For The First Time Graded ‘B’ by CEB

The Richard Gutierrez-KC Concepcion romantic movie has been graded “B” by the Cinema Evaluation Board.

For the First Time is helmed by Bb. Joyce Bernal, the director of the top-rating fantaserye “Dyesebel.” Because of it’s “B” rating for excellence, Star Cinema is entitled is entitled to a 65% amusement tax rebate.

Other Pinoy Movies that received a Grade of B from CEB this year:
My Bestfriend’s Girlfriend (GMA/Regal) - B

My Big Love (Star Cinema) - B

When Love Begins (Viva/Star Cinema) - B

Ikaw Pa Rin Bongga Ka Boy (Viva) - B

Manay Po 2 (Regal) - BSerbis (Indie) - B

Torotot (Viva) - B

Dobol Trobol (Octo Arts) - B

Paupahan (Indie) - B

So far, only four movies have received the highest grade of “A” from the Cinema Evaluation Board this year:
Caregiver (Star Cinema) - A

Ploning (Panoramanila) - A

Urduja (APT) - A

A Very Special Love (Star Cinema) - A

Source: Starmometer

‘A Very Special Love’ Hits P134 Million in 2 Weeks

The first movie tandem of John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo is on track to be the biggest movie of the year!

According to reports, “A Very Special Love” has raked in a whopping P134 million as of Monday, August 11, 2008. This means the romantic comedy already broke the record of Caregiver which earned P111 million in two weeks.

The movie is now running on its third week and positioned to break the record of the no. 1 movie of 2007, One More Chance, which was also directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina. The John Lloyd-Bea Alonzo movie has a record of P152.79 million.

If the winning streak continues, “A Very Special Love” could break the record of Sukob in 2006 to be the highest-grossing pinoy movie of all time. The Kris Aquino-Claudine Barretto starrer registered a box-office gross of P186.41 Million.

Saan na yung movie ng kabila? Akala ko ba matataas ratings nila? Bakit 'pag sa movie flop sila?

Source: Starmometer

BUGOY Wins the Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 Big Winner Poll

In our poll called Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 Big Winner, Bugoy got the higher votes.

For the total votes of 25, below is the breakdown of votes:

Bugoy got 9 votes or 36%.
Laarni got 6 votes or 24%.
Van got 5 votes or 20%.
Liezel got 4 votes or 16%.
Apple got 1 vote or 4%.
Bunny, Cris, Hansen, Inaki, Miguel and Poy got 0 votes or 0%.

In my opinion, though Bugoy has a voice, he is lacking with the star quality. Will he survive the showbiz industry that requires not only talent but also looks?

Let see if the result of our poll will be the same as the competetion goes 'til the end.

Sarah: A Superstar is Born, A VERY SPECIAL LOVE Movie opens at P14million

SARAH Geronimo has done it again.

The phenomenal box-office take of A Very Special Love, which opened at P14million, has proven that she is the new superstar to reckon with.

The actress-singer, who teams up with John LloydCruz for the first time, won praises from the Cinema Evaluation Board who applauded her acting.

“Sarah is a revelation in more ways than one. She is the third `S’ – apart of course, from `Simplicity’and `Sincerity’ of the film – that makes the movie beautiful,” says the reviews.

Sarah, the report goes on, tackles her role intelligently. She knows the script and ultimately understands her role. “Sarah is bubbly without overacting. She is very raw, sensitive and natural, reason enough to herald her arrival in the acting department."

CEB members present during the screening of A Very Special Love said Sarah is an intrinsic part of the movie.

Viva Productions’ big boss, Vic del Rosa-rio, has hitthe jackpot again. His keen eye for potential stars has spelled box-office success once more. In Sarah, he has found the ideal star: talented, humble, highly bankable.

Now, Sarah is not only confined to making hit CDs and starring in popular TV series. She has crossed over to the big screen as a certified box-office star.

Sarah is, in other words, a multi-media star.In an industry which needs new blood to keep it going, that’s welcome news, indeed.

