Syobis Philippine Showbiz Entertainment News, TV, Movies, Music, Videos, & Pinoy Celebrities

By Valerie Tort

The bubbly yet sophisticated Mariel Rodriguez graced the heavy spotlights as a commercial model and gradually walked her way in becoming an actress.

Before Mariel’s hosting stints, she landed a couple of commercials for beauty, food, and other consumer products such as Clean and Clear, Close Up, and Pizza Hut. With hardwork and lots of guts, she flew off the Philippines for an audition to the Singaporean-based TV series Rouge, which was aired on MTV Philippines. Rouge started her acting career not only in Singapore but also here in Manila.

As soon as she came back to the Philippines, Mariel Rodriguez joined the team of the adventurous and thrill-seeking hosts of GMA7’s Extra Challenge. Aside from a couple of TV guestings for teen-oriented programs, Mariel eventually graced the MTV Pilipinas studio and joined the other MTV veejays’ wacky and cool stints for the music lovers.

With her mindset to do the best in every work given to her, it is no wonder why Mariel Rodriguez became a successful TV personality in her three-year stay in the entertainment industry.

“In every endeavor I do, I promise myself to do my best. Everytime I’m given a job whether as host or actress, I give my everything to get the job done,” Mariel said in a newspaper article.

Maria Erlinda Termulo is popularly known as Mariel Rodriguez to her fans and to the avid viewers of ABSCBN’s noontime game show Wowowee and the Filipino-pioneered reality show Pinoy Big Brother. Full of hopes and dreams, Mariel Rodriguez sketched her career path at the start of her acting and hosting stints. The goal-oriented host aspired to be one of the Philippine actresses she admired in the movies and the television shows.

Mariel began to visualize herself as a villain in her younger years.

“When I was young, I always liked playing kontrabida—Cherie Gil roles. I think I could do an okay villain,” she said. On the contrary, the mainstream entertainment industry accepted Mariel Rodriguez as the funny girl-next-door who radiated a vibrant aura that contaminated everyone who saw her.

“When I entered showbiz I really thought that I was going to do more of acting, and that’s really what I wanted to do from the start. I wanted to be a dramatic actress,” she said. “But lately, I’ve leaned more towards comedy and hosting. It is really far from what I wanted to do but if I was given a choice, I want to do drama and be in movies. I also want to be in a teleserye,” the model-turned-host added.

Reflecting from her first acting stint to her latest Maalaala Mo Kaya guesting, she saw how she was transformed from the playful performer of Rouge to a serious actress in the Philippine primetime.

“The Mariel in Rouge? All I cared about was looking good in Rouge. I swear. Whenever I would watch a scene I’d say, ‘Oh no, I have no lip gloss there,” or, like ‘Oh no, that’s not my best angle,’” she recalled.

“I didn’t feel conscious, even when I had a crying scene and my face got even more distorted (referring to her role in Maalaala Mo Kaya). I was dedicated to give justice to my role as compared to the Mariel in Rouge. I’m definitely more mature now,” Mariel said.

Mariel felt that she owed her biggest break to Pinoy Big Brother and learned a lot from the experience. “I’m really lucky that my manager is also a host so he really guided me every step of the way,” she said.

From all these work experiences Mariel had, she knew that there is still something out there to be learned—whether it may be in the field of acting or another kind of hosting for a different kind of television show.

“I don’t think I’m on top. I’m still working my way,” she said.

Mariel Rodriguez is just blossoming as an actress. No wonder if she will once again captivate the audiences as they see her more serious side just like in Maalaala Mo Kaya.

Tags: Mariel Rodriguez, Philippine Celebrities, Philippine Entertainment News

by Valerie Tort

Iya Villania is one of the mainstream talents in the Philippine showbiz industry that started as a commercial and print ad model.

Her features that resembled like an anime figure is Iya’s stepping stone in becoming one of the hottest model and product endorser especially for Globe ads. Not only her stardom was due to the “anime look” but also her screen name Iya.

“Iya’s not my real name. It’s actually the name of an Anime character. They presented me as ‘Iya’ when I first appeared on TV because they thought the name suited me. I looked like an Anime character daw kasi!” Iya recalled.

‘Raelene Elaine Villania’ is her name known to some of her friends and classmates, ‘Bubba’ is her nickname with her family, and simply ‘Iya’ for her loving and supportive fans.

Music was close to her heart even in her formative years. She loved participating in school concerts, church choirs, and would sing to her family during one of her “home concert performances.” The bubbly Iya continued her passion for music by performing on stage with one of the Philippine singing talent Geneva Cruz in a concert tour in her hometown, Australia. Since her mother was one of the people who made the show possible, she was xxx to do the front act of Geneva’s concert.

Luckily, she became one of the MYX VJs. “Being a VJ is, for me, the perfect job. I can be myself. I can do what I love doing. just playing around with music. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do, because I used to see Donita Rose and I’m. like, ‘Wow, what she’s doing is so fun! I love music!.’”

Before becoming a VJ, a hosting job opportunity opened its doors along with numerous product endorsements and TV shows that made her shine.

