Sunshine quitting showbiz?

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

What is happening to Sunshine Dizon? Is it true she's giving her director, Gil Tejada, and co-stars in "Tinik sa Dibdib" a hard time? She had their taping packed up a number of times when she knew they don't have that too many advanced episodes in stock for their afternoon drama. Direk Gil already filed a formal complaint with GMA-7 management about her being the real "tinik sa dibdib" of their show.

Sunshine's mom, Dorothy, said she was confined in a hospital due to severe migraine and that she's intending to quit showbiz for a while to join her dad who is based in the US. Because of this, some wags are concluding that the rumor that Sunshine is preggy must be true, even if she has denied it several times. Before her tummy grows bigger, they say she'll go to the US to deliver her baby there and just return here later. As to who is Shine's mystery lover, no one knows his identity but someone who knows her says, "Ganyan naman talaga si Sunshine kapag may lovelife, naaapektuhan pati trabaho niya kapag namomroblema na siya."

GMA Network has issued a statement yesterday, saying "it has pulled out Ms. Sunshine Dizon from her current afternoon drama program, 'Sine Novela Presents Tinik sa Dibdib,' due to health reasons.

"It was decided that Ms. Dizon's condition would make it impossible for her to perform as an actress. GMA Network advised Ms. Dizon to rest in order to fully recover."

***

Rufa Mae Quinto will be Jap-Brazilian model Akihiro Sato's "godmother" in his first acting try on TV in "SRO Cinemaserye Presents Moshi-Moshi" that starts this Thursday after "Shining Inheritance ."

"Yes, ako'ng magbibinyag sa kanya," she says. "Dito malalaman kung may ibubuga nga itong afam na ito. I play a laundry shop owner na mahilig sa foreign telenovelas at naging super fave ko ang isang Japanese telenovela na si Aki ang bida. Nang dumalaw siya sa bansa natin to promote his new telenovela, ayun, nagmistula akong stalker niya. I'll do anything to get him kahit hate ako ng manager niya, Alicia Mayer, na may gusto rin pala sa kanya."

So how's their working relationship so far?

"First time ko lang siya nakita sa taping namin. Hindi ko nga nakilala kasi naka-shades at jacket siya. Siya na pala yun at shocked ang beauty ko dahil ang guwapo pala niya. May K pagkaguluhan ng mga bading. Mabait siya, smiling face, and he's trying his best to speak Tagalog. Sabi ko, it's okay, we can talk in English kasi marami kong baong Ingles. E, yun pala, kahit English, hirap din siya at ako pang nagtuturo sa kanya. He also doesn't talkJapanese kundi Portuguese lang as he grew up in Brazil. "

Is it true their show is very sexy?

"Yes, marami kaming kissing scenes at may shower scene pa kami na pareho kaming basang-basa. Kaya tiyak lalong maiinggit sa'kin ang mga bading na nagnanasa sa kanya. Sorry na lang po pero naunahan ko na sila. First taping day pa nga lang namin, kissing scene na agad. Parang hindi ako sanay at nahiya pa ako kay Aki. But I showed him I'm professional kaya go na lang ng go."

One writer tells her she looks excited to work with Aki. "Kinikilig-kilig ka raw."

"Obvious ba?" she laughs. "Siempre, bagong putahe, di ba? At flattered ako when he said crush niya ko. Nag-blush nga ako. Feeling ko, bagets uli ako. Parang virgin na naman ako!"

And we thought she's already engaged to her mysterious boyfriend?

"Oo nga. E, trabaho naman ito, ano?"

Does Aki know Rufa Mae?

"Yes, I know she's a superstar. I see her on TV and magazines," he says. "She's really my crush."

How do her lips taste?

"Ang sarap-sarap. Parang strawberry. But no malice yun."

"Ganun ba? Kasi sa'kin, meron," says Rufa Mae laughing.

***

Polo Ravales is ecstatic over the best actor nomination he got from the FAMAS for his knockout portrayal in "Walang Kawala" of a married fisherman who falls in love with best friend, Joseph Bitangcol, and risks his life when Joseph is made a sex slave by a rogue cop in Manila. The film directed by Joel Lamangan was a blockbuster when shown last year and Polo got positive reviews.

"I'm thankful to the FAMAS for the recognition," he says. "I'm glad na nominated ako sa kanila as they're the oldest and most famous award-giving body in the country. Up to now, when someone gives a good performance, sinasabi pa ring pang-FAMAS ang acting, which means nagmarka na talaga sa tao ang FAMAS. I also want to thank Direk Joel for guiding me in my role kasi may inhibitions pa ako at the start, but with him motivating me properly, I was able to deliver what he wants."

