Health News and Scoops

 While Sam Concepcion is still on cloud nine after doing front act for Taylor Swift, another Filipino artist is gearing up for her front-act stint for one of her musical idols, Don McLean.

Aiza Seguerra has been handpicked to front act for Don McLean’s “A Starry, Starry Night” Manila concert at the Araneta Coliseum on March 2, 8 p.m. The self-confessed McLean fan said she has always been fascinated by the songs of the legendary singer-songwriter and considers this stint as a huge opportunity for her to share her music once again.

The Don McLean show will feature hits like “American Pie,” “If We Try,” “Vincent,” “And I Love You So,” “Wonderful Baby,” “Everyday,” “Crying,” “Birthday Song,” “Since I Don’t Have You,” “Crying In The Chapel,” etc.

“I grew up with his music. I love the lyrics to all his songs. It is an honor to be performing in his concert,” she said.

“A Starry, Starry Night with Don McLean” is produced by Ovation Productions.

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 MANILA, Philippines – In almost all of his films, Wenn Deramas casts staples like DJ Durano, Eugene Domingo and John Lapus.

This has caused critics to accuse the director of accepting projects only if the said actors are also part of a so-called package deal.

During the presscon for his latest film, “Who’s That Girl?” the director said, “No, it’s not a package deal. It’s just that parang comfort zone ang mga ito. They please me with their performances. They always come up with more than what I expect from them. Pinatatawa nila ako.”

Deramas said the same actors will be part of his next project, Private Benjamin, which stars John Lapus in the title role.

Lapus turned controversial after announcing that he was suing TV host-columnist Jobert Sucaldito, Deramas’ showbiz enemy after Jobert claimed on air that Wenn’s “Petrang Kabayo” was a flop.

“Kahit si Anne Curtis kukunin ko ulit sa next projects ko,” Direk Wenn said.

The awarded director was pleased with Anne Curtis’ performance in “Who’s That Girl?” which also stars Anne’s ex, Luis Manzano.

“Who’s That Girl?” opens on March 2 in local theaters. It is co-presented by SM Development Corporation and sponsored by Greenwich, Magnolia Lifedrink, GSM Blue and Megawide.

In the movie, Anne plays Bea, a wallflower, while Luis Manzano is John Eduque, a campus heartthrob who is Bea’s ultimate crush.

Others in the cast are Dina Bonnevie, Dennis Padilla, Dino Imperial, Abby Bautista, Nadine Lustre, Bobby Yan, Joy Viado, Ricky Rivero, Mac-Mac, Candy Pangilinan.

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 MANILA, Philippines – “El Presidente” is the title of the movie that actor-turned politician ER Ejercito, now governor of Laguna after serving as mayor of Pagsanjan for three terms, is set to do this year. It’s a film project that he has been so passionate about the past 12 years or so. But is the title any indication of ER’s ultimate political goal? He just smiled enigmatically and said, “I’ve already been president – of the Actors’ Guild of the Philippines!”

But seriously, he said his real intention in making the movie is to come out with the truth about Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, hailed as one of the greatest generals in Philippine history who fought for Philippine Independence. ER cited eight other historical justifications for the project: Aguinaldo was the founder of the First Philippine Republic; Aguinaldo was the power and the glory behind the Filipinos’ struggle for freedom and independence; Aguinaldo was a statesman, a patriot and the greatest leader of the Philippine Revolution; Aguinaldo was responsible for creating the Philippine Flag, the National Anthem, the Philippine Constitution, and ultimately, the First Philippine Republic; Aguinaldo was credited for uniting and unifying variouys regional factions into a Filipino nation; Aguinaldo was the Revolutionary Hero who signaled the Filipinos’ ground armed resistance against Spain, and later against America; Aguinaldo represented the Filipinos’ moment of glory during the 1898 Revolution; and Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine Independence from Spain on June 12, 1898.

It’s time to do a commercial epic film about General Aguinaldo, in the tradition of “Gandhi,” “Revolution,” “Braveheart,” “Troy” and “The Last Samurai,” ER stressed.

