Kris Aquino, Pacquiao camp trade verbal jabs

Nagpasaringan sina Kris Aquino at kampo ni Pinoy boxing hero Manny Pacquiao kaugnay sa naging pahayag ng huli sa isang campaign ad na ginawa nito na nag-eendorso kay Nacionalista Party presidential bet Manny Villar.

Sa Twitter account ni Kris, sinabi nito na nakita niya ang campaign ad ng isang tinawag niyang “Pinoy spots icon" na nagbitiw ng salita na, “laban ng laban wala naman napatunayan."

Bagaman walang pangalang tinukoy si Pacquiao sa ad, idinepensa ni Kris ang kapatid na si Liberal Party presidential bet Sen Benigno “Noynoy" Aquiono III, na kahit minsan ay hindi pa natatalo sa halalan.

“In politics, ‘Noy has won 3 straight terms sa Congress & won almost 15 million votes sa Senatorial in 2007," nakasaad sa Twitter ni Kris. “How sad na he didn't think na in politics- knock out nga sya."

Idinagdag ng actress-host: “In politics si Noy ang may napatunayan because Noy has never lost an election! Ika nga, undefeated ang record nya!"

Matatandaan na natalo si Pacquiao sa unang sabak niya sa pulitika noong 2007 nang labanan ang nakaupong kongresista ng South Cotabato na si Darlene Antonino-Custodio.

Muling tumatakbo si Pacquiao bilang kongresista sa Saranggani sa ilalim ng partido ng NP kung saan makakaharap nito si Roy Chiongbian na galing din sa angkan ng mga pulitiko.

Sa naturang campaign ad, kasama ni Pacquiao na nag-endorso kay Villar sina comedy king Dolphy at TV host na si Willie Revillame.

Sa pagsuporta kay Villar, inihayag ni Pacquiao sa naturang ad na hanga siya sa senador sa dami ng nagawa: "Merong iba d'yan, laban ng laban sa salita pero wala pa namang nagawa."

Sa panayam sa telepono, sinabi ni Jayke Joson, chief of staff ni Pacquiao, kumpiyansa ito na mananaig ang tinaguriang “pambansang kamao" laban kay Chiongbian sa Mayo 10.

Idinagdag niya na hindi rin dapat ipagmalaki ang dami ng panalo sa halalan ng isang kandidato kung wala rin naman talaga itong nagawa para makatulong sa kapwa.

Siyam na taong naging kongresista si Aquino matapos manalo ng tatlong termino, at pangatlong taon na bilang senador para sa kanyang anim na taong termino.

“How sure is she na mana-knockout si Manny? (kay Chiongbian). Ang sinabi ni Manny sa commercial ay point na ‘di lang puwede yung laban lang nang laban dapat me nagawa sa bayan," ayon kay Joson.

Ayaw na rin umano ni Pacquiao na palakihin ang usapin tungkol sa kanila ni Kris na itinuturing pa rin umanong kaibigan ng boxing icon.

Noong nakaraang linggo, pinasaringan ni Bagumbayan presidential bet Richard Gordon si Aquino wala umanong naipasa kahit isang batas at walang karanasan para mamuno.

Idinagdag ni Gordon na mas mahusay pa si Sen Manuel “Lito" Lapid kay Aquino dahil nagawa nitong makapagpasa ng isang batas sa loob ng anim na taong pag-upo bilang senador.

Angel, Rica at Pokwang testigo kina Piolo at Sam

Wala si Ate Lolit Solis sa Manila Regional Trial Court nang dininig uli ang kasong libelo na isinampa laban sa kanya nina Piolo Pascual at Sam Milby, na present kahapon nang umaga.

Aware si Piolo na wala si Ate Lolit, kaya hindi raw siya nag-expect na magkikita sila ng kontrobersiyal na manager, na nag-claim at siyang sumulat na nakita sila ni Sam sa coffee shop ng Hotel Sofitel nu'ng Oct. 12.

