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Bayani Fernando softens after winning ‘Celebrity Duets’

BUZZSTATION

Edgar Cruz

11/22/2008

People in the streets were first to greet me for winning Celebrity Duets,” admits Second Season Grand Champion MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando during a victory party with the entertainment media at Annabel’s restaurant. He continues, “I think those people are mad at me. I know I don’t have a good relationship with them ever since. But now things can be better. Now they wave at me while calling my name whenever they see me, unlike before when they snubbed me.”

Fernando was a member of The Tenors, with former AFP Gen. Angelo Reyes and former DILG Secretary Joey Lina making up the trio. They were top government officials gifted with the talent of singing and not shy about it. After joining the Celebrity Duet Season 2 and winning the Grand Champion title, Fernando proved to be a pro. Winning the contest and getting constant exposure on national television seemed to have softened the toughie in him and the disciplinarian image he has been cultivating for himself all his life.

When asked how it feels to be Celebrity Duets Grand Champion, he blurted out, “Happy!” Does he think it will help in his political plans? “Although I didn’t expect to win, it helped me gain confidence with my talent and I think a good sign and big help for 2010.” Did President Gloria Arroyo congratulate him for winning? “I think the President has no time to watch television. She is a busy person.” Is he planning to join showbiz? “I’m not too serious about being in showbiz. Maybe I will record songs and give copies of my CD to my friends and to my fans. Maybe; maybe not!” What he is sure of is what it will do to his political plans. “It will be a good help in my plans for the presidential race.”

Special thanks!

Lawyer Joji Alonso is so grateful to her doctors whom God guided during the surgery, namely, Dr. Elsie Dancel, her gynecological oncologist; Dr. Manolo Ocampo, OB-Gyne; and Dra. Bernadette Hogar, aneasthesiologist.

Diether gives up loyalty

to ABS-CBN

Diether Ocampo has always been a loyal ABS-CBN talent. This is why his decision to move to GMA came as a shocker to many. He signed a four-year contract with the latter effective immediately, which will include television and movie projects. His initial project with the Kapuso network is the adaptation of the hit Korean telenovela All About Eve with Iza Calzado, Richard Gomez, Jean Garcia, Sunshine Dizon and Eula Valdez. He can easily do this as he has no effective contract with the Kapamilya network like many homegrown talents. This is understandable on Diether’s part. After the teleserye Iisa Pa Lamang with Susan Roces, Claudine Barretto and Gabby Concepcion, he was free to do what he pleased. He finally made the move when the Kapamilya network could not give him a viable career plan, but first he informed Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan, who he has long considered to be his adviser.

Kenyo to open Hard Rock Café’s 13th anniversary

It’s Hard Rock Café’s 13th anniversary this December! Catch rock band Zoo in a special performance on Nov. 23 and 30 (Sunday, 9 p.m.). Pop/rock bands Kenyo, Chicosci and The Dawn power the house with some of today’s hottest chart-toppers, as well as their individual hits on Nov. 24. Show band Tres with Kaji gives an all-out performance on Nov. 25, while the New Minstrels does a comeback show on Nov. 26. Sexy girl group Mocha titillates the house with their hot party repertoire, while 3rd Avenue serenades hard rockers on Nov. 28. Soul siren Nina closes the month with a full-length concert on Nov. 29. Fans can look forward to an evening of soulful music as Nina performs her greatest hits live including selected cuts from her current Gold album Nina Sings The Hits of Dianne Warren. These shows are consistent with HRC’s on-going “Music for Life” campaign, an advocacy that aims to bring topnotch artists closer and more accessible to Filipino music aficionados. For reservations, call 893-4661 to 64.

Gretchen’s strange look

Does Gretchen Barretto know that Halloween passed 19 days ago? Or has she lost her sense of beauty? When she appeared in a fashion show recently, she wore heavy makeup with dark-colored lipstick with equally dark eye makeup, which made her look like a witch out of a Halloween party. Gretchen has always aimed for the youthful look. Why she should suddenly opt for an oldish one is hard to understand. The 360-degree shift in the way she looks is a lapse in judgment. Is she trying to call attention to herself? People regard her as an icon of taste, but this one clearly left a bitter taste in the mouth. I’m sure that was not the intention, but good intentions do not always produce good results. Let us just hope this is just whimsy on her part. She definitely looks a lot better without the dark gunk.

Breaking buzz: Entertainment journalists were talking about how the raffle at the TV5 pre-Christmas party in a Makati City venue had been rigged. How true?

‘Twilight’: A human

and vampire love story

See the immortal love story of one human and one vampire as Twilight opens nationwide on Nov. 26 from Viva International Pictures. Based on the best-selling novel by Stephenie Meyer, Twilight focuses on two young lovers, swept away by destiny, who destroy the delicate balance between the hunter and the hunted with dangerous consequences. Director Catherine Hardwicke brings Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson as post-modern Romeo and Juliet in an action-filled and suspenseful adventure with a supernatural bite. Bella (Kristen) has always been a little bit different, never caring about fitting in with the trendy girls at her Phoenix high school. Hardwicke had segued a few years earlier from production designer working on films including Laurel, Canyon, Vanilla Sky and Three Kings to writing and directing her debut film, the award-winning Thirteen, a sensitive and controversial look at a troubled teen’s relationship with her mother. Finding an actress to play Bella was paramount. Only 17 years old when Twilight filmed, Kristen has already appeared opposite Jodie Foster in The Panic Room, Emile Hirsch in Into the Wild and Dennis Quaid in Cold Creek Manor. Robert played Cedric Diggory in two Harry Potter films.

Luis breaks no-kissing rule

At the story conference yesterday of A Mother’s Story, the working title of Vilma Santos and John Lloyd Cruz movie with Luis Manzano, the latter gave John Lloyd a surprise kiss on the right cheek. They play gay lovers in the movie. Such a kissing scene will make it realistic, as director Olive Lamasan pointed out to Luis. Luis seems to have broken the no-kissing rule he imposed in accepting the role. As it is, the original principal production schedule has been delayed by a good month already. If Luis has his way, the screenplay will have to be rewritten again, causing another round of delays. Many are finding Luis’s demand as unreasonable. He’s an actor and if he wants to be taken as a serious actor, which he seriously needs, he must put aside his flimsy rationale for not wanting to do the kissing scene. His reason: He does not want John Lloyd to be his second screen kiss after Anne Curtis. He must live up to his craft like his parents did. Didn’t his mother do the daring Celso Ad. Castillo’ movie Burlesk Queen? Kissing John Lloyd in public seems to be a telltale sign he has broken his own rule. Good for him!

Plusiminus film camp

holds free workshop

Plusiminus Film Camp with Aquarian Artistic Production will hold a free digital filmmaking workshop on Dec. 8 to 19. The two-week workshop is open to student and professional filmmakers, hobbyists and film buffs with passion for filmmaking. Participants are required to bring a biodata. The digital filmmaking workshop is a hands-on training program that includes lectures, seminars and practical filming. A one-day film orientation seminar will take place before workshop proper begins. For inquiries, call 889-1292 or visit Aquarian Artistic Production at 3660 Heneral Luna St., Bangkal, Makati.