Kim Raver happy to be back for ‘24’

CEBU, Philippines - Kiefer Sutherland as America’s favorite terrorist-fighting lonestar, Jack Bauer, returns in the reboot of  “24,” which premiered on Monday.

Along with series favorites Mary Lynn Rajskub and William Devane, who play Chloe and President Heller, respectively, Kim Raver reprises her role as Jack’s love interest and Heller’s, Audrey Raines.

Saying yes to the opportunity was a no-brainer for Raver, a mother of Luke, 11, and Leo, 6. “It’s so rare that you get to revisit a role that you finish,” Raver, who has teamed up with Colgate Total for National Women’s Health Week, tells Us Weekly. “We all said our farewells and then to get the call four years later that we’re coming back, it’s a very ‘24’ moment.”

Fans of the show will see a newly revived Audrey, who was last in a devastated, bedridden state. “She’s been through so much and at the top of the season she has a quieter voice because of the damage she’s experienced,” Raver teases. “But what’s exciting is that she finds her voice and it’s interesting to find out why and how and to see her start to evolve from there.”

The new season also finds Audrey married to her father-slash-the-president’s chief of staff, Mark Boudreau (played by Tate Donovan), but Raver is still rooting for Jack. “I’m a hopeless romantic so I want them to be together forever and ever,” Raver tells Us. “There’s something very fundamentally romantic about these two damaged people who deserve to be together.”

Apart from the highly anticipated return of “24,” Raver is passionate about her partnership with Colgate Total for National Women’s Health Week, which kicks off May 11th. “I really believe in living a healthy lifestyle,” Raver says. “And we’re all so busy, and whether we’re moms or working or working moms, sometimes we need to be reminded to take care of ourselves.”

Jason Derulo talks ‘Dirty’

Jason Derulo knows his recent hit, “Talk Dirty,” is risque, but he’s not too worried about it.

“I try to be conscious of offending anybody, but not that much,” he said. “I really just try to do my thing and of course there is going to be backlash on every song that I do, so I don’t worry myself too much on that. People saying things like ‘objectifying women.’ I’m like, ‘What are you even talking about?’”

“Talk Dirty” has dominated pop radio, and the song has peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It has sold 3.2 million tracks and features lyrics like “but your booty don’t need explaining” and “first-class seat on my lap girl.”

“I wasn’t surprised that it would hit mainstream. I think in 2014, things, you know, are getting more and more free (and) liberal,” he said. “I hear a lot worse.”

The smash is from Derulo’s third album of the same name; it debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 albums chart last month. The album was released internationally last September under the title “Tattoos,” but the renamed American version features some new tracks.

Derulo, 24, says both his new album and single reflect his growth as a singer and songwriter.

“I’m comfortable with talking about what my life is and things that I go through,” said Derulo, whose hits include “Whatcha Say” and “In My Head.”

“This album is a direct representation of who I am as a person and how I speak,” he added. “If I was talking to my best friend, you know, this is how I would explain it.”

The album is Derulo’s first to feature guest stars, and hip-hop acts are a strong part of the pop singer’s project. Snoop Dogg, 2 Chainz, Pitbull, Tyga and Kid Ink make appearances.

Derulo, who is finding more success on the urban charts thanks to “Talk Dirty,” says he started musically in the hip-hop scene.

“Most people don’t know my background, but when I first started writing songs for other people it was for hip-hop artists,” said Derulo, who co-wrote Birdman’s “Bossy” and songs for Diddy that didn’t make his album.

“The world knew me as a pop artist when I first came out (in music), which was cool, you know. I think I’m the first black male artist to actually come out as a pop artist,” he added. (AP)

Charo Santos-Concio wins in Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards

ABS-CBN and its president and CEO Charo Santos-Concio were hailed as the Gold Stevie Award winners in the Services Company of the Year and Woman of the Year categories for the Philippines at the prestigious Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards.

ABS-CBN is one of the only two Philippine companies to receive a Gold Stevie Award this year. More than 300 nominations from organizations across the Asia-Pacific region were considered in 18 categories.

The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are the first business awards program to recognize achievement in business in all 22 nations of the Asia-Pacific region. They are the newest of the Stevie Awards programs, which are widely considered to be the world’s premier business awards, conferring recognition for achievement in the workplace in programs such as The International Business Awards for more than a decade.

The award-giving body recognized ABS-CBN’s business achievements in the past year, most especially its efforts to provide public service to Filipinos by launching the “Tulong Na, Tabang Na, Tayo Na” campaign that included initiatives such as the selling of Tulong shirts and the star-studded Tulong fund-raising concerts to help the victims of typhoon Yolanda, and conducting relief and rehabilitation efforts for the victims of typhoon Pablo, Zamboanga crisis, and the Bohol quake.

