Sexiest male and female from GMA7

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

Marian Rivera has been officially announced as the top choice in this year's search for FHM's 100 Sexiest Women, the first winner who has never even graced its cover. In an interview, Marian said she'd agree to pose for them if she'd win, so now she'll have to keep her word. Her manager, Popoy Caritativo, says Marian will fulfill that promise as soon as her schedule allows it.

One thing sure is that Marian will attend the FHM event at the World Trade Center on July 17. GMA7 is so lucky as their show, "Dyesebel," has the sexiest man and woman winners. Marian is numero uno with FHM while Dingdong Dantes, earlier topped the list of sexiest bachelors of Cosmo Magazine. On July 18, right after the FHM event, both Marian and Dingdong are flying to the U. S. to join the "Eat Bulaga" show at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

Popoy denies the accusation that he spent a lot to make sure Marian would win in the FHM poll. "Wala kaming budget sa ganyan. And even Marian will get mad if I'd spend money for that. We never even expected she'd win kasi hindi naman siya sexy star and she has never posed for FHM. Pero mayayaman ang fans niya, lalo na yung Marianknights na taga-ibang bansa. Sila ang nagpadala ng pera para suportahan siya. "

Marian got a total of 316,135 votes. Second placer Katrina Halili (who was Marian's contravida in "Marimar") is quite far with 123,239 votes. Angel Locsin got 121,288 votes. Even if you combine the votes garnered by Katrina and Angel, they won't be enough to beat Marian. Someone told us, though, that if the votes were based only on those made by actual FHM readers, it's Katrina who would have won. The great bulk of Marian's votes came from texting and emails. Like what we've said, the FHM poll turned into a popularity contest among movie stars.

WHY RACHEL WON P1. 2M
RACHEL Alejandro just won P1. 2 million as "The Singing Bee" champion, but she says she didn't join "The Singing Bee" to win. "I joined just to enjoy it," she says. "Kaya siguro ako nanalo. It's not the first time I won kasi I also won in 'Eat Bulaga'.

"But this is the biggest prize I won so far. Sabi ko nga, I can make a career out of this na. This actually has a personal impact to me. It's not just about the money, kasi for the few past years, I felt na parang so many things in my life are going wrong and may mga bagay na iniisip ko sa sarili ko na parang malas. And then nag-turn around lahat just like this kaya na-feel ko na di pala ako malas. It uplifts me. I just feel so blessed right now. For the past weeks nagre-review talaga ako at nagka-karaoke. This is my 6th time as a defending champion at hindi talaga ako nagpa-practice especially dun sa first and second time ko. "

Did it help that she's a singer? "Oh yes, definitely. Kung di ka singer mahihirapan ka magkabit ng letra sa melody. It's easier kasi to memorize the lyrics pag may kakabit na melody. As a musical person, mas nagre-retain 'yun. Although it doesn't have to be the case talaga, kasi di naman kailangang professional singer ka to love music, di ba? Edge ko din siguro 'yun na nasa mid-age ako...di ako super old para di ko alam 'yung bagong songs and di rin super young para di ko alam 'yung old songs. Kaya I think the best candidate for this show is someone probably around my age or a little younger. "

How did "The Singing Bee" differ from other game shows? "Iba talaga 'yung nerbiyos ko sa Singing Bee compared to other games kasi you don't know what song you'd be asked to sing. Different din when I'm performing in a concert. Sa concert kasi, you just want the people to enjoy and you want to be the best possible performer to your audience. Sa Bee kakabahan ka kasi iisipin mo kung matatapos mo ba yung show? Nakakahiya sa audience pag nagkamali ka, lalo't makikita mo pa sa mukha nila na hopeful na hopeful sila na makuha mo na 'yung jackpot. "

What do you intend to do with the money? "Tumitingin kasi ako ng malilipatan so I might use it there. Pero ayoko rin gastusin lahat. "

What advice can you give the next defending champions or contestants? "Number 1 talaga is 'yung preparation. Kahit sa bahay, nagma-mark ako ng spot sa floor tapos magsasabi ng artist 'yung boyfriend ko and then mag-stomp ako para yung speed ng paa ko mapraktis din (laughs). Part na rin siyempre 'yung pagre-review at pag-videoke to refresh your memory lang of the songs. "

What are your favorite lyrics from a song? "It's from the musical 'Avenue Q' and titled 'Fine Fine Line'. I can relate to it because ang dami kong bad experiences with guys who I went out with and they just never called. Nawala ng parang bula. Like everyone else, I'd go to my friends and they will say na 'forget about him. He is such a jerk. ' That doesn't really help kasi mapapaisip ka pa rin eh. Anyway, the line goes: 'If someone doesn't love you back, it isn't such a crime. ' It's saying that this doesn't make a person a bad person. It just so happen that the person didn't like you as much as you like him. There are so many people you come across in this world before you find someone who will love you back. It's not true what they say that if you are an artista, it's easier for you to find your true love. On the contrary, it's the opposite because you don't live under normal circumstances eh like me, I'm always travelling. That's why mahirap makahanap ng tao who'll really understand you, makakasabay at talagang makakatapat mo talaga. "

Any updates? Shows? "I'll be in Abu Dhabi for two weeks this July then to Dubai. After that I will continue doing my new album under Star Records. It's going to be By Request so the fans can suggest what songs they wanted to be included in the album. I'm not sure kung ano ratio between cover and originals pero I do welcome original compositions. Hopefully third quarter ma-out na siya. "

ALJUR AU NATUREL
A SEX video showing a young man in the act of satisfying himself is being circulated on the net and the rumor is that it's Starstruck IV winner Aljur Abrenica. But those close to Aljur say it's just a lookalike and not really him. It seems there's a demolition job on Aljur as it's also being rumored that he's seen playing footsies with a gay in the locker room of a gym.

