Enchong and Erich Meant for Each Other

The paths of Enchong Dee and Erich Gonzales were destined to cross and they couldn’t do otherwise, very much like the characters they’re playing in I Do, the latest feel-good romance-drama from Star Cinema, The Home of Wholesome Family-Oriented Entertainment.

Enchong never dreamed of becoming an actor, not even if his older brother, AJ Dee, was already striving to make a name for himself in the intrigue-laden showbiz.

A champion swimmer, Enchong revealed that all he dreamed is to be an Olympian. But fate had something else in store for him.

The Dees moved to Naga City where his father was assigned as a salesman for United Laboratories. The brothers, including Ice, were excellent in sports and that’s how they got scholarships — AJ in Ateneo de Naga, Enchong at La Salle Greenhills and Ice at La Salle St. Benilde.

Said the Dee matriarch, Tess Dee, “We were not rich and we couldn’t possibly afford to send our children to those expensive schools. But thanks to sports, they became scholars.”

Representing La Salle in swimming events, Enchong soon made a name for himself. In 2005, he won a silver medal in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games held in Manila. He and AJ guested on the ABS-CBN show Boy & Kris and then Enchong appeared in wet jeans in a pictorial for The Philippine STAR with the swimming teams of La Salle and Ateneo. That’s how talent manager Keren Pascual discovered him for showbiz in 2006.

Like Enchong, Erich aspired for something away from showbiz but destiny led her to showbiz, too. Erich joined and won the ABS-CBN talent-search show Star Circle Quest and her world was never the same again.

Soon, the paths of Enchong and Erich would meet.

The two were cast in the early evening soap Katorse, inspired by the 1980s Regal flick starring Dina Bonnevie, Albert Martinez and the late Alfie Anido, and their team-up got a nod from televiewers as well as that of the ABS-CBN management. Due to popular demand, the two were paired again in another soap, Tanging Yaman, followed by the current top-rated classy soap Magkaribal.

After their first big-screen team-up in the indie film Paano Ko Sasabihin (in which they play deaf-mute lovers), Enchong and Erich are back on the big screen in I Do. Directed by Veronica Velasco from her own screenplay (in collaboration with Jinky Laurel), I Do is the story of two young people who find great love in each other despite their contrasting backgrounds. Their beautiful plan to exchange “I do’s” is hampered by obstacles, including Erich’s character’s unexpected pregnancy and the objection of Enchong character’s family to the relationship.

The kind of romance-drama with which lovers of all ages can identify, I Do also stars Dennis Padilla, Janus del Prado and Nash Aguas. Pokwang is featured in a special participation while Pinoy Big Brother graduate Melai Cantiveros is being introduced. Also starring are Ricardo Cepeda, Isay Alvarez, Jun Urbano, Eliza Pineda, Alwyn Uytingco, Jane Oneiza, Allyson Lualhati, Che Ramos and Joyce So.

Source: The Philippine Star

Here are more of the publicity photos for I Do.

Sharon Cuneta on The Biggest Loser

As the host of upcoming show The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition, Sharon Cuneta says she considers it a very big honor to have been offered the job. The Megastar, who has had to deal with issues regarding her weight fluctuations over the years, says that the show is more than just another job to her, especially when some advised her to just pass on the project “For me it was very touching kasi sabi nila baka maging laughingstock ka, ganyan, ganyan. Sabi ko, maganda nga kasi nag-lose na ako [ng weight] at this point. Nung biglang dumating itong Biggest Loser, yung timing din na pumapayat na rin ako. But I’ve never reached yung kanilang kalakihan. I say that with all humility and just love noh pero I understand them well, kung anong nararamdaman nila,” she says. The actress admits that she understands the importance of having a good body image as an entertainer and also for her overall health. “At a certain age and at a certain point, kailangan kong maging presentable sa publiko dahil sa career ko. Pero sa personal na buhay ko, kailangan kong maging healthy dahil mahal ko ang pamilya ko. What’s the point of working so hard and saving all your suweldo kung ipang-o-ospital mo lang pala? Kasi there are so many diseases caused by obesity. It’s just really changing your mindset. Para you eat a little healthier na hindi naman ibig sabihin na walang ka-lasa lasa yung pagkain mo,” she shares.

