Patrick back, evades media

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

DON’T look now but Patrick Garcia has quietly slipped back into town from the U. S. He’s got to be here for the wedding of his elder sister, Cheska Garcia, to cager Doug Kramer today. Some showbiz- oriented talk shows tried to interview him but he’s still lying low and hiding from them. But he won’t be able to do so during the wedding itself as we’re sure TV crews covering the affair will ask to interview him. We heard that his family is now trying their best to communicate with Jennylyn Mercado so that they’ll be given permission to visit his son, Jazz.

“Sabik na sabik na si Patrick na makita ang anak nila at sana naman, payagan na siya ni Jennylyn na madalaw ito,” says our source. “Patrick is also willing to go back to acting at sana mabigyan siya uli ng GMA ng bagong project. ”

RR DENIES SHE’S DUMB

SEVEN nubile ladies are topbilled in ABS-CBN’s new Saturday night gag show, “Banana Split. ” These are Angelica Panganiban, Roxanne Guinoo, Cristine Reyes, Valerie Concepcion, Princess Ryan, Diane Medina and RR Enriquez. RR stole the scene from her colleagues because of her successful act as a dumb beauty. Some people think she’s really “boba” but she says it’s all for show. “Kunwari lang na tanga ako at hindi marunong mag-English,” she says. “It’s just a role. Nagki-click kasi sa audience. ”

How was she discovered? “I joined ‘yung search for White Castle model. Hindi ako nanalo. Fourth runnerup lang. Tapos, nag-audition ako sa ‘Wowowee’ and luckily, I got in. Ayun, tuluy-tuloy na. ”

We asked her if she’s the daughter of Mike Enriquez or former singer Pol Enriquez? “Ay hindi po. My real name is Romeryn Enriquez. Ang parents ko, sina Romy and Noreen at galing sa kanila ang name ko. ”

How about Angelica P? Why did she accept doing a gag show when she’s doing so well as the villainous Scarlet de la Rhea in “Iisa Pa Lamang”? “For 15 years now, puro drama ang ginagawa ko and this is a welcome break for me to do something light and make people laugh naman. I used to just be a guest in comedy shows and it’s only now I realized how nice it really is to be part of a regular show like this na parang naglalaro lang kaming lahat sa taping. So far, enjoy naman ako sa episodes that we’ve already taped. It brought back some happy memories of the shows I did noong bata pa ako, like ‘Ang TV’ na may gags din. ”

Cristine shares the same feeling. “Sa ‘Eva Fonda’ and ‘Kahit Isang Saglit’, drama to death ako kaya naman I’m thankful to ABS for giving me ‘Banana Split’ where I get the chance to make people laugh. I’m enjoying every minute of it at puro positive vibes lagi ang nararamdaman ko sa set namin. Feeling carefree ka palagi. ”

She just laughs at the recent rumor that she tried to commit suicide. “Ni hindi ko maiiisip gawin ‘yun as I know a lot of people care for me, lalo rito sa ABS na ang dami kong projects and I can feel sobrang welcome ako rito. ”

The show is directed by Franco Mortiz, son of Edgar Mortiz. How did they recruit the girls for the show? “Sina Angelica, Roxanne, Valerie and Cristine, kasama na agad sa show after hindi na pumuwede sina Kristine Hermosa and Anne Curtis who were initially with us. Sina Dianne, RR and Princess, we got them sa audition. Tapos, we conducted a workshop for all of them para makapag-bonding sila and be more at ease with each other. This is important kasi kailangan maganda ang rapport nila para perfect ang kanilang comic timing. When we started taping, they’re all comfortable with each other na and kulitan na sila sa set. ”

“We have separate dressing rooms pero lalo akong nagpupunta kina Angelica and Roxanne to eat their baong food,” says Cristine.

