Bubble Gang turns 10 this October

One of the highest-rating shows on GMA is the long-running gag show Bubble Gang which is now going on its tenth year on television this October. Aside from being a consistent top-rater, the program being directed by Uro dela Cruz is admired for being innovative, witty and natural that makes the program unique. Even if it has been on the air for ten years, Bubble Gang hasn't lost its touch in making Friday evenings a fun way to start the weekend. The program has always something new to offer in terms of gags, skits, even its spoof of commercials, TV shows, and songs are much awaited and keenly anticipated.

Much of the magic of the "Bubble Gang" and its success is the rapport between the cast and the director, as well as the production staff, most especially the scriptwriters. "I think we click as a group because we treat each other as family. This is no longer work for us but like a way of life," said prolific songwriter Ogie Alcasid, a Bubble Gang original. "Taping days are always fun. It's no longer work but like a picnic, a big gathering with your barkada. Ten years is no joke but really each time we report on the set, it really doesn't seem like work but something to have fun and spend with your dear friends."

"I think a big factor that makes the show click kasi enjoy kaming lahat sa ginagawa namin. It's time to have fun and ten years since we started making people laugh, I think the whole cast have developed a rapport that is hard to break down. Kumbaga, kilalang-kilala na namin ang aming kasama kaya kahit na anong gag ang ipagawa sa amin ni direk Uro, kayang-kaya namin gawin together kasi nga may bonding na kami," added Michael V who also serves as the creative director of the long-running gag show.

So even if new stars had been added to the Bubble Gang roster through the years, the show has retained its comic flavor and continues to evolve year in and year out. It has practically won all the awards possible, a nine-time winner as Best Gag Show in the PMPC Star Awards for TV, it also received the award as Outstanding Comedy Gag Show in the first Golden Screen Entertainment TV Awards last September 2004.

The Bubble Gang mainstays, aside from Ogie and Michael V, are Ara Mina, Rufa Mae Quinto, Wendell Ramos, Antonio Aquitania, Diana Zubiri, Maureen Larrazabal and Francine Prieto who joined the cast some two months back.

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Have you ever experienced having to go on a US trip with only two hours to go to purchase your ticket, you have no money so you pray that a miracle happens? Or have you ever been to the US with only $7 as your pocket money? These happened to the All Stars!

All Stars is a hip-hop dance group composed of 12 individuals, seven boys and five girls. Aged from 21 to 28, they came from various dance groups with different work backgrounds. It was their love for dancing that brought them together.

The All Stars first competed in the Philippine national championship called the Maximum Groovity last July 2005 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium where they won the grand prize. They went on to represent the country to the World Hip-Hop Championship in Los Angeles. They passed the eliminations last August 20 with flying colors and competed in the championship against 26 countries the next day where they landed in 6th place. This, in spite of the challenges they had to go through prior to and while being in the US. Lucky for them, they had got E Real Records (now one of their sponsors) to help them out.

"It was not easy what the group went through to get where we are," said Lema Diaz, one of the members of All Stars in our interview with the group. "It was our love for dancing that pulled us through plus our desire to represent the country and make Filipinos proud." Even if they only placed 6th in the finals, it was already an achievement for the group considering their sacrifices prior to their trip to the United States. They worked hard to raise funds for their airfare but if it was meant to be, it was meant to be.

The members of All Stars literally had to move heaven and earth, so to speak, so they could raise the amount for the plane fare of their three members since without these three, their choreography won't be complete. Aside from these, they also had to hurdle the problem of securing visas for other All Stars members.

"But it was all worth the sacrifices we made," added Kyxz Mendiola, one of the male members. "We had to drop everything, quit our jobs for the last two months so we could concentrate on the competition." The group was not given much attention when they made it too the US competition since they looked like midgets beside the contenders from other countries but when they started to do their thing on the dance floor, the All Stars sure made a huge impact!

The All Stars is composed of Michel Salazar, Kyxz Mendiola, Ken Senamo, Ley Lebron, Reagan Gandio, Jhong Mesina, Cholo Espina, Sheena, Patrick Caballa, Lema Diaz, Laurence Chua and Maya Carandang.

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Pop heartthrob Mark Bautista must be really serious in courting Fil-American idol Jasmine Trias. When Jasmine had a show at the Podium last Friday who would show up but Mark who brought with him two dozen roses for the third placer in the American Idol. Mark doesn't hide his admiration for the talented lass from Hawaii.

When Mark met with the press during the launch of his CD Lite titled "Dream On" from Viva Records he said he's looking forward to meeting Jasmine anew. "I don't know if she would remember me since we only met once in one of the trips of the Champions in the States. But I did ask her for a dance and she obliged my request," said the singer.

Does he believe in a long distance relationship?

"Actually, that was my problem with my former girlfriend that's why we broke up. She was in Cagayan de Oro and I am here in Manila pursuing my career. On that case, the saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder didn't work. But I was still quite young then. I am more mature now although I don't want to think ahead of what is going to happen if I will seriously pursue courting Jasmine. But I do like her," said Mark.

The singer is projecting a new image for his brand new CD titled "Dream On" that contains five cuts, including three songs which he recorded at the Zigzag Recording Studios in Los Angeles. The songs are more pop and youthful in approach. Other songs in the album are "When Will I See You Again," "You Win The Game" and "If By Now."