Time for Rufa, DJ Mo to bury the hatchet

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

Marian Rivera says "Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang" is ending in May. Its definite her next assignment will be a show that kids can also watch, unlike "Babaeng Hinugot" that was meant to be experimental to give her a chance to play a more mature acting role. Its bruited about that shell do a new version of "Darna" but Marian says nothing is sure yet. Is she afraid shed be compared with Angel Locsin who did it before her?

"Okay lang sakin makumpara, pero hindi lang naman siya ang gumanap na Darna, di ba?" she says. "Marami na. Nandiyan sina Vilma Santos, Anjanette Abayari, Nanette Medved at iba pa. Sohindi na maiiwasan ang comparison dahil marami nang nag-Darna."

Is she disappointed that "Babaeng Hinugot" didnt top the charts the way "Marimar" and "Dyesebel" did?

"Ill be a hypocrite naman kung sasabihin kong hindi," she says. "Tanggap naman namin ni Dingdong (Dantes), na hindi laging kami ang number one. But then, the show also achieved its purpose, which is mas mahasa ako sa drama at hindi puro pa-cute or tweetums na lang ang ginagawa ko. As Proserfina, I went through a very wide range of emotions at lately nga, in scene after scene, wala na akong ginawa kundi maging emosyonal at umiyak ng balde-baldeng luha. Makatotohanan kasi ang show, pati mga sampal sakin nina Paolo Contis, Carmi Martin at Angelu de Leon. Walang fake dun.Nasasaktan talaga ako. Grabe rin naman kasi talaga ang pinagdaraanan ni Proserfina, lalo sa eksenang inilibing ako ng buhay."

After "Babaeng Hinugot," shes hoping to do a movie first before she does another TV series. She has pending movies with Mother Lily Monteverdes Regal but shes not sure when shooting will start.

"Theres a horror movie with Dennis Trillo," she says. "Then yung full length film version ng Nieves episode ko sa Shake, Rattle & Roll X. Also, meron ding comedy with someone Regal is trying to borrow from the other channel. Ewan lang kung papayagang gumawa ng movie sa labas na ako ang kapareha. Sana maayos nila."

Shes referring to Vhong Navarro, and it seems theres remote possibility that ABS-CBN will lend Vhong to Regal since hell be doing a new movie with Toni Gonzaga, plus Sarah Geronimo and Rayver Cruz to boot.

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The latest on the Judy Ann Santos-Ryan Agoncillo wedding is that it might take place anytime soon. Earlier, it was bruited about that theyll tie the knot in May, in time for Judays birthday. But it seems everything has all been finalized for a late April wedding, but its all hush-hush so as not to attract crowds that will turn it into a circus. Only relatives and the closest friends will be invited to the very private wedding that will happen in an exclusive private enclave out of town to make it a real clandestine affair.

Judays gown has already been finished by Paul Cabral while Fr. Tito Caluag (Ryans personal adviser since his schooldays at the Ateneo) will officiate. Its said that Judays dad (estranged from her mother, Carol) will be coming home from the US to give her away at the altar. Only a handful of media people will be invited to the affair and official photos and videos coming from Juday and Ryans will be released to newspapers, magazines and TV stations later. If this is true, then that means Mother Lilys plan to have Juday latest movie, "Oh My Girl," to be shown in time for her wedding in May will not materialize. But the wedding will be just in time for the new romantic comedy that the couple is now taping for ABS-CBN and will reportedly start airing in late April.

