The battle of the mermaids

At 29, is Anne Curtis too old to be Dyesebel?

PRIMETIME television is powering up with a clash of half-human half-fish characters to be played by Anne Curtis and Louise Delos Reyes in Dyesebel and Kambal Sirena, respectively.

Mainstream stars go indie

Some struggling actors are still at it in dropping their clothes or doing provocative scenes in independent flicks hoping that they could get the attention of big movie producers and hotshot talent managers for that elusive big break in show business.

People are talking about Anne Curtis, Marian Rivera and The Kitchen Musical

Anne Curtis

Star Cinema and Viva Films’ No Other Woman is breaking box-office record. According to an official of ABSCBN’s production outfit, the movie has breached the elusive P100-million-mark in just 5 days. But the number of movie tickets sold is not real buzz about the film. Our apologies to Derek Ramsay and Cristine Reyes but “other woman” Anne Curtis is clearly the stand out in the movie.

People are talking about

Christian Bautista

There are only three local music artists whose record has sold more than 40,000 units (equivalent to double platinum) this year and he is one of them. His Jose Marie Chan tribute album enjoys warm reception from music enthusiasts like the albums of Richard Poon and Sarah Geronimo (hers is 3x platinum). Amid the record’s success here and abroad, Christian plans to explore other genres that he could incorporate in a follow up album. Not everyone became successful in testing a new formula but his brave intention will make him different from our singers who are generally cover artists.

Are you ready for Machete?

by Nickie Wang

In Indian literature, Machete does not exist but in a story created by a komiks writer and a movie director, he is an Indian prince of love whose spirit possesses a male statue to satisfy the sexual cravings of women.

Sa ‘Yo Lamang rakes 22.5 M, In Your Eyes hits 60 M

On its first week at the box office, Star Cinema’s 17th anniversary offering Sa ‘Yo Lamang earned P22.5 million. Meanwhile, GMA Films and Viva Films co-production, In Your Eyes, grossed P60 M after its 3rd week run.

Meet Sunshine Corazon

by Nickie Wang

Sunshine Corazon is your typical Asian teenage girl. The 15-year-old lass wears specs, updates her Facebook and Twitter accounts, giggles when she talks about her crushes, and adores the likes of Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna. You bet, her hobbies are singing and dancing.

Sunshine (portrayed by Charice Pempengco) is a foreign exchange student from the Philippines, with astounding and amazing killer vocals; she presents some serious competition against Rachel Berry (Lea Michele), the captain and the self-proclaimed star of McKinley High’s show choir, New Direction.

Internet’s most popular celebrities

By Nickie Wang

American singer Lady Gaga is the most popular living celebrity in cyberspace if we are to consider the number of her followers on leading social networking, microblogging, and video sharing sites. The pop icon has over 11 million fans on Facebook, and almost 5 million followers on Twitter, not to mention that her music videos are among the most-watched on YouTube.

On the local scene on the other hand, Showtime hosts Vice Ganda and Anne Curtis appear to be the most popular celebrities among the netizens.

People 7.4.09

Source: Manila Standard Today

…are talking about

Christine Reyes

Fans of Marian Rivera and Angel Locsin must stop their word war on who is the sexier between their respective idols. FHM, the local edition, of the international men’s magazine, has spoken. It is Christine Reyes.
Will she now be a hot item with producers scrambling for her services? Her contract with the Kapamilya network had expired and Reyes said she wouldn’t go back there, not by any chance. Rumors that she’d like to go back to GMA 7 have been circulating, but her management company, Viva Talent Agency, has not denied or confirmed. In any case, Christine says she wouldn’t really mind if she has no regular TV project for as long as she’s happy. Atta girl!

Rosalinda

July 6 is a crucial day both for Geoff Eigenmann and Carla Abellana because many are curious on how they will fare on primetime TV as a love team. The two are playing the localized characters of Fernando Jose and Rosalinda in the newest adaptation of a Mexican telenovela on GMA Telebabad.
Many say Carla, daughter of 80s matinee idol Rey “PJ” Abellana and granddaughter of 40’s star Delia Razon, could be the next “it” girl, and Geoff, frozen for two years at the Kapamilya coop seems to have sprung to life in the new series.
Kapamilya fans are more than excited…they are already raving!

