Rebound with Jen possible for Mark

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

AT the presscon for "Italy (I Trust And Love You)," we asked Mark Herras if he has visited former partner Jennylyn Mercado and her baby called Jazz. "I really plan to visit them but I was told gusto muna niyang magpalakas," he says. "If ever, isasama ko si Rainier Castillo na ka-batch namin sa Starstruck 1. Kasi, kung ako lang mag-isa, baka maintriga pa. I'm not thinking of myself but of Jen dahil may naiintriga nga noon kung sino talaga ang ama ng bata. "

Isn't he envious now that his ka-love team has a child of her own? The child could have been his if they didn't break up. "I'm not at all envious. Unang-una, I'm not ready to have a child. Ang dami ko pang gustong gawin sa buhay ko, 'no? Gusto ko pa to have my own business. Before I start my family, gusto ko, stable na ako. "

It's said that he'll be paired anew with Jen in her very first project after giving birth. How does he feel about this? "Okay ako riyan. Ibabalik daw yung love team namin and I'm happy to support her. If ever we're paired again, sana suportahan pa rin uli ng tao ang tamabalan namin. "

Is it possible for them to reconcile even off cam? "I don't know. We can't say. Puwedeng oo. Puwedeng hindi. Only time can tell dahil hindi naman natin napo-foresee ang mangyayari sa future. But as of now, para sa akin, friends pa rin kami. Hindi na mawawala yung friendship ng batch namin nina Rainier at Yasmien Kurdi. "

He's paired with Rhian Ramos in "Italy" but some fans of Rhian are against him. "I really don't know why they don't like me, to the point na sinisiraan nila ako. I think naniwala sila roon sa sinasabing itinatago kong girlfriend ko na pinakita ang picture sa Internet. Nagsalita na 'yung girl na hindi talaga totoo 'yan and the truth is loveless ako, pero wala rin akong balak ligawan si Rhian. Naging close din kami as friends while shooting the movie in 'Italy', ganun lang 'yun. At any rate, kung ayaw lang nila talaga sa'kin, wala akong magagawa run. Pero sana, panoorin pa rin nila ang 'Italy' dahil maganda naman talaga ang movie. "

'MOMMY, 'WAG KA NA LANG MAG-WORK'
JODI STA. Maria is enjoying doing independent digital films. "Mas magaganda kasi ang roles offered to me in these movies kaysa sa mainstream," she says. "So far, I've done 'Maling Akala' sa Cinema One with Victor Basa. Then I did 'Nars' with Jennylyn Mercado and 'Sisa', a period film based on Jose Rizal's 'Noli Me Tangere', and now, I'm doing 'Cul de Sac' (Deadend) with Sam Milby and Chin Chin Gutierrez. "

How would she explain that in their batch in "Tabing Ilog," she's the only one who's married and yet she remains to be the the most active and has the most successful acting career? "I guess it's a matter of choice and priorities. Si Paula (Peralejo), she really preferred going back to school and I'm so happy and proud of her that she graduated magna cum laude pa. Si Kaye (Abad) naman is busy managing their own school in Cavite. As for Desiree (del Valle), active pa rin naman siya sa acting, di ba? As for me, talagang I really love acting and I'm just thankful na patuloy na dumarating ang offers sa akin. "

It's good her husband Pampi Lacson doesn't stop her from working? "Supportive naman siya kasi he knows I get personal fulfillment from having my own career. At saka hindi ko naman siya pinababayaan at ang anak namin. Heto nga, I have my son here with me at kasama ko sa shooting. Kasi kapag umaalis ako, he tells me, 'Mommy, wag ka na work, dito ka na lang sa house', so I just take him with me. "

What's her role in "Cul de Sac"? "I play Raquel, a call center agent. Sam and I work in the same office building but, at the start, we don't know each other. But due to some mysterious developments in the story, magiging konektado ang mga buhay namin. I can't reveal much kasi secret ang story. Merong killer, merong twists na hindi puedeng sabihin. "

