Shaina: Collect and collect

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

THE first time we interviewed Shaina Magdayao was when she was 6 years old, playing the daughter of Aga Muhlach in Chito Ronos "Hinahanap-Hanap Kita." Now, shes a beautiful young lady who is turning 18 on November 6. But instead of having a grand debut like other stars, she opts to go abroad as she loves traveling. "I really want to go to Europe and I asked for a three-week vacation," she says. "But I was not allowed to leave kasi Im taping Lobo now with Piolo Pascual, so saJapan na lang ako for six days. Bale business trip na rin ito as my dad will meet with his business partner for our Photon Dome Wellness Clinic along Timog Avenue. I want to see Mt. Fuji and tour Nagoya and Tokyo."

As a child star, her first soap was "Marinella" with Camille Prats then she did "Mula sa Puso," "Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan," "Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay," "Tanging Ina" and "Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin." To make her a more mature actress, she now plays a 23-year old PMA graduate who works with Piolo in "Lobo." "Iniba ang ayos ko, movements ko, and even pitch ng boses ko so Id look more mature. Mahirap pero kaya ko naman."

About her lovelife, she admits John Prats has visited her at home. "But he claims hindi siya nanliligaw sakin. Nagpaparamdam lang siguro.But were not committed. As of now, I have other suitors na non-showbiz at gusto ko, collect lang muna ng collect then I will select kapag mas nakilala ko na silang mabuti."

If shed rate Johns closeness to her, what will it be? "Mga7 siguro. Si Rayver Cruz, 8.9. Merong ibang non-showbiz guysna Id rate as 8. But as of now talaga, I focus more on work and my studies as I want to go to college after high school."

Shaina is paired with Rayver in two Metro Manila Film Festival entries: "Katas ng Saudi" and "Bahay Kubo." "Palipat-lipat siguro kami ng float come Parade of Stars."

Shaina also endorses Her Bench, Avon Whitening, Lactacyd and Cose Bags.

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Beauty queen Carlene Aguilar returned to Manila last Thursday with her and Dennis Trillos love son, Calix Andreas. Before they got here, some showbiz talk shows allegedly got word from a sister of Carlene if they want exclusive coverage of the arrival and shes asking how much theyre willing to pay. No one took her seriously and just sent TV crews to the airport to cover Carlenes arrival. Is it true this is the same sister who earlier leaked the information that the real reason why Dennis and Carlenes romance went kaput was because their (her and Carlenes) parents were against the match?

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In 2001, a big controversy in local cinema was the banning of "Live Show (Toro)," leading to the ouster of Dr. Nic Tiongson as MTRCB Chairman. The film, which we believe is one of the best films that year, was withdrawn from theaters and writer-director Joey Reyes was berated for being a pornographer. The truth is its an honest look into the desperate lives of live sex workers who do coitus in front of customers just to survive. The story is told from the point of view of Rolly (Paolo Rivero) whose mom (Daria Ramirez) is a dying old prostitute.

The other sex workers are Gigi (Klaudia Koronel) who keeps on saving money to go to abroad, the suicidal Rosita (Ana Capri) who pines for the baby she gave away, and a poor couple (Hazel Espinosa and Simon Ibarra), former prostitutes who want to lead a new life but are forced to go back to selling their bodies for the sake of their kids. The film is now released on DVD and those who failed to see it then can judge for themselves if it truly deserves to be banned.

"The DVD is the international version acclaimed in the Berlin International Flmfest," says Direk Joey. "It was heaven for me that international viewers and critics all praised it there and the Q&A extended up to 1 a.m. I was overwhelmed by their reception and felt proud to be a Filipino filmmaker. I didnt know hell was waiting for me pagbalik ko rito as everyone denounced me and the film without even seeing it. Even people I thought were my friends called me a mandurugas who had to use sex and kalaswaan kumita lang ng pera. Tapos, no one defended me, not even the people in civil society who I was with dahil were all anti-Erap. In hindsight, what I went through was a humbling and a learning experience. I dont regret doing the film. Its only later I realized na naging biktima lang ako ng mga nagpapakitang gilas sa bagong dispensation ni Gloria Arroyo. This may sound so yabang, but all I can say is: Where are they now? Im still here, making films. E, sila? And what happened since then, lalong bumagsak ang local film industry. After that, ayoko na talagang ma-involvesa politika. Tama na yang street marches as its bad for the complexion. I believe changes can only happen in this country through education so Im now working hard so that our young people will not just resort to nursing, call centers and joining PBB for their future. Sa totoo lang, only perverts will be turned on by Live Show. What you should feel while watching it is despair, awa sa sex workers who are being exploited by our society because of their poverty."

"Live Show Uncut" is now available with a special 15- minute documentary that shows what really happened to "Live Show" then, plus incisive interviews with Ricky Lo, Nick Tiongson, Sigmund Sanchez, Nick Deocampo and Joey Reyes.

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Sunshine Dizon was peeved when she was told that Polo Ravales said that among his past girlfriends, shes the one hed like to reconcile with.

"You know what, kayong reporters lang ang nagsasabi niyan," she says. "He himself, wala namang sinasabi sa akin. As for me, huwag na lang. Its better na maging friends na lang kami."

Its common knowledge that Sunshines current boyfriend is businessman Jojo Manlongat, so this is probably the reason why shes in no mood to talk about reconciling with Polo, with whom shes working again in the new GMA "suspenserye," "La Vendetta," that started airing last night. As for Polo, he says the idea to go back to Sunshine didnt come from him.

"I guested in Sis and they asked me kung sino sa ex-girlfriends ko ang gusto kong balikan," he says. "I mentioned Sunshines name but it doesnt mean gusto ko na ngang makipagbalikan sa kanya. Sa totoo lang, wala akong balak makipagbalikan sa sinuman sa mga ex ko."

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Aljur Abrenica was one of the guest celebrities in Crispina Belens birthday party hosted by Mother Lily Monteverde. He did a solo song then had a duet with "Boys Nxt Door" co-star Rich Asuncion. We ask him if the rumor that hes not happy with his role in "Zaido, Pulis Pangkalawakan" is true. Hes allegedly complaining because he has less exposure than Dennis Trillo and Marky Cielo.

"Saan man galing yan, thats not true po," he says. "Masaya po ako with Zaido. Imagine, Im just a newcomer but Im given the chance to star in a primetime show that is now rating 40%. How can I complain? Besides, Im learning so much about acting from all my co-stars in the show."

Musical director Danny Tan is helping Aljurs career as a singer and he says Sony BMG is willing to give him an album. "I just hope GMA will allow him to cut an album for them," he says.

This week will see the entry of the "Amasonas." These are the ladies recruited by Paolo Ballesteros (whos so good as the cross-dressing villain, Yda, and looks even better than some of the real girls in the show) to work for the evil Kuuma. Those who he was able to attract to join them are Iwa Moto (after Dennis Trillo rejected her advances), LJ Reyes, Melissa Avelino, Vaness del Moral and Arci Munoz. The "Amasonas" will sow mayhem in the market of Tala and harm the people with their uncommon strength and deadly weapons. They have deadly golden dust coming out from their fingers than can kill men, including cops and even the Zaido space cops are also put in danger while trying to help the townspeople.

Source: Malaya