FREEHAND by Mario E. Bautista
IT'S VERY nice of Dennis Trillo to play a supporting role in "Endless Love" even if he has done several lead roles for GMA. "Walang problema as I'm happy to be part of the show," he says. "I was a fan of the original Koreanovela and I know the role I now play, Andrew. It's a very good role. I'm a rich boy here na may spoiled brat at babaero but I'm the one who takes really good care of Jenny, the role played by Marian Rivera, nang magkasakit na siya. Marian is like my sister na rin kasi pareho kami ng manager, Popoy Caritativo, so I'm glad to be of help sa kanya."
Some folks say he's not really mere support but let's face it, the centerpiece of "Endless Love", which starts airing tomorrow after "Pilyang Kerubin", is the loveteam of Marian and Dingdong. He maybe playing a vital role, but it's still major support to the loveteam. Dennis says he's inspired to do the show as Marian's name in the story is Jenny. So it reminds him of his rumored GF Jennylyn Mercado? He laughs. Do they still see each other? "Yes, naglaro lang kami ng badminton kanina." That means the rumor that their love affair is co-terminus with "Gumapang Ka sa Lusak" isn't true.
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IT'S THE first time for Angel Aquino to play the role of a glamorous villain, Vera Cruz, a topnotch fashion designer who puts everyone down in "Magkaribal" . She steals Mark Gil from Dimples Romana, causing the separation of two young sisters to be played later by Gretchen Barretto and Bea Alonzo. In effect, Angel will be playing Greta's evil stepmom, even if in real life, she's a couple of years younger than Greta who's very much ahead of her in showbiz. In the story, Gretchen becomes her rival and she uses Bea against Greta. She has her own daughter, Erich Gonzales, to whom she is cold, and it'll later be revealed that Erich is also a long lost sister of Greta and Bea.
"The role offers new challenges for me kasi aapihin ko silang lahat. Vera is an international model na naging designer herself pag-uwi niya sa Manila and became very powerful. Kailangang fashion plate ang dating ko sa bawat eksena and I'd like to thank all my designer friends for their help. Most of them are also in the show playing themselves and they say mahirap pala mag-artista, they'll just make clothes na lang daw," says Angel.
Robert Arevalo plays his first gay role in the show as the dean of fashion designers. He modeled his role with real life veteran designers like Ramon Valera, Pitoy Moreno, Ben Farrales and with Michael Caine's gay character in "Miss Congeniality". Also in the cast are two ex-Bb. Pilipinas Universe, Nina Ricci Alagao and Bianca Manalo.
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ROBIN PADILLA's eldest daughter, Queenie, 19, signed up with ABS. His second daughter, Kylie, 17, who most people say has more star quality, now signs up with GMA-7 and will be part of "Party Pilipinas" where she'll do her own production numbers. She herself made this decision. "Kasi sina Papa at Ate, nasa kabila na, kaya dito naman ako sa GMA kasi dito rin ako nagsimula kaya mas gusto ko po rito," she says.
Is it true Queenie now lives independently? "Yes. She was allowed by our Papa kasi 19 na siya. I'll be allowed na magsarili na rin pag 18 na ako. As of now, na kay Papa pa rin ako and I obey lahat ng gusto niya, like huwag muna mag-boyfriend at mag-focus na lang sa showbiz career. I told him yun din naman ang choice ko. Wala akong balak makipag-boyfriend agad."
It was Queenie who revealed in her "Momay" presscon that their dad is close to Mariel Rodriguez and she has no objections about it. This time, Kylie revealed that Queenie has already broken up with PJ Valerio, with whom she shares the same manager, PJ columnist Joey Aquino. "It's Queenie's decision na wag na lang mag-boyfriend so she can focus on her career at sa loveteam nila ni Ejay Falcon in 'Momay'."
Some folks say, though, that this is just for show. Queenie and PJ are still secretly on.
**********
WRITERS WHO saw the preview of "Endless Love" all agree that Kristoffer Martin, the teen actor who plays the young Dingdong Dantes, shows a lot of promise. He's being introduced along with Karthryn Bernardo as the young Marian Rivera and Joyce Ching as the young Nadine Samonte. "Anak ba siya ni Carmi?" the writers kid about Kristoffer. "O kapatid siya ni Coco." "Hindi," says another writer. "Pero si Kathryn, anak ni Anton at si Joyce, anak ni Lyn."