“School ends in December in Australia and starts in June here in the Philippines. So for six months, I did nothing but attend VTR’s. At first, I felt bad because I wasn’t getting any callbacks. I even began to think something was wrong with me,” Iya recalled.

Thanks to Arnold Vegafria, the talent manager who spotted her in Australia and to her perseverance in going to endless VTRs, she landed modeling stints for Globe, Sketchers, Coca Cola, Bench, Palmolive, and Silka Papaya.

Soon, she was launched as one of the GMA7 talents in their youth-oriented show Click. After some time, she landed a hosting gig for Gamechannel and a full-blown acting career in her debut movie A Beautiful Life. She still embraced acting with open arms, even if her first love was music.

“I didn’t quite dream of being in showbiz when I was a kid,” the host of the Sunday primetime show U Can Dance said.

Iya Villania is also a goal-oriented person even outside the Philippine showbiz industry. She knows what she wanted after her career is over.

“It’s fun, but it’s a dangerous business, really. There are new people constantly coming in. A lot of people in show biz my age make the mistake of thinking that it’s gonna be here forever, that they can live off show biz for the rest of their lives. Some of them stop pursuing their education,” Iya said.

Iya Villania made sure that she would be prepared when the time comes she needs to say goodbye to showbizness.

“I keep my priorities straight. I promised my family and myself that I’d study. So I’m keeping my word. I like studying,” Iya said.

The model-celebrity made sure she can juggle up her school commitments alongside her modeling, hosting, and acting stints.

“The reason I took up AB Psych in De La Salle University is because if ever I can become a full-time student again, and I really want to take up Law or Medicine, I can always shift to BS. I’d like to be a doctor, or maybe anything that has to do with helping people,” Iya confessed her plans after showbizness.

“I’m scared to dissapoint my parents and my priority is to finish my studies. That’s the reason why I’m picky with my commitments,” Iya Villania said.

Studying is also a therapeutic activity for the model-host-actress. Keeping in touch with her normal life is one of the best gifts school can give her.

“I think it’s probably one of the biggest reasons why I stay real and also feel so normal. because I’m around so many students and not artistas, So It makes me feel like I’m one of them, because I am. The only difference is that I work on TV. and people see me on TV,” Iya confesed.

Iya Villania is a real and normal person valuing education and every blessing she did receive.

At the end of her typical day, Iya bows down her head and thanks the Lord for all the blessings she received.

Tags: Iya Villania, Philippine Celebrities, Philippine Entertainment News

By Valerie Tort

It is very ironic that the fashion model, actress, and the six-year fashion and lifestyle show host Angel Aquino is not included in the heightened alert for fashionistas these days.

“I’m not into fashion. I don’t buy jewelry. I don’t buy clothes. I don’t buy any fancy stuff. But I’m making an effort,” Angel confessed.

Her maturity as a woman brought an impact in the simplicity and essence of her life. Angel Aquino made it a point to do her best every time she was given another opportunity to work with the film icons and superb film directors and producers.

“I guess I have accepted that I am older so I’m now trying to organize my life better because I now value everyday. A day can’t pass that you did not do anything. So now, everyday is an effort for me to get there, to realize and finally tell myself I’m quite accomplished.”

Her accomplishments from the runway to the TV screen made Angel Aquino a versatile celebrity. Since she already reinvented herself several times through her career progress, Angel’s passion for acting was a surprise.

“I would give up hosting and modeling for acting,” she said.

Angel Aquino starred in several indie films (independent films) aside from landing a couple of roles in the Philippine showbiz industry.

“It seems that the mainstream showbiz people do not think of me for their movies. I do a lot of indie work,” Angel Aquino said in an interview.

However, her tough job as a TV personality involved several change in her lifestyle. To be slim and fit all the time is one of the challenges every celebrity has. How does she keep her weight down despite her attendance to events, product launches, and numerous parties?

“I love to eat. I’ll eat anything as long as it doesn’t feel super heavy in the tummy. People do not know it but I love to eat. I go to a lot of good restaurants. It is just that I choose the food I eat—fish, chicken, veggies, seafood, and avoiding beef and pork dishes like the yummy but fattening lechon,” she said.

In addition, Angel Aquino’s father side possessed a slim built. It became her advantage since weight and looks are some of the vital elements that would keep a personality stay in the showbiz industry.

In her teenage years, she never appreciated her looks and figure.

“When I was younger, I was an Olive Oyl. Mukha talaga akong posporo with black head! I was dark tapos I had really, really black short hair. I could not grow my hair because it was really ugly and frizzy. I was ugly,” Angel reminisced.

She even thought people around her were making fun of her when they told her to try modeling. It was when Angel Aquino landed a modeling job that made her believe the people who surrounded her.

“I thought they were making fun of me when they told me to try modeling in a hair commercial. I felt insulted until somebody actually asked me to do a VTR for an ad. I saw my hair moving and I thought, ‘Wow, it must be true!’ So hindi pala nila ako iniinis….I never thought I would become a model,” the TV host-actress-model said.

She is not only a role model for the TV viewers but also for her kids. Angel Aquino is a hands-on mother to her two beautiful teenage daughters She makes it a point to take care of them even if her schedule is jam-packed with shootings, tapings, and gigs.

