But was he really on with Bela? “Mga two years din yung lumalabas-labas kami, but since one month before yung nangyari sa kanila ni Marian, wala na kami, di na kami nagkikita. Di ko nga alam kung bakit nasali pa ko doon.”
He and Sid tied as Urian best actor in 2008. He for “Endo” and Sid for “Selda”. How did they feel about it? It’s Sid who answers first: “There’s no greater feeling than sharing an award with a great actor like Jason so I’m proud that we won at the same time.”
“That’s right,” says Jason. “It’s okay with me to share an award.”
When Coco Martin did a love scene with Shaina in “Sa’Yo Lamang”, he talked about it first with John Lloyd Cruz, Shaina’s boyfriend. What about Jason? “He’s older than me in the industry so I’m sure he understands na work lang ito and no need na magpasintabi pa sa kanya.”
FORMER CHILD ACTRESS Krystal Reyes is one of GMA-7’s Tween Stars. Best known for her roles in “Bakekang” and “Mga Mata ni Anghelita”, she’s now 14 years old and plays the eldest daughter or Raymart Santiago and Gelli de Belen in GMA-7’s new series, “Bantatay”. “I’m glad to be acting again as it’s really what I want to do,” she says. “During the akward years of 12 to 13, di naman ako nawalan ng exposure as I hosted ‘Art Angel’, pero acting talaga ang mas gusto ko. Timing nga na ni-reformat ang show at nawala ako, heto’t dumating naman ang ‘Bantatay’.”
Did she feel envious of Barbie Forteza who was quickly given lead roles? “Ay, masama pong mainggit. At magkakasama kami as Tween Stars so friends kami although I admit na hindi pa ganun kalalim ang friendship namin kasi bago pa lang kami.”
She’s being paired with newcomer Kierulf Raboy. How does she feel about it? “Kasi pinag-pair-pair po kami dahil five boys and five girls kami. So si Kierulf po ang sinama sa’king kapareha sa picture namin. But he’s not included sa cast ng ‘Bantatay’. It’s all up to GMA naman. Kung sino ang tingin nilang babagay sa’kin, sila na ang mag-decide.”
VHONG NAVARRO and Toni Gonzaga have worked together for so long that all they have to do is look at each other to know what one is up to in front of the camera. “We’ve gone a long way kasi we started pa in ‘Wazzup Wazzup’ on Studio 23,” says Vhong. “Even them, I’m impressed with her as a host as she’s very sharp, mabilis mag-isip. She’s so witty that when you throw her something funny, ang galing niyang sumagot.”
They were also paired in the movies “Mr. Suave” and “My Only You”, but they’ve never been romantically linked to each other. “I got a crush on her, but I never thought of seriously courting her kasi nakita kong mas malayo ang mararating namin kung love team lang kami. We’re better off as friends at ayokong masayang yung friendship naming. We’re just meant to be friends, not lovers. Kita nyo naman, mas happy siya ngayon kay Direk Paul Soriano.”
They’re now doing their first fantaserye together, “Kokey @ Ako”, that begins tonight before TV Patrol and Vhong is optimistic the public will support their tandem as the material is both funny and endearing. “Ibang-iba ito sa huling ginawa kong ‘Betty La Fea’ and I’m glad kami ni Toni were given the chance to work again.”
TOP SCREENWRITER Mel del Rosario was at the “Kokey @ Ako” presscon, being an ABS script consultant, and she happily told us that the long delayed shooting of the Aga Muhlach-Regine Velasquez movie, “Of All the Things”, has finally resumed. “Sa wakas, natuloy na rin,” she says. “Seven days na lang naman, e. We watched the film’s rushes at maganda talaga siya kaya saying naman kung matetengga na lang. Nakiusap ang Viva sa Star Cinema to give Aga time to finish so they let him go from his shooting ng ‘Huling Sayaw’ movie nila ni Angel Locsin.”
The movie resumed its shooting in a government office in Manila but it was disrupted when a big crowd gathered upon learning that Aga was there. Aga himself was pleased to know that young people still idolize him and not just younger leading men like Gerald Anderson or John Lloyd Cruz.
ONE OF THE NEWCOMERS being introduced in the hit new GMA series “Grazilda” is Benedict Campos, who plays Prince Charming to Gwen Zamora’s Cinderella. He’s 21 years and just graduated from La Salle majoring in political science. He was discovered by Lilibeth Vera Perez-Nakpil, who’s a family friend. “Bale she co-manages me with GMA Artist Center,” he says. “I auditioned for my role in ‘Grazilda’ and I feel so blessed that I got a role this big for my first regular show. But I’ve also done an indie movie last year. I played Aldred Gatchalian’s best friend in Direk Mel Chionglo’s ‘Bente’ with Richard Gomez. Kasama ko rin doon si Glaiza de Castro who now plays Grazilda. I’ve also done some TV commercials.”
Born Jan. 2, 1989, he stands 5’9”. His dad is Fil-Chinese and his real family name is Kaw. Campos is from his mom, who’s half American. So how’s it working with Glaiza and other more stars more senior than him in “Grazilda”? “They’re all very supportive to us ni Gwen Zamora, who plays Cinderella. They know it’s our first acting job and they help us to do our jobs well in front of the camera.
FOR SERIOUS film buffs and students who want to know more about local indie films, get a copy of the book “Philippine New Wave” edited by filmmaker Khavn de la Cruz (“Three Days of Darkness”) with Dodo Dayao and Mabie Alagbate. With a foreword by National Artist Bien Lumbera, this will introduce you to local indie directors starting with the internationally known filmmaker, Kidlat Tahimik. The other filmmakers profiled here are Adolfo Alix Jr. (“Donsol”, “Daybreak”, “Muli”), Ato Bautista (“Sa Aking Pagkakagising Mula Sa Kamulatan”, “Blackout”), Ditsi Carolino (“Riles”, “Bunso”, “Lupang Hinarang”), Mes de Guzman (“Ang Daan Patungong Kalimugtong”), Lav Diaz (“Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino”, “Death in the Land of Encantos”), Rico Maria Ilarde (“Sa Ilalim ng Cogon”, “Altar”), Jeffrey Jeturian (“Kubrador”), Raya Martin (“Maikling Pelikula ng Ysang Indio Nacional”, “Autohystoria”, “Now Showing”), Brilliante Mendoza (“Kinatay”, “Masahista”, “Lola”, “Tambolista”), Sherad Anthony Sanchez (“Huling Balyan ng Buhi”, “Imburnal”), Aureus Solito (“Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros”, “Pisay”), John Torres (“Todo Todo Teros”, “Ang Ninanais”), Paulo Villalluna and Ellen Ramos (“Ilusyon”, “Selda”, “Walang Hanggang Paalam”), Roxlee (“Cesar Asar”, “Tito’s Wedding”). For more info, access www.kamiasroad.org.
ACCESS our past columns and other articles we’ve written like yearenders, list of best films and performances, the most memorable local films, and other showbiz items at our blogsite, www.showbiz-portal.blogspot.com. Check it out!
