BARBWIRE: Fast cars, colorful sidekicks and a bevy of leading ladies in "Lupin"

I am still keeling over from the The Final Judgment of "StarStruck: The Next Level." Why?

Because just like the rest of the people I was busy texting with on that fateful Sunday night, I was rooting for the dusky Boholana lass Rich Asuncion.

Because just like my friends who are huddled, nose-deep into their boobtubes, I was simply bawled over by her glossy performance that had the word winner stamped all over it!

Because just like Bes Joey who watched the Final Judgment and saw Rich for the first time, there was an instant cognition of a silent stunner and brainy, beauty who may just turn out to be another Dawn Zulueta.

Whew! It might be a tad much for now, but I know, I share the sentiments of quite a lot.

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I'm sure you still remember George Clooney's unflappable charm and cool in Ocean's Eleven. How about Nicolas Cage's character in Gone in 60 Seconds? Paul Walker's suave moves in The Fast and Furious? Daniel Craig in Casino Royale?

Admit it, you're one of those femmes absorbed in mute delusion that you are these guys' object of affection in the period of 60-minutes (or so) that you've spent inside the movie house (sometimes, I think, the dark and cold ambiance provides ample mood to conjure romantic notions or suitable happenstance between oneself and the hombre that is the target of our excited hormones).

Fast cars, smooth talk. Sleek suits, disarming wit. A good-doer who is streaked with just a tad of decadence for that charming brand of naughtiness, which I think doesn't fail to keep (a good deal of) ladies enamored.

Don't we all swoon to a Robin Hood? Well, I do.

Will you believe me if I were to tell you that local TV's about to burst with an explosive welcome for its very own answer to such a man?

On April 9, evening primetime viewing will be rattled anew with the arrival of LUPIN - the most-awaited and much-anticipated offering of GMA Network for this year!

Fast cars? LUPIN will more than be showing the viewers speeding motors. Top-of-the-line automobiles will be paraded in the series as Kapuso heartthrob Richard Gutierrez lives up to his title-role Andre Lupin, the sole heir to a fortune - the worth of which, could not be easily placed for a song.

The six-foot Richard, who is now being called LUPIN by ardent fans and followers, is obviously the hands-down choice for the role. Just like Andre Lupin, he is charming, with a smile that could easily disarm members of the female species (from age one to 100, if I may add).

But how can someone as distressingly rich and handsome as Andre Lupin be labeled as "the best thief in town"?

A business tycoon by day, a master thief at night was how Lupin's profile read.

Hmmm… a modern Pinoy Robin Hood.

An interesting contrast, a fetching prelude to a series that is set to unfurl on Easter Monday right?

Aside from Richard Gutierrez, a handful of interesting characters will surely keep the audience promptly tuned. For what is a delicious production like LUPIN will be, without a bevy of colorful sidekicks (and leading ladies) who are bound to make the series part of one's primetime viewing staple, right?

Joining Andre Lupin are Ashley (Katrina Halili), Brigitte (Ehra Madrigal), Castor (Boy2 Quizon), Avril Legarda (Rhian Ramos) and Angeli Villavicer (Abigail Cruz).

Katrina Halili is Ashley, Lupin's childhood friend who's as devastatingly beautiful as she is cunning. A military school graduate, Ashley is Lupin's partner in crime. A mistress of disguise, she is a race-car driver and a sharpshooter.

Ehra Madrigal is Brigitte, a college dropout but an ace in computer hacking. Her dangerous curves and beauty perfectly matches her silent skill in handling knives, motorcycles and expertise in car mechanics, hence she was dubbed as "the pretty hustler." Brigitte is also Lupin's childhood friend, sidekick and partner on heists.

Boy2 is the dreadlock-maned Castor whose seemingly fragile built aptly belies his gifts of mischief. Contortionism ranks as Castor's number one talent, but he's equally skilled in hand-to-hand combat. Acknowledged as the king of small time con, Castor was Lupin's former adversary before he found himself part of the handsome bandit's elite group.

Rhian Ramos is Avril Legarda, the youngest Pinay millionaire who is forced to manage the family estate after the tragic death of her father. How she becomes connected to Lupin is something to look forward to.

Abigail Cruz is Angeli Villavicer, Lupin's fiancée who meets her demise on their wedding day itself. The tragedy adds definition to Lupin's character as the story progresses.

Already, it's a bunch of interesting characters we are set to meet on April 9 as LUPIN makes its debut on GMA Network. There's a bevy to watch out for!

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I failed to watch last Sunday's premier of THE PHILIPPINE AGENDA with veteran broadcast journalist Jessica Soho breaking-in GMA's eight-episode news and public affairs special which is part of the Kapuso Network's ELEKSYON 2007 offering.

But I'm sure set not to miss any of its episodes in the coming weekends.

The Philippine Agenda should be on top of our early evening list of programs to anticipate and watch every Sunday. Why? Because the program tackles the issues that our senatorial candidates should be focusing on. Instead of lingering on the latest dance steps, yapping the farthest province they've been into or fussing over the most recent tirade of one to another, it's best to see the maladies that are needed to be addressed, see and contemplate for ourselves who among the "hopefuls" (nyarks, parang StarStruck noh?!) are fit for the job.

Whaddaya say?

Oh, and I remembered a respectable gentleman (a CEO in fact) noting that any media organization is equipped with a responsibility to remain unbiased, impartial and not partisan to any issues, personalities whatsoever especially during times like this (conclusively, the elections), as the institution/media organization's primary thrust is to deliver news as it happen, where it happens; news as accurate and precise as possible.

Okay, so it's not the verbatim version but in a paragraph, that's the essence of his speech.

It's high time for responsible people to take stage and deny mediocrity more breathing space in our society. Enough of the passivity that has gripped and crippled our country.

Our vote counts. Each single vote counts.

Sa Isa Kong Boto may puwang ang pagbabago. 'nuff said.