“I want to personally take care of them. I want to personally bring them to school every day and pick them up. I just want to get them through until college—that’s every parent’s responsibility. I really want my daughters to be empowered. I encourage them to pursue their dreams. And after that, it’s all guidance na lang.”

She abandoned her wings as Angel Aquino continued to succeed in her career as an actress and a mother to her daughters while she kept her feet on the ground and lived a simple life.

Tags: Angel Aquino, Philippine Celebrities, Philippine Entertainment News

by Valerie Tort

Heart Evangelista is one of the most familiar faces in Philippine television. Her defining moment in the entertainment industry transformed from an experimental teenybopper in a youth-oriented show and several shoe and apparel endorsements to a lady clad in low-cut dresses and sexier outfits in magazine photo shoots and primetime series.

The hardworking personality of the bubbly young star was based on her strongest desire is to fulfill her childhood dreams of becoming an actress.

“Ever since I was young, I wanted to act. I’ve been through a lot already. I auditioned and lined up and had trainings for so long and finally I’m here—it is like graduating from high school or grade school. I didn’t expect it to be this much. I just wanted to see myself on TV,” Heart said in an interview.

Heart Evangelista recently made a come back in the ABS-CBN talent management after she took a chance to manage her own career path together with the pool of talents managed by Genesis Entertainment. She had several TV guestings on ASAP and did new projects under the roof of ABS-CBN Star Magic.

“Hiram na Mukha” was featured in ABS-CBN’s Sineserye, a short TV series that brings back the memories of timeless classics and blockbuster movies that hit the big screen in the 80s and the 90s, this is a remake of the 1992 film starring Nanette Medved and Christopher de Leon.

Heart (Carissa) played Medved’s role together with her co-stars TJ Trinidad (Hugo), the plastic surgeon who transformed the monkey-looking Carissa into a lovely lady that looks like his deceased wife, and Geoff Eigenman (Mendez Pedrosa) played as the love interest of Carissa prior to her plastic surgery. i

After long hours of taping, Heart makes time to see her family and friends and bond with them. For Heart, it is important to spend time with your loved ones since time runs so fast to miss those precious memories with them.

“When I’m free, I need to be relaxed, I have to be with my family and friends, because time for me is gold. I go to a parlor, anything that can relax me physically, get a massage or get a foot spa,” she shared.

At a very young age, she knew that all her folks wanted was to protect her and keep her away from nasty rumors. Her parents’ image of the entertainment world was an environment full of temptations and bad influences that might ruin her studies and future.

“They said showbiz is magulo, and maraming intriga. But maybe it really depends on who you get involved with (in the business), so they didn’t want me to join showbiz at first,” Heart recalled.

“Kasi siyempre ang daming at stake before, like my studies. Some of the people that are in showbiz are wild. Sa tingin nila (her parents) I’d be molded into someone like that. So natakot sila. Pero naging okay na sa kanila,” the Philippine Idol host said.

Every step that Heart took was not easy especially if the main man in the house is objecting her daughter’s chance of a lifetime. She described her father as “super strict.” Still, Heart took a chance in persuading her father to agree with her terms and conditions: “If I don’t get in, never mind na. I’ll forget na.”

“But I did, so he didn’t do anything na. He just told me not to forget about my studies and not to change because I was earning my own money and everything,” she giggled while recalling the incident.

She was very lucky and happy to be discovered in a Body Shop store branch in Alabang while strolling with her sister. Her break as a product endorser began when she made a Rexona commercial and jumped in the bandwagon of actress wannabes on an audition for ABS-CBN’s Star Circle Batch 9. She honed her acting skills and was molded into a public figure by attending several public workshops and short courses on personality development.

She treasured her craft so much and did her best until she is in the limelight. She knew that the young star is no Sharon Cuneta to stay under the hot spotlight and camera flashes a lifetime.

What’s her greatest experience to treasure as an actress?

“The best thing about acting is when you watch yourself on TV or on the screen, because it’s like you’ve been working the whole day, 24 hours, then there’s a crying scene, and you watch yourself and finally you did it. And you get to work with different directors and act with big stars.”

Well, Heart Evangelista has a long way to go and a long career to look forward to in Philippine showbiz.

Tags: Heart Evangelista, Philippine Celebrities, Philippine Entertainment News

by Valerie Tort

A big familial responsibility Bea Alonzo managed to take charge of at the age of 14 robbed her opportunity to enjoy her normal teenage years.

“Noon I used to pray hard na sana maging stable din naman kami financially,” the stunning actress shared in an interview. Bea Alonzo took a giant leap that changed her life forever even if she was still on the brink to stardom.

“Maraming nabago sa buhay ko. I miss riding jeepneys. Bibihira ko na ring makalaro ang younger brother ko. These days, I only go home to sleep, sleep and eat. So we’re just satisfied with sending picture messages to each other,” Bea said.

“All my friends have just graduated and they’re starting to work, but now I’m working to study afterwards. Parang baliktad lang nang nangyayari sa kanila,” Bea added.

