Marvin Agustin: Fair-haired Kapuso star

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

Marvin Agustin is really a GMA prized property. Even before "Adik Sa'Yo" ends, he already has a new assignment as Sunshine Dizon's leading man in "Tinik sa Dibdib."

As someone points out: "Alagang-alaga talaga siya ng GMA at never siyang nababakante, unlike ang ka-love team niyang si Jolina Magdangal."

Marvin and Jolina's "Adik Sa'Yo" ends this week and Direk Joel Lamangan made sure the last episodes will be crazier and funnier than ever. Their relationship as Carlos and Joana remains as shaky as when they started. But Joana persists in getting Carlos and woos him with a singing telegram.

In the case of Dennis Trillo as Ruben and Jennica Garcia as Karen, they've reconciled but the villainous Liza (Chynna Ortaleza), the supposed half-sister of Joana and Karen, has lost her senses and is determined to break them up. Joana also learns of her mom Fatima's (Eugene Domingo) true intentions and forces her to choose between taking revenge and keeping her as a daughter. Before it finally ends with a double wedding, "Adik Sa'Yo" will have a suicide, a hostage drama, and other surprising twists and turns, so don't miss it.

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Replacing "Adik Sa'Yo" is the local adaptation of the tearjerking Koreanovela, "Stairway to Heaven." At its lavish presscon last Monday night, they put up a real revolving carousel on stage complete with dancing girls, clowns, mascots and fire eaters, since Cholo (Dingdong Dantes) owns a theme park in the story. They then presented an abbreviated version of the whole story as a stage play, with the stars doing the most dramatic highlights live, theater style.

"Stairway" is the endearing love story of Cholo and Jodi (Rhian Ramos). They become friends as kids (Joshua Dionisio and Barbie Forteza) but Cholo has to go to the US, vowing to return to Jodi later. Jodi's dad (Jestoni Alarcon) remarries and Jodi's wicked stepmom, Maita (Jean Garcia), maltreats her with the help of her sister Eunice (Glaiza de Castro) who wants to steal Cholo from her. On the night Cholo returns from the US, Eunice runs over Jodi with her car and Cholo thinks Jodi is dead. The truth is she only gets amnesia and Tristan (TJ Trinidad), who's been in love with her for the longest time, tries to make her believe that she's actually his girlfriend, Jenna.

Cholo later discovers that Jodi is still alive, but fate will not make the unfortunate lovers rest as Jodi contracts a terminal disease. Be sure to keep a stock of tissue paper with you while you watch this new series as directors Joyce Bernal and Andoy Ranay are determined to make you shed a lot of tears.

"Stairway to Heaven" is really an acid test for Dingdong. His stock as a leading man has been boosted by his love team with Marian Rivera in "Marimar" and "Dyesebel." Marian has proven she can go solo in "Darna." Now, it's Dingdong's turn to prove that people will still watch him even without Marian by his side.

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Rufa Mae Quinto was present as a host at "SOP" last Sunday noon, but she was absent at "Showbiz Central" which aired after that. Folks say she intentionally didn't show up there as she doesn't want to lose her temper when she sees DJ Mo who declared in his Twitter account that her boyfriend is married congressman Mikey Arroyo. "Talagang sobrang imbierna siya kay Mo kaya iniwasan na lang niyang makita ito," says our source.

Mo apologized on the air. "It's irresponsible of me," he says. "It's meant to be a joke, pero hindi siya nakakatawa. Sa internet naman kasi, hindi yun sineseryoso. I apologize to Rufa Mae and Cong. Arroyo. Alam ko, mali talaga ako."

But as the adage goes, the harm has been done.

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Vilmanians are so worried that their idol's comeback film, "In My Life," might not be shown in SM malls but the good news they've long been wanting to hear is that the conflict between Star Cinema and SM management regarding "collection and computation issues" has finally been settled, just in time for the showing of "In My Life" on September 16. They can now heave a sigh of relief and troop to SM Cinemas come next Wednesday. We noticed, though, thatwhen SM was close, fans of ABS-CBN stars did go to Robinson Malls to watch "And I Love You So," so we can believe that the Bea Alonzo-starrer still made money even without SM. But of course, it could have been a bigger hit had it also been shown at SM, the theater of choice for masa moviegoers.

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Fans of the AljurAbrenica-Kris Bernal love team are accusing Carla Abellana of flirting with Aljur after she chose him as the best among the ten young hunks featured in the Cosmo mag where she's on the cover.

"Bakit naman nilagyan agad ng malisya yun?" Carla asks on the set of "Rosalinda." "I was just asked kung sino ang the best ma-feature sa centerfold and I said it's Aljur dahil nagkasama na kami sa acting workshops and he's really nice to me. Anong masama run? Di sana, iba na lang ang pinili ko kung bibigyan din lang nila ng masamang kahulugan. Para lang kaming magkapatid ni Aljur at pinu-po pa niya nga ako kasi I'm a few years older than him."

What can she say about Jomari Yllana's statement that she's so lovely and shows much promise as an actress?

"I'm really thankful to him kasi he has a lot of experience in the industry and coming from him, that's an honor. Masaya naman kami sa mga eksenang ginawa namin for 'Rosalinda' so far."

We heard she'll also do love scenes with Jom later.

"If it's for the good of the show, I'm ready to do it. Wala naman akong choice. Basta pag sinabi ni Direk Maryo de los Reyes na kailangang gawin ko, I'll do it."

How is she preparing for her transformation as top singer Paloma?

"With the help of my acting coach, Ms. Ann Villegas, I really studied the role well. Nag-experiment na rin kami sa magiging look ko, sa hair and wardrobe. As Paloma, mas matapang na si Rosalinda. Hindi na siya paaapi."

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Allow us to congratulate our aunt Evangeline Maceda-Dumlao, former UE Dean of Nursing, and her husband Amando Dumlao Jr. as they celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary today, September 10. This is really something to celebrate. Imagine, 60 years! Tiya Banjo, as we fondly call her, was the sole godmother in our wedding to our late wife, Victoria Arcega, who was their flower girl during their wedding. Too bad Vicky is no longer around to celebrate it with Tiya Banjo and Tiyo Ding. But their threekids, Amando III, Eugenia Reedy, and Cecilia, are still around, along with eldest granddaughter Lourdes "Sandy" Dumlao who's a doctor at Makati Medical Center.

There's a thanksgiving mass at the Archbishop's Chapel tonight with reception at Wack Wack later.

Source: Malaya