How is it working with Sam Milby? "Sobrang gaan katrabaho. Kahit anong ipagawa sa kanya, walang arte, he never complains. When he's not doing a take, basta tulog lang siya nang tulog. "

MARK TO TRY LUCK ON RHIAN
Mark Bautista has just launched his latest album, "I'll Be The One," which has 13 great cuts produced by Hollywood's Christian de Walden. Mark started as a dramatic balladeer with his "I Need You" and "Break It To Me Gently. " He now becomes more adventuruous and forays into singing lighter pop tunes. The album includes his very first composition, "Why Can't We," and a duet with his favorite singing partner, Sarah Geronimo, "Don't Tell Me About Heartaches. " An original Tagalog song that local song lovers will enjoy is "Sana'y Dinggin Mo," penned by Jimmy Borja who's now based in L. A. The other potential hits are "Stuck in My Heart Now," "Too Slow," "Everytime I Close My Eyes," "Take a Chance," Just Look at Me," "Someone I Knew," "I Don't Wanna Say Goodbye," "Love and Affection" and the title song, "I'll Be the One. "

Mark, who now sports a hunky physique due to diligent gym workouts, is with ABS-CBN but he's now doing a movie with GMA Films. This is the horror flick, "Sundo," which is a co-production with Viva Films, Mark's home studio.

"I'm really happy to be part of this movie as it will give me the chance to work not only with Robin Padilla but also with other Kapuso stars like Sunshine Dizon, Katrina Halili, Rhian Ramos and JC de Vera," he says.

It's said he will be paired with Rhian and he's excited about it. "Ang ganda niya," he beams. "Siyempre, medyo nahihiya pa ako dahil ngayon pa lang kami nagkakilala. "

So will he fall for her? "It's too early to say, pero tingnan na lang natin kapag nagsu-shooting na kami. "

Mark has been linked to Sarah Geronimo before but Sarah told him she'd rather they be friends. He was also rumored to have wooed Riza Santos but nothing came out of it. Let's see if he'd be more lucky with Rhian this time. Now that he's with GMA Films, does this mean he'd also move to the Kapuso station?

"I don't know. It'll all depend on Viva who's managing me. Siyempre, sumusunod lang ako sa kanila dahil sila ang may hawak ng career ko. As of now, sa 'ASAP' lang naman ang kontrata ko sa ABS. "

Aside from "Sundo," Mark is also in the cast of Viva Films' Metro filmfest entry, "Baler. " Catch Mark in his free mall shows at SM Manila on September 20 and SM Marikina on September 21.

RICHARD GOES BACK TO COLLEGE
Richard Gomez studied in UP in the 90s but he never got to finish it as he was so busy then. Now that he appears only in "Codename: Asero" as Zeus/Ibsen, the father of Richard Gutierrez, it's admirable of Goma to continue his studies at the UP Open University. And we're glad to hear he's getting high grades, meaning he's very much focused on his studies. Other stars enrolled in UP Open U are Sharon Cuneta, Jackielou Blanco, Rachelle Ann Go, JC de Vera, Chynna Ortaleza and Aldred Gatchalian.

Is he bent on getting a college degree as preparation for getting into politics again? "No," says Goma. "I just believe it's never too late to get a good college education. Naumpisahan ko na naman ito noon at tinatapos ko lang ngayon. "

His daughter Julianna is now eight years old. She's now doing TV commercials but Goma says he'd rather she just concentrates on her studies than go into showbiz. "Buti na lang at sports ang mas gusto niya. She's very athletic sa school. At ang hilig, rock songs. "

