Ogie as a woman upstages co-stars

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

THEY say there's a problem in the billing of the stars in "Desperadas 2" and we're wondering why they didn't have any such problem last year in the first movie. As far as seniority is concerned, it's still Ruffa Gutierrez who should be billed first, followed by Rufa Mae Quinto, Iza Calzado and Marian Rivera. Since Ogie Alcasid plays the newest cast member and sister of the first four Desperadas, then he should be billed specially at the end with that very special conjunction: "And".

Manny Valera tells us Ogie is a real asset to the sequel. "He is funny in all his scenes," he says. "Ang maganda kay Ogie, tatahi-tahimik lang sa set but kapag action na, yun, ang galing-galing niya and does all his scenes without much effort. Our director nga, Joel Lamangan, says it's a blessing in disguise na siya ang nakuha as replacement for the role of the fifth sister from Africa as the movie became funnier at mas gumanda with him playing the role of a woman. Mind you, hindi siya bakla rito, ha. Babae talaga siya. "

Karylle MORE DECIDED ON BREAKUP

DESPITE the request of Dingdong Dantes for the press to stop writing about his breakup with Karylle, various stories concerning them continue to circulate. He might have been the one who broke up with her but it's said it's Dingdong who now tries his best to maintain communication with his ex when Karylle now professes that she no longer loves him. It's said he continues to text or call her. He reportedly told her he's offering the success of "One True Love" to her before the flick's premiere night and all Karylle said was a simple "Good luck. "

When Karylle made her farewell performance in "SOP" last Sunday, Dingdong allegedly texted her several times and when she won't respond, he even called her up but she wouldn't take his call. Because of this, Dingdong is said to have gotten drunk but Karylle was firm in her decision to put a closure on their relationship. How true?

KATRINA DENIES SNUBBING JOROSS

IS it true Katrina Halili snubbed Joross Gamboa when he performed in her recent concert at Metro Bar and she gave more importance to Mark Herras? She's said to be sore at him because he suddenly stopped wooing her. It's good she met Kris Lawrence in the States and he's now more devoted to her.

"Ay, that's not true po," says Katrina at the presscon of OctoArts Films' Metro Filmfest entry, "One Night Only. " "How can I snub him when he's my guest? Totoong maikli lang ang intro ko sa kanya kasi he's going to sing naman and talk to the audience himself. As for Mark, I was told na habaan ko kasi he's going to dance. Kinausap ko rin si Mark kasi he'll promote daw his movie, 'Sapi. ' Nagbabatian kami ni Joross. But it's true he has stopped texting me kasi I went to the States to do shows at nawala ako for three weeks. When I got back, hindi na niya kinontak uli, but it was during that trip that I met Kris. "

But how come Kris denied in their Zirkoh concert that she's his girlfriend? "Okay lang naman po 'yun kasi as of now, MU pa lang kami or mutual understanding. Wala pang formal commitment, nagkakaintindihan lang, but he does inspire me. "

Isn't it hard maintaining a long distance relationship with him? "He just left today but babalik din siya agad in one week. Pabalik-balik naman siya rito. Then after Christmas day, opening day ng 'One Night Only,' I'll be the one to visit them in the States. But I'm not going to stay with them but with another family who invited me. "

In "One Night Only", she plays Jasmine, a golddigger who's all set to go with her new Chinese sugar daddy when her congressman-benefactor, Ricky Davao, takes her to a motel to bed her. Can she identify with her role? "No, why should I? Hindi pa naman ako nagkaka-sugar daddy. I'm earning on my own so I don't need one. "

What can she say that she's now the hottest star among her batchmates in Starstruck 1, especially after Jennylyn Mercado became an unwed mom? "Ay, hindi ko po iniisip yun. I think makakabalik pa si Jen nang bonggang-bongga dahil kasama nga siya sa 'One Night Only. ' It's also not true na ako ang bida sa movie dahil pantay-pantay lang ang roles namin nina Jen, Diana Zubiri, Valerie Concepcion and Alessandra de Rossi. "
PINOY SINGER SHOCKS FRENCH AUDIENCE

NEW actor-singer Orlando Sol was with the group of Director Maryo de los Reyes that went to the recent Brussels International Filmfest. "I sang the theme song of Direk Maryo's 'Torotot,' 'Dahil Ikaw Lamang sa Akin,' and I was requested to sing it live at the awards night," he says. "But even before we left Manila, they also requested that I sing a French song for the closing. We did some research and found out that their greatest balladeer is Jacques Brell, parang Jed Madela nila roon. I chose one of his songs, 'Impossible Dream' in French then inaral ko with the help of a French teacher so I can get the diction right. One week 'yun, wala akong ginawa kundi pakinggan sa Ipod ang song niya araw-gabi. "

