'No more intrigues, please'

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

ALL is set for the Dingdong Dantes-Marian Rivera "Let's Celebrate" show at the Araneta Coliseum tonight.

A lot of top Kapuso stars will be there to show their support to the network's top loveteam, like Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Iza Calzado, Paolo Contis, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Marvin Agustin, and a lot more. Dingdong really has something to celebrate as he was chosen by E! Entertainment in Hollywood as one of their 25 Sexiest Men of the World.

Dingdong and Marian just returned from the U. S. to promote GMA Pinoy TV. E! Entertainment wants him to stay there for a while to tape his portion in their TV show for the 25 Sexiest Men special but Dingdong had to return home immediately to rehearse his numbers with Marian in their Araneta show.

"We're doing musical numbers we've never done before," says Dingdong. "Talagang excited kaming pagandahin ito as it's our way of saying thank you to our fans for their continued support to us. We'd also like to thank all our GMA co-stars who are participating in the show. "

About their show's being staged on the opening day of the Richard Gutierrez-KC Concepcion movie, "For the First Time," Dingdong says it was never planned that way. "Hindi naman sinadya yun. Wala lang talagang ibang date na open pa sa Araneta. But we're supporting their movie kasi ang director nito, si Joyce Bernal, siya ring director namin sa 'Marimar' at 'Dyesebel. ' We promise to watch it. Sana, wala na lang intrigahan at magtulungan na lang tayo sa industry. "

The show will be aired on GMA-7's Sunday Night Box Office on Sunday, after "Fulhaus. "

NOT CREDIBLE AS A MOTHER

Beth Tamayo is turning 30 but she looks so young and pretty she can still pass for a teener, like in her role as Tessie Tomas' daughter in "Ploning. " This is why she's not totally credible as the mother of Empress Schuck in a recent episode of "Your Song. "

Now managed by Annabelle Rama, she plays a role much closer to her age in the TV adaptation of "Have Baby Will Date," a hit chick lit novel that will be seen for four weeks on "Love Books," TV-5's special showcase of love stories for the hopeless romantics based on best selling novels.

"I play the role of Valerie Concepcion's best friend and I act like her conscience whenever she's making an important decision," she says. "Pero very light ito at comedy ang approach. Asawa ko rito si Bobby Andrews at si Valerie naman is paired with TJ Trinidad. Single mom dito si Valerie, with a demanding career and a baby girl who takes much of ther time. Maraming matututuhan dito ang viewers on how to cope with single parenthood. "

In real life, Beth also wants to become a mother soon. "My husband Johnny has two kids from his previous marriage, aged 9 and 12. I get along fine with my stepkids pero siempre, gusto rin naming magkaroon ng sarili naming anak. "

She wants to make it clear that she did not snatch her husband from his first wife. "Matagal na silang divorced when we met. Married na rin to an American ang wife niya and they have their own daughter. Kami ni Johnny are close to his ex-wife and her husband. We even travelled together to Korea to spend the New Year at noong nandito sila, ako pa ang nag-babysit sa anak nila so they can go out together nang sila lang. They're based in Guam and when I go there, they even fetch me at the airport. I feel so blessed kasi I'm also very close to my stepkids. Sabi pa nga nila sa dad nila, if ever maghiwalay kami, sa'kin daw sila sasama. "

Her hubby is so rich why does she still have to work? "I love acting at gusto ko rin ng may ginagawa. Alangan namang magmukmok na lang ako sa bahay. And I love it when I get good projects, like itong 'Love Books'. "

"Love Books" is shown on Tuesdays, 7 p. m. on TV-5, directed by Mark Reyes, with replays on Sunday at 12 noon.

IÑAKI, AS EXPECTED

LIKE what we've predicted, Iñaki was expelled from Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 last Saturday night. He left along with honorary scholar Poy whose stint inside PDA also ended. The probee scholars who got the lowest scores are Sen and Van, both of whom have star quality. You can now text your votes to save Sen or Van. Sen is a 24-year old balikbayan from the U. S. while Van is an 18-year band singer in Cebu. Our wish is for Van to stay as he seems to have a bright future in showbiz. Between the two of them, he's also the one who's the real newcomer, as Sen has performed in "SOP" before. As of now, the only remaining scholars aside from Sen and Van are Laarni, Cris, Liezel, Miguel and Bugoy. The show will have its finals by the third week of September, to be replaced by "Fear Factor. "