Sharon hopes that her headlining The Biggest Loser will make her a source of inspiration more than anything else, both to the contestants and viewers. “When it was presented [to me] parang nakakaiyak yung Biggest Loser. Sabi ko, by the time this airs, no one’s going to laugh at me. They will all be inspired because when they auditioned, nag-iyakan talaga yung iba,” she says. Sharon was also especially proud to announce how successful the first audition was. “Nung nagpa-audition ang Biggest Loser Asia, 80 pinoys lang ang nag-audition, pero nung nagpa-audition na for The Biggest Loser Philippines, more than 600 ang dumating. Ang nakakaiyak, nag-iiyakan ang iba pagdating dun kasi dun lang daw nila na-feel na hindi sila pinagtatawanan, hindi sila jina-judge, may mga katulad pa pala sila. Tapos lahat sila nandun. Bakit sila nandun? Gusto na kasi nila magbago eh pero hindi nila alam kung paano. So talagang nakakaiyak kasi nung nakita ko talaga, kasi hindi ko ma-imagine,” she recalls.

When asked if she’s ever held a grudge against those who point out her weight, Sharon says she its hard not to be affected but she just tries to focus on her blessings instead. “Sumasama ang loob ko pero hindi ko tinatanim. Eh kasi kahit pagbali-baliktarin mo ang mundo, masarap buhay ko eh (laughs). Magrereklamo pa ba ako? [Iniisip ko na lang,] “Kawawa naman itong mga ‘to, wala ng maipintas sa akin kundi taba. Andali pa ng solusyon. ‘Pag physical, wala akong problema dun. Una sa lahat, never naman akong nag-feeling Ms.Universe eh (laughs). Pero in fairness to me, nung payat ako, sexy ako, hindi ako patpat. So yun lang. Nami-miss ko lang yun. Ako I always laugh at myself ‘di ba? Kasi parang yun lang yung panlaban mo sa sama ng loob. (laughs). Pero siyempre gusto ko rin yung hindi nahihirapan pag-nag-pe-perform. ‘Pag fit ka talaga, that’s why they call it fit eh noh, talagang tama eh, dapat talaga tayo magsumikap maging fit,” she adds.

Sharon says she also feels that it was a good decision that The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition decided to break the usual model-perfect host mold. “Kasi I know eh, I know how it feels. Kesa naman kukunin mo patpatin na modelo na pagdating dun parang nandidiri siya kasi kumain siya tatlong gulay lang, tapos silang lahat parang may buffet. (laughs) tapos nagpapanggap siyang masaya siya. Naaawa na lang ako sa kanya kasi ang ganda-ganda mo nga, parang araw-araw naman aburido ka,” she says in jest. Sharon says people should take care to always eat in moderation. “So maganda na yung kumakain tayo ng masarap. Ibig sabihin masarap ang kain namin sa bahay. Pero ‘wag naman yung pati pagkain ng ating mga anak inuubos natin. You know I read somewhere na hindi naman based sa genes lang, minsan talaga merong mga sobrang bagal talaga ng metabolism. May iba’t ibang rason. So hindi ibig sabihin, tumaba silang ganyan kasi kain lang sila ng kain. So nandun na yun pero madami pang ibang dahilan. So talagang ako wala akong qualms about it,” she says.

Watch out for The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition as it premieres next year on ABS-CBN.

Jason Francisco on Kokey at Ako

Former Pinoy Big Brother housemate Jason Francisco is very thankful to ABS-CBN that after Precious Hearts Romances presents Impostor, he was given a role in another teleserye, Kokey @ Ako which is set to premiere this September 20. His onscreen partner will be no other than his ka love team, Big Winner Melai Cantiveros. Jason is very happy that until now, there are still people who are fans of his love team with Melai called Melason. “Masaya ako na patuloy pa rin ‘yung suporta ng mga tao sa amin. Siyempre palagi naman na may bagong artista na dumadating. Sila na ‘yung gugustuhin ng mga tao. Salamat sa lahat ng hanggang ngayon gusto pa rin kami nina Isay (his nick name for Melai). Sana patuloy pa rin ang suporta.”

