Nonsense question

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

AT the presscon of "Desperadas 2," a female writer asked Ruffa Gutierrez in the open forum as to when was the last time she saw a male sex organ? Her answer: "Sorry, but I dont answer nonsense questions."

Everyone kept quiet after that and she must have felt it, so she added that she sees the birdie of her nephew David, son of her brother Rocky, who lives with them all the time.

"Ayoko kasi talaga sagutin ang nonsense questions na nakakainsulto," she explains. "I feel I must draw the line kapag ganun na ang tanong. What does it have to do with Desperadas 2?"

And we agree with her. It is the responsibility of writers to be more tactful in asking questions during an open forum that might be embarrassing. If we dont respect them, they wont respect us.

Ruffa is now managing their household in Dasmariñas Village since her parents went to Las Vegas to watch the Manny Pacquiao fight. That night of the presscon, she had just come from the Thanksgiving mass offered by her parents for the success of their consecutive operations: angioplasty for Eddie Gutierrez and hysterectomy for Annabelle Rama.

"Were really happy that mom and dad survived their operations kasi anything could happen while youre undergoing surgery, di ba? So nagpapasalamat talaga kaming lahat theyre now okay. I think mas gumuwapo nga ang daddy ko kasi mas bagets-looking siya ngayon. Si Mommy naman, pumayat. Pareho na silang more careful about what they eat. Ayaw na ng fatty foods. The good health of my parents is the best present Im getting this Christmas season kasi health is wealth, di ba?"

Is it true she and her co-stars in "Desperadas 2" had a conflict because of their billing problem?

"Hindi. We got along well. Si Rufa Mae Quinto was with me noon pa sa Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa. SiIza Calzado naman, I invited her for my charity fashion show and she came. Si Marian, mas naging close kami dito sa Desperadas 2. May stylist na siya ngayon at mas bongga na ang wardrobe niya. Masaya kami sa set at puro tsismisan, pero off the record lahat so Im sorry I cant share them with you."

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Cristine Reyes is wondering why its rumored that she didnt really break up with Dennis Trillo and they still see each other secretly.

"Sa maniwala silat hindi, wala na kaming communication ni Dennis since we decided to split dahil sa sobrang dami ng trabaho namin," she says. "May ibang nanliligaw but sorry, Im too busy now with work at mas tahimik ang buhay ko ng walang lovelife.Sabi nga ng co-workers ko, mas fresh-looking daw ako at blooming kaysa noong may boyfriend ako and I believe its true kasi wala na akong pinoproblemang relasyon."

What can she say about some writers calling her bagong "Pantasya ng Bayan"? They even say she has eclipsed Bea Alonzo in "Betty La Fea" and Anne Curtis in "Dyosa" as shes now the new attraction on ABS-CBNs Primetime Bida with her "Eva Fonda" rating well and shes also in the cast of "Kahit Isang Saglit" that ends this week and in the Saturday gag show, "Banana Split." She has even eclipsed her own ate, Ara Mina, who no longer has a show after moving to ABS. Some even go to the extent of saying shes a better actress than her sister.

"Sana huwag na lang kami pagkumparahin kasi ayoko ng may kaaway," she says. "Im trying my best to befriend all Kapamilya stars at baka magkaroon lang ng negative reaction when Im compared with them, e nauna sila sakin sa ABS. Im just too happy with the blessings and projects that come my way. As for Ate Ara, Im sure shes just resting nowat mabibigyan din sila uli ng bagong project. As for our acting, marami na siyang napanalunang awards as best actress at ako, nagsisimula pa lang, kaya unfair sabihing better actress ako sa kanya."

Her senior co-stars in "Kahit Isang Saglit," Christopher de Leon and Albert Martinez, both attest to the fact that she shows much promise as an actress and she can be a Vilma Santos or Hilda Koronel in the future. "Im really flattered sa papuri nila at sana nga magdilang anghel sila."

