Marian, Dingdong team up anew in remake of "Endless Love"

The GMA Kapuso Network held a special advance screening of the pilot episode of “Endless Love,” the new Telebabad offering of GMA 7 featuring Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes, at the SM Megamall Cinema 1 Wednesday.

The event was graced by the stars of the new series directed by Mac Alejandre and will debut on June 28 as part of GMA’s 60th anniversary celebration. The exclusive screening was attended by GMA network executives Ms. Wilma Galvante, Lilibeth Rasonable, and Marivin Arayata, as well as GMA Films president Annette Gozon Abrogar.

But of course, the biggest stars of the night were Marian and Dingdong, along with their co-stars in “Endless Love” namely, Dennis Trillo, Nadine Samonte, Tirso Cruz III, Sandy Andolong, Janice de Belen, Bernard Palanca, Marco Alcaraz, Gabby Eigenmann, Ces Quesada, Janna Dominguez, Mosang, Beda Padilla and Ms. Kuh Ledesma in a very special role.

“Endless Love” also introduces three young stars who went through a series of auditions before bagging significant roles in the series. The three showbiz neophytes are Joyce Ching as the young Shirley, Kristoffer Martin as the young Johnny and Kathryn Bernardo as the young Jenny.

The pilot episode of “Endless Love,” the local adaptation of the first successful Korean series on Philippine television, got thumbs up marks from the members of the press who came to watch the red carpet premiere. The scenes were well-acted and special mention goes to the newcomers who played the young Jenny, Shirley and Johnny who really shone in their respective parts despite being neophytes.

For their part, both Marian and Dingdong are very excited to be paired anew in a teleserye since it’s been quite a while since they last teamed up in “Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang.”

This also marks the first time that Dennis Trillo is figuring in a love triangle with Marian and Dingdong, although the award-winning actor said that he found his role in “Endless Love” very good—the reason why he accepted it.

Is he playing a kontrabida to Marian and Dingdong? “I can’t say it’s a kontrabida role but you’ve got to see it because it’s a different Dennis you’d see,” explained the award-winning actor.

Meanwhile, Nadine, a true-blue Kapuso homegrown artist, gets the interesting role of Shirley, the antagonist of Jenny. After a long while, Nadine has finally found a meaty assignment from her Kapuso family.

“Endless Love” is a chronicle of unwavering love that may either lead to a long-lasting happiness or an eternal heartbreak. It begins airing on June 28 on GMA Telebabad.

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She may have failed in her senatorial bid in the elections last May, but “Sentimental Songstress” Imelda Papin is still in high spirits when she met with the members of the entertainment press last week. The two million votes she got were enough to warm her heart, considering it was a last minute decision she made to file her certificate of candidacy. Besides, she was not able to mount a national campaign because of the limited time and resources. Yet, Mel is happy with her showing in the polls.

“I feel that the masa still loves me kasi kahit na hindi naman ako masyadong nakalibot ng Pilipinas pero ‘yung mga nakaalam na kandidato ako, they voted for me,” she said.

“I am not disappointed at all with what happened. I am just testing the waters, so to speak, and God-willing, in the next senatorial elections, I might run again,” said Mel in her never-say-die-spirit.

What is now exciting Mel is her new duet single titled Bakit, which she recorded in Las Vegas with Mommy Dionisia Pacquiao. In October, she is going to have a concert in Manila with Mommy D (as Mommy Dionisia prefers to be called) but this early, Mel is sending out notice to her fans to support her CD with Mommy D.

Mel revealed that Mommy D voted for her but secretly wished that she would lose. “Sayang naman daw ang singing career niya kung mananalo ako,” said the singer with a chuckle.

Bakit The Concert is for the benefit of the Dialysis project of I.A.P. Foundation, Inc. This will be held at the Aliw Theater on October 16 at 8 pm. According to Mel, also lined up for her and Mommy D are a series of shows in the US, plus there are more inquiries for possible concerts for her and Mommy D in other venues here and abroad.