Mariel Rodriguez Not Jealous With Robin Padilla's Leading Ladies

Robin Padilla said that there was no truth to the rumors that his wife Mariel Rodriguez doesn’t want him to have leading ladies anymore. It just so happens that he has no permanent ka-love team in his upcoming sitcom, Todomax. “Ay hindi naman. Kakaibang kaligayan ang ibinibigay ng leading lady. Wala lang dito. Kasi ang gusto nila iba-ibang babae ang pumasok. Magagalit si Mariel nun. Ang gusto naman ni Mariel merong akong leading lady.”

The dashing actor further explained that Mariel has always been supportive of his showbiz career; in the same way that he encourages her to be paired with different leading men. “Kasi ako gusto ko sa kanya meron siyang leading man. Tulad niyan, magte-taping siya ng Wansapanataym. Sabi ko, ‘Dapat may leading man ka.’ Artista ka e, nandito tayo sa mundo ng showbiz. Kailangan yung mga personal e itatabi natin yun.”

But Robin was honest enough to say that he prohibits Mariel to have kissing scenes in any of her projects. “Wala na kaming pinag-aawayan. Basta huwag lang siya makipag-kissing scene. Hindi naman siya ang aawayin ko e, kundi yung leading man niya. Huwag na yun. Ako na lang ang magki-kissing scene. Magseselos na ako nun.”

What does Mariel have to say about his double standard in that aspect of their relationship? “E kung kaya ipagtanggol ng ka-kissing scene niya yung sarili niya, e ‘di magkissing scene sila,” he answered with a laugh.

In the meantime, Robin was very happy to work with Vhong Navarro and Pokwang in ABS-CBN’s newest sitcom, Todomax. “Itong Todomax ay isa sa mga katapuran ng mga napagusapan namin ng ABS-CBN at makakasama ko si Vhong. Sa akin din naman nagumpisa si Vhong sa Pwedeng Pwede. Nabantayan ko ang kanyang pagsikat at sana parte pa ako ng pagmayani ng kanyang kasikatan. Si Pokwang naman, e asawa ko yun eh. Alam mo naman, sa Wowowee noon isa siya sa mga nagalaga sa atin.”

Aside from the comeback of sitcoms on ABS-CBN, Robin shared that their show’s main objective is to promote good values among Kapamilya viewers. “Si Vhong at si Ms. Pokwang ang bahala sa comedy, tayo na lang sa action. Pero siyempre ang importante dito yung values na gusto naming ipaalam muli sa ating mga kababayan. May mga anak ako dito eh. Makikita din sa storya kung gaano kahirap at kasarap ang magpalaki ng mga bata sa Manila.”

Gerald Anderson and Sarah Geronimo Feel Pressured With Second Movie Together

Currently gearing up for his follow-up movie with Sarah Geronimo after the success of Catch Me, I’m in Love, Gerald Anderson admitted he feels the same apprehension that his former onscreen partner Kim Chiu feels now that they’ve embarked on separate projects. “Siyempre ganun din sa akin. Ganun talaga eh, sanay kami na magkasama kami lagi sa mga show so ito yung first time na magkahiwalay kami,” he shared during the launch of the Puma FAAS shoe line last August 20 at the TriNoMa Mall in Quezon City. The 22-year-old Fil-Am actor once again showed off his athletic side as he finished the obstacle course set up by Puma in just 5.5 seconds in his FAAS running shoes.

Gerald said he is happy with the way Kim’s career is going now especially after seeing her in her new primetime series My Binondo Girl which premiered just last week. “Sobrang cute. Sobra akong nakyu-cute-an sa trailer nila. Nagulat ako actually kasi hindi ko masyado familiar sa kuwento niya and then nung nakita ko parang sobrang cute,” he admitted.

Now that he is focused on his upcoming movie project with Sarah, Gerald admitted he is excited to start working with the Popstar Princess again. “Nag-storycon na kami for our new movie. Inaayos na yung schedule at kuwento. Sila na naman yung writers namin sa last movie namin so excited kami. DJ si Sarah dito at ako ay isang normal na lalake lang (laughs). Para kaming aso’t pusa dito so cute siya. Magbibigay si Sarah ng advice tungkol sa love. Sobra na nga kaming excited para masimulan yung movie. Para magsama-sama ulit kami,” shared Puma’s current celebrity ambassador.

