're both busy. I figure in a love triangle with Diana Zubiri and Ian de Leon in 'Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita' at siya naman, busy rin in 'Maging Akin Ka Lamang'. "

POSITIVE E-MAILS

AGAIN, here are some emails from readers and their positive reaction to PBB Teen Plus. No wonder it's now the toprating show of ABS-CBN and getting higher ratings than their soaps.

From proud2bkapamilya of Makati: "Kudos to ABS-CBN for choosing a better batch of housemates sa PBB Teen Plus. Grabe, ang guguwapo ng mga boys! Isa lang ang chaka, 'yung taga-Davao na gagawin nilang kakatawanan. Kapag itinabi siya kina E-jay, Jolas, Robi, Joseph at Alex who admits na hindi pa siya tuli, he suffers in comparison. I don't like naman si Kevin na younger version ni John Rendez. He looks antipatiko to me. "

From Dino Sore: "Please give my regards to Beauty. I like her being so kikay. Super nakakatuwa siya on screen and she's a better version of Angelu de Leon during the TGIS days. Ang ganda-ganda rin ng renovations done to the PBB house. Cool na cool ang dating sa TV. Bow naman ako kay Priscilla, the deaf dreamer from Davao. I like her determination and fighting spirit in spite of her disability. She's very inspiring. "

Source: People's Journal