FREEHAND by Mario E. Bautista
THE FEUD between Angelica Panganiban and Gretchen Barretto over Derek Ramsay elicited feedback from many readers, all of them favoring Angelica. Here's one from Jinny Ty-Pefianco that more or less summarizes what readers feel: "Dapat manahimik na lang si Gretchen kasi nananahimik ang magjowang Derek at Angel, tapos nakikisawsaw siya. Bakit di na lang siya makontento kay Tonyboy Cojuangco? Di ba for a while naloka rin siya sa isang Dodie Puno? Kaya siguro ayaw siyang pakasalan ni Tonyboy kasi alam na salawahan siya. But she is quite old for Derek. Si Angelica, maganda at sariwa kumpara sa kanya na nasobrahan sa retoke. Wake up, Lola Greta, stop dreaming!"
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TOM RODRIGUEZ feels so lucky that after he's introduced in a hit film like "Here Comes the Bride", he's now with Voizboys and they've just launched their debut album, "Fusion". "Before I came to Manila, I didn't even know I can act or sing," he says. "Now, I've done a film and shooting a new one, 'Cinco', a horror film with five stories. I appear in the third one, 'Mata'. Tapos, eto, recording star na ako. 'Fusion' has 10 songs and I even have a solo, 'Puede Na'."
Born on October 1, 1987 at Olongapo as Bartolome Mott, he spent his childhood in Catbalogan, Samar, then moved to San Jose, California when he was 12. "It was in San Jose that I took the PBB auditions last year and I was able to return to Manila," he says. "I'm not one of the big 5 winners but I feel like a winner na rin due to the big breaks ABS gave me. Ako naunang magka-movie at album sa amin, something na ni hindi ko naisip noon even in my dreams."
What's his memory of his Samar childhood? He showed us a scar on the left side of his chin. "I got this when I was 6 years old. Ginulpi ko ng mga tambay roon kasi Kanong Hilaw raw ako."
At 22, Tom is the youngest member of Voizboys. Jay-R Siaboc is 24, Guji Lorenzana and Nico Antonio are 27. "I'm thankful to them kasi sila, established singers. Ako, pinalit lang ni Mr. Johnny Manahan kay Ronnie Liang sa Voizboys. Hanga ako sa galing nila and I'm happy na they're willing to share their talent with me even if I don't have any formal training in voice."
Now that he's making a name for himself as the best looking member of the group, he doesn't want to waste the opportunities coming his way. "I really wanna do all my work well. I don't wanna waste the chance ABS gave me. Now, I'll be taping a special episode of 'Maalaala Mo Kaya' with Kaye Abad in Japan. I don't want to disappoint them for the trust na sugalan ako."
Watch Tom and the Voizboys as they do free mall tours to promote their album whose most memorable cuts are "Todo Na", "Maria Clara", "Sana'y Malaman Mo", "Kakaiba Ka" and "Stop the World".
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TAKE ME OUT program manager Bernadette Young is happy that after their single digit start, the show is now rating double digit numbers, which means the host dating show is attracting more viewers. This week, celebrity guys will be searchers once again, with Q 11 chef Nino Logarta and hunky model Luke Jickain as the special guests this week who'll look for an ideal date among the 30 girl searchees. Tomorrow, it'll be the turn of Starstruck V hottie Rocco Nacino. Wednesday, the show will be themed "Samahan sa Disco" and the searchers are actor Paolo Paraiso and singer Kris Lawrence. Thursday, it'll be the turn of Survivor and Born to Be Wild host Kiko Rustia and charming Cosmo bachelor Bryan Foronda in a Hawaiian Luau-theme episode.
On Friday, they'll have a noisy celebration ala-New Year's eve with Starstruck winner Steven Silva as searcher, plus find out who the Couple of the Week will be. "Take Me Out" is hosted by soul prince Jay-R with comedian-singer Gladys Guevara.
