THINGS  WERE  NOT  ALWAYS  OK  WITH  MICHAEL  V.  AND  OGIE

MANILA, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 (MALAYA) DREAM FACTORY by MARIO BAUTISTA (“Siempre, kung sino ang mahal ng friend ko, mahal ko rin. – Michael V.’)

ALL is set for the remake of "Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit," the 1984 hit movie where Maricel Soriano played a bida-kontrabida who’s so ambitious and greedy she won’t hesitate to kill people just to get what she wants, directed by Maryo de los Reyes. The Maricel role will be interpreted by Iza Calzado and with her in the cast of the TV version are Wendell Ramos doing the William Martinez role and Angelika de la Cruz in the good girl role originally played by Gina Alajar. This is Angelika’s comeback role after she gave birth to her first born, a boy they named Gabriel.

"Ang ganda nga ng comeback ko as I won’t be playing a contravida role this time," she says. "Ako yung mabait na sister ngayon, unlike in my role sa ‘La Lola’ which I did nung pregnant pa ko na villain ako. Natuwa nga ako kasi I didn’t ask for this but sawa na rin siguro ang GMA na lagi akong nagtataray kaya good girl naman ako this time. First time ko rin to work with Iza Calzado in a regular series and it looks like I’ll enjoy na makasama siya kasi magaling siyang artista kaya masarap na kaeksena."

Angelika is no longer managed by her dad but now has the same manager as Dingdong Dantes, Perry Lansigan. She had a civil marriage with husband Orion Cesareo last year and they intend to have a church wedding in December. "We want to be a simple intimate wedding for only our closest friends and relatives," she says.

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Is it true Michael V. complained when the original title of his new movie with Ogie Alcasid was "Whatever Yaya, The Spoiled Brat Movie"? It said he felt bad since he’s not at all included in it, when he just won the best actor plum in the first MTRCB Awards. After he complained, its final title is now "Yaya and Angelina, The Spoiled Brat Movie" with him playing the title role of Yaya.

"Ibang tao ang nakapansin noon and I wasn’t the one who complained," he says. "But it’s not because nanalo akong best actor sa MTRCB, although I want to thank them. Marami lang nakapansing parang nakalimutan ako sa first title kaya ginawa na lang ‘Yaya and Angelina’ ang title para pareho kaming nandun."

And his "Yaya" is billed ahead of Ogie.

"Naku, wala kaming problema sa billing. Sa’kin, kahit sino ang mauna, okay lang."

He and Ogie are the best of friends now. Was there never a time that they had a conflict?

"Nagkaroon noong time that he and Michelle broke up. Naipit ako kasi di ko alam kung sino ang kakampihan ko between them. But in the end, nanaig pa rin ang friendship kay Ogie. Kasi ang layo na ng narating ng friendship namin from ‘Tropang Trumpo’ and ‘Bubble Gang’ to ‘Hole in the Wall’ and the movies we did together. Hindi naman sa I sided with him. Basta I just showed na whatever happened, I’ll be here as a friend to help and understand him."

So he now accepts Regine for Ogie even if he’s a good friend of Michelle before?

"Siempre, kung sino ang mahal ng friend ko, mahal ko rin. And right now, close na rin naman ako kay Regine."

Bitoy is the endorser of Gerry’s Grill that celebrated its Circle of Friends Party on Morato Ave. recently. Owned by Gerry Apolinario, it started on Feb. 14, 1997 and has been the perfect place for family and friends with its tasty dishes that are reasonably priced. It now has more than 40 branches nationwide.

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Have you heard how Libera sings? Libera is a vocal group composed of young boys aged 7 to 16 from various schools in South London whose combined voices produce heavenly music. It’s like you’re hearing celestial sounds from a band of angels, which is not surprising that one of their albums is called "Angel Voices." The moment we heard this album, we felt awed by the distinctive ecstatic harmonies that these boys produce. The good news is that they’re coming over to Manila to do a show at the PICC on October 25.

Libera is famous to music lovers all over the world for their stunning original sound which is at once both ancient and modern, endearing them to listeners across the globe. Their albums top both mainstream and classical charts in various countries and they have a fan base in places like the US, Great Britain, Japan and Korea, ranking them with major artists like Andrea Bocelli. They don’t think of themselves as choirboys but as an alternative kind of boy band. They have appeared at the Papal Mass of Pope Benedict XVI’s first visit to the US, performing to 60,000 people at the New York Yankee Stadium, the only British artists who took part in this historical event. They did two TV specials for BBC, "Last Choir Standing" and "Songs of Praise." They appeared for CBS TV at Kennedy Centre in Washington D.C. to honor Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys in the presence of Robert De Niro, Diana Ross, Steve Martin and Director Martin Scorcese. They also sing regularly in cathedrals and churches like Westminster, Buckfast Abbey, Crystal Cathedral in California and Riverside Church in New York.

