APO ARE DISBANDING: AT SMX CENTER ON FEB 13 'LAST VALENTINES nAPO NILA'


MANILA, JANUARY 19, 2010 (STAR) By Mario Bautista ‘But when I learned last Valentine show na nila, I felt sad. Parang it was the end of an era. -- Kai Brosas’ LOVI Poe maintains that her rumored new beau Ronald Singson is just a friend. "I don’t think there’s anything wrong na close friends kami," she says. "We did go to Boracay, but it was a big group, hindi kami lang."

She also doesn’t want to talk anymore about ex-boyfriend Jolo Revilla and the expensive gifts he reportedly gave her. "Ayoko na lang magsalita ng anuman about him. I respect him. I want the good memories we had together to remain intact. I just feel sad na some people write two-timer ako, pinagsabay ko sila, material girl daw ako. Wala akong pinagsabay at never akong nanghingi ng gifts kahit kanino. I earn on my own, hindi naman ako nawawalan ng projects, why would I need to do that? I never take advantage of anyone. It’s not my style. I really feel so helpless kapag may ganyang mga intriga. I just accept the fact that I can’t please everyone. I don’t think I need to defend myself against such accusations as I know hindi naman ‘yan totoo. Ewan ko kung bakit ako ginagawaan ng issues. Like nakita lang si Patrick Garcia sa premiere night ng ‘Sagrada Familia,’ may nag-link na sa’min. Mahilig daw ako sa mga lalaking may anak na dahil lahat ng na-link sa’kin unwed fathers. Ano ba ‘yun? I just leave it all up to God. Ang mahalaga, my own mom doesn’t believe such lies and she still trusts me as she knows wala akong tinatapakang sinumang tao."

What makes her happy these days is the excellent feedback her good performances got in two films she did last year, "Walang Hanggang Paalam" and "Sagrada Familia."

"I’m proud kasi ‘Walang Hanggan’ got a B rating from the Cinema Evaluation Board while ‘Sagrada’ got an A naman. The good reviews encourage me to continue improving on my craft. I really want to be recognized as a good actress."

What are her hardest scenes in "Sagrada Familia" that will open in theaters on January 20?

"’Yung rape scenes ni Tito Emilio Garcia, who plays my dad. First was in my bedroom na pinasok niya ko’t tinutukan ng baril, then sa loob ng batalan sa probinsiya na pinasok niya ako habang naliligo. Mahirap din ‘yung bedscene with Felix Roco, who’s my boyfriend kasi may butt exposure siya at nahihiya akong tingnan siya. Tapos nagkaroon siya ng premature ejaculation. First time ko to do such adult scenes. Then there’s the childbirth scene na pinakitang I’m delivering the baby na produkto ng incest sa damuhan, with my mom Snooky Serna and my lola Gloria Diaz helping me dahil babarilin na kami ng dad ko. Grabeng tensiyon ‘yung scene na ‘yun."

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It was during the shooting of that scene that Direk Joel Lamangan had an attack. "Nahilo siya bigla and we’re shooting that in a remote area in Bulacan," says producer Dennis Evangelista. "Akala namin, matutuluyan siya. Earlier, namimigay siya ng gifts, sabi niya, para maalala raw namin siya. Akala ko, premonition na ‘yun. Buti na-revive siya at natapos ang shooting."

"They want to take me to a hospital pero malayo at ayokong ma-pack up ang shooting kasi last day na namin," says Direk Joel. "So after resting for a while, tinuloy ko ang shoot at, awa ng Diyos, natapos namin. Pero muntik ko na talaga ibuwis ang buhay ko rito."

"Sagrada Familia" opens in theaters this Wednesday, the first local film to open after the Metro filmfest. It’s Joel’s third film to get a consecutive A rating, after "Dukot" and "Mano Po 6," both acclaimed films. His new project is "Sigwa," for Cinemalaya. "It’s the story of activists in the ‘70s na nagkita-kita uli after so many years at nag-iba-iba na ang buhay nila, pati values and principles nila. I have Dawn Zulueta, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Tirso Cruz among the cast members. They’ll be played in their younger days by Megan Young, Pauleen Luna and Dennis Trillo."

