Richard, the highest-paid star on TV

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

Richard Gutierrez finally renewed his contract with GMA-7 last Friday and the press was invited to witness the affair. All the big wheels of the Kapuso Network were there, led by Atty. Felipe Gozon.

Richard signed a two-year contract where hes guaranteed to have continuous projects. Annabelle Rama wouldnt say how much the contract is worth. "Secret na lang," she says. But we heard that Richard got a contract signing fee of P5 million, now making him the highest-paid star on TV whose signature alone on the contract is already worth millions.

"Richard has proven his loyalty to us," said Atty. Gozon. "Ang samahan namin nina Annabelle at Richard will last hanggang may lechon pa sa Cebu."

So did Annabelle get everything she wanted for her son, who she felt was being shortchanged by some GMA staffers who favor Dingdong Dantes?

"No, she did not," said GMA executive Wilma Galvante. "Bastahappy kaming lahat sa provisions we have in the contract. About her feeling that Richard is being sabotaged, hindi naman totoo yun. Nagkataon lang na tuwing magkakaaberya, si Richard ang tinatamaan. Its true that Perry, the manager of Dingdong, ang executive producer ng SOP, pero kailan lang naman yun. Theres also no real intention na huwag isali si Richard sa birthday greetings ni Atty. Gozon. It was just an oversight.

"About the initial airing ng summer ID ng GMAna wala si Richard, pinamadali lang yun ni Atty. Gozon himself nang hindi pa natatapos yung pagkaka-edit ng portion ni Richard. Hindi rin sinadya yun."

Does Richard now get to choose his own director and leading lady for each new show? "Sa director, wala kaming pakialam," said his mom. "But sa leading lady, akong may final approval."

So is she the one who approved Heart Evangelista as Richards leading lady in his new project, "Asero"?

"Of course. I like Heart kasi magaling nang umarte at talented, may breeding at disente pa. Magkatuluyan man sila off cam, okay rin sa akin. Dalawa lang talaga ang gusto ko for Richard,si Heart at si KC (Concepcion). Sa totoo lang, suwerte ang babaeng mapapangasawa ng anak ko dahil nakapag-ipon na si Richard, may bahay na siya, he has everything na."

So she approves of his getting married now? "No. Bata pa siya at 24 para magkaroon ng sariling pamilya. Mag-enjoy muna siya sa pagkabinata. Kaya nga lagi ko siyang sinasabihan, Chard, magko-condomka, ha. At yung mga babae naman sinasabihan kong mag-pills sila. Kasi mahirap yung pakakasal dahil nabuntis, tapos, maghihiwalay rin dahil sobrang bata pa.

"Ang maganda sa anak ko, he listens, like when I say Dahan-dahan ka riyan sa babaeng yan at wala kang future diyan. Naniniwala naman siya."

So who is this woman in Richards life who she rejected as her son has no future with her?

"Ay secret na lang. Ayokong manlait ng babae kasi lalaki itong anak ko."

Someone sitting beside us whispered: "Si Anne Curtisyun. Very vocal naman siya noon pa na ayaw niya kay Anne for Richard dahil playgirl ito."

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How did comedian singer Rubirubi feel when Cherry Pie Picache spoofed her in a hilarious scene in "Manay Po 2: Overload." "Actually, that scene wasnt in the script," she says. "Natuwa lang si Direk Joel Lamangan when he saw me in my red blouse and fishnet stockings kaya pinagaya kay Cherry Pie. I was there when they shot it at natawa naman ako."

How come her exposure in "Hide and Seek," where she was first noticed, is much longer than in "Manay Po 3"?

"Alam ko naman after reading the script, that I will play a sexy star na katrabaho ng jowa ni Cherry Pie na si Christian Vasquez, kaya pinagseselosan niya ko. Its really a small role,kaya lang, nakwelahan sakin si Direk Joel kaya humaba nang humaba ang papel ko. Okay naman sakin kahit hindi ganun kahaba ang exposure ko. Im just happy to be part of a hit movie like Manay Po 3."

Her concert, "Rubirubi@Boyz.com," at Zirkoh was such a big hit and there was a clamor for its repeat. "Ang dami talaga kasing hindi nakapasok at limited lang ang capacity ng venue. This time, were staging our new concert at a bigger venue, Metro Bar, at West Avenue, which has 1,500 seats, kaya mas bongga rin ang show ngayon. Hindi ito basta repeat lang dahil maraming bago. Ill do a spoof of Tina Turner and open the show with a Beyonce song. Ill sing APO songs and I also have a bossa number to show I can do any type of song with equal ease."

Will her act feature the "laswa" factor, like the number from their first concert where Polo Ravales, Frank Garcia, Joseph Bitangcol, Alwyn Uytingco and Gabb Drilon paraded on stage with their shirts off and she rated the sexiness of their nipples? "The audience just loves that kind of humor so this time, hindi na nipple rating ang gagawin ko kundi somewhere below the belt naman. I will do a Bukol Rating to find out who has the biggest bukol among them. At siempre, para may proof,kailangang ipahipo nila sa akin ang bukol nila. So, payo ko sa mga syota nila, lalo kay Ms. Jean Garcia, huwag manood nang di sila magselos. Kung ang sarili ko ngang mother, hindi ko pinapapanood at baka mapagalitan pa ako dahil she doesnt know na naglalaswa ako sa show."

