MARVIN  COMFORTABLE  WITH  VILLAIN  ROLES
 

MANILA, APRIL 5, 2008 (MALAYA) DREAM FACTORY by MARIO BAUTISTA (These days, ang impor-tante is you show you’re versatile enough to do any kind of role.– Marvin Agustin’)

WE GOT emails about Gabby Concepcion’s return. From Dante Cuneta: "It’s understandable that GMA-7 is bitter because Gabby chose to work with ABS-CBN and not them gayong sila itong unang nag-ingay about his coming back home. Tapos, ABS ang makikinabang at sa ‘The Buzz’ nagpa-interview. But in fairness to the artist, it’s his right to choose where he wants to work and it’s his prerogative kung saan niya una gustong lumabas na TV show. Jolina is also bitter because she thought Gabby will help revive her movie career. It’s obvious someone told Gabby working with her will not help his comeback bid."

From Cindy T (Australia): "If I were Sharon Cuneta, I won’t allow myself to be used by Gabby now that he’s making a comeback in showbiz. I don’t think Gabby could still attract the crowds to the box office, especially now that the movie industry is gone. And let’s face it, he’s old. He’s now just known as the father of KC Concepcion and should have no illusions he’s still as popular as today’s matinee idols. Even Richard Gomez is now playing father roles to Dingdong Dantes on TV. Let’s get real."

From C-2 Joaquin: "Tigilan na ni Gabby ang pagpiprimadonna. Iba na ang henerasyon ngayon. Mas gusto pa ng viewers yung mga poging housemates sa PBB Teens. Talk about starting on the wrong foot. Kababalik pa lang niya, he already antagonized some people. Dapat, good karma siya from the start para smooth ang comeback niya, with what happened, naging nega agad siya. Honestly, I still want to see Gabby behind bars with his former manager, Manay Lolit. Dapat pa rin nilang pagdusahang dalawa ang nangyaring filmfest scam noong 1995. He is ill advised dahil by turning his back sa contract na pinirmahan niya with GMA previously, he’s just showing his true color. Siguro he signed up with ABS thinking mas powerful sila at mas matutulungan siyang maabsuwelto pati sa bigamy case niya with Jenny Syquia."

In fairness to Gabby, he said he will honor his contract with GMA-7, but with the dismal rating his initial appearance in "The Buzz" got last Sunday, they should seriously have second thoughts about it.

From Cherry Ibuna of San Juan, Puerto Rico: "Gabby Concepcion revealed he’s a realtor in the US. Well, it’s obvious now why he wants to make a showbiz comeback. Real estate is so down in the US because of their economic problems under Bush so he now wants to be an actor again."

From Polly Anna of New York, Cubao: "Hindi ko masisisi si Gabby sa pag-back out niya from the GMA Films project. Kay Jolina kasi siya isinasama. Lumalabas na wala silang tiwala sa capability niyang magdala ng sarili niyang comeback movie and one of those lang siya. E, gusto ni Gabby, solo lang siya. O kaya, si Sharon Cuneta ang kasama niya. Lumalabas namang nakakabit pa rin siya sa saya at hindi makaalis sa anino ni Ate Shawie."

From G. Nacenciano of Portland: "Just wondering if Gabby deliberately wanted his return to the Philippines to be truly controversial. No doubt he’s now being talked about as GMA and ABS are fighting over him. But will this controversy help whatever movie he’d be doing at the box office? Looks like he really wants to be controversial that’s why he got Rose Flaminiano as his new manager. I’m just afraid of bad karma. When I was still in Manila, I remember his manager exploited many young girls in sex movies, even pene movies, among them Ina Raymundo, Iza Ignacio, Piel Morena."

***

There was an interview with LJ Moreno in "Showbiz Central" last Sunday and she revealed that after she left showbiz three years ago, she went back to school and finished college. She’s now teaching in a pre-school, The Little Gym, at the Fort, and also taking up her master’s degree in special education at La Salle.

She also hooked up with cager Jimmy Alapag for three years but they have just broken up. The rumor is that Jimmy dumped her since she’s a materialistic girl.

"That’s not true as I never asked material things from him," she says. "It’s true he pampered me with gifts, but I never asked for them from him. He’s a generous person and would buy me gifts kaya kung minsan, nagugulat na lang ako. But I never made any demands. My friends know hindi ako bilmoko girl dahil I live a simple life at never ako naging maluho. Unfair naman ang mga bintang nila sa akin but I just kept quiet. Kaya lang, yung mga nakakaalam ng totoong dahilan ng split up namin ni Jimmy told me I should defend myself kaya nagsalita na rin ako."

Their breakup was talked about in February but she says they actually decided to separate before Christmas yet. "The real reason why I decided to call it quits is that I found out he has another girl. Actually, nagde-date pa lang kami, I already caught him na may ibang babae, but he asked for another chance so kinalimutan ko na lang yun. Pero ngayon, after three years, heto naulit na naman and she turns out to be a starlet connected with a top network. I confronted him about it and he denied they have an affair. Friends lang daw sila. Pero nakita ko yung mga text sa kanya and my friends tell me may pictures sila together na naka-post sa internet. Kaya I deciced to end na lang the relationship. Hindi siguro talaga kami meant for each other."

