DISASTER  STRIKES  AGAIN:  JEAN  GARCIA & DAUGHTER  AT VISTA REAL

MANILA, OCTOBER 3, 2009 (MALAYA) DREAM FACTORY by MARIO BAUTISTA (The first was a fire that razed their house in Greenhills.’)

FANS of the "Kimerald" love team want to know if it’s true that their idols will be separated from each other for their next project.

Kim is now doing the Metro filmfest entry "I Love You, Goodbye" as Gabby Concepcion’s daughter, while Gerald is in "Tiyagong Akyat" with Erich Gonzales.

Well, their supporters would be pleased to know that ABS-CBN has changed it mind about giving them separate projects. They will be together again in the next teleserye that is now being cooked up for them for airing early next year."

"Of course, we’re excited to be working with each other again in our next soap," says Gerald. "Aside from that, we’ll also do a new movie together for Star Cinema. Masaya talaga kaming nagtatrabaho na magkasama kaya marami pang aabangang project namin ang aming loyal fans."

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[PHOTO AT LEFT - JEAN GARCIA, COURTESY OF THIS LINK: http://www.pinaycelebrityonline.com/2008/10/jean-garcia-fhm-photos.html

Aside from Cristine Reyes, other showbiz denizens affected by Ondoy were Jean Garcia and daughter Jennica, who braved the chest-high floods in Vista Real (also near the Marikina River) to save themselves. This is the second disaster that struck them. The first was a fire that razed their home in Greenhills. It was Jennylyn Mercado who helped them until they were able to move to the house of Jean’s mother. Also stranded in Pasig or Cainta were Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi, Bearwin Meily, Chokoleit, Tommy Abuel (his brother died in the Provident Village flood), Aster Amoyo and Sylvia Sanchez. The home of Gladys Reyes and husband Christopher Roxas in Vista Verde was also inundated by flood waters. It was Judy Ann Santos who helped them with hubby Ryan Agoncillo swimming in the flood to be able to deliver some milk and groceries to their two kids who were already hungry. They now stay in the home of Juday and Ryan.

Still about Juday, she’s the special guest tonight in "How ‘Bout My Place Tonight," a cooking clinic on TV 5 at 11:30 p.m., hosted by chefs Fernando Aracam and John Cu Unjieng.

Juday shares with them her own special recipe on Asian noodles.

Juday received her Certificate of Competency in cooking from TESDA last July, after graduating from the Center for Asian Culinary Studies and taking a course in International Cuisine in Thailand.

She has assumed many roles in her showbiz career — child star, daughter, sister, lover, superhero — and in real life just last April, wife, to Ryan. Juday’s knack for cooking is one of the reasons for winning husband Ryan’s heart, through his stomach. Get essential cooking tips straight from Judy Ann Santos tonight, 11:30 on TV5.

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Joel Torre is going international. He’ll be doing a movie for Hollywood director John Sayles (best known for "Passion Fish") with Cherry Pie Picache and Irma Adlawan. Shooting in Manila will start late this year. He announced this at the presscon of his new movie where he plays the title role, "Sabungero, Dangal at Tibay," a movie about the local sport of cockfighting.

"After a long time, nakagawa uli ako ng movie where I play the title role," he says. "The last time I did was in Mike de Leon’s ‘Bayaning Third World’ where I played Jose Rizal. Dito, kasama ako sa halos lahat ng scenes in the movie. I’m so happy sa shooting as I’m working with good friends like Ricky Davao, Mark Gil, Nonie Buencamino and Leo Martinez. I play Paco, a man who feels life has become boring until I go to a cockfight and discover that I have the ability to choose the winning cocks. This makes my life more exciting. It starts as a hobby and becomes an addiction to gambling. I lose my job and my wife, Maritoni Fernandez, and our two kids, Sid Lucero and Lesley Martinez. So I try to rebuild my life, learning how to treat sabong as a sport and not as an addiction, also regaining the love of my family. For my role, I had to undergo training at a cockfighting academy. The climax of ‘Sabungero’ is the international World Slasher Cup Invitational 8-cock Derby at Araneta Coliseum."

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KC Montero was at "Dutdutan ‘09," the biggest annual tattoo exposition in the country held at A Venue in Makati September 18 and 19.

KC disproved rumors that he and wife Geneva Cruz have split. "Geneva wanted to resume her singing career here and she did it with my blessings," he says. "I’m helping my parents in their real estate business in the States but the recession there makes business slow. It’s good I got an offer from MTV Philippines to host their music radio station, U-92, so I accepted it and signed a two-year contract with them as I really enjoy living here in the Philippines."

KC was in "Dutdutan ‘09" not because he has tattoos on his body but because he’s one of the image models of Tribu T-shirts and accessories. Presented by Tribal Gear Philippines, this year’s well-attended exhibition featured outstanding works by inkers competing in eight categories, with Tattoo of the Day as the most coveted award. There were booths that offered tattoo services, so one actually sees a master inker create art pieces on skin. Highlights of the event included exhibition fights of professional URCC (Universal Reality Combat Championship) fighters. Making a comeback was Tribal Gear’s sizzling Bikini Open contest which was undoubtedly a crowd favorite last year. Bobby Ruiz, founder of Tribal Gear, Wuv (drummer of POD) and street/graffiti artist OG Abel celebrated art and ink with their local counterparts. Hot local bands Kamikazee, Pedicab, Urbandub, and other bands made it the ultimate tattoo party.

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One of the regular singers called "Songbees" in "The Singing Bee" is Apple Chiu, who was first seen as a contestant in "Philippine Idol." Apple has impressive vocal pipes and she now launches her debut album under PolyEast.

Born on December 22, 1983, she’s the second of three kids and is the only girl. Her family owns the itch remover called Katialis. She finished interior design at UST in 2004 then joined "Philippine Idol."

"After that, I thought di na ko makakakanta uli until our musical director, Mel Villena, asked me to audition as a ‘Songbee’ and that gave me regular exposure on TV," she says. "If not for ‘Singing Bee’, I don’t think I’ll have the courage to do my own album."

Her album has revivals of hits done by male singers, like "Sa Kanya" by Ogie Alcasid (the first single), Randy Santiago’s "Hindi Magbabago," Ariel Rivera’s "Sa Aking Puso," Basil Valdez’ "Paano Ba ang Mangarap?" and Ogie’s "Dito sa Puso Ko." It has two original songs, "Paano Ba ang Umibig," music and lyrics by Miguel Mendoza and "Ikaw ang Kailangan," lyrics by Patty Mayoralgo and music by Miguel Mendoza.

Some folks think she’s the reason Miguel broke up with his girlfriend in "Pinoy Dream Academy," Bea Munoz, but she says Miguel, who’s a runner-up in "Pinoy Dream Academy," is just a good friend. "We have a duet, ‘Ligaw na Damdamin,’ in his own debut album," she says. "I have no boyfriend."

So will she have a concert soon?

"May concert kami ng ‘Songbees’ na sina OJ Mariano, Frenchie Dy, Mike Cruz, with our ‘Singing Bee’ host Cesar Montano as our special guest."