Bea wanted to be an actress ever since her childhood years. She even mimicked the kids while watching the youth oriented show Ang TV.

“I used to act and cry in front of the mirror. Now I just laugh when I remember those times,” Bea reminisced. Her prayer to help raise the family with financial support was answered when she was introduced to Director Johnny Manahan after joining a mini pageant in Pasig City. She grabbed the opportunity to enter the glitz, the glamour, and the intrigue of the entertainment world the moment her chance knocked on her door. Her mom was hesitant to let Bea enter showbiz because she was still studying.

“Ayaw niya talaga akong mag-showbiz. Nagdrama pa ako. I told her, Sige na this is my opportunity, kapag ma-miss ko to, wala na,” Bea Alonzo said.

She vowed to balance her acting career and the school workload. She even juggled her acting workshop and taping schedules with her school attendance.

Bea Alonzo’s showbiz debut was unveiled during the presentation of Star Circle Batch 10. “My first TV appearance was on ASAP during the launch. After that, it was ASAP every Sunday. A trio was also formed, with me, Angelene Aguilar and Pia Romero — we were supposed to be the new generation of underage stars. It didn’t click, so they came up with youth-oriented show K2BU with me, Angelene, Pia and Shaina (Magdayao). It ran for five months.”

The limelight never took away her innocent image but it infused the maturity of an adult. In her more or less five-year stay in showbiz, the entertainment industry’s giants transformed her instantly from a teenager to a young professional woman.

ABSCBN recently put Bea Alonzo on the spotlight portraying the role of Jacky Madrigal, the heiress of a bank owner and a businessman (Christopher de Leon) in the dramatic love and life conflicts in the teleserye Maging Sino Ka Man, which ended last May. It was one of the most top-rated soap operas in primetime television that featured the reel couple Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz along with the new love team of Anne Curtis and Sam Milby.

With the harsh spotlight aimed at her, she was still responsible enough to deal with every pressure and hardships life threw on her acting career. Bea Alonzo sees to it that she was informed in what her job needed, what it takes to land a particular role, and what she needed to improve to reach her dream of becoming a character actress.

“Actually, my dream is to be a character actress, not really ‘yung lead. For every role you do, with every taping, you learn something from your dialogue, along with your acting skills. Gusto ko kasing maraming matutuhan,” Bea Alonzo said.

“…destined ako mapunta sa showbiz. Dito ako nilinya ni God so kailangan na pagbutihan ko. I focus myself on my work. I keep in mind the best advice that somebody has given me: if you see a goal for yourself, go for it, give it your best,” the ABSCBN talent added.

To fulfill her dream of landing into more challenging roles and not limiting herself to a certain stereotype, Bea Alonzo struggled to shed the excess weight by squeezing workout sessions in her free time and dieting.

“Before, I tried eating less carbs and meat. I tried a special diet for a while, and then return to a sinful diet,” the 18-year old beauty confessed.

Bea’s success and stardom were the fruits of her laborious efforts and dedication to participate even in the minor roles the showbiz industry assigned to her. The stunning 5’7 actress resided her faith in God’s hands and let Him draw her destiny.

“I’m very patient. I’m not impulsive. I’m a Christian. Sometimes I do worry and get scared of thinking that I might lose projects at the same fast rate that I was getting them. I just pray, if ever He must have other plans for me. He put me here for a reason,” she said.

Her booming career will continue to teach and inspire us that nothing in this world is obtained easily. Bea Alonzo’s pretty face will remind us that it would involve numerous hardships, trials, and responsibilities in order to spell the word SUCCESS.

Tags: Bea Alonzo, Philippine Celebrities, Philippine Entertainment News

By Valerie Tort

When looking for a perfect advocate, the National Book Development Board stumbled upon GMA Unang Hirit TV host and mother Lyn Ching-Pascual’s extensive collection of paperbacks and hard-bounds. There and then, their search was officially over.

Lyn Ching is an advocate of book reading especially for children since it is their foundation years. “When you read, you exercise and stretch your imagination, you learn something new. With reading, you are feeding the minds of the people,” the TV host said.

The National Book Development Board’s Bookwatch, a quarterly publication, promoted a campaign for Filipino book lovers and enthusiasts. Lyn Ching-Pascual is part of their campaign titled Get Caught Reading Campaign. She became an image model for the youth and helped the Board to spread the word.

Her passion with books, since her adolescent years, extended to the point where she dreamed of building her own library at the comfort of their home. She became acquainted with novels when she was 12 years old. Her book of choice was Sweet Valley High, jus like other teenagers who fell in love with romantic narratives.

She maintained her passion until she started borrowing books to satisfy her desire to learn. “I continued borrowing and reading those books while my friends who influenced me to read stopped doing so,” Lyn Ching-Pascual said.

“When I go to a bookstore, I go straight to the biographies and bestsellers. I love reading nonfiction books,” she added. From reading novels of Danielle Steel and Stephen King, Lyn Ching-Pascual’s inclination for nonfiction books and other light reading materials developed. She tried to read as many books as possible in a goal to become a broad reader. “I try to be a broad reader as possible. When you know you’re smart, you feel good about yourself,” she explained.

