Friday, March 27, 2009

VGH (Very Good HA!)

Due to high avail, I decided to take time off from work, hoping to save productivity and AHT. The only downside is, I'm not paid for the unused hours from my shift. This action done by employees at the office is called VGH (Voluntary Go Home). However, my article is not about VGH at my office, it's more on VGH as in Very Good HA! I'm going to heap praises on certain personalities that made news. Take note, it may not only be one person ang itutukoy ko rito but a group of persons as well.

MANNY PACQUIAO- I would like to take my hat off to Manny Pacquiao for his loyalty. His decision to remain with Solar Sports and GMA-7 only proves that he cannot be easily swayed by a bigger contract and more political clout that ABS-CBN promised. Although at first, he did confirm the transfer to the Kapamilya network but later on backtracked when he learned that the contracts he signed with Solar and GMA were binding and legal until 2011. Well, it's not a guarantee when you're a talent of ABS-CBN and you jump into politics, you're a sure winner. Take Loren Legarda's case.

THE SURVIVING FAMILY OF THE LATE BUBBY DACER- If there's one surviving family that I admire the most it would be none other than Bubby Dacer's family. Eight years after the great PR man was declared lost along with driver Emmanuel Corbito, the family unearthed one of the most intriguing affidavits made by Cesar Mancao. Thanks to the DOJ, Mancao turned his back on his boss Senator Ping Lacson and decided to become a state witness for the crime. Banking on Mancao's statements, the Dacer family decided to file double murder charges against Sen. Ping as of yesterday. I don't know how will the court case will turn out to be but definitely it will be a big blunder to Ping Lacson's presidential bid come 2010.

CESAR MANCAO- Many perceive him to be Ping Lacson's most trusted subordinate along with Michael Ray Aquino until the two of them were implicated in the double abduction/murder of PR man Bubby Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito. Mancao had to give up his job as a policeman to hide in the United States allegedly upon the orders of Sen. Ping. Now, he is turning his back on his master to become a state witness in the still unsolved murder case. Time will tell if he really told the truth about Ping and Bigote (Erap) being the mastermind of it's just hearsay.

EUGENIO "GABBY" LOPEZ III- The owner of ABS-CBN has been receiving a lot of flak for allegedly offering Manny Pacquiao guaranteed political clout once Pacman's fights air over ABS-CBN starting with the upcoming bout versus Ricky "Hitman" Hatton. Whether it was true that it was Pacman who came to ABS-CBN and presented himself to become a Kapamilya or it was ABS who offered Pacman, Gabby decided to become a good sport and decided to support Pacman's endeavors after Manny turned his back on the said deal and decided to stay with existing contracts with Solar Sports and GMA-7.

RICHARD GUTIERREZ and ALJUR ABRENICA- The reported incident at the Fiamma bar that happened between the two Kapuso actors last October 2008 caused people to take sides on who was right and who was wrong. Eventually, time heals all wounds. Aljur broke the news that he had patched things up with Richard after a chance encounter at the GMA compound. Both have moved on to greater things, with Richard portraying the masked bandit Zorro on primetime while Aljur now getting lead star status in the Sinenovela remake of the Sharon Cuneta-Gabby Concepcion hit "Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin" opposite love team Kris Bernal.

And so goes our edition of VGH (Very Good HA!). Hope that the good side of the news always comes out no matter how bad it may be.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

WHEN FRANCIS MET NATASHA IN HEAVEN

Sometimes Philippine showbiz and Hollywood has its parallels. Minsan, sinasabihan tayo na ang mga Pinoy ay gaya-gaya sa Kano sa paggawa ng pelikula. But as far as lovelifes/ showbiz births/intrigues and showbiz deaths are concerned, patas lang ang local and foreign entertainment. We cannot avoid it but its true.

Katulad nga lang ng pagkamatay ni Francis Magalona last March 6, 2009 at age 44, he left behind his wife former actress Pia Arroyo-Magalona and eight kids, two of them actresses Maxene and Saab. Who would ever thought that after Kiko (as he is fondly called) was mourned by Philippine entertainment, it was Hollywood's turn to say goodbye to Natasha Richardson, an acclaimed actress and wife of actor Liam Neeson. Richardson, 45, died from a skiing incident in Canada on March 19, 2009. Most of us don't know her very well, except for one role that we remember from her the most: that of being Lindsay Lohan's mother in "The Parent Trap" in 1998.