Diether Ocampo

He collapsed and his head hit the floor in middle of rehearsals for the show in Ontario, Calfiornia’s segment of “Star Magic: The World Concert Tour.”
Many feared he could be suffering from something serious, but apparently he was just overworked. Diether needs to rest, that’s a fact, and even if he takes a whole year off to make himself fitter than fit won’t change the fact that he’s one of the best actors on television these days. We wish him well.

…are not talking about

Piolo Pascual

Fans are just too happy to see Piolo on weekend primetime TV as Krsitine Hermosa’s newest love interest.
Nasaan Ka, Maruja? seems to have taken a new twist with the entry of Piolo in the cast of characters, eclipsing Derek Ramsay and the other male stars that have made the series a weekend favorite for many.
So, are the fans ready as well for Lovers in Paris?

The Wedding

The marriage of good looks and publicity is not enough to put this series at the pinnacle of the ratings race. The stars of the program, Anne Curtis, Derek Ramsay and Zanjoe Marudo, will not be very happy to know that the performance of the The Wedding wasn’t something their fans would be crazy about. In the Mega Manila ratings it only managed to pull viewers to land the show on no. 10 and nor 9 in the nationwide ranking..
Canned for the last two years, the series is showing its age in many scenes, we hope the current production staff could cure it before it hits the inevitable…Disaster.

Gretchen Espina

It takes more than just mental calisthenics to remember such name; it even took us some time just to identify her face. To refresh everyone’s memory, Gretchen is the first ever winner of the reality talent search Philippine Idol, and she’s back to rekindle the career she left a year ago.
When asked why she’s gone for such a long time (one year is a very long time in showbiz), she said that it’s the strategy of her mother network. Unlike other reality search winners who are given heavy exposure soon after they won, Gretchen claims that GMA Network advised her to rest for year before the management could launch her career in full blast. Yes, she is being re-launched now when nobody could even care.

Baler wins most of filmfest awards

By NICKIE WANG/ Manila Standard Today

What can a moving tale of forbidden love in the middle of a war do to change the landscape of Philippine Cinema? The awards and the accolades are just frosting on the cake, what is more important is for a film to highlight social issues and promote cinematic excellence by raising the benchmark in filmmaking.

Baler, the historical love epic produced by Viva Films, walked home with not one but 10 awards including Best Picture in the recently concluded 34th Metro Manila Film Festival Awards Night on Dec. 27 at the Harbor Garden Tent of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City.

The film that depicts the Siege of Baler in 1898 won Best Director for Mark Meily, Best Supporting Actor for Philip Salvador, Best Screenplay for Roy Iglesias, Best Cinematography for Lee Meily, Best Production Design for Aped Santos, and Best Editing for Danny Anonuevo.

“I’m so excited. This is the second time I joined the festival. I’m so happy that there are people who made aggressive move to produce this film,” Mark Meily, director of the runaway winning movie Baler, told Standard Today.

Meily first joined the filmfest in 2003 with the entry Crying Ladies starring Sharon Cuneta. The film received multiple awards including Best Picture. When asked about his feeling outshining other veteran directors this time, the humble filmmaker said: “ Hindi ako 100 percent sure na mananalo kasi there are film directors na magagaling talaga like Joey Reyes, we are just blessed and lucky lang talaga.”

On the other hand, it’s a sweet victory for Anne Curtis who portrayed a convincing role of a young Filipina who professes her forbidden love to a mestizo soldier played by Jericho Rosales. Curtis received her very first acting award after being declared Best Actress.

“The feeling is unexplainable. I’m speechless, ’di ko alam ang sasabihin ko but I’m just so happy. I can’t fathom the happiness that I feel. This is my first acting award,” Anne, who wore a striking red Filipiniana dress, told us on her way out of the hall.

Anne dedicated the award to the members of her family who have been very supportive to her career. The Dyosa star bested other actresses like Dawn Zulueta, Maricel Laxa, Jean Garcia, Marian Rivera, and Ai Ai de las Alas.