ER intends to finish the movie this year, after 12 years of research by historians (Jose Mari Avellana and Jose Victor Torres) and writing of the script (by Roy Iglesias). All the controversies in the life of General Aguinaldo – like the summary execution of Andres Bonifacio and Antonio and the Treaty of Paris – will all be presented in the movie, “because we cannot reverse what was written in the books,” he said.

The film project has the support of former Prime Minister Cesar E.A. Virata, grand nephew of General Aguinaldo; the living descendants of General Aguinaldo, the National Historical Institute, the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Kapisanan ng mga Artista ng Pelikulang Pilipino at Telebisyon, SM Cinama, Robinsons Galleria Theaters and Ayala Theaters, as well as the Department of Education and CHED.

It will be a two-and-half-hour movie to be directed by Tikoy Aguiluz (who said he was inspired and challenged to direct the film because of Aguinaldo’s complex character that remained so till the end), and the story will start with Aguinaldo in a wheelchair when he was already in his 90s, ER said.

Batangas Governor Villma Santos-Recto has agreed to play Aguinaldo’s second wife, we were told. ER said he’s considering getting Iza Calzado to play the role of Aguinaldo’s first wife.

ER also announced during the press conference for “El Presidente” that he would also like to do a remake of the film “Asiong Salonga,” which first starred former President Joseph Estrada in 1961, then Rudy Fernandez in 1978.

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Cinema One films now on DVD

Cinema One, the premier movie channel in the country, is proud to announce that the Cinema One Originals are now on DVD. Featured are the award-winning movies from Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival from 2005 to 2010. Among them are “Confessional,” “Dose,” “Yanggaw,” “Wanted: Border” and “Paano Ko Sasabihin” which are now available at all branches of Astro Plus, Astro Vision, Odyssey, O Music, Fully Booked and SM Record Bar.

“Confessional” is a mock-documentary movie by writers-directors Jerrold Tarog and Ruel Dahis. It has been hailed as “an intelligent Blair Witch Project of political thrillers.” It was also described as the “most beautiful and brilliant movie at the 10th Osian Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema” in New Delhi, India.

“Dose” is a different movie where the lead character, a lonely gardener played by Yul Servo, who developes an intriguing relationship with a sad 12-year-old boy. It’s catchy tagline is “Love knows no age or gender!” It was an instant hit in various international film festivals.

Other titles in the lineup include Richard Somes’ “Yanggaw,” Ray Defante Gibraltar’s “Wanted: Border,” and Richard Soriano Legapi’s “Paano Ko Sasabihin.”

• • •

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, March 1, go to Gino Padilla, Ed Joaquin, Capt. Rudy Herrera, Cassandra Ponti, Jose R. Veloso, Albino Jao, Fred Reyes, Jucelle Baterna, Grace S. Bautista, Gigi Cabro, Kenneth Graham, Peachie Naidas Abacan, Maryo Labad, Ricky de Leon, Cynthia Tan, Carla Monique Quiambao-Pascual, Mina Cepeda Go, Sophia Montecarlo (Swirtty Mae Nibley) and MB columnist Deedee M. Siytangco… Happy wedding anniversary to San Diego, California-based realtors Max and Edith Ricketts… Feb. 29 celebrants include CCP Pres. Raul Sunico, Freddie Santos. Fortunato Luipo, Tina Revilla-Valencia, Biboy Enriquez, Leny Carpio, Dulce Belen and writer-executive producer Gypsy Baldovino…

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 MANILA, Philippines – Actor Joko Diaz refuted the headline that came out in a newspaper on Feb. 27 that claimed his father, the veteran actor Paquito Diaz, had already passed away.

This was related by Cristy Fermin on “Paparazzi” last Sunday, claiming she had a talk with Joko who told her that local showbiz’s “Tito Kits” is still alive and will, in fact, be checking out of the hospital in Legazpi City, Albay this week.

“Kasi ang lumabas po ay namayapa na raw po [si Tito Kits], naka-headline. Ayon kay Joko, sa Martes ay lalabas ng ospital si Tito Kits at tanggap nila ang katotohanan na dalawang bagay lamang ang

totoo sa mundong ito: ang ipanganak tayo at ang mawala tayo.

“Pero huwag naman sanang unahan ang panahon, ang pagyao ng kanyang ama, dahil ang totoo ay buhay na buhay pa,” said she.

