The real score between Richard & Isabel

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

Isabel Oli has become a household name due to the success of "Sugo" where she plays the role of the "alay" or offering whose blood will revive the mummy of the evil Apo Abukay. The latest buzz is that she and partner Richard Gutierrez are now really an item on and off the screen. The word used is "nagka-developan." Is this true?

"Richard and I are definitely much closer now than when the show started, pero hindi pa po kami on," she says. "Pareho kaming mas priority pa rin ang trabaho. I must admit that at first, naiilang ako kay Richard. Kasi I know hes the top young actor today and Im an unknown compared to him. So, I was trying to keep my distance from him as I also dont want to be accused na ginagamit ko siya para magkapangalan ako."

Isabel says she had no inkling that when GMA-7 got her, shed be paired with Richard. "I was really surprised kasi nga, youd think theyll pair a big name actress with her. It all came very, very fast talaga."

The episode where she and Richard had a kissing scene rated very well. "I was so nervous when were taping it. What Direk Dominic Zapata did is winorkshop muna kaming dalawa ni Richard to make us feel more comfortable with each other, kasi nga hindi ako sanay to kiss on screen. It was very helpful and by the time we shot the scene, I was more relaxed na."

Isabel is Olivia Daytia in real life. She grew up in Cebu where she finished IT (Information Technology) at the University of San Carlos. She was planning to go to Singapore where her family is now based and where IT is in demand, but fate had something else in mind for her. She started doing one TV commercial after another then ABS-CBN got her to play a supporting role in "It Might Be You" which starred John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo. "After that, hindi na nila ako kinontak so I supposed wala na silang interest sa akin.Nag-go see naman ako sa GMA-7 at heto nga, they got me na for Sugo which is now rating very high."

So what happens now to her degree in IT? "I have to put it on hold. But Im still very much interested in learning more things about computers. Maybe, when Im no longer busy with showbiz, I can pursue advance IT and follow my family in Singapore to pursue another career there."

Three housemates in "Pinoy Big Brother" are nominated for eviction: Rico (a former host in Japan), Racquel (a teacher who was deceived by her employer when she tried working in the Middle East), and Franzen (a jobless father of two). Viewers are now being asked to text who among them should be saved. We have a hunch the public will choose Franzen, said to be the representative of the jologs or masa since he is not as highly educated as his colleagues.

Many people are able to sympathize with him as he is often seen crying while he is missing his wife and kids. He keeps on saying that he joined the contest for their sake and you know how we all love the underdog like Franzen who has also demonstrated hes a caring family man. Even in Thailand, we learned that the winner was a very poor man who his housemates all tried to evict each weekend, but the viewers sympathized with him and made the ultimate survivor in the end.

In a field where singing groups seldom last, The Company is a rarity. Theyre currently celebrating their 20th anniversary and Moy Ortiz, the groups writer and senior member, recalls how they were formed in 1985. "There were 12 of us who were with the Ateneo College Glee Club," he says. "We formed our own group and a restaurant, the Italian Village, offered us to sing for their customers. Ryan Cayabyab saw us there and got us as backup for Celeste Legaspi in her "Komiks Konsiyerto" at the CCP. Then more superstars got us to sing with them, like Kuh Ledesma, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano. Louie Reyes offered to manage us and she did that until she left for abroad. Kinuha naman kami ni Boy Abunda in 1995 whos managing us up to now."

Moy finished communication arts, major in advertising at the Ateneo. After 20 years, The Company now has only six members. Aside from Moy, theres Annie, Sweet, Cecille, Andre and Ruben. Moy and Cecille are both from Bacolod. There was a time when they competed in an interschool competition, with Moy representing San Agustin and Cecille, St. Scho. Cecille won and Moy cried about it. Little did they know theyll meet again in Manila and be members of the same singing group.

Three of them are from UP and three are from Ateneo. The ladies are all married with kids while the guys are still single. Sweet is the newest recruit. She joined the group after Phoebe migrated to Canada in 1999. Soon, theyll have to look for a new guy as Andre is joining his family in the U.S. Moy says that although they love The Company, they also have other jobs. "To help us pay our bills, we do backup work for other singers, we do jingles, we teach, do workshops and studio work. Annie and Sweet are very much in demand as vocal coaches."

Moy is also a hit song-writer. He writes the music while Edith Gallardo writes the lyrics of the songs they do, like Aiza Seguerras hits, "Pagdating ng Panahon" and "Akala Ko". How will he explain the groups durability?

"Its because we have the same values and work ethic. Were not in here just for the money."

Whats the most endearing quality of each member? "Annie is my lifelong best friend and I love her with all my heart. Cecille is a woman with cojones (balls) who stands up for her convictions. Sweet is a good person with a big heart. Ruben naman is a fiery person, a passionate soul. Andre is my exact opposite, very quiet. Ako, Im the neurotic one."

For their 20th anniversary, The Company celebrates with two big projects. First is "The Company-The Anthology," a CD box set from Viva Records with two CDs. One has 29 tracks that include their biggest hits like "Everlasting Love," "Now That I Have You," "Didnt We," "Vocalise Minsan Pa", and their commercial jingles and unreleased songs. The other CD is a collection of their music videos for "Hopeless Romantic," "Baka Ikaw," "Hindi Na" and "Huling El Bimbo". There is also a 40-page full color booklet with photos that chronicle their act through the years plus liner notes with info on each of the featured songs.

The second project is "Company 20," a 20th anniversary concert at the CCP Main Theatre on October 1, Saturday. This will feature various music genres and styles showcasing their versatility. They will have 20 special guests, including Regine Velasquez, Ai Ai de las Alas, Boy Abunda, Joe Mari Chan, Anna Fegi, Nanette Inventor, Franco Laurel, Ayen Munji, Erik Santos, Aiza Seguerra, Eugene Villaluz, James and Liezl Laforteza, G-Force Dancers, and past members of The Company like Maius, Tetet, Tom, Carol and Manny, wholl all fly in from abroad. Written by Moy himself and directed by Floy Quintos with Beth Martin as musical director, this will be a night of great music you wont forget. Get your tickets at Ticketworld outlets at National Bookstore, Robinson Department Store, Ayala Malls, Tower Records, and the CCP box office. For online bookings, log in at TicketWorld.com.ph or thecompanysingers.com.

Source: Malaya