Sunshine: I really love Cesar

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

SUNSHINE Cruz came to the presscon of Petit Monde looking so slim you won't think she's already the mother of three girls. "I belong to the first batch of their models and I'm the only one left," she says. "Wala na sina Ana Roces at Carmina Villarroel. I was only 16 when I started with them and now I'm 31. Loyal ako sa kanila as they have classic styles but very affordable. "

She tried to dodge questions about her and husband Cesar Montano with whom she broke up last Christmas, but the press was persistent. "Okay na kami. At least, bago nag-Christmas uli, we're together na. The kids are requesting nga na sa Hong Kong kami mag-pasko as they want to go to Disneyland. But it all depends on Buboy's schedules kasi he's busy taping 'The Singing Bee' that's now seen on weekends. "

What were the lessons she learned from her experience about their temporary separation? "I realized that I really love my husband. I can't imagine myself na magkakaroon pa ng other man in my life kundi siya lang. I now pray na sana, malampasan pa namin ang anumang pagsubok o trials na darating sa amin as husband and wife. "

How does she feel when Cesar's ex-girlfriend from Germany, Stella Penalosa, surfaced and admitted their past relationship? "Puwede ba huwag na lang ako magsalita tungkol diyan? I have changed. Ayoko nang basta nagri-react. I want our coming Christmas to be full of positives kaya tigilan muna ang mga kanegahan. All I can say is I appreciate 'yung effort ni Buboy na mailagay sa ayos ang pagsasama namin and I thank him for that from the bottom of my heart. We even traveled together to the U. S. na kaming dalawa lang. "

What about the case she filed against Cesar's sister? "You know, I'm so nervous in attending this presscon kasi takot akong usisain tungkol diyan. Ayoko na lang pag-usapan pa yan. All I can say now is that the more important thing is nagkakaintindihan kami and we won't let yung sinasabi ng ibang tao sa aming paligid to affect us. We ourselves will make or break our own relationship, wala ng iba pa, and we'll do everything para mas tumibay ang family namin. "

STAR MAGIC STARS IN 'Pieta'
STAR Magic Artists are featured in ABS-CBN's afternoon soap, "Pieta," the story of a mom's unconditional love starring Cherie Gil as Amanda and Ryan Agoncillo as the son, Rigor. Star Magic artists in the series are Jason Abalos, John James Uy, Janus del Prado, Jairus Aquino, Enrique Gil and Nina Dolino and Star Magic's Rikka Dylim hosted a special lunch just for them. Jason plays Efren, the best friend of Ryan from childhood. He used to be a member of Rigor's notorious gang but his dad is a cop and he is recruited into the police force making him and Ryan adversaries. After winning the Urian best actor award for "Endo," he now stars in another indie film, Cinema One's "Motorcycle. " "My dad, Noni Buencamino, dies and I'm assigned to bring his ashes to his hometown in Ilocos using his motorcycle," he says. "It becomes a journey of self discovery for me. We shot the film in Vigan and Pagudpud, directed by Jon Red, who's also my director in 'Eva Fonda,' the new series I just finished taping with Cristine Reyes. " Jason endorses Afficionado Perfumes and is also Jewels Apparel's male endorser. He has finished another indie film, "Handumanan," with Chin Chin Gutierrez, directed by Seymour Sanchez and filmed in Dumaguete.

John James Uy, discovered in Be Bench contest, feels lucky to play Frank in "Pieta," the rich suitor of Krista Ranillo who plays Martha. "It's my first regular drama and my character believes money can buy everything," he says. "I'm learning about acting from my co-stars in this show. " He's also MYX VJ for North America and this gives him the chance to travel around the Philippines, an eye opener for him since he grew up in California.

Janus plays Boyong in "Pieta," the friend of Ryan who acts as his conscience. Janus just celebrated his birthday on Nov. 19 and he was also seen recently in "Lobo" and "My Only U" as Vhong Navarro's best friend. He can do both drama and comedy with equal ease and is also in Regal's filmfest entry "Shake Rattle & Roll 10. "

Child star Jairus Aquino just signed up with Star Magic. Best known as Pareng Jomar, ang pambansang best friend in "Super Inggo," he has also appeared in 'Rounin,' 'Lastikman,' 'That's My Doc' and 'Kung Fu Kids. ' He's in grade 3 at Angelicum and plays the role of Toto, the young pickpocket who's befriended by Ryan. A potential heartthrob with his mestizo good looks, Enrique Gil is part of Star Magic Batch 16 and has done several TV and print ads. He plays Harold in "Pieta," the brother of Krista Ranillo. He got the offer to do "Pieta" at a low point in his life. His dad just died of leukemia at the age of 46.

FIGHT SCENE BECOMES REAL
NINA Dolino has just finished her degree as a communications major at the Ateneo when a friend asked her to join the audition as a "tadjock" in "Wazzup Wazzup. " This led to another hosting job in "Break the Bank. " She also joined the singing all female group Koolchx. "Pieta" is her first regular drama and she plays a challenging role as Jessa, the younger sister of Jason who's desperately in love with Ryan. "My role is very challenging as it's the opposite of me since she's a babaeng bakla na palengkera at jologs who'll fight for her love for Ryan," she says.

