Ex-sweethearts ill at ease at presscon

Can ex-lovers be friends? Well, maybe not right away.

Un-couple Zanjoe Marudo and Mariel Rodriguez, who broke up last month, looked ill at ease as they were put on the spot at the presscon of their movie, Star Cinema’s 5-in-1 horror movie, "Cinco."

Although featured in separate episodes – he in "Puso" and she in "Mukha" – all eyes were on the two during the Q&A. Those present were asked to refrain from asking about their just-concluded love affair, but when Mariel spoke about karma, there was a follow up about pagtataksil.

Tension filled the air. Pokwang, one of Zanjoe’s leading ladies in "Puso" and Mariel’s co-host in the daily TV show, "Wowowee," decided to speak in behalf of her friend. The comedienne, seated in between the ex-sweethearts, butted in to say: "Wala naming nanloko kay Mariel," but then Mariel chided her: "Ikaw si Mariel?" Mariel proceeded to say that she is thankful for all the projects coming her way. A short while after, the organizers signaled the end of the question and answer, asking for the other stars – including Bangs Garcia, Rayver Cruz, Maja Salvador and the Gigger Boys (Robi Domingo, Sam Concepcion and AJ Perez) – to say their final message to the press.

Mariel stars as a mean boss in "Mukha," which features her solo, while Zanjoe has two leading ladies – Pokwang and Bangs – in "Puso."

"Nakagamit ka na ba ng gayuma para sa taong sobrang mahal mo?" asks Pokwang, who locks lips with Zanjoe in their episode, "Kung hindi pa, mag-ingat ka. Baka hindi mo alam kung anong ginagawa mo."

"Maganda po ang story nung sa amin ni Pokwang. Ipakikita kung ano ang maaaring maging epekto sa buhay nung mga taong gagawin ang lahat makuha lang ang atensyon at pagmamahal ng kanilang gusting maging partner," Zanjoe relates.

Will "Cinco" – directed by five directors, newbies Frasco Mortiz, Enrico Santos, Ato Bautista, Nick Olanka and the more senior Cathy Garcia-Molina – deliver the chills and become a blockbuster or at least be as exciting as its presscon? Find out on July 14.

Judy Ann tells Sarah: Love can wait

THEY’RE superstars and have loads of talent, but aside from sharing star power and undeniable acting gifts, Judy Ann Santos and Sarah Geronimo are first and foremost known as obedient daughters and generous sisters.

It is common knowledge that they are their families’ breadwinners but instead of being ashamed of the fact, the two show no bitterness and are vocal about feeling lucky for having the opportunity to help their loved ones.

"May pact kaming apat (Mommy Carol and her two siblings) na share sa lahat," reveals Judy Ann, now a very happy wife and mother, "At para sa akin pinaka achievement ko ang napag-aral at napagtapos ko ang ate ko dahil ‘di makukuha sa kanya ‘yun."

Sarah, in her twenties, shares the sentiment. "Nagtratrabaho po ako para sa pamilya ko at masarap po ang pakiramdam na blessed kaming lahat."

If there was something that the older Judy Ann wants to tell Sarah, it is to learn to loosen up.

"Lagi ko sinasabi sa kanya to try to enjoy life kasi di mo mababalik ang kabataan mo," she says, "‘Yung love life, darating ‘yan. Maraming manloloko sa ‘yo pero may isang lalaking darating na ipaglalaban siya.

Judy Ann tells Sarah her secret against something that drains any artist: burnout.

"I tell her to rest. Magpahinga siya kung hindi mabu-burnout siya," she cautions the Pop Princess.

This sisterly love from Judy Ann translates to the big screen in Viva Films’ "Hating Kapatid," a touching comedy that opens on July 21.

Viva’s Vic del Rosario is mighty proud of "Hating Kapatid." "This is the first time that Juday and Sarah will be seen in one movie. That is a casting coup in itself. But other than the two, we also enlisted veteran actress Gina Pareno and Tonton Gutierrez and young actors Luis Manzano, JC de Vera and top comedian Vice Ganda to join the cast. This is big."

