Showbiz’ most stylish celebrities

by Nickie Wang

There are people who never run out of style no matter what the trend is; they eternally stand out and remain in. Similarly, this follows the idea that fashion trends change but styles remain timeless. So what would you rather be – stylish or fashionable?

During the first-ever Star Studio Celebrity Style Awards, popular names in the world of entertainment turned the red carpet at the Dusit Hotel Thani into a fashion runway as they walked and posed for the cameras in their most glamorous outfits.

Stars like Piolo Pascual, Ely Buendia, Lucy Torres-Gomez, Angel Aquino, and Sarah Geronimo were among the big winners that night. Voted by fans, they simply depict what star quality is and what it takes to be called stylish personalities in their own right. They were awarded Most Stylish Leading Man, Male Celebrity Style Icon, Female Celebrity Style Icon, Most Stylish Female Host, and Most Stylish Female Performer, respectively.

Cesar Montano’s loyalty shift

by Nickie Wang

WHEN Luis Manzano took a time off in Wowowee last week to join some stars in a concert in Hong Kong, action star and host Cesar “Buboy” Montano accepted the offer to be a guest host for the noontime show.

Speculations that politician wannabe Buboy would permanently occupy the vacated hosting slot spread like wildfire since he was vocal about his enjoyment while on the set on and off cam.

1st MTRCB TV Awards winners unveiled

By Nickie Wang

It took six months for the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board to stage the very first MTRCB Television Awards. It was held last Sept. 4 at the Gateway Mall Cinema 5, Araneta Center in Cubao.

While it has been known for giving sanctions and suspensions to television shows and personalities that violate its rules, it made a bold step in recognizing what they think are the best programs on television today. Thus, in its maiden attempt to pinpoint the best programs and outstanding television personalities, it is also making another impression.

“It’s our way to show that we care for the improvement of the television industry,” MTRCB chairman Ma. Consoliza Laguardia said during the opening remarks of the star-studded affair.

Balitanghali, Best News Program

The winners of the awards given out were adjudged based on three criteria—social values, moral accountability, and creativity. The programs that passed these criteria after the scrutiny of the 30 board members of the MTRCB are: Balitanghali (QTV 11) for Best News Program; I-Witness (GMA-7) for Best Public Affairs Show; Sineskwela (ABS-CBN 2) for Best Educational Show; I Survived (ABS-CBN 2) for Best Reality Program; Mustard TV (TV 5) for Best Children Show; Wow Mali (TV 5) for Best Comedy Program; Talentadong Pinoy (TV 5) for Best Talent Show; Obra (GMA-7) featuring Sunshine Dizon for Best Drama Special; and the Jericho Rosales and Carmen Soo starrer Kahit Isang Saglit (ABS-CBN 2) for Best Teleserye.

Some people in the audience were surprised when the Best Actor award winner was announced. The trophy went to comedian Michael V., who asked “Sigurado ba kayo dito?” while receiving the recognition. Meanwhile the Best Actress plum went to Bea Alonzo for her performance in Betty La Fea. The actress who wasn’t in the ceremenony had a message on video.

Hosts Edu Manzano, who won the Best Male Host award, and Jackie Acquino explained that the MTRCB recognizes the talent of all actors and personalities in different genre be it drama or comedy. The same thing goes for the Best Host category where everyone that hosts a program whether a game show, a news program, or a talk show, was automatically included as nominee. The Best Female Host went to Jessica Soho.

May Bukas Pa's miracle boy Santino

Some special awards were also given out to programs that encourage positive television viewing experience. In the point of view of the MTRCB, May Bukas Pa (ABS-CBN 2) deserved the Special Award for Promoting Moral Values.

Other special awards were given to NBN 4’s Power to Unite for Special Award for Promoting Nation-Building, GMA-7’s Born to be Wild for Promoting Environmental Protection, Net 25’s Moments for Promoting Family Values and Solidarity, and Studio 23’s Y Speak for promoting Education for the Marginalized.

Gloria Romero was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to the Philippine entertainment industry. According to MTRCB, Romero has starred in over 200 films, and indeed fit for the title Queen of the Philippine movies.

Just like any other awards night, the traditional Male and Female Star of the Night awards were also given out and they went to Ryan Agoncillo and Isabel Oli, respectively.

The program opened with a dance number by current Darna star Marian Rivera to the tune of, “Sabay Sabay Tayo.” Singer and song writer Ogie Alcasid, YouTube singing sensation Charice, stand-up comic Pooh, and ’80s dance group The Tigers with Jojo Alejar, made the night more entertaining.

Pacquiao returns to GMA-7

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today

After announcing that his much-awaited fight against Ricky Hatton will be aired on ABS-CBN, Pacquiao made an apologetic announcement honoring the exclusive rights of GMA-7 and Solar Sports to broadcast his May 2 title bout.

It’s a mission accomplished for GMA Network vice president for entertainment Wilma Galvante, who personally flew to Los Angeles to have a serious talk with the boxing champ. In a text message sent by the executive, she said, “God is good and Manny Pacquiao will remain a Kapuso.”

Pacquiao, who is part of the series Totoy Bato that also stars Robin Padilla and Regine Velasquez, is having his rigid training in the States to prepare for his fight  scheduled in May. He made a controversial announcement that surprised both GMA Network and Solar Sports.

“We were very very surprised and at the same time very disappointed because we looked at all angles and we felt that wasn’t a smart decision,” Solar Sports’ vice president for sales and marketing Jude Turcuaco told Standard Today last week.

Solar Sports immediately held a press conference to discuss the matter with the media and to answer questions hounding the issue. According to Turcuaco, the network’s president and chief executive Wilson Tieng and chief operating officer Peter Chanliong flew to Los Angeles to talk to Pacquiao.

The major development happened after the executive had a thorough discussion with the boxing champ and convinced him not to rescind his contract with Solar Sports because it’s binding and valid.

Meanwhile at the same press conference, the lawyers who are handling the issue stated that Manny Pacquiao’s announcement and attempt to cancel the license agreement was based on the misinterpretation of facts. They added that Pacquiao may have been misled or misguided that Solar Entertainment has committed a breach of contract, but the fact is that Solar has complied with the agreement.

The sports cable channel signed a block-time agreement with GMA-7 to telecast all the fights of Pacquiao until May 2011.

The controversy started when Solar Sports apparently didn’t fulfill its financial obligation to Pacman who was supposed to receive 25 percent of the payment 10 days after the fight contract was signed last January. The boxer made a decision to rescind his contract to Solar Sports and chose ABS-CBN to cover his bout with Hatton and his three remaining fights scheduled within the next two years.

It was reported that Pacquiao also chose ABS-CBN because it can give better coverage and bigger exposure in helping him for his bid for the elections in 2010.

Solar Sports, however, denied that it was negligent to its financial obligation to the boxing icon. But the cable channel apparently deposited the money, which Pacquiao was asking in advance, only last March 17.

The sports cable channel executive Turcuaco stated that legal means are its last option, the initially prepared P150-million lawsuit against Pacquiao was supposed to protect all parties involved in the contract. Now that Pacquiao has decided to cooperate with Solar Sports and GMA-7, everything is well and all parties are back at work.

On the latest development, ABS-CBN made an announcement that it respects the decision of Manny Pacquiao to reconsider his contract to GMA and Solar Sports. The network made this decision to ease things out and avoid for the matter to reach the courtroom.