PBB’s ‘Bad Girl’ plays a burlesque queen
Will, rather can, Wendy Valdez, known as the “Bad Girl” from the house of Big Brother — or, as her detractors loved to call her, Kontrabida ng Bayan — out-sexy Vilma Santos and/or Ina Raymundo in the “daring” role of a burlesque queen?
Knowing Wendy to be bold and, that’s it, daring, somebody who didn’t mince words inside Big Brother’s house and thereby incurred the ire of the Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) followers, I can say that the squatter girl from Malabon will, and can, do just that.
In her acting debut in the forthcoming ABS-CBN teleserye titled Margarita, Wendy plays a burlesque queen, a role calculated to enhance her image as a “bad” girl, a “title” Wendy takes with a grain of salt judging from the casual, insouciant way she acknowledged the jeers at the Big Dome during PBB’s grand elimination night where Wendy emerged as one of the Top 4 (grand-prize winner was Beatrice Saw). Thankfully, nobody made good their threat to throw tomatoes at her.
ABS-CBN guys make it clear that Margarita is not a TV remake of neither the bold-drama Burlesk Queen which starred Vilma Santos in the mid-’70s nor the 1990’s remake titled Burlesk Queen Ngayon with Ina Raymundo (she showed “all,” didn’t she?) as lead star.
“Margarita is not an adaptation,” assured ABS-CBN exec Deo Endrinal. “It’s an original story. Nagkataon lang na Wendy’s role is that of a burlesque queen.”
Scheduled to premiere next Monday night, July 30, as part of ABS-CBN’s Primetime Bida block, Margarita also topbills Diether Ocampo and Bruce Quebral (also a PBB graduate) as Wendy’s leading men.
Other members of the cast are Elizabeth Oropeza as Wendy’s stepmother; Rio Locsin as Wendy’s mother; Dick Israel as Wendy’s father; Joseph Bitangcol as Wendy’s brother; John Manalo as Wendy’s half-brother; Sharlene San Pedro as Wendy’s half-sister; and Keanna Reeves (another PBB graduate) as Wendy’s mentor and friend.
Thalia in all her pregnant glory
Because her hit telenovela Marimar is being televised by GMA effective first week of August, with Marian Rivera in the title role, the name Thalia (wife of Tony Mottola, former boss of Sony Music, now heavy with their first child) is constantly mentioned. Here’s the latest on Thalia for the benefit of her loyal fans (story was translated from the Spanish Mexican newspaper La Cronica into English by Funfare readers):
The Mexican singer and actress Thalia recently bought a $60,000 painting from her idol, the Diva Maria Felix, in an auction which was organized by Christie’s.
Thalia, now into her seventh month of pregnancy, was in the first row with her sister Ernestina to buy the painting Amazona which was painted by Antoine Tzapoff who was the last love of Maria Felix.
The painting, which was created in 1989, shows the profile of Maria Felix riding an Indian rhino. Its frame is made with 28 kilos of silver.
“This painting means so much to me because I know its story, from Maria´s own mouth. She took care of the details, and she supervised the manufacture of the frame. No one is going to take care of it better than I will,” said Thalia.
After Thalia bought the painting, she came out and was immediately swamped by the press. But she tried to stay away.
“Take care, please; take care, please. Now I’m like a lion protecting its baby,” said Thalia.
The actress got pregnant after seven years of marriage with the American musical producer Tommy Mottola.
“I’m very happy and relaxed, I’m making my own diet, I’m eating many fruits and proteins. This is the biggest thing that has happened to me in my whole life; I had lived many things and I had many experiences,” added Thalia, 35.
She assured that her husband is with her more than ever, and even he warns her when she came out in high heel’s shoes.
“He is more pregnant than me,” smiled Thalia.
Thalia also said that in August she is going to have four baby showers, one with her friends in New York; another with the “gringerio” (gringo means Americans); the third a Latin baby shower with her friends from Miami and Mexico; and the fourth a gay baby shower with her gay friends. There might be a fifth one, which will be an interactive baby shower in her website.
Home is where Sal’s heart is
This tenor from Hinonangan,
Yes, Sal Malaki is “big” in the field of opera in the
Since he left the country in 1995, Sal has been making it a point to come home sometimes twice a year for vacation and, often, to perform in fund-raisers for religious organizations, foundations and NGOs, which is his way of giving back to those in need the blessings that he has received all these years.
Today, Sal is performing Classics From the Heart in Surigao for the benefit of the Catholic Archdiocese of Surigao del Norte; and next Friday, July 27, in Le Concert Classique, 8 p.m. at the Meralco Theater (for the benefit of The Christian Witness and Service’s many projects) with violinist Joseph Valdes and soprano Rachelle Gerodias.
“I have been lucky,” said Sal, among whose high moments was a meeting with Placido Domingo who watched Sal in The Merry Widow. If plans don’t miscarry, Sal might perform with Domingo in Beethoven’s Fidelio.
“When I auditioned for the L.A. Master Chorale,” Sal continued, “I was immediately hired even if other had been waiting for years. Almost at the same time, I auditioned for the L.A. Opera. I sang Che Gelida Manina, that famous aria from the opera La Boheme, and they must have liked what I did because they awarded me three contracts for my first year with the company.”
That was in 1995.
Since then, Sal has participated in more than 50 productions with both companies, covered many different roles for opera, and was featured in recitals and concerts all over
“I just came from a performance in
(Note: Le Concert Classique is presented by PLDT, Linden Suites, Imperial Palace Suites, La Floral, DZFE, Coffee Beannery and Merk’s Bistro. For inquiries, call 928-5462, 927-7829, 453-1173 or 0928-3181151.)
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