The major movie project, about sisters Rica and Cecilia, features not only one winning tandem but also box-office director Wenn Deramas and scriptwriter Mel del Rosario, who have partnered in several successful projects.

"Hating Kapatid" tells the story of two siblings who sacrifice even their personal happiness to keep intact the bond that they share." It will be holding premiere nights in Austria on July 24 at the Plus City Hollywood Megaplex, Pasching and July 25 at the Hollywood Megaplexx Gasometer, Vienna. It is also scheduled to unreel in Switzerland on July 31 and Aug. 7 at the Kino Uto in Zurich and then on Aug. 8 at the Uptown Cinema in Geneva and in Spain on Aug. 21 and 22 at the Cine Comedia, Barcelona.

Ricketts doing better than expected

Since the appointment of Ronnie Ricketts as Chairman of the Optical Media Board in October, 2009, he has earned commendations from several film and non-film people and that is because he has been very effective and faithful in the discharge of his duties. During the Manila Film Festival Philippines 2009 he received accolades from the Film Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) President Angelo Eloy Padua and several colleagues in the movie industry for having prevented piracy of the MMFF entries.

This year, Chairman Ricketts has lined up several anti-film piracy awareness activities. Among them the now much-awaited by several NCR universities, the All-Star Basketball series in which Ronnie along with his OMB team of movie stars will play friendly matches with teams from De La Salle, Adamson U, Emilio Aguinaldo, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, and even teams from places outside the Metro with All-Star games in Ilocos and La Union as well as an All-Star friendship game with the U.S. Embassy Champions at the Arellano University with U.S. Ambassador Thomas at the VIP area.

The OMB under Chairman Ricketts also donated tower burners to Carlos Albert School and Manuel A. Roxas High School and has been visible in the Launch of the Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team on March 18, in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Anti-Book Piracy at the Makati Cinema Square on May 26, at the U.S. Memorial Day Ceremony at the American Cemetery, Taguig City on May 30 and the 3rd Kawani ng Gobyerno National Sports Cup on June 1 all for the sake of raising awareness on Anti-Film and all other forms of piracy.

The Optical Media Board conducted multiple raids in different areas around the metro on June 4. They raided Makati Cinema Square, Alphaland Guadalupe, Ruins in Paranaque, and Muntinlupa. The Philippine National Police assisted the agency in the raids. The agency would like to commend Makati Chief of Police Col. Bonifacio, Paranaque Chief of Police Col. Valdez, and Muntinlupa Chief of Police Col. Sapitula for a very successful partnership to stop piracy in our country.

Following several raids in Metro Manila and several provincial operations which include joint OMB/law-enforcement operations in Baguio City, a Veterans center warehouse in Taguig City, a printing machine in Quirino Highway, Baesa Q.C., the Quiapo Palanca warehouse operation in May, and the June operations, a ceremonial destruction of counterfeit and pirated products was done jointly by the PNP, the NBI, the OMB headed by Chairman Ricketts and the Intellectual Property Office during the 12th Anniversary of the IPO at the PNP grounds, Camp Crame, Quezon City on June 23.

With the ever low-key but strong-willed Chairman Ronnie Ricketts at the helm of the OMB, many famous film industry, concerned individuals and groups, as well as political, personalities such as former President Fidel V. Ramos and wife Ming, Senator Bong Revilla, Senator Miguel Zubiri, Senator Manuel ‘Lito’ M. Lapid, Jennifer Niedhart of the U.S. Embassy Economic Section, the Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council, Inc. headed by Leonard Monteverde, the Film Academy of the Philippines headed by Leo G. Martinez, Philippine Motion Picture Producers Association headed by Orlando Ilacad, Movie Producers Distributors Association of the Philippines headed by Wilson Tieng, National Cinema Association of the Philippines headed by Roesholm D. Camaligan, Association of Video Distributors of the Philippines headed by Ed Sazon, and Director General Ricardo Blancaflor of the Intellectual Property Office, and Philippine Association of Recording Industry headed by Ramon Chuaying are among those who have voiced full support behind Ricketts’ continued stay at the Optical Media Board.