The special guests in their show are Rufa Mae Quinto, wholl do a solo number then will have a production number with the boys, "Philippine Idol" runner-up Jan Nieto wholl do a duet with Rubirubi and FHM cover girl Hazel Ann Mendoza. The show, produced by DMV Entertainment, is for the benefit of the Quezon City Chamber of Commerce. For tickets, call DMV at 415-0373 to 74, Metro Bar at 412-6514, Ticketnet at 911-5555 and Ticketworld at 891-5610.

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Will there now be peace in Kuyas house after the exit of Spanish Stallion Kevin and his Daddy John? They made a voluntary exit last Saturday night. Daddy John had several heated arguments with Josefs Tita Anna and Beautys Mommy Carina that greatly affected Kevins friendship with them. There were attempts to patch things up, but these proved to be futile. Kevin thought it best to just leave "Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Plus" so there will be no more conflicts.

Meantime, the second "Libreng Tuliang Bayan" will be held April 30. A hundred boys will have the surgery for free. Those who registered but werent accommodated during the first "Libreng Tuliang Bayan" will be given priority for this round that will be held at the Big Brother activity area in cooperation with Capitol Medical Center and Capitol Medical Center Colleges. "PBB: Teen Edition Plus" will also have a "Sikat sa Haircut" contest, open to groups of friends all over the country. Kuya is giving away P50,000 to a barkada of five donning the coolest, hippest, and most extraordinary hairstyles. To join the contest, send in your high-resolution pictures to the PBB house or online thru pinoybigbrother.multiply.com

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The love scene of Aga Muhlach and Anne Curtis was finally shot on the last shooting day of "When Love Begins." "Its my first love scene ever, kaya kabado talaga ako," says Anne. "Grabe ang tensiyon ko but Aga and Direk Joey Reyes, took good care of me to make me feel comfortable during the take. It was done very nicely, very tender kasi when I read the write ups about us, they use the word laplapan and me makes me feel uneasy. Hindi naman yung bedscene ang selling pointng movie. More than anything else, When Love Begins is a beautiful love story with a very valid insight about people who love each other so much but are afraid of commitment."

How about Aga? How will he compare his love scene with Anne to those he did with Kristine Hermosa, Claudine Barretto and Angelica Panganiban?

"No comparison as theyre all memorable. But yung sa amin ni Anne, its not just one love scene naman. Throughout the movie, there are many times were shown kissing na normal lang sa boyfriend-girlfriend. So were shown kissing sa beach, sa sala, sa bedroom, all as an expression of love, not just lust."

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Louie Heredia zoomed to fame in the 80s singing hits like "Nag-iisang Ikaw," "Iisang Damdamin," and "Unat Huling Mamahalin." Hes now doing a concert with Randy Santiago, Raymond Lauchengco and Gino Padilla, "Greatest Hits of the 80s," at the Music Museum on May 16 and 17.

"This is a project of Boss Vics kids, Vincent and Veronique," he says. "When they first offered it to me, I said Id think about it kasi I dont really enjoy going out anymore. I felt been there, done that, let younger singers do it. I dont even accept offers to guest on TV nga. There was even an offer for me to do a new album, pero ayoko na. I just want a simple life. But they were very convincing so I when gave my nod,naisip ko, naku, Id be memorizing songs again.

"And I have to diet and exercise kasi tumaba ako. But now that Im here, Im giving it my best. Panay ang rehearsal namin nina Randy to make sure well give the audience a good show. At sana naman, maraming manood sa amin."

While hes away from the limelight, he found a new calling: cooking. His specialty is paella and last Christmas, he could hardly cope with the orders. "Everyone who has tasted it says Ive perfected paella and my dream is to have my own restaurant."

If you want to try his paella, you can call him at his cellphone: 0917-795-6346.

Louie is excited with "Greatest Hits of the 80s" as all of them get to sing their own hits and about 20 different medleys of various hit songs of the era. "May concept ang bawat medley. The opening number is puro dance hits like All Night Long and Rhythm of the Night. Then we have a medley of the hit songs of female singers then like Kuh Ledesma, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Joey Albert, and many more. Sobrang dami ng good songs from the 80s kaya ang problema namin is which ones to include. Ang dami pa ring hindi namin nagamit and we can use them if this concert will have a Part 2."

While promoting the show on TV, he tripped and fell right on cam. "Its very embarrassing. But at least, tumayo pa rin ako at kumanta. Some people think I did it on purpose para mapag-usapan. Puede ba, Im not that stupid. Nakakahiya nga ang nangyari sakin."

For tickets to their show that range from P1,400 to P2,250, call Ticketworld at 891-9999.

Source: Malaya