Reading makes her an effective TV host since a host needs to know a lot of information to keep the talk alive and continuous on cam. The small pieces of information will bring interest to the viewers and also educate them especially when trivia questions sprung up. The bits and pieces of information are very useful when impromptu discussions just appeared like a mushroom.

Lyn Ching-Pascual’s world evolved in reading and taking care of the books she had. “”You start with picking the most perfect book in the bookstore. I’m very strict when buying books. The spine and the corners must have no creases. I also have rolls of plastic covers stored away just for that purpose (which is to protect the books from further damage and stress out of its usage),” the TV host said.

As an advocate for book reading, she also involved her three-year old daughter Gaby. She wanted to share the gift of learning and books became a vehicle for education. “It is something that I wanted to share with everybody,” Lyn said. “I figured if she sees me taking so much care for books, then she would also give importance to them as well,” the GMA TV host added.

She witnessed how the youth neglected the importance of books nowadays. She saw how people valued other unimportant things like toys instead of reading. She observed that people tend to neglect reading since they did not see the larger picture of life and their future. “I think every parent wants their children to be somebody someday. You can ensure their future through reading,” she said.

To help other children who have passion to reading but lack the financial aid to support their desires for education, Lyn Ching-Pascual thought of an idea that can be helpful and increase Filipino book lovers. “We need free libraries for children, libraries which are really conducive to learning,” she said.

Thus, she used her good image as a media personality to bring back the good influence that the youth need in terms of readership and book importance.

Tags: Lyn Ching,
Philippine Celebrities,
Philippine Entertainment News

By Valerie Tort

One of the prettiest faces in the Philippine movie and television scene, Angelica Panganiban, knocked down a couple of men’s magazines in her comeback to the showbiz industry.

Angelica was on the spotlight of the Philippine movie industry when the film Sarah, Ang Munting Prinsesa showed in theaters. Though the spotlight was nor harsh to her, she cannot enjoy the usual things a normal person does since she became a public figure at an early age.

“At first it was fun, but when I reached 10 to 12, I became envious of my normal friends. We lived in Tondo when I was a kid, so I was able to go to places like Divisoria and the like. But when I started acting, I was not allowed to go to those places anymore, especially after Princess Sarah. Everyone in the public would always call out, ‘Becky,’” Angelica said.

She did some television acting on Gmik sometime after her movie and confessed how the Philippine movie industry can be strict when it comes to physical appearance to the point of taking her out in the long-running teen show.

“They are taking me out of the show because I’m too fat. I was such a junk food junkie during those days. I had snacks inside the car which they called ‘Angelica’s store.’” But now, my body is used not to eat too much. I just have pig out days once a week. Then, there are days I go on a really strict diet and they call me kambing because I will only eat salad. I just eat tuna in water for pictorials like this,” she said.

To lose the stubborn weight, “I took up boxing but I stopped. I do not really like working out. I prefer badminton. Carlo used to go with me to the gym nung kami pa. When I tried to go alone, I felt conscious because people would stare. I would just end up in a sauna,” she said while giggling.

“Now, I’m really conscious about how I look. Before, you would just see me in shirts, jeans, and slippers or sandals. Now I wear skirts and dresses. My guy friends would tease me whenever I dress up since they knew me as a cowboy. They would always say, ‘Feeling mo, babae ka?’” she added.

She managed to be on and of the spotlight for a long time even if her weight became a culprit for her to bag few projects. Her life’s endeavors made her strong while maintaining her virtuous side at the same time.

Though her arresting beauty overpowered her talent and character as a person especially when she did sexy pictorials for men’s magazines, she went away of the stereotype of a woman in the Philippine movie industry—all beauty, little brain, and just a lady from a men’s magazine cover. It is her challenge to prove the people were wrong in thinking of a stereotype to associate with her since the daring photo shoots she had that revived her career not as a teeny bopper but as a young and talented star.

Gossips will always be a part of the Philippine movie industry. To combat the gossips about her regarding body issues, fake Ginebra San Miguel photos, and edited men’s magazine pictures, she made sure to answer the people with respect and giving them the truth, which they will also discover soon.

“I’m really aware with the chismis about me,” said Angelica. “I’m not dedma or feeling hindi ko alam ang mga intriga about me. It’s okay for me to answer all of them. It’s better that way to settle the issues. What’s important is that all the answers came from me and not from somebody else,” she added.

Her virtues never run out of fuel to combust in her persona and radiated during interviews and press conferences. “One of them is let them know and see that you respect yourself,” the 20-year-old actress said. “There are also rumors that a dirty old man is after me and I’m taking that advantage to earn more money. Kahit sardinas o kahit wala na kaming kainin ng buong pamilya ko, hindi ako papatol sa kahit na sino, magkapera lang,” she added.

Since her schedule became hectic these days, she never forgets to connect with her friends once in a while even if she is busy with her tapings and other projects. She sets aside time to bond and catch up with them.

