Dennis, Marian in new horror flick

By Joseph Peter R. Gonzales

Marian Rivera and Dennis Trillo?s first movie together was Pamahiin, where they shared stellar billing with Iya Villania. Marian played the ghost Dennis sees in the movie. Iya was Dennis? love interest in the film produced by Regal Entertainment.

Interestingly, Dennis and Marian?s next big screen collaboration after a couple of years is titled Tarot. From the title itself, it?s obvious that it?s another scream flick. Regal Entertainment is producing the project with Jun Lana directing Dennis after Kulam, with Judy Ann Santos.

Apart from Tarot, it was learned that Marian will also do a movie opposite comedian Vhong Navarro. The project is still under Lily Monteverde?s film outfit.

Pokwang, a singer?

Pokwang is also a singer. Star Records recently launched Pokwang? Ang Album Na May Puso.

Dressed to the hilt in the album?s press conference, the comedienne-host gave a sample of her ?vocal prowess? when she sang the carrier single ?Sana Kunin Ka Na Ni Lord? and the Tagalog version of the Diana Ross classic ?When You Tell Me that You Love Me.? Of course, she still injected her comedy antics while performing the songs.

?Honestly, my original ambition was to become a singer. It?s really my dream to come up with an album. That?s why I?m thankful to Star Records for granting my wish,? says the funny lady.

This early, Pokwang explains that she?s not in competition with the country?s finest female warblers.

?I know where I stand. I can?t hold a candle to them when it comes to hitting those high notes. My main purpose here is to entertain the public. I just want to make them laugh,? she stresses.

She said earlier that she?s always a failure in the love department but it doesn?t mean she?s already closing her doors to romantic possibilities.

?Actually, I have suitors naman, eh. It?s just that I?m not in a desperate search. If he comes, then so be it. But one condition though is for him to love my child, too. And he mustn?t prohibit me from doing showbiz because I love making people happy. As long as they need me, I will always stay in the limelight,? reveals Pokwang.

Possible nominees

The different award-giving bodies in the country have already started reviewing films from last year to determine which are worthy to be nominated in various categories. As always, hotly contested are the acting areas. Who gave the best silver screen performances last year?

For Best Actress, the following will surely be in the running: Sharon Cuneta as the sacrificing migrant worker who leaves her irresponsible husband in Caregiver; Judy Ann Santos as the mysterious village lass in Ploning; Mylene Dizon as the dying protagonist who comes to terms with God and the people she loves in 100; Boots Anson-Roa as the mother who couldn?t accept that her son is gay in Lovebirds; Gina Pare?o as the matriarch of a wanton family residing in an old movie house in Serbis; Irma Adlawan as the problematic stage actress in Hubad and Anne Curtis as the daughter of the rebel head who fell in love with a half-Indio, half-Spanish soldier in Baler.

In the Best Actor category, Christopher de Leon leads the pack as the dying man whose best friend stood beside him until his last hour in Magkaibigan. Giving him tough competition are Baron Geisler as the exploitative gay TV reporter in Jay; John Estrada as the selfish, egoistic and one loser of a husband in Caregiver; Yul Servo as the cuckold husband who in the end forgave his wife in Torotot; Jericho Rosales as the half-Spanish soldier who fell in love with a Filipina in Baler; Polo Ravales as the gay fisherman who followed his lover in Manila in Walang Kawala; Julian Duque as the battered child who develops into a great musician in Boses and John Lloyd Cruz as the young executive who wants to be accepted by the original family of his dad in A Very Special Love.

Possible nominees for Best Supporting Actress include: Eugene Domingo as the invalid mother in Ploning and as the supportive friend in 100; Cherry Pie Picache as the compassionate directress of a shelter home for battered children in Boses; Shamaine Centenera as the health center worker who killed her gay son?s rapist in Ang Lihim ni Antonio; Irma Adlawan as the kind-hearted aunt who has an illicit affair with her gardener in Dose; Manilyn Reynes as the domineering lesbian manager in One Night Only; Flor Salanga as the mother of a murdered gay in Jay; Snooky Serna as the bad-mouthed mom who sells body organs in Paupahan; Mylene Dizon as the nurse who chose to serve in a small town in Ploning; Angelu de Leon as the paranoid teacher who has a history of insanity in Paupahan; Dawn Zulueta as the understanding wife of a dying man and Maricel Laxa as the supportive wife and friend in Magkaibigan and Iza Calzado as the woman who lets go of her boyfriend because he fell in love with another girl in One True Love.

The Best Supporting Actor category is as equally heavy with such names as Philip Salvador as the rebel leader in Baler; Tommy Abuel as the father who understands the plight of his gay son in Lovebirds; Ricky Davao as the abusive father and Coke Bolipata as the violinist who brought out the musical gift from a battered child in Boses; Julio Diaz as the weakling husband in Serbis; Emilio Garcia as the ruthless gay cop in Walang Kawala; Baron Geisler as the jealous husband who killed his wife and her illicit lover in Torotot and German Moreno as the aging gay in Paupahan.