“Actually, inis ako diyan,” says Angelica. “Ang lakas-lakas kumain, pero slim pa rin. How I wish I have her kind of metabolism. ”

They have so far taped five episodes and each one revolves on their lone male guest. Those who have guested are Jake Cuenca, John Lloyd Cruz, Zanjoe Marudo, Diether Ocampo and Sam Milby, all of whom went sexy. ”All of them were subjected to uncompromising but funny situations in our comic sketches,” adds Roxanne.

What if the MTRCB cries foul? “Hindi naman bastos ang skits namin, naughty lang,” says Direk Frasco.

To what kind of banana will they compare their guests? “Si Jake, parang senorita kasi maliit lang siya,” says RR.

Roxanne, who’s Jake’s former girlfriend, countered:” Actually, si John Lloyd ang senorita kasi siya ang maliit. ”

Diane counters this also and says: “John Lloyd is latundan as he’s the best banana. ”

For Cristine, it’s Sam who’s the best. “Para siyang latundan na nilagyan ng ice cream and topping. Sarap kainin. ”

How about Angelica? “Lahat sila, masarap na saging. ”

RICHARD ENDORSES TOOTHPASTE

Richard Gutierrez was supposed to be launched as endorser of Unique Toothpaste last Saturday but he extended his European trip with KC and got to return home only last Sunday so his launching was moved to Tuesday. His TV commercial for Unique is really impressive, giving importance to his being today’s most agile young action star as seen in his hit TV show, “Codename: Asero. ” It shows him personifying Unique and fighting against several opponents who represent tooth decay. “I’m thankful to Unique for giving me the chance to showcase my capabilities as an action star in a commercial,” he says. “And for allowing me to do my own stunts and choreograph the action sequences. ”

And why was Richard chosen as their first celeb endorser of Unique after such a long time? “Because he’s handsome, talented, hardworking, wholesome, has a good image and is a good role model to our youth,” says ACS Manufacturing president, Alonso Supetran. “Several actors were presented to us but Richard is our only choice. He’s perfect for the concept of the commercial as he reflects Unique’s values. Mahusay ang Unique at mahusay rin siya. Sa ngayon, we only get 3% of the toothpaste market. But with Richard as our spokesman, dapat, maging number one na kami even against the multinational brands. ”

“I’m honored to be the endorser of Unique,” says Richard. “I’m happy and proud to be endorsing a product that’s local and more reasonably priced but has high quality like other brands. ”

And how is his trip to Europe with KC Concepcion? “It went very well. It gave me time to unwind and refresh myself after much hard work with the movies, TV show and endorsements that I do. I now feel much energized. KC, my brother Raymond and I went to visit Budapest and Paris after the movie premiere in Vienna. ”

He’s all set to start his new movie with KC for GMA Films to be released on Valentine’s Day. “It’ll be lighter this time, more of comedy than drama. And this time, our rapport will be even better as we’ve gotten to know each other even better while we were traveling together in various countries. ”

Richard is also glad that “Asero” continues to rate very high. This week, Ibsen (Richard Gomez) tells Asero that he’d regret his decision to leave the Empire Agency. Asero has another encounter with the destroyer robot who wrecks his car. Emily (Heart Evangelista) and her Lola Bertita (Caridad Sanchez) witness how Asero fights against the enemy soldiers using an iron hand. Reporters, cops and kibitzers flock to the area where the fighting occurs and it’s also shown on TV so everyone now knows that Asero is a cyborg. Later, Mr. P helps Asero and reformats him to make him an event better agent of the Advocate Agency who’d use him for good and not for evil purposes like what Empire did to him. It will also be revealed that there are two Ibsens and one of them is so weak while tied on a wheelchair.