Fellow host Dolly Anne Carvajal said she also got to talk to Paquito’s daughter Cheska, who she said  related the same, and even detailed that that the water in the ailing actor’s lungs was now gone.

Paquito is battling pneumonia–this, after suffering a stroke, having two operations and going into a coma for two months more than 5 years ago.

Cristy praised Joko and his siblings for taking care of their 73-year-old father, while co-host Ruffa Gutierrez revealed that her father Eddie and Pacquito’s wife Nena are actually second cousins.

Meanwhile, a separate report from bomboradyo.com on the same day claimed that the hospital where Paquito is currently confined made the error of declaring the actor dead.  According to the report, the hospital already apologized for the mistake but gave no further details on this incident.

Also on Sunday, abs-cbnnews.com got the reaction of Paquito’s daughter, Joanna Diaz-Gallent. She  just brushed the whole fiasco off by saying, “It’s okay. Mag-one month na kami tinetext na he’s dead na daw. Sanay na kami.”

More, Katipunan ng mga Artista ng Pelikulang Pilipino at Telebisyon (KAPPT)’s official secretary Jean Balagtas also invalidated the rumor.

“Hindi po totoo ang balita. Nakausap po ng mga taga-Actors Guild si Joko at sinabi niya mismo na hindi patay ang kanyang ama,” said Jean.

Meanwhile, wife Nena refuted the death rumor as well and recalled in a report in “TV Patrol” aired on Feb. 15 how they rushed her husband to the hospital a few weeks back.

“Pagdating nga sa ospital, sabi ng doctor, ‘Buti dinala n’yo,’ kasi kung ‘di namin dinala baka next day or a few days after patay na siya. Kasi malala na iyong pneumonia niya.

“He is still very much alive. Hindi naman siya patay gaya ng binabali-balita ng mga tao,” said she.

Nena then appealed to everyone, especially to those who’ve worked with Paquito in the past, to assist them financially.

“Kung may gustong magtulong na financial… kasi mahirap magkasakit ngayon, kasi wala na siyang pelikula… we will appreciate it,” she said.

Paquito Diaz is one of local tinseltown’s most famous villains. Appearing in more than a hundred movies, his works include “Pakners,” ‘Ang Misis Kong Hoodlum,” “Batas ng .45,” “Moises Platon,” “Eagle Squad,” and “Son of Kung Fu.”

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 MANILA, Philippines – Although many seem to peg him as a future public servant, Dingdong Dantes has maintained for the nth time that he has no plans to be one.

“Mas comfortable ako sa pagiging artista. Dito na ako tumagal and ayoko namang pasukin ang isang bagay na wala akong kinalaman,” he said in a recent interview with ABS-CBN News.

In spite of being a busy actor, Dingdong has remained active in public service, what with his duties as the founding chairman of the Yes Pinoy Foundation, as well as the youth ambassador of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. He has also previously been selected by the Department of Education to be the spokesman for the youth.

The Kapuso star played a part in the 25th anniversary celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolution, leading the EDSA Youth Day last Feb. 23. He also graced the star-studded the “Tatak EDSA 25” grand party last Feb. 25.

“This is public service in its own right. There are different versions to it and at the end of the day, it’s all the same, it’s all about helping, it’s all about our commitment to nation building,” he said of his efforts.

Dingdong believes that public service is not an automatic platform for politics.

“Hindi naman siya cause and effect. Hindi naman parang kung ginawa mo ‘to automatically ito [naman]. Everyone should be involved in [something] like this regardless of scale, maliit man o malaki, basta nakiki-parte ka sa nation building, ‘yon ang improtante,” the 30-year-old actor said.

Having been in showbiz for several years now, Dingdong sees that although their main job is to entertain, actors can use their craft to push for various causes.

“Ako, naniniwala na one of the most effective and powerful ways of conveying a message is through the arts, through songs…Marami tayong puwedeng gawin, especially as actors, singers,” he enthused in a

separate interview with PEP.

His efforts were apparently noticed by President Noynoy Aquino, who once considered appointing Dingdong to a post.

As of now, though, Dingdong said the chief executive has not made an offer.

“Pero ako, okay na ako na tumutulong lang ako,” he said in his interview with ABS-CBN News.

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