Rayver: I never used Sarah

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

Rayver Cruz leads the ABS-CBN Star Magic talents who celebrated their birthday in July, turning 20 on July 20. "I'm not a teenager anymore," he says.

How come someone wrote that he and Sarah Geronimo really went steady? "I heard about that, but it's not true. Ni hindi nga ako nakapanligaw sa kanya formally. Naging friend ko siya dahil we did two movies together, but not girlfriend. Honestly, nagugulat ako pag may lumalabas na ganyang balita as people might think I'm using Sarah just to be talked about. May nagsulat din na nanliligaw raw talaga ako, binawalan lang ako ng parents niya, which is also not true. But it's not only with Sarah that I'm linked, also with Melissa Ricks. Secret lovers daw kami kasi si Matt Evans ang ka-love team niya. Walang ganun. Close kami nina Melissa at Matt because of ASAP at happy nga ako for them kung magiging sila kasi pareho silang mabait. Mas bagay sila. "

He admits wooing only Shaina Magdayao but it's common knowledge she's now committed to John Prats. How does he feel about this? "Okay lang. I'm happy for them. As for me, studies muna and work ang focus ko. "

Rayver started with Star Magic as a member of the dance group Anime. For his birthday show in ASAP, he wished that they'd all be reunited and this was granted so it's the best birthday gift for him. No doubt Rayver is now the group's most successful member. He's paired with Maja Salvador in "May Bukas Pa" and he's in Regal's "Shake Rattle and Roll XI" for the December filmfest. He's doing a series of Nescafe tours and he'd be in Binangonan on August 15. He's also guesting in Toni Gonzaga's provincial shows in Cagayan de Oro on August 21, Davao on September 4, and Bacolod on September 18.

EX-GF'S SISTER CAN'T GET OVER WITH NEW ACTOR
A VERY promising Star Magic newcomer is Xian Lim, a balikbayan from Daly City. He stands 6'2" and is with UE basketball varsity Team B. His dad, Godofredo Lim, is 6'4" and also played with UE. He was born in the U. S. but his mom took him home to Manila as a baby and he stayed here until he was 5, then they returned to the U. S. where he was raised. "But we'd often come here for a vacation that's why I speak fluent Tagalog," he says. "My parents are separated and my dad was left here but we communicate regularly even when I was in the States. I really love the Philippines as Pinoys are so warm and happy so in June of last year, I decided to study college here. I'm a sophomore taking up management. Bench got me as a model tapos napunta ako sa showbiz. I did 'My Only Hope' early this year for ABS. It's good my teachers are understanding so they forgive me when I'm absent dahil may taping ako ngayon for 'Katorse'. "

Xian has terrific screen presence and is one of those actors who looks even better on screen than in person. There's a hate campaign on him on the net. A sister of his former girlfriend is saying bad things against him. "My first girlfriend was Sam. I don't deny that. But we had formal closure before I left the U. S. I told her, I'd be studying here so I can't be with her anymore. Tapos, galit na galit ngayon sa'kin ang sister niya. Hindi ko na lang sinasagot kasi hahaba pa. "

Xian turned 20 on July 12. So when will "Katorse" be aired? "My co-star Erich Gonzales and I don't know. We don't even know kung sa afternoon or primetime kami. Basta we just keep on taping. "

Other Star Magic celebrants are child star turned teener Jane Oineza who celebrated her 13th birthday on July 22 in Camsur with her Goin' Bulilit family, Hiyasmin Neri of Star Magic 15 who plays Zanjoe Marudo's cousin in ''The Wedding" and turned 19 on July 18, and Mark Sayarot, the young Matt Evans in "Kambal sa Uma", young Geoff Eigenmann in "Hiram na Mukha", and young Ejay Falcon in "Katorse", who turned 12 on July 23.

ARNOLD STARSTRUCK WITH VILMA
ARNOLD Reyes won the best supporting actor award in Cinemalaya as a promdi from Zamboanga in "Astig". He comes to Manila to sell a property he inherited from his late dad and ends up being used by a hunky gay (Gardo Versoza) and being robbed by a prostie (Keanna Reeves. ) He has graphic sex scenes with both of them. Which one did he enjoy the most? "Both of them," he says.

He has a nude scene showing him bathing stark naked after he allows the gay to touch him and his episode ends with him walking only in skimpy briefs in the middle of the street after he was fooled by the prostie. He now has a buff bod compared to his physique when he played Paolo Paraiso's gay lover in "Imoral". "I've been really working out and, for the movie, I had to adhere to a strict diet para lumabas 'yung definition ng muscles ko. But I got worried din kasi baka ang mapansin lang, 'yung paghuhubad ko, so naging challenge 'yun and I made sure na galingan ang acting ko. It paid off as the jurors noticed my acting and gave me my first award. "

Some folks say he's not really playing a supporting role but he's actually one of the leads. "Okay lang. The important thing is I won my first acting award and this is very meaningful for me. "

Arnold's career is really on a roll as he's also in mainstream cinema and TV. He's in ABS-CBN's toprated soap, "Only You", and he's having the time of his life playing the role of Vilma Santos' obnoxious son-in-law in the movie "In My Life". "Asawa ko si Dimples Romana na anak ni Ate Vi na inis sa'kin kasi I'm a bum at pag nag-uusap sila, lagi akong sumasabat. First time ko to shoot with her, starstruck ako. Nanginginig ako sa take kasi Vilma Santos siya, di ba? But it turned out sobrang bait niya.