HOLLYWOOD TO TAKE A BACKSEAT FOR CESAR

Cesar Montano cannot leave yet for the U. S. as the show he's hosting "The Singing Bee," is extended again due to consistent high ratings. It was supposed to end last Friday but was extended again for another two weeks. Two of its undefeated champs who won millions, Rachel Alejandro and Aiza Seguerra, are now staging their back to back concert at the Metro Bar on West Avenue this Friday, August 29, called "Avenue Bee" because, aside from being "Singing Bee" champs, both Rachel and Aiza also performed together in the hit Broadway show, "Aveue Q. "

STOP IT, WILLIE AND Pokwang

HERE'S an email from reader Clarissa Surban: "Hindi ako Kapamilya o Kapuso. Sa totoo lang, naaasiwa ako sa ganyang paghahati sa viewers. Dapat, yung shows ang i-judge natin kung okay o hindi, not the stars o yung channels. Hindi rin ako fan ni Joey de Leon pero exaggerated naman ang reaction nina Pokwang at Willie sa 'aswang' issue ni Joey. Kapag nanonood ako ng shows niya, mas grabe pa kung manlait si Pokwang ng ibang tao mismo sa ABS, madalas siyang binibiro na hindi siya mukhang babae kundi mukha siyang lalaki o bakla.

"Hindi ba tinutukso ang anak niya dahil doon? Si Willie naman, nagpabida naman at nakisakay. Kunwari ay china-champion si Pokwang. Sinabi pang si Pokwang ay OFW na namatayan ng anak at inilibing nang hindi man lang nito nasilayan. Wala akong makitang connection doon at sa aswang issue. He obviously just wants to evoke public sympathy sa isang TH na paraan. Sana hindi na lang siya nakisawsaw dahil sa totoo lang, mas sumikat naman talaga si Pokwang dahil sa isyung ito. Tapos, dinagdag pa niyang he's paying his taxes amounting to million. Sabi pa niya kay Pokwang na panay naman ang iyak para magpa-underdog effect: "Kaya ikaw,magbayad ka rin ng tax mo. " Naku, ha, e sino ba ang nasangkot sa non-payment of duties ng kanyang imported cars? Kunsaan-saan na raw napunta ang aswang isyu dahil sa pakikisawsaw niya. Tigilan na yan. Habulin na lang nila ang ratings ng "Eat Bulaga" na hindi pa rin nila mapataob hanggang ngayon kahit pareho namang boring ang shows nila. "
JURIS NOT GOING SOLO, PERIOD

IS it true that MYMP female vocalist Juris Fernandez wants to go solo but her partner Chin Alcantara is preventing her from doing so?

"No," says the sweet-voiced Juris at the launching of their new album, "Now. " "Hindi ko pa iniisip talaga yung I'd go solo, kasi okay naman ang samahan namin ni Chin. But she said if ever I want to do a solo album, gusto niya, siya raw ang magpo-produce nito for me. Nahihilig kasi siya ngayong mag-produce ng album at idea nga niyang mag-solo album ako, but not having a solo career. "

We remember when their first album was released five years ago. There were three of them then but the other guy has since left them. Juris now has a boyfriend, a businessman who supports her singing career.

"It's been a very fulfilling five years in the local music scene, with our label, Ivory Music, now under a new, young and dynamic management," says Chin, who's MYMP's musical director. "I'm glad that in our new album, we're given the chance to explore our new contemporary acoustic sound and we're very excited on how our audience will respond to our latest efforts. "

"We personally chose the songs in this album and they're all recorded in the most heartfelt manner," adds Juris. "It's been two years ago since our last album and it's definitely worth the wait. "

Their new album is not just a compilation of cover versions as they have two original songs: the title song "Now" composed by Cattski Espina and the Christmas inspirational song, "Wish List. "

The revivals are John Waile's "Missing You," The Pretenders' "Human," Vonda Shepherd's "Baby Don't Break My Heart Slow," Sybil's "Make It Easy On Me," Madonna's "Cherish," Heart's "These Dreams," Wilson Philips' "Impulsive," Side A's "Set You Free," "Restless Heart's "When She Cries" and Paula Abdul's "Rush Rush. " What makes the album great for easy listening is really Juris' very relaxed rendition of the songs. She doesn't really have to go solo anymore as she practically owns each of the album they record.

Source: People's Journal