Cristine plays the title role in "Eva Fonda," a poor girl who dreams of a simple life with boyfriend Joel (Jason Abalos). But her life becomes complicated when she works in the house of a rich couple, Jean Saburit and Mark Gil, whose son, Baron Geisler rapes her brutally. Directed by Jon Red and Frasco Mortiz, "Eva Fonda" gives Cristine the chance to show her acting ability to the max. Shes supported by Sylvia Sanchez as her mom and also Rustom Padilla, Joross Gamboa, Hazel Ann Mendoza, Princess Ryan, and Alma Moreno (the original Eva Fonda) in a special role. "Eva Fonda" is shown weeknights after "Pinoy Fear Factor: Argentina, South America."

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After she broke up with Polo Ravales, Jean Garcia is said to have found a new love in businessman Jojo Manlongat, who has had other actress-girlfriends before, notably Sunshine Dizon and Angelu de Leon.

Of course, Jean will deny this, like the way she denied Polo before, but just last week, she was seen canoodling with Jojo at the Embassy Bar in the Fort.

Jean and daughter Jennica are both in the cast of "Shake, Rattle & Roll X" but they dont get to act together as they belong to different episodes. Jean plays an avenging ghost in the "Class Picture" episode, while Jennica is with Marian Rivera in the "Nieves" episode about engkanto. Jean, Jennica, Polo and Krissa Mae Arietta (said to be Polos new squeeze) are all in GMA-7s hit show, "Gagambino," and its reported that Jean and Jennica give a cold shoulder to Polo and Krissa Mae during their tapings, but Jennica denies this.

"Hindi totoong nagdededmahan kami sa set," she say. "Kung totoo mang may issue between Polo, Krissa, and my mom, labas naman ako doon. Natatawa nga ako when I heard that my mom is always crying at naglalasing pa raw dahil pinalitan na siya ni Polo kasi its not true. Shes very much okay dahil ang dami niyang trabaho ngayon kaya ang saya-saya niya. No reason for her to get drunk."

Is it true Jean has found a new love in Jojo Manlongat?

"Ay, hindi ko po alam. Basta ang alam ko, marami siyang manliligaw ngayon. I just dont know kung may sinagot na siya."

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Mylene Dizon is hard to beat as this years best actress for her effortless but totally enthralling portrayal of a dying young woman who tries to iron out all the kinks in her life and do all the things she has planned on doing before she finally expires in "100." The directorial debut of Chris Martinez (who wrote the scripts of "Bridal Shower," "Bikini Open" and "Caregiver"), "100" will remind you of the classic Japanese film, "Ikiru," and the more recent Jack Nicholson starrer "The Bucket List." What makes "100" different is its told with liberal touches of humor (like the scene where all the women, including the maid, go skinny dipping), along with scenes of genuine pathos that will touch your heart.

Joyce (Mylene) knows that her condition cannot be cured anymore as the cancer cells have already invaded various organs of her body so she just chooses to spend the remaining three months of her life with her loved ones: best friend Ruby (Eugene Domingo), mom Eloisa (Tessie Tomas), brother (Simon Ibarra) and former boyfriends TJ Trinidad (who is now married to someone else) and Ryan Eigenmann (who chose to join the priesthood and ultimately gives her extreme unction).

The film opens with breathtakingly beautiful shots of the crater of Mt. Pinatubo that give us the urge to also suddenly visit that place. Among the to-do things Joyce listed down in post it notes that she pastes on her wall are simple things like cooking her favorite dishes, going to a spa, having a manicure-pedicure and sleeping all day to more serious matters like choosing her own casket and reconciling with the Lord.

The scene where she tells Ruby that she has returned to God after feeling sore at Him when her dad died and her boyfriend junked her is one of the most poignant scenes in the film. Whats nice about the film is that it does not force or manipulate you to cry but you do since everything just flows naturally. Be sure to catch it at SM theaters.

