Pinoy Big Brother to go head-to-head with Extra Challenge?

Even if Angel Locsin is now the love team partner of Richard Gutierrez, would Chynna Ortaleza still be interested if she'd be paired with Richard in a movie or a teleserye? After all, they were the original love team, since Angel was paired before with Railey Valeroso (Chynna's boyfriend).

"If our fans would want me and Richard to appear together in a movie or teleserye, I'd love to give it to them. There's nothing wrong if Richard and I would work again for the good of our fans and if they would clamor for it," said Chynna in a recent interview at a GMA Studio. "I was offered the role of Pinky in 'Sigaw' but I didn't feel it was a good role so I turned it down. I felt there was nothing new in the role."

But Chynna is very happy with the role given her in "Sugo" where Richard plays the title role. And it's a big plus that Richard is in the series that's why Chynna didn't have second thoughts in accepting it.

"Mabait naman si Richard at mabait naman si Tita Annabelle, si Tito Jun Lalin so okay na ito kaya tinanggap ko ang role. He even called me up to say he'd be very happy if I would accept the role," said Chynna. "I'm very easy to talk to. I owe Richard a debt of gratitude. We both worked hard together to build a name for our tandem. Besides I also wanted to help Richard. I hope I am also helping the show."

Does she miss her tandem with Richard?

"Even when we were still a love team, there was no romantic feelings involved between me and Richard. We're friends and we remain as such even if we're no longer a love team. Nothing has changed with regards to our friendship. Now that we are together in "Sugo,' we're still okay. We're still good friends. Walang ipinagbago. Hindi ko siya nami-miss na parang nawalan ako ng napakalaking bagay. Happy ako na we are working together again," said Chynna.

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Former "That's Entertainment" mainstay Kenneth Garcia is making a comeback in show business after quite a long absence from the scene. But this time he's returning to the showbiz scene as a singer and he's using his real name Juaquin as his screen name.

When he quit showbiz for a while, Juaquin decided to finish his Mass Communications degree at the Angeles University. He also took up a course in Music. He also joined the boy band Wiseguys and did a musical play with China Cojuangco. He also appeared in the play "Jose Rizal Atbp."

Right after he left "That's Entertainment," Juaquin signed up with Warner Music Philippines and became a member of the boy group Wiseguys. He concentrated on his singing career since it has been his longtime dream to become a singer. He was not wanting in film offers after he left "That's Entertainment" but most of the offers were bold roles.

"I didn't want to do bold movies even if the offers were so tempting," said Juaquin. "I didn't go into something I was afraid I might regret later on." But he admitted he was kind of getting impatient because the break he was waiting for was slow in coming.

"I was really nearly tempted since most of my batchmates in 'That's Entertainment' were getting good breaks like Aubrey Miles and Ara Mina. I must admit I was nearly tempted. But I thought of my family and the effect it would have on them if I would do it so I decided against it."

"I even consulted Boy (Abunda). I asked him if should I accept the bold offers. Kuya Boy said no. So I followed him and I also followed my heart. Do I want it because I want to earn money? If money is what I want, then I'd rather work. If my reason is I want to be famous, I didn't want to be famous that way. Ayoko naman magkapangalan sa ganoong paraan. Kahit paano iba pa rin ang pinaghirapan mo ang pangalan mo," said Juaquin.

If fame was what Juaquin wanted, he could have very well accepted the offers since it would have paired him with Joyce Jimenez and Rossana Roces. But singing is what he really wanted so he opted to wait for the right time. And that time has come right now.

Juaquin is featured in the concert titled "One: The World Tour" with Faith Cuneta to be held at the Music Museum on September 15, 22, 23, and 24. They will also have an Asian tour this October 2005 and a U.S. tour on February 2006.

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Comedienne Candy Pangilinan, recently adjudged Best Female Stand Up Comedy Act in the Aliw Awards, is currently in the United States to do a series of shows. She has had sold-out shows in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas with John Lapus and Chocoleyt. All their venues were jampacked and they got good reviews from the Los Angeles and San Francisco press. Also joining their entourage is Wenn Deramas who directs the show and Jet Montelibano (formerly of the Music and Magic) who is the show's technical director. Performing with Candy, John and Chocoleyt is the Sinag Band, an all-Pinoy band based in Los Angeles. Superstar Nora Aunor and talent manager Wyngard Tracy were among those who watched the shows of Candy, John and Chocoleyt.

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Can you survive staying in a house for 100 days with no TV set, no radio, no newspaper and no cellphone, in the company of people you hardly know? This is the challenge facing the 12 housemates who had been chosen to take part in the new reality show of ABS-CBN titled "Pinoy Big Brother" to be hosted by Toni Gonzaga, Mariel Rodriguez and Willie Revillame.

According to director Lauren Dyogi, a huge investment had been poured in by ABS-CBN to this new program, said to be the number one reality show in the world. Even if director Lauren wouldn't want to quote figures, he confirmed that indeed ABS-CBN spent quite a fortune and he hopes that with "Pinoy Big Brother" airing soon, it would signal the recovery of ABS-CBN from the doldrums.

We were among those invited to take a look into the "Pinoy Big Brother" house just across the ABS-CBN compound that would be home to the 12 lucky housemates who would be vying for the attractive prices of P1 million, a brand new car and a house and lot. The house is really something to be proud about. It is fully furnished with handsome items, with a swimming pool to boot.

There seems to be a mini-ABS-CBN studio in the house as it is equipped with 26 cameras to monitor the movements of the 12 housemates that would be shown on TV. The challenge is can you endure staying in the house for the next 100 days minus the usual amenities like TV, radio, newspapers and cellphone? Can you survive having no contact with the world outside?

All 12 housemates would go through various challenges but each one of them would be voted off until only one remains to win the car, house and lot and P1 million prize.

"Pinoy Big Brother" would be aired on primetime but not one from ABS-CBN would dare say if they plan to air "Pinoy Big Brother" on the same time slot as "Extra Challenge" of GMA.