What did he discover among the celebrity castaways? “Oh, a lot. Kasi lumabas sa isla ang tunay nilang ugali, sides of their personality I didn’t know exist. Maraming pasabog that shocked me about their personal lives. May isang castaway who opened up and I was surprised to learn kung gaano kabigat ang pinagdaanan niya. It’s really a period of discovery for the viewers dahil mas makikilala nila ang bawat isang castaway intimately.”
Is it true a male castaway was accidentally stripped naked? “Hindi lang male, meron ding female. Maraming nahubaran kasi extreme challenges ang pinagawa sa kanila, e they’re just wearing bathing suits kaya maraming nahuhubaran. Pero siempre, I can’t reveal who. Abangan nyo na lang in the weeks to come.”
Does he have any special privileges as host? “I have sleeping quarters and regular meals. Sila wala. They sleep under the trees before they got to build their own shelter and they have to hunt for their own food. But during the challenges, kapag inabot kami ng bagyo, we all go through the same experiences. There was a time we all got stranded in an island dahil sa bagyo. One time naman, nasa gitna kami ng dagat and our boat got tossed by huge waves.” Did he enjoy hosting “Survivor”? “Very much. Sabi ko nga, next year, I’m willing to host it again. Willing din akong maging castaway but the staff told me, dapat, sa Survivor ng ibang bansa ako sumali.”
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AIKO MELENDEZ admits she felt reluctant when the role of Rosenda, Carla Abellana’s real mother, was offered to her in GMA-7’s number one afternoon soap, “Basahang Ginto”. “Kasi 34 lang ako and Carla is 23, so that means 11 lang ako when I gave birth to her,” she laughs. “E, my son, Andre, is only 11 now. But I did play na rin a mother role before, kay Ogie Alcasid pa nga, in ‘Yaya and Angelina’, although comedy yun. What made me accept ‘Basahang Ginto’ is Director Joel Lamangan, a respected directors. I want the chance to work with him so tinanggap ko na kasi maganda naman ang role ko as a former actress na napabayaan ang anak niya.”
So is she enjoying taping for the show? “Oh yes. Everyone on the set gave me a warm welcome. First time ko to work with Carla and with Geoff Eigenmann. Bilib ako sa kanila as very professional sila, walang bad attitude.”
Does this mean she’s going back full blast to acting? “Why not? Rest muna ko sa politics. I’ve also appeared with Ruffa Gutierrez sa recent drama show niya sa TV5 at our episode daw got the highest rating doon. I’ve also finished taping a mini-series, ‘Broken Hearts Club’, for TV5 with Lani Misalucha, Miriam Quiambao and Candy Pangilinan, directed by Joey Reyes.”
How about working with ex-husband Jomari Yllana and his ex-GF Ara Mina who’s now in GMA-7’s ‘Ilumina’? “No problem. Jom and I worked na together as husband and wife in ‘Yaya and Angelina’. As for Ara, ang tagal na nung pinagsasabong kami. We’ve both moved on kaya tigilan na yan.”
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DINGDONG DANTES says he doesn’t understand why some folks wants him and Marian Rivera to fight. “Nagseselos daw siya kay Bella Padilla at nagseselos daw ako kay Dennis Trillo, which is not true,” he says. “Ngayon naman, issue dasw ang pagpasok ng ex-BF ni Marian (Ervic Vijandre) sa ‘Survivor Philippines’. Ni hindi nga namin pinag-uusapan yun. What is past is past. I’ve never met the guy and I respect yung sinabi niyang ayaw na niyang pag-usapan si Marian kasi matagal na yung kanila, which is true. Walang bad blood between us kaya wag kami gawan ng issue. Tinatanong pa ko if I’d agree na magsama kaming tatlo, just like when I broke up noon with Karylle. Honestly, it won’t be a good idea. Mas mabuti if he’d make it on his own talent so he won’t be accused na he just banking on a past relationship.”
Dingdong is getting married tonight, but not to Marian Rivera, but with fiancée Yumi (Bella Padilla) in “Endless Love”. “Mahirap ang sitwasyon namin ni Marian as Johnny and Johnny in the story. We have always treated each other when we were young as brother and sister. When we learned we’re not siblings, my family naman went to the U.S. Naging on nga kami ni Yumi at siya naman, naging on with Andrew (Dennis Trillo), but our love for each remains although we cannot verbalize it.”
Find out tonight if his wedding to Yumi would push through. Meantime, the hatred of Shirley (Nadine Samonte) for Marian intensifies when she learned that her parents (Sandy Andolong and Tirso Cruz III) will legally adopt Marian as their own daughter. This will provide another twist in the plot that will make “Endless Love” even more engrossing.
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ANGELICA PANGANIBAN is currently off limits to the press. No one can interview her as long as her tiff with Claudine Barretto has not been ironed out. Star Magic thinks its best for her to keep quiet while Claudine is on the warpath against her, but they’ve given her bodyguards just in case something untoward happens to her. Apparently, Angelica is VIP for them. What with Star Magic boss Johnny Manahan that when Angelica starts talking, what she has to stay can ruin Claudine’s career. Will it be about Claudine’s alleged primadonna ways when they were still doing “Iisa Pa Lamang” or about some other deep dark secret in Claudine’s past? Obviously, Mr. M’s joining into the fray as Angelica’s number one defender is warning to Claudine to shut up or else... Ironically, Claudine’s sister, Gretchen, is now Angelica’s new found friend after Derek Ramsay reconciled them and they plan to go out together soon, have dinner and do more girl bonding. Greta even said that Angelica is beautiful inside and out. Wonder what Claudine has to say about this.
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NOW THAT Heart Evangelista is unattached after breaking up with her non-showbiz BF, it’s said her co-star in “Langit sa Piling Mo”, Daniel Matsunaga, is seriously pursuing her. When Daniel learned she was having with friend Say Alonzo at the Fort, he followed her there. They even went to church together and Heart says she appreciates Daniel’s being a devout Catholic like her.
“Friend ko lang po si Mr. Matsunaga,” says Heart when asked about the real score between them. “Mahirap magka-boyfriend na gaya niya na sobrang guwapo, parang mannequin at hindi tao. Marami kang makakasosyo diyan. At although ilang beses na kaming lumabas na magkasama, hindi po siya nanliligaw sa akin.”
Daniel, in turn, says he really appreciates Heart’s friendliness. “Imagine, she’s a much bigger star compared to me who’s a newcomer, but she’s so nice and accommodating. She’s even inviting me to eat in their family’s restaurant, Barrio Fiesta.”
“Langit sa Piling Mo” is on its last few weeks so be sure not to miss a single episode as lots of surprising twists and turns in the story will be in store for you. Jay Aquitania as Felix confront Steff Prescott for pretending to be their long lost sister Joy. Ryza Cenon as the real Joy learns she’s pregnant and Tonton Gutierrez as Stanley is willing to marry her. Mark Herras as Rigo is about to discover who his father’s killer really is. Marj is a doomed flight where the pilot is killed and she becomes assigned to land the plane safely. Will she succeed?
