Sam, Toni make beautiful music together

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

GMA-7 is serious in pushing the career of Aljur Abrenica as their next leading man since people say he has great potential to be a top heartthrob-matinee idol. "He has wholesome Pinoy good looks na naiiba sausual mestizo na lead actors natin," says one writer. "Hes in contrast sa tisoy like Richard Gutierrez and Dingdong Dantes."

At the presscon of "Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin," Aljur was asked whats the real score between him and Kris Bernal and his reply was: "What you see is what you get." This prompted one kibitzer to remark: "Looks like he really wants to follow in the footsteps of Richard. Di ba yan din mismo ang sagot ni Richard when asked whats the real score between him and KC Concepcion? No wonder nagkaenkwentro sila noon ni Richard nang personal sa Fiamma Bar."

A GMA executive tells us they like Aljur as hes not "pasaway" like other young stars. "Hes very serious with his craft at mabait na bata. Tipong hindi basta lalaki ang ulo," adds our source.

Senior actresses like Rufa Mae Quinto and Angelu de Leon also chose Aljur as one young actor who has piqued their interest. But Ara Mina says shes very lucky as shell be the first one to have a bed scene with him in her role as a rich widow who has an affair with him in "Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin?"

"Akong magbibinyag sa kanya," says Ara, who also feels happy to be back with GMA-7 doing "Totoy Bato" and "Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin?" "Hindi ko naman siya bibiglain. Dadahan-dahanin ko siya," she joked.

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After directing Kris Aquino in "Sukob" (2007) and Sharon Cuneta in "Caregiver" (2008), Chito Rono is now reunited with Maricel Soriano (they did "Separada" and "Dahas") in Star Cinemas horror flick, "T2."

No, it doesnt mean "Terminator 2." It stands for Tenement 2 at the FTI tenements in Taguig, where much of the story happens. We got to watch its trailer and we told Chito that it seems to be like Topel Lees "Sundo" about dead people fetching their loved ones as they die.

"Ay hindi, malayo dun," he says. "Hindi ito sinusundo para mamatay. T2 is based in what we call in Samar as Biringan, an enchanted world parallel to ours. I bought a lot in Samar and the 82-year-old caretaker told me to keep quiet at 12 noon kasi dumaraan sila. I asked: Sinong sila? And he said, Yung mga hindi katulad natin. In the province, its believed that they blend with us in our world kaya lang hindi natin sila napapansin."

Whats the role of Maricel?

"She plays a volunteer worker in an NGO for orphans. Shes married to Derek Ramsay. She is assigned to take Mica (younger sister of Angelika de la Cruz in real life) to some living relatives and its this girl who sees yung mga hindi katulad natin around her. They want to take her and Maricel is introduced into this world in T2, which a portal to their world. Also in the cast are Tetchie Agbayani, Camille Prats and Kai Brosas as their neigHBOrs in the tenement, and Eric Fructuoso as the driver of Maricelsa NGO. T2 is my most expensive horror film kasi its full of special effects. The last 11 minutes are all CGI set in the other world."

Hows it working with Maricel again?

"Its always a joy working with her kasi she always comes to the set prepared. Magugulat din kayo rito dun sa bata, si Mica. About 30 children auditioned for the part but I chose her as I havent worked with a kid like this since Serena Dalrymple in Bata, Bata. Magaling siyang mag-internalize and even her eyes act."

"T2" opens on Black Saturday.

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The love team of Toni Gonzaga and Sam Milby has done three hit films: "You Are the One," "You Got Me," and "My Big Love." They now show that they can also make good music even in the recording with the Star Records release of their first album together, "Love Duets." Solo, they both have platinum albums to their credit, so its expected that now that theyve joined forces, the result will be an even bigger monster hit.

"The album was suggested by the fans of our love team," says Toni. "When we do mall shows, we do duets of some songs and laging hit sa audience. So Maam Malou Santos of Star Cinema said we should do a duet album of love songs."

Its common knowledge that Toni has a boyfriend now, director Paul Soriano, while Sam just broke up with Anne Curtis. But Toni once said that there was a time that they almost got romantically involved with each other. What happened?

"Naudlot," she says. "Kasi after doing three films together, biglang hindi na kami nagkikita and the saying Absence makes the heart grow fonder didnt work for us. But were still okay as friends."

What can Sam say about this?

"The chemistry between us is still there, but in terms of a love relationship, its now another matter as shes already happy with her boyfriend, so Im just happy now with our friendship also."

The songs in "Love Duets" are "Cruisin," "Suddenly," "Sometimes When We Touch/After All," "Against All Odds," "Way Back Into Love," "Ive Had the Time of My Life," "If Ever Youre In My Arms Again," "In Love with You" and "You Are the One." Which song will they dedicate to each other?

"After All," they both reply.

For more updates, log on to starrecordsph.multiply.com or starrecords.ph.

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At the "Underage" presscon, most writers were placing their bets on Empress Schuck as the one most likely to make it big. As a child star, Empress impressed a lot of viewers as the ill-fated friend of Donita Rose in "Nine Mornings." She has since won accolades for her acting in "Maalaala Mo Kaya" and in the movie "Resiklo" as a blind girl who can see the future. Other movies she did are "Magkaibigan" and "Hilot." She now plays Rosanna Roces daughter in "Pasang Krus," a Lenten presentation. "Its a tearjerker and I play someone older than my age dahil may anak na ko rito," she says.

