PIOLO-SAM-LOLIT GAY ISSUE, UM… AGAIN, WHAT’S THE ISSUE?

I’ve been reading lately, even from a popular local columnist, Rickly Lo, asking what’s the big fuzz over the Sam and Piolo intrigue, why were the latter reacting like the issue is a big deal, and further defending the poor and aggravated party on this story, Lolit Solis, who stands by what she wrote – that she saw the two whispering to each other (in Filipino, “nagbubulungan”).

Lolit Solis, on the other hand, said that it was not herself who placed malice on it but the editor of the paper who wrote the title for the story that contained the word “naglalampungan” (in English, it is showing affection toward each other, but it is really a strong word that when one sees it, there is already a sexual connotation that comes to mind). What a lame excuse! Or is she implying that if the two matinee idols would sue, the editor deserves that more than she does.

Yes, okay, so what’s the big fuss about this whole hullabaloo? It is because Lolit Solis is affiliated with a network that is the fiercest rival of the station where the two stars are involved. Of course, even if Lolit was full of lies, the pro-GMA would defend her to the utmost that they can, as would the pro-Kapamilya for the two artists caught in this controversy.

Why does everybody seem to be on a defensive mode? You know why, had it been someone from ABC 5 or NBN 4 who had made the statement, who would care? But this is Lolit Solis, who is well-known as a GMA artist. It doesn’t matter that she doesn’t have an inch of credibility, she is a Kapuso baby and that is all what counts.

Let us not act innocent as if the poor Lolit Solis is just saying what she believes is true, and asking people why they are responding and so, making a big deal out of this. This is a big deal. Throw the stones at your own network and let the network mend the issues. But once you throw it over the bakod, it becomes a war, especially since Lolit has targeted two of the most bankable stars of the other bakod.

Hmm, I wonder why? Is it because there is really no “sikat” over the station where she works, that even if she sow lies after lies after lies to any “star daw” on her network, no one would care to react?

But whatever, everybody’s benefiting from this, it seems. Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby, despite disputing Lolit’s claims, were also given the favor to promote their shows here and there. And, of course, I bet that Lolit Solis’ showbiz-oriented show and even her column from the tabloid where the issue was first printed were getting the viewers’ attention and readership that was the sole purpose why she has written about it in the first place.

This issue is really a network war more than anything else. I believe that what made this showbiz gossip “big” is to whom it originated from and not really what the issue is about.

MANNY PACQUIAO, THE BATTLES HE OUGHT NOT TO BE FIGHTING

Is patriotism now in the Philippines synonymous to boxing?

Sunday here in the Philippines, October 7, Manny Pacquiao is having his “most-awaited” rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera. Why the quotes, one may ask. Well, let’s just say that I (and I know that I’m not the only one) was not really excited about the fight and did not really wait for it (for having to do more sensible things or having to watch more interesting shows than this).

Manny Pacquiao is the Philippines’ pride. I could not understand a rule of boxing but when Manny started winning and bringing home the bacon, I was proud of him. And though I didn’t like the sports, I tuned in to his every match, almost crying if he seems to be almost losing the battle, awaiting eagerly, as most Filipinos do, if he’s going to make us proud again for the nth time. And also tuning it to all television stations on his return, wanting to see how warm his welcome would be.

But those were the days.

It didn’t help that Pacquiao had the nerve to run for public office on the last election. For me, it showed that his fame had really gotten into his head. At that time, he didn’t even care to listen even to his political allies who were advising him not to run until he’s prepared to do so. And I couldn’t help but flinch whenever he was being interviewed by the media people and he couldn’t even respond professionally to the simplest question that was thrown at him – what is your plan if you’ll win.

And so he lost the battle that no one expected him to win in the first place. He entered into yet another venture – showbiz. Seeing Pacquiao on his best form in a boxing arena is a delight, but put him TV, or worse, in a film, acting, is really a sight for sore eyes. And now, he is being bombarded with all types of intrigues, like linking him to sexy star Ara Mina, saying that he has bought her a house and a luxury car.