"When they heard him, na-shock sila," says Direk Maryo, who's managing Orlando. "Sino itong Filipinong kumakanta ng French? They were so impressed that they're now asking him to do an album of French songs there, with Tagalog versions. :

Emmanuel Canales in real life, Orlando was performing in a Holy Week play at the St. Paul Church in Timog Avenue when Direk Maryo saw him. "His assistant asked my number then he called me up later kung interested ako mag-showbiz. I said yes at pinakuha niya agad ako ng acting workshops. Minsan, in a karaoke bar, kumanta ako and when he heard me, he said, may boses ka pala, so he made me the lead vocalist of the all male group he put up, M-Gage. We're now preparing our album. "

Born on December 10, 1985 in Manila, his family moved to Butuan, Agusan del Norte when he was in grade school. "My father inherited some land there so lumipat kami roon. That's where I finished high school. I came to Manila for college to take up marine transportation and be a seaman. E, napunta na nga ako sa showbiz so I didn't get to finish it. One sem na lang, tapos na. "

He has played bit roles in some movies of Direk Maryo but he's now a mainstay as the leader of the band of Dion Ignacio in GMA-7's afternoon soap, "Saan Darating ang Umaga. "

RORO RACE WINNERS

STAR Magic's Rikka Dylim presented their talents who participated in the recent "DBP Ready, Set, Roro (Roll on Roll off) 2008 Interisland Race" that will be shown as a two-night special on December 5 and 6, 6 to 7 p. m. , on Studio 23. These are Zaira de la Pena (the grand winner), Bea Saw, Charee Pineda, Arron Villaflor, Ketchup Eusebio and Ateneo cager Jai Reyes. Zaira is with Star Circle Batch 13, 19 years old and a tourism junior at La Salle Lipa. She was paired with twin brothers Jojo and Jedz Tan and their Team Kanlaon won P1 million which they equally divided among them. "Nobody thought we'd win kasi it's Bea Saw's group who won three times in the races," she says. "Bale we raced in six provinces: Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Samar, Sorsogon and Masbate. We ran the whole stretch of San Juanico Bridge connecting Leyte and Samar. First time ko to visit most of those places and they're all beautiful. Grabeng hirap ang inabot namin as we sleep only inside our cars as we're transported from one island to another. Wala kaming ligo-ligo. "

The last time Zaira had a regular show was in "Super Inggo. " "I'm praying na mabigyan na sana uli ako ng bagong show," she says. "Right now, guestings lang (ang ginagawa ko) sa 'ASAP'. Buti nga I won sa Roro and I can now use it to visit my mom who works in Milan, Italy, this Christmas season. "

All in all, there were 10 teams that competed and the race took six days on nonstop travel and challenges by land and sea from Nov. 7 to 12. Each team has a celebrity guest and the runner up teams were led by Kapuso stars: Ryza Cenon in 2nd place winning P500,000, Rainier Castillo as 3rd placer winning P300,000 and Jen Rosendahl at 4th place winning P150,000 prize. "Sabi nila, ako raw na Kapamilya ang tumalo sa mga Kapuso," says Zaira. "But it's all very exciting and memorable kasi naging maganda ang bonding naming lahat na sumali sa race. "

Welcoming them were DBP board chair Patricia Sto. Tomas and president-CEO Reynaldo David who loaded their energy and fighting spirit. "The race allowed me to enjoy the beauty of our country," says Bea Saw, the Ateneo de Naga graduate who became the big winner in PBB 2 and now aspires to be a comedian working with Ai Ai de las Alas and Pokwang. "It also made me realize na maganda pala ang Roro and it can help our countrymen a lot in traveling more easily and in a cheaper way. Natuwa rin ako to prove myself na kaya kong tumagal kahit walang permanenteng tulugan or even kainan kasi, kung minsan, sa damuhan lang kami kumakain. "

"Ako naman, I've proven na kahit lampa ako, kaya ko pala sumali in a race like this," says Charee Pineda who plays the lead in the Cinema One movie, "Alon. " "It's also an experience na matutulog ka lang sa car o sa ferry, when you wake up, nasa ibang lugar ka na sa Pilipinas. "

Jose Antonio Reyes or Jai is Star Cinema's newest talent. He's the starting point guard of the Ateneo basketball team. He has appeared in music videos and TV commercials and will host the 2009 Roro Race.

"Being an athlete, I'm used to working hard so hindi ako nahirapan sa race," he says. "I really had fun touring the countryside and seeing our homeland for the first time. "

Since his colleague, Chris Tiu is now a host at GMA-7, will he now ABS-CBN's answer to him? "Chris has already achieved a lot. When it comes to basketball, mas magaling siya as he's our captain ball and won as the most Maasahan player. But when it comes to hosting, he's flat. I have good personality and more lively. "

Source: People's Journal