“On days when I do not have work, I wake up around two in the afternoon, take a shower, and then eat “breakfast”. If I know I’m free on a certain day, I plan what I’m going to do before that day and start calling up friends to see who’s free. So, my activities really depend on my friend’s availability. I rarely accept work on Saturdays because I hang out with my friends on that day. It is like a ritual…Heart and I also keep in touch. There is not a day when we don’t send text messages to each other. At madalas din kaming mag-usap sa celfone,” she said.

Angelica Panganiban’s soft and tough side was seen by her fans for a long time. She continued to bag projects, with her latest primetime show is Rounin. Angelica plays the role of Aura, who has a prohibited relationship with her fellow Rounin Luis Manzano, in the character of Juris.

Tags: Angelica Panganiban, Philippine Celebrities, Philippine Entertainment News, Philippine Showbiz

by Valerie Tort

Before judging her as shattering the one-woman-man phrase, Anne Curtis is a brave woman who fought for her own independence under harsh camera lights of Philippine showbiz.

The half-Filipina half-Australian ABSCBN talent showed who she is even off camera. “Basically, I am a ‘what you see is what you get’ woman. I don’t put up any front or act for other people to adore me. I do not believe in hiding or proving anything and that, I think, is what makes me somewhat controversial in the showbiz.”

“I can make mistakes. It’s all part of growing up,” Anne added. She is not bothered or afraid of having slip-ups once in a while. Being independent means learning from your own experiences.

Anne has been in the show biz industry for 10 years. She did numerous product endorsements from high-profile companies such as Ginebra San Miguel and Head and Shoulders shampoo commercials under Procter & Gamble Philippines, and other photo shoots for glossy magazine covers. She also appeared in numerous TV series, soap opera, and Philippine primetime shows including her ongoing project Maging Sino Ka Man with Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz, and Sam Milby. She also starred in several movies, with her latest movie under Star Cinema titled ‘Ang Cute ng Ina Mo.’

With all her hardships since she was 12, and her Australian upbringing somehow contributed to her modern outlook in life—a woman of strength, character, and personality.

The cultural differences between Australia and the Philippines are highlighted by Anne as ‘somewhat restricted in terms of the daughters of the family.’ In Australia, daughters can go to school using their bikes, without any worry for the parents. “We live on the outskirts of Melbourne, in the countryside, away from urbanized and contemporary living. I had a happy childhood. I rode my bike to school and I enjoyed doing the daily household chores. It was so much fun,” she said. In the Philippines, daughters are fetched or even rode in school buses for safety purposes.

In her long stay in the country, Anne has adapted certain Filipino characteristics and traditions, but not foregoing the independence a woman must possess. “Well, I have to say that I am more Filipino now. The only thing that’s Australian about me is my childhood and my accent. Since I live here now, I’m more Filipina. When I go back to Australia, it seems that I’m learning things all over again.”

The half-Aussie and half-Pinoy beauty resided in Australia with her father, James Curtis, and transferred residence here in the Philippines when she was in her teenage years. “I am so happy that I’m here. If I were in Australia I’d have been in a boarding school! My dad was strict when it came to education. He kept on dissuading me when I tried doing TV commercials, claiming that they are just swindling me to dodge school.”

She finished her seventh grade in the Philippines so her father was worried that she may dump school and do modeling full-time. The thought of ditching school never entered in her mind. She even planned to finish her tertiary year in Australia after graduating at College of Mount Carmel in Parañaque City and be a pre-school teacher afterwards.

It started her independence since she’s able to decide for herself even if her father was discouraging her to go into modeling or even showbiz. But she continued to shine in her own little way by participating in various teen roles in movies and TV series in her adolescent years.

And this independence was always translated as being a stubborn or even an image of a ‘playgirl.’ “Well, I guess that’s the remaining false impression about me for five years now. I’ve learned to live with it, but I want to demonstrate people incorrect who suppose that big lie. They declare that I have two boyfriends at one fell swoop but on no account that had happened, I swear. I go on dates, yes, but at the end of the day I’m just a normal teenager,” Anne explained.

People knew her as a party girl enjoying all night with her liberated friends at the trendiest and hippest bars in the metro, and someone who is not serious about life and takes all the challenge, even with hooking up with other men. “I’m not really super pa-sweet but I can be in certain aspects. Bit I’m not the super all-out bad girl rin naman.

“I guess everyone goes through that stage when finally you are free of your boyfriend and enjoying yourself. But not to a point that if ever I have feelings for someone else, I’ll date him. I’ll break up with my boyfriend first before entertaining a suitor. I never cheat because I believe in karma. My God! Even if I finished work at three in the morning, I’d still take time to go out with the friends. But not anymore, I’m too tired,” she confessed.

In her public life, there will always be a misconception especially the Filipinos who are not used to seeing and being with independent woman. The tradition and values of a historical age somehow remained in our minds. Gossips and canard stories will surely be around as a result of the Filipino way of thinking.

“I hate people who are liars and who are not true people. I hate that. I hate tsismis even though I know it is part of the job being an actress, but what I do not like is when it’s dirty tsismis. I don’t let it get to me. Just as long as the people who are really close to me know who I really am, that’s what matters.”

People vary in how they define and put the word independence into context. Anne made herself clear at what independence of a woman is: “I think kahit papaano you still have to be independent in your own way by still working to have her own money for herself, working to buy her personal needs, and toiling for other things just to spoil herself. That is how a girl should be independent.”

