IZA CALZADO:  PITY  THE  STARS


MANILA, FEBRUARY 23, 2010 (MALAYA) By Mario Bautista (‘They just can’t please writers who interview them.’ )

SOMEHOW, we pity movie stars as they’re often put between the devil and the deep blue sea. They just can’t please writers who interview them. Some reporters felt sore when Iza Calzado refused to answer their queries about how she spent Valentine’s Day with her boyfriend Atticus King. "Sa amin na lang ‘yun," she said at the presscon of "Panday Kids." "Tahimik lang ang date namin, simple lang."

One columnist later wrote: "Para date lang nila, pinagkakait pa."

When Regine Velasquez was asked at "SOP" how she’d spend Valentine with Ogie Alcasid, she said something like "Siguro magse-sex na lang kami mamayang gabi." Again, some writers were displeased by Regine’s funny but candid answer. "Napakawalang taste naman ni Regine," wrote one writer. "Pati pagse-sex nila ni Ogie, binabalita pa."

Going back to Iza, she is so thankful that right after "Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit," she has a new show right away, "Panday Kids," where she plays the role of Maria Makiling. "And remember, kasali rin ako sa ‘Panday’ movie na naging number one sa recent filmfest kaya I feel so blessed and honored na kasama rin ako ngayon dito sa ‘Panday Kids’ doing the same role," she says. "But here in ‘Panday Kids,’ which starts airing tomorrow, I have the chance to show my powers as protector of Mother Nature na hindi napakita in the movie where the only thing established is gusto akong pakasalan ni Lizardo. It’s not mentioned that he wants to marry kasi gusto rin niyang makuha ang powers ko as an engkantada para mas maging makapangyarihan siya."

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Just because Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera traveled together to Europe to visit Marian’s dad, some writers concluded that they probably had a secret wedding while they were there. When Dingdong said this is not so, they insisted: "Siguro, namanhikan na sa daddy ni Marian doon."

Dingdong wants to make it clear no wedding or pamanhikan ever happened in Spain. "A wedding is an important event in one’s life. So bakit doon namin gagawin if ever, gayong narito lahat ng relatives and close friends namin? Siempre, mas gusto namin dito sa bansa natin. Our main goal is to see Marian’s dad whom she hasn’t seen for six years so from the airport, we went straight to the restaurant owned by her dad," he says. "Okay ang naging first meeting namin. I thought there might be a language problem but it turned out he speaks Tagalog quite well so naging masaya at maayos ang lahat. He’s an outgoing person, down to earth kaya hindi mahirap pakibagayan. Sa kanya pala namana ni Marian ‘yung jolly personality niya. Noong Valentine’s Day, tatlo kaming nag-celebrate as her dad was with us for dinner."

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Richard Gutierrez and Heart Evangelista had their last taping day for "Full House" last Friday. The show will end this week. "Maraming fans ang nagre-request na i-extend pa sana ito," says Chard. "Pero hanggang doon na lang talaga ang story at bawal din sa contract with the Koreans na may extension. Sa final week, my character Justin announces that he’s retiring from showbiz. He reconciles with his father, Ronaldo Valdez, but still can’t find it in his heart to tell Heart that he loves her. Sa ending, babalik ang story sa sequences that we shot in Prague at the Czech Republic shown at the start of the series. Magandang-maganda ito so don’t miss it. Nandito ‘yung mahabang kissing scene namin na umikot ang camera ng 360 degrees, set in one of the most beautiful spots in Prague. ‘Full House’ will always be memorable for me as working on its set is so cheerful, walang stress kaya very refreshing talaga."

His mom Annabelle Rama says Chard is such a good-hearted person. "Ang daming nag-advise sa kanyang ituloy ang demanda para makakulekta siya ng damages as he has a good chance of winning but he made true his promise na mag-apologize lang ang PEP, di na niya itutuloy," says Annabelle. "Hindi talaga mukhang pera ang anak ko. Hindi nagmana sa’kin. Gusto lang niya talagang ma-clear ang name niya. Ayan nga, mag a-attend na kami sa anniversary party ng Yes Magazine ni Jo-ann Maglipon to show na forgive and forget na siya."

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Rich Asuncion said at the presscon of "Panday Kids" that the rumor linking her to Aljur Abrenica is not true. "Hindi naging kami," she says. "Wala kaming naging relasyon kaya hindi rin totoo ang balitang inutusan ako ng GMA na lumayo sa kanya kasi makakasira ako sa love team nila ni Kris Bernal. Ang feeling ko nga, nagagamit ako sa pag-angat ng love team nila. Ayokong makisabit sa pangalan ng iba. Gusto ko nga magkaroon na ako ng boyfriend para matigil na ang tsismis sa amin kasi nagmumukha akong kontrabida sa love team nila."

How come it’s said she’s not on speaking terms with Kris Bernal?

"That’s not true. Hindi kami close, but nagbebeso kami when we see each other. Wala kaming gap like what they say. I’m happy for the success ng love team nila ni Aljur at malayo na ang narating nila."

Doesn’t it cross her mind that she could have been Aljur’s ka-love team?

"No, may sarili akong career. I’m happy nga na I play a good role in ‘Panday Kids’ as Fatima, the older sister of Julian Trono who’s one of the Panday Kids. Muslim kami rito so I have to act and behave like a real Muslim."

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The moms of two actresses and one actor are all currently suffering from cancer, those of Regine Tolentino, Francine Prieto and Jake Vargas. We just want to inform them 400 oncologists (cancer specialists) and other physicians from the Asia-Pacific region convened last week for the 8th annual Roche Asia Oncology Forum in Cebu last week and new medical breakthroughs for the treatment of various kinds of cancers were presented during the event. Dr. Chita Nazal Matunog of the Philippines presented a valid case study about the treatment of lung cancer that should give hope to those suffering from this ailment. Roche is a leader in researches focusing on healthcare and is the world’s largest biotech company with effective medicines for cancer, inflammation, metabolism, virology. Its personalized healthcare strategy aims at giving medicine and diagnostic tools for the improvement of health, quality of life and survival of patients.