Now what do Francis Magalona and Natasha Richardson have in common? Eto aking nadiskubre....

-Both were born to celebrity parents. Francis was born to Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran who both made their mark in Philippines as one of the famous love teams during the '40s. Natasha Richardson was born to actress Vanessa Redgrave and director Tony Richardson.

-Both got married to celebrities. Francis married budding actress Pia Arroyo while Natasha won the heart of actor Liam Neeson.

-Both shone in their respective fields of endeavor. Francis became a pioneering rapper/musician in the Philippines and received major awards while Natasha is more known as a theatre actress, and won a Tony award for Best Actress for her role in "Cabaret".

-Both have made their mark in only a handful of movies. Francis was best known for his roles in "Bagets 2" and "Ninja Kids" while Natasha's best known role for most of us is her portrayal of Lindsay Lohan's mom in "Parent Trap".

-Both died at the peak of their careers. Kiko died at age 44 while Natasha died at age 45.

It's ironic that while Philippine showbiz had just mourned the loss of a great Master Rapper, Hollywood has just lost one of the greatest theatre/movie actress.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

PAALAM, FRANCIS "PARENG KIKO" MAGALONA (1965-2009)

As of 12 noon today, Master Rapper/actor/tv host Francis Magalona, better known to many as Kiko, died of complications from leukemia. It was middle of August when news came out that he was diagnosed with leukemia, or more commonly known as cancer of the blood. Because of his sickness, he had to stop hosting the long-running noontime show "Eat Bulaga" and other commitments.

He started out as an actor via the teen flick "Bagets 2" and was often seen in several films mostly produced by Viva. As a rapper, his breakthrough song "Mga Kababayan" became an unofficial national anthem of sorts to most Filipinos in 1991. And it became a classic of sorts as the years went by. It also paved the way for other Filipino rappers to shine like Andrew E., Michael V., and others. He reinvented himself as a rock singer in 1997 when he came out with an album entitled "Freeman" where his song "Kaleidoscope World" became an anthem for young Filipinos going thru the hassles of high school and college life. He also collaborated with other musicians most notably with Eraserheads ("Superproxy") and Parokya ni Edgar ("Yes Yes Show").

On television, he became visible thru the noontime show "Eat Bulaga". To some he was more known as a VJ (video jock) to two of the largest music channels in the world, MTV and Channel V.

As I am writing my random thoughts about Francis M's life, I'm currently watching an upload on Youtube which featured his last live performance at "Eat Bulaga" dated October 25, 2008. The first time I watched the video I cried. I didn't know na last time ko na pala siyang makitang nagho-host at kumakanta sa "Bulaga". Nakapagtataka kasi tomorrow is the "Final Set" of the Eraserheads second reunion concert. It's the second time of former Eraserheads and now Pupil frontman Ely Buendia to face death of someone close to him. The first time was last August when Ely's mom died 2 days before the first reunion concert. Let's just pray na sana ay walang mangyaring unexpected during the concert. The show must go on for Ely.

To Kiko, we will miss you. We will pray for your family at this darkest moment in time.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

WALANG KATUTURANG TANONG!

Mga tanong na hinahanapan ng sagot!

1. TOTOO BANG SA INTERNATIONAL SCREENING DAW NG "LOVE ME AGAIN" MAY PUMPING SCENES ANG LOVE SCENE NINA ANGEL AT PIOLO?

COMMENTOKO: Paki-verify sa isang thread na may pinamagatang "Top Bold Films" General M&TV Threads sa Pinoy Exchange.

2. GAANO KATAGAL ANG CHARACTER NI CLAUDINE SA "MAY BUKAS PA"?

COMMENTOKO: Nag-supporting na siya!? Himala!

3. TANONG NG BAYAN KAY ALJUR: DAPAT KA BANG MAHALIN?

COMMENTOKO: Dapat lang! Dapat sigurado na siya na balikan si Kris Bernal! Belat Rich!... peace!

4. SI WILLIE BA KOMEDYANTE?

COMMENTOKO: Kung si Joey nagsabi ang totoong komedyante nagsusulat, si Willie po ay isang komedyante... Hindi nga lang siya nagsusulat... siya pinapadalhan ng sulat gaya ng suspension letter, termination letter, letter of memo....

5. BAKIT SI BEBE GANDANGHARI?

COMMENTOKO: Bakit niyo pinipintasan? Maganda naman ang pangalan niya ah.... maalarma na lang kayo kung naging BEBE GANDANGPUKE siya!