Tama na ang pantasya sa TV!

Author: Billy Balbastro
Column: Take Billy

I CANNOT dictate on the taste of others but I wish to applaud ABS-CBN for bringing back some "reality" to soap operas and teleserye in our television fare. Enough of fantasies that make us lose our grip on reality.

Just as I welcome singers who really sing songs rather than show off their shouting and belting abilities.

Anyway, all these flying women and underworld kingdoms of magic and special effects will pass and it�s back to normal for our TV fare, soap and songs included.

Life isn�t that bad to make us dislike real life dramas and make our fancy fly with fantasies and out-of-this-world characters. What would our perspective of life and reality if we have these "fantaserye or after-lunch dinner and after-dinner fare daily?

Time will come that even adults would be swallowing stones to make them feel like some superheroes, my God!

Anyway, I have reason to rejoice over the newest teleserye on local television, Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin coming up on Monday, May 16.

Fresh from filming for Star Cinema Dubai in Dubai, Claudine Barretto, discarded her fins and sirena-tail last time she donned in Marina to play Nea Cruz Fontanilla in Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin with Bea Alonzo playing younger sister Jasmin Cruz Fontanilla.

The cast is star-studded: Diether Ocampo and John Lloyd Cruz for their romantic attachments, with Angelika dela Cruz as the other woman.

Other big names in the cast: Jaclyn Jose, Carmi Martin, Hilda Koronel, Tirso Cruz III, Shaina Magdayao and Noni Buencamino.

IALSA has two directors -- Erick Reyes (Sana�y Wala Nang Wakas) and Jerome Pobocan (Hiram).

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SELF-CONFIDENCE: Self-confidence is conquering fear and it can be taught. Actor and TV host Richard Signey is primarily a teacher as he teaches English as a second language and Spanish at Language International in Makati.

Now he�s having a workshop Public Speaking in English on May 16, 18 and 20, 2 to 5 p.m. at Nicotina Garden Pavilion, Roxas Blvd. Beside DFA.

Earlier when SNACK Arts of Bibsy Carballo, invited him for a session on confidence in a singers� workshop, Richard was a success.

"Many singers," says SNACK head Bibsy, "often suffer from lack of rapport with the audience. They are at a loss for words in-between songs, stammer at prepared spiels and simply don�t know what to do when not singing."

It is expected that this workshop on public speaking would attract students, political aspirants, would-be actors and models, beauty contestants, teachers or simply anyone too shy to face an audience.

For inquiries, call#721-0801 and 0917-8991835.

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SHAMROCK: Five young musicians blend perfectly to come up with the new Are You Serious album released by Universal Records. Shamrock -- the name of the band -- is about to enter the mainstream.

Its carrier single, Ms. Serious, has been enjoying excessive radio play and their original Alipin is a most requested item on the airlanes. Plus Radio Girl by Paco Arespacochaga and Naaalala Ka by Rey Valera.

Led vocalist Marc Tupaz grew up in Los Angeles. Bassist Sam Santos, guitarist Nico Capistrano, keyboard artist Henry Abesamis and drummer Rick Magalong complete the Shamrock quintet.

We attended their album launch at Phi Resto Bar at Metrowalk last Monday (May 9) night.

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HOLLYWOOD NOTES: From director-writer Timur Bekmambetov comes Night Watch (Nochnoi Dozor), a first film of a trilogy based on sci-fi novels of Sergei Lukanenko.

Released in native Russia in July 2004 and made for mere 84 million, it outgrossed Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and Spiderman 2 at the Russia box office.

Coming�very�soon, Night Watch is from 20th Century Fox, distributed by Warner Bros.

Source: Abante