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Sony BMG Music launched the hit album released in 30 countries worldwide, "The Priests" at the Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord on the fifth floor of SM Megamall (its our first time to be there and its so beautiful) with a mini-concert that featured the world renowned Madrigal Singers and a group of local priests called Six Priests in the City composed of Frs. Steven Zabala, Allan Samonte, Eric Santos, Joel Joson, Rey Pascual, and James Nitollana. It was a great show that made us feel Christmas-y since they sang a lot of festive Christmas carols.

Weve just listened to "The Priests" album as we type this and many of the songs can give you goosepimples as theyre so movingly rendered. The Irish priests featured here are Frs. Eugene OHagan (49 years old), Martin OHagan (45) and David Delargy (45). Produced by Mike Hedges, the album is a celebration of faith, spirituality, love, humilty, tolerance and the power of the human spirit. It has 14 great cuts that include classics like "Panis Angelicus," "Pie Jesu," "Abide With Me," "O Holy Night," "Be Still My Soul," plus the Latin "Ecce Sacerdos Magnus" and "Domine Fili Unigente" and the German "Mit Wurd und Hoheit Angetan."

The three priests in the album met at St. MacNissis College in Derry where they realized their musical prowess as a trio of singers. They pursued their vocation training at The Seminary in Belfast where they also studied singing under Mr. Frank Capper MBE. They concluded their training in Rome where they invited by the Popes secretary, Monsignor Magee, to sing for the Pope in the sacred liturgy. Each now lives the life of a full-time parish priest and they see the release of their album as an opportunity to further forward the faith and spread the word of God through the international language of music.

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Manay Lolit Solia invited us at the stately Laurel Mansion along Shaw Blvd. for a Christmas lunch hosted by Sen. Manny Villar. Was he shocked when he was ousted as Senate President?

"No, hindi na ako nagulat kasi theyve long been attempting to replace me in that position," he says. "E, ngayon, tumaas nang tumaas ang rating ko as the first choice in presidential preference surveys, kaya nagpursigi silang maalis na ako."

How come some parties say hes not really an oppositionist but a secret Gloria Arroyo supporter?

"If that were true, bakit ako inalis sa puwesto ko? But no regrets. Ngayon, less pressure for me. Hindi biro maging Senate President kasi maraming nag-aaway and its stressful. Now, I also have more time with my family and also my advocacies, lalo na yung pagtulong ko sa oppressed OFWs natin maltreated abroad at gusto nang umuwi rito."

Hes turning 59 on December 13. How will he spend it?

"Mainly with my wife, mom and kids. Well go to church, then have lunch and dinner together. Ganundin kami pag Christmas. Then after Christmas, we usually go abroad to have some peace and quiet for ourselves na kami lang ang magkakasama until the New Year."

Whats his birthday wish? "Same as Christmas wish, mabawasan ang corruption dito sa atin and to lessen poverty. Sobrang dami ng taong naghihirap."

He greeted 30 migrant workers who arrived at the airport and then treated them to lunch at the Singing Cooks and Waiters Restaurant and gave them gift packages and raffle prizes.

Does he think therell be a united opposition in 2010?

"Sana at sana nga, matuloy ang election kasi pinipilit nila ang Cha-Cha which everyone thinks is really for term extension. Ako naman, hinihintay ko lang ang bendisyon ng Nacionalista Party for me to run."

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Horror film lovers will enjoy the offering tonight on TV 5s "Max Movies": "Skeleton Key," with Kate Hudson as the victim of terrifying voodoo practitioners. On Wednesday and Thursday, two flicks about walking dead people turning into flesh-eating zombies will scare you in "Land of the Dead" and "Dawn of the Dead." Friday, Hillary Duff tries to find an ideal for her mom Heather Locklear in the rom-com "The Perfect Man." On Saturday, fall in love again with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore in the blockbuster hit, "50 First Dates." On Sunday, Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes play a maid and a senator who fall in love with each other in "Maid in Manhattan." All these films are at 9 p.m. on TV 5.

Source: Malaya