Mark: Ako, bading?

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

WHAT does Mark Herras think of ex-GF Jennylyn Mercado's decision to sue a tabloid that published the pictures of the baptism of her baby son without her permission? "She has every right to do so kasi nakiusap naman siyang huwag nang ilabas 'yun but they still did so," he says. "They should have respected her request kasi kami ngang godparents, ni hindi na sinabihan to attend it. Tapos, nilagay pa nilang nandun daw ako sa foto, when I knew about the affair after it happened. "

Mark is going daring in his new soap with Jennylyn, "Paano Ba ang Mangarap," where he plays the role originally portrayed by Christopher de Leon. "It's not that daring. More mature lang kasi di naman puede puro tweetums na lang lagi. I had a love scene with Chynna Ortaleza na naka-boxer shorts ako. Dapat, may swimming pool scene na naka-trunks ako but even Director Joel Lamangan said hindi bagay sa'kin kasi payat ang legs ko, so I'll just wear boxers again. I go to the gym four times a week now to have a better physique. Pangit naman kasing paghubarin ka, tapos walang porma ang katawan mo. I'm now taking whey protein also. Hindi naman para maging bato-bato ang muscles ko. Gusto ko lang magkalaman ng konti, but lean. Magkakaroon din kami ng love scene ni Jen, pero later pa kukunan at 'yun lang puwede sa TV. Sa story, her first love is Hero Angeles, who's my brother na favorite ng mommy naming si Bing Loyzaga. But he dies, kaya ako ang pumalit sa kanya sa puso ni Jen. "

How's it working with Hero? "Okay naman. Maganda nga kasi StarStruck winner ako sa GMA-7 at Star Circle Quest winner naman siya sa ABS, tapos ngayon, pinagsama kami in one show. "

What can he say now that his ex-GF Lian Paz of EB Babes is now the current squeeze of Paolo Contis? "Paolo is my brother as we have the same manager, Manay Lolit. He asked me kung okay pa ba kami ni Lian and I told him matagal na kaming wala. Kung happy sila, I'm happy for them also. "

But how did he feel when Lian said in "Startalk" that Paolo is more "tunay na lalaki" than him? "Ibig niyang sabihin, pekeng lalaki ako, bading. Ako, bading?" he laughs. "Such remarks, hindi na lang pinapatulan. Binabale-wala na lang 'yan. Hahaba pa, e mas tutok ako sa career ko ngayon kaya nga matagal na akong walang girlfriend. "

It's said he's courting Yna Asistio? "No, we're just close friends ng buong family niya. She was just 15 when we were paired in 'Mga Mata ni Anghelita'. Masyado pang bata. Now, she's just 17. But kasundo ko even her mom, si Tita Nadia (Montenegro), at mga kapatid niya. They even took me to an event in Davao with them at nag-enjoy ako. "

So who'll be his Valentine date? "Siguro, my mom na lang. Nagkasakit si Mama at ngayon lang naging okay uli, so ilalabas ko na lang siya dahil matagal na siyang hindi nakakalabas ng bahay. "

PLAYING JOLOGS ROLE EASY FOR MARIAN

Marian Rivera's role as the kooky and free-spirited Proserfina who messes up the very orderly and organized world of straight-laced business exec Homer (Dingdong Dantes) in "Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang" seems tailor-made for her.

"May pagka-jologs ang character at di ba sinasabi nilang jologs ako, so bagay nga sa'kin," she laughs. "Masayahin si Proserfina but she had a sad past kaya fighter talaga siya. Fighter din naman ako, hindi ako paaapi, kaya I can identify with her. Ang kaibhan lang, may kapatid siyang addict, si Mart Escudero. Ako naman sa tunay na buhay, wala. May mga kapatid ako sa ama, pero nasa Spain sila. "

At the presscon of "Babaeng Hinugot" that starts airing tomorrow, the cast members were introduced one by one on stage in a manner that looks like they're appearing in a stage play, complete with elaborate sets. Then the pilot episode was shown and most writers were laughing at the antics of Marian as the mysterious stranger who intrudes into Dingdong's bedroom, shocking him when he wakes up in the morning with Marian by his side. The show's other stars are Carmi Martin as Dingdong's sexy and controlling mom, Hera; Jackie Rice as his rebellious sister who marries a poor boy, Cassandra, Prince Stefan as his brother, Aristotle, who joins the priesthood but is in love with Lovi Poe; Sherilyn Reyes as his aunt, Galatea; Alyssa Alano as the dumb maid, Citas; Eugene Domingo as the meddlesome mayordoma, Madel; Angelu de Leon as his gold-digging girlfriend, Heleen, who has a secret lover, Boom Labrusca; Paolo Paraiso as his best friend Mike; Paolo Contis as Marian's persistent suitor, Rado; Francine Prieto as Rado's lover, Shiela; and Carlene Aguilar as Angelu's accomplice, Clarisse.

