I've just confirmed that Edu Manzano will be taking over as host of "Pilipinas Game Ka Na Ba." But people close to Edu are not making a comment, saying the deal is still being negotiated. Kris Aquino has stepped down as GKNB host to devote more time to being wife and mother. Edu has hit it off as a host because the fans enjoy it when he displays some vaunted dance steps.
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Almost everybody knew they had something going on despite their persistent denials. But it still was a pleasant surprise when Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid finally admitted they were sweethearts. I could understand Regine's previous reluctance to come out in the open. She had to wait for Ogie to settle things with wife Michelle van Eimeren. She didn't want to be branded a home wrecker.
Of course Regine and Ogie had had a relationship for the longest time and tried their best to be discreet about it. A friend of mine learned about it when he was still an editor (he has since become a full-fledged PR). His source told him that Michelle had acknowledged that she was leaving the country with her two kids. The reason? Regine.
Michelle was then taking pottery lessons in Angono, Rizal, and had confided to one of her classmates that her marriage was getting shaky. Not long after Michelle did leave and if I remember it right her excuse was that it was too warm in the Philippines for her. Almost at the same time Regine also left ostensibly afraid of getting kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf!
Last week the cat was out of the bag. For the first time the two spoke freely about their romance. They said that they couldn't make the admission earlier because that would leave Ogie vulnerable to an adultery case. He and Michelle were still married then; they even had a church wedding in the Philippines.
"Some self-anointed moral crusader might have made an issue of it. Two showbiz idols having an affair? That could raise a lot of eyebrows in our society," one showbiz observer said. "Many thought that Regine had mastered the art of being single. Boy, were they wrong!"
Regine and Ogie's revelation has had little impact on Regine's forthcoming movie with Piolo Pascual, Paano Kita Iibigin, under Star Cinema and Viva Films. But at last week's presscon for the movie the scribes were more interested in hearing details about her relationship with Ogie than about the film. Regine tried to steer back the discussion to Paano Kita by kidding that she was almost turned on during her kissing scene with Piolo. She also volunteered that Piolo was praying hard for the right girl to enter his life. "He hasn't found her yet," she said.
Paano Kita Iibigin hits the theaters on May 30.
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Congratulations to Ang Pinaka… hosted by Pia Guanio on QTV 11 for bagging the Silver Screen Award at the US International Film and Video Festival.
Two other GMA-7 programs, I-Witness and Art Angel, also won in that competition. The awards ceremony will be on June 2, Saturday at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood, California. Supposed to be attending the ceremony were Pia Guanio, Pia Arcanghel, Kara David and two executive producers of the winning shows. But as of late last week, the word was Pia Guanio can't make the trip because of her many commitments. Pia is one of GMA-7's most sought-after talents.
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Don't let the title deceive you. Silip is not a movie about sex, although there is a generous exhibition of naked skin by Diana Zubiri, Francine Prieto and, for the first time, Polo Ravales. Silip is a suspense film, according to Director Joel Lamangan.
Direk Joel swears Silip, whose screenplay he also wrote, is not an art film either. The film was shot in the same location in Nueva Ecija where Sidhi, which starred Nora Aunor, Glydel Mercado and Albert Martinez, was shot. But Direk Joel says the scenes in Silip are different from Sidhi's. He also says he is certain the acting of his three top stars in Silip would earn the nod of even the sternest critic.
Polo's body is also sure to turn heads. One scene has him showing off his naked backside. Silip is due for a June screening.
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Singing Writers Night was so successful there is Singing Writers Night Part 2: The Salinawit Edition at the Conspiracy Bar Café on Visayas Avenue Tuesday, May 29. Showing off their musical talents will be renowned writers Pete Lacaba, Marne Kilates, Charlson Ong and Mike Coroza.