34th Metro Manila Film Festival Result

Best Picture: Baler (Viva Films)
2nd Best Picture: Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat (Star Cinema)
3rd Best Picture: Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After (OctoArts Films/M-ZET Productions/APT Entertainment)
Best Festival Actor: Christopher de Leon (Magkaibigan)
Best Festival Actress: Anne Curtis (Baler)
Best Supporting Actor: Phillip Salvador (Baler)
Best Supporting Actress: Manilyn Reynes (One Night Only)
Best Festival Director: Mark Meily (Baler)
Best Festival Screenplay: Roy Iglesias (Baler)
Best Festival Original Story: Jose Javier Reyes (One Night Only)
Best Festival Child Performer: Robert Villar (Shake, Rattle & Roll X) Best Festival Musical Score: Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia
Best Festival Movie Theme Song: "Lipad" (Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia)
Best Festival Cinematography: Baler
Best Festival Makeup: Desperadas 2
Best Festival Visual Effects: Dayo
Best Festival Production Design: Baler
Best Festival Sound Recording: Dayo
Best Festival Editor: Baler
Gender Sensitive Award (for promoting equality of men and women through film): Baler
Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award: Baler

World Showbiz News

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Fall in love with Sitti's Christmas Album (Ngayong Pasko)

It took me several days and visits to various record stores before I finally got a copy of Josh Groban's Christmas album, Noel. I shelled out P450 for the CD, too much really for a Christmas album. I got interested with the album after hearing Josh sang in Oprah.

But whoa! I was a bit dissappointed while listening to the songs. Maybe its because I am not a lover of opera song or something.

So I made visits to record stores again and looked for nice Christmas albums. Then my eyes got stucked to Sitti's Ngayong Pasko Album. Wow. Sitti singing not just bosa nova songs. Hmmm. It got me interested.

I bought a copy and immediately played it on my car's stereo. And yes, Sitti has proven once again her power to bring your senses to a different dimension when you hear her sing. I had a copy of her other album and I must say that the Christmas album is the best.

Sitti is not only a magnificent bosa nova artist, she also gives justice to her rendition of jazzy Christmas songs. I fell in love with the album. And I must admit I feel in love with Sitti, although I know that my Beth will be mad at me after reading this post. :)

Sitti's Ngayong Pasko contains 13 Christmas songs that you will surely play all over again (I brought the CD in the office and played it the whole day).

The CD contains the following songs:

1. All I Want For Christmas (best choice for an album song opener)
2. Ngayong Pasko (Nicely done!)
3. Santa Baby (Naughty but nice)
4. Baby, It's Cold Outside (her duet with Christian Bautista is fantastic!)
5. Winter Wonderland (loved it)
6. Someday at Christmas (one of the best renditions I've heard)
7. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
8. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
9. I'll Be Home for Christmas
10. Grown-up Christmas List
11. The Christmas Song (her rendition is better than that of Josh, hehehe)
12. Jingle Bell Rock
13. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus

It's still a week before Christmas and it's not too late yet to buy a Christmas album. I personally recommend Sitti's Ngayong Pasko. And oh, Sitti's not paying me for this post :)

ABS-CBN vs. GMA on Marky Cielo wake coverage

I was a bit pissed by the issue. I mean, the guy is dead. Marky Cielo is dead. No station should take the opportunity of exploiting the death of a person just to raise its ratings. The issue on coverage should not have been bloated by people and made big by parties.

I am with ABS-CBN in this issue. The network knows that Marky Cielo is not its property. Marky belongs to the other network. But ABS-CBN is right in saying that the public has the right to know on the status of the wake, whether the viewer is a Kapuso or a Kapamilya.

ABS-CBN crew went to Marky's hometown to take footage and cover the incident. They were courteous and respectful (based the footage they provided at the Buzz). And although the crew knew that they were on a hostile ground, it was their work that pushed them to go there.

They were turned down by Marky's mom when they asked for an interview. But it only goes to show that the crew asked the permission of Marky's mom first. There was no ambush interview or forceful interview. The crew left later that night with nothing, except for footages of the house of Marky and some zoomed shots.

GMA should not have exploited the issue and made it big.

I am not pregnant! - Marian Rivera

Marian Rivera today clarified rumors that she is pregnant with rumored boyfriend Dingdong Dantes. DUring a press conference for the movie Desperadas 2, Marian said she is not pregnant and admitted that she was hurt by the issue, much more with the way Karylle handled the questions hurled to her by Boy Abunda in last Sunday's the Buzz.

"Puwede bang smile nalang din ang isagot ko?" Marian asked press reporters who asked her the question about her alleged pregnancy, apparently trying to mimic Karylle who only smiled when asked by Boy on whether or not Marian is pregnant.

Later on, Marian denied the rumor and admitted that she was offended by the way Karylle reacted to the question.