Marian is now being convinced by friends to buy her own house but she wants a condo unit instead. "I don't need a big house kasi solo lang naman ako. My lola and mom have houses of their own in Cavite. More comfortable for me to stay in a condo, also more secure than in a big house. I'm just renting my unit now in Mandaluyong near my manager, Popoy Caritativo, so I want to get my own unit na. "

NOT RHIAN BUT SAY FOR SAM

Anne Curtis wants to make it clear that Sam Milby and she are just friends again. "Pero hindi po kami nagkabalikan like what others wrote," she stresses.

Is it because Sam is now being linked to Rhian Ramos after he visited the set of "La Lola"? "No. He told me that he visited the taping of 'La Lola' but it's because of Say Alonzo, ka-batch niya sa Pinoy Big Brother. Talagang good friends sila and she's now in 'La Lola' kaya dinalaw niya. Nagulat na nga lang siya when his foto with the cast came out in the papers at sila na ni Rhian ang nili-link sa isa't isa. "

So what's preventing her from reconciling with Sam? "Wala, we just want to take it slow this time. We're just enjoying ourselves at ayaw naming padala sa pressures ng iba na bagay talaga kami or we should be together again. "

Anne is the new endorser of Swatch Original Skin, along with Angelica Panganiban. It was Billy Crawford who suggested their names to Swatch big boss Virgie Ramos. "They're both beautiful and sexy kaya bagay silang endorser ng Swatch," says Billy who acted as the host in the Swatch presscon.

"Pero bakit kaya ang girlfriend niyang si Nikki Gil, hindi niya nirekomenda sa Swatch?" one writer asks. "Does this mean hindi beautiful and sexy si Nikki for him na gaya nina Anne and Angelica?"

'LOLA' DINA LOOKING FOR MR RIGHT

AT the presscon of the inspirational soap "May Bukas Pa" that starts its telecast tomorrow, Dina Bonnevie was asked what she'd ask from the Lord if she's given the chance. "Happy naman ako with my life now," she says. "I have a good career on cam and off cam as my business is doing well. Lola na rin ako with Danica's son. If there's something lacking in my life, it's having my own partner who'd be with me for the rest of my life. Matagal ko na ngang dinadasal 'yun pero wala pa rin, e. "

What happened to Habib, her boyfriend when she was doing "Walang Kapalit" with ABS-CBN? "It didn't work out kasi he was assigned in Saudi Arabia. E, siyempre, I couldn't join him naman there as I have my own life and career here. Also, hindi naman kami legally married so I won't be allowed to just live with him there dahil mahigpit sila sa ganun doon. But we're still friends pa rin naman. I just continue to pray to the Lord na sige na naman, introduce na niya sa'kin si Mr. Right. Hindi ko na lang iniisip na lola na ako kasi baka guys might think, ay, lola na pala siya, di matanda na. But my grandson is really a bundle of joy who makes me smile when I'm sad, but compared naman to other grandmas, I became a lola naman at a very young age," she laughs.

She's satisfied with her role in "May Bukas Pa" as Malena, Albert Martinez's ambitious' wife. "She wants power and riches and she won't stop till she gets them. But in the end, there will be redemption kasi the boy Santino will change me into a better person. "

MOST 'POWERFUL' WOMEN IN SHARON

TONIGHT, Sharon Cuneta gets to chitchat in her show with three of the most powerful "women" in politics today: Gov. Vi, Ate Glow and U. S. First Lady Michelle O-Bombshell. They are featured in a special episode entitled "Women of Substance?" and Ate Shawie had a lot of fun interviewing the gay performers who impersonated these women, led by Jon Santos as Gov. Vi.
Cinema One ACCEPTING ENTRIES

Cinema One is now accepting entries for the 2009 Cinema One Originals Digital Movie Festival competition. Now on its fifth Year, the festival provides an opportunity for directors and writers to film their original stories. Five finalists will be chosen and be given P1 million each to produce their movie. The festival and awards will be in November 2009. Veteran or amateur filmmakers may submit a one page story or storyline, a concept brief or a full screenplay. Entries may also include character descriptions and detailed production team lineup.

Spearheaded by Director for Programming of Cinema One Ronald Arguelles who is also the Executive Producer of the digital movie festival, the Cinema One Originals has succeeded in introducing new talents and new films which paved the way for more fresh, diverse concepts to be produced. Cinema One Originals became a venue for movies that defy traditional or formulaic stories but still possessed commercial viability.

Entries should be in hard copy or cd, sent via snail mail or submitted in person to the Cinema One Office at the 8th floor of the ELJ Communications Center, along Lopez Drive, Quezon City. Please look for Lani de Guzman from Monday to Friday, 9 a. m. to 6 p. m. Deadline of submission is February 27.

Source: People's Journal