Source: Kapamilya Central

Zanjoe Marudo says girlfriend Mariel Rodriguez is his "lucky charm"

Nagkaroon ng launching ang Dyosa Komiks sa Trinomal Mall noong July 28, Monday. Kung titingnan ay iisipin na totoong event nga yun in connection with the upcoming fantaserye of ABS-CBN, Dyosa. Pero ang totoo ay taping ang naturang event para sa ilang mga eksena na mapapanood sa Dyosa, na pagbibidahan ni Anne Curtis.

Isa sa leading men ni Anne sa Dyosa ay si Zanjoe Marudo; ang dalawa pa ay sina Sam Milby at Luis Manzano. Si Zanjoe ay gaganap bilang isang illustrator ng Dyosa Komiks, kung saan naido-drawing niya kung ano ang mangyayari kay Dyosa Cielo, isa sa tatlong katauhan ni Anne sa naturang fantaserye.

"Sobrang happy ako sa role ko rito dahil hindi ito kagaya ng mga past roles ko na parang cute lang. Although, mai-inlove ako rito at para kaming aso't pusa rito [ni Anne]. Pero maganda kasi illustrator ako rito, so maganda," kuwento ni Zanjoe sa PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal).

Supposedly, may una na sana silang pagsasamahan na teleserye ni Anne, ang The Wedding. Yun nga lang, natigil ang taping nito.

Paliwanag ni Zanjoe, "Na-stop lang ang taping. Noong time na yun kasi, kailangan nang gawin ni Anne yung movie niya with Aga Muhlach [When Love Begins] at kailangan na rin niyang mag-taping for Maging Sino Ka Man, so na-stop lang ang taping. And then, inuna muna itong Dyosa.

"I think, after ng Dyosa, yun naman ang susunod naming gagawin. I guess, matutuloy pa rin yun kasi kung hindi nila itutuloy ‘yon, para na rin silang nagtapon ng pera."

Hindi naman daw na-disappoint si Zanjoe na ang ipinalit sa The Wedding, kung saan siya lang ang male lead, ay ang Dyosa na tatlo na silang nagse-share as leading men ni Anne.

"Hindi naman sa na-disappoint, kasi ganoon naman talaga sa trabaho namin. Hangga't hindi pa ipinapalabas, kahit na sabihin mong nagawa mo na or nai-tape mo na, hangga't hindi naipapalabas, walang kasiguraduhan. Naniniwala lang ako kapag nandiyan na talaga," saad ng hunky model turned actor.

THREE LEADING MEN. Sa kanilang tatlong leading men ni Anne sa Dyosa, kapansin-pansin na siya lang ang walang masasabing personal link kay Anne. Si Sam kasi ay nababalitang boyfriend na ni Anne samantalang si Luis naman ay very close sa young actress. Sa palagay kaya ni Zanjoe ay may chemistry sila ni Anne?

"Kung sa chemistry naman, parang ano, parang may tiwala naman ang management [ABS-CBN]. Parang binigyan na nga kami ng soap dati. Nag-MMK [Maalaala Mo Kaya] kami dati. At saka magkaibigan kami dati ni Anne bago pa man ako maging artista dahil parehas kami ng barkada. So, hindi naman siguro mapag-iiwanan at sinisigurado naman ni Direk Wenn [Deramas] na walang madedehado sa aming tatlo."

Nag-taping na raw sila na nagkasama-sama silang tatlong leading men ni Anne at naging maayos naman daw ito.

"Nasa personality ko naman na hindi ako masyadong ma-chika, palahirit lang paminsan-minsan. Si Luis yung makulit, ‘tapos si Sam yung parang close kay Anne. Hindi naman nangyayari yung magkakasama kami, ‘tapos parang off yung ibang artista. Enjoy naman lahat," kuwento ni Zanjoe.

BLACKOUT. Kahit bihasa na sa pagrampa, ayon kay Zanjoe ay pinaghandaan din daw niya ang nakaraang Blackout: The Bench Denim and Underwear Fashion Show na ginanap sa Araneta Coliseum noong July 25.

"Siyempre, naghanda rin ako before the show. Siguro mga one week akong nag-workout para naman hindi nakakahiya kapag lumabas na ako ro'n. Third time ko na actually. Yung first time ko, model pa lang ako noon. Second time ko noong pagkalabas ko ng PBB [Pinoy Big Brother] at ngayon nga," lahad ni Zanjoe.