Nagulat ako dahil alam niya kung sino ako and calls me by my first name. Tapos, sobrang supportive siya. Kahit hindi na siya kailangan sa eksena, hindi siya umaalis so you can interact with her. Overwhelming ang experience ko sa kanya kasi despite her stature, she doesn't hesitate to ask our director, Olive Lamasan, kapag di siya sure kung ano ang gagawin niya. Eye opener 'yun for me kasi marami akong baguhang nakatrabaho na akala, alam na nila ang lahat. Pero siya, kahit paulit-ulit ang rehearsals ni Direk, she doesn't complain. " Arnold is managed by Boy Abunda's Backroom.

INA DENIES MOM'S INFLUENCE IN WINNING
ANOTHER Backroom talent who won in Cinemalaya is Ina Feleo as best actress for the film "Sanglaan". Two years ago, she also won the same honor for "Endo". How different are her role in the two films? "Very different. In 'Endo', I'm an aggressive strong-willed woman who says what she has in mind," she says. "In 'Sanglaan', I'm the opposite: shy, withdrawn, weak, no self confidence. "

Just like the first time, there are those who say that she won just because her mom, Laurice Guillen, is one of the executives managing Cinemalaya. How does she feel about this? "Honestly, it hurts and bothers me pero tinanggap ko na lang na ganun talaga. Kilalang-kilala ko ang nanay ko and she's not the type who'd try to influence the jurors. When I was doing 'Sanglaan', ni hindi ako nagkukuwento sa kanya. She only saw it during the actual screening and she says, pagkapanood niya, naisip niyang lagot, may chance na naman daw akong manalo at baka may mga magbintang na naman. She even told me, next year, huwag ka nang sumali, baka manalo ka na naman. But my mom has nothing at all to do with the jurors. Iba rin yung set of jurors noong 'Endo' at dito sa 'Sanglaan'. She's not even part of their deliberations at nalaman na rin lang niya that I won when my name was called nu'ng awards night. "

Ina is a late bloomer as an actress because she first focused on figure skating. Then she went into jazz ballet and became a member of the Bayanihan Dance Troupe from 2002 to 2007 when she acted in "Endo". "Now, I'm really enjoying acting and I'm glad that ABS-CBN includes me in their shows. I was a mainstay in 'Ligaw na Bulaklak' before and I now play a contravida in 'Bud Brothers'. I also taped for Judy Ann Santos' 'Nurserye' and I'm in the 'Agimat' series of Coco Martin for 'Tonyong Bayawak'. "

How's her dad, Johnny Delgado, after his bout with the big C? "Katatapos lang niya ng chemotherapy. He's okay, tumutubo na uli ang buhok niya. But he's hard-headed. He still won't stop smoking. I made a documentary on his getting sick and I hope maipalabas soon. "

For inquiries about Arnold and Ina, call Backroom at 435-1108 and 435-1120.

SUNSHINE, POLO BACK INTO EACH OTHER'S ARMS
OF all her exes, Sunshine Dizon says the one who remained to be a good friend is Polo Ravales. This is also what another ex of Polo says, Alex de Rossi, but not Jean Garcia. Now that former sweethearts Sunshine and Polo are together again in "Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay" of "Dear Friend", they play two ex-lovers who discover the bittersweet feeling that love always deserves a second chance.

When they meet each other again, Polo as Michael is about to wed Chynna Ortaleza as Diane and the wedding planner they got turns out to be Sunshine as Rachel. Polo realizes he's still in love with Sunshine and he wants her back in his life. He wants to break up with Chynna but tries to kill herself so how will Polo deal with this? Find out this afternoon at 3 in "Dear Friend" on GMA-7 after "SOP. "

BOTTOM GUYS, GIRLS

LAST night in "Are You the Next Big Star?", the bottom two guys, Greggy Santos and Geoff Taylor, felt relieved after host Regine Velasquez announced that there will be no elimination for the male contenders. They can stay for at least one more week in the contest, along with Alex Castro and Jay Perillo who have never been nominated in the bottom four.

Among the girls, the bottom two are Alexa Ortega and rocker Camille Cortez. Alexa has been nominated three times. It's the first time for Camille. Two girls, Frencheska Farr and Zyrene Parsad, have never been nominated. And text voters opted for the balikbayan Alexa to be eliminated. Fans of the show can watch their favorite contenders perform live today at SM Fairview, at SM Cebu on August 8, and SM Marikina on August 9.

About Camille, she's been singing with a band for sometime now so she was never able to finish high school and that's what she wants to do now. Her mom was also a singer in Japan and her dad is a Japanese, who in she never met. Cortez is the family name of her mom and she doesn't look like Japanese at all.

Source: People's Journal