Ogie wants Kapuso, Kapamilya in benefit concert for Ondoy victims

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

GMA hosted a thanksgiving lunch for Richard Gutierrez' rescue of Cristine Reyes. Cristine's photos sopping wet on their rooftop as the storm raged have been posted on internet sites, making her Ondoy's poster girl. "I really thought it's the end for us ng mom at mga pamangkin ko," she says. "I wouldn't like to lose hope but the situation was really so scary. If the water continued to go higher, the strong current will take us all to the Marikina River and I doubt kung mare-rescue pa kami. But I didn't lose hope even if 12 hours na kaming basang-basa sa bubong. We kept on praying sa 12 hours na nandun kami."

Up to now, she has difficulty sleeping as she keeps on seeing in her mind what happened to her. "The experience is really traumatic kaya hirap akong makatulog. I'm really thankful to Richard for his time and effort to rescue me. I called up Richard but I didn't know siya mismo ang re-rescue sa'kin. Alam kong matinding hirap ang dinaanan niya before he got to our place. Last Monday, I returned to our house na lubogsa putik, sira lahat ng gamit namin. Lahat ng family memorabilia na iningatan namin, nawala. Ang hirap na niyang balikan pa so I want to move to a new townhouse I bought, kahit maliit lang. We'll just buy new furniture, makalipat lang agad. My vans, Dodge and Starex, pipilitin daw ayusin pa. Sana nga, kasi yung Dodge, hinuhulugan ko pa yun. I really want to thank all those who helped and prayed for me and my family, pati si Tita Annabelle Rama as I know nag-worry siya nang husto about Richard. I want to thank my two brothers, Holy and Harvin, who came on jetski and my Ate Ara in whose house we now all live. Maraming miracles na nangyari from the Lord, like I'm thankful na hindi nawala ang signal ng phone ko. Parang second life ko ito and I've now learned how to treasure each day I spend with my loved ones as you don't know kung kailan biglang mawawala na lang ang lahat. I now call on our kababayan to continue in the relief operations and help the victims na lubog pa sa baha."

She feels sad that some detractors make fun of her and Richard, saying it's just all a gimmick for their movie, "Patient X." "Richard risked his life, he could have died, paano ito magiging gimmick? Sana huwag nila ito gawing biro."

What can Richard himself say about this?

"It's sad to think na may negative-minded people na naninira pa. Ipinagpapasa-Diyos ko na lang sila. Basta di ako titigil in helping others. I never proclaimed myself a hero. There are a lot more heroes out there who have helped a lot more people and I salute them all."

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Someone says what happened to Cristine proves that her sister Ara is not really having an affair with DILG Secretary Ronnie Puno or Manny Pacquiao. "Kasi, kung may relasyon siya with Puno or Pacquiao, it's so easy to call them to ask for help para mailigtas ang mommy at mga kapatid niya sa baha, di ba? But the one she turned to was her non-showbiz boyfriend, Raymond Yap."

Ara says she knows who started the rumor linking her to Puno. "Their real target is siraan si Secretary Puno, not me, kaya tsinitsismis siya ng ganyan," she says. "Kasi tatakbo siya sa election, di ba? E, kay Secretary Puno ko pinakilala ang friend kong si Rochelle Barrameda to help her family in their fight for justice sa nangyari sa sister niyang si Ruby Rose. So ayun, ni-link kaming dalawa even if all I did is refer Rochelle to him."

It's good her boyfriend is not affected by such intrigues. "Sanay na siya. It's funny nga kasi kung minsan, siya pa ang nagsasabi sa'kin, hoy, may bagong issue na naman sa'yo. Hindi na niya sineseryoso."

Ara plays villain to Sunshine Dizon in "Tinik Sa Dibdib." She's Trixie, the stepmom of Marvin Agustin who's married to Sunshine but still carries on an illicit affair with Ara. She played a similar role in "Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin?" as the mistress of Aljur Abrenica. Isn't she worried she might be typecast as contravida?

"Okay lang kasi ang ganda ng role, acting piece. Let's be practical. Ang daming artistang walang ginagawa ngayon. Buti nga ako't hindi nababakante at sunod-sunod ang trabaho ko. Sawa na rin ako sa martyr roles."

She's thankful to all those who helped her family in the recent floods. "Somehow, dahil sa crisis na nangyari, naging close kami ulit lahat ngayon. Talagang sa ganitong times, you can rely on your family."

She's happy that Cristine's career is on a roll. "I'm sure maganda ang kalalabasan ng 'Patient X' nila ni Richard at hayan, may filmfest entry pa siya with Vic Sotto na 'Darling Kong Aswang.' I'm so happy for her."