Ipinrisinta kahapon ni Atty. Joji Alonso (legal counsel nina Sam at Piolo) ang sampung witnesses kasabay ng kanilang sinumpaang mga salaysay na nakita nila ang dalawang aktor sa oras na sinasabi ni Ate Lolit na nakita silang magkasama.

Naroon sina Pokwang (na nandu'n daw sa coffee shop bandang 4 p.m. at wala raw siyang napansing nandu'n sina Piolo at Sam);

Si Angel Locsin (na kasama raw si Piolo sa Timex Watch pictorial); si Ate Cristy Fermin (na nakita raw si Piolo na dumaan sa main lobby ng ABS-CBN); at si Rica Peralejo (na nakasama raw si Piolo sa gym bago magtungo sa Timex watch pictorial).

The rest ay road manager ni Piolo, isang UP professor na nag-interpret sa sinulat ni Ate Lolit, at ang hairstylist ni Sam.

Tinanong namin si Piolo. Sabi kasi ni Ate Lolit, patawarin na siya, dahil matanda na siya. Christians pa naman sila ni Sam.

Gusto ba nilang makita ang 60 years old sa kulungan?

“Sino naman ang may gusto ng gano'n, 'di ba? Hindi naman siya makukulong, sabihin lang niya ang totoo. All we need is retraction, and from there, let's see!” sey ni Piolo.

Hanggang kelan kaya ang isyung ito? Mag-1st anniversary kaya ito sa October 12?

Q & A with Ara Mina

Screen vixen and awarded actress Ara Mina looked tired and was coughing lightly every now and then when I arrived for our interview at the location of "Ate" last Tuesday.

She has just finished the taping of an episode of "Prinsesa ng Banyera" at 4 a.m. that same day and at the same location, went home to sleep for a few hours then went back for the shooting of "Ate."

"Ate" which is directed by Lore Reyes with Peque Gallaga as its production designer, is Ara Mina's first venture as a movie producer. Under her Posh Entertainment production company, she stars in it with her sister Cristine Reyes and Paolo Paraiso. And as a first-time producer she is very hands on and passionate about "Ate" she doesn't mind having sleepless nights and working alternately from her TV series to the movie.

According to Ara, her hectic schedule is the reason for her irritated throat but as the saying goes in the realm of entertainment, the show must go on!

She shared that she has been wanting to produce a film someday that when "Ate" came about, she deemed it as the perfect project for her. She described "Ate" as a story about how an elder sister took care of her younger sister. But it is not as simple as it seems. It also revolves around the idea that too much of everything is bad for a person. Because "Ate" is also about how a younger sister feels when her "ate" is always all over her.

The younger sister rebels and she gets back at her elder sister by sleeping with her "ate's" husband played by Paolo Paraiso. To make matters worst, the younger sister becomes pregnant with her "ate's" husband!

A tale of how an elder sister's love for her sibling could go wrong, and a story of deceit and redemption, "Ate's" cast includes Eddie Garcia, Eva Daren, Jan Marini, Gerard Pizaras, Jemuel and Roshelle Barameda, Jade Lopez and Ian Veneracion.

Below, Ara Mina talks more about "Ate," her fears, her experience and how is she as an "ate" to Cristine Reyes.

WS: Why did you finally decide to produce a movie?

Ara: Matagal ko ng naisipang gumawa tapos gumawa ako ng indie film yung "Selda." And this inspired me. Then when directors Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes presented me the story of "Ate" I was enticed to produce it because it is a story about two sisters and I've been wanting us to do a movie together. I also want a film kung saan ko siya maaalagaan lalo na kapag may sexy scenes.

But people would wonder why you're allowing your younger sister to do sexy scenes especially that you're her "ate?"

"Hindi naman grabe ang sexy scenes kasi we're aiming for R-13 para mapanuod lahat ng mga tao. Hinihingi lang talaga ang love scenes sa story. Ngayon hindi na puwede yung grabe kasi hindi ka na mapapalabas eh paano ka pa kikita at paano ka mapapanuod ng mga tao?"

What are the other selling points of "Ate?"

