MARVIN WISHES JOLINA WELL

A NEW character is introduced in "Pilyang Kerubin," Angel Adante, played by Marvin Agustin. We visited the taping at San Francisco del Monte and Marvin is shown arrested by cops for participating in a bank holdup. It'll be revealed that he's a former guardian angel who falls in love with the blind woman he's protecting, Rosa (Camille Prats). He lost his angelic powers and became a mortal to marry her. When Rosa gets sick, he held up a bank for her medical needs. In prison, he's offered by Aroo (John Lapus), the devil's assistant, to side with the forces of darkness so Rosa will be healed. Will he forsake his heavenly background and join forces with the devil for good? This is what you have to find out in this new twist in the story of "Pilyang Kerubin." Executive producer Angie Castrence tells us they'll soon have Maricel Soriano as special guest. "We also plan to invite Sen. Bong Revilla and Joey de Leon to guest in the show," she says. "Also Iza Calzado, Kris Bernal, and Aljur Abrenica while they're waiting for their new soap to start."

"Pilyang Kerubin" also has a new director, Maryo J. de los Reyes, after Andoy Ranay resigned for some undisclosed reason. Marvin said he accepted "Pilyang Kerubin" as he has long wanted to work with Direk Maryo. "First time namin ito and I'm glad I finally got the chance to be directed by him," he says. "Sana, next time, we'll do a movie na."

This is the second time he plays an angel. "In 'Mata ni Anghelita,' I was the angel Gabriel. Tapos, I also did the movie 'Angels' with Dingdong Dantes as director. I must have been an angel in my past life. In the new film I'm doing, 'Ina ng Peñafrancia, Ikaw ang Pag-ibig', directed by Marilou Abaya, I play naman the priest brother of Ina Feleo who gets leukemia and is healed by the Blessed Virgin. Feeling ko, banal na ako kasi roles ng anghel at pari ang ginagampanan ko."

How does he feel now that Jolina Magdangal has lost all her shows on GMA? "Right now, she's just in the States. I'm sure hindi siya pababayaan ng management. Sayang naman ang talent niya."

Dingdong: Gusto kong magkaanak kay Marian

DINGDONG Dantes is elated over the positive feedback and high ratings that the pilot week of "Endless Love" got. "The story gets even more absorbing this week kaya they shouldn't miss a single episode," he says.

And what can he say about the negative feedback that his statement saying "gusto kong magkaanak kay Marian" elicited? His detractors say this isn't good for a role model to the youth like him as it disregards the fact that they should be married first before having kids. "That statement was just taken out of context," he says. "Those who know me alam na hindi ako ganung klase ng tao kung sumagot. May prior question before that and I won't take back what I said as I know where I stand. Kung anong opinion nila, wala akong pakialam sa kanila."

Marian restrained Dingdong from saying anything else. "Huwag mo nang sagutin at baka mas palakihin. Basta the two of us, nagkakaintindihan at alam ko that's not what you mean. Let's just focus on 'Endless Love' as we're both proud of it dahil itong pinakamagandang project na nagawa natin so far."

Judy Ann Santos to take long break from showbiz

Judy Ann Santos, an expectant mom, is taking one-and-a-half-year break from show business to focus on her family.

In a taped interview on “The Buzz” aired Sunday, the young superstar said she decided to take a long break from show business to spend more time with her children.

“Magpapahinga lang siguro ako isa, isa't kalahating taon para mabantayan ko din ang paglaki ng mga bata. Ako naman naniniwalang sapat namang panahon ang naibigay ko sa mga tao for the past 2 decades na naging artista ako,” she said.

Santos and husband Ryan Agoncillo have an adopted daughter named Johanna Lois. The high-profile couple, who got married on April 28, 2009, is expecting a baby boy.

“Ako mismo sa sarili ko, siguro hanggang mag-iisang taon siguro ang bagets, maibigay ko sa kanya ang lahat ng attention ko, lahat ng pagmamahal. Top priority ang mga bagets,” she added.

Santos, one of the lead stars of upcoming film “Hating Kapatid,” is also optimistic that ABS-CBN will still welcome her once she comes back to the Kapamilya network after her long hiatus.

“Naniniwala ako sa ABS-CBN na sa pagbabalik ko may magandang proyekto silang nakaabang para sa akin. Basta ang promise ko lang sa kanila, kapag ready na ako, magpapakita ako sa kanila,” she said.

‘Buchochoy’

Meanwhile, the 32-year-old mom revealed that her father-in-law has already picked a nickname for her baby boy.

“Si Yohan (Johanna Lois), Buding ang tawag sa kanya. Para fair, siya (baby boy) si Buchochoy habang wala pa kaming naiisip na pangalan,” she shared.

Santos also revealed that as early as now some companies have already expressed their interest in getting her and her baby to endorse their products.

“May ilang ilang nag-aantay, nag-aabang. And we’re very thankful for them na nagpaparamdam sila. Nakakatuwang isipin na inaabangan nila ang paglabas ng baby at maraming maraming salamat po,” she said.

As for her weight gain, Santos said: “Napaka-hipokrita ko naman kung sabihin kong wala akong ka-fear, fear at all. Pero di ba napakatinding blessing na itong nabuntis ako? Para namang napaka-selfish ko naman kung sabihin kong, 'Paano kung hindi na ako bumalik sa dating kong katawan?'”