"May sagot naman siya dahil may alam naman siya. Sana hindi niya nalang idinaan sa pa-smile-smile," she said.

Rico Blanco named vocalist of the year

Pinoy rock music icon Rico Blanco was named Vocalist of the Year in the highly anticipated 2008 NU Rock Awards held at the Silvercity in Frontera Verde, Pasig City.

The venue was rocked and fans went wild as Blanco opened the event with an explosive performance of his song Yugto, the epic hit single that launched his solo album Your Universe, along with five of the greatest musicians in the land.

Danielle Kirsten Muriel Castaño fails in Miss World 2008 bid

Danielle Kirsten Muriel Castaño of the Philippines failed to make it even in the semifinals of Miss World 2008 held at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The crown went to Miss Russia, Kseniya Sukhinova, besting 108 other beauties from around the world.

First runner-up was Parvathy Omanakuttan of India, second runner-up was Gabrielle Walcott of Trinidad & Tobago, third runner-up was Brigith dos Santos of Angola, and fourth runner-up was Tansey Coetzee of South Africa.

Our very own Danielle even failed to make it to the Top 15. Daniel replaced former Bb. Pilipinas-WOrld Janina San Miguel who gave up her crown a couple of months ago.

Is Marian Rivera pregnant with Dingdong Dantes' baby?

One of the questions asked by Boy Abunda to Karylle during last Sunday's the Buzz was if she could confirm that Marian Rivera is pregnant with Dingdong Dantes' baby.

Karylle, who admitted still hurting with the breakup although she stressed that she was moving on, went silent on the question for several seconds until Boy Abunda finally ended the interview with the hanging question.

Is Marian Rivera really pregnant? And is Dingdong Dantes really the father of the baby? No one can confirm nor deny as of this time. But the days will tell.

Karylle still refuses to reveal cause of break-up with Dingdong Dantes

Karylle, now a certified Kapamilya, had a grand welcome in ASAP last Sunday, with almost all the hunks at ABS-CBN serenading her.

Karylle finally made the right move in changing channel considering that her mother Zsa Zsa Padilla and step dad Dolphy are true Kapamilyas.

Karylle looked so happy in ASAP and signs of her still hurting following her breakup with boyfriend Dingdong Dantes did not manifest.

The issue, however, was brought up again during her guesting in the Buzz where she was asked 10 tough questions by Boy Bunda.

One of the questions was if Marian Rivera was really the cause of the break up. Karylle, who is educated and refined, refused to answer. A right decision, I should say. If she wants a closure to her break up with Dingdong, Karylle should no longer entertain questions about the past.

Dawn Zulueta's early pregnancy signs

The ever dashing and beautiful Dawn Zulueta revealed during her interview at The Buzz last Sunday that she was two months preggy and that she is having early signs of pregnancy like morning sickness, dislikes to certain things and smell, etc.

Dawn admitted that it was already during the sixth month in her first pregnancy that the signs manifested.

Dawn was scheduled for a live interview at the Buzz the past Sunday but she failed to appear in the studio because she had spotting in connection with her pregnancy. She, however, fulfilled her promise and went to the Buzz last Sunday.

Dawn said her physician has advised her not to work too much although she can still do TV appearances.

SOP's tribute to Marky Cielo

Was channel surfing at noon today when the remote control brought me to GMA 7. There were lighted candles and all of those singing on stage were wearing white. As if someone has just died. Add to that the song, which was "Paglisan", a song meant for those who will be going somewhere far or for those who have just died.

I paused for a while to find out what was it all about. And then it hit me. It was SOP's tribute to the handsome, young actor who had died just a couple of days ago - Marky Cielo. Everyone on stage was on grieving mood. Everyone was crying. I even saw Janno Gibbs wearing black shades trying to hold back his tears.

"Sayang talaga". That's what I can say to the young actor. Whatever caused his death, it was very untimely. It happened when he was still on the infancy of his career.

According to reports, his mom tried to wake him up for an appointment at around six in the morning. After the young actor failed to answer the door, it was forced open. Marky Cielo was found lifeless inside and was declared dead when he was brought to the nearby Antipolo hospital.

The cause of death is still unclear at this point, but acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis, locally known asbangungot, may have been the cause. This was also the cause of death of another young actor, Rico Yan, many years ago.

Gretchen extends Bong her birthday wish

It was a star-studded birthday celebration for Senator Bong Revilla last September 24. The actor turned politician celebrated his 42nd birthday and was very happy that all his closest friends from the senate and showbiz were able to come despite the bad weather.

A big surprise however, was the presence of Gretchen Barretto, who was once linked to Bong before. She even went up the stage to give the birthday boy her special message. Lani Mercado, Bong’s wife was up there on stage with him and was all smiles during this moment.