Recently, she did a mud wrestling scene with Krista and it became controversial as they really hurt each other while fighting on cam. "The instruction of Director Toto Natividad is for me to really hurt her, so sinampal at sinabunutan ko talaga siya rito. What I didn't expect is lalaban siya, so nagkasakitan kami talaga. Bale ba, hindi lang putik yung ginulungan namin kundi mabato. E, naka-mini skirt lang kami, so we ended up na sugat-sugat ang aming legs at tuhod. After that scene, hindi na kami nag-uusap. But I'm confident magkakabati rin kami kasi alangan namang magkagalit na lang kami for the rest of the show. "

Would she fall for Ryan in real life? "Ay, may boyfriend na ako. He's a model named Peter and we've been together for five years now. Faithful po ako sa kanya. "

Nina and the cast of Pieta will have a nationwide tour, starting with a caravan on November 30 in Metro Town Mall, Tarlac City, and SM City, Rosales, Pangasinan. For more information, visit abscbnPieta. blogspot. com.

'TWILIGHT': VAMPIRE STORY FOR TEENS
MOVIEGOERS have always been fond of vampire stories, like "Interview with the Vampire," "Underworld," "Blade," "The Lost Boys," "Hunger," "Blood and Roses. " It's really vampire season in the U. S. now, what with the hit HBO series, "True Blood. " And there's also the acclaimed Swedish film about teen vampires, "Let the Right One In. " The newest vampire flick is "Twilight," the first in a series of four popular books by Stephenie Meyer that started in 2005 and have sold 17 million copies worldwide (no doubt the sales will increase with the release of the film version). It's about a teen human girl, Bella Swann, who falls in love with Edward Cullen, one of a group of teen-looking vampires who have trained themselves to drink animal blood. (They must be fond of "dinuguan. ")

Those who expect this to be a spooky horror film will be disappointed as it spends more time about going to the prom and the climactic showdown in the film happens in, of all places, a ballet studio. But the anticipation and excitement of diehard "Twilight" fans has reached bloodcurdling levels in the U. S. and it's now considered a cultural phenomenon just like the "Harry Potter" series.

The difference is that "Twilight" was filmed at a comparatively lower budget of only $36 million and the two actors playing the lead roles, Kristen Stewart ("Panic Room," "The Messengers") as Bella and Robert Pattinson (the Brit actor who played Cedric Gregory in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire") as Edward, have captured the hearts of many "Twilight" fans for whom author Meyer has created a new world of vampire lore intended for younger readers where vampires are no longer averse to garlic and sunlight.

In the "Romeo and Juliet" type of forbidden love story, Bella relocates from Phoenix, Arizona after her mom remarried to join her police chief dad (Billy Burke) in the dark rainy town of Forks, Washington State.

Bella is an outcast in her school in Phoenix and she doesn't expect that she'd fit in with her new classmates in Forks, where she joins the class in mid-term, just like Gabriella Montez in "High School Musical. " And just like Gabriella, she meets her own Troy Bolton in the mysterious Edward, a smart and witty boy who's unlike anyone she has ever met as he's described in the book as a "godlike creature. "

To Edward, who's been 17 years old for several hundred years, they're soulmates and they get into an intense romance. He peers into Bella's soul with his piercing gaze and she says "zing went the strings of my heart. " She takes a look at him across the school cafeteria and sirens go off inside her head. Luckily, he also feels the same.

They become lab partners in biology class. When a car nearly hits Bella in the parking lot, Edward suddenly materializes in a flash to stop the vehicle with one arm.

But the closer they get to each other, the more Edward has to control himself to resist the attraction of the smell she emits that can send him into frenzy in his animal urge to suck her blood. It's good he belongs to a vampire group who resist preying on humans. They live in a stunning glass house in the middle of the foggy woods and Edward's dad, Carlisle Cullen (Peter Facinelli) is a doctor.

Things get complicated when a new clan of vampires arrive, led by James, Laurent and Victoria (Cam Gigandet, Edi Gathegi and Rachelle Lefevre) and threaten to mess up their love affair. Unexplained animal attacks then occur, shown in a scene where a deer is chased by its fleet-footed predators in the forest.

The film is directed by Catherine Hardwicke who has directed the angst-filled film about adolescence, "Thirteen" and the teen flick about skateboarding, "Lords of Dogtown. " "Twilight" is really more of a high school romance spiced up like a Dracula flick but laced with lots of humor (like jokes about radioactive spiders and kryptonite) and angst-filled rock songs. It also makes vampirism a sexually charged metaphor for raging hormones and teen lust. With the help of her capable actors, Hardwicke is able to pull the whole thing off quite successfuly. There are also exciting action sequences, like the baseball game in a thunderstorm.

We won't be surprised if the three remaining books in the "Twilight" series ("New Moon," "Eclipse," and "Breaking Dawn") will also be filmed soon as this is, from the looks of it, going to be real big. As a matter of fact, the sequel is already set up with the ominous appearance of a mean lady vampire who is shown going down the stairs at the prom.

Source: People's Journal