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Star Cinemas Roxy Liquigan said that after the horror flick "T2," which opened last Saturday, their next movie is their Mothers Day offering, "Best Friends Forever BFF" starring Sharon Cuneta, Ai Ai de las Alas, John Estrada and Chokoleit, directed by Wenn Deramas. "Weve lined up very good film projects for the rest of the year," he adds. "We have And I Love You So, starring Bea Alonzo as a young widow and pre-school teacher who finds new romance in Sam Milby, a photographer so different from her late husband, directed by Lauren Dyogi. Then we have a romance staring Aga Muhlach and Angel Locsin, another one with Angelica Panganiban, Derek Ramsay and Gabby Concepcion, directed by Laurice Guillen. We also have a teen horror film na60% finished na, Estrella, directed by Rico Ilarde, starring Shaina Magdayao, Maja Salvador and Geoff Eigenmann. We have a new Tanging Yaman starring Lorna Tolentino, entitled SaYo Lamang, with child star Santino. Were also doing the Erap Estrada-Ai Ai de las Alas movie, with Erap himself providing the storyline. And of course, we have the Vilma Santos movie, In My Life, to be shown in September. Pina-feng shui na naman and its Ate Vis best month."

Roxy showed us the rushes of the Ate Vis movie. She plays a very serious school librarian who looks so stern and strict but who lets her hair down and dances wildly when she thinks no one is looking. "Eighty percent of the film will be shot in New York," adds Roxy. "Itll show how her visit to her son Luis Manzano in New York will change her routine completely."

On TV, Roxys projects include "Only You" with Angel Locsin and Sam Milby now being filmed in Korea (this will replace "Betty La Fea" that ends in three weeks), "Lovers in Paris" with KC Concepcion, and the yet-untitled Lorna Tolentino teleserye with Gabby Concepcion, and "Dahil May Isang Ikaw" with Jericho Rosales, Kristine Hermosa and Karylle.

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Easter has come and gone but the conflict between "Showbiz Central" hosts Rufa Mae Quinto and DJ Mo remains unsettled. Its pretty obvious they do want to bury the hatchet, but in each others back. And we dont expect this to end soon now that DJ Mo has decided to answer back after Rufa Mae called him "bastos" for asking Dr. Vicki Belo in the show about Rufa Maes alleged affair with Hayden Kho.

DJ Mo said Rufa Mae called her bastos because he asked a question about an issue where shes involved. "But what is more bastos, asking that question, or guesting in our rival program (The Buzz)? Host siya sa Showbiz Central, but she guested in our competitor. Its unfair to GMA-7 and to our audience also."

Were sure Rufa Mae will also make a rebuttal. Unless someone from "Showbiz Central" or the GMA management intervenes and tells them to stop acting like kids, shut up, and just concentrate on their hosting jobs.

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We want to laud APT Entertainment of Mr. Tony Tuviera ("Eat Bulaga") for partnering with the Directors Guild of the Philippines in Sine Direk, a project aimed to help invigorate the moribund local film industry with the production of six significant alternative films. Already in the can are "Fuchsia" by Joel Lamangan (which was shown in Podium last year and is now nominated for some awards), "Ded Na si Lolo" by Soxie Topacio, "Litsunero" by Lore Reyes, and "Agaton and Mindy" by Peque Gallaga. About to be shot are "Bente" by Mel Chionglo and "Kamoteng Kahoy" by Maryo de los Reyes. Each director was allowed to speak about his movie at the presscon of Sine Direk at Annabels Restaurant last Thursday. There will be a grand launching of the six films at Teatrino on April 24, then the showing at SM Mall theaters will start on April 29 with "Fuchsia," to be followed by "Ded Na si Lolo" on May 6, "Litsonero" on May 13, "Agaton & Mindy" on May 20, "Bente" on May 27 and "Kamoteng Kahoy" on June 4. The proceeds from the screenings will go to the 16 Directors Guild scholars who are children of Filipino film workers.

Soxies "Ded Na si Lolo" is a comedy so hes the funniest among the directors who presented their projects at the presscon. He says he wrote the film based on his experiences with his own family. His aunts are all "tindera" or vendors, and all are loud "palengkera": Gina Alajar is a fruit vendor, Elizabeth Oropesa sells cooked dishes in her carinderia, Manilyn Reynes is a vegetable vendor, Dick Israel is a meat vendor. One uncle is gay, Roderick Paulate.

