Will Donna Villa be named MTRCB chief?

Will Donna Villa be named MTRCB chief – if and when?

That’s what the Funfare DPA said. I asked him if President GMA has any plan to replace incumbent MTRCB chief Ma. Consoliza Laguardia and he only answered with an enigmatic smile, as if to say, "Wait and see."

Okay, so we’ll wait and see.

Meanwhile, the same DPA informed Funfare that Donna and husband Carlo J. Caparas were not just "vacationing" in Cebu since early January as Funfare earlier reported. It turned out that Donna and Carlo were actively albeit quietly camapaigning for GMA, distributing leaflets and caps and other GMA knickknacks in Cebu, Donna’s territory (she comes from the Patalinjug clan).

"The couple wanted it low -key so as not to offend their (showbiz) colleagues on the other side of the political fence," added the DPA.

Contacted for comment (about her possible appointment as MTRCB chief), Donna was pleasantly shocked.

"Where did you get the story?" she asked. "Who told you?"

Donna said that she’d rather spend more time with her two kids, CJ (14) and Peach (11), because she and Carlo don’t want to miss their growing years.

"When they were small," said Donna, diverting my attention away from the MTRCB thing, "Carlo and I were busy making movies. They’re fast growing up and soon, they’ll be having lives of their own."

While waiting for the right movie project, Donna and Carlo are busy attending to their non-showbiz business, while Carlo is also engrossed in canvas-painting. Their last project was the Chavit Singson bioflick shown last year.

Auditions for Minsan Pa support cast

Sweethearts Jomari Yllana and Ara Mina topbill Minsan Pa (initially titled Usahay), produced by a new company called MLR Films put up by lawyers Joji Alonso, Dot Ramos-Gancayco and Roger Rayala, and businessmen John Alonte and Percie Managuelod.

What makes this group venture into what is perceived as a "risky business"?

"Good intentions," said Dot (yes, the singer)

"We believe that we have a good project," said Joji.

Minsan Pa (theme song of which is the hit composition by Jose Mari Chan, sung by Janet Basco) is directed by Jeffrey Jeturian from a screenplay by Armando "Bing" Lao. A formidable tandem, definitely. It’s intended for the Metro Filmfest in December.

In the movie, Jomari plays a tour guide whose life is in shambles, leaving him broken and bitter. Ara plays a pre-school teacher who leads a life of magnanimity and passion. When they meet, they form an unbreakable bond.

Incidentally, there will be auditions on July 2 and 3, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Cebu City Sports Complex (Abellana Grounds), to be personally supervised by Jeffrey and Bing. Supporting roles to be filled include the characters of Watanabe and Yamada (ages 55 to 60), Matthew (21 to 23), Noemi (17 to 18), Rudy (30 to 35), Tikyo (40 to 45), Manang Carmen (45 to 50), Mackoy (7 to 8), Iya (9 to 10), Ricky (20 to 23), Mr. and Mrs. Narvacan (40 to 45), Engr. and Mrs. Tanglaw (30 to 35), Mr. and Mrs. Matias (60 to 65), Anthony (28 to 30), Ting Pating (a scuba diver) and tourists (preferably Spanish-, Korean- and Japanese-looking).

Qualified? Mag-audition na.

What’s Up?

• The La Salle Greenhills Batch ’81 Tribu Verde Foundation will sponsor the special screening of Spider-Man 2 on Saturday, July 3, 6 p.m. at Rockwell Cinema 6, for the benefit of the Bro. Leon Sports Fund. For inquiries, contact Emil Alvarado at 0917-8965787 or Monet Muñoz at 0920-9044805.

• The Cebu Doctors’ College of Medicine Post Graduate Course and Alumni Homecoming will be held on July 9-10 in Cebu City. For details, call Elsie Sevilla at the CDH CME office (32)-255-5555 local 248. Among the graduates are Dr. Yong Larrazabal (husband of Donna Cruz) and Patricia Javier’s doctor-friend who died recently.

• Corrections: The author of Five People You Meet in Heaven is Mitch Albom (not Boom); the shopping/recreation mall in Beverly Hills is called The Grove (not Groove); and Jackie Regala-Katigbak’s company is Katz (not Matz) Entertainment, based in L.A. Katz’s latest production was the Gary Valenciano concert.

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