Star Cinema's Bulong Trailer

The opening salvo of Star Cinema for 2011 is a horror comedy starring Angelica Panganiban, Bangs Garcia and Vhong Navarro under the direction of Chito Roño.

Titled “Bulong”, it tells a story of a Nurse (Vhong Navarro) who desperately wants to get the girl of his wildest dreams, Ellen(Bangs Garcia). Accustomed by a Filipino superstitious belief that when you whisper a wish to the dead the wish will come true, he went to see an expert (Angelica Panganiban) when it comes to those kind of stuffs.Things went complicated when he actually followed what was suggested to him and whispered a wish to the dead.The following day he got what he asked for and now all of the chick-a babes have gone affectionate to him.But it doesn’t ends there – later he finds out that he’s got more than what he asked for! Together with Angelica Panganiban’s character, Vhong seeks ways to make things right – but will they?

The trailer of “Bulong” has been showing in theaters before the screening of Star Cinema MMFF entries “Ang Tanging Ina Mo, Last Na To!”, “Dalaw” and “RPG Metanoia.”

MMFF Official Explained Ai-Ai delas Alas' Best Actress Award

A Palace official on Tuesday shed light on the controversy over Ai-Ai delas Alas’s best actress award at the 36th Metro Manila Film Festival.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, also chair of the board of judges of the MMFF, maintained that delas Alas won “because based on the evaluation of the criteria as uniformly provided to all the judges, she obtained the highest score.”

Delas Alas is the lead star of “Tanging Ina Mo, Last Na ‘To,” the film fest’s best picture.

“Her performance was well rounded and I believe that if one would decide to watch the 8 entries, one would have agreed with the decision," he added in a text message sent to ABS-CBN News.

On the perception that delas Alas’s closeness to presidential sister Kris Aquino had a bearing on her victory, Lacierda said: "To answer the concern, Kris' closeness to Ai-Ai had no bearing on the latter's victory.”

“The jurors decided on the basis of each individual's performance. Once a movie was screened, the jurors immediately evaluated the movie. So, we wouldn't remember how one rated the performance of each actor or actress," she said.

During the event, several people questioned delas Alas's victory. Joan Cabaldo-Bañaga, line producer of Cinemabuhay and Studio 5's “Rosario," said she was surprised that Jennylyn Mercado was not nominated for the best actress category.

Earlier, Kris also defended delas Alas from her critics.

Kanto Boys Set to Do a Movie!

From their wacky performances on variety show “ASAP XV,” “Kanto Boys” are now set to invade the big screen.

The all-male group is composed of Billy Crawford, Vhong Navarro, Luis Manzano and John Lloyd Cruz.

"Baka matuloy na din ang ‘Kanto Boys’ na movie. Napagsama na nga kami sa isang commercial," Manzano said, referring to their television commercial for a seasoning product.

Manzano also cleared speculations that they are competing against each other.

"Walang ganoon. We have our own fortes. Siyempre walang ku-kuwestiyon kay Lloydie sa galing niya sa pag-arte. Walang ku-kuwestiyon kay Vhong bilang comedian at sa galing sa pagsayaw din. At kay Billy bilang performer,” he said, adding in jest:

“At nagkataong mayroon ding isa na pinagsama na lahat."

The group performs on “ASAP XV” every Sunday.

New Judge to Hear Willie Revillame's Case Vs. ABS-CBN Named

The case filed by Willie Revillame against his former home network, ABS-CBN, was re-raffled to a new Quezon City judge on Tuesday.

Judge Santiago Arenas of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 217 will continue to hear the case filed by Revillame in connection with his contract with the Kapamilya network.

Revillame has sued ABS-CBN for judicial confirmation of rescission of his talent contract after unilaterally ending their agreement middle of this year.

Arenas was appointed at QC RTC Branch 217 on Aug. 4, 2008. He is a former assistant city prosecutor of Quezon City.

He presided over the case of Mo Twister when he was sued by GMA 7 for breach of contract after agreeing to appear on TV 5's celebrity programs, “Juicy” and “Paparazzi.”