Kung si Zanjoe ang tatanungin, satisfied daw siya sa nakaraang Bench event. Hindi rin siya naniniwala sa sinasabing mas maganda ang exposure ng mga Kapuso stars kumpara sa Kapamilya stars.

"Siguro ano naman yun, kahit pa may mga ganoong isyu, malalaman at malalaman mo naman yun doon mismo sa show kung ano ba talaga at kung sino ba talaga. Kahit pa bigyan mo ng napakagandang entrance or bigyan mo ng napakagandang segment ang isang tao, nasa audience pa rin yun kung sino ba talaga ang gusto nila. Kung sino talaga ang pinunta nila ro'n."

ZANJOE'S LUCKY CHARM. Bukod sa Dyosa, kasama rin si Zanjoe sa Varga, na magpa-pilot na sa August 2 at back-to-back sa finale ng Kapitan Boom. Sa Varga, silang dalawa ng real-life sweetheart niyang si Mariel Rodriguez ang magkapareha.

Kung ituring ni Zanjoe si Mariel ay "lucky charm" daw niya ang TV host-actress dahil marami raw siyang naging projects simula nang maging sila.

Samantala, totoong na-surprise naman daw siya sa naging birthday gift sa kanya ni Mariel last July 23.

"Binigyan niya ko ng camera, ‘eto ang ibinigay niya," sabay pakita sa amin ng Canon 450D na nakasabit sa kanyang leeg at tila pinag-aaralan pa ang pagkuha ng picture habang break niya sa taping.

Hindi naman daw siya nag-request ng camera kaya na-surprise pa raw siya nang ibigay ito sa kanya ni Mariel.

"Hindi talaga, siguro nabalitaan niya or narinig niyang plano kong bumili ng ganito bago ako pumunta ng States. Kasi gusto kong kuhanan yung mga lugar na magso-show kami dahil first time ko sa States," kuwento ni Zanjoe.

Ngayong araw, July 30, ang alis ng grupo nilang Coverboys papuntang Amerika.

"Actually, balak ko sanang bumili ro'n or kaya rito [ng camera] bago ko umalis. Kaso yun nga, noong birthday ko, niregaluhan na niya ako. So, wala na akong problema."

Masasabi ba ni Zanjoe na mas serious na ang relasyon nila ni Mariel ngayon?

"Siguro mas open, mas mature yung relationship. Mas nagkaka-give and take, at mas napag-uusapan ang lahat ng bagay," sagot niya.

Si Mariel na ba talaga ang babae para sa kanya?

"Kung puwede sana yung ganoong pananaw na siya na talaga... Ang daling sabihin, e, pero hindi mo masasabi," maingat na tugon ni Zanjoe.

Ano ang mga katangian ni Mariel na mas lalong napapamahal sa kanya?

"Sobrang sweet, sobrang maalaga. Hindi lang naman sa akin, kung makikita mo kahit sa ibang tao, ganoon siya. Parang nakakatuwang makakita ng ganoong klase ng tao na sobrang lambot ng puso kahit na kanino. Lalo na siguro kung mas close sa kanya. Paano pa kaya yun, di ba?" pagtatapos ni Zanjoe.

Source: PEP

Mariel Rodriguez says playing superhero will not change the way people saw her in "PBBCE2"

Mapapanood na nga si Mariel Rodriguez bilang superhero na si Varga sa Sabado, August 2, kunsaan, sa pilot episode nito ay back-to-back sila ng Kapitan Boom na magpe-farewell episode naman. Ang eksena raw ay tila magkakaroon ng pagsasalin ng tungkulin sa dalawang superhero para si Varga naman ang magpatuloy ng pagliligtas sa mundo.

PRESSURED WITH VARGA. Aminado si Mariel na may pressure siyang nararamdaman now that ABS-CBN is launching her as an actress at sa isang superhero role pa.

"Siyempre may pressure kasi, Kapitan Boom did so well. So, I want it also to do well. And I'm so grateful sa trust na ibinigay ng ABS-CBN, si Sir Deo [Endrinal]...so, I don't want to let them down. And also sina Direk Trina Dayrit, Direk Dondon Santos, they've been working so hard talaga and they've been so nice. So, masaya talaga kami kapag nagte-taping," ani Mariel nang makausap na ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal).