“I know that the people I was up against were veteran and amazing actresses, nakasama ko pa sila backstage. I was just surprised and forever thankful. All the hard work of the whole team of Baler got recognized here on the awards night. We couldn’t ask for more except for the people to keep on watching sana,” Anne remarked.

Baler also won the Award for Gender Sensitive Film of 2008 and the coveted trophy for the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award. The jurors for the Gender Sensitive Film Award cited Baler as a film that highlighted gender-sensitive issues of love, parenting, and war translated by the intuitive direction of Mark Meily under a well-written script by Roy Iglesias.

Receiving the single award for the Rudy Fernandez tribute film Magkaibigan was Christopher de Leon. He made another history for being the most decorated actor of the festival. De Leon holds the record of most wins of the Best Actor Award in the 34-year history of the MMFF. He now has eight Best Actor trophies courtesy of the MMFF alone.

While Boyet marked another cinematic feat, the country’s first all-digital full-length animated feature film Dayo: Sa Mundo ng Elementalia under Cutting Edge Productions won four awards (mostly in the technical category) including Best Visual Effects for Robert Quilao, Best Musical Score for Jessie Lasaten, Best Theme Song for “Lipad” composed by Jessie Lasaten and Artemio Abad Jr. and performed by Lea Salonga, and Best Sound for Albert Idioma and Wally Dellosa.

Sexy comedy flick One Night Only won two awards courtesy of Jose Javier Reyes (Best Original Story) and Manilyn Reynes (Best Supporting Actress).

According to Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, the two-day gross of this year’s festival exceeded the last year’s gross over the same period by 37 percent.

Top grosser Ang Tanging Ina Ninyong Lahat (Star Cinema) that won Second Best Picture has accumulated ticket sales amounting to more than P41 million on its second day while the festival’s Third Best Picture Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After (OctoArts Films and APT Entertainment) has grossed P37 million at the box office.

Meanwhile, the sequel of Desperadas that stars Ruffa Gutierrez, Rufa Mae Quinto, Iza Calzado, Marian Rivera, and includes Ogie Alcasid got the Best Make-Up plum for Noli Villalobos. Regal Films’ Shake Rattle ‘n Roll X received its single trophy courtesy of Best Child Performer Robert “Buboy” Villar.

The awards night was hosted by Boy Abunda with Phoemela Barranda and Tim Yap as segment hosts. Tony Gonzaga was the trivia host while Sitti, Richard Poon, Karylle, Yeng Constantino, and Sheryn Regis were among the performers who added splendor to the event which had a taped telecast on C/S 9.

The last part of the award’s night, which was exclusive to the people who bought pricey tickets, was a nostalgic presentation of Katy the Musical with maestro Ryan Cayabyab on the piano, and Jericho Rosales and KC Concepcion in the lead roles. The musical featured other performers like Mitch Valdez, Dulce, Eugene Villaluz, Rachel Alejandro, Bituin Escalante, Jonalyn Viray, Ayen Munji-Laurel, Aicelle Santos, Maricris Garcia, Frenchie Dy, Gian Magdangal, Sitti, and Gab Valenciano.

Baler: 34th MMFF’s best

If you chose to watch this film among the MMFF entries this year, you made the right decision, or if you didn’t watch it, you missed the festival’s best movie. Baler is definitely the only movie in the festival that gives importance to Filipino culture and history. In short, watching Baler in the most expensive cinemas in the metropolis is not a waste of money.

Baler connects with the audience without trying. It’s not Jericho Rosales’ subtle yet effective acting or Anne Curtis’ surprising display of acting flair but it’s the beauty of the story of 19th century Baler translated by Mark Meily into a moving tale of love, hatred, and nationalism that keeps our hearts beating extra faster while watching it. The entirety of this Viva produced movie proves that Philippine Cinema can be better.