Although he admitted there is pressure once again for them to surpass the success of their first movie. Gerald said he would rather focus on providing a good quality film that everybody will enjoy. “Siyempre okay lang na may pressure para mataas yung standards. Kahit nung unang movie namin mataas na yung standards for us and sobra kaming na-pressure pero sa tingin ko lahat naman kami nagwo-work, mas nagfo-focus kami under the pressure. Excited ako sa kuwento, yung teamwork na gagawin namin dito para mapaganda yung movie. Siyempre this time mas madali na para sa aming dalawa ni Sarah kasi nagsama na kami sa isang movie. Nakapag-adjust naman kami. Kumbaga sanay na kami at mas kumportable na kami sa isa’t isa,” he added.

When asked if and when the chemistry that they project onscreen translates offscreen as well, would he ever plan to court his leading lady? “Tingnan natin. Sa ngayon, siyempre siyempre mas gusto ko muna makilala siya at makilala niya ako. Basta okay naman ako ngayon. Masaya ako kasi madaming work,” he said.

Source: www.push.com.ph

Kim Chiu Starstrucked With Vilma Santos

Kim Chiu was admittedly star-struck when she finally met Batangas Governor Vilma Santos during the story conference of their movie The Healing last August 23 at the ABS-CBN compound. She could hardly believe that it has been a year since she reenacted a scene from The Dolzura Cortez story for Vilma’s TV special. Her portrayal was so remarkable that it paved the way for them to have a movie together.

Adding to Kim’s excitement for this huge project is the fact that Vilma is very vocal about her admiration of the young star’s accomplishments in life. “Ito na naman ako, wala akong masabi kanina pa. Masaya and excited ako. It’s something new for me to do a horror movie under Star Cinema and to work with Ate Vi. Nahihiya ako sa kanya. First time ko din makakatrabaho si Direk Chito Roño. Magaling siya sa mga suspense and horror movies so excited ako. Nakakatuwa and nakaka-touch na ako ang napili para sa movie na ito.”

Although she’s still overwhelmed by Vilma’s mere presence, Kim is looking forward to their bonding time on the set once they start shooting in October. “Busog na busog naman ako sa papuri. Alam ko madami akong matututunan sa shooting namin, sa personal life at sa pag-arte kasi siyempre matalinong-matalino si Ate Vi. Habang matagal kaming magkasama, hindi lang yung alam ko ngayon sa buhay, siguradong mas malalim pa yung matututunan ko.”

Kim added that she won’t really miss having a love team in this movie since she already has enough leading men in her ongoing soap, My Binondo Girl. “Hindi ko pa alam kung kailan ako magkakaroon ng movie na iba naman ang leading man. Pero sa ngayon ang focus ko muna sa movie namin ni Ate Vi. First time ako gagawa ng horror movie na may halong kwento tungkol sa faith healing. Medyo mahahati yung oras ko dahil sa My Binondo Girl, pero masaya naman ako dahil madaming work at blessings ang dumadating. At siyempre pagbubutihan ko ito sa lahat ng ginagawa ko.”

Source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sharon Cuneta Talks About KC Concepcion's Relationship Problem

Even though she is in constant communication with her eldest daughter, Sharon Cuneta admits she does not feel she has the liberty to talk about KC’s personal matters to the press. “Of course. That’s not for me to say. But she’s a strong girl. My girl is strong and level-headed and she has us, she has her family. Yes I would like her to be happier. Basta ang paalala ko lang, in general, is don’t you ever allow yourself to be mistreated or not held dear because baka ang tatay ko umikot sa libingan niya. Kasi lahat kami parang lumaki siya ng matino, lumaki siya ng mahal na mahal naming, yun lang naman ang gusto ko. Uulitin ko yung sinabi ng daddy ko noon, kahit metro aide maging asawa niyo, basta siya yung talagang mahal na mahal. Yung alagang alaga,” she stresses. Last August 23, the Megastar attended a story conference meeting for yet an untitled movie with Star Cinema which starts shooting this coming October.

Sharon admits that it’s only normal for mothers and daughters to have slight disagreements every once in a while but they have always managed to patch things up eventually. But the 45-year-old actress says that KC moving out of their home did not become an issue in their family. “Diyos ko last year pa ata or early this year. That was never an issue. Kasi alam naman namin na lilipat siya. Tsaka yung tampuhan, yung ganyan, tampo-tampuhan hindi naman naaalis sa mag-ina yun. Pero hindi kami yung type na mag-aaway, hindi. parang minsan pinapalaki lang ng tao,” she says.