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Only Ogie Alcasid made it to the victory-thanksgiving party of "Yaya and Angelina, The Spoiled Brat" movie at Gerry's Grill Morato Ave. "Wala si Michael V. kasi he's busy taping the 'Yari Ka' portion of 'Bitoy's Funniest Videos', but he sends you all his thanks for helping our movie," says Ogie to the writers present at the affair.

So what's next for them? "We'll send muna Yaya and Angelina on vacation para ma-miss sila ng tao. Maski sa 'Bubble Gang,' rest muna sila at last telecast na rin ng 'Hole in The Wall' on October 16. We're now conceptualizing new characters for us to play para maiba naman. We're also putting up a concert for the benefit of Ondoy victims. This will be titled 'Kaya Natin 'To' to be staged at the Araneta Coliseum on November 14, directed by Rowell Santiago in cooperation with the Red Cross and Gawad Kalinga. We're meeting with the talent managers para maging concerted effort ito ng both GMA and ABS talents. We want to get as many stars as possible. It's for a good cause naman. I already wrote an inspirational song for the typhoon victims. Sana marami kaming makuhang sponsors to help us in the concert."

On his own, Ogie is going to evacuation centers with inamorata Regine Velasquez distributing food and water coming from their own pockets. "Ang dami pang dapat tulungan so we pray more people will help."

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ABS-CBN has three mysterious personalities known only by their voices: Bro in "May Bukas Pa," Banker in "Deal or No Deal" and of course, Kuya in "Pinoy Big Brother." Toni Gonzaga, Mariel Rodriguez, and Bianca Gonzalez, hosts of "PBB" that returned on air last night, refute the belief of some writers that Kuya is no one else but director Lauren Dyogi. "Sa control booth, katabi namin si Direk Lauren while Kuya talks to the housemates," says Mariel. "So how can he be Kuya? He can't be in two places at the same time, right?"

The new edition of PBB is called "Double Up" and it's said that this is the first time this will be conducted in any country. So what does "Double Up" mean?

"All I can say now is that our new concept changed the structure of Kuya's house and its technical requirements to make sure we'll give double the fun and entertainment to the viewers," says Direk Lauren. VTRs of the housemates were shown to the press, with their faces blurred, tagged as Sexy Vamp ng Cebu, Romantic Stud, Inday Kengkay ng Gensan, Astig ng Mindoro, Simpatikong Kusinero, Stuggling Mom ng Davao, Young Widow from Pampanga, RichieRich ng Cebu, Conservative Pharmacist from Tondo, etc. The show will run for more than 100 days so the housemates will be spending the Christmas holidays inside Kuya's house.

Mariel and Bianca both became housemates. What insights did they gain from their experience? "I learned the importance of mabuting pakikisama," says Bianca.

"Magkaiba ang experience namin ni Bianca kasi siya naging housemate muna, then host," says Mariel. "Ako naman, I'm a host na naging housemate and it made me more compassionate with the housemates. Mas naintindihan ko sila, na hindi madali ang ginagawa nila."

"PBB" airs weekdays after "Dahil May Isang Ikaw." "PBB Weekend Primetime" at Studio 23 is on every Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m. and you can see raw footage of the housemates on PBB Streaming at 1 p.m. You can also join the craze through www.pinoybigbrother.multiply.com.

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Mark Herras was the subject of "The Story of Your Life" segment in "Showbiz Central." Host Raymond Gutierrez showed interviews with his adoptive dads, Jun and Hermie, his Lola Dolores, two aunts, his cousin and brother, who all praised him for being so generous to them. It's obvious Mark acts as a breadwinner to them. They recalled that when Mark join the first "Starstruck," his detractors said he won't win as he's too thin, has many pimple, "hindi mukhang artista," but he did win and became known as the "Bad Boy of the Dance Floor" for his dancing prowess. "Nagpursigi ako because of my family," says Mark to Raymond. "I really want to help them."

His most trusted teacher in high school in Laguna named Rosie later showed up to greet him, saying Mark has always been a nice boy.

Mark is happy that GMA continues to give him good projects, like "Ikaw Sana" where he plays Michael, the ex-boyfriend of Sofia (Pauleen Luna) who marries Eliza (Jennylyn Mercado) without knowing they're half-sisters as they have the same dad, Gener (Tirso Cruz III). Sofia gets so angry with Eliza, saying she stole Mark from her. Eliza feels guilty for having hurt the feelings of her half-sister.

Source: Malaya