FORGIVENESS HAS NO PLACE IN KATRINA'S HEART


MANILA, JANUARY 15, 2010 (MALAYA) By Mario Bautista (‘Ang pagpapatawad, it’s given to people who sincerely offer an apology. – Katrina Halili’ )

KATRINA Halili turned 24 on January 4 and she considers the case filed that same day by the Justice Department against Hayden Kho for violence as nice birthday gift for her. "I’m so thankful to DOJ dahil may nangyayaring progress sa kaso and I can feel hindi nasayang ‘yung ginawa kong pakikipaglaban para makasuhan siya. Ang dami kong pinuntahan mula sa Senate hanggang Philippine Medical Association, Professional Regulatory Commission, NBI at ang DOJ. Mahirap pero heto’t nagbubunga naman ang efforts kong mabigyan ng justice ang ginawang pambababoy sa akin."

She laughed when informed that even before the warrant was issued to him, Hayden Kho already paid the bail required so he won’t be arrested. "Ang bilis niya. Takot siguro makulong. But okay lang, right niya ‘yun."

She’s also bent on filing the libel case against Hayden’s mom anew for calling her a drug addict. "Hindi ko basta bibitiwan ‘yun dahil paninirang puri ang ginawa niyang ‘yun. Hindi rin ako titigil hangga’t hindi nabubunyag kung sino ang nagkalat ng sex videos and I want to thank the NBI dahil iniimbestigahan nilang mabuti kung sino ang nagpasimuno in uploading it sa internet."

Obviously, forgiveness has no place in her heart. "Ang pagpapatawad, it’s given to people who sincerely offer an apology and ask for forgiveness. Wala naman akong nakikitang ganung effort sa part nila. Wala silang intensiyong mag-sorry sa’kin talaga kaya magsilbing leksiyon sana talaga ito sa mga gumagawa ng ganung pambibiktima sa sex video."

***

When Sharon Cuneta joined "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" in 2001, then still hosted by Christopher de Leon, she won the top prize of P1 million. Now, as the contestant of the same show on TV5 now hosted by Vic Sotto, she won the top prize again, which is now P2 million. It’s indeed a great birthday gift for the Megastar who turned 44 on January 6.

Sharon and Vic were so comfortable with each other and she kept on laughing and talking at the start. But when she gave the correct answer to the P1M question (with the help of director Joey Reyes in "phone a friend" about the first name of Highway 54 before it became EDSA - the answer being 19 de Junio as tribute to Jose Rizal’s birthday), Shawie became more serious to indicate that her quest to win P2M is on.

Earlier, she also sought the help of the audience in the 50-50 lifeline to answer the question in which Olympic Games did they start doing the torch relay. She confessed that "wala talaga akong alam sa sports." With the audience’s assistance, she got the correct answer: 1936 Berlin Olympics. The next question where she asked for help was: "On what island was Hospicio de San Jose built?" The orphanage is Sharon’s chosen charity recipient for her winnings but she’s not sure about where it’s exactly located. With the help of the audience, she got the correct answer again, Isla de Convalescencia.

For the P2M question, Sharon, who had exhausted all her helplines, had to rely entirely on her own intuition. The question came from Shakespeare’s play, "Macbeth": "Which ingredient did the witches use in making their potion?" She wasn’t that sure about her reply but she guessed it right: "Lizard’s leg."

She shed tears of joy after bagging the top prize as she’s so happy for Hospicio de San Jose. "Makakabili na ng mittens ang babies!" she exclaimed.

She got her adopted son, Miguel, now two months old, from that orphanage, which is why it’s really dear to her heart.

***

Viva executive June Torrejon told us that they’ll be busy making more movies this year. Currently being shot is their Valentine movie, "Of All the Things," starring Aga Muhlach and Regine Velasquez, which was delayed when its director, Joyce Bernal, got busy with "Stairway to Heaven."

"Mauuna pa ngang matapos ang ‘Working Girls 2010’ namin kasi mabilis si Joey Reyes magdirek," she says. "Nag-start na rin ang Judy Ann Santos-Sarah Geronimo movie, directed by Wenn Deramas, tentatively titled ‘Hating Kapatid.’ We’re also launching Vice Ganda to stardom in the remake of Roderick Paulate’s ‘Petrang Kabayo.’"

June is also busy helping her ward, Edu Manzano, in his campaign as vice president. "We’ve been friends for 40 years and I’ve been managing him for 28 years now. I’m just 2 years older than him, kasi 56 ako and 54 siya. We’re neighbors in United Parañaque, teenagers pa lang kami. Puro kami mga Ilonggo in our area. I can vouch for Edu being a good person. Mabait talaga siya at ang daming natutulungang tao without broadcasting it."

Edu has wide experience in government service. As vice mayor of Makati, he was president of the Vice Mayors Foundation, chairman of the Special Projects Committe of the Union of Local Authorities, and national president of the Vice Mayor’s League of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001. From March 2004 to Sept. 2009, as chairman of the Optical Media Board, he was recognized to have achieved the most number of enforcement operations and highest quantifiable monetary value of seized items during his five-year stay in office.

He got several awards while serving, including "Parangal ng Bayan," "Huwarang Pilipino Award for Public Service," Outsanding and Unblemished Vice Mayor Award from the National Press Club, Outstanding Vice Mayor in the 12th annual National Consumers Award, 2006 Asia-Pacific Copyright Enforcer of the Year in Cine-Asia Convention at Beijing, and Anak TV Seal Most Well Liked Male Personality from 2007 to 2009. During his military training in the US, he became the head of Quality Control & Evaluation, Missile Engineering Group at the Strategic Air Command of the US Air Force.

As an athlete, he’s a 4th Dan Judo Blackbelt and three-time Philippine Judo Champion. As an actor, he’s past president of the Actors Guild.

"Nakaka-touch," says June. "Lahat ng nanalo sa ‘Game KNB?’ when he was the host, they got in touch with each other sa internet and they are all joining forces to help Edu’s candidacy."

***

Emilio Garcia was congratulated by those who attended the premiere night of "Sagrada Familia." They all believe he delivered a pang-award performance as the psychotic security guard who’s full of insecurities because he’s oppressed by his own father (Robert Arevalo) who he later accidentally killed. Because he’s mentally disturbed, he also rapes his own daughter (Lovi Poe) while his wife (Snooky Serna) works as a nurse abroad. How did he prepare for the role?

"I just read the script repeatedly for me to fully understand my role," he says. "And with the help of Direk Joel Lamangan, ayun nga, I think I was able to give it justice naman dahil maraming nakagusto."

He’s also happy to be part of GMA-7’s new telefantasya, "The Last Prince," where he plays Haring Adorno, the king of the celestial kingdom, Paladino, and father of Aljur Abrenica who plays the title role. In its first week of telecast, the show got very positive feedback. One nice thing about is that it’s fast paced, with so many things happening in each episode.

Tonight, Lara defends Aljur from people who make fun of his bad appearance and Aljur believes it’s Lara who can break the curse and help him regain his good looks.