When it comes to matters of the heart, Sharon says she trusts KC to handle things the right way. “Hindi ako nakikialam sa kanila. Pero siyempre anak ko si KC. Hindi pa nangyayari ito pero anak ko siya, if dumating yung panahon na kahit sino pa yung ka-involve niya, ganun naman lahat ng nanay ata, pag may nilapit yung anak mo, siyempre naman magre-react ka kahit papano. But she’s my daughter and she has a good head on her shoulders. I don’t meddle in her affairs kahit sa work niya, sa personal na buhay. But if she asks me to, I certainly will,” she explains.

Sharon shares that as much as she wants KC to make her own decisions, she hopes her daughter will also make the right choice and choose to be with someone who will treat well. ”I just want whoever it is that will be in my daughter’s life to love her and take care of her the way we would. Kasi hindi ko pinalaki yan para i-take for granted lang or babaliwalain. That’s very unfair. I don’t know. I’m not free to talk about what she’s going through. Hindi ko alam kung anong nakikita. Whatever she decides naman alam niya dun ako eh. Kasi hindi ko naman kayang idikta yung happiness niya. Kaya lang, never akong nagkulang sa paalala at never akong magkukulang sa pagpapaalala. At kung kakailanganin, ako na mismo ang kukuha sa anak ko kung hindi niya kayang gumawa ng ibang bagay para sa sarili niya. Dahil kilala ko siya, anak ko siya eh. Basta, anak ko yan, pinalaki ko yan ng matino. So dapat lang tratuhin siya ng napaka-espesyal din,” she says.

Sharon Cuneta Loses 20 Pounds

During the story conference for her upcoming movie, a visibly slimmer Sharon Cuneta greeted the press at the Star Cinema office. The Megastar shared that she has so far been able to lose 20 pounds with a regimen of treatments and selective eating. “My treatments certainly have helped me in Marie France. Sadly, I’m not the type to really get up and go to the gym. But I enjoy the treatments because they firm me up and they speed up my metabolism but you really have to partner the treatments with a certain diet also. I cut out as much carbohydrates as I could. Wala akong set na diet, it’s really a mixture. I have a cousin who’s kind of a health buff so she advises me tapos hinahalo ko sa ibang diet na nagawa ko na. Aba nag-work naman (laughs). I’ve lost more than 20 pounds na and I’m not finished yet. I’m aiming for another 20. I’m fine na but another 20 I think. I just cut down lang talaga sa carbo and sa sweets, yung mga usual na mga culprit ng pagpapataba,” she said.

Sharon said that even if she’s on a diet, it doesn’t mean she doesn’t get to indulge anymore in her favorite foods. The veteran actress admitted she did have difficult moments sticking to her diet. “I just did my diet na medyo hindi naman extreme na so bad for me. Pero siguro for me, it’s the loneliest that I have been in a long time (laughs). Food is one of the great pleasures of life and I have a sweet tooth. I cannot live without the cheat days. So kunyari, the type of Greek yoghurt that I like eating, if I have that to eat the whole day kasi I’m craving for that, then that’s what I’ll eat the whole day, yung ganun ba. So I won’t feel like I’m depriving myself, but at the same time I’m really not pigging out at every opportunity,” she explained.

Sharon admitted that being the host of The Biggest Loser: Pinoy Edition also helped motivate her to start losing weight. “The contestants on the show really struck a chord in me na it hit home. So the show became a godsend. I had no idea it was going to have that effect on me. And it really hit home, so sabi ko if I don’t do it now, nakakahiya naman. I have a commitment to Marie France and look at all these people, they’ve inspired me. Like I’ve said on the show and I meant it from the heart, they’ve renewed my faith in myself. So it made me want to be a better person inside and siyempre out kasi its also m duty to my fans eh and to my job to look presentable,” she shared.

Having had to deal with issues about her weight gain ever since she gave birth to daughters Frankie and Miel, Sharon admitted she can empathize with all the contestants on her show. “Yes of course we shared stories. I think it helped na I knew exactly what each of them was going through. I think if you put a sexy host in there, who never had to diet in her life, who’s never had to struggle with her weight, I think it would’ve been a totally different ballgame. But since I know exactly what they’re going through and I know how it is to be parang halos derided in public or judged for your appearance, nakakalimutan lahat ng qualities mo or lahat ng abilities mo as a human being when you’re fat. So that was so meaningful to me, to be able to inspire them. And in the process, they ended up inspiring me. That was such a big deal. I’ve cried a few times over that sa pasasalamat,” she admitted.

