Vicki denies rendezvous with Hayden in LA

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

THE controversial Dr. Vicki Belo returned to Manila from the U. S. last Wednesday with Ruby Coyiuto See of Flawless and reporters who waited for her were disappointed when they didn't see Hayden Kho arriving with her. She denied the story that they've kissed and made up and were seen holding hands in a mall in Los Angeles.

"I went to L. A. not to have a rendezvous with him but for some speaking engagements and for the possibility of opening a branch of Flawless there," she says. "I don't know where that story na nagkabalikan kami at magka-holding hands pa came from. I don't even know where he is based in the U. S. "

She doesn't deny that they do maintain communication. "We might have broken up but we're still friends. "

Dr. Vicki's son and daughter, Quark and Cystalle Henares, and her close friend and PRO Manay Lolit Solis can now heave a sigh of relief. They're all against the idea of her reconciling with the man who hurt her so much. Someone who's so disappointed that they didn't patch things up is DJ Mo, a friend of Hayden who they've taken along with them in their vacations in Africa and the U. S. "Akala kasi ni Mo, tuloy na ang ligaya nila at makakasama siya uli sa trips nila abroad," says someone close to Dr. Vicki.

CHARLENE A WELCOME ADDITION

AI AI De Las Alas has been absent from "Ruffa and Ai" for a week now. She's confined at the FEU hospital in Fairview for acute gastritis and pyelonephritis that give her severe tummy aches. Her doctor says she has to rest for five to seven days, but she's thankful that she doesn't have to go under the knife.

While she's sick, Charlene Gonzales pinch hit for her. Both Ruffa Gutierrez and Charlene are Bb. Pilipinas title holders and it's so pleasant to see these beauties on screen. A lot of people are praising Charlene's relaxed hosting style and the good feedback says she should be retained on the show. "If Ai Ai wouldn't hurry to come back, baka palitan na nga siya ni Charlene ng tuluyan as host ng programa at maging Ruffa and Charlene na ito, hindi Ruffa and Ai," says one bitchy wag.

But they can also just add Charlene as host. After all, "Sis" has three hosts in Janice and Gelli de Belen, plus Carmina Villarroel. "Parang three vs. three ang labanan," says one writer.

RYZA AND MIKE SHOULD WORK HARDER

RYZA Cenon and Mike Tan were the top winners in StarStruck Batch 2. Unfortunately for them, they've been overtaken by stars of Batch 4 like Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal who now star in their own drama series, "Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin. "

"Kasama pa rin naman ako sa 'SOP,' so at least may exposure pa rin ako," says Ryza. "But I really miss acting. I just keep on waiting now kung kailan uli ako mabibigyan ng isang drama show. Kaya nga I welcome working in theatre para hindi naman ako kalawangin sa pag-arte. "

Mike is happy to be part of the "Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin" cast, where he plays support to Aljur and Kris. "Limang buwan din akong bakante before I got another show," he says. "Kaya naman I give my role as Kris Bernal's older brother my best para mapansin naman na kaya ko ng serious acting. At habang wala akong ginagawa, I took several workshops para mas mapaganda ko ang craft ko since acting is a continuing learning process. "

OJ AFRAID TO BECOME BIG

OJ Mariano was just runnerup to Frenchie Dy in ABS-CBN's Star In A Million but he now has two albums while Frenchie has yet to record one. "It's really a blessing for me pero napaka-powerful singer ni Frenchie and I'm sure she'd be given the chance to cut her own album soon. Magkasama kami as resident singers in Cesar Montano's 'The Singing Bee' shown on ABS-CBN Saturday and Sunday nights. "

OJ has just returned from two post-Valentine shows he did in Papua New Guinea with Apple Chiu, another singer in "The Singing Bee," and the reception by both our kababayans and foreigners there was quite overwhelming. "There are 8,000 Pinoys working there and they now request me to go back there in June for the Philippine Independence Day celebration. Lahat sila, they tell me it's one of the best shows staged there by a Pinoy singer. Inasikaso nila ako and invited me to their own homes. May request din ang Pinoys in Brisbane, Australia na doon ako tumuloy after the show in New Guinea. "

