FREEHAND by Mario E. Bautista
AT THE “Diva” thanksgiving presscon, some writers continued to grill Rufa Mae Quinto about her mystery boyfriend. When she guested in “Startalk”, Lolit Solis made “kulit” to her and practically named who the guy is and it’s none other than the controversial party list representative of security guards, Mikey Arroyo. Lolit said Mikey should be man enough to defend Rufa Mae since she’s the one who’s now passing through the proverbial needle’s eye. “Dapat na talaga siya magsalita,” adds Lolit. “Kundi siya talaga, di i-deny niya nang personal.”
Mikey is married to Angela Montenegro but it’s rumored that they’ve been separated for sometime now. Someone says it could be Mikey is just waiting for the annulment of his marriage before he comes out in the open about the real score between him and Rufa Mae. But with the allegations made by current Pres. Noynoy on his mom’s past administration, we’re sure there are a lot more other important things in Mikey’s mind than his lovelife.
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RHIAN RAMOS feels lucky that she’s paired in her two new shows with the better looking Starstruck guys. In “ILumina”, her leading man is Starstruck IV’s Aljur Abrenica while in “Kaya ng Powers”, her suitors are Enzo Pineda and Rocco Nacino. All of them admit that Rhian is their crush. But is it true they have no chance of winning her affection as she’s already on with DJ Mo? “Honest, hindi kami ni Mo,” she says. “Hindi siya nanliligaw. But I do admit we’re very close. Sa showbiz today, siya yung closest friend kong lalaki. I can tell him secrets and I’ll be sure hindi niya yun pagsasabi sa iba.”
But the way he defends her from JC De Vera sounds like there’s more to them than meets the eye. “Yes, I heard magagandang sinasabi niya about me and I appreciate that. Pero wala naman sigurong masama roon. Yes, we go out with other friends. Masama ba yun? Porke iniintriga kami, we’ll avoid each other na and end our friendship? Hindi naman maganda yun.”
How does it feel playing a sorceress in “ILumina” that starts airing on Monday in place of “Diva”? “I’m enjoying it kasi I’m on the side of the good ones. I’m a white sorceress here and may special power akong telekinesis. I can move object using my mind. Nag-aaway yung black and white sorcerers, just like in real life na there’s this perennial battle between good and evil. I’m inspired to do ‘ILumina’ kasi puro magagaling ang kasama namin, from Christopher de Leon as Aljur’s dad and Cesar Montano as dad namin ni Jackie Rice, plus Jean Garcia, Ara Mina and Sunshine Cruz in a special role. Kailangan, kaming mga baguhan like Aljur, Jackie and Paulo Avelino, galingan namin lagi para hindi kami lamunin ng more experienced co-stars namin.”
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ANGEL AQUINO might be playing a villain role as Vera Cruz in “Magkaribal” but she’s really upstaging everyone when she’s on screen, including leads Gretchen Barretto and Bea Alonzo. She has this classy screen presence that’s just perfect for her role as a top model turned designer. She looks so elegant with all the splendid outfits she’s wearing and her stunning bone structure alone makes her incandescent whenever she’s on cam. To top it all, she sizzles in her role and acts so effortlessly. As far as we’re concerned, she’s the real rival of all the stars in this soap.
**********
KUDOS TO Richard Gutierrez for another eye-opening environmental docu, “Wildlife for Sale”, showed on GMA-7 last Sunday night that got a high 15.8% rating. This will surely gain worldwide acclaim like the award-winning “Planet Philippines”. We pitied all the poor and helpless exotic animals who are caught in the wild in Palawan and sold in Cartimar Market in Pasay. But one thing that stood out in the docu is the fact that those who catch and sell them are doing so not because they want it but because it’s a matter of survival for them. Poverty drives them to do it and they don’t have a more lucrative means of income. Actually, they’re also being exploited by unscrupulous businessmen as they risk life and limb in catching these endangered species but they’re paid a measly sum compared to what opportunistic store owners charge in Manila. An animal that’s worth P200 for them is resold in stores at P2,000 no less.
