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‘Love Me Again’ to open 2009 for Star Cinema

BUZZSTATION

Edgar Cruz

01/06/2009

Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin’s Love Me Again (formerly entitled Land Down Under) with principal photography in Bukidnon and Darwin, Australia, will be Star Cinema’s opener for 2009. It will premiere on Jan. 14 and open on Jan. 15. Piolo and Angel had just arrived from the successful premieres in San Francisco and Los Angeles with director Rory Quintos and supervising producer Malou Santos.

Love Me Again is the story of two lovers. Piolo is Migo and Angel is Arah whose beautiful romance is rudely interrupted by economic necessity. With the ranches in Bukidnon closing one by one, Arah is forced to seek greener pastures in the Land Down Under, which is considered by those working in the ranches as their only hope for salvation.

Initially, Migo does not agree with Arah’s decision until when his own investments start crumbling. He is left with no alternative but to also seek his own fortune in Australia, where they are confronted with the possibility of resuming their interrupted romance. But the problem is that Arah has signed a contract with a rancher who has other intentions toward her. Torn between acute economic needs and the dictates of their hearts, how will Migo and Arah decide? Love Me Again also stars Ricky Davao, Dimples Romano and AJ Dee.

Kim, Gerald, Jake reinvented in Tayong Dalawa

A more serious Kim Chiu, a more mature Gerald Anderson and a brusque Jake Cuenca are to be expected in ABS-CBN’s upcoming primetime teleserye entitled Tayong Dalawa. High-caliber artists join the trio, namely, Anita Linda, Gina Pareno, Cherry Pie Picache, Agot Isidro, Mylene Dizon, Coco Martin, Spanky Manikan, Jiro Manio, Miguel Faustman, Baron Geisler and Alessandra de Rossi. The platinum-selling diva Lani Misalucha touches the series with her song “Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin” as the show’s love theme. Lani has been always known for her full-voiced style and her wide range. She literally gives her listeners the goosebumps whenever she starts hitting those high notes. “Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin” will surely give more life and color to the teleserye’s love angle. Lani, who is now based in the US, will have a major concert here next year.

The Spirit soars

Meet the man who rose from beyond to save the city he loves as The Spirit. A New Year presentation from Viva International Pictures, The Spirit opens at your favorite cineplex starting Jan. 8. He can’t fly; he can’t read minds. He’s not your ordinary superhero but he has been born again to save the city from crime. From Frank Miller, the visionary creator of Sin City and 300, comes this year’s most anticipated action-adventure movie. Miller takes the comic-book movie to dazzling new heights with his solo directorial debut. Adapted from the classic comic series by Will Eisner, the movie fuses masterful storytelling with brilliant CGI graphics to sweep us into a stylized world of adventure, danger and romance.

The Spirit is the story of Denny Colt (Gabriel Macht), a murdered cop who is mysteriously reborn as the masked crime fighter called The Spirit. Determined to keep his beloved Central City safe, The Spirit pursues villains from the shadows and seeks to remove to the worst of them all: The psychotic megalomaniac known as the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson). Yet as busy as his ongoing mission keeps him, the dashing crusader always manages to make time for beautiful women, though he never quite knows if they want to seduce, love or kill him. But there is one lady who will never betray him, and to whom he will always be true: Central City, the proud old metropolis where he was born — twice.

Backroom celebrates

Backroom Inc. held its annual Christmas party at the Marikina Riverbend Hotel with Backroom main man Boy Abunda present to celebrate with the staff and guests. The party began with a thanksgiving mass followed by a sumptuous dinner. The Backroom staff took center stage, while Backroom talents such as Erik Santos, Sitti, GB Sampedro, Arnold Reyes, Lloyd Zaragoza and The Company took the back seat. Parlor games were played with the staff artists and guests as contestants.

The party’s highlight was the talent contest among Backroom staff. The contestants displayed their talent in song and dance performances to the delight of the guests. Performers were rated by a distinguished panel of judges composed of lawyer Wendell Dimaculangan, Melo Esguerra, Tristan Gaynor, Rina Gloriani and Ponay Cabral. Jonathan Valdez won the grand prize with his exhilarating rendition of Rihanna’s “Disturbia.” Ryan Brusola who sang Beyonce Knowles’ “Crazy in Love” was the second-prize winner. The tandem of Leo Rey Puri and Judy Ann Santos who danced a sexy rumba won third prize. The pair also bagged the Texters’ Choice Award.

Liza Faraon was voted by the Backroom staff as Employee of the Year. After the staff’s exchange of gifts, the much-awaited raffle draw was hosted by Backroom’s vice president Bong Quintana, Leo Rey Puri, Pooh and K Brosas. Everyone happily brought home gifts and cash prizes. Raffle prizes were also drawn for lucky guests.

Backroom now looks forward to a bigger, brighter and better 2009!

Maricar wants certain things private

Maricar Reyes, the new ABS-CBN star who is a cross between Mikee Cojuangco and Heart Evangelista, enters the “Betty-ful” series I Love Betty La Fea as Armando’s (John Lloyd) first love. Maricar will be Candy, the third wheel in the Betty (Bea Alonzo) and Armando’s love story. Maricar expressed, “I am very honored to be part of the Betty La Fea cast. Sobrang supportive ng buong cast kaya overwhelming din talaga ang feeling.”

Maricar is a familiar face in television as she is the ethereal Ponds endorser. Maricar is not only a beautiful face, she is also brainy. She is a doctor of medicine but she wants that information private. She did not talk about it at length during her launching press conference. However, she is open about her relationships. She has no boyfriend presently but her ultimate crush is Piolo Pascual. She likes guys who are independent and mature. Maricar is under the management of Cecille Carpio of Elan Entertainment. Contact Cecille through +639189409630 and elan_entertainment@yahoo.com.

PVB’s traveling WWII exhibit now in Malacañang

The traveling Word War II exhibit “War of our Fathers... A Tribute to the Filipino Freedom Fighters” is presently at the Roxas Room of the Kalayaan Hall of Malacañang Palace. The exhibit opened last Dec. 8 during the 67th anniversary of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines and will remain there until mid-January.

Sponsored by Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB), in partnership with the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP), the exhibit was requested by the Office of Presidential Assistant for Veterans Affairs Jesus Terry Adevoso, son of Terry Adevoso, one of the founders of the famed Hunters ROTC Guerrillas.

The educational exhibit has vintage WWII-era photographs, artifacts and memorabilia on display, with the aim of sharing to the public the mostly unknown stories of Filipino World War II heroes so that today’s generation may have a better grasp of our nation’s history.

Previously, PVB president and CEO Ricardo Balbido Jr. said that through this project the bank hopes to honor the WWII heroes and to help Filipinos today remember and learn about their struggles, sacrifices and victories in one of the darkest chapters in the history of our nation.

“Many Filipinos at that time, men and women, young and old, rich and poor, were united and responded to call to fight for the motherland,” he added.

Chaired by Col. Emmanuel de Ocampo, also from the Hunters ROTC Guerrillas, Veterans Bank provides 20 percent of its net profits for programs that benefit the World War II veterans, their widows and families.

Through the Board of Trustees for the Veterans of World War II (BTVWWII), the Bank supports the VFP Out-Patient Center in Taguig, a modern medical facility that provides free medicine, medical services such as X-ray, laboratory services, physical therapy, eyeglasses and dental care to veterans. The other is the VFP Museum, Library and Archives.

A private commercial bank, PVB is owned by some 300,000 World War II veterans and heirs.