Lovi's Love Affair

Lovi Poe launched her new fragrance line from Bench aptly titled Love Affair last Sunday, June 16, at the Activity Center of Trinoma Mall in Quezon City. Lovi did a song number and performed with a group of dancers.

In an interview that followed after the launch, Lovi said even before she was signed up by Bench to be an endorser of Bench Body line of apparel, she dreamt of having a billboard along EDSA. A few days later, she and her manager Leo Dominguez got a call from Bench and tapped her to be endorser for Bench Body, hence making her dream of having a billboard come true. But it was not for a perfume but for a sexy apparel. Now that she has a new fragrance line from Bench, Lovi realized her dream of  having her own billboard for a perfume.

“This is literally a dream come true for me,” added Lovi even as she described her perfume called Love Affair as very flirty. “Let’s change the way Filipinos think when they hear the word flirty. For me, just wear the perfume and there’s no need for you to flirt. I want to have a love affair with the perfume. Ikaw na lang ang mag-perfume para sila na lang ang maglandi sa iyo.” And she giggled.

So does she have a love affair with somebody? “Wala akong ka-love affair,” was Lovi’s quick reply. “I am just going out on dates.” She also denied a romance brewing  between her and newbie politician Migz Villafuerte. “We are just friends. We’ve known each other, matagal na."

Lovi also said she’s not committed to anyone. But she has remained friends with her ex-boyfriend Cong. Ronald Singson of Ilocos Sur. Same with actor Jake Cuenca who is being linked with her.

Lovi is one of the hosts of the new GMA Sunday show, Sunday All Stars which premiered on GMA 7 last Sunday.  When asked why she opted to be just one of the hosts and decided not to join any of the group, Lovi said she will be busy taping for her new TV series for GMA 7, as well as for the Titser series to be aired on GMA News TV to be directed by Alvin Yapan (who directed the Urian award-winning movie Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa).

“Once I start work on the new soap and for Titser, I will be taping everyday. I won’t be able to give time for rehearsal so I’d rather not join any group if I won’t be able to devote time for them,” she said.

Also present at the launch of her perfume line for Bench was Rowena Moran, the mother of Lovi as well as her younger sister and a cousin. The press people remarked that the former Mutya ng Pilipinas is still a looker and could probably stage a comeback in showbiz. In fairness to Lovi’s mom, she obliged when the press requested for an interview. She thanked the press for supporting her daughter.

Ms. Moran disclosed that Lovi wanted to go back to school and she supports her on this. But since Lovi is busy with her career, she might find it difficult to find a schedule that would enable her to resume her degree in Psychology. But she really wants her daughter to finish her studies because it was a promise she made to her dad, the late Fernando Poe Jr.

When asked to comment about her daughter’s love life, she said, “The mother is always the last to know.” But she says Lovi is old enough to decide for herself and she trusts her. When it comes to intrigues, she knows that Lovi does not want her to worry and she knows that her daughter can handle herself well.

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Ms. Eugene Domingo and Edgar Allan Guzman were among the big winners at the Gawad Buhay Awards of the Phil Stage Awards. The awards night was held on Sunday.

Eugene won the Best Female Lead Performance in a Play for  “Bona”  while Edgar was named Best Male Lead Performance in a Play also for “Bona.”

They are together in “Kuwentong Barbero,” the new movie of director Jun Lana, who directed the critically-acclaimed “Bwakaw.”

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Star Cinema, the country's biggest film production outfit, continues to prove its world-class moviemaking standards as its upcoming action-thriller co-produced with Reality Entertainment, "OTJ" (On The Job) captured the hearts of the international moviegoers who gave the film a rousing applause after its exhibition in the recently held 66th Cannes International Film Festival in France.

The Erik Matti masterpiece was one of the 21 feature films of the prestigious Directors’ Fortnight section of Cannes.

The world premiere of "OTJ" in Cannes was attended by Direk Erik and the film's stars Piolo Pascual, Gerald Anderson, Rayver Cruz and Joel Torre; joined by Star Cinema's creative manager JP Abellera and International Distribution and Access Group supervisor Kynan Del Rosario, and Reality Entertainment executive producer Dondon Monteverde.

"OTJ" is Piolo's third movie that made it to Cannes. His first was another Star Cinema hit "Milan," which was part of Cinemas in the World section of the 2005 Cannes International Film Festival; while the second was the independent film “Manila” produced by Piolo himself, which earned a special screening in 2009.

Part of Star Cinema's grand 20th anniversary celebration, the much talked about "OTJ" is set to unleash the braver Piolo and Gerald through the direction of Direk Erik, who is well-known for his compelling and highly distinctive films that challenge the moviegoers' minds and views about the society.

"OTJ" features Piolo as an NBI agent who aims to hunt down Gerald's character who is a professional hitman.

Also part of "OTJ" are Joey Marquez, Shaina Magdayao, Angel Aquino and Empress.