No need for Gabriela to disown Marian

Author: Edgar Cruz
Column: BuzzStation

During her launch as Jag Black endorser, Marian Rivera stated that a Gabriela National Alliance of Women member said the pro-women organization is willing to back her up. This is in connection with the aggression she experienced with a male fan during a Dyesebel shoot in Subic Bay. This made her confront him in an equally aggressive manner, the footage of which is one of YouTube’s hottest visits up until now. During the press conference, Marian never claimed it was Gabriela itself that is willing to do this. That is why the disclaimer issued by Secretary General Emmi de Jesus stating that it has nothing to do with Marian’s statement is uncalled for. It should have looked into the incident first as Marian would have not been as furious if she did not honestly think her womanhood had been grossly violated.

Angel Locsin has also no conflict with the selection of Marian as the new female image model of Jag Black’s premium denim line holiday ‘08 collection. The male Jag Black image model, by the way, is Will Devaughn. It was GMA who got Angel to endorse Jag so it’s normal to remove her from the contract since it had expired and she’s no longer a Kapuso contract star. It’s normal for Marian to replace her as she’s the choice of Fil-Pacific Apparel, the country’s Jag manufacturer and distributor. Jag’s marketing manager Dondi Manlulo confirmed this. He said Jag and Angel’s management mutually agreed to end the contract. He said their company normally changes image models every two years. Marian was straightforward enough to admit she is using Jag Black for the first time as she has just finished the contract of her previous clothing endorsement.

Pooh and Pokwang airborne for 20 minutes

Top comedians Pooh and Pokwang bended reality when they opened Poohkwang comedy show at the Music Museum yesterday. They did a record-breaking 20-minute opener which kept them airborne. Mind-boggling, right? Director Andrew De Real promises a grand time for all, swearing this show will ditch Velma, his all-time bestseller. Amazing! Pooh, who rose to fame for mimicking Manny Pacquiao as Manny Poohkyaw, and Pokwang, grand prize winner of the Clown in a Million, have emerged as the Allan K and Ai Ai delas Alas of their generation of comics. Their looks match their acts, they are highly creative because they are witty and they have flawless timing. No wonder they are booked not only for one weekend but for all the weekends of June. Poohkwang is a miss-at-your-own-risk show. The show is produced by ASAP Live.

Eric Cruz hits tradpols tenderly

After watching three of Eric Cruz’s bi-annual free concerts at Teatrino, it has become clear he is a tenor with a cause. Although he hinted about it in previous concerts, last Tuesday’s Where the Truth Lies (Musikalokohan), megged by Leo Rialph, was a direct hit. This socio-political satire did it tenderly with classic and current songs and sarcastic jokes that poke fun at traditional politicians. Despite the presence of Sec. Romulo Neri, he did not balk at hitting Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, turning her into a punching bag bursting at the seams. But Eric is an astute businessman and artist. While he provided no-charge food, drinks, songs and jokes, he asked the audience to contribute to his Differently Abled Foundation pet project by donating any amount in the envelope tucked inside the programme.

Frequent collaborators Nolyn Cabahug, Lisa Cabahug (Nolyn’s sister), child diva Mica Torres and Dyords Javier provided Eric with impressive support. Working individually and collectively with Eric, the team served as effective collaboration. Each had their shining moments but it seemed they did best when they interacted with Eric. Eric has this extraordinary ability to make his collaborators shine. He’s a sharer than a limelight hogger that is why he holds on his own during group numbers and excels in his solo pieces which were the concert’s most loudly applauded numbers. Fast and no downtimes, Eric and the group captured the full house which seemed to get fuller as the show progressed.

Nolyn and Lisa were game collaborators. Just think of the world-renowned tenor and soprano dancing “Papaya,” and you’ll have a good idea of what I mean. Mica can give Charice stiff competition but she could do something that Charice would be shy doing, that is, enter the stage while riding the back of Eric’s mechanized chair. But it was Dyords who tried to steal the show from Eric and almost made it. His joke never failed to make us crack. He has flawless timing. For sure, he’s an underrated comedian. Together, they put across the message that we can only have one country and we must work as one to turn it into the home we want. As usual, wife Shirley Halili-Cruz was not high-profile during the event, but we know she was there, running the whole thing from the dark spots.