Richard is in a distant island in Thailand right now taping “Survivor Philippines Celebrity Edition” and he’s glad the feedback on his new docu is very positive. Interviewed in Q11’s “Tweetbiz”, he says he misses his family, friends, and his life in Manila. “I seldom get to talk to them kasi mahirap ang signal dito and isolated kami rito sa isla,” he says. “At saka puro rin kami trabaho so I hardly have time for that. But no regrets. We’re all enjoying the adventure here kahit nahihirapan kami. This is the wildest, most challenging ‘Survivor’ ever at tiyak na masisiyahan lahat ng viewers dito.”
The GMA staffers who are with Chard in the island all praise him for being a true professional. He really tries to adjust to their meagre amenities and is not at all demanding. He just feels bad that he’s not around to help promote his movie, “In Your Eyes”, with Anne Curtis and Claudine Barretto to be shown on August 18.
**********
SHEENA HALILI feels happy that she’s now in the sitcom “Kaya ng Powers” as one of the kids of Joey Marquez and Rufa Mae Quinto, and she’s also been added as the new character, Berna, in the early evening soap, “Langit sa Piling Mo”. “Kaya heto, biglang super busy ako,” she says. “Working with Rufa Mae as our mom in ‘Kaya ng Powers’ is really great kasi hindi ko naman itinatagong siya ang idol ko when it comes to comedy. Sa ‘Langit sa Piling Mo’, natutuwa naman akong makasama uli si Heart Evangelista na nakasundo ko noong gawin namin ang ‘Full House’. Aside from me, bago rin sa cast si Steff Prescott as an impostor na nagkukunwang si Candy or Joy, ang nawawalang sister ni Heart. She will be used by Maritoni Fernandez to seduce Mark Herras away from Heart at si Daniel Matsunaga naman will be used para pagselosin si Mark at mag-break na sila ni Heart.”
AT THE “Diva” thanksgiving presscon, some writers continued to grill Rufa Mae Quinto about her mystery boyfriend. When she guested in “Startalk”, Lolit Solis made “kulit” to her and practically named who the guy is and it’s none other than the controversial party list representative of security guards, Mikey Arroyo. Lolit said Mikey should be man enough to defend Rufa Mae since she’s the one who’s now passing through the proverbial needle’s eye. “Dapat na talaga siya magsalita,” adds Lolit. “Kundi siya talaga, di i-deny niya nang personal.”
Mikey is married to Angela Montenegro but it’s rumored that they’ve been separated for sometime now. Someone says it could be Mikey is just waiting for the annulment of his marriage before he comes out in the open about the real score between him and Rufa Mae. But with the allegations made by current Pres. Noynoy on his mom’s past administration, we’re sure there are a lot more other important things in Mikey’s mind than his lovelife.
**********
RHIAN RAMOS feels lucky that she’s paired in her two new shows with the better looking Starstruck guys. In “ILumina”, her leading man is Starstruck IV’s Aljur Abrenica while in “Kaya ng Powers”, her suitors are Enzo Pineda and Rocco Nacino. All of them admit that Rhian is their crush. But is it true they have no chance of winning her affection as she’s already on with DJ Mo? “Honest, hindi kami ni Mo,” she says. “Hindi siya nanliligaw. But I do admit we’re very close. Sa showbiz today, siya yung closest friend kong lalaki. I can tell him secrets and I’ll be sure hindi niya yun pagsasabi sa iba.”
But the way he defends her from JC De Vera sounds like there’s more to them than meets the eye. “Yes, I heard magagandang sinasabi niya about me and I appreciate that. Pero wala naman sigurong masama roon. Yes, we go out with other friends. Masama ba yun? Porke iniintriga kami, we’ll avoid each other na and end our friendship? Hindi naman maganda yun.”
