Nora Aunor dropped from ABS-CBN shows in US?

A lot of entertainment personalities from rival networks GMA 7 and ABS-CBN have left for the US to do shows in Los Angeles and San Francisco. (GMA 7 stars are there to launch GMA Pinoy TV.)

A few weeks ago, ABS-CBN invited superstar Nora Aunor – through her manager Nori Sayo – to appear in the US episodes of ASAP and The Buzz. To Ms. Aunor’s surprise, however, her name was recently dropped from the line-up of guest stars in the ABS-CBN shows. Below is a press statement from the camp of Nora Aunor faxed directly from Los Angeles:

Three weeks ago, ABS-CBN requested that Ms. Nora Aunor perform at the Los Angeles show on July 16 and at San Francisco on July 23. After negotiations by both parties, ABS-CBN and Ms. Nora Aunor, through their representatives arrived at an agreement that Ms. Aunor will perform on given dates.

On July 12, Ms. Aunor was informed, through her representative, that she was dropped off from the list of performers based on erroneous information that she did not have a valid immigration status. This is a falsity and a misrepresentation of material fact. For the record, Ms. Aunor is a person of extraordinary ability in the arts with sustained national and international acclaim and because of this she was granted an O visa by the Citizenship and Immigration Services to allow her to perform legally in the United States. Ms. Aunor is represented by very capable legal counsels of the Tancinco Law Offices in San Francisco who has ensured that she has on record with the US Department of Homeland Security a valid working visa to perform.

For ABS-CBN to arbitrarily and unilaterally breach a valid agreement is a totally reprehensible action that has caused significant damage to Ms. Nora Aunor as she has relied on the agreement to perform. Ms. Aunor reserves her right to file for appropriate legal action to vindicate herself from false misrepresentations and to recover the losses and damages she has incurred as a result of ABS-CBN’s willful violation of an agreement.

In the interest of fairness and in the spirit of upholding professionalism in the entertainment industry and among artists given the privilege to perform in the United States, Ms. Aunor demands that ABS-CBN desist from unfairly treating and maligning artists based on false information; and, that ABS-CBN honors its commitments in good faith.

Ms. Aunor intends to continue serving the Filipino immigrant community by performing in different cities and states with the hope that this will enlighten and empower her community through arts and cultural presentations. Ms. Aunor demands that ABS-CBN treat all Filipino immigrants and all artists with the respect and dignity they all deserve.

Valentine’s Day In July

If you don’t like romance and if you are in the middle of a lovers’ quarrel that is obviously irreparable, skip the movie If Only. You will only end up getting goose bumps at the profession of love between lead stars Jennifer Love Hewitt and Paul Nicholls.

But if you are a hopeless romantic and quite sentimental and like an occasional good cry, go rush to the nearest cinema to watch If Only.

Set in London, it is about the love story of an American violinist (Hewitt) and an English corporate man (Nicholls), who is always busy with work. With his mind perpetually cluttered, Nicholls has the tendency to take Hewitt for granted. A portent of things to come, however, allows him to correct the situation before everything gets too late.

Every scene, every line and even every facial expression in this film is calculated to please the hopeless romantic. The setting, for instance, is in one of the more picturesque areas of the city (with a bonus trip in an entire sequence to a lovely countryside) and not in one of London’s seamy locales.

The romantic dialogues in the film – oh, these would embarrass even the likes of Romeo and Juliet.

And Jennifer Love Hewitt? She lives up to her second name in every scene of this movie. She has love in her eyes, in her every gesture and even in the burn on her hand. It’s all love, love, love – it’s like Valentine’s Day in July.

Taking away the romance angle and looking at it from a reviewer’s point of view, however, If Only can be quite predictable. Hewitt also plays it cute all the time that she can be annoying in some instances. Paul Nicholls also tends to overact.

But I have to give it to the film for succeeding in drawing out emotions from the viewers – but again, depending on the kind of person you are. If you detest romantic stuff, If Only can be too mushy for you and you may feel embarrassed at the overdose of romance unfolding on the screen. But if you are in love and a romantic at heart, this film is for you. For sure, you will fall in love with this movie and relish every moment of it. And just like what the blurb in the movie’s print ad says, "You’ll get a good cry watching this film."

If Only is highly recommended for young steadies and those who have managed their affairs of the heart beautifully all these years.

But if you are the jaded type and absolutely have no hint of romance in your heart, I believe Batman is still showing.