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HOW DOES Direk Joel Lamangan find Carla Abellana in the title role of "Basahang Ginto"? "First time to ko to handle her and she definitely delivers as Orang," he says. "Magaling siya even in the demanding dramatic scenes like when her mom, Rita Avila, died. Maiiyak ka talaga sa eksena. Her family is aided by Tony Mabesa but the one who really spends for the hospital and funeral is Geoff Eigenman who plays Danny, na siyang nakabundol kay Rita kaya namatay ito. Carla brings home the remains of Rita to their Aeta community in the mountains, but she vows to take revenge sa pumatay sa ina niya so she returns to Manila and becomes a househelp in Danny's house without knowin si Danny ang nakasagasa sa ina niya."
How about Geoff? "You'll never doubt na magaling siya. Anak siya nina Gina Alajar at Michael de Mesa, no? Nakakahiya naman kung wala sa genes niya ang husay ng ama't ina niya."
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ALL THE DIGNITARIES at the premiere of "Emir" congratulated Director Chito Rono after its screening. The film got a very deserving A from the Cinema Evaluation Board, which it means it'll get 100% rebate in taxes. What's his most challenging experience in shooting "Emir"? "I shot 'Caregiver' in London but there was no problem as they all speak English," he says. "But in Morocco when we shot 'Emir', the language problem, grabe talaga. We have to have an interpreter all the time as they speak only French and Arabic. When we shot in another location, the tribes only speak Berber, another dialect so mas lalong humirap. We hired a totally Moroccan crew, from the art director, crowd director, stunt coordinator, propsmen, pati extras. It's a beautiful place, beautiful people and culture and I think we were able to put that in the movie naman. Ibang-iba ang locations na mapapanood ng local viewrs dito."
Chito should really be proud of the film. One musical number that you should watch out for is the montage showing the yayas turning into jetsetters and traveling around the world. It's really delightful. We just feel sad that "Emir" is doing badly at the tills. Local viewers really don't care for good meaningful films. They just want escapist love stories all the time. Do yourself a favor and watch "Emir". You won't regret it.
THE FEUD between Angelica Panganiban and Gretchen Barretto over Derek Ramsay elicited feedback from many readers, all of them favoring Angelica. Here's one from Jinny Ty-Pefianco that more or less summarizes what readers feel: "Dapat manahimik na lang si Gretchen kasi nananahimik ang magjowang Derek at Angel, tapos nakikisawsaw siya. Bakit di na lang siya makontento kay Tonyboy Cojuangco? Di ba for a while naloka rin siya sa isang Dodie Puno? Kaya siguro ayaw siyang pakasalan ni Tonyboy kasi alam na salawahan siya. But she is quite old for Derek. Si Angelica, maganda at sariwa kumpara sa kanya na nasobrahan sa retoke. Wake up, Lola Greta, stop dreaming!"
**********
TOM RODRIGUEZ feels so lucky that after he's introduced in a hit film like "Here Comes the Bride", he's now with Voizboys and they've just launched their debut album, "Fusion". "Before I came to Manila, I didn't even know I can act or sing," he says. "Now, I've done a film and shooting a new one, 'Cinco', a horror film with five stories. I appear in the third one, 'Mata'. Tapos, eto, recording star na ako. 'Fusion' has 10 songs and I even have a solo, 'Puede Na'."
Born on October 1, 1987 at Olongapo as Bartolome Mott, he spent his childhood in Catbalogan, Samar, then moved to San Jose, California when he was 12. "It was in San Jose that I took the PBB auditions last year and I was able to return to Manila," he says. "I'm not one of the big 5 winners but I feel like a winner na rin due to the big breaks ABS gave me. Ako naunang magka-movie at album sa amin, something na ni hindi ko naisip noon even in my dreams."
What's his memory of his Samar childhood? He showed us a scar on the left side of his chin. "I got this when I was 6 years old. Ginulpi ko ng mga tambay roon kasi Kanong Hilaw raw ako."