Empress, who just turned 16 on February 19, once played Maricel Sorianos daughter on TV and shes now elated to play the role originally portrayed by Maricel in "Underage," the first remake of a Regal hit movie to be presented in "Your Song." She used to be paired with Dino Imperial in "Astigs" but she now gets a much older leading man in "Underage," Rafael Rosell.

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Mike Tan was the big winner in "Starstruck 2" but Batch 4 winner Aljur Abrenica is now the lead actor in "Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin?" and he just plays a supporting role in it. Even the late Marky Cielo, Batch 3 winner, had more assignments than him before he passed away. Writers at the presscon of "Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin?" are all wondering why Mikes career is lagging behind when he has the advantage of height, is equally good-looking and can also act.

"Honestly, I myself am asking the same question," he says. "Iniisip ko na lang na Im still waiting for my own break kasi sabi, pana-panahon daw yan. In the meantime, I just do my best to whatever they assign to me and hopefully, darating din ang time ko. But there are times when I get discouraged at iniisip ko nga, kapag matumal pa rin ang jobs for me this year, Ill just go back to college."

His last soap was "Maging Akin Ka Lamang" more than half a year ago. "Ang tagal ko ngang walang trabaho but Im glad kasi maganda naman ang role ko in Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin as Kris Bernals elder brother. Our dad is a cop, Juan Rodrigo, and he was so happy when I passed the PMA exams at akala niya, susunod ako sa yapak niya. But then, nabuntis ko si Maybelyn de la Cruz kaya maaga akong nag-asawa. Hes disappointed in me and this gets worse when Kris elopes with Aljur at maaga ring nag-asawa. Ako, naging pabigat sa family namin as Im jobless."

Come to think of it, no one in their batch really made it big. His runner-up, CJ Muere, has gone back to school while the girls, Ryza Cenon and LJ Reyes, also have lukewarm careers. Mike admits he and LJ went steady for 10 months. "After we broke up, hindi muna kami nagpapansinan kasi pareho kaming nabigla sa breakup namin. But now, were good friends again. Wala ng ilangan and we now talk."

Mike is very serious in improving his craft as an actor. He took acting lessons with CCPs Nanding Josef who then cast him as Elias in a staging of "Noli Me Tangere."

"I enjoyed the experience so much and I really learned a lot. It made me realize how serious the job of acting is. Id really like to do theater again kasi ibang-ibang mundo yun. Right now also, Im shooting an indie film, Marino, where I play the younger brother of Allen Dizon whos a seaman married to Ara Mina na kasama ko rin sa Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin? Ako rin, I want to be a seaman like my brother in the story."

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Megan Young is part of "Starstruck 2" but she has since moved to ABS-CBN under Star Magic. Her role as Marcella, the younger sister of Ruffa Gutierrez, in "Betty La Fea" made her a familiar face on primetime. "When people see me in public now, they call me Marcella, even in school," she says. "It makes me feel good as it means nagmamarka naman pala sa viewers ang role ko."

Shes told that she should join the Bb. Pilipinas as her tall, dusky beauty will surely be a hit.

"Maybe next year. I just turned 19 on February 27 so puede pa ako sumali. But I have to work out muna to make sure Im in tiptop shape before I join."

Her younger sister, Lauren, has a love team in AJ Perez, and theyre now paired in "Underage."

"Oo nga, buti pa siya, may ka-love team."

Does she approve of Lauren and AJ being paired together?

"Oo naman. Sabi ko nga sa sister ko, dapat, maykissing scene na sila in Underage."

Would she be willing to go sexy in a movie?

"Why not? Basta artistic. Nag-two piece bikini na nga ako in Betty La Fea a few nights ago."

Whod she like to do a love scene with?

"Jericho Rosales and Sam Milby. Basta sila, puedeng-puede."

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The blockbuster "Legends of OPM" concert held last December at the PICC generated much positive talk about local music lovers that there just has to be a repeat. This will happen on Thursday, March 5, at the PICC. "The response that night from the audience was really overwhelming," says Claire de la Fuente, whose rendition of "Sayang" and "Something In Your Eyes" were big hits with the crowd. "Ang daming hindi nakapanood requesting me to have a repeat so we told boss Vic del Rosario about it at heto, pinagbigyan naman niya."

Aside from Claire, "The Legends of OPM" are Rico J. Puno, Rey Valera, Nonoy Zuniga, Joey Albert and Eva Eugenio. All are singing stars whose recordings continue to be heard frequently here and abroad. Rico, Nonoy and Rey, Claire, Eva and Joey were responsible for many of the biggest hits during the 70s and 80s. Their rendition of these classics was what made "The Legends of OPM" concert a resounding success. They will perform all of the songs heard in the first show and have added some new numbers. There are also grand production numbers in the program that includes duets, Pinoy dance hits and a stunning medley of songs discovered in the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival like "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika," "Hahanapin Ko," "Ewan," "Bulag, Pipi, Bingi," "Ako ang Nagwagi," "Be My Lady," "Isang Mundo Isang Awit" and "Salamat Musika." Its directed by Roxanne Lapus with Gerry Mathias as musical director.

Tickets are available at all SM Ticketnet outlets, the Araneta Coliseum and at Ticketworld outlets.

Source: Malaya