"This is a movie na magpapakita ng acting ni Cristine na meron pa siyang ibubuga kaysa sa pagpapa-sexy lang. Siyempre isa pang selling point nito eh yung i-compare kami sa pagpapa-sexy. Sa akin hindi ko na ima-mind yun kasi madami na akong pinagdaanan. Actually mas marami siyang love scenes dito tapos ang isa pang selling point dito is first time naming magkatrabaho sa isang pelikula."

Why aren't you scared of producing a movie at this time?

"Bago naman magsimula ito, eight months naman ang planning namin nila direk. Siyempre nag-canvas muna ako, naghanap ng mga tao with direk Lore and tumawad-tawad ako sa mga presyo (laughed). Actually I want to thank all my friends from showbiz who helped me here."

So what was the challenge?

"Pinagplanuhan naman naming mabuti ito. Kung baga alam mo naman malakas ang loob ko. Una nag-album ako, tapos nag-concert ako sa Araneta yung fund-raising ko. Kung baga every year iba-iba ang naiisip ko which is nagiging successful naman lahat. Nagkaroon pa kami ng workshop for this one bago nag-start para mawala ang mga inhibitions namin ni Cristine kasi meron kaming drama rito and confrontations parang feeling ko masarap panuorin kasi being sisters in real life puwedeng isipin nila kung nangyari na ito sa amin...may mga parts na parang nangyari na sa amin pero may parts na hindi naman lalo na yung mga maselan."

Are you as over protective in real life to Cristine like your character Helen in the film?

"Yes, but we just have different professions in the film. I'm over protective in real life pero may difference lang. Dito kasi dumating sa point na nasakal na siya ng husto. Nowadays in real life I let her decide for herself like in her career and in her lovelife. Pagkailangan lang niya ng help dun lang ako susulpot para di ba matuto siya. Kunwari kapag nagkamali man siya at least magkakaroon siya ng lesson."

The story of "Ate" sounds simple, what can moviegoers expect?

"Maraming eksenang pagiging ate talaga. And I feel that a lot of people can relate to it. Maraming makaka-relate na magkakapatid lalo na mga ate diyan!"

So did you have headaches from being a producer?

"Sa awa ng Diyos hindi naman. Mas sumakit ang ulo ko sa movie namin ni Manny Pacquiao (laughed). Dito very smooth, walang problema, walang pasaway na mga artista. Tuloy-tuloy lang kami sa pag gawa and almost 60% na kami at matatapos kami this January."

How much is your projected budget?

"Siyempre pinag-aralan ko muna at nagtanong ako sa manager ko, si Dondon Monteverde, anak ni Mother Lily, lahat ng mga kilala ko sa showbiz humingi ako ng advice. I just set a certain budget and my rule is not to go over it...wala namang masama sa pag-produce ko nito kasi ito ang passion natin lalo na ang pag-aartista. Tapos magagawa mo pa ang gusto mong role eh walang nakaisip na pagsamahin kaming magkapatid."

How was it working with Lore Reyes?

"He works fast. We always talk about the film and we plan things, like kung kaninong post production namin ipapa-handle ang movie. Eve-rything is in black and white kasi siya rin ang line producer. Marami rin akong natutunan."

So in the end you're sure that there won't be any investigation where a P10 million budget went?

"(Laughing). Honestly, mga nilalabas ko rito pinagtratrabahuan ko rin...hindi ko naman alam na mabibigay sa akin ang "Prinsesa ng Banyera" kasi November 2007 pa naplano itong "Ate." Pero I'm happy and thankful of all my blessings for 2008! Marami ako natutunan it's very interesting lalo na basta tapat ang mga tao mo hindi malabong mabawi mo!"

If successful, who do you plan to work with next?

"Maybe si Ate Vi ang next. Pero hindi ko pa afford ang talent fee niya. But then you'll never know. Positive thinker lang ako talaga!"

Francine Prieto, kinasuhan ng Estafa

NAHAHARAP sa kasong estafa ang sexy actress na si Francine Prieto at ina nito dahil sa umano'y pagbabalewalang bayaran ang tinatayang P150,000 halaga ng alahas na kanilang kinuha sa isang negosyante.