WINNERS AND LOSERS

THIS is an email from Katherine Segundo of Tarlac, Tarlac: "Usong-uso ang lipatan ng stars from one network to another. Napansin ko lang na mas maganda ang track record ng mga lumipat from ABS-CBN to GMA Kapuso dahil mas bumango ang mga career nila. Ang examples ay sina Marvin Agustin, Jolina Magdangal, Pauleen Luna, Michelle Madrigal, Camille Prats, Heart Evangelista, Pia Guanio, Dennis Trillo at maging si John Lapus na extra lang dati sa 'The Buzz' pero ngayon ay naging isa sa main hosts ng 'Showbiz Central'. Si Heart Evangelista ay talagang nawalan ng career after makipag-you and me against the world with Jericho Rosales, pero buti't natauhan din at nagbalikan na pati ang endorsements niya ngayon. Si Camille Prats naman, kahit nanganak na, nagbida pa rin agad ngayon sa 'Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan'. Ay, nakalimutan ko pa nga pala si Paolo Contis and his girlfriend na si Isabel Oli. Ang hindi lang nagtagumpay ay si Patrick Garcia, kasi mas inuna ang pagiging fadir ng anak ni Jennylyn Mercado. Isama na rin si Hero Angeles na winner ng SCQ sa ABS pero nawalan na rin ng promise dahil lumaki agad ang ulo at nalunod sa isang basong tubig.

Sa mga lumipat naman from GMA-7 to ABS, ang pinakamatagumpay ay si Toni Gonzaga na talagang umarangkada ang career as TV host and movie star sa ABS, at pati as singer-recording star din. Si Jake Cuenca din ay dumami ang assignments, pero wala pang naghi-hit dahil ang 'Palos' niya ay mababa ang rating. Ang mga walang nangyari ay si Onemig Bondoc (pangit naman kasi talaga umarte), DJ Mo, Railey Valeroso (na wala ring promise), Vina Morales, comedians Long Mejia at Brod Pete, Assunta de Rossi (na sana ay huwag magaya sa kanya ang sisteraka niyang si Alex de Rossi na siya namang umalis ngayon sa GMA para lumipat sa ABS), at si Angel Locsin na hindi masyadong napag-rate ang 'Lobo'. Test case ngayon kay Angel ang movie niya with Piolo. Kapag hindi ito kumita, tiyak na tapos na talaga ang career niya. Mas sinuwerte pa nga si Valerie Concepcion na nasa 'Wowowee' kaya may regular exposure siya.

Meron din palang doble kara na pabalik-balik. Best example si Angelika de la Cruz na nagsimula sa ABS, then lumipat sa GMA-7, then hindi na-satisfy at bumalik sa ABS, tapos ay hindi na naman nasiyahan at balik na uli ngayon sa GMA-7. Buti na lang at tinatanggap siya uli. "

'SWINGTOWN' TONIGHT
TONIGHT at 10, don't miss the premiere of "Swingtown" on the Velvet Channel. "Swingtown" is a relationship and period drama set in the 1970s about couples enjoying the sexual and social revolution that time which introduced open marriages, championed women's liberation, and challenged conventional wisdom. In the summer of 1976, Susan (Molly Parker of "Deadwood") and Bruce Miller (Jack Davenport of "Pirates of the Carribean" series) move their family into an affluent Chicago suburb in search of a different sense of community, including barbecues and get-togethers with their new neigHBOrs, as well as a change of pace for their teenage daughter and pre-teen son. Their neigHBOrs add sugar and spice to their newfound society, including Tom (Grant Show) and Trina Decker (Lana Parilla) who have an open marriage, their daughter Laurie (Shanna Collins) who explores her relationship with a summer school Philosophy teacher, and Roger (Josh Hopkins) and Janet Thompson (Miriam Shor), the Millers' more conservative neigHBOrs who are appalled by the Deckers' marriage.

The show has been getting very good reviews. Variety Magazine said "the series exhibits rare depth and includes plenty of nifty touches, from the pop-song score and Boogie Nights fashions to the first-rate cast. " Added to that is a critic from Salon. com which called it "stylish and '70s-sexy but also shallow enough to feel like a less funny, hollowed-out combination of The Wonder Years and Boogie Nights — which is exactly what the show's creators told the New York Times they were aiming for. " Don't miss it tonight at 10 on the Velvet Channel. Primetime encore of the controversial program is on Friday night at 9:30pm. Velvet Channel is now available on SkyCable Platinum, SkyCable Gold, SkyCable Silver and other quality cable operators nationwide.

Source: People's Journal