Will Devaughn is latest hotshot product endorser

Author: Isah V. Red
Column: Life & Entertainment

Only McDonald’s can convince someone who isn’t very fond of rice to endorse its newest dish on the menu. Yes, William Devaughn, a German with Filipino blood (due to his biological Filipino-American father who left his German wife and two-year-old son, that’s Will and disappeared in the vastness of continental USA), didn’t grow up eating rice. “That’s because my parents—that’s my mom and my stepfather—have never been into it as a food,” he said.

Will’s first encounter with rice was when he came to Manila for a visit. No, it was not a trace-his-roots kind of travel, but came along with friends who have been to the city a couple of times.

The visit would be more permanent in a sort of way as he was spotted by a talent scout and coaxed him to take a shot at modeling and acting in television commercials. Since that was what he was doing back in the US (stepdad is in the US military so life for the growing Will was sort of peripatetic, no permanent address, so to speak) when he moved to California where his Latino looks landed him jobs for editorial fashion layouts for Robinsons May and Macy’s, among others, and parts in music videos.

Now, you see his face almost every hour on television, pitching the new McRice Burger.

According to the guys over at McDonald’s, “McRice Burger is the product of 18 months of careful research and development to deliver a scrumptious and complete rice meal. Now, it is poised to endear diners with a distinct ingredient that is very dear to the Filipino palate—rice.

“Taking the place of ordinary burger buns are two specially made rice patties. Sandwiched between the patties are lettuce and red cabbage plus your choice of beef patty or chicken fillet. It is then packaged in a uniquely designed box that tears in the middle, making it attractive and convenient to eat anytime, anywhere.

“McDonald’s is making great strides at creating a locally relevant menu for its customers. For Asia, especially the Philippines which is predominantly a rice-eating society, the McRice Burger is the perfect food item that complements local taste with McDonald’s great taste and value,” says Kenneth Yang, president and chief executive of McDonald’s Philippines.

The rice patty is made from cooked white rice formed into round patties. Soy is applied on the surface to add flavor and then frozen for freshness. When prepared, the rice patties are sprinkled with black and white sesame seeds so that when the patties are toasted, they give off a mouthwatering aroma and nutty character to the rice.

McRice Burger is available in two variants. There is the Beef Supreme, which comes with a juicy beef patty dipped in a rich, sweet, and tangy Asian Barbeque Sauce. Then there is the Chicken Supreme which has a crispy, tender-breaded chicken fillet topped with special garlic mayo dressing. For color, texture and added nutrition, both are topped with fresh-green lettuce and shredded red cabbage.

Beef Supreme sells for only P75 and Chicken Supreme for only P85.

Will has learned to eat rice with McDonald’s new McRice. “It’s just like eating a burger or a chicken sandwich. And it’s more filling,” he said.

The guy is definitely learning the tricks of the trade. And if only he could learn to speak Tagalog fast, he’d be in showbiz now.

Explosive Startalk 11

It seems like it was only yesterday when we first watched the first telecast of Startalk with Boy Abunda, Kris Aquino, and Lolit Solis.

Last Saturday, the show’s current hosts celebrated a decade and one year of Startalk-ing.

It is, by far, the longest-running showbiz-oriented talk show on TV.

Lolit Solis, Butch Francisco, Joey de Leon and Lorna Tolentino—plus the fearless Tigbak Authority of Steve Kvetko, Pepita Smith and Fayatollah—Startalk have been keeping many Filipinos at home on Saturday afternoons to see and hear the latest talk on showbiz.

Last Saturday, Lolit Solis faced his numero uno adversary DJ Mo and Butch Francisco talked to former Startalk host Rosanna Roces. Showbiz couple Claudine Barretto and Raymart Santiago talked about their reconciliation with YES! editor Jo-Ann Maglipon.

Startalk also featured two failed relationships: the Liz Almoro story and Paolo Paraiso’s separation from Mylene Dizon. Oh, yes there were clips (video or audio or both) of Dayanara Torres, Gretchen Barretto, and Janice de Belen plus a feature on the debut of Pauleen Luna.

Others who made an 11th hour appearance on the show were Eunice Lagusad, a.k.a. the young Charming of Bakekang, with her real-life mother, Polo Ravales who faced squarely Alfred Vargas, Iwa Moto and Cristine Reyes almost tore each other’s hair.

Will the talk show survive another year?

With the dynamics of audience preferences, it should be prepared to do major shifts in focus and changes in the composition of faces on screen lest it lands in the network’s ICU along with a few now in life-support system.

Star Magic jewel turns 17

There’s no doubt she’s one of the prettiest faces and talented among the young stars today.

ABS-CBN Star Magic jewel Shaina Magdayao is fast growing up to be a lady as she celebrated her 17th birthday last Nov. 6.

It cannot be denied that her being the younger sister of Vina Morales easily opened the doors of showbiz for her at a very young age. As a child actress, she shone in Marinella, along with Camille Prats and Serena Dalrymple. This led to more projects such as Mula Sa Puso (1997), Pagdating Ng Panahon (1998), Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan (2001), K2BU (2002), Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay (2002), Tanging Ina (2003), and Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin (2005).

Apart from her passion for acting, Shaina also displays talent in dancing and singing on ASAP ’06.

People noticed her chemistry with Rayver Cruz, one of the members of the dance group Anime. This led to their starring in shows such as Love Spell and Star Magic Presents. They are also in the cast of Rounin, one of the biggest fantaseryes of ABS-CBN and a movie under Regal Entertainment entitled Happy Hearts.

They will first be seen, however, in the new show Star Magic Presents: All About Your Love.

Shaina is also an endorser of CreamSilk, Colgate Confidence, Lactacyd, Herbench, Cose Bags and Estilo Salon.

No longer a child but not yet an adult, Shaina is growing up to be a beautiful lady. And Star Magic has watched over her all along.

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Source: Manila Standard Today

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