On December 13, Judge Luisito Cortez voluntarily inhibited from the Revillame case after the Kapamilya network revealed in its petition the “undisclosed relationship” between the spouse of Cortez, lawyer Angelita Ortega Cortez, and TV5 president Ray Espinosa.

Angelita and Espinosa, whose network airs Revillame’s new program, had worked in the same law firm together.

Marvin Agustin, Open to Do Another Movie With Star Cinema

Marvin Agustin considers it a big achievement that he was allowed by his bosses at the rival network to do a movie with Star Cinema. He reprised his role as the eldest of the twelve children of Ai-Ai de las Alas in Ang Tanging Ina Mo, Last Na ‘To, the film franchise that began in 2003, when Marvin was still with ABS-CBN.

He further shared how he was touched upon seeing the audience’s reaction while watching the movie. “Nakakatuwang nakakaiyak siya. Kapag pinapanood mo ‘yung pelikula mararamdaman mo talaga na parang totoong totoo ‘yung mga eksena. ‘Yung mga biruan, pati mga away at iyakan. Definitely mararamdaman ng mga manonood ‘yung kapag pumasok sila sa sinehan.”

Marvin said he had a great time doing the third and final installment of Tanging Ina because he was given the chance to bond again with the co-stars he missed very much. He said that if ever Star Cinema would offer him a role in one of their future productions, he would not hesitate to ask the permission of his bosses once again.

For now, Marvin has his commitments with his home network. He will also be going to France to represent his movie The Red Shoes, where he stars opposite Nikki Gil, in a film festival. “I’ll be traveling sa France kasi kasali ‘yung The Red Shoes and meron pang isang international film festival na kasama ‘yung Sigwa.”

Last November, Marvin went to Belgium when he was invited to be one of the judges at the Brussels International Film Festival. “Nag-judge ako sa Brussels International Film Festival. It was a great experience. Mas lumawak ‘yung mundo para sa pelikula natin. I was very happy kasi nanalo ang Philippines. Best Picture ang Donor and Best Actress naman for that film si Meryll Soriano.”

Jewel Mische Excited for Her ABS-CBN Projects!

When Jewel Mische was interviewed on the set of an upcoming Maalaala Mo Kaya episode, the new Kapamilya star shared that after signing up with ABS-CBN, she instantly felt very welcome in her new home network. “Napakasaya ko. I feel na welcome talaga ako. Bago ako mag-taping kinausap na ako nina Tita Mariole (Alberto of Star Magic) and ‘yung iba pa. Nag-reach out talaga silang lahat sa akin para iparamdam sa akin welcome ako bilang Kapamilya, para maging comfortable akong magtrabaho. Mabait ang lahat sa akin.”

Jewel talked about her preparations for the projects lined up for her in 2011. “Patuloy pa ‘yung workshop ko with Direk Rhayan Carlos. Marami na ring sessions ‘yung nagawa namin. Hindi lang siya for the MMK episode that I’m doing pero para na rin sa iba pang projects na maibibigay sa akin for next year.”

Jewel will also be Gerald Anderson’s new leading lady in the action-fantasy series Bagwis. Jewel said that she is about to meet with the creative team to discuss the project which will begin production after the New Year. “I think magmi-meeting na kami para dun sa unang project na pagsasamahan namin. ‘Yun pa lang ang update na mashe-share ko sa inyo ngayon. Abangan na lang natin lahat ang mga mangyayari.”

While the new Gerald-Jewel tandem is already creating so much buzz, the two have yet to be formally introduced to each other. When she was at the ABS-CBN Christmas Special at the Araneta Coliseum, she got to talk to some Kapamilya stars who described Gerald to her. “Marami na rin akong naririnig about Gerald and lahat naman ‘yun positive. Sinasabi nilang lahat na napakabait ni Gerald, lalong lalo na sa mga leading ladies niya. At siyempre napakahusay rin niyang aktor. Excited na akong makatrabaho siya para sa unang project namin.”