Albert Martinez is king of Aswang

Plus: - Riza Hontiveros wants Iza Calzado to play her in biopic - Seduction starts to sizzle in cinemas

Albert Martinez played the role of a king in “Princess and I.” In the forthcoming new ABS-CBN action-fantasy entitled Juan dela Cruz, he is playing king again, but this time, as king of the aswangs, and he is having a grand time playing the part.

“The way we treat the aswang in Juan Dela Cruz is one that co-exists with the humans. They are not the type of aswang who scare people or the type that our lolas told us as stories to scare us when we were kids. These aswangs like to live as normal people, who want to survive and who want to have peace with the people who belong to the kapatiran. It is like the story of a race who wants to be incorporated in a society at present time. That’s how the aswang in the series is pictured,” explains the award-winning actor.

Since he is playing the role of another king, Albert makes an effort to make his role as Samuel different from the role he played in “Princess and I.”

“I changed my mannerisms and even the way I look. I also changed the way I attacked my character that you won’t find a semblance with the way I did my role in Princess and I. When it came to preparing for my role as Samuel, it entailed heavy on character study as the king of aswangs,” says Albert.

“It’s a demanding character so maingat ako na I won’t fall sa category na stereotype when it comes to being a villain or when it comes to being an aswang. I created my own world para in my mind we exist as normal people. Kasi problema pag sinabi mo ang term na aswang, may borderline iyon, pwede kang mag-overact and you’d fall sa stereotype character. Very, very careful ako sa bagay na iyan. We were given naman enough time to research and when this was presented to us, hinimay sa amin ang character so mas na-imbibe namin. Very clear ang characters namin. Every single character in the show is well defined.”

In the series, Albert as Samuel is about 300 years old. His mission in life is to get hold of the steel crucifix and the only way to get it is to infiltrate the humans. At that time, the one keeping the steel crucifix he was after was Mylene Dizon. “But something unexpected happened, that not even Samuel imagined. That brought Juan Dela Cruz (played by Coco Martin) to the world. Then I have another son (played by Aaron Villaflor) by my wife Zsa Zsa Padilla who is the queen of aswangs,” relates Albert.

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Senatorial aspirant Riza Hontiveros who met members of the entertainment press on Monday says she misses being a broadcaster. She was formerly a news anchor on GMA 7 and in 1994, was awarded the Golden Dove for Best Female Newscaster ng Kapisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).

Although she misses her job as a broadcaster, Riza enjoys being a part of the partylist group Akbayan and the advocacies she is fighting for, especially the ones that focus on women. If you didn't know, Riza had a chance to perform with Lea Salonga and Monique Wilson in the musical “The Sound of Music” many years ago.

If ever her life would be made into a movie, she would want award-winning Kapamilya actress Iza Calzado to play her.

"She is such a sweet, young woman talaga. At napaka-modest. Tinanong kasi ako na if ever gawin pelikula ang buhay ko, sino ang gusto kong gumanap sa akin, Iza was really on top of my mind. I love the way she acts. It's so real, unaffected. Nakapa-simple and essential. Parang andun lang sa surface balat niya. Napaka-unself conscious niya. Parang gusto kong maging katulad niya," said the aspiring senator who believes that her being Pro-RH Bill is not a hindrance to get more votes to her side.

"Kailangan ko lang maipaliwanag sa mga tao how important talaga is the RH Bill, lalo para sa mga kababaihan who should have a choice para sa kanilang sarili," wika pa ni Ms. Riza Hontiveros.

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Opening in cinemas today nationwide is the dramatic movie “Seduction,” the comeback directorial assignment of noted filmmaker Peque Gallaga, which stars Richard Gutierrez, Sarah Lahbati and Solenn Heusaff.

Direk Peque gave us the classic and award-winning “Oro, Plata, Mata” and the thought-provoking “The Unfaithful Wife.”

“Seduction” is said to be Richard's most challenging and most daring role to date. Just how daring and challenging is for the audience to find out. It has been written that Richard has a butt exposure in his love scene with Solenn, which was shot in a beachfront. But more than the butt exposure, it’s Richard’s role that is more daring since he plays a complex character.

The Kapuso hunk is hoping the public would like his derring-do in Seduction and he says this is just the start on him being more daring in future film projects.