Because of Angelica? “No, because we grew apart. I studied fashion design in Paris for four years so it was mostly a long distance relationship. I had another boyfriend, an Irish Filipino, after him, pero break na rin kami.”
Has she met Angelica? “Yes, only recently. We’re very polite to each other. We even made beso.”
The second of three kids, her mom is former Bayanihan dancer Cynthia Adea who met her dad, a member of the French Navy, while performing in Egypt. They got married 33 years ago. “My dad moved here after the wedding. He’s now into oil services.”
They live in Forbes Park and her younger brother, Erwan, a chef who also sings well, is linked to Anne Curtis. Does she approve of Anne for Erwan? “Anne is my best friend and if I were a man, I’d also fall in love with her.”
Why didn’t she join showbiz earlier? “There were offers but I’m not ready. Now, I’m more mature and more confident of myself. I want to concentrate on singing because my Tagalog is not that good.”
What kind of songs would she like to sing? “Mostly jazzy numbers. I write my own songs.”
Lolit Solis asked her if Derek is “dako” (well endowed)? “I’m not gonna say.”
“Ay, siguro dyuts,” says Lolit raising her little finger. "It's so easy to say kung dako."
“Anyway, size doesn’t matter. It’s how you work the engine that counts,” Solenn counters.
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MARIO O’HARA’s last film was “Babae sa Breakwater” that won awards abroad six years ago. He now has a Cinemalaya entry, “Ang Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio”, produced by Boy Abunda and Boy So. Is this based on the play about the Supremo? “No, this is based on a study made by the late Mayor Antonio Villegas in 1963 when he constructed Liwasang Bonifacio,” he says. “It has the complete records of the trial on Bonifacio and that’s where I based my screenplay. This is a period film and we spent much for the production design, the costumes, and various locations in Bulacan, Pampanga and an old house in Pasay. The film is shot mostly in sepia in a stylized manner. We start showing Bonifacio as a moro-actor and ends with his execution and burial.”
Playing Bonifacio is Alfred Vargas, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo is Lance Raymundo, Janvier Daily is Procopio Bonifacio, and Bb. Pilipinas World Danielle Castano is Gregoria de Jesus. “All other cast members are theatre actors. Lahat puro bata kasi ang mga rebolusyonaryo noon, 20 to 22 years old lang ang edad. The roots of local politics can be traced back to Bonifacio and Aguinaldo. Noon pa, uso na ang power struggle. It answers the question: Why did a hero kill another hero? It’s up to the viewer to conclude kung sino ang bida at sino ang kontrabida.”
Alfred is his personal choice to play Bonifacio. “He guested in the PETA play ‘Belong Puti’ and he said ang sarap pala ng theatre. So tinandaan ko yun. The problem is he got busy sa election campaign so we waited for him. May 11, after the election, nag-shoot na agad kami. Kaya lang, ang taba niya, so dinaya na lang namin by making him wear dark clothes. But I’m very pleased with his performance and ni Lance. Magagaling sila.”
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INA RAYMUNDO came to the presscon of “Precious Hearts Romance Presents Midnight Phantom” with a bulging tummy.
“Eight months na ‘to,” she says. “I’m due to deliver next month. This is our 4th child and the 3rd girl.”
Does she and hubby Bryan Poturnak want to have more? “Bahala na. Basta I’m glad he doesn’t stop me from acting.”
When the trailer was shown, she wasn’t preggy at all in her scenes. “Di pa ko buntis when we started taping this in July last year. One year in the making ito. I play Anya, a bar singer who attracted both the bar owner, Cris Villanueva, and the singer in their band, Rafael Rosell, who’s ten years younger than me. I choose Cris and hurts Rafael so much, emotionally and also physically kasi nasugatan ko ang mukha niya so he’s got this ugly scar. Cris dies and leaves me his young daughter, Denise Laurel, who’s ten years younger naman than Rafael. Denise becomes a big fan of Rafael who is now a mysterious DJ called Midnight Phantom. Rafael uses Denise to take revenge on me.”
“Midnight Phantom” is directed by Cathy Molina, with Charee Pineda as Denise’s best friend, Beverly Salviejo as her yaya, and Jommy Teotico and JM De Guzman as the barkada of Rafael. Cris Villanueva will now be seen in both GMA and ABS shows. He plays the father of Jillian Ward in “Trudis Liit”. “Midnight Phantom” starts airing on Monday before “Momay”.
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BASED ON THE 2001 chick flick about pink girl power that made Reese Witherspoon a box office star, "Legally Blonde" is a rousing musical featuring a bravura lead star performance from Nikki Gil as Elle Woods, the ditzy California sorority queen dumped by her boyfriend for not being serious enough who then proves she can excel on her own by going to Harvard law school in the name of love. Nikki acts, sings and dances so well like she's really born to perform in musical theater. Reese may have popularized the role in Hollywood but the smart Nikki makes it her own in a production that shows local theater at its best. She doesn't even look ridiculous as a blonde Asian. Nikki shines in so many numbers, including "Omigod" (the opening number), the show stopping "What You Want" when she gets to Harvard, and "So Much Better". We'd really love to see her doing Kim in "Miss Saigon".
Giving her superb support are the scene-stealing Jinky Llamanzares as Paulette her beautician friend, Guji Lorenzana as Warner her condescending boyfriend, Jett Pangan as the law professor who has his own designs for Elle (his "Blood in the Water" number is a high point of the show), Cris Villonco as Vivienne her rival who becomes an ally, and Geneva Cruz who does marvelous singing while dancing and doing workouts on stage as the murder suspect in her exuberant production number that opens the play's second act. We just wish she has more chemistry with Nyoy Volante who plays her leading man. Kudos to Director Chari Arespacochaga ("Footloose", "Spring Awakening") for the excellent staging of all the well choreographed musical numbers.