"Polo deserves the nomination," says Direk Joel. "I wish he'd win kasi nakita ko kung paano niya pinaghirapan ang role niya. I've directed him also in 'Blue Moon ,' 'Manay Po 1 and 2' and 'Pacquiao' and even then, I already saw his promise in acting and his dedication in improving his craft. It's about time he gets recognized."

His manager, Manny Valera, who also produced "Walang Kawala," says Polo's nomination is a confirmation of what he knew all along.

"That he's really one of the finest actors in his age bracket today," he says, "We produced 'Walang Kawala' mainly to showcase his talent and we're glad we didn't fail in our objective. Sana nga manalo siya."

Polo is now in GMA-7's "Darna" and plays villain to Manny Pacquiao in "Wapakman." Also nominated for "Walang Kawala" are Jean Garcia as best supporting actress and Emilio Garcia as best supporting actor.

"We're really grateful to FAMAS for the honors they gave to our movie as it validates the superb work of our cast and encourages us to do better films," adds Manny V.

The FAMAS Awards Night will be held on Sunday, October 18, at the Pagcor Grand Theater in Paranaque.

***

Jaya's first album with GMA Records, "Cool Change ," is a hit so it's not surprising that they asked her to cut a new album of revivals, "Real Love Stories." At its launch, Jaya says the album fits as her real love story with husband Gary Gotidoc is a true blessing for her. "Mabait talaga si Lord, binigyan niya ko ng mabait na second husband," she says. "I intend to write a book about my life when I'm 40, which is next year na since I'm now 39, so baka when I'm 50 na lang. As you know, I was married before to a white man (Andrew Buffington) and it's the best and the worst that ever happened to me. The best kasi nakatikim ako ng white. I was struggling then and he saved me from my lowest point. I thought he wanted to have children, but he didn't. When he came to the Philippines, nakakita siya ng maraming magagandang babae so he went his way and I went my way. But having a loving and understanding husband now with our two kids gave me focus. Dati, baklang-bakla ako, trashy, nagsasayaw sa ledge sa Malate. Now, I know my priority. I wake up each day aware of having these two kids relying on me so I better make sure my name remains clean. I want to be very good for them. Dahil sa kanila, nagkaroon ako ng takot sa Diyos, ng pagmamahal sa sarili. I'm very, very happy now as a woman and I really want to be a good mom."

Jaya's new album has 14 great love songs, with the late Kenny Rankin's "Hiding Inside Myself" as the carrier single. Other great cuts are "After All," "Finding Out the Hard Way," "Anyone Can See," "I Just Can't Let Go," "Real Love," "Save the Best for Last" and "Old Friend," all delivered with Jaya's Queen of Soul style. The only upbeat cut is "I Will Survive" and she really does with gusto.

***

Jacklyn Jose is glad that most of the local films being shown in international filmfests today are the so-called indie films. The film sent to the Oscars, "Ded Na si Lolo ," is an indie film. "Kinatay," which won the best director award for Dante Mendoza in Cannes Filmfest, is also an indie film. "Opening film ngayon sa 11th Cinemanila Filmfest in Market Market ang 'Lola' ni Dante at entry yun sa recent Venice Filmfest kaya dapat panoorin nyo," she says. "I'm really glad that I'm a staunch supporter of indie films. I won an Urian best actress award for an indie film I did, 'Sarung Banggi' at proud ako sa naging contribution ko sa kanila. Sa Cinemalaya naman sa CCP, I just did 'Narseri' at tapos ko na rin yung debut movie ni Bing Lao, 'Biyaheng Lupa.'"

She encourages new actors to try indie films as it is good training for them. She remembers playing mom to Coco Martin in his award-winning movie, "Masahista."

"That was five years ago. Look at Coco now, award-winner na rin and also playing good roles on ABS-CBN. Pero noon pa, na-sense ko na may ibubuga siya."

She enjoys doing such low-budget films but when it comes to her bread and butter, she depends on TV. After playing a villain role in "Zorro" on GMA-7, she now returns to ABS-CBN for another villain role in "Nagsimula sa Puso" as Maja Salvador's meddlesome mom. "I'm glad I can do shows with both networks and I'm also happy na si Maja ang sinusuportahan ko naman dito as she deserves it. Malaki rin ang potential niya sa acting."

Source: Malaya