New Lastikman star wants no comparison

Author: Isah V. Red
Column: Life & Entertainment

Vhong Navarro who blasts onto primetime TV soon as a man with superhuman qualities shies away from making any remarks about actors that played Lastikman before him.

In Tagalog, he told members of the press during the recent press do for the new primetime treat from ABS-CBN, “Each actor has a different way of interpretation of character. The only thing common, perhaps, to all of us playing Lastikman, is the idea that we have superhuman qualities. But when we revert back to our human character, Miguel, each of us have different approach as to how we interpret the character.”

Mars Ravelo’s Lastikman, has been made into a movie in the 60’s with young actor named Von Serna playing the superhero. The actor later married co-star Mila Ocampo and they had a daughter whom they called Snooky. More recently, Viva Films made a more contemporary remake with then unknown Mark Bautista playing the character.

This is the first time Ravelo’s other male superhero (Captain Barbell is the other one) appears on television. And dancer-turned-comedian Vhong Navarro is the lucky actor to play the role in a production that is said to have surpassed the earlier movie versions in terms of production values.

Vhong is the logical choice to play the role. His portfolio includes playing the debonair, sophisticated lady’s man in Star Cinema’s Mr. Suave, the Third-World cousin of Spider-Man in Gagamboy, and the coolest undercover agent in Agent X44.

Vhong Navarro has awed everyone with his chameleon like ease in changing appearances. He can switch his looks, but audiences recognize the comedian easily.

A member of the dance group Streetboys, Vhong realized he could do more than just pop his shoulders, wiggle his hips, and break dance. His manager, Chito Roño saw this innate ability to make people laugh, so he helped him get minor roles in movies and television. With the right mix of subtlety and exaggeration with impeccable timing, people couldn’t miss Vhong in any act and soon became one of the country’s top comedians. He was first coined as the “Jim Carrey of the Philippines” but eventually established his own identity in the industry.

Joining Vhong in the TV version of Lastikman are some of television’s biggest stars like Iya Villania, Roxanne Guinoo, Jake Cuenca, Danilo Barrios, Archie Alemanya, John Estrada, Ian Veneracion, Empress Schuck, Enchong Dee, Georgia Ortega, Carmi Martin, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Cherrie Gil and Dawn Zulueta.

Raider of pirated CDs now a recording star

Edu Manzano was disappointed that the CD World’s Greatest Dance Steps (Universal Records) has not been pirated. Otherwise, he would have had fun confiscating the bootleg copies of the CD, after all, it is his first CD ever.

Yes, Edu, chairman of the Optical Media Board (which conducts raids every so often of known lairs of pirated CD/DVD) is now a certified recording artist.

The CD was launched recently in Pilipinas Game Ka Na Ba?, the country’s highest rating daytime game show.

What prodded Edu to join the younger stars with dance albums, like Gerald Anderson, John Pratts, and Mark Herras?

“When Universal Records executives broached the idea to me, I thought they were pulling my leg,” Edu said at the media launch recently held at Universal Tower. He was over two hours late. Apologizing for his tardiness, he said he came from a raid of an identified pirated CD/DVD outlet. No, he didn’t find a bootleg copy of his CD.

What he thought was a joke proved to be serious. Then, he was asked to report for a photo shoot for the CD’s sleeve.

“I had fun donning the clothes, wig and other stuff they asked me to wear,” he adds. “We’re all having fun with this CD.”

Indeed!

“Chacarron,” the carrier single of the top-selling album, has already been charted no. 1 on the dance charts of leading FM stations all over Metro Manila and key cities in the country.

“Papaya,” another smash hit from the Edu Manzano World’s Greatest Dance Steps album is also one of the most recognizable dance hits. Now a dance staple, “Papaya” is also often heard in Pilipinas Game Ka Na Ba? and even in Kapamilya Deal Or No Deal.

As bonus cuts in Edu’s album, three versions of “Chacarron” and “Papaya” are included.

Angel on Asap 07

It was a grand welcome for Angel Locsin in Asap 07 last Sunday. The former Kapuso who now wears the Kapamilya badge couldn’t hold back her tears of joy. “She said at one point, “I told myself I won’t cry, but here I am crying.” Also, she at another point in the show addressed the Filipinos watching the show abroad via The Filipino Channel. She said: “To those watching on TFC, I am Angel Locsin.” It nearly broke my heart, because even if she used to be the biggest star on GMA-7, not many Filipinos abroad, in the United States, particularly, are familiar with the name and the face.

I guess, one reason, why Angel decided to hop over from Edsa to Sgt. Esguerra is her desire to reach out to more Filipinos overseas.

Well, with everyone in the network, including Charo Santos Concio, Malou Santos, Cory Vidanes and the other stars giving Angel a warm welcome, even the stone-hearted could not help but shed a tear or two.

I am happy Angel feels welcome in the network. I know that feeling.

It was also very heartwarming to see Angel in The Company of former Kapuso stars who are now doing very well as Kapamilya talents: Toni Gonzaga, Iya Villania, Jake Cuenca, Mariel Rodriquez, and Valerie Concepcion (who seems to be doing okay as Willie Revillame’s co-host, along with Mariel, in Wowowee!)

So, the network executives are making sure they don’t waste time in making Angel’s presence in the network felt. She is starting work on a drama series with Piolo Pascual, and Star Cinema is now in the thick of things to finish the storyline and screenplay for a movie that will also star the two actors. While waiting for the cameras to roll for those two projects, Angel is making the rounds of shows on the network as guest star.

So far, so good for someone GMA-7’considers a fallen Angel.

Kokey, okay

It’s true, Kokey is doing okay in the ratings. Last week, it closed the Mega Manila weekly ratings with a 1.7 rating points advantage over Mga Mata ni Anghelita.

Kokey is an extra-terrestrial creature that finds it way to the home of a couple (played by Ruffa Gutierrez and Redford White) and their son.

The show seems to be getting more viewers in the age bracket of three-15 years old. In fact, Kokey is now a byword among kids.

Ruffa who recently reconciled with estranged husband Yilmaz Bektas says she’s not leaving the show. In fact, Yilmaz even visted her on the set in one of the taping sessions she had for the show. The Turk now understands the kind of work his Filipino wife has. “He wants to stay longer here and be with us,” Ruffa intimated. “And he is not asking me to quit showbiz this time.”

Source: Manila Standard Today

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