It is not helping that his feeling-beautiful wife, Jinkee, looks like a hurting wife every time she’s being interviewed on showbiz oriented local talk shows. She should just have backed off, unless she also plans to be a showbiz personality. Oh, please!

Let us turn the focus on boxing. Mr. Manny Pacquiao should just do everything he can to improve on this craft and maybe venture out into other sports if he feels that he ought to retire from boxing. Leave showbiz to those who can act and can express themselves in a way that many people would understand them. And leave politics to those who can rule and who have the ability to make people respect them.

Pick your fights, Mr. Pacquiao, and don’t dwell on the battles that you are not supposed to be fighting, in the first place.

MARIMAR, OUCH!

Its full-blown promo didn’t fail its mother network, Marimar was well-accepted by Filipino viewers (or at least, the Mega-Manila viewing public). And alas, despite all the Angel Locsin brouhaha, a star has evolved in the persona of Marian Rivera.

But it is too soon for the local Marimar. The show is all about hype, hype and more hype. Watch it and you’ll soon find yourself saying “Marimar, ouch!” The acting of all the contemporary leads is all bad. They are acting, yes, to the extent that they can, yes, but I cannot feel their characters. Marian is still Marian, Dingdong Dantes is still Inaki (he has never outgrown his TGIS character), and Katrina Halili is just a sexy star wannabe, but still very young to be one.

If only this is not a remake. If only so many people didn’t know how Thalia gave life to the role. How she became Marimar on screen that those who were watching it thought that she really was her character. Watching the local version makes one feel like Marian is so trying hard to imitate Thalia’s performance, but as a new star, failed to do so that everything becomes crap.

All the actors need more workshops. Or else, just call it a reality show where all the actors are playing themselves.

Marian has a lot of potential to become a big star. This may be the right vehicle, but she was just not prepared. This was also the perfect project for Dingdong to do away with his wholesome image, to become disassociated from Inaki. But sadly, he has achieved the right “Sergio” body, but when it comes to acting, it still is raw, it still is “muntik na pero hindi pa rin.” As for Katrina Halili, the role isn’t right for her. It needs someone so attractive, more seductive than the female lead, as to make one believe that the Sergio character is still so much into her while the latter’s father is a fool to believe that she’s also into him. And Katrina, for me, doesn’t fit the role. Despite the “pa-sexy” image, she still has the innocence that couldn’t justify a “kontrabida” role like what she’s playing in this soap.

But what makes it click? The freshness of Marian is the main factor, then Dingdong’s well-appreciated transformation from being the always chubby one to this leading man material and, of course, the story itself. Marimar is something that many Filipinos had loved when it first aired in the country. And this is the sort of story that most Filipinos crave for, the Cinderella, rags to riches type.

It still ain’t over. The actors can still improve on their performance. Forget the hype. Work hard on your craft. Make the viewers sing to the tune, “Marimar, aw!”

I’VE FALLEN FOR YOU, KIMERALD

Who isn’t familiar with “Kimerald”? Even my 2-year-old niece knows them, only she calls them “Poknat” and “Bokbok,” Kim and Gerald’s nicks for the soap opera they last did, “Sana Maulit Muli.”

Kimerald is Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson, products of the “Pinoy Big Brother – Teen Edition.” They become famous inside the house for how they developed closeness to each other, even the network, which was airing the show, was not prepared for these two to be “it”. The network groomed the teens for different partners. It even had to edit most of Kim and Gerald’s sweet moments inside the house just to make it appear that these two were falling for the partners that the network picked for them. But then no one could no longer deny it and the network would not be able to air anything happening inside the house because all that was happening was that Kim and Gerald were “falling” in a deep friendship, (naks, showbiz na showbiz!)