Santos-Concio was cited for leading the country’s largest multimedia conglomerate into supremacy in terms of TV ratings and box office sales for Star Cinema, revenue increase, groundbreaking business ventures such as ABS-CBNmobile, theme park Kidzania Manila, and TV home shopping channel O Shopping, and its public service initiatives.

In 2013, ABS-CBN was awarded as Best TV Station seven times, while Santos-Concio received five individual awards.

Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners were selected by more than 50 executives around the world. A second international panel of judges will choose five Grand Stevie winners from among the Gold winners in early May. The Grand Stevie winners will be announced at the May 30 banquet in Seoul. (PR)

ISLA: A GMA News and Public Affairs summer special

In 2013, the Philippines was chosen by various travel magazines and websites like Travel & Leisure, Cond Nast Traveller and CNN as one of the top must-visit places in the world. Seasoned travel writers praised the powder-white sand of our beaches, amazing dive sites, diverse wildlife and other natural features of our islands like hot springs, rapids and waterfalls.

Inspired by these lists, GMA News and Public Affairs presents ISLA — a summer travel special featuring selected Philippine island destinations that can rival some of the best in the world.

Hosted by Kapuso model-host Solenn Heussaff and self-confessed beach-lover Mikael Daez, ISLA will showcase the exceptional features of just six of our 7,107 islands. Solenn and Mikael will explore the unique features of each island, both on the beach and away from the surf.

In El Nido, Palawan, Solenn goes on a luxury getaway in one of the oft-cited best resorts in the world. El Nido is also known for natural wonders such as limestone cliffs, caves and hidden lagoons.

In laid-back Dumaguete, Mikael swims with friendly sea turtles in Apo Island, chills by the beach and discovers why the province is called the City of Gentle People.

Solenn also visits a “wild” island known as Danjugan Island in Negros Occidental. Danjugan boasts of an enormous, unexplored bat cave with millions of fruit-and-insect-eating bats. Under sea adventures also await as Solenn swims with various sea creatures.

In Siquijor, Mikael is enchanted by the famous white sands of Salagdoong Beach and so-called “magical powers” of folk healers. Its mysterious reputation precedes it but Siquijor remains a must-see destination for its natural spring-water resorts and rich heritage.

Aside from being a model-host, Solenn is also a certified medic diver. Her passion for scuba diving was reignited by her visit to Lobo, Batangas. Lobo town sits astride the mountainous corridor in the southernmost coast of Batangas. It is one of the 18 biodiversity hot spots in the country identified by the DENR so the diving is exquisite and unspoilt. Solenn also takes a boat through a mangrove forest where she caught a special type of mud crab which she cooked in the traditional Batangueño way.

Finally, Mikael gets up close and personal with one of the sea’s gentle giants, the whale shark, in Oslob, Cebu. The island of Cebu offers a variety of activities for adventure-seekers – from swimming, to kayaking to rock climbing. In Cebu, there’s never a dull moment and there’s always a sight to behold.

Catch ISLA, a GMA News and Public Affairs Summer Special on May 11, 10:45 p.m. on GMA-7’s Sunday Night Box Office. (PR)

Pokwang shares biggest regret as a mom

Comedienne Pokwang lost her five-year-old son due to cancer while she was working abroad. This is why she values the time she spends with her 17-year-old daughter Ria Mae despite her hectic schedule.

“When she was in high school, the first and last time I went with her to school was on her graduation day. I missed many big events in her life. But she knows that I’m making up for those times and that all my hard work is for her,” shares Pokwang in the Mothers’ Day special of “Tapatan Ni Tunying” airing today.

As her daughter turns 18 this year, Pokwang has picked up helpful pointers for raising children.

“If your kid is a girl, always kiss and hug her, and make her feel that she is your only baby. With that, she won’t enter into a romantic relationship early. For a boy, be his best friend and always remind him to moderate doing whatever they’re into.”

Meanwhile, housewife Rosemarie Baticulon is proud to have raised five high school valedictorians. She shares how she felt when she stood on stage during her kids’ graduation ceremonies.

“It felt like I was over the moon. Everyone was looking at me. I was overjoyed and tearful at the same time. I never expected it would happen because I never received any award before,” Rosemarie recalls.

Rosemarie imparts there are no secret tricks behind her family’s rare feat other than constant encouragement.

“My husband and I support them in everything they do even now that they are all grown up,” she says.

Pokwang and Rosemarie reveal more about their personal lives and families in the episode.

Don’t miss the Mothers’ Day special of “Tapatan ni Tunying” (TNT) this Thursday at 4 p.m. on ABS-CBN’s Kapamilya Gold. For updates, follow @TNTunying on Twitter and Instagram, or like its Facebook page www.facebook.com/TNTunying. (PR)