On work-related issues, meantime, Santos denied that she ever planned to back out of “Hating Kapatid.”

She maintained: “Unang una, hindi ako magsisimula ng isang pelikulang hindi ko tatapusin. Pangalawa, ma-swerte ako sa director ko at sa mga producer ko dahil pumayag silang 10 hours lang akong mag-shooting.”

Lea Salonga not joining 'Glee'

International singer Lea Salonga is not joining hit American comedy series "Glee."

In her live interview on “The Buzz” Sunday, Salonga said there was no offer to join the show, and she has no idea where the speculations came from.

"No, no. I've not been asked and I have no idea how that (speculations) happened," Salonga said.

Rumor has it that Salonga will portray international singing sensation Charice's mother.

If given a chance though, the Tony Award-winning theater actress said she would be glad to do it.

"Of course I would, absolutely. It's one of my favorite TV shows,” she said.

In “Glee,” Charice will play the role of a foreign exchange student whose killer vocals get lead star Rachel contemplating murder. The pint-sized singer will start taping for the series on July 28.

"Glee" is an hour-long comedy series that follows an optimistic high school teacher as he tries to reignite his passion while working with a group of outcasts to revive the fortunes of the school's glee club.

Meanwhile, Salonga is all set for the staging of "Cats,” one of the well-loved and longest running musicals on Broadway.

Salonga top-bills the production as "Grizabella" wherein she is singing alto.

The musical will be held at the CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo from July 24 to August 15.

Ipe, ipagdarasal si Kris

“Nalulungkot ako. Ipag-pray na lang natin sila na malampasan nila ang pagsubok na ito.” Ito ang pahayag ni Phillip Salvador nang hingan namin ng reaksyon hinggil sa marital problems nina Kris Aquino at James Yap.

As we all know, naging bahagi rin ng buhay ni Kris si Kuya Ipe at may isa silang anak, si Joshua Phillip. Kaya naman hindi maiwasang hindi matanong ang aktor kapag may bagong development sa buhay ng ina ng kanyang anak.

Ayon pa kay Kuya Ipe, alam daw niyang makakaya ni Kris ang dinadaanan ngayon dahil kilala niya itong matatag at matapang na babae.

“At saka, alam ko namang malalim din ang pananalig niya sa Diyos kaya alam kong hindi siya pababayaan ng nasa Itaas,” say pa ng aktor.

Other than this ay ayaw na raw niyang mag-comment pa at basta ang hangad lang daw niya ay maging maayos ang lahat.

Angel Locsin is sexiest Pinay

KAPAMILYA actress Angel Locsin tops FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll.

After months of waiting, it's confirmed that Angel is the sexiest Pinay this year by receiving a total of 284,156 votes.

In 2005, she was also named as the magazine sexiest and just recently she was back again in the cover of FHM.

"It's an honor and masaya ako kasi nagbabalik ako sa FHM kasi sa kanila din ako nagsimula," the actress said in a television interview.

Following Angel is another Kapamilya talent Cristine Reyes. The "Kristine Series" star received a total of 227,390 votes and was down to second place this year.

Cristine was last year's top one and was followed by Kapuso number one leading lady Marian Rivera with 218,742 votes.

Iwa Moto came in at fourth spot followed by Angelica Panganiban (5th), Katrina Halili (6th), Regine Velasquez (7th), Bangs Garcia (8th), Ehra Madrigal (9th) and Jackie Rice (10th).

Other Kapamilya stars who made it to the list are Empress Schuck, Andi Eigenmann, Sarah Geronimo, Bea Alonzo, Maja Salvador, Kim Chiu, Erich Gonzales, Anne Curtis, Mariel Rodrigues, Toni Gonzaga, and Bianca Gonzales.

FHM will hold a victory party in July 15 at the World Trade Center to celebrate the positive response in this year's poll.

Find out who's name made it to the list by grabbing the July issue of 2010 FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World copy with Sam Pinto on the cover.

A lock of love

Sarah Geronimo has donated a lock of hair to charity.

Sarah said she herself cut her long tresses and gave her “gift” for cancer patients to hair stylist Jing Monis, who sent it to the US-based organization, Locks of Love.

According to the website www.locksoflove.org, the organization gives hairpieces to needy children suffering from hair loss due to long-term medication, “to help restore their confidence.”

During a political gathering, Sarah denied rumors that the gesture was the result of frustration over her “zero” love life. She jested, “Well, I wanted a hair makeover.”

She gamely answered questions about long-time suitor Rayver Cruz and John Lloyd Cruz, her leading man in two hit movies, and pregnant Judy Ann Santos, her costar in Wenn Deramas’ “Hating Kapatid.”.

Sarah said Juday never complains, but has limited work to two days a week and set a cut-off time. “We all get to go home early,” Sarah noted, smiling.

She said she was “shocked” when she learned about the romance between John Lloyd and Shaina Magdayao. “It can no longer be denied. People see, and they talk. I just hope the public will respect [their privacy].”

Sarah would not confirm that newcomer Matteo Guidicelli is courting her, only that they’re friends. “Billy (Crawford) introduced him to me in Cebu. It’s not true that Matteo has been sending me flowers. But he’s good looking.”

About Rayver, she would only say, “If we’re meant for each other, it will happen.”