To get a sample of their music, PolyEast Records made two of their albums available here: "Angel Voices- Libera Live in Concert" (on DVD) and "Eternal: The Best of Libera" (a two-CD greatest hits collection). We particularly love their songs "Prayer," "Be Still My Soul," "Stay With Me," "Always With You," "Sanctus," "Far Away" and "Going Home." You can get tickets for their October 25 concert at Ticketworld 891-9999. Visit their website at www.libera.org.uk . PolyEast also wants to congratulate Zsa Zsa Padilla for the Gold Record she got for her album, "Unchanging Love," with the hit single "Hanggang." Zsa Zsa will soon release her second single, an original OPM number called "Iibigin Kang Muli."

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Viva Concerts has found a new venue for their artists in the Skydome of SM North EDSA. After the hit shows of Regine Velasquez and the Women of the ‘90s, they’re now mounting the show of the country’s most durable singing trio, The Apo of Danny Javier, Jim Paredes and Boboy Garovillo, in "Apo Kayang-Kaya Pa."

Jim and his family have already moved to Australia but he keeps on coming back because of the demand for them to do shows here.

"This is the 17th time that I return here since I moved to Sydney," he says. "Our show is on September 25 and 26, then we go to the US to do five shows there. I’m also producing shows in Sydney, like Joey Albert’s show there on November 14. Next year, I will produce our own concert there as Danny and Buboy have not visited my house there."

How come he’s no longer headmaster in "Pinoy Dream Academy"? "When I accepted that in PDA 1, I stayed here for four months and I missed my family in Sydney. We’ve all adjusted to our lives there. Ako, I ride the train and I’m glad that no one recognizes me. I’m a music teacher there. I also do photography and a lot of writing. I found my second wind as a writer and I’m writing a new book. But my family and I will spend Christmas here."

The APO has a loyal following through their 40 years in showbiz. "But we now get younger audiences after our songs were revived by various rock bands who introduced us to a new generation of listeners who sing our hit songs with us like ‘Batambata Ka Pa,’ ‘Panalangin,’ ‘Nakapagtataka,’ ‘When I Met You,’ ‘Yakap sa Dilim,’ ‘Doobidoobidoo’ and ‘Pumapatak ang Ulan.’ Pami-pamilya sila when they watch our shows."

They don’t have any guest in their show. "Kami lang, and we do nothing but our own music. All our materials are our own, including the jokes."

Election fever is in the air so expect them to poke fun at our politicians, especially now that the venue, Skydome, is ideal for an intimate show mixing music and laughs. Tickets range from P1,000 to P2,000. Call Ticketnet 911-5555 or Viva at 687-6181 local 627.

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Scriptwriter Ronald Carballo is directing the third "Mr. Gay World-Philippines" pageant to be held at Metro Bar, 9 p.m., on October 25. The local franchise was brought to Manila by Noemi Alberto.

"It’s a hit in various parts of the world, so why not bring it to here?" she says. "It’s fun and wonderful seeing gay guys flaunting their sexuality while doing it for a cause. Since we started this contest of good-looking and intelligent gays, we have helped institutions in need like Justo Justo’s Home for Golden Gays, the Women’s Correctional, and various churches. We’re also attending the premiere night of ‘In My Life’ tonight as the gay community’s solid representative supporting director Olivia Lamasan’s film featuring a gay couple."

Last year’s winner was Wilbert Tolentino who’s now enjoying a lot of opportunities coming his way after winning the title. He was sent to Canada to represent our country in the gay world pageant and got the awards for Best in National Costume, Mr. Popularity and Best in Formal Wear. This year’s winner will be sent to the gay world pageant in Oslo, Norway. What tip can Wilbert give to this year’s contestants? "Just be your real self," he says.

The "Mr. Gay World Philippines" finals will be hosted by gay icon Boy Abunda, produced by Mac Bodallo and Dennis Sebastian of Winstruck Events and Entertainment, with choreography by Rodgil Flores and Archie Zobel.