She enjoys her hard-earned Victorian-inspired mansion near Laguna de Bay as the fruit of her 10-year labor in the showbiz industry.

“I live alone in my house, which I just finished paying. I want to enjoy my house kasi pinaghirapan ko ‘yon. My savings from the 10 years I’ve been in showbiz went into that house so I really treasure it. Everytime I walk into that house, parang ayoko nang lumabas pa.”

That is how Anne Curtis treated her life for her personal and career growth—an independent Anne that still is shining on.

Tags: Anne Curtis, Philippine Celebrities, Philippine Entertainment News, Philippine Showbiz

By Valerie Tort

ZsaZsa Padilla proved that there was such thing as spiritual healing and recovery. After filming the movie ZsaZsa Zaturnah Za Moveeh in 2006, the former model turned actress faced a lifelong spiritual journey that strengthened her faith in God Almighty.

ZsaZsa Padilla’s emotional roller coaster combusted as soon as another surgery must be done to correct her critical condition. With numerous commitments she must attend to alongside with her serious condition, everything seemed to be so difficult and demanding. Her overflowing emotions reached its peak even during lunch hour, said the crew of ZsaZsa Zaturnah Za Moveeh. Yet, she continued to hold on to God’s saving grace and mercy as she struggled with every step she made.

“I was born with a narrow urethra which got swollen through the years because the urine back flowed. Instead of coming out, it would go back to my kidney. My kidney got swollen. Last year I was treated in the States, I was opened up. Then, I started feeling the pain again, so the surgery. To make sure that everything is working, I have to be tested every six months. I do not know if I have to bear with this condition for the rest of my life,” the singer, actress, and television host recalled.

This is the time when she sought God for strength and power to overcome her fears and agitations towards the approaching surgery. “There was stress because you do not know what was going to happen in the next weeks,” she said. Prayers were her resort to gain emotional stability while fighting the battle between deadlines of tapings and other commitments and her life-threatening illness.

She began to recognize how powerful prayers were and how visible God was in her life. “I just thank God that I’m still alive,” ZsaZsa Padilla said. Her second surgery became a test of her faith I God. “That kind of experience can really bring you closer to God. I now read the Bible every morning and that became a new thing for me,” she elaborated.

With all the rumors and being labeled as an anorexic, ZsaZsa Padilla managed to surpass all the criticisms. She took good care of herself through exercising, and eating right. Though she knew that she continued living a healthy life, the rumors heightened the public’s attention. “It was painful for me to be branded something else because I am really fit,” she confessed. She continued to prove to the public that being anorexic was just a rumor. She walked her way to gain weight not only to disprove gossips but also for her speedy recovery.

ZsaZsa Padilla never imagined herself going through a near-death experience. “You know, when you go through a life-threatening experience, you begin to look at life from a different point of view. I have to live life a bit more; I have to enjoy life! So as soon as I was well enough, I traveled to Australia with my daughters. I realized that I shouldn’t be mad about the intrigues that I’m anorexic. There is so much intrigue then and I was sick, so I’m extremely under pressure,” she added.

With a second life to be thankful for, ZsaZsa Padilla understood the importance of family and the sense of togetherness. She reflected how she raised her kids and the precious time she spent with them. Being a mother for ZsaZsa Padilla was more than being a plain wife taking care of the children.

“I’m not a hands-on mom in the sense that I had my career so early. I was 18 when I had Karylle and I had explained it so many times, I couldn’t have done it better. When I had Zia and Nicole, I realized, that should have been the time when I had my first child, it was really too soon for me. I’m always there for my kids but, sometimes, they would complain that I don’t have time in the real essence of the word.

“It’s just that a lot of my time is in work, but no regrets because when they were younger, I’ve given them enough time. It’s not just really who I am. Before, parang nahihiya kang sabihin na your mom is just a plain housewife. Only when I became a mom myself that I realized that it’s a lifetime career. The dedication and all, I realized, mahirap pala talaga.”

“When I look at our photos so happy bonding together, I say that no amount of money could buy all those beautiful memories,” she recalled. The essence of having her family beside her was a blessing. “Too many times, I have gone against the normal flow of things just to realize that it simply would not work. The more I push, the stronger the resistance,” ZsaZsa Padilla pertained to the earthly deeds without expressing gratefulness for God’s blessings.

As much as possible, she committed herself in reaching out to her daughters. “Traveling was the best time to bond with your family especially for working individuals like us. So, I’m thinking of traveling more often with my family.”

With all these trials she encountered, ZsaZsa Padilla never missed experiencing mid-life crisis. “Yes, like everybody else. After I turned 40, I got depressed. I gained weight and I could not explain it. I experienced hot flashes. Suddenly, I became acutely aware of my looks,” she described.

“At forty, it’s good because I realized that it’s just up to you to make the change—that the power was mine; I can choose to feel miserable or to feel better about myself. I know all this is superficial, but along with it also came a lot of healing because I was going through so much. I was in mid-life crisis sort of thing.”