What if he’d ask for forgiveness and try to reconcile with her? "Ayoko na. I don’t feel anything for him anymore and I’ve already moved on."

***

How will Raymond Gutierrez feel if some quarters would compare his hosting of "Pinoy Idol" with that of Ryan Seacrest of "American Idol" and Ryan Agoncillo of "Philippine Idol?" Will he try to surpass them?

"I don’t think it’ll be fair for any of us to be compared with each other," he says. "First of all, I don’t feel that I have to compete with them or anyone. They’re both very competent and very talented. Siguro it’s for the viewers to judge na lang, lalo na sa kaso namin ni Ryan Agoncillo na nakasama ko na sa isang event before and I can say na wala kaming rivalry at all whatsoever dahil we have different personalities. Basta I will just try to do my very best para hindi ako mapahiya sa GMA management who trusted me well enough to assign me as host of the very first ‘Pinoy Idol.’"

***

There was a big surprise in "PBB Teen Edition Plus" with the entrance of a parent or guardian of each of the teen housemates. The guardians were ushered into Kuya’s house last Saturday to live inside a secret area especially built for them: Ejay’s daddy Erning, Priscilla’s mommy Jinky, Alex’ mommy Minda, Kevin’s daddy John, Linda’s mommy Ningning, Jolas’ daddy Ike, Nan’s mommy Love, Rona’s mommy Rose, Jieriel’s step dad Gerry, Nicole’s mommy Sandy, Robi’s daddy Boy, and Beauty’s mommy Carina. Also welcomed were Josef’s Tita Anna and Valerie’s Tita Violy.

What if the parents become more "pasaway" than their own kids? "If they do, then their kids will automatically be evicted along with them," says Direk Lauren Dyogi who is PBB business unit head. "In the same way, when a teen housemate is evicted, his parent is co-terminus with him."

Last Tuesday night, the episode was very touching. Like what we suspected, Ejay from Mindoro is not the real son of the man he introduced as his dad, Erning. He’s tall and Caucasian looking while Erning is a sun-baked Pinoy who’s not tall. Ejay revealed that his biological father is a Frenchman who got his mom preggy before she met Erning. Later, his mom abandoned them for another man and Erning raised him like his own son. As a child, Ejay got teased a lot because he looks so different from his dad. Both Ejay and Erning cried when they got reunited inside Kuya’s house. Ejay professed his undying loyalty to the man who took good care of him and promised that he won’t forsake Erning even if his real parents would later come to claim him. Kuya commended both of them for their unconditional love for each other even if they’re not real father and son. Ejay felt so relieved after he also revealed the truth to his co-housemate, Nan. Let’s see if this would change the way he relates with the other housemates for the better in the days to come.

Meantime, the wish of Alex, the Italian Valentino, to be circumcised to make him a true Pinoy macho was granted last Wednesday, along with 100 boys aged 10 to 18 who got free mass circumcision called Libreng Tuliang Bayan in cooperation with the Capitol Medical Center. Of course, this will not be shown uncut as the MTRCB will not allow the sight of so many male organs being cut on TV. Find out how the other housemates help Alex cope with this rite of passage to manhood in the days to come. "PBB Teen Edition Plus Uber" is seen at 5:30 p.m. and on primetime after "Lobo." You can also watch the housemates live on Studio 23, 12 noon to 2 p.m. and 24/7 online via TFC Now Life Stream. "PBB Teens Plus" with its unknown housemates is now rating higher than the shows of more established stars like Piolo Pascual and Cesar Montano. This means that viewers are always curious about new good-looking faces on their TV screens.

***

Marvin Agustin doesn’t mind playing a super bad villain in "Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita." "Nagkontrabida na rin ako sa ‘Asian Treasures’ and okay naman ang feedback," he says. "These days, ang importante is you show you’re versatile enough to do any kind of role."

Viewers will surely hate Marvin for his portrayal of Alfred, the opportunistic guy who pretends to be nice to Salve (Yasmien Kurdi), just because she is entitled to inherit millions from Deborah Sun. He takes her to town and buys Salve flowers and new dresses just to get her trust. Alfred has connived with Agnes (Hanni Miller) on condition that they will divide Salve’s inheritance but Alfred wants to get all of it for himself so he marries her.

In the meantime, the equally evil Tyrone (Paolo Contis) kills the man who confronted Derek (JC De Vera). He is with Derek’s brother, Juno (Jay Aquitania), when he performs the crime. The mystery woman who surfaces is named Vera. Her face is veiled but it’s easy to guess this is Imelda (Glydel Mercado), who Evita (Dina Bonnevie) didn’t succeed in killing. Now, she’s plotting the destruction of Evita anew.