Kristoffer did seven shows with ABS, the most well known of which is "Kung Fu Kids" where he co-starred with Joshua Dionisio, who's now also with GMA-7 as lead star in "Pilyang Kerubin". "Pero mas matindi ang star quality ni Kristoffer kay Joshua," writers say.
And it's true. He's totally believable as Johnny, the Crush ng Bayan in their school, with girls sending him gifts just to get to know him. And he also acts well so GMA should really sign him up to a long managerial contract. Wonder why ABS let him go. "Endless Love" premieres tomorrow replacing "Last Prince" and see for yourself whether Kristoffer really has star quality or not.
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BASED ON THE 2001 chick flick about pink girl power that made Reese Witherspoon a box office star, "Legally Blonde" is a rousing musical that features a bravura lead star performance from Nikki Gil as Elle Woods, the ditzy California sorority queen dumped by her boyfriend for not being serious enough who then proves she can excel on her own by going to Harvard law school in the name of love. Nikki acts, sings and dances so well like she's really born to perform in musical theater. Reese may have popularized the role in Hollywood but the smart Nikki makes it her own in a production that shows local theater at its best. She doesn't even look ridiculous as a blonde Asian. Nikki shines in so many numbers, including "Omigod" (the opening number), the show stopping "What You Want" when she gets to Harvard, and "So Much Better". We'd really love to see her doing Kim in "Miss Saigon".
Giving her superb support are the scene-stealing Jinky Llamanzares as Paulette her beautician friend, Guji Lorenzana as Warner her condescending boyfriend, Jett Pangan as the law professor who has his own designs for Elle (his "Blood in the Water" number is a high point of the show), Cris Villonco as Vivienne her rival who becomes an ally, and Geneva Cruz who does marvelous singing while dancing and doing workouts on stage as the murder suspect in her exuberant production number that opens the play's second act. We just wish she has more chemistry with Nyoy Volante who plays her leading man. Kudos to Director Chari Arespacochaga ("Footloose", "Spring Awakening") for the excellent and expert staging of all the well choreographed musical numbers.
IT'S VERY nice of Dennis Trillo to play a supporting role in "Endless Love" even if he has done several lead roles for GMA. "Walang problema as I'm happy to be part of the show," he says. "I was a fan of the original Koreanovela and I know the role I now play, Andrew. It's a very good role. I'm a rich boy here na may spoiled brat at babaero but I'm the one who takes really good care of Jenny, the role played by Marian Rivera, nang magkasakit na siya. Marian is like my sister na rin kasi pareho kami ng manager, Popoy Caritativo, so I'm glad to be of help sa kanya."
Some folks say he's not really mere support but let's face it, the centerpiece of "Endless Love", which starts airing tomorrow after "Pilyang Kerubin", is the loveteam of Marian and Dingdong. He maybe playing a vital role, but it's still major support to the loveteam. Dennis says he's inspired to do the show as Marian's name in the story is Jenny. So it reminds him of his rumored GF Jennylyn Mercado? He laughs. Do they still see each other? "Yes, naglaro lang kami ng badminton kanina." That means the rumor that their love affair is co-terminus with "Gumapang Ka sa Lusak" isn't true.
**********
IT'S THE first time for Angel Aquino to play the role of a glamorous villain, Vera Cruz, a topnotch fashion designer who puts everyone down in "Magkaribal" . She steals Mark Gil from Dimples Romana, causing the separation of two young sisters to be played later by Gretchen Barretto and Bea Alonzo. In effect, Angel will be playing Greta's evil stepmom, even if in real life, she's a couple of years younger than Greta who's very much ahead of her in showbiz. In the story, Gretchen becomes her rival and she uses Bea against Greta. She has her own daughter, Erich Gonzales, to whom she is cold, and it'll later be revealed that Erich is also a long lost sister of Greta and Bea.
"The role offers new challenges for me kasi aapihin ko silang lahat. Vera is an international model na naging designer herself pag-uwi niya sa Manila and became very powerful. Kailangang fashion plate ang dating ko sa bawat eksena and I'd like to thank all my designer friends for their help. Most of them are also in the show playing themselves and they say mahirap pala mag-artista, they'll just make clothes na lang daw," says Angel.
