Stealing thunder

Author: Isah V. Red
Column: Life & Entertainment

How does a star grab attention from fellow actors in a press conference?

For Marian Rivera, touted as the golden girl of television after two successive top-rating series on GMA-7, its simply by pouring her heart out, not with pain but with anger and loathsome.

The star, made famous by her roles as Marimar and Dyesebel in a span of a little over 12 months, was asked by a movie scribe then acting as the open forum moderator about a rumor lingering in the air that she is pregnant. Answering in the negative, she added that she heard about it and that friends sent her text messages on how Karylle reacted when asked by Boy Abunda while in The Buzz as guest.

Part of the mezzanine of the Imperial Suites where the press do was being held was suddenly silent, while TV cameras quietly focused on Marians face as tears started to fall from her eyes. She was nearly sobbing when she lashed out on Karylle (without mentioning her name, of course) as maliciously smiling instead of giving out a more definitive answer, like I dont know, or Im not in a position to answer that question.

Supporters of Karylle, who has moved over to ABS-CBN and was given a lavish welcome in ASAP 08, accuse Marian of stealing their idols boyfriend.

Yet, Marian and Dingdong Dantes have not admitted to having any kind of relationship apart from friendship and love team on TV and the movies.

In the vernacular, Marian said, If I have any relationship Id tell everyone about it, because I was proud of all my past relationships.

The press conference was for the movie Desperadas 2 and it was livelier before the Marian Rivera valedictory. In fact, seatmate and co-stars Will Devaughn, Rufa Mae Quinto, Christian Vazquez, Jay-R, Ruffa Gutierrez, Iza Calzado, TJ Trinidad, Ogie Alcasid (both he and Ruffa were the crowd favorites), and Carlo Guevarra, who plays the man who captivates the heart of Luga Lugada (thats Ogie as a princess from a fictional kingdom), suddenly seemed uninteresting to most of the movie press.

Marian concluded her well-spoken valedictory, like a woman scorned, with something like, I wont say anything anymore, but whatever is their intention, then they have to deal with it.

The press conference ended with that, and Marian left in a huff, or hobbling as her right foot was still hurting from an accident in a shoot for Shake, Rattle & Roll X

Filmfest topgrosser?

With Ogie Alcasid joining Ruffa, Rufa Mae, Iza, and Marian in their second romp on the screen as Desperadas, many are asking if the sequel could equal or top the gross receipts of the first which joined the film festival on New Years Day this year.

Ruffa is very optimistic saying, Somewhere in this movie, you will find yourself. Thats her pitch to the audience, and it might just work.

Ruffa reprises her role as a career woman wanting to make a mark in her new business. Rufa Mae Quinto pitches the movie in her patented naughty way , I want all women and those who love us to watch this film. She plays a character always in search for Mr. Right. Remember in the first movie she found out that her husband was more interested in men than in women? Wendell Ramos played the closet gay with such a bravado that he returns as Rufas friend.

Iza Calzado plays a wife experiencing post-partum depression in the movie. This movie presents a different part of me. With Desperadas, Im able to show both my serious and wacky side; but still ending up endearing.

Marian Rivera, whose character was married in the first installment, goes through another challenging life with husband Will, now a resort manager. Career or love life, all of us go through this kind of situation, the viewers can learn a lot from this film as I did.

Ogie Alcasid plays the half-sister of the four girls. I hope the audience will enjoy this movie as much as I enjoyed doing it for them, Ogie exclaims, Its fun being a woman!

The movie is up against other comedies, including the women-centered One Night Only, the reunion movie of the students of Iskul Bukol, and the attack of the comedy queen Ai-Ai de las Alas in Tanging Ina Ninyong Lahat.

Sine Direk

The Directors Guild of the Philippines Inc. and APT Entertainment headed by Antonio P. Tuviera launched Sine Direk, the DGPI-APT Film Series with a special public screening of Fuchsia by Joel Lamangan.

The movie stars Gloria Romero, Eddie Garcia, Celia Rodriguez, Armida Siguion-Reyna, Iza Calzado from a screenplay by Ricky Lee.

This is the start of DGPI members venturing into commercially viable but independently produced films with out-of-the-box themes and treatment, said Tony Reyes, president of the Directors Guild. I am proud to be working on the outputs of the DGPI members and present the films of topnotch directors like Joel Lamangan, Lore Reyes, Soxie Topacio, Mel Chionglo, Maryo J. delos Reyes among others, exclaims Tuviera who is known to be a staunch supporter of noteworthy and pioneering industry efforts.