Festival Awards

• Best Picture:
  • 1) Baler
  • 2) Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat
  • 3) Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After
    
• Best Director : Mark Meily (Baler)
  
• Best Actor: Christopher de Leon (Magkaibigan)
• Best Actress: Anne Curtis – Baler
• Best Supporting Actor:Philip Salvador – Baler
• Best Supporting Actress: Manilyn Reynes – One Night Only
• Best Sceenplay: Roy Iglesias – Baler
• Best Story: Jose Javier Reyes – One Night Only
  
• Best Cinematography: Lee Meily – Baler
• Best Sound: Albert Idioma and Wally Dellosa – Dayo
• Best Visual Effects: Robert Quilao – Dayo
• Best Production Design: Aped Santos – Baler
• Best Editing: Danny Anonuevo – Baler
• Best Make-Up: Noli Villalobos – Desperadas 2
• Best Musical Score: Jessie Lazatin – Dayo
• Best Theme Song: Lipad by Jessie Lasaten and Artemio Abad Jr., performed byLea Salonga – Dayo
• Best Child Performer:Robert Villar – Shake, Rattle, & Roll X
• Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award – Baler
• Most Gender Sensitive Film Award – Baler

ABSCBN dominates Star Awards

BY NICKIE WANG/ MANILA STANDARD TODAY

Network rivalry has never been this searing as Internet forums heated up few hours after the 22nd PMPC Star Awards for TV held at the SMX Convention Center on Nov. 30.

ABS-CBN Network dominated the event walking home with 25 awards while its rival station GMA-7 won 19 awards including the coveted Best TV Station.

Since 2004, the award for Best TV Station has been given alternately to the two local TV giants that next year, people will expect that the trophy will be given to ABS-CBN (unless miracle happens it would land on TV5).

GMA’s terrestrial channel QTV-11 won five awards while ABS-CBN’s Studio 23 got just one trophy. UNTV-37 and ABC-5 both won two awards each. RPN-9 and IBC-13 went home empty-handed.

This year’s nominees were programs aired from June 13 until July 1 of this year. Two special awards and 54 trophies where given out by the Philippine Movie Press Club.

The event that saw celestial shower was hosted by Paolo Bediones, Gabby Concepcion, Anne Curtis and Judy Ann Santos.

Iza Calzado and Dingdong Dantes were the trivia hosts with a pre-taped segment entitled “Icons [sic] in the Philippine Television.”

The drama category was a battle between the novice and veteran actors. Child actor Joshua Dionisio bested other nominees like Dolphy, John Lloyd Cruz, Eddie Garcia, John Wayne Sace, and Gabby Concepcion for Best Single Performance by an Actor category via the Maalala Mo Kaya (MMK) episode “Sako.”

Angel Locsin, who graced the awards night with Male Star of the Night Luis Manzano, received the Best Single Performance by an Actress trophy for her first acting project on ABS-CBN through MMK episode “Pilat.” She went up on stage twice after receiving the award for Lobo as Best Primetime TV Series. Angel’s leading man Piolo Pascual was named Best Drama Actor for his performance in Lobo while Sunshine Dizon, who was in a psychedelic black dress, won Best Actress award for her moving performance in Impostora.

Boy Abunda was the most decorated personality of the night. He won Male Showbiz-Oriented Show Host for The Buzz and Best Celebrity Talk Show Host, with Kris Aquino, for Boy And Kris. The Buzz was named Best Showbiz-Oriented Show with Ruffa Gutierrez and Cristy Fermin tied for Best Female Showbiz-Oriented Show Host award.

Edu Manzano, who thanked Pinky Webb (if she blushed, it’s hard to guess but she turned her back on the camera) during his speech, won Best Game Show Host and his program Pilipinas, Game Ka Na Ba! was awarded Best Game Show. Perennial noontime rivals Eat Bulaga and Wowowee shared the award for Best Variety Program. Valerie Concepcion got the award for Best Female TV Host while Vic Sotto snatched the award for the male category. The Best Musical Variety Show went to SOP Rules.

As it has been predicted, in the News and Current Affairs category, the awards were split between the Kapamilya Network and GMA Kapuso, but UNTV-37’s Bitag surprisingly snatched the Best Public Service Program and Best Public Service Program Host for Ben Tulfo.

