Showbiz royalty graces us with presence in ‘For The First Time’

Author: Edgar Cruz
Column: BuzzStation

For The First Time, the Star Cinema movie directed by Joyce Bernal that will have the audience rallying to the cinemas on Aug. 27, brings together Richard Gutierrez and KC Concepcion.

This is the first movie of blue-blooded showbiz princess KC Concepcion — and who better to be her leading man than Richard Gutierrez, a prince of the limelight in his own right, who does his first film with Star Cinema. This film will also mark the comeback of director Bernal to the big screen, considering that filmmaking is a medium in which she feels completely comfortable. Direk Joyce goes back to the love genre, something she has been longing to do for quite a while.

After the critical and box-office success of Caregiver and A Very Special Love, the country’s largest film-making outfit decided to take it a notch higher with For The First Time, the first Filipino film shot in the picturesque and romantic yet mysterious archipelago that is Santorini, Greece. The cast and crew shot scenes in the island thought to be the sunken Atlantis described by Plato for 10 days, taking the time to choose the spots that would best convey passion to the sentimental Filipino moviegoer.

For The First Time follows the lives of two teenagers who come from entirely different worlds. Seth (Richard) is a rich, impulsive player who shies away from commitment (or the hint of it), and is not bothered one bit if a relationship goes awry. Pia (KC) is a prudish, ambitious lady who suppresses her emotions by putting up a front of civility, of being too busy with her career to have any time for amore. This is a yoke she voluntarily put on her shoulder, subconsciously punishing herself for a tragedy that has befallen her.

Two people longing to escape the harsh realities of their lives.

So they both run away to the seemingly secluded island of Santorini. It is here that their paths cross, and even though they have very different social backgrounds, this does not prevent them from spending an unforgettable summer in each other’s arms. That is until Seth runs away again, abruptly ending a blossoming affair that has hardly even started. Overcoming his fear of being tied down, Seth follows Pia back to Manila to win back the only woman who has helped him realize the true meaning of affection. When he gets there, though, the walls of land ownership and business-related disputes among their parents threaten to forever block the eyes of love.

Can Seth really climb the walls of unfaithfulness and indifference? Will he be able to win back his beloved in spite of the conflict between their families? What will prevail, emotion or reason? Heart or head?

Billy Crawford struts his style in perfect Human form

Seeing Billy Crawford perform, you will see a combination of Charlie Chaplin, a Middle-Eastern belly dancer and a New York street breakdancer — meaning that you experience total performance displaying precision, technique and a lot of mischievous humor.

Billy has a new gig in addition to his hosting ABS-CBN’s ASAP ‘08 and Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2: He is the latest face of Human, the hip, alternative lifestyle and clothing brand from Suyen Corporation.

The Human campaign shoot shows Billy’s passions and inspirations, mainly his music. The designers and photographers were able to effectively capture Billy’s musical influences (R&B, pop and soul) through the clothing line Human has designed for the untiring performer. One dynamic picture shows Billy donning a hoodie and shirt from the latest collection — the electrifying background underlining Billy’s own electrifying energy and presence.

“The shoot was extra fun,” Billy recalls. “It was fast, but efficient. The highlight was the workout during the shoot — lots of movements and laughs.”

The photos are very dynamic and very urban cool — much like Billy and Human.

“Being the new face for Human is an exciting experience,” Billy shares. “[They have] cool clothes, a great staff and classy style. Human clothes are comfortable, stylish and colorful. It has an edge about the clothes. You can wear it to chill out or to go out.”

The campaign pictures also show Billy strutting his style in Human’s white polo shirts, knitted tops, colorful tees, plaid tops, colored skinny jeans, full–print jackets, V-neck hoodies, a black beret and funky sneakers, among many other urban-cool pieces.

Billy and Human are the perfect match. “I’m a performer, so it’s important to look presentable and professional,” Billy points out. “I also have tattoos, and I think that Human has the same edge and vibe.”

Get Billy’s groove. Check out this season’s latest collection at all Human outlets nationwide. If you shop at Human starting Aug. 1, you get your own Billy catalogue free with a minimum single-receipt net purchase worth P800. This promo runs until Aug. 31, per DTI-NCR permit # 3605 series of 2008.

Valerie: Exercise and play while you Slendance the night away

Valerie Concepcion is one very busy lady: juggling hosting Wowowee, guestings in other television shows and filming. (She has three movies already lined up for this year). You might be thinking that with her sched and her family that she has no time left for fun, let alone for herself. Well, think again.

She is living proof of the saying that goes: “When you love what you do, work becomes play.” In her case, however, her work has literally become play. Exercise and play, that is, because she has this new 30-minute exercise DVD out, showcasing a dance workout combining hip-hop, Latin and techno that is easy to learn and can also be used on the dance floor.

Valerie says that there are a lot of people today too wrapped up in their work that they forget to set aside time for leisure and, more importantly, exercise. So she came up with a convenient, fun and easy-to-follow dance workout for people like her who feel it is important to be slender and attractive without wasting time nor money.

Slendance is a 30-minute workout that combines aerobic exercise, coordination, endurance and mental workout. The routine is designed to be easily practiced anywhere especially at your own home. Once you have mastered the different Slendance moves, you are on your way to exercising not only in your home but to also showing off your moves in social dance gatherings. Slendance aims to make exercise easy, fun and a regular part of your daily routine.

You will surely be “slendah” and “fittah” with Slendance and Valerie. So rush now to your nearest record bar or if you have bowser-itchy fingers, then visit the Starry Starry Store (ABS-CBN’s online store).

Sports Kidz: New host for new season

The fourth season of the weekend near-noontime Studio 23 show presents us with a new host and a lot of hot new feature segments.

The very articulate junior karting champion Javi Benitez, the champion basketball player from Ateneo Anton Asistio and the ice skating icon Katrice delos Reyes (who is curently competing abroad and from the last we heard, she has already won six gold medals and a bronze) will be joined by a fresh new face: Sara Castañeda, the prodigy soccer player from De La Salle-Zobel.

Though only in the fifth grade, Sara Isobel Castañeda has already been named most valuable player in her age group four times by the country’s most prestigious soccer competitions. With her soft voice gliding gently through the air and her understandable newbie shyness in front of the press comes the charm that harmonizes with the gruff playfulness of Anton Asistio and Javi Benitez.

Sports Kidz also has a variety of segments, which will awaken the blood of an athlete in every child. The new ones include: “Olympic Trivia,” which will be about the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics; “MVP,” where the most valuable players of every school get to give insight and encouragement to help other kids make it good in their chosen sport; and “Tekkie Muna,” for the young athletic technocrat who wants to get the latest breakthroughs in sportswear and gadgets.

Some of the mainstay segments the young viewers will get to see are: “All The Right Moves,” which is an instructional features on various sports to help prevent sports injuries; “Hyde Sports Events” featuring sponsored sports clinics; “Schooled,” where sports personalities give tips to the kids; “Out of Bounds” is an interactive sports information free-for-all; “What is a Fact” handles trivia; and “Old School” talks about all-time favorite games like siyato and patintero. It also showcases the latest updates about our country’s sports legends and successful sports figures from a featured school.

For parents who would want their children to watch a wholesome show, Sports Kidz is the avenue for their little ones to learn about sports and more importantly, sportsmanship.

Shorties

Wowowee, hosted by best friend Willie Revillame, has launched a new Coca Cola-sponsored game that replaces “Pera o Bayong.”

E-mail to imagineph@yahoo.com or text to O928-453-1154, for your comments.

Source: The Daily Tribune

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