Rich Asuncion is getting comfy under klieg lights

StarStruck First Princess Rich Asuncion might be included as a regular in what the Kapuso Network is cooking up for its growing roster of young celebs. The dusky beauty from Bohol will be joining her fellow StarStruckers in this exciting new project.

Boxing fever has gripped the country anew, what with Manny Pacquiao scoring another win over Mexican pug Jorge Solis last April 15 at The Alamadome in San Antonio, Texas.

The event, dubbed as Blaze of Glory, was simulcast nationwide (on a slightly delayed basis) by the GMA Network. But of course for boxing aficionados (this deadline-beater included), watching the event unfolding in a larger screen is more fulfilling so it comes as no surprise that tickets from every major cinema in the metropolis was sold out.

I guess, I was one of the fortunate enough who was able to secure a seat and view the Blaze of Glory with some of my buddies in Megamall’s Cinema 5.

Pacquiao’s fight was pegged at 12 noon but I was already at the venue by 8 a.m. together with my good friends Dominic Menor and Dennis Principe—whom Recah Trinidad called boxing scholar—and we had breakfast and coffee.

Afterwhich, Dom went to Galleria to join his dad while Dennis and his kid brother went inside Cinema 5 ahead of me. I had to meet other members of the press. Sir Ed Piczon of Manila Bulletin arrived with his lovely wife then Visayan Daily Star sports editor Cedelf Tupas showed up with girlfriend Rachelle.

I was able to catch Brian Villoria’s match against Edgar Sosa and I was pretty much disappointed together with the rest of the viewers. Villoria failed to match the aggressiveness of his Mexican rival. Once more, Villoria was denied of the WBC light flyweight crown which he briefly held but lost to Nino Omar, another Mexican.

Dennis and I agreed that his punches—the few ones he unleashed—lacked power.

"Parang mas maganda pa nga ‘ata ang inilaban niya nun kay Omar, kesa dito kay Sosa," we both commented.

I think Villoria hit like a girl, I think I hit harder than him.

After Villoria’s fight we had to endure the Jorge-Mijares bout which, for me was bordering on the comical side. I know it’s a tad callous of me watching two shirtless men trading punches as blood stained their shorts, and still find their match funny.

No, wait. Let me rephrase that. I find Chino Trinidad’s commentating a piece of comedy.

It was as if the guy was just right beside me and had the game all figured out with his graphic commentary.

Michael Buffer the announcer had his share of boo-boos, ditto with the lady who sang the American national anthem. She went off-key three times! Hah! Can you believe that?!

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Seriously, I got nervous when I saw Solis threw the first punch.

At five-foot-eight and a half, he sure towers Pacquaio by a good two inches and the advantage of such height was evident with the kind of defense he was able to put up. He’s got the ‘reach’ and his left hook surely looked mean! I whispered to my friend.

I giggled nervously to my seatmate when I saw Manny trying to penetrate Solis’ defense with his own combination and adding a little leap. Can you believe that???? And I just had to see it with my own two eyes.

I have forgotten how Pacquiao fought with the taller opponents (the last I think being Oscar Larios), and have gotten used to seeing him fight guys who are within his range (Barrera and Morales) that I got unsettled seeing him almost toe-to-toe with Solis.

Had the fight went beyond Round 8, Pacquiao’s WBC belt will be in peril.

But PacMan is destined for another walk in a Blaze of Glory and once more he has done us proud.

* * *

I just heard this from the grapevine.

StarStruck First Princess Rich Asuncion might be included as a regular in what the Kapuso Network is cooking up for its growing roster of young celebs. The dusky beauty from Bohol will be joining her fellow StarStruckers in this exciting new project.

Well, methinks it’s a good start for Rich to strut her stuff. Actually, if you were able to catch her last Sunday over at QTV Channel 27’s Pop Star Kids, I think she is starting to get comfy under the klieg lights.

She sings and performs almost naturally, as if the stage is her playground. I guess we all had a good sampling of that when she delivered her piece on StarStruck’s The Final Judgement last month.

Is it true that Rich is singing beautiful music with Ilonggo’s royalty, Prince Stefan?

Hmmm… this one I have to see. But they do make a handsome pair, don’t you agree?

* * *

After the successful run of Gokusen and Gokusen 2, I’m sure you’re now thoroughly hooked with the small-screen adaptations of manga or Japanese comics.

Well, fret no more! GMA Network will be launching an exciting manga under its widely becoming popular GMA Mangaserye: Hana Yori Dango—set to premiere on Monday, April 23.

Hana Yori Dango is Japan’s live-action version of the famous manga with the same name, which when translated means "Boys Over Flowers," that was previously turned into an anime and was later even adapted as Taiwan’s Meteor Garden.

Airing under GMA’s Mangaserye, viewers will see how the manga Hana Yori Dango was taken to a whole new level in this well-loved series that was hailed the No. 1 Drama in Japan during its run.

The must-see mangaserye will be starring Jun Matsumoto. Followers of the highly-popular Gokusen 1 will surely remember him as the male lead actor, Shin. In Hana Yori Dango, Matsumoto will play the role of Tsukasa Domyouji, the leader of the infamous group F4 (Flower Four) who will figure significantly in the series.

Hana Yori Dango revolves around Makino Tsukushi (Mao Inoue), an ordinary 16-year-old girl from a poor family. She is enrolled at Eitoku, an exclusive high school attended by the rich and famous. Her quiet days come to an end when she crosses paths with the school’s notorious F4—a group of four young, powerful, and rich boys—and clashes with their leader, Tsukasa Domyouji. Tsukushi ends up getting the dreaded red notice, which leads to the whole school bullying her, yet she refuses to leave Eitoku. Instead, she declares war against Domyouji and his group, posing as a big threat to his reign in their school.

Has Domyouji finally met his match?

Amidst all these, Tsukushi finds herself caught in a love triangle when she falls for an F4 member, Rui Hanazawa (Shun Oguri), who secretly helps her during this difficult time, while arrogant Domyouji unexpectedly develops romantic feelings for her. Is there a future for Tsukushi and Rui’s love story? And will Domyouji ever act on his feelings for Tsukushi? How then will he change the way his sworn enemy feels about him and make her fall for him instead of his friend?

Hana Yori Dango will surely get viewers hooked with its dramatic scenes, extravagant setting, and compelling love triangle. GMA’s newest Mangaserye, Hana Yori Dango, premieres this Monday, April 23, replacing Gokusen 2 before 24 Oras on GMA-7.