Carlo J. Caparas named 2009 National Artist

plus: Maricel Soriano finds love again; Cristine Reyes not switching networks after all

Congratulations to  film director and  comic strip artist Carlo J. Caparas for being named 2009 National Artist for Visual Arts and Film. Direk Carlo was one of nine new National Artists named by Malacañang last week.

He created such famous comics characters as Panday, Bakekang, Pieta and Totoy Bato before turning to film directing. Among the movies he megged were “Kuratong Baleleng” and “The Cory Quirino Kidnap: NBI Files.”

Mrs. Arroyo recently awarded Caparas the Presidential Medal of Merit for his contributions to Philippine culture.

Carlo’s missus Donna Villa is naturally gushing with pride. “It’s a big honor. Imagine, from komiks king, to box office king to TV ratings king. He deserves it because he’s been working hard his entire life. This is a big thing for Carlo,” she said in a text message.

Named National Artist posthumously for Film and Broadcast was Manuel Urbano, more popularly known as Manuel Conde, his screen name. Conde was one of the pioneers of Philippine cinema, making his first movie, “Mahiwagang Biyolin,” in 1935. But it was at LVN Pictures where he bloomed as an actor and director. He starred in and directed the highly popular “Juan Tamad” series of movies. Conde died in 1985.

Cecilia Guidote-Alvarez, one of the mainstays of Philippine stage, is this year’s National Artist for Theater.

She founded the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), a trailblazing theater group that nurtured some of the best stars and directors of Philippine film. Alvarez is executive director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

o0o

Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres are still on the hunt for a new manager to take the place of Tito Douglas Quijano who passed away recently.

According to Goma, he and Lucy already have a short list. Lucy, meanwhile, acknowledges that it’s not easy to fill the shoes of Tito Dougs. She needs someone adept at negotiating because she absolutely hates being asked how much her talent fee should be.

Lucy attended the launch of the milk brand she is endorsing. The commercial for the milk, which includes her parents Manuel and Julie Torres, is the last project Tito Dougs handled for her. He even attended the TV shoot several days before he died.

Almost all of Tito Dougs’ wards have hired new managers. The exceptions are Goma and Lucy and Joey Marquez and Jomari Yllana.

Lucy also let on that she and her hubby are preparing the groundwork in case Goma decides to run for Congress. Goma has been frequenting Ormoc, Leyte, recently, which could be an indication of his political plans.

“It’s easier to decide if you’re prepared,” she said.

Lucy said she had no regrets when Goma ran for the Senate and lost. “It was a nice experience,” she rued. But she prefers that this time Goma runs as congressman in Leyte. “I know by heart what the province needs because I hail from there.”

* * *

So Cristine Reyes isn’t switching networks after all.

The 20-year-old screen vixen last week renewed her contract with ABS-CBS, squelching rumors that she was returning to GMA-7.

She said it was her and her manager’s decision to stay to being a Kapamilya. Why? Perhaps the fact that she was offered her own TV special served as a big incentive.

Rumors flew that Cristine was leaving ABS-CBN when she left “Banana Split,” supposedly after a spat with her co-stars RR Herrera, Pokwang and Angelica Panganiban.

At her contract signing, Cristine indicated that she has let bygones be bygones. “It’s time to move on. It’s hard to hold grudges, it affects your work,” she explained.

* * *

Maricel Soriano is in love again, a source has confided to me. And who’s her new love object? A businessmen from a prominent family who’s separated from his wife, according to the buzz.

The two are just beginning to get into a relationship, I am told.

Congratulations to  film director and  comic strip artist Carlo J. Caparas for being named 2009 National Artist for Visual Arts and Film. Direk Carlo was one of nine new National Artists named by Malacañang last week.

He created such famous comics characters as Panday, Bakekang, Pieta and Totoy Bato before turning to film directing. Among the movies he megged were “Kuratong Baleleng” and “The Cory Quirino Kidnap: NBI Files.”

Mrs. Arroyo recently awarded Caparas the Presidential Medal of Merit for his contributions to Philippine culture.

Carlo’s missus Donna Villa is naturally gushing with pride. “It’s a big honor. Imagine, from komiks king, to box office king to TV ratings king. He deserves it because he’s been working hard his entire life. This is a big thing for Carlo,” she said in a text message.

Named National Artist posthumously for Film and Broadcast was Manuel Urbano, more popularly known as Manuel Conde, his screen name. Conde was one of the pioneers of Philippine cinema, making his first movie, “Mahiwagang Biyolin,” in 1935. But it was at LVN Pictures where he bloomed as an actor and director. He starred in and directed the highly popular “Juan Tamad” series of movies. Conde died in 1985.

Cecilia Guidote-Alvarez, one of the mainstays of Philippine stage, is this year’s National Artist for Theater.

She founded the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), a trailblazing theater group that nurtured some of the best stars and directors of Philippine film. Alvarez is executive director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

o0o

Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres are still on the hunt for a new manager to take the place of Tito Douglas Quijano who passed away recently.

According to Goma, he and Lucy already have a short list. Lucy, meanwhile, acknowledges that it’s not easy to fill the shoes of Tito Dougs. She needs someone adept at negotiating because she absolutely hates being asked how much her talent fee should be.

Lucy attended the launch of the milk brand she is endorsing. The commercial for the milk, which includes her parents Manuel and Julie Torres, is the last project Tito Dougs handled for her. He even attended the TV shoot several days before he died.

Almost all of Tito Dougs’ wards have hired new managers. The exceptions are Goma and Lucy and Joey Marquez and Jomari Yllana.

Lucy also let on that she and her hubby are preparing the groundwork in case Goma decides to run for Congress. Goma has been frequenting Ormoc, Leyte, recently, which could be an indication of his political plans.

“It’s easier to decide if you’re prepared,” she said.

Lucy said she had no regrets when Goma ran for the Senate and lost. “It was a nice experience,” she rued. But she prefers that this time Goma runs as congressman in Leyte. “I know by heart what the province needs because I hail from there.”

* * *

So Cristine Reyes isn’t switching networks after all.

The 20-year-old screen vixen last week renewed her contract with ABS-CBS, squelching rumors that she was returning to GMA-7.

She said it was her and her manager’s decision to stay to being a Kapamilya. Why? Perhaps the fact that she was offered her own TV special served as a big incentive.

Rumors flew that Cristine was leaving ABS-CBN when she left “Banana Split,” supposedly after a spat with her co-stars RR Herrera, Pokwang and Angelica Panganiban.

At her contract signing, Cristine indicated that she has let bygones be bygones. “It’s time to move on. It’s hard to hold grudges, it affects your work,” she explained.

* * *

Maricel Soriano is in love again, a source has confided to me. And who’s her new love object? A businessmen from a prominent family who’s separated from his wife, according to the buzz.

The two are just beginning to get into a relationship, I am told.