POPS & MARTIN: One Amore Time Plus: Rowell Santiago Returns To Acting; Erich Gonzales Is The New Primetime Princess

Rowell Santiago admitted he became an instant fan of Director Cathy Garcia Molina after watching a John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo flick done by the lady director. He didn’t know he’ll eventually be offered a role by Direk Cathy in the blockbuster hit “A Very Special Love” that featured John Lloyd opposite Pop Star Sarah Geronino.

“It was a short but very important role,” said Rowell. “At the same time I felt that today’s generation of audience should be given the opportunity to know me as an actor. I was an actor before I took another career as a director where I also became known. After I did ‘A Very Special Love’ which did well at the box-office, I needed to do the sequel ‘You Changed My Life.’ I enjoyed myself doing both projects,” explained the actor-turned-director.

Now Rowell is back to acting via the new ABS-CBN teleserye “Tanging Yaman” where he plays Juan Policarpio, the Philippine president, with Agot Isidro playing the role of his First Lady. Rowell said it took him some time to accept the offer to play the role, not only because it’s a challenge to play the role of a President, but doing a soap opera entailed long working hours.

“But since the members of my family are also soap opera addicts, I thought I should give them the opportunity to see me acting in a soap opera everyday. And who would turn down the role of a President of the Philippines,” said Rowell.

Even if he has taken an acting job in “Tanging Yaman” (which premiered on Monday, Jan. 11on ABS-CBN), Rowell is not turning his back on his job as a director. After his tapings, Rowell immediately reports to his directorial commitments which are scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In fact, he is doing the Valentine concert of Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez. “Even before I accepted ‘Tanging Yaman,’ I already arranged my schedule as a director. Regarding my plans for the future, it still depends on the acting offers but directing is still my priority because I love it,” said Rowell.

“But I like the experience of working in a soap opera because I love the people that I am working with. It’s hard to imagine working 24 hours if you don’t enjoy the company that you keep. But I like the people I am working with in ‘Tanging Yaman’ and they give me the energy to go on,” added Rowell.

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Also very thankful is Erich Gonzales who, after topbilling “Katorse,” has been given a new project by ABS-CBN in “Tanging Yaman” where she plays the president’s daughter.

The move of ABS-CBN to cast Erich in “Tanging Yaman” seems to indicate that the young performer is being lined up among the primetime princesses in the Kapamilya network, along with the likes of Kim Chiu, Angelica Panganiban, and Kristine Hermosa who were all given stellar projects. Erich is very thankful with the opportunity given to her and vowed to do her best in her newest acting assignment.

Erich said her role calls for her to be clueless on the life of a First Family member. She will only know what it is like to be the First Daughter when she enters Malacañang.

“Palaban, astig at may pagkakikay, simpleng tao lang,” was how Erich described her role in “Tanging Yaman.” She says the role is not, in anyway, like Imee Marcos or Kris Aquino, two former presidential daughters who are still very popular.

Of course, Erich was asked regarding the real score between her and Enchong Dee who plays her leading man (the other is Ejay Falcon) in the new TV series. “We’re just friends. We are both happy that we are together in this new show and we’ve become even closer. We trust and respect each other,” she said.

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Philippine concert royalties Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez continue their decades-long tradition of holding a Valentine concert in 2010 via “One Amore Time.”

Unlike many of their past Valentine gigs, however, “One Amore Time” is concept-driven; that is, it will channel the passion and vibrancy of Latin teleseryes into a musical extravaganza that’s bound to be the sexiest and most daring for its stars.

According to concert producer Mae Vinluan-Dolonius of Mauve Management and Entertainment, “One Amore Time” will base its repertoire and dance numbers on a teleserye-ish storyline. The concert to be held on Feb. 14, 2010 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia will be directed by Rowell Santiago.

Martin considers “One Amore Time” special because he and his ex-wife will once again get to celebrate love in a way only they can.

“When Pops and I do a show together, it’s more real compared to others because we had a past even as we have a present because of our kids,” said Martin, adding that their son Robin thought up the title “One Amore Time.”

Pops, on the other hand, looks forward to singing songs in the concert that they have not done before.

“It’s one Valentine’s show in which you’ll feel love just by watching it whether you already have someone special or not. We’re looking into doing old and new songs, either hit or obscure, that we’ve not done before so it’s something new both for us and our fans,” she said.

 “One Amore Time” is nothing to sneeze (or even snore) at especially because it is one project headlined by one of the most enduring and loved concert partners in Philippine music history. It is recalled that Martin and Pops have done at least a dozen well-received Valentine’s concerts together beginning when Pops sang back-to-back with Martin in “1984: Looks Like Love” at the Manila Hotel Fiesta Pavillion.

For tickets call: 09188859335, 09222630183, 09063718174, 0917-7499860, 0922-8132119, 4257598 /4018002.