"But hes not a tindera kundi female impersonator," says Soxie. "They ask me kung ako ang character ni Roderick but I said no, dahil mas maganda ako kay Roderick at agree naman siya. My character here is the child played by BJ Forbes, who sees everything thats happening in his family. The film starts with the death of my lolo and it is revealed that our family pala is only the second family of my lolo. His real wife is Perla Bautista, a mysterious woman who attends the wake. Comedy ang pelikula, pero may drama rin."

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One of the six films in Sine Direk, a collaboration between APT Entertainment and the Directors Guild of the Philippines, is "Kamoteng Kahoy," written by Ricky Lee and directed by Maryo J. de los Reyes. Its based on a true story about 21 elementary school kids who died in a remote town in Bohol due to food poisoning, that also sent hundreds to the hospital. An old woman selling "maruyang kamoteng kahoy" (fried cassava) near the school made the mistake of mixing pesticide instead of sugar in her maruya and killed the kids.

Playing the old woman is Gloria Romero (whos also in the cast of Joel Lamangans "Fuchsia") and three of the ill fated pupils are Nash Aguas, Sharlene San Pedro and Julio Pisk. The one who survived is Buboy Villar, now seen in "Zorro." Playing the roles of the parents are Ana Capri, Yul Servo, Marissa Sanchez, Irma Adlawan, Anton Bernardo and Gerald Madrid. Its slated to be shown on June 3 in SM mall theaters.

Direk Maryo, who won international awards for "Magnifico," another tragic tale concerning children, is also directing the GMA-Viva Films collaboration starring Richard Gutierrez and Anne Curtis. Its tentatively titled "Maybe This Time."

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We were told some GMA execs are wondering why JC de Vera is now denying that he cried when he learned he wont be doing "SRO Cinemaserye" after he and his manager decided not to accept it. "Ang daming nakakita sa kanya noong umiiyak siya," says one GMA insider. "Pati si Kuya Germs, but now, hes denying it when he even said sa presscon niya noon na hindi naman kabawasan sa pagkalalaki niya kahit umiyak siya."

Is it true GMA execs are disillusioned with him so theyre now focusing their sight on another JC, Tiuseco that is?

"In fairness to JC Tiuseco, maraming na-impress sa kanya in his first acting job sa Karibal episode ng Dear Friend. He was able to hold his own against more experienced co-stars like Katrina Halili and Alfred Vargas. Hindi lang pala siya pang Survivor kundi may K ding mag-artista. Even from the viewers, maganda ang feedback sa kanya," adds our source.

"Magiging masikip na ang mundo ng GMA para sa dalawang JC," quips one writer.

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In the spirit of Easter, we just want to share with you some personal thoughts about the Lord. When my wife Vicky passed away last year, I felt personal resentment against him. My wife was such a good person, an exemplary Christian, a caring daughter to her 87-year-old mom whom she personally took care of until her mom passed away on Jan. 1, 2008. On Jan. 31, my wife collapsed after delivering a lecture in UP and passed away three days later. Its as if her own mission was accomplished after her mom joined our Creator. I couldnt accept it. She has many books and projects on governance and anti-poverty programs used by some of our more conscientious public officials. She had an open hand to help everyone and we were so effective working in tandem in our apostolate with the Marriage Preparation Program. Why get her?

I felt like I was crippled. But with the help of my children, my relatives and friends, it dawned on me that the Lord had given me and Vicky 31 beautiful years of being married to each other. Looking back, theyre the really the best, happiest years of my life, with the Lord giving us countless blessings, the first of which being our faith in him, followed by our son and daughter, our in-laws, our grandchildren. I have no reason to complain. Who am I to question the Lord for taking back Vicky? In the end, one thing that has been made very clear to me is that we are not in control of our lives. Everything is grace. And only God is in control. Dark clouds will always come our way, but lets all look forward to the brightness of resurrection come Easter. May the spirit of Lent that brings reflection and contrition be with you all.

Source: Malaya