At 22, Tom is the youngest member of Voizboys. Jay-R Siaboc is 24, Guji Lorenzana and Nico Antonio are 27. "I'm thankful to them kasi sila, established singers. Ako, pinalit lang ni Mr. Johnny Manahan kay Ronnie Liang sa Voizboys. Hanga ako sa galing nila and I'm happy na they're willing to share their talent with me even if I don't have any formal training in voice."
Now that he's making a name for himself as the best looking member of the group, he doesn't want to waste the opportunities coming his way. "I really wanna do all my work well. I don't wanna waste the chance ABS gave me. Now, I'll be taping a special episode of 'Maalaala Mo Kaya' with Kaye Abad in Japan. I don't want to disappoint them for the trust na sugalan ako."
Watch Tom and the Voizboys as they do free mall tours to promote their album whose most memorable cuts are "Todo Na", "Maria Clara", "Sana'y Malaman Mo", "Kakaiba Ka" and "Stop the World".
**********
TAKE ME OUT program manager Bernadette Young is happy that after their single digit start, the show is now rating double digit numbers, which means the host dating show is attracting more viewers. This week, celebrity guys will be searchers once again, with Q 11 chef Nino Logarta and hunky model Luke Jickain as the special guests this week who'll look for an ideal date among the 30 girl searchees. Tomorrow, it'll be the turn of Starstruck V hottie Rocco Nacino. Wednesday, the show will be themed "Samahan sa Disco" and the searchers are actor Paolo Paraiso and singer Kris Lawrence. Thursday, it'll be the turn of Survivor and Born to Be Wild host Kiko Rustia and charming Cosmo bachelor Bryan Foronda in a Hawaiian Luau-theme episode.
On Friday, they'll have a noisy celebration ala-New Year's eve with Starstruck winner Steven Silva as searcher, plus find out who the Couple of the Week will be. "Take Me Out" is hosted by soul prince Jay-R with comedian-singer Gladys Guevara.
**********
HOW DOES Direk Joel Lamangan find Carla Abellana in the title role of "Basahang Ginto"? "First time to ko to handle her and she definitely delivers as Orang," he says. "Magaling siya even in the demanding dramatic scenes like when her mom, Rita Avila, died. Maiiyak ka talaga sa eksena. Her family is aided by Tony Mabesa but the one who really spends for the hospital and funeral is Geoff Eigenman who plays Danny, na siyang nakabundol kay Rita kaya namatay ito. Carla brings home the remains of Rita to their Aeta community in the mountains, but she vows to take revenge sa pumatay sa ina niya so she returns to Manila and becomes a househelp in Danny's house without knowin si Danny ang nakasagasa sa ina niya."
How about Geoff? "You'll never doubt na magaling siya. Anak siya nina Gina Alajar at Michael de Mesa, no? Nakakahiya naman kung wala sa genes niya ang husay ng ama't ina niya."
**********
ALL THE DIGNITARIES at the premiere of "Emir" congratulated Director Chito Rono after its screening. The film got a very deserving A from the Cinema Evaluation Board, which it means it'll get 100% rebate in taxes. What's his most challenging experience in shooting "Emir"? "I shot 'Caregiver' in London but there was no problem as they all speak English," he says. "But in Morocco when we shot 'Emir', the language problem, grabe talaga. We have to have an interpreter all the time as they speak only French and Arabic. When we shot in another location, the tribes only speak Berber, another dialect so mas lalong humirap. We hired a totally Moroccan crew, from the art director, crowd director, stunt coordinator, propsmen, pati extras. It's a beautiful place, beautiful people and culture and I think we were able to put that in the movie naman. Ibang-iba ang locations na mapapanood ng local viewrs dito."
Chito should really be proud of the film. One musical number that you should watch out for is the montage showing the yayas turning into jetsetters and traveling around the world. It's really delightful. We just feel sad that "Emir" is doing badly at the tills. Local viewers really don't care for good meaningful films. They just want escapist love stories all the time. Do yourself a favor and watch "Emir". You won't regret it.