With Sine Direk, the public will be able to see movies not normally underwritten by major film outfits. We are optimistic about the support of the industry in this very good endeavor, said Malou Choa Fagar of TAPE Inc. Efforts like Sine Direk give the movie industry new and revitalized life!, said Young Critics Circle member and PR head Noel Ferrer.

The films of Sine Direk will have full theatrical and campus runs by 2009but with the screening of Fuchsia, things are set in the right direction. This film about growing old shows that truly, the industry has grown old, but it has done sowith a lot of wisdom and still teeming with very good prospects for the future.

All three balladeers

Ballads are timeless as sentiments of the human heart captured in music through the ages. Thats why balladeers, no matter what era they may have arose, never lose their appeal through time and their songs, never outdated.

All Those Ballads will exhilarate the Music Museum at 9:30 tonight. As the title suggests, nothing but ballads passionately performed by three generations of balladeers Nonoy Zuñiga and Mark Bautista with special guest Basil Valdez.

Under the musical direction of Aliw awardee Soc Mina, music shaped by Nonoy of the 80s, Mark of the present, and Basil of the 70s are lent new flavor and verve to take hold of the entire Music Museum audience from start to finish. Never Say Goodbye, I Need You and Youall those ballads will once more strike at the core of the hearts of listeners be they young or old.

Producer No2Limits Production stopped at no cost to ensure the success of All Those Ballads with sponsors Coca Cola and Outlast Batteries and media partner The Manila Bulletin, PCSO and San Miguel Corp.

Tickets are available at Music Museum Ticketron (721-0635) and all Ticketworld outlets (891-9999).

Masta Plann DJs Back 2D Future

The Party Heat is ON... Chapter 2 of the Masta Plann DJs Back to the Future RnB Hiphop Party series was recently held at the new and trendy club in town Club Bureau in Makati A-Venue Mall on Makati Avenue. Jesse Gonzales Cambosa of DMC Philippines and Julie Jacala of Club Bureau successfully staged the event which started 11 p.m. till 5 a.m. last Dec. 12.

Chapter 3 drops on 8 p.m. till the wee hours tomorrow in Klub Bossa in Balibago, Angeles City.

The RnB Hiphop Party series will continue until early next year in preparation for the historical reunion of the Hiphop Group of the 90s D Masta Plann with all original members who will be working together again as a group namely Tracer, Type, DJ Mod, DJ Sonny and DJ Ouch.

The Saturday party at the Klub Bossa I will feature Masta Plann DJs, Mc Jolo. DJ JET and the Masta Plann Booty Crew are also featured in a mini Fashion show and Booty Shaking all night long.

This event is presented by Mossimo Music, DMC Philippines in cooperation with Klub Bossa, Alta Vista de Boracay, Stagecraft Intl., Allen & Heath, RSL Mobile, Century Hotel in Angeles City with Media Partners GV 99.1 FM. Wave 89.1, Magic 89.9, 99.5RT. Jam 88.3. yehey.com, getzmo.com and anitokid blogspot.com.

Watch out for Chapter 4 drops on Jan. 16 and 17 at Club Pump in Cebu City during the Sinulog festival and tune in to NBN-4 10 p.m. till 12 midnight today for the delayed telecast of the 2008 DMC World DJ Championships D Philippine search with DJ Skin Khadafi emerging as the 2008 DMC Philippines DJ champion. He represented our country in the recent DMC World Championship in 02 Indigo in London, England.

Stiffer penalties for drunk drivers

Innocent lives have been claimed because of road accidents caused by drivers, who are driving under the influence of either/both drugs or too much alcohol.

Many lives have been lost and millions worth of properties have been destroyed because of accidents precipitated by drunk drivers or drivers operating their motor vehicles under the influence of prohibited drugs, says Rep. Irwin Tieng of Buhay party-list when asked of House Bill 4597 or the Anti-Drunk Driving Act.

If we wont act now, deaths caused by these incidents will continue to increase, Cong. Irwin reasoned out.

This particular House bill, co-authored by Reps. Rene Velarde and Ma. Carissa Coscolluela, aims to declare this pernicious and highly destructive practice to be a criminal act and to provide stiffer penalties for offenders.

In the bill, screen tests will be administered to drivers: a) suspected of driving under the influence of illegal drugs and alcohol, if promulgators have noticed suspicious driving acts like over speeding, swerving, weaving in traffic, and/or dangerously closing in stationary objects b) involved in an accident c) suspected of driving under the influence of either or both drugs and alcohol because of alcoholic breath, incoherent speech, sluggish or delayed reaction or when his physical appearance is indicative of this practice.

With the passage of this bill, stiffer penalties are given to offenders.

We cannot waste another life because of this oversight, adds Tieng. Lets pray that this bill be passed.

Source: Manila Standard Today