Robert Arevalo plays his first gay role in the show as the dean of fashion designers. He modeled his role with real life veteran designers like Ramon Valera, Pitoy Moreno, Ben Farrales and with Michael Caine's gay character in "Miss Congeniality". Also in the cast are two ex-Bb. Pilipinas Universe, Nina Ricci Alagao and Bianca Manalo.
**********
ROBIN PADILLA's eldest daughter, Queenie, 19, signed up with ABS. His second daughter, Kylie, 17, who most people say has more star quality, now signs up with GMA-7 and will be part of "Party Pilipinas" where she'll do her own production numbers. She herself made this decision. "Kasi sina Papa at Ate, nasa kabila na, kaya dito naman ako sa GMA kasi dito rin ako nagsimula kaya mas gusto ko po rito," she says.
Is it true Queenie now lives independently? "Yes. She was allowed by our Papa kasi 19 na siya. I'll be allowed na magsarili na rin pag 18 na ako. As of now, na kay Papa pa rin ako and I obey lahat ng gusto niya, like huwag muna mag-boyfriend at mag-focus na lang sa showbiz career. I told him yun din naman ang choice ko. Wala akong balak makipag-boyfriend agad."
It was Queenie who revealed in her "Momay" presscon that their dad is close to Mariel Rodriguez and she has no objections about it. This time, Kylie revealed that Queenie has already broken up with PJ Valerio, with whom she shares the same manager, PJ columnist Joey Aquino. "It's Queenie's decision na wag na lang mag-boyfriend so she can focus on her career at sa loveteam nila ni Ejay Falcon in 'Momay'."
Some folks say, though, that this is just for show. Queenie and PJ are still secretly on.
**********
WRITERS WHO saw the preview of "Endless Love" all agree that Kristoffer Martin, the teen actor who plays the young Dingdong Dantes, shows a lot of promise. He's being introduced along with Karthryn Bernardo as the young Marian Rivera and Joyce Ching as the young Nadine Samonte. "Anak ba siya ni Carmi?" the writers kid about Kristoffer. "O kapatid siya ni Coco." "Hindi," says another writer. "Pero si Kathryn, anak ni Anton at si Joyce, anak ni Lyn."
Kristoffer did seven shows with ABS, the most well known of which is "Kung Fu Kids" where he co-starred with Joshua Dionisio, who's now also with GMA-7 as lead star in "Pilyang Kerubin". "Pero mas matindi ang star quality ni Kristoffer kay Joshua," writers say.
And it's true. He's totally believable as Johnny, the Crush ng Bayan in their school, with girls sending him gifts just to get to know him. And he also acts well so GMA should really sign him up to a long managerial contract. Wonder why ABS let him go. "Endless Love" premieres tomorrow replacing "Last Prince" and see for yourself whether Kristoffer really has star quality or not.
**********
BASED ON THE 2001 chick flick about pink girl power that made Reese Witherspoon a box office star, "Legally Blonde" is a rousing musical that features a bravura lead star performance from Nikki Gil as Elle Woods, the ditzy California sorority queen dumped by her boyfriend for not being serious enough who then proves she can excel on her own by going to Harvard law school in the name of love. Nikki acts, sings and dances so well like she's really born to perform in musical theater. Reese may have popularized the role in Hollywood but the smart Nikki makes it her own in a production that shows local theater at its best. She doesn't even look ridiculous as a blonde Asian. Nikki shines in so many numbers, including "Omigod" (the opening number), the show stopping "What You Want" when she gets to Harvard, and "So Much Better". We'd really love to see her doing Kim in "Miss Saigon".
Giving her superb support are the scene-stealing Jinky Llamanzares as Paulette her beautician friend, Guji Lorenzana as Warner her condescending boyfriend, Jett Pangan as the law professor who has his own designs for Elle (his "Blood in the Water" number is a high point of the show), Cris Villonco as Vivienne her rival who becomes an ally, and Geneva Cruz who does marvelous singing while dancing and doing workouts on stage as the murder suspect in her exuberant production number that opens the play's second act. We just wish she has more chemistry with Nyoy Volante who plays her leading man. Kudos to Director Chari Arespacochaga ("Footloose", "Spring Awakening") for the excellent and expert staging of all the well choreographed musical numbers.