Kinilala ni HA Arnel Dalumpines, hepe ng Special Task Force (STF) ng NBI ang kinasuhan na sina Ana Marie Falcon, kilala sa screen name na Francine Prieto at ina nitong si Amelia Falcon.

Ang pagsasampa ng kaso laban sa mag-ina ay bunsod sa reklamo ni Barbara Tolentino, 31, may-ari ng BIC Fine Jewelry ng 116 Doctor Alejo St., Sta Ana, Manila

Ayon sa reklamo ni Tolentino kay Dalumpines, kumuha ng isang set ng jewelry si Amelia sa kanya na umabot sa halagang P150,000 noong pang Mayo 2007. Si Francice din umano ang namili ng mga alahas na kinabibilangan ng hikaw, singsing at mga bracelet at siya rin umano ang gumagamit.

Nang singilin umano ni Tolentino ang mag-ina, nag-isyu umano sila ng 14 piraso na post dated check gayunman tumalbog lahat dahil close account na umano ito.

Pinadalhan ng subpoena ang mag-ina subalit kahapon, tanging si Atty. Rommel Oliva, abugado ng mag-ina ang nagtungo sa tanggan ni Dalumpines at nangakong babayaran nila ito sa loob ng isang linggo.

Ryan , dismayado sa trato ng dos

NAGREREKLAMO ang fans nina Judy Ann Santos at Ryan Agoncillo sa naging ending ng Ysabella at hindi nila naintindihan kung bakit pinatay na naman ang character ng TV host-actor.

Double-dead daw ang character nito't twice pinatay at ang hindi maganda, ang dalawa ang sinisisi ng kanilang fans sa nagtapos na teleserye.

Ang akala ng fans, kagustuhan nina Judy Ann at Ryan ang ending na hindi sila ang magkakatuluyan. Last project pa naman ito ng dalawa at mukhang matatagalan pa bago sila muling mapanood sa serye ng ABS-CBN.

Para malinaw ang lahat, ipinarating namin kay Ryan ang reklamo at galit ng fans sa kanya at kahit nasa Amerika pa'y sumagot ito.

Heto ang kanyang pahayag: “Hindi kami ang namili ng ending ng Ysabella. Ako pa ba ang tatangging magkatuluyan kami ni Juday sa kuwento? Imposible 'yun! “Pre-set na ang ending nu'ng i-present sa amin. Masakit na dinouble dead ako sa kuwento, pero 'yun siguro ang tingin ng management na magandang mangyari sa akin. Inuulit ko, hindi ako, and not even Juday, chose the ending. That was how management regards our team-up siguro.”

Heto pa: “It's not also true that we don't want to work together. We still have film commitments with Regal and OctoArts together. Funny, but after d successful SSS & Ysabella, ang ABS ang may planong paghiwalayin kami ng soap opera. To think na unlike Sa Piling Mo, with Juday and Piolo (Pascual) and the new soap with Derek (Ramsey) and Juday, wala pa kaming soap na kami talaga ni Juday ang tinatayaan.

“Not Krystala dahl tatlo kaming pinackage na leading men ninaTJ Trinidad at Sid Lucero and not Ysabella which was sold as a Juday starrer with a triangle. In fairness to me, kailan kaya ako tatayaan ng ABS at magiging priority like other stars na sunud-sunod ang projects sa kanila?”

Pinag-react din namin ang manager ni Ryan na si Noel Ferrer na hindi rin natutuwa sa nangyayari sa kanyang talent.

Sabi ng text message nito: “I surely don't think that this is the price of loyalty and box-office hits.”

Ang maganda lang daw kay Ryan, hindi nawawalan ng options at lagi pang nag-i-excel.

Raymond Gutierrez to host "Pinoy Idol"

We heard, though unofficially, that GMA-7 has finally picked Raymond Gutierrez to host "Pinoy Idol" which will commence in March in its new home network in the country.