Caregiver breaks A-rating jinx!

The Philippines box office weekend grosses from May 28 to June 1 reported Star Cinema’s Caregiver toppled down Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in opening weekend grosses. Indiana Jones opened in more than 101 screens while Caregiver only opened in 70 screens. Indiana Jones earned $1,519,225 compared to Caregiver’s $1,435,652, a small difference of $83,573. This means Caregiver grossed similarly as Indiana Jones! This means Caregiver has broken the A-rating jinx! Caregiver was also the top release of the week, beating Sex and the City and 21. Out of the 15 movies screening for the period, only three are Filipino made, one of them the top-grosser. Here are the rank three to four weekend grosses: 3. Sex and the City, $302,815; 4. 21, $176,860; 5. Iron Man, $74,669; 6. Ikaw Pa Rin (Bongga Ka, Boy!); 7. What Happens in Vegas, $35,485; 8. The Forbidden Kingdom,$17,980; 9. Mega Snake, $14,194; and 10. Speed Racer, $9,119; 11.

Mariel had an abortion?

Mariel Rodriguez is the subject of the cruel buzz that she had an abortion courtesy of boyfriend Zanjoe Marudo. Allegedly, she had it in Hawaii when she went there for a Wowowee show with Willie Revillame, Valerie Concepcion, Lara Precious Quigaman and Pokwang. Yep, this was the controversial show where Lara brought her mom and boyfriend which is against the show’s house rules. This buzz does not need denial as both Mariel and Zanjoe are no longer adrenaline-driven teens ignorant of anti-pregnancy measures. And this is no longer the time when unscheduled and/or unwanted pregnancy has to be terminated. If they conceived, Mariel and Zanjoe are mature enough to be responsible. In the first place, how sure are we that they are that intimate?

Who’s going to be Big Winner?

Our fearless forecast is Robi! Why? Because he’s charmed the public with being a teen for others, his willingness to take risks and sincerity. There’s much to be desired with Beauty and Nicole. Ejay and Alex don’t have the voters’ base as shown by Alex’s eviction last night. This is Robi’s advantage. He has the Ateneo educational system behind him. Besides being a star material, he has successfully projected the university’s “man for others” thrust. Proof to this was his 77 percent vote when he was up for eviction with Nan who only got 23 percent and the 10 percent advantage over the second placer in last night’s eviction. He was safe from last night’s eviction as it was only a mock eviction. By the way, PBB Teen Plus finals night tickets are hottest in the metro. Media members were allocated only a ticket each! When I brought this issue up to ABS-CBN corporate communications vice president Bong Osorio, he offered to give another one.

KC wants to be different from mom Sharon

Pre-media conference talk at KC Concepcion’s A.K.A Cassandra CD was whether she will be late like the habit of mom Sharon Cuneta. In a press conference for an ice cream brand, the Megastar arrived four hours late! A.K.A. Cassandra is KC’s 11-track debut CD as produced and distributed by Sony BMG Music Entertainment. Well, those status quo busters were wrong! Publicist Shirley Pizzaro promised to start one P.M. and it started right on the dot. What these putschists did not know was KC was already in her holding room as indicated by the presence of managers. You see, they usually arrive as an entourage. In fairness to the Superstar, she has never been late in her press cons that I attended. And in fairness to the Megastar, she wants everybody to be there when she arrives. Media members are exactly time beaters.

A.K.A Cassandra confirms what we have been suspecting all along, that KC and mom Sharon have the same voice timbre. But KC wants to be different from Mom Sharon. This is probably the reason she opted to have a different CD packaging. While the songs have a bright, positive and idealistic quality, the cover images are dark, almost trying to hide her. The 11 tracks include “I Melt with You,” “Impossible,” “Doo Be Doo,” “An Updated Version of Me,” “Ngiti Lang,” “Umbrella,” “I Just Can’t Get Enough,” “Imagine,” “Agila (Haring Ibon),” “It Must Have Been Love” and “Breathe.” She collaborated with some of the country’s music geniuses like Ryan Cayabyab, Joey de Leon, Raymund Marasigan, Sammy Asuncion and Angelo Villegas to come up with this brilliant collection of heart-felt songs.

E-mail to imagineph@yahoo.com or text to 0920-8453-1154 your comments.

Source: The Daily Tribune

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