Best News Program went to TV Patrol World with Julius Babao winning the Best Male Newscaster. Best Female Newscaster was given to Vicky Morales for Saksi: Liga Ng Katotohanan. Best Documentary Program was won by I-Witness: The GMA Documentaries while its hosts Kara David, Howie Severino, Sandra Aguinaldo and Jay Taruc won Best Documentary Program Hosts.

Signos: Ang Banta ng Nagbabagong Klima, GMA’s special documentary on climate change and hosted by Richard Gutierez won Best Documentary Special.

This year’s Best Magazine Show Host Korina Sanchez went back-to-back receiving the PMPC trophy as Best Magazine Show.

The night of entertainment

The 22nd edition of the PMPC Star Awards for Television had seen great entertainment from the personalities who were nominated during the night, but the show it self was crappy that people would want to watch the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards Philippines instead.

There were lively performances that made the crowd screaming at the top of their lungs like the dance number rendered by Rayver Cruz, Maja Salvador, Mark Herras, Erich Gonzales, Marky Cielo and Ryza Cennon. Other performances were simply rubbish. Regine Velasquez, who lip-synced just like the rest of the performers, rendered a mediocre performance. The opening number however was a great visual treat seeing Toni Gonzaga, Rachelle Ann Go and Karylle onstage covering Robbie Williams’ “Let Me Entertain You.”

Ogie Alcasid serenaded Senator Loren Legarda and Rosa Rosal who received the Excellence in Broadcasting Lifetime Achievement Award and Ading Fernando Lifetime Achievement Award, respectively.

One of the witty speeches came from Female Star of the Night Rufa Mae Quinto who also received the award for Best Comedy Actress. Not that she gave the most intelligent speech but she blurted some punch lines that truly justified her being the winner of the award in comedy. Boy Abunda’s speech was dedicated to all the gay men and women all over the world.

Most awards nights see several torpid-minded presenters, and the 22nd PMPC Star Awards is no exception. Lovi Poe was the only presenter who committed a mistake. This year’s Best New Male TV Personality Robi Domingo was about to announce the winner for Best Public Affairs Program Host, but Lovi, who probably was out of her mind, announced I-Witness: The GMA Documentaries as the winner.

Other winners of the 22nd PMPC Star Awards for Television are:

Best Talent Search Program—Shall We Dance, ABC-5;

Best Talent Search Program Host—Lucy Torres-Gomez, Arnell Ignacio and Dominic Ochoa (Shall We Dance), ABC-5;

Best New Female TV Personality—Patricia Gayod (Maalaala Mo Kaya / “Dagat” episode), ABS-CBN;

Best Youth-Oriented Show—Boys Nxt Door, GMA-7;

Best Horror or Fantasy Program—Komiks Presents: Volta, ABS-CBN;

Best Public Affairs Program—(Y-Speak) Studio 23;

Best Public Affairs Program Host—Jessica Soho (Hot Seat), QTV-11;

Best Morning Show—Unang Hirit, GMA-7;

Best Morning Show Host—Arnold Clavio, Susie Entrata-Abrera, Lyn Ching-Pascual, Rhea Santos, Jolina Magdangal, Winnie Monsod, Oscar Orbos, Regine Tolentino, Drew Arellano, Eagle Riggs, Love Añover and Lhar Santiago (Unang Hirit), GMA-7;

Best Lifestyle Show—Living It Up, QTV-11;

Best Lifestyle Show Host—Raymond Gutierrez, Issa Litton, Sam Oh and Tim Yap (Living It Up), QTV-11;

Best Reality Program—Gandang Ricky Reyes: Parlor Game, QTV-11;

Best Reality Program Host—Ricky Reyes (Gandang Ricky Reyes: Parlor Game), QTV-11;

Best Travel Show—Pinoy Meets World, GMA-7;

Best Travel Show Host—Katherine de Castro, Uma Khouny, Franzen Fajardo, Kian Kazemi and Jayson Gainza (Trip Na Trip), ABS-CBN;

Best Educational Program—Matanglawin, ABS-CBN;

Best Educational Program Host—Kim Atienza (Matanglawin), ABS-CBN;

Best Children Show—Art Angel, GMA-7;

Best Children Show Host—Pia Arcangel, Tonipet Gaba and Krystal Reyes (Art Angel), GMA 7.