KATRINA’S LONG-DISTANCE LOVE AFFAIR

IN a recent interview, Katrina Halili admitted she has a new inspiration but won’t reveal the guy’s name. It now turns out that the object of her affection is balikbayan singer, Kris Lawrence, who won in ABS-CBN’s Star In A Million three years ago but whose career didn’t take off like his friend, Jay R. Katrina and Kris did some shows together in the U. S. last month and that’s how they got to know each other better. We heard Kris showered Katrina with so much attention and she’s really impressed by how much he cares for her. But Katrina says that she hasn’t committed herself to him yet. “Gusto ko muna nang mahaba-habang ligawan,” she says. “E-enjoyin ko muna at nang hindi naman ako magmukhang cheap na easy to get. ”

Katrina has met Kris’ family in the States. As for Kris, I like it na he’s a gentleman, shows so much respect to women. Mabait talaga. Na-meet na rin siya ng mom ko at positive din ang feedback sa kanya as he’s very courteous. Magalang talaga. Isa pa, kahit alam niyang nagpapa-sexy ako, he doesn’t judge me. He respects the kind of work I do. I can feel na sincere siya at mabuti ang pagkatao. He’s in the U. S. now but he texts me lagi and we chat sa Internet. ”

(Kris was “American Idol” finalist, Jasmine Trias’ former boyfriend. They had a long-distance love affair that obviously didn’t work for them. We hope it doesn’t happen again to Kris and Katrina. —Ed. )

IMPRESSIVE SHOW, TEDIOUS PRESSCON

THE presscon of “La Lola” took such a long time to start. The writers invited just wasted their time talking to each other for two hours while the stars were kept together in a separate room. They should have just made the stars sit with the press people so we could have interviewed them straight away. Before the stars were called in, they previewed the pilot episode of the show and even before it was screened, we saw many writers leaving as it was already past 9 p. m. We waited for the entire cast (some 19 stars) to be introduced on stage by the show’s director, Dominic Zapata, then we left. Writers like us usually go to presscons to interview the cast members of a new show, so the next time, this should be their priority: have us talk to the stars right away so we won’t waste time and the opportunity to ask them questions about the show.

That being said, we must admit the first episode of “La Lola” is quite impressive. GMA really left no stone unturned to make it glossy and classy. It starts with a big contest searching for a new model for Distilleria Lobregat, the liquor company owned by Don Aguirre (Eddie Garcia). The other members of the cast were immediately introduced: his womanizing grandson Lazaro Lobregat or Lalo (Wendell Ramos), Lalo’s half-brother Gaston (Marvin Agustin), Gaston’s best friend Pato (Jay R), and the only gentleman in their company, Facundo (JC de Vera). The sequence ends when a mysterious woman, Ada (Jewel Mische), tries to kill herself by jumping off from the venue’s roof smack onto the stage where the winner of the contest is about to be announced.

Ada turns out to come from a community of fairies called Babaylan. She fell in love with Lalo but he spurns her. She has two sisters, Tala (Isabel Granada) and Sera (Iza Calzado in a special role. ) Sera then seduces Lalo to take revenge on him and, with a kiss, turns him into a woman, Lola (Rhian Ramos. ) The episode ends with Lalo waking up as Lola, now a woman.

Also in the cast are Keempee de Leon as Gary, Lalo’s gay best friend, Jackielou Blanco as Griselda, the scheming mom of Marvin, Angelika de la Cruz as Sabrina, the ex-girlfriend of JC; Gladys Reyes as Iris, JC’s trusted aunt, Eula Valdes as Susanna, owner of the rival Primera Distillery, Lovi Poe as Julia, Eula’s adopted daughter who has magical powers, Sheena Halilil as Angelica’s clumsy assistant, Patricia Ysmael as Soledad, the babaylan’s spy on the mortal world, and Yul Servo as Matias, the messenger in love with Patricia. “La Lola” starts airing on Monday on GMA7’s Telebabad as replacement of “Kim Samsoon” that ends this Friday.

PERSONAL
WE’D just like to congratulate our eldest child, MM (Mario Miguel), for successfully defending his masteral thesis in electronics and communications engineering at the U. P. He finished his master’s degree with an average of 1. 4 or equivalent to magna cum laude. We are very proud of him, especially his wife Shirteen Albino.

Source: People's Journal

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