May plano raw yatang "Kapitan Boom meets Varga"?

"Thats what they should watch sa August 2, kung paano yung pagkikita nila," excited niyang sabi.

Hindi naman daw siya nahihirapan sa mga fight scenes niya dahil prior to their taping, nag-aral daw siya ng martial arts at nakatulong din daw ang naging experience niya ng six months doing the drama series na Rouge sa Singapore, way back 2004 noong nasa MTV pa siya.

Bagama't mas naunang ginawa ni Mars Ravelo ang character na Varga sa Darna, hindi maitatangging ang huli ang mas popular among his female superhero. Pero, sey nga ni Mariel, sana nga raw ay maka-level din ang Varga sa Darna.

Sana...sana, di ba? Pero hindi naman natin maaano si Darna, kasi, matagal na naman siyang na-establish. Matagal na siyang legend na si Darna, di ba?

IT'S STILL MARIEL. Hindi lingid sa lahat na during her stint as guest housemate sa Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition 2, nagkaroon siya ng negative image sa publiko. By doing a superhero role now, hindi naman daw niya iniisip na rason ito para tuluyan na ngang mabura sa isipan ng mga manonood ang anumang nangyari sa loob ng Bahay ni Kuya.

"I dont know, e, and I think, yung mga nangyari dun, honestly, I don't think that my image changed. It's still me. So, kung mabubura...okey lang kahit hindi. Kasi, pinagdaanan yun ng career ko, e. Pinagdaanan yun ng lahat ng tao, so, bakit ko yun iibahin?"

NO CONFLICT WITH WOWOWEE. Nagkakaroon ng impression na kapag co-host ng Wowowee, since it's a daily noontime show, tila nagkakaroon ng limitasyon ang mga co-host dito na tumanggap ng ibang shows, especially if it's a series. Hindi raw ba talaga nagkaroon ng conflict sa Wowowee na may Varga na siya?

"E, kasi, every time po na nagte-tape ako, katulad kanina, natapos po ako ng 5 a.m., nasa Wowowee pa rin ako. It's never an excuse. And when I'm there, sa stage, I never showed na parang lutang ako, na parang kung anu-ano na lang ang sinasabi ko sa show.

"I think, it depends on how you handle it. Yung wala silang masasabi sa ‘yo. Yung wala silang maipipintas. Na, ‘E, kasi puyat, e, kaya lutang!' So, kailangan mapanindigan niya yun."

Mariel was asked, kung may basbas daw ba ni Willie yung pagsusuot niya ng sexy costume?

Oh, no... I don't think so. I don't think he was actually, parang.... Hindi ko naman po manager si Papi, di ba? Si Tito Boy [Abunda, her manager], may blessing po niya."

ZANJOE MARUDO. When it comes to her relationship with Zanjoe, wala raw silang sine-celebrate na mga "monthsary." Kasi hindi raw nila alam kung kailan nila masasabing one year na pala silang mag-sweetheart.

"No, we don't have that! Kami na...kasi, wala naman siyang iba, wala naman akong iba. So, ano pa ba? I have a time naman, its timeless, Ha-ha-ha! Kasi, walang ganunan. And every day is anniversary," natatawa niyang sabi.

Sinagot din ni Mariel ang usap-usapang nagli-live-in na raw silang dalawa ni Zanjoe.

Aniya, "I dont know! Maybe kasi, I also had an issue that I had an abortion, so, maybe, that's the next best thing, pero no, thats not true."

Sey pa ni Mariel, siya raw ay sa Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong City, pa rin umuuwi at si Zanjoe naman ay sa Valle Verde, Pasig City. But if ever, pabor ba siya sa live-in arrangement?

"I dont know...I never really thought about it. Whatever floats your boat. Kung gagawin mo yun, dapat you're comfortable with it. Kailangan yung family mo, comfortable sila sa ganoon or whatever at saka... Mahirap kasi, we're in showbiz. So, people will judge. People will speculate, di ba?"

But would she say na si Zanjoe na nga talaga ang man for her?

"I think, it's too early to tell. I'm only 24 pa lang," very Mariel pa niyang sabi.

