• It’s the worst of times on the Asian concert scene. Besides the Oasis and Aaron Carter, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are also cancelling their scheduled concert in December at the Big Dome, and so might Brian McKnight. Even Paul McCartney has cancelled his rock concert in Australia in deference to the dozens of Australians who died in the Bali terrorist bombing.
• Off The Record, the ABS-CBN public-affairs show hosted by Katrina Legarda and Randy David, is fading out very soon. Could it be true that other (public-affairs) shows are following to the chopping block, including Isyu (hosted by Korina Sanchez and Cito Beltran) and the few-episodes-old very-late-night show hosted by Dong Puno?
• Ronald Carballo has joined the creative team behind the GMA 7 soap Ang Iibigin Ko’y Ikaw, with his first script aired starting yesterday. Ronald is a veteran teleplaywright, having done several stories for, among other drama shows, ABS-CBN’s Maalaala Mo Kaya for which he did Chicken Feet, the episode that won for Paolo Contis a Star Award for Best Actor in a Single Performance (as a screaming gay).
When they got married in a fairy-tale-like setting a few years ago, showbiz-watchers fell in love with love again, wishing them all the best and years of blissful togetherness. It was a marriage that seemed to have been, from all angles, made not in showbiz but in heaven.
Until harsh reality set in…
Reports reaching Funfare (from a well-placed DPA) have it the husband’s highly-organized lifestyle is putting undue pressure on the wife. "He wants everything to be in place," said the DPA. "Pati pag-fold ng damit at linens, dapat maayos, arranged according to color. The husband is neat and meticulous while the wife is, well, not really burara but not as organized."
What’s worse is that the husband can’t seem to get along with the wife’s relatives (some of them showbiz). He attends his wife’s relatives’ affairs, all right, but it’s in all reluctance, not hiding his displeasure even in front of them.
"If the wife’s family would have their way," added the DPA, "they’d rather that the couple split up."
But the couple, so much in love with each other, are sticking to each other for better or for worse… but until when?
"Now," said the DPA, "the husband wants his wife to quit showbiz and just keep house, something the wife can’t do because she was, so to speak, to acting born."
One of them is Nina Lopez (real name: Annalyn Posica), who claims to be sweet 16, from Mambaling, Cebu, where she had the family of the late Claudia Zobel as neighbor.
"I know Claudia only from my family and neighbors’ stories," said Nina who wasn’t even a glint in her parents’ eyes yet when Claudia died in a car crash in 1980, her promising career (launched in Mel Chionglo’s Sinner or Saint, from Regal Films) cut short. "But I’m proud to be her neighbor. Sana maituloy ko ’yung hindi niya natapos."
After a brief appearance in Biglang Liko, Nina is being launched to stardom in Legacy Films’ Dalaginding, directed by Mike Relon Makiling, where she plays an innocent probinsyana lost and taken advantage of in the concrete jungle that is Manila.
"I can feel my role because I’m also bagong salta in Manila," said Nina who flew in from Cebu only in January this year, after joining beauty contests back home (Miss Balamban, etc.).
In Dalaginding, the Cebuana who described herself as "slightly virgin" has a kinky love scene with Eddie Gutierrez whose Cebuana wife, the Annabelle Rama, might find too realistic and too convincing for comfort.
Nina is reportedly paid half a million pesos for Dalaginding. The producer, Celso delos Angeles, believes that she’s worth it, making Nina the "highest-paid new boldie."
Because Nina is a minor (doing an adult job), the Legacy people made sure that her parents signed the necessary papers to avoid the same case that briefly derailed the launching of Aleck Bovick (star of Masarap na Pugad which is opening in Metro theaters tomorrow).
Not all aspirants are keen on "bold" stardom, though. One exception is Girlie Sevilla, 18-year-old daughter of Madam Violett Sevilla of Violett Films which is almost finished with its latest project, Magnifico, directed by Maryo J. delos Reyes. Filming is going on in Pagsanjan, Laguna.
Topbilled by Gloria Romero (Madam Violett’s favorite actress), Lorna Tolentino, Amy Austria, Albert Martinez and Tonton Gutierrez, Wagas: Magnifico Madyikero is the story of a poor boy (played by Jiro Manio) and how he touches the lives of people around him. It’s based upon an award-winning screenplay by Michiko Yamamoto.
Girlie, who’s a cross between Aiko Melendez and Mylene Dizon, plays the girlfriend of Danilo Barrios.
"It’s a light role and I’m glad it is," said Girlie who also sings. "Magnifico serves as my initiation into showbiz. I’m scared and at the same time honored to be with such a formidable cast. I hope I live up to their expectations."
A junior Psychology student, Girlie attended an acting workshop under Oscar Buendia and Joven Velasco before shooting of Magnifico started. She’s also determined to pursue a career in singing (her favorites are Clair Marlo and Regine Velasquez).
Because she’s appearing in a movie produced by her own mom, Girlie has been properly warned that she could be the object of intrigues.
"It goes with the territory," said Girlie. "I’m ready for it."