These fans are the reason Jason and Melai are very much in demand on TV and in concerts. They recently went to London together with other Kapamilya stars for a The Filipino Channel show. With what seems to be a very hectic schedule, how true is it that Jason is feeling exhausted and is thinking about quitting showbiz? The Mindoro native, who never really planned to become an artista, clarified, “Dati hindi ko talaga gusto mag artista. Pero siguro lahat ng bagay natututunan naman. Ngayon nagugustuhan ko na ‘yung pag arte. Kung hindi naman ako mag aartista, wala rin naman akong ibang gagawin sa amin sa probinsya. Nagustuhan ko na rin mag artista kasi parang hanap-buhay ko na ito, para kumita rin.”

Jason knows very well that many out there are hoping to get into showbiz, but only a few actually make it. “Nagpapasalamat na lang ako na nabibigyan ako ng sunod sunod na proyekto. Nakakasama ko pa ‘yung mga sikat na artista. Dati sa Impostor nakasama ko sina Sam Milby at si Maja Salvador. Dito sa Kokey kasama ko sina Vhong (Navarro) at si Toni (Gonzaga). May Banana Split pa kami ni Isay. Nagpapasalamat talaga ako. Kasama na talaga ‘yung pagod.”

Though admitting that he’s still far from being considered a good actor, Jason is very much open to learning new things. He even shared his dream of maybe someday starring in an independent film dealing with a subject that is close to his heart. “Gusto ko gumawa ng indie film. Gusto ko ‘yung ipapakita ‘yung mga nangyayari sa mga kabataan sa kalye. Siyempre na-experience ko ‘yung ganung buhay. Noon palagi akong nasa kalsada. Para na rin makapagbigay aral na rin sa mga kabataan. Alam ko hindi pa naman talaga ako magaling na artista talaga pero kung anong ipagawa sa akin handa akong gawin. Dun ko lang siguro malalaman kung kaya ko ba talaga at hanggang saan ba ang kaya ko.”

Wildest TV Show Moments on Velvet

Brace yourselves for a laugh trip on the wild side as Velvet intensifies everyone’s evening with its exclusive first run of Wildest TV Show Moments.

With renowned comedian Loni Love as the host, Wildest TV Show Moments features outrageous clips from a number of reality shows, television series and commercials that make up the wildest, most humorous TV moments. From reality cop shows to promising dating programs, the new wild offering has it all.

Episodes of the newest cable TV craze collect the most outrageous clips from specials like “Wildest Cop Show Moments,” “Wildest Court Show Moments,” “Wildest Dating Show Moments,” “Wildest Spring Break Moments,” “Wildest TV Commercial Moments” and “Wildest Wedding Show Moments.” From cheeky and candid to funny and downright frightful, there is definitely nothing tame about this wild collection of video clips.

Join Velvet’s laugh-out-loud evenings with Wildest TV Show Moments, Tuesdays at 8 p.m., exclusively on Velvet (SkyCable channel 53).

Velvet wins you over with the very best in TV! Catch another exciting month on the country’s premium general entertainment channel for women, Velvet.

Worst Bus Accident Survivor on I Survived

Less than a month ago, 17 year-old Darwin Lomboy, a market helper, became one of only nine survivors of the worst bus accident in the Philippines this year.

Lomboy, being the noble and kind brother that he is, opted to put his studies to a halt and start working in a Benguet market to help his father fund his sister’s education.

Last August 18, Lomboy rode a bus from his work to their house in La Union. Never in his mind did he imagine it could have been his last trip home.

After the brakes failed, the bus driver lost control of the vehicle, which eventually plunged into a 150-foot deep ravine. The accident claimed the lives of 41 of its 50 passengers.

How did Lomboy survive such a devastating experience? Witness his amazing escape from death with anchor Ces Orena-Drilon, on “I Survived” this Thursday (Sep 16) night after “Bandila” on ABS-CBN.

ABS-CBN Releases PUSH.COM.PH on the Net

A new entertainment website or shall we say a showbiz website has been launch by ABS-CBN company to cater all the entertainment news. This website is made for those avid fan of showbiz news. Updated daily, this website has all the hottest news in showbiz entertainment today, from breaking news, gossips, scandals and blind items in entertainment.. Even news about new kampamilya shows and movies, it’s all here. That is www.pus.com.ph.

All of the news in E-live as well as the no.1 showbiz entertainment show The Buzz are all here. This is a new website that will cater to all you’re craving for entertainment news.

If you want juicy showbiz news, just PUSH it.