Source: PEP

Charlie Green won’t give up school for his budding music career

Despite all the adulation he now enjoys after his Britain's Got Talent stint, 11-year-old Charlie Green remains unaffected, according to his Filipino mother, Cecile Sumargo Green.

Last Friday, July 25, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) had the chance to chat with Charlie's mother over lunch at the Conway's Bar of the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City. Mrs. Green and her husband, Roger Philip Green, arrived in Manila last July 24 together with their son through the invitation of ABS-CBN.

The Greens will stay in the Philippines for about three weeks. Charlie's itinerary includes TV appearances in Boy & Kris, ASAP '08, The Buzz, Pinoy Dream Academy's Uberture, Wowowee and Sharon.

SAME OLD KID. Charlie became a household name in the United Kingdom after he joined the reality talent search show Britain's Got Talent early this year. The program was inspired by the popular American Idol series, which introduced Filipino talents Jasmine Trias and Ramiele Malubay.

Charlie wowed the British audience with his rendition of Frank Sinatra's "Summer Wind." Touching the subject of a fleeting romance, the song written by Henry Mayer and Johnny Mercer in 1965, was made more poignant with its use of outdoors imagery mirroring childlike innocence.

Given his young age, Charlie's stirring take fittingly complimented the mood of the number. The judges, including the unpredictable Simon Cowell, were impressed and endorsed Charlie's ascent to the semi-finals. The Filipino-British singer however failed to make an impression in the semi-finals, resulting in his elimination.

Charlie's ouster from the show proved to be irrelevant as his performance of "Summer Wind" found its way to YouTube, exposing Charlie's talent to a global audience. The cyberspace exposure heightened Charlie's popularity to his kababayan's back home.

Charlie, for his part, is still adjusting to all the attention he is now receiving both here and abroad.

Despite growing up in a foreign land and being exposed to Western culture, the bubbly performer remains a true Filipino at heart.

"We always told him that whenever somebody will approach you, you have to be very good to them and he knows that. You have to be very good because they're the ones who put you there," said Charlie's mother.

Mommy Cecile shared that Charlie's favorite Pinoy dish are ginisang monggo, pancit canton, and fried lumpia.

"Tapos mahilig siya sa kahit walang kanin basta ‘yong noodles, pot noodles mas lalo ‘pag binibigay ko bulalo, kasi masarap ang bulalo, di ba? Kumakain ‘yan si Charlie. Kaya mabubuhay din ‘yan dito."

One distinct trait that Charlie exhibited during the luncheon meet-and-greet was his fondness for saying "po" and "opo"; although he only mentioned those words occasionally since he's not fluent in speaking the Filipino language.

It is Charlie's fourth time to visit the Philippines and since school vacation is currently being observed in the United Kingdom, the Greens excitedly accepted ABS-CBN's invitation. Cecile is a native of Cebu and Charlie has visited his mother's hometown thrice already.

"The other year pumunta kami sa Cebu, sa Dumanhog kasi taga-Dumanhog talaga ako. Tapos sa Cebu City nag-stay doon. Tapos pumunta ng Bohol, tapos Leyte. Kaya nakapunta na rin siya sa ibang lugar kasi dinadala ko siya pati sa mga beaches dito sa atin," shared Cecile, who was praised by her husband Roger for being a "good cook."

The Greens are also a tight family unit. Before going to bed, his parents usually tuck him safely in bed and kiss him good night.

"Before he goes to bed until now, we always go up to his room, he always said ‘I'm ready' we have to go there and say good night to him and kiss him. Before, his dad would sing for him before he goes to bed."

TOP PRIORITY. Charlie and his parents are also looking into the possibility of cutting a record here. With the support being shown by ABS-CBN, many won't be surprised if a television offer suddenly comes up.

"We cannot say anything yet," confessed Cecile. Both Cecile and Roger are one in saying that inasmuch as they would love to see their son's young career heat up this early, their main priority remains Charlie's schooling.

Unlike here in the Philippines where a young celebrity can just drop out to concentrate on his or her career, the British government is stern in requiring kids to finish their education.

"He has to go to school really," enthused Mommy Cecile, "whatever happens at least meron siyang pinag-aralan. Pero ‘yon lang talaga para kung ano mang mangyari sa iyo meron kang back-up."

Source: PEP