• Jolina Magdangal, now shooting Viva Films’ Annie Batungbakal with Dingdong Dantes, will start work on her starrer with Da King FPJ in June. She’s, indeed, going places – and how!
• When she was contacted for a new GMA soap, Dina Bonnevie reportedly junked Carlos Morales as a co-star and insisted on Monsour del Rosario, rumored to be her constant date these days. Now, are the two into some kind of a "package deal"? Can Monsour live up to the demands of the role the way Carlos (a proven competent actor) does? Well, if Monsour takes a crash course in real acting, perhaps he can – keep your fingers crossed!
• Yes, John Estrada did go to Toronto (to visit Vanessa del Bianco), proving to all and sundry that – yes, indeed! – love can make people defy anything, harangan man ng sibat... even SARS. Toronto is listed among the top five cities with the most number of SARS cases. But John is back, although he’s not yet appearing on MTB because, as per the ABS-CBN policy, he’s on "quarantine" at home for 10 days. The Funfare DPA said that, no, contrary to persistent rumors, Vanessa is not – yet? – pregnant and is immensely enjoying her "private citizen" status in her home country.
• And, yes, it was really Vandolph who joined his girlfriend Jenny (member of the MTB girls) during a show a few days ago at Punchline. Vandolph pretended to hide his face, saying. "This is a secret. Baka ma-tsismis tayo!" Correction, please: It has ceased to be just a tsismis. His romance with Jenny has already been confirmed – by themselves (for being seen together often in public).
Ask Gary V. these questions and he’ll remain unruffled.
Whether or not Martin "has beaten Gary by miles" and/or Gary’s career has "stagnated" is a matter of opinion and speculation. In his own way, Gary has been making headway both here and abroad, even if Martin is, oftentimes, the more "visible" and more "audible" one, what with all the juicy stories spawned by Martin’s colorful lovelife.
But Gary admitted during the mini-presscon for his latest album Gary V at the Movies (released by Universal Records) that yes, yes, yes, there’s a competition between him and Martin and it’s a friendly, healthy competition.
"It’s for our own good," said Gary who is meeting new challenges in his two-decades-plus-old career despite occasional crippling diabetic attacks. "When Martin does something new, people are curious what I’ll come up with. When Martin has a show, I make it a point to watch it – and vice-versa. We are in constant touch; we exchange notes; we keep the iron hot. But despite the competition. Martin and I are the best of friends."
One time, recalled Gary, Martin wondered what he’d be doing when he reached 60 (two decades from now). Asked what he still wanted to do between now and 60, Gary said he hoped to accomplish many things, including 1) do the score of a movie, 2) go back to school and study audio and engineering, and 3) direct concerts (for television, like what his bosom buddy Rowell Santiago is doing).
The good news is that Gary might score a movie sooner than he expects to. You see, Andrea Romano, voice director for animation of Warner Bros. and an Emmy Awardee with Steven Spielberg for Tiny Toons, is interested in hiring Gary to score a film (cartoon) for them after she heard Gary’s Beyond Words CD.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed that Gary gets that juicy assignment.
(Note: Buy Gary V at the Movies and enjoy his renditions of such well-loved movie theme songs as Sana Maulit Muli, Ibulong Mo sa Diyos, Kailangan Kita, Ako’t Ikaw, Hataw Na and I Will Be Here, the song that never fails to draw tears from yours truly. It’s a good buy, I assure you.)
Before Amanda was chosen, several others were seriously considered, including Agot Isidro, Belinda Panelo, Claudine Trillo and even Tim Yap. Amanda clinched the job after she had proven herself worthy of it when she guest-co-hosted F during Daphne’s maternity leave. She was formally welcomed last Saturday, April 26.
Already one of the country’s top models, Amanda has graced a number of local and international magazines, as well as several high-profile commercials. Half-Filipino and half-British, she began her career at the age of 13, after being spotted in a mall by a talent agent. She has barely slowed down since. Despite this, she has used her time wisely, finishing a business and communications degree in Australia that she now puts to use by launching her own swimsuit line.
Dear Ricky,
I didn’t know you’d publish my letter. Sana, ginandahan ko. A lot of people read it. We’ve been here for two weeks now and our apo is now used to our presence. We just came from the mall with her.
The weather is warmer now. When we came here last October, we saw the leaves falling and by the time we left in November, the trees were bare. Now, it’s spring and we see the leaves sprouting from branches day by day.
Unlike our film industry, films here continue to do big business. Anger Management starring Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson has been numero uno for two weeks now and is expected to gross $100 million after only three weeks of release. Most of the hits here lately are all comedies, like Bringing Down the House with Steve Martin ($125 million to date), How to Lose a Guy In 10 Days with Kate Hudson ($120 million). After Chicago won a Best Picture Oscar, it has earned $160 million, making it the top moneymaker for Miramax Films so far. It’s still in the top 10 after four months of release.
More new films are opening this weekend: It Runs in the Family with 86-year-old Kirk Douglas, his son Michael and grandson Cameron; Against the Ropes with Meg Ryan who looks like she just had a facelift in her pictorials; People I Know with Al Pacino; and Identity with John Cusack.
On TV, Bob Hope is turning 100 years old on May 29 and they paid a tribute to him, 100 Years of Hope and Humor. He’s been married to singer Dolores Reade, 94, for 69 years. Their eldest daughter, Linda, is 63. The TV special traced his career from his vaudeville and radio days to his film and TV work.
On stage, Antonio Banderas makes his Broadway debut in the musical Nine, the musical version of Italian director Federico Fellini’s classic film, 8 1/2.
He got rave reviews in the lead role and his wife, Melanie Griffith, has announced that she is also appearing on Broadway in the role of Roxie Hart in Chicago, which is still running here.
So how is the FAMAS fiasco coming along? You wrote it as a blind item but I could guess you’re referring to them. Can’t wait to find out what would happen. Gotta go now. Last week, Hannah’s friend, Eunice Jurilla, took us to Princeton University which is a 30-minute drive from Woodbridge. We were able to see the campus where A Beautiful Mind was filmed. Ang ganda! The old buildings stand side by side with new all-glass student dorms.
Take care and God bless you.
– Mario B.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)