After being in the entertainment industry for over three decades, Sharon admitted she has already gotten used to always being under public scrutiny and she is happy to be shedding the pounds right now. “Of course sanay na ako. It’s exciting though that people they can’t believe it when they initially see me. Yung nakikita nila kasi sa TV, ano pa yun, more than a month ago so hindi pa yun yung updated,” she added.

Gary Valenciano Takes Part in the Elements National Singing and Songwriting Camp

It’s the final call for entries for 7101 Music Nation’s 2nd ELEMENTS National Singing and Songwriting Camp. The event is organized by 7101 Music Nation, a brainchild of three music aficionados namely its Artistic Director, Maestro Ryan Cayabyab; its Chief Executive Officer, established businessman Julio D. Sy, Jr.; and its Chief Operating Officer, music industry maven Twinky Lagdameo. The goal of the company is to build platforms that will gather Filipino artists and musicians and promote the sharing of ideas and talents to further uplift Filipino musicality and artistry.

The ELEMENTS National Songwriting Camp was the group’s pilot project and after successfully hosting the Camp for songwriters last year, a new track has been added this time to include singers. The camp is an opportunity for aspiring singers and songwriters to bond and learn from the mentors. The camp is open to all aspiring singers aged 18 to 25 and all aspiring songwriters aged 18 to 35 who are citizens and residents of the Philippines.

There is a limited number of slots for each track and a select group of established and highly respected singers and songwriters shall screen and audition the participants for the singing and songwriting slots. A total of 30 singers and 30 songwriters will be chosen to join this year’s Camp which takes place in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental from Nov 6 to 10, 2011. The application process is solely online and interested applicants may visit www.7101musicnation.com.ph. Deadline for application is August 31.

The five-day camp will include workshops, lectures, talks, one-on-one consultations, group collaborations, and presentations, among others, under the tutelage of some of the country’s top artists including Ryan Cayabyab, Joey Ayala, Gary Valenciano, Jett Pangan, Noel Cabangon, Jim Paredes, Gabby Alipe of Urbandub, Ebe Dancel, Jungee Marcelo, Raimund Marasigan, Gary Granada, Jed Madela, Dulce, Jimmy Antiporda, Angeli Valenciano, Jay Durias, among many others.

Applicants for the songwriting track must submit an .mp3 of an original composition, its lyrics, and a two-minute video answering the question why they should be accepted to the Camp. The video should also include footage of the song being performed by applicants themselves or with a guest singer.

Applicants for the singing track, on the other hand, must submit a video of themselves singing an original Filipino song plus a two-minute video answering the question why they should be accepted to the Camp. The song must be performed a capella. No entries with instrumentation or a band will be considered.

The videos must be 5-10mb and in any one of these formats: .mp4, .avi, or .mov. Each applicant can only apply once as either as a singer or as a songwriter.

Growing Up Premieres on September 4

Have a fun and exciting ultimate barkada experience (U.B.E.) with ABS-CBN’s newest series, “Growing Up,” starring Kathryn Bernardo, Julia Montes, Diego Loyzaga and TV’s newest heartthrob, Daniel Padilla.

Follow the story of childhood best friends, Ella (Kathryn Bernado) and Tammy (Julia Montes) as they rally their friends to help raise money for Ms. Lisa Ortega (Maricar Reyes), their favorite teacher who was diagnosed with a serious ailment.

Ella and Tammy together with their friends join various contests in their community aiming to seize the biggest price to raise funds for their beloved Ms. Ortega who, despite being in a serious condition, continue to guide them in their journey as teenagers.

In the process of trying to help Ms. Ortega, the whole barkada is confronted with their own strengths and weaknesses as they discover what ‘growing up’ really entails.

The ups and downs of their experiences change the way they think, dream, and love ultimately leading to their own growth.

Featuring some of the most promising stars of this country such as Neil Coleta, Yen Santos, EJ Fallurin, and Kiray and directed by Lino Cayetano, “Growing Up” will reflect what teens these days are really going through.

Don’t miss the premiere of “Growing Up” this September 4 on ABS-CBN. For more updates, log on to www.abs-cbn.com or follow abscbndotcom on Twitter.