Marvin Agustin: Moving on and making the big leap to GMA 7

Marvin Agustin wouldn't want to talk anymore about his sad experience (if there was any) with regards to his leaving ABS-CBN. After all, he had been with the Kapamilya network for 10 years and he gives ABS-CBN the credit for making him what he is today. But he concedes that time has come for him to move on and seek greener pastures, so to speak.

He has made the big leap to the Kapuso network where Marvin is doing his very first project, "I Luv New York" which reunites him with erstwhile love team partner Jolina Magdangal. And he's very pleased with the experience of working with a new set of people. "I knew na maninibago ako but the GMA people made things easy for me," says the actor at the press conference of GMA Network's newest primetime offering that premieres on Monday, May 15.

While Marvin has yet to sign an exclusive contract with GMA ("I Luv New York" is a per project deal negotiated by Orly Ilacad, his new manager), he is open to the idea of eventually signing up with the network. He's happy with the experience of working under the Kapuso network and likewise to be reunited with Jolina in a project. The last time they were paired for a project was five years ago.

"Our bonding now is much better compared before," says Marvin. "We are more open to each other. It's probably due to maturity. We were childish then we started as a team 10 years ago. Things are different now because we are more mature and we understand each other more."

In the series directed by Louie Ignacio, Marvin plays Albert, who is currently having troubles of his own concerning his love life. Because of these, Albert often takes his anger on the employees of the apartment he manages. Fed up with his behavior, his receptionist resigns.

This is where Polly (Jolina) comes in, for as soon as she read in the papers about an opening for a receptionist in the apartment, she immediately applied for a job. Unknown to Polly, her would-be boss is her exact opposite-for just as Polly's life is topsy-turvy, the neat-freak Albert's life is completely organized.

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Producer Joji Alonso of MLR Films is pleased to announce that her second collaboration with Jeffrey Jeturian entitled "Kubrador" or "The Bet Collector" has been invited to compete at the 28th Moscow International Film Festival set from June 23 to July 2, 2006. Moscow (MIFF) is among the 12 "A" listed film festivals of the FIATF. Both Jeffrey and the film's lead actress, Ms. Gina Pareño, will grace the event, to be sponsored by the festival itself.

Because of this development, they are now transferring the digital material to film, as only 35mm films are accepted for competition. This is the not so good news aspect, because of the additional expense entailed on the part of the producer.

How did she get invited into the festival?

"The answer is, I simply googled into the website of different "A" listed festivals and I chose the ones that had an earlier date because of my intention to release the movie sometime in the last quarter of the year. I submitted screeners to Cannes and the Director's Fortnight (and paid 25 euro and 100 euro, respectively) but did not make it. I also submitted a screener to Moscow (no fees) and waited for any news as their selection process ended last May 1. It was the Philippine embassy in Russia that called the National Commission on Culture and Arts through Mr. Elvert Banares, who in turn informed Jeffrey and me," explains the producer of the award-winning "Minsan Pa."

What Atty. Alonto wanted to stress is that they knew absolutely no one in any of these festivals. "The idea was to try submissions in different festivals and hope that our project will find "its" festival. We were very fortunate that our entry was among those chosen to compete in Moscow," she adds.

Atty. Alonto hopes that "Kubrador" making it to Moscow will provide an insight and even encouragement to other hopefuls like her. "It has certainly not been an easy task. But if you believe in your project, keep trying and it will find its way," she says.

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Comedy Concert Queen Ai Ai de las Alas left for the United States last May as she will be touring America with Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid and Rico J. Puno in "Forever After," the Valentine concert which was held before an SRO crowd at the Araneta Coliseum. The concert tour happens on May 13 in Los Angeles; May 19 in Chicago; May 20 in Atlantic City; May 27 in Reno; May 28 in Las Vegas and June 2 in San Diego. And on July 7, Ai Ai also joins Sheryn Regis, Frenchie Dy and Erik Santos in a concert in Qatar.

Ai Ai's new soap opera, the TV version of "Bituing Walang Ningning," starts airing on Monday. Playing Adora, the adoptive mother of Dorina (played by Sarah Geronimo), she goes dramatic in this series that also stars Zsa Zsa Padilla and Angelika dela Cruz, among others.

This is the first time for her to do a drama on TV and surprisingly, Ai Ai finds it a lot easier than doing comedy. But she does find her hands full in dealing with her scenes. There was one instance that all she did in one day was cry. "Para akong natuyuan ng luha," she quips.

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A showcase of sports cars and of sizzling body curves? Why not?

On May 24 at the NBC Tent, Mossimo and Asian Formula (F3) partner to bring a one-of-a-kind tilt dubbed as "Mossimo Bikini Grand Prix 2006." Now on its fifth year, the event has become a highlight of summer and it becomes more encompassing by not only having the buffest young men and women bare their wares in glamorous bikinis onstage, but also display the hottest sports cars and bikes out there. Indeed, health buffs, sports freaks and fashionistas shall rejoice with this event.

Past alumni of the search include the likes of now-celebrities and in-demand models Brent Javier, Carlo Maceda and Denise Montecillo.

May 10 and 13 sees the tilt on Boracay Island where more fun activities await the 24 candidates as they go through a series of pictorials, bar tours and speed dating aimed to bring out their winning personalities that will factor in the determination of the champions come grand finals night.

The 24 candidates that made it to this year's "Mossimo Bikini Grand Prix" are Dara Bascara, Luisa Mendiola, Ace Sasaki, Larah Danielle Y. Monterola, Michelle Padua, Anna Katrina Joaquin Domingo, Ma. Christine Cruz, Richel Halili, Maria Christina P. Quiazon, Nina Leah C. Saputil, Joyce So, Jerome Ortiz, Geoffrey Taylor, Paul Gomez, Florencio Campomanes IV, Jayson Fulgencio, Felix Buenaobra, Gabriel Garcia, Hermann Gerhard Weber, Marc Anthony Patiag, Joseph Reyes, Marvin Sia and Reyson Yap.