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APO RETIRING:

For some, life begins at 40, but for the APO, it’s the end. Their Valentine concert at the SMX Convention Center on February 13 is entitled "Last Valentines nAPO nila" because they’re disbanding.

"We’re closing down kasi feeling namin, where are we going?" says Boboy Garovillo. "We don’t write songs and record together anymore. We do things more individually. We just perform and perform in shows. Paulit-ulit na lang. Nawala na ‘yung creative level."

But their concerts are still hits. "That’s true, pero ayaw namin hintaying kasawaan pa kami ng tao," says Danny Javier. "We’ve actually been talking about winding down since last year pa. It’s best to go in a blaze of glory. You should know when to leave and not overstay your welcome. Ayoko umabot dun sa puntong sasabihin ng tao, ano ba mga ‘yan, ang tatanda na, hindi pa magpahinga? Tuldukan mo na lang habang sikat ka pa. E, ngayon, naabutan na naming nire-revive ng mga banda ang aming kanta."

"We’ll do shows until the end of May, in time for the elections," says Jim. "Puede namang bigla na lang kaming mawala or just fade out. But naisip namin, bakit ‘di kami gumawa ng maganda paalam para may formal closure? But we’ll still have our individual careers. I’ll still write songs for other singers. I like to write musicals also. I teach, I do workshops, marami pang gagawin."

How about Danny and Boboy?

"I have too many interests at ‘di ko alam kung anong uunahin ko," says Danny. "I really want to live in Mindanao."

"I’ll continue to act and do hosting," says Boboy.

Their special guest in their SMX Valentine show is K Brosas. "When I was told makakasama ko sila, ‘di ako makapaniwala mula puyo hanggang paa. It’s an honor kasi, living legends sila, icons. But when I learned last Valentine show na nila, I felt sad. Parang it’s the end of an era. Naisip ko na lang habang nage-ending sila, gagawin ko naman itong chance para i-launch ang career ko to stardom."

Produced by Star Express and 20 Plus, the APO promises this to be their most unforgettable concert ever. For tickets, call Ticketnet at 911-5555, 20 Plus at 753-1609, Star Express at 334-9272.

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Princess Punzalan feels lucky that while she’s here on vacation, GMA-7 was casting "The Last Prince" and she’s just perfect in the role of the witch, Alwana. Now married to an American, Jason Field, in California, she’s also studying nursing in Sta. Monica College. She was last seen on ABS-CBN a few months ago in the anniversary presentation of "Maalaala Mo Kaya" shot in the US. On GMA-7, her last show was a one-season teledrama on "Now and Forever" in 2005. "My role in ‘The Last Prince’ is just a special participation as the mother of Bianca King who cast a spell on title-role Aljur Abrenica," she says.

So how’s her new husband?

"We’re okay. Five years na kami. We met through a common friend at naging friends muna kami. Tiningnan ko muna how he responds to various situations, parang test, at pasado siya."

Obviously, she has learned her lesson after her first marriage to Willie Revillame ended in separation. Did she get to meet Willie during her vacation?

"No. Walang chance. But I’m happy for his success kasi alam kong ‘yan talaga ang pangarap niya. Naghiwalay naman kaming maayos so wala kaming problema."

It’s been 17 years since her late mom, Helen Vela, passed away but sadness still fills her heart each time she thinks of her mom. "I still miss her. Kung minsan, naiiyak na lang ako as she’s not around anymore, lalo kung special occasions like Christmas and New Year. I always pray for her. Nitong holidays, nagkasama kami ng mga kapatid ko. Paolo is now a pastor, Ruben works in a call center and Meg is finishing college. Okay naman silang lahat and I’m sure our mom is proud of them."