But even if I am a fan, I still don’t want them to commit into a relationship because it’s still too early. And it’s more “kilig” if they’re still in the courting stage.

After an out-of-the-box concept for their first primetime soap, Star Cinema, the film arm of the network, which launched these two, decided to give them a “very” “gasgas” “cliché” story for their first movie.

And I am really not so happy.

When I first watched the trailer of “I’ve Fallen for You,” Kimerald’s launching movie, which would be shown here in Manila, Philippines on September 26, I didn’t finish it. I’ve more kiligs googling the two and finding pictures and write-ups about them. There is nothing really new that this film has to offer.

I even read the director, Lino Cayetano, saying in an interview, that he is not the kilig-type of director, so when it comes to scenes like that, he just lets Kim and Gerald do their own thing and it always comes out more kilig than he expected it to be.

But that’s how Kimerald has always been, kilig. They’re just standing next to each other and their fans would go crazy.

There was even a scene in the trailer where they were cooking, Kim and Gerald, and they were tickling each other and laughing, hmmm… very PBB, ain’t it?

But this movie has a nice plot. I know that this was intended for Sandara-Hero, but hmm, the two have decided that they’ve had enough, maybe, and went on their separate unsuccessful showbiz ways…

Going back to Kimerald, (sayang talaga ang Hero-San, they have lots of potential), the movie is really about two people having one name, they share one full name. And cute, di ba? It could have been played out to the max. This could have been a Joyce Bernal movie and this will be a riot with the type of kilig that we, as fans, are looking for. Or whoever did the Kimerald’s “Nescafe” commercial would have come out with something fresher than this one, had he or she only directed the film. (But great work on the commercial, something fresh to the eyes, something that fans are not so familiar seeing Kimerald on).

Lino Cayetano, as a new director, wants to prove something – he wants to do a film, which is somewhat socially relevant, the “not your ordinary kilig film” type. Well, Star Cinema should have gotten him veteran actors like Judy Ann Santos and Piolo Pascual, who have already proven their blockbuster abilities and not the likes of Kimerald who are into their launching film.

I am still giving the film the benefit of the doubt. I’ll be watching it because I am a trulili “Kimerald.” I’ll be going to the movie theater on September 26, just because I love the pair, not because I want to see it to enjoy a quality “kilig” film. Heck, they could have done this plot for their soap opera, and “Sana Maulit Muli” could have been their launching movie, and that would suit me, as a fan, much better.

To the fans of Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson, let’s see this film so that Star Cinema would give the pair a “better” film the next time around. And to ABS CBN, here’s hoping that if ever you have something cooking up for the Kimerald pair, let it be something “out-of-the-box” like “Sana Maulit Muli.” Yes, like that, but please stick to the original story and not, “Oh, kumikita siya, pahabain pa natin kahit pilit na” type, like what happened to that soap. Sayang. But that’s another story.



I will watch this definitely, hoping that I would be surprised to see that what I perceived to be “cliché” is wrong after all. Good luck, Kimerald!

OO, IT'S CONFIRMED, TSISMOSA AKO!

I’ve already accomplished most of my childhood dreams except for one, to be a showbiz reporter and write about celeb gossip (but I don’t really want to be the likes that are seen on TV, running like mad just to be able to catch on with a starlet and gasping a non-sense question, really, for a small piece of showbiz tsismis). I just want to write.

I used to write for free for a now defunct website about celebrity gossip, but since the target was US readers, I only wrote about Hollywood stars. I was able to last for about five articles, and then I could no longer find anything interesting about them. And so my page died a very expected death…

And so I am doing this blog, just to let out the jologs in me, to be able to free the showbiz writer inside of me and to be able to write not only about the latests Hollywood gossip, but also in the Philippines, where I am and where I plan to be for the rest of my life (naks!). But it’s not because I love this country so much, it’s just that I have a fear of flying, hehe!

And so this blog is now official on! Mga kapwa ko tsismosa, read on! :)