It was reported before that Lani and Gretchen had a long standing riff between them because of the latter’s closeness to Bong. It seems like the gap has been fixed with Gretchen being invited to the party.

Gretchen though could not avoid the press’ queries about rumors of her being kicked out of her partner Tony Boy Cojuanco’s home. The actress emphasized that she’s getting quite annoyed with recurring rumors of her being thrown out of their house. Although she and Tony Boy had a fight, she denied leaving their home in ForbesPark. Gretchen even said that she stayed inside the house for 10 days because she was nursing a flu.

The actress admitted that her partner was the one more affected by the rumor. Gretchen confessed that she’s so used to these kind of news that she doesn’t even cry about it anymore.

(abs-cbn.com)

Vina Morales is two months pregnant

Actress / Singer Vina Morales finally broke her silence and admitted that she is two-months pregnant.

The Cebuana actress, however, did not mention any name when asked about the father of her baby. We heard that the guy is still not officially annulled from his marriage.

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John Lloyd Cruz plays psychotic in Maalaala Mo Kaya

I had goosebumps when I saw the trailer of the Maalaala Mo Kaya episode that will be aired on October 20 because the ever handsome John Lloyd Cruz plays a husband who is schizophrenic or with psychotic disorder who believes that he is a devil advocate.

John Lloyd shows how versatile he is with the role and his acting is made even more convincing with the make-up that really effectively portrays him as a psychotic.

"After two years, I'm back sa MMK at nakakatuwa kasi ang kasama ko si Alessandra de Rossi, ang galing nya. Walang effort on her side, kung nasabi ninyo na ako walang effort umarte, mas magaling si Alessandra," John Lloyd told the press.

John Lloyd prepared so much for his role in MMK even to the point of going to the National Mental Hospital to do research on people with psychotic disorder.

"Nag research ako sa role na baliw kung paano at saan nagmula, sayang nga, wala akong nalapitan aksi yung iba inilayo kasi baka kung ano raw ang gawin," the young actor said.

ABS-CBN statement regarding the GMA libel suit

This is ABS-CBN's official press statement regarding the libel charges filed by GMA-7:
"We are waiting for a formal copy of GMA-7's complaint so our lawyers can evaluate its merits.
We are disappointed but not surprised by GMA-7’s reactions to the discovery of TV ratings manipulation.

We continue to stand by our earlier news reports that AGB-Nielsen Media Research General Manager Maya Reforma identified GMA-7 as the broadcast network behind the efforts that compromised panel homes in Bacolod.

Furthermore, in the attachment to Reforma's affidavit submitted to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, she admitted that "79 of the 532 homes interviewed from the 6 cities were confirmed by panel homes to have been exposed to efforts by GMA."

Let's remember that the issue here is about having a clean TV ratings process, the reason we filed a civil case against AGB-Nielsen Media Research. Filing defamation charges against ABS-CBN diverts attention from the real issue. We are confident that the truth will come out."

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GMA 7 files P15-million libel case vs. ABS-CBN

A multi-million peso libel suit was filed yesterday morning by GMA Network against ABS-CBN, its executives and talents. The libel case was filed at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

The filing of the case was prompted by alleged erroneous and malicious news reports and commentaries aired by ABS-CBN that pointed to GMA Network as responsible for the alleged TV ratings manipulation in Bacolod.

Among those sued for libel were DZMM station manager Angelo Palmones, DZMM news manager Alona Magtalas, DZMM reporter Junrie Hidalgo, DZMM hosts Cristy Fermin and Jobert Sucaldito, Bandila over-all in charge of production Luchi Cruz-Valdes, Bandila Executive Producer (EP) Boyet Agustin, legal department head Atty. Maximilian Uy, Bandila host Korina Sanchez, "Entertainment Live" overall in charge of production Malou Santos and Luis Andrada, "Entertainment Live" EP Lani Gutierrez, "Entertainment Live" and "The Buzz" headwriter Romer Gonzales, "The Buzz" EP Nancy Yabut, and " The Buzz" headwriter Ian Reyno.

GMA Network is asking for a total of P15-million in damages.

In its complaint, GMA Network said ABS–CBN made it appear in its TV and radio programs that GMA "rigged and manipulated the ratings in Bacolod and that Ms. Maya Reporma admitted in that (DZMM) ambush interview that GMA 7 was behind the ratings manipulation."

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Miss Tourism Metropolitan International 2007 Result

Sorina Neacsu, 17, of Romania was crowned Miss Tourism Metropolitan International 2007 on New Year's Eve in Petaling, Jaya, Malaysia. Karen Blanco, 22, of Venezuela is 1st runner-up while Essi Poysi, 20, of Finland grabs the second runner-up award.

Watcharawan Suntarintu, 19, of Thailands ends up as 3rd runner-up while Anna Marie Morelos, 18, of the Philippines is 4th runner up.