How does it feel playing a sorceress in “ILumina” that starts airing on Monday in place of “Diva”? “I’m enjoying it kasi I’m on the side of the good ones. I’m a white sorceress here and may special power akong telekinesis. I can move object using my mind. Nag-aaway yung black and white sorcerers, just like in real life na there’s this perennial battle between good and evil. I’m inspired to do ‘ILumina’ kasi puro magagaling ang kasama namin, from Christopher de Leon as Aljur’s dad and Cesar Montano as dad namin ni Jackie Rice, plus Jean Garcia, Ara Mina and Sunshine Cruz in a special role. Kailangan, kaming mga baguhan like Aljur, Jackie and Paulo Avelino, galingan namin lagi para hindi kami lamunin ng more experienced co-stars namin.”
**********
ANGEL AQUINO might be playing a villain role as Vera Cruz in “Magkaribal” but she’s really upstaging everyone when she’s on screen, including leads Gretchen Barretto and Bea Alonzo. She has this classy screen presence that’s just perfect for her role as a top model turned designer. She looks so elegant with all the splendid outfits she’s wearing and her stunning bone structure alone makes her incandescent whenever she’s on cam. To top it all, she sizzles in her role and acts so effortlessly. As far as we’re concerned, she’s the real rival of all the stars in this soap.
**********
KUDOS TO Richard Gutierrez for another eye-opening environmental docu, “Wildlife for Sale”, showed on GMA-7 last Sunday night that got a high 15.8% rating. This will surely gain worldwide acclaim like the award-winning “Planet Philippines”. We pitied all the poor and helpless exotic animals who are caught in the wild in Palawan and sold in Cartimar Market in Pasay. But one thing that stood out in the docu is the fact that those who catch and sell them are doing so not because they want it but because it’s a matter of survival for them. Poverty drives them to do it and they don’t have a more lucrative means of income. Actually, they’re also being exploited by unscrupulous businessmen as they risk life and limb in catching these endangered species but they’re paid a measly sum compared to what opportunistic store owners charge in Manila. An animal that’s worth P200 for them is resold in stores at P2,000 no less.
Richard is in a distant island in Thailand right now taping “Survivor Philippines Celebrity Edition” and he’s glad the feedback on his new docu is very positive. Interviewed in Q11’s “Tweetbiz”, he says he misses his family, friends, and his life in Manila. “I seldom get to talk to them kasi mahirap ang signal dito and isolated kami rito sa isla,” he says. “At saka puro rin kami trabaho so I hardly have time for that. But no regrets. We’re all enjoying the adventure here kahit nahihirapan kami. This is the wildest, most challenging ‘Survivor’ ever at tiyak na masisiyahan lahat ng viewers dito.”
The GMA staffers who are with Chard in the island all praise him for being a true professional. He really tries to adjust to their meagre amenities and is not at all demanding. He just feels bad that he’s not around to help promote his movie, “In Your Eyes”, with Anne Curtis and Claudine Barretto to be shown on August 18.
**********
SHEENA HALILI feels happy that she’s now in the sitcom “Kaya ng Powers” as one of the kids of Joey Marquez and Rufa Mae Quinto, and she’s also been added as the new character, Berna, in the early evening soap, “Langit sa Piling Mo”. “Kaya heto, biglang super busy ako,” she says. “Working with Rufa Mae as our mom in ‘Kaya ng Powers’ is really great kasi hindi ko naman itinatagong siya ang idol ko when it comes to comedy. Sa ‘Langit sa Piling Mo’, natutuwa naman akong makasama uli si Heart Evangelista na nakasundo ko noong gawin namin ang ‘Full House’. Aside from me, bago rin sa cast si Steff Prescott as an impostor na nagkukunwang si Candy or Joy, ang nawawalang sister ni Heart. She will be used by Maritoni Fernandez to seduce Mark Herras away from Heart at si Daniel Matsunaga naman will be used para pagselosin si Mark at mag-break na sila ni Heart.”