OJ is now also in PAGCOR's new musical dance extravaganza, "Flow," their next offering after the hit show "Wanders. " "Nag-apply ako noon sa 'Wanders' pero hindi ako nakuha as I don't dance. So I took the workshop of Ms. Isay Alvarez and kasama roon ang jazz and ballet dancing. When I auditioned for 'Flow,' nakuha na ako. I will be doing Fred Astaire and Frank Sinatra numbers like 'Steppin' Up with My Baby'. 'Flow' will start its run at the PAGCOR theatre near the airport on March 15, then March 16, 18, 28 and 31. "

To promote his "Ballads" premium edition album, OJ will also do a series of mall shows. He'll be in SM Bicutan on March 22, SM Sucat on March 29. Show starts at 4 p. m. OJ will be singing the other songs from his album: George Benson's "In Your Eyes," "Love Will Keep Us Alive," "Sukiyaki", Luther Van Dross' "Dance with My Father," "If Ever You're In My Arms Again," and many more. For bookings, call his manager Dennis G. Arce at 927-0611 or cellfone 0917-6262381. Is OJ satisfied with the way his career is going?

"Oo naman. I don't dream naman of being a big, big star. Nakakatakot 'yun as it's a long way down. Gusto ko na yung nandiyan ka lang and I'm given the chance to do what I love most, which is singing, in various gigs and shows here and abroad. Okay na 'ko run. "

MOVIE REVIEW: PUSH

DAKOTA FANNING, the child actress who shone in such movie as "Hide and Seek" with Robert de Niro and "Man on Fire" with Denzel Washington, now does her first teen role as13-year old Cassie, a girl who can see the future in "Push," a sci-fi thriller about people born with superpowers.

The villains are members of an undercover organization simply called the Division, headed by the Director who has powers of his own ( (Djimon Hounsou). It aims to create a super soldier by exploiting people gifted with superpowers like telekinesis or with heightened senses. They inject a potent radioactive serum into the bloodstream of these people to further enhance their abilities but most of them die. Only one survives and she has managed to escape. This is Kira Hudson (Camilla Belle), who has the power to make suggestions to people through her mind and make them follow whatever she wills them to do.

Kira manages to reunite with her boyfriend, Nick (Chris Evans), who sees his father being killed by the director when he was still a little boy and now has telekinetic power that he has yet to learn how to fully utilize. Cassie helps Nick and Kira and tells them that in her vision, she sees Kira having a secret briefcase that will bring ruin to the Division and also free Cassie's mom who's being held captive by the victims. But Kira cannot remember where the case is (it could have been mixed up with those in "Deal or No Deal", for all we care) as memories have been erased from her mind. They all try to track it down while the Division Director and his cohorts continue to pursue them relentlesly.

In the process, we get to meet other pushers (a lot of them Chinese), people with psychic ability to force their will into the consciousness of other people to manipulate them. There's even a father and son who can make high-frequency screams that cause glass to break and brains to explode.

The movie echoes similar elements from other movies and TV shows like "X Men," "Hearts in Atlantis," "Jumper," "Heroes," etc. One difference of "Push" is that it is set totally in Hongkong, probably for a change. But the way the story unfolds is very messy and confusing, what with so many psychics anticipating every move of their rival factions. No wonder one character says: "What if nothing we did make sense?"

And it's true, because the movie ends with so many questions left unanswered. It's as if they're sure they're going to have a sequel where they intend to explain all things raised in this movie. But "Push" did badly in the U. S. box office, so we doubt if they'd bother at all to make a Part 2. The movie might be action-packed but most of the violent sequences that transpire on screen is truly senseless.

About Dakota, we somehow feel uncomfortable seeing her drinking a bottle of liquor and using foul language. She registers as a child hooker, something like what Jodie Foster did when she was also 13 in "Taxi Driver" as a teenage hooker. As for Chris Evans, he sure is leading man material but he doesn't seem to know how to get good projects that will help push his career. He did a star turn as the Human Torch in the "Fantastic Four" series but his role in "Push" certainly won't help boost his stock at all.

Source: People's Journal