"Hindi po ako 'yung nasa video at hindi rin totoo yung tungkol sa gym dahil ni hindi nga ako nakakapag-gym these days sa sobrang hectic ng schedule ko," he says. "And why would I do such things na alam kong makakasira sa career ko. I don't mean to offend gays dahil I know marami kong gay fans, pero hindi po ako makikipaglandian sa bading, lalo sa isang gym. Ingat na ingat nga ako in every move I do dahil ayokong may masabi sa'king negative ang kahit sino. "

DOCU ON HUNGER
SOME students are so lucky to have their own cars or to have school buses to fetch them. But do you know hapless students in remote barangays not only have to walk on two or more kilometers of rough mountain roads just to get to school? Worse, some even have to swim rivers just to get an education! This is what Jay Taruc show in "I Witness" tonight as he documents the heroic struggles of children in Magalumbi Island in Iloilo who have to swim every day just to get to school. The docu is seen through the eyes of Raul, 13, and Queenche, 10, plus their younger siblings.

Their fishermen dads take them to the mainland in the morning by banca. But after school, since their parents are already out at sea to fish, they have to swim for about half an hour to get back home. Sometimes, they have to struggle against the currentsin the deep waters or worse, against pesky jellyfish that thrive in the rainy months of June and July Since the can't take their books with them, they just bury their things in the sand before swimming and then dig them up the next morning. No wonder a lot of them drop out and never even reach high school. Don't miss the heartrending experiences of these kids who swim to school in "I Witness" tonight after "Saksi. "

REGINE SEES MARK ANTHONY NAKED
GMA7 has found a new leading man in Mark Anthony Fernandez who's doing fine as Cyrus, Regine Velasquez's temperamental boss in "Kim Sam Soon. " His edge is that he's not only goodlooking on screen but also acts so well. His late Dad Rudy Fernandez must be smiling from the great beyond now that Mark has totally recovered from his disastrous bout with drugs. Mark started with much promise as one of the Guwapings in the mid 1990s and he was launched to stardom by Star Cinema in "Mangarap Ka" with Claudine Barretto.

But his subsequent junkie behavior undid his career so he had to go into rehab. It was GMA7 who gave him another break casting him in "Impostora" and "Kamandag" and he now certainly comes into his own in "Kim Sam Soon, " where his fairly- controlled acting perfectly balances the unrestrained attempts of Regine at comedy. Mark is actually being projected as a sexy actor in the show as he's photographed shirtless in a number of scenes. In one scene, Regine sees him only in his boxers and in another scene, in his swimming trunks. There's also a scene where Regine enters the bathroom and he's already naked inside.

"Actually, nahihiya nga ako, lalo roon sa trunks scene," he says. "Sa set lang sinabi na I'll have to wear trunks. Pero okay lang kasi as an actor, dapat ready ka for anything. First time ko ginawa 'yun in my entire career, kahit sa pelikula. It's good I do workouts kaya prepared ako. Nakakahiya rin ang scene na hubad ako sa harap ni Miss Regine. Buti na lang at okay lang sa kanya at tawa lang siya nang tawa. "

We think, though, that Mark still has to work out some more to add up more bulk to his too slender frame.

KABARKADA STATION'S NEW SHOWS
Studio 23 has a new head, March Ventoza, replacing the amiable Leo Katigbak who's promoted at the office of ABS-CBN president Charo Santos as head of special projects. He was officially introduced to the press and he promised to intensify the programming of the Kabarkada Mo station that targets yuppies or young professionals. They have the best Hollywood TV shows on air, like the new drama "Dirty Sexy Money" that we've already written about, plus season 5 of "Two and a Half Men" with Charlie Sheen and John Cryer (Thursdays, 9:30 p. m. ), "Ghost Whisperer season 3" (Sunday, 8:45 p. m. ), "Cheetah Girls" (Saturday, 7 p. m. ), and the new seasons of "Brothers and Sisters," "Grey's Anatomy," "Ugly Betty," "Desperate Housewives," "Criminal Minds," "CSI" and "Smallville. " For their movies, at Barkada Nights on Saturdays, they'll show "Analyze That" with Robert de Niro on July 12, "Swordfish" with John Travolta on July 19, and "The Tuxedo" with Jackie Chan on July 26. They also show "Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2" from 12 noon to 2 p. m. , live streaming, plus the NCAA and UAAP games from Wednesday to Saturday afternoons. Their specials include the primetime telecast of Miss Universe 2008 on July 15, 7:30 p. m. , and the 10th Annual Teen Choice Awards hosted by teen sensation Miley Cyrus aka Hannah Montana on August 5, live via satellite, 8 a. m.

Source: People's Journal