With this news comes the confirmation that Ryan Agoncillo (who successfully hosted "Philippine Idol" on ABC 5) has been taken in by ABS-CBN to host the second season of the network's answer to the reality talent search, " Pinoy Dream Academy ."

As it is Paolo Bediones got eliminated also from the list. We just don't know if Paolo takes it any harder since his game show "Whammy, Push Your Luck" with Rufa Mae Quinto on GMA 7 was not doing so well after it got clobbered by Kris Aquino's "Wheel of Fortune" during the pilot week of the game show on ABS-CBN.

This bit of news also puts to rest the long-circulating rumor that Regine Velasquez will be the one to host the said show. According to those in the know, the Idol guidelines carry that the host must not be a singer so Regine, basically, was disqualified right at the onset. So is Ogie Alcasid.

We heard that Raymond considers this latest development in his career as the greatest birthday gift ever accorded to him. He is just excited about his new hosting chore, which, in fact, is a highly-coveted position.

We tried to contact the Gutierrez's publicist Jun Lalin for details of this news, but he refused to say anything not wanting to preempt any move by the network.

In the meantime, let's all wait, with bated breath, the commencement of the local idol's second season in the Philippines in the next couple of months.

Sharon all-out for her ‘Fad’

MEGASTAR Sharon Cuneta is all out in her support for her uncle, Tito Sotto, who is running for senator. She reveals that she has volunteered to support the husband of her Auntie Helen, the youngest sister of her Mommy Elaine, whom she refers to as her "Fad" (for Father).

Tito, on the other hand, considers her as his "eldest daughter."

During the shoot of her ad for Sotto, she related to the press how the moment she got the green light for the endorsement, she immediately sent a text message to him.A few days before, she went to a presscon thrown by Regal’s Lily Monteverder for Sharon’s kumpare, Jinggoy Estrada, a reelectionist senator, but did not openly endorse him.

"’Yung kay Pareng Jinggoy, ’di ba, hindi pa ako makaano, I could not even say na ‘tulungan natin,’ ganu’n. "Pero the very minute talaga na I just got my go, which you know what, thank God, was the next day, I texted him (Tito Sotto) right away and said, ‘I just got my go, so please, please, can I volunteer to do a commercial with you or ganyan, whatever, ’di ba? ‘Yung hanggang kung puwede ’yung picture namin nasa lata, baso, pamaypay, tarpaulin, anything," she reveals.

Sharon says she has always been close to the family of her "Fad," who has four kids, three girls (Apples, Lala, the youngest Ciara) and one boy, Gian, who is running for councilor in the third district of Quezon City. "Sabi ko, ‘daddy, sorry, kasi ngayon lang. Sabi ko, I just want you to know that I don’t take your treating me as your eldest daughter very lightly. In other words, dinidibdib ko ’yon mula nu’ng pagkabata. "Sabi ko nga, sorry po, ngayon lang, kasi nahihiya rin ako mula nu’ng tumakbo siyang vice mayor, senador, ’di ba, super lakas siya, tingin ko, I was never needed.

"Tapos ang sagot naman niya, ‘alam mo naman, ayokong nang-aabala.’ Oo nga naman, dapat ako ang nagpupumilit," she further reveals. "Actually kahit nung last election, naalala n’yo yun? Hindi ako nakasama sa kampanya kasi kumakampanya rin si Kiko. Pero bawat lugar na pupuntahan namin, kinakampanya ko rin siya. Tapos nire-report ko sa kanya. ‘Da, in-announce ko rin po kayo.’ Kung saan-saan kami nakakarating nun."

She also praised Tito for being a good family man.

"Hindi naman kaya ni Auntie Helen na palakihin lahat ang kanilang mga anak. Tumulong talaga si Fab. Talagang haligi siya ng pamilya."

Tito says he considers it a boost that no less than one of the country’s biggest stars is endorsing him. Sharon joins other stars, including Tito’s brother Vic Sotto, friend Joey de Leon, hosts Boy Abunda and Kris Aquino, in supporting him.