Ai-Ai clueless why Regine declined ‘Sunday Pinasaya’

Comedy Concert Queen and comebacking Kapuso star Ms. Ai-Ai delas Alas is excited with her new show for GMA-7 titled “Sunday Pinasaya,” premiering this Sunday, August 9 at 12 noon. It replaces “Sunday All Stars,” which had its farewell episode last Sunday.

“Sunday Pinasaya” marks Ai-Ai’s return to the comedy genre, making her more pumped up and raring to go. “We just want to make the Sunday lunch time of our viewers happy, so we are giving them something new. We have seen concert TV for the last 20 years so we want to give them a new format,” said Ai- Ai who is reunited with her “sister” Marian Rivera in the program directed by Rich Ilustre.

She says the cast isn’t feeling any pressure that they are going up against a well-established program from the rival channel. “I have never been a part of that show on a regular basis and besides, we have different formats,” added Ai Ai of the 20-year-old “ASAP.”

“We don’t only have singing but we also have games, and comic sketches, plus we are playing different characters.”

When asked why Regine Velasquez is not part of the show although there were talks that Ai-Ai, Regine and Marian are among the headliners of “Sunday Pinasaya,” the comedienne said she is clueless why the Songbird is not part of the cast. She was aware that Regine was originally one of the stars of the new show, but for some reason that only Regine knows, she declined to be part of “Sunday Pinasaya.”

“Hindi ko alam kung tinanggihan ba niya at kung ano ang dahilan niya for doing so. I would have loved Regine to be part of ‘Sunday Pinasaya’ pero siguro may dahilan siya kung bakit siya tumanggi,” said Ai -Ai.

In the last telecast of “Sunday All Stars,” Regine couldn’t hold back her tears as she bid goodbye to viewers, saying that they will see each other again some other time.

For 18 years, Regine was a fixture of all Sunday shows of GMA-7 – from “SOP,” “Party Pilipinas,” to “Sunday All Stars.”

Could it be true that Regine declined to be part of “Sunday Pinasaya” as a gesture of sympathy to her fellow Kapuso stars who lost jobs after the cancellation of “Sunday All Stars”?

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We had a chance to talk to Alden Richards at the presscon of “Sunday Pinasaya,” and the heartthrob with the cutest dimple on earth said he is so happy to be part of the new show.

Alden said it’s about time for him to level up in his career, that’s why he agreed to portray the role of a sexy chef that girls go gaga over in “Sunday Pinasaya.” We might see him showing some skin or wearing just an apron over his topless body.

Another thing that makes Alden happy nowadays is being a part of the much-talked about teleserye sa tanghalian – the love story of Bae Alden and Yaya Dub in the top-rating noontime show “Eat Bulaga.”

“We didn’t imagine getting such a tremendous response. We are trending not only nationwide, but also worldwide,” said the hot leading man.

For the meantime, Alden is just a guest co-host of “Eat Bulaga,” although many are wishing that  Alden will become a regular in the noontime show which is marking its 36th anniversary. It will be a tremendous boost to his career if “Eat Bulaga” takes him in on a regular basis. But Alden says he still wishes to do soap operas.

When asked about “Sunday Pinasaya” co-host Julie Anne San Jose and their past issue, Alden said he and singer-actress had patched up their differences. Whatever caused their rift is now water under the bridge and is better kept between the two of them.

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Former action star Roi Vinzon is making a directorial comeback via the horror film “Maria Labo.” Based on a popular urban legend in Bacolod, the story is about a former OFW who became an aswang.

Direk Roi and his lead actress Kate Brios (who also produces the film) left for Dubai on Sunday to shoot important scenes in the Gulf Area. According to Roi, Maria was a former OFW who worked in Dubai. She became a victim of rape and the harrowing experience affected her senses. When she was deported back to the Philippines, she was no longer her former self. But her husband (Jestoni Alarcon) took her back.

One of the film’s highlights was when Maria chopped up her two children, cooked them, and served them as dinner to her husband. Her children are played by award-winning actor Miggs Cuaderno (Cinemalaya 2014 best supporting actor for “Children’s Show”) and Lenlen Frial.

“Every time I go to Bacolod, I often hear people talk about Maria Labo, so I asked around about her and found her story interesting,” Direk Roi said. He offered the lead role to Kate who agreed to produce the movie which will be released sometime in October under Viva Entertainment.

“Maria Labo” is the first venture of Starbuilder Productions.

Direk Roi believes that there is a big audience for horror flicks and they will certainly like the unusual story of Maria Labo, who, according to people in Bacolod, is still alive.