Going through these life’s challenges contributed to the singer, actress, and television host’s devotion to God. It was her secret power. She may never be a superhero in real life, but the Almighty Creator transformed her into a super woman—as she handled life’s ups and downs with the needed reinforcement from above.

“It’s true that life is short. You just have to enjoy it. It’s okay to work hard but you should give yourself a break every now and then,” ZsaZsa Padilla said as she continued her newfound life.

By Valerie Tort

Phoemela Baranda’s world took a 360-degree rotation as she strutted down the runway for several years and took a quick turn as “Phoem” stood in front of the camera while delivering hot showbiz news items everyday.

Another phenomenon struck Phoemela Baranda’s career as the busy supermodel turned to be a television host. She’s getting warmed up for another career peak soon.

Her booming career on the runway led her to make a name for herself. “I began modeling when I was 13 years old. I joined the Pink Soda Club search and I was chosen,” she reminisced her simple beginnings. Her first commercial is for Extraderm and did continuous modeling stints afterwards.

Several years ago, she did Nizoral television ads wherein she danced Tango and seemed to be a passionate young lady waiting for something unexpected; then she turned into a fit and healthy endorser of Century Tuna as it promoted the goodness of eating right and being healthy. “I always wanted to be a model, so when my chance came, I took it,” the supermodel turned TV host said.

“I felt that I had done my part in modeling,” the former officer of the Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP) shared as she looked back towards her glorious years in the modeling industry. She sensed that it was time to recompose herself and build an image suited for her career advancement as a host.

The tall and model thin beauty bagged the job to be the host of Extra Challenge in 2004. She auditioned to be the host who would replace Miriam Quiambao in the last quarter of 2003. She knew that this audition would be her break to bring her career to the next level. Who knew that Phoemela Baranda would get the hosting project with these established finalists such as Joanna Peñalosa, a former beauty queen; Josephine Canonizado, a host and also a former beauty queen; and Ethel Booba, a comedienne.

Possessing a good attitude and a cheerful disposition turned into success. After a grueling incident that led her to be terminated in Extra Challenge, she signed up to be a part of ABSCBN’s The Buzz. “In anything that I do, I make it a point that I will do my best and succeed,” she said.

True to her word, after a satisfactory performance in The Buzz, she was given another project by ABSCBN to be an entertainment anchor woman for TV Patrol World. Though stardom is only part of the success, she never let it hinder her way towards her booming career as a TV anchor woman for the entertainment news in TV Patrol World and the Sunday showbiz talkshow The Buzz.

She maintained being professional in her call time even though she knew that people would arrive late in the set. “I had to be professional because I knew the people around me were watching every move I make,” she explained. She also became more responsible of her actions since she is a part of the news and current affairs of ABSCBN.

She was not used to working everyday since during her modeling days, work schedule has been erratic. It was one of the changes she faced together with her career shift. Another change is the intrigues and gossips circling the showbiz industry.

Phoem said that intrigues and gossips are more magnified in the showbiz industry as compared to that of the modeling industry. She still do some photo shoots and fashion shows during her free time as more recently, modeling became her part time job. Her passion for fashion will never grow old and will never be out of picture, even if she accepted her hosting career as a full time job.

The constant pressure from her predecessors and the people around her in the showbiz limelight directed her to study the Tagalog vocabulary because it was the medium used to communicate better with the people from all walks of life she interviewed.

“I’m not really used to speaking in modeling, but I know I can keep up with the pros in my new career,” she said. She assumed that a wide Tagalog vocabulary could make her a better host since it was widely used in Philippine television. She also felt that she must be in touch with the audiences, so using the right Tagalog words was very important.

Phoemela Baranda took up Interdisciplinary Studies at De La Salle University College of Saint Benilde. She did her modeling stints such as ramp modeling, commercial and print ads, and fashion spreads while studying. It was not easy for her since she also travels both in the provinces and across the globe. Yet, she managed to finish her course in 2001.

The 27-year-old Filipina beauty was up to every challenge in her life. Boredom is replaced by another career opportunity she never missed. Her first peek in the showbiz world happened in 2001 when she played as a friend of Kristine Hermosa in the soap opera Pangako Sa Yo.

She also tried her luck in movies. In November of last year, she became a movie actress and worked together the stars Jacklyn Jose, Tirso Cruz III, and Victor Neri as she hit the big screen for the international independent movie Ang Pamana. Another movie titled Tatlong Baraha became an entry in the 2006 Metro Manila Film Festival, starring Lito Lapid and his son Mark Lapid.

She also tried her fate in a television series in 2003 titled Narito Ang Puso Ko. She stopped for a while and went back to modeling then returned to the centerstage in 2004.

As Phoemela Baranda learned how life could be so giving at one point and be cruel in a flash, Phoem believed that fear must overcome yourself, because when there is fear, you will lose your confidence and your state of mind. Her emotional maturity helped her to stay in the bizarre world of television and movies. This time, Phoem will not give up because she worked hard for everything so she will pick up the pieces, stand up, and fight once more.

Tags: Phoemela Baranda, Philippine Showbis Celebrities, Philippine Showbiz news, Philippine Entertainment,