A CHANGE  OF IMAGE   /  REVILLAME  TO  PAY  P8 M  IN  TAXES  FOR  FERRARRI


MANILA, APRIL 28, 2008 (STAR) By Bot Glorioso - With the fast changing times, the need to catch up on anything modern, high-tech and in style is essential. This, GMA Artist Center (GMAAC) head Ida Henares knows too well as she comes up with the idea of replacing the first artist center’s image plug which was done fours years ago and which only had around 30 talents then.

“A lot of things have already happened and we continue to do so many things now, with us having 150 talents that include hosts, actors, singers, dancers and DJs. That is why we want to come up with something that would reflect what we are today,” Ida says during the presscon for the image plug launch.

Something new, something vibrant and different is what the Artist Center top lady envisions the new image plug to be. She commissioned direk Louie Ignacio to execute the concept into one artistic and impressive three-minuter with each of the talents getting equal exposure.

“Actually, when I was offered to do this I instantly thought it will be a real challenge because I should come up with something different and plantsado. So I grabbed it even though I knew how hard it would be with all the talents in a three-minuter,” direk Louie shares.

The director, who was awarded a gold medal for his music video Power to Unite in the recent New York Festival, came up with a sleek, glamorous and never- before-seen visuals with background music so haunting it enhanced the overall image plug. Musical director Ramon Faustino and vocal coach-arranger Sushila Reyes join direk Louie in the musical aspect.

The two-day shoot was done on location with several planes and helicopters set up in the background. They symbolize how high the artists soar in the different fields of entertainment. The production value, direk Louie says, is really impressive and he’s happy all his requests were granted. “I asked for a plane and they gave me not just one. I even had helicopters.”

The GMAAC talents, too, were properly made up and well-dressed. The formal suits and gowns created by Pepsi Herrera completely define their elegant look. They even underwent training with Valerie of Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP) to learn how to walk in style.

“And all (talents) came without anyone of them giving me a problem,” direk Louie quips.

The image plug has four vignettes. The first one sees the talents headed by Iza Calzado and Marvin Agustin in The Matrix theme. Vibrant colors serve as backdrop for the child stars in the second installment. The third part, with the network’s talent search winners, looks like the Kapuso discoveries are the hottest stars on a music channel and the fourth part of the image plug was shot on the GMA 7 helipad, with the network’s singing stars and TV hosts.

“It’s really nice to see how we grew and I’m thankful to GMA for giving us something like that,” Chynna Ortaleza exclaims after the image plug was shown.

Rhian Ramos expresses how grateful each one of them is for being handled by a management that always brings out the best in them.

The GMA Artist Center’s latest image plug was recently launched on S.O.P. It airs from time to time.

Revillame must pay P8 M in taxes for Ferrari Monday, April 28, 2008

Comedian Willie Revillame will have to kiss his P30-million Ferrari goodbye or park it permanently in his garage unless he is willing to pay the full tax of at least P8 million.

His Ferrari is among more than 10,000 luxury cars and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) brought into the country through the ports of Cebu or registered there that will no longer be registered again.

The Land Transportation Office and the Bureau of Customs have agreed that LTO offices will not renew the registration of these vehicles unless their owners present a BOC clearance.

And before the Customs bureau would issue the clearance, the owners would have to pay the full amount of duties and taxes due on their vehicles.

In the case of Revillame’s Ferrari, which was brought in through one of the ports in Cebu, it was reported that the importer or consignee paid a measly tax of about P8,000 only. The comedian is the vehicle’s second or third owner.

Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales revealed the LTO-BOC agreement in last week’s hearing of the House committee on good government on car smuggling in Cebu during the time of former LTO chief Reynaldo Berroya and former Customs collector Billy Bibit.

Morales said the correct amount of duties and taxes has not been paid on many of the vehicles.

In some cases, vehicles were registered without the required BOC clearance, he said. – Jess Diaz