Oh, my, it?s Juday and Ogie in new movie!

By Isah V. Red

An unlikely pairing, I must say, this Judy Ann Santos and Ogie Alcasid. First, Juday, as she is known to her fans, is not a comedian, Ogie is. Second, Juday is a card-bearing Kapamilya, Ogie is a dyed-in-the-wool Kapuso.

Trust Lily Monteverde to make the twain meet, and they do and now they are in a movie called Oh, My Girl!

?This is a movie borne out of friendship,? says Lily, adding, ?Undoubtedly Juday and Ogie are two of the most loved personalities in show business, and their friendship goes beyond what is seen by the cameras. Ogie was one of those who stood by Juday for the Ploning fund-raising [activities] and unknown to the public, Juday and Ogie together with their respective parties spent Valentines with a double date.? She means, of course, they were double dating with their own partners.

Juday is also known to break the invisible wall that divides artists from the two networks, occasionally appearing in and co-hosting SOP, GMA-7?s Sunday noontime show in which Ogie is one of the main personalities.

During Ogie?s anniversary concert, Juday appeared in a video directed by Dante Nico Garcia, the same guy directing the movie. Dante and Juday became close friends during the shoot of Ploning in Palawan.

What will a tear-inducing star do in a movie with laughter manufacturer?

?This movie will be a riot, we shall do everything to make this work,? Ogie says trying to reassure us, sensing perhaps that we?re not fully sold to the idea.

Judy Ann says to make Ogie feel more confident, ?I look forward to having a grand time on the set as I always enjoy being with Ogie [not on the set but in other places without a TV or movie crew].?

Ogie relates how the movie became to be. ?Mother [Lily] [in one of her moments that have her mind twirling on a new project] told me, ?Let?s do a movie with you.? The problem was we didn?t have a concept, but Mother [Lily] said, ?We?ll think of one.? So, when I was with Rege [that?s Ogie?s girlfriend Regine Velasquez], I told her about Mother?s plan but we have to have a story first.?

Like in a movie, Regine thought of something and immediately Ogie called up Lily who seemed to have been taken by Regine?s story idea. Now, who will play the leading lady part was Ogie?s next problem. He dialed Juday in his mobile, the actress, according to Ogie, was in the middle of something in the kitchen (she is a chef by training) and told her about the concept. ?Nice,? she says. ?Can you play the part,? he asks. ?Sure,? she says.

That?s how the negotiations ended.

?This production is teeming with friends who are deemed as the best in the industry, so we are really excited to see through this project?s fruition,? says Roselle Monteverde-Teo, who is Lily?s heir to the Regal empire.

Shooting begins by the end of the month, and Regal is anticipating its release sometime in May or June.

Dare duo

There are things in life that most persons really want to do. Unfortunately, they have not even taken the first steps to fulfill these.  Normally, it?s the lack of time, resources, will and reluctance to leave their comfort zones that keep them from doing these things.

Dare Duo will be just that for you. Dare Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez, two of the most elusive bachelors around town and let?s see if they have the guts and gumption to do your dare for you.

Dare Duo is a reality TV format, and what the two will do will be based on dares by viewers who will send in what they want anyone of the two to do before the cameras.

It can be just a simple scuba diving or flying a plane, hosting a bridal shower or performing in front of hundreds, baking a five-layered cake or bidding to get the biggest fish at a fish market, joining a theater production or acting in a drama series, rappelling down a building or swimming with a whale shark, and so on.  It?s your wish come true.

Are Marc and Rovilson ready for all the dare? 

?Yes, we are,? the two said over lunch at Cafe Via Mare on Tomas Morato recently. But as they said in the affirmative, their hearts were in their chin hoping that no one would dare them do something that they would eventually refuse.

?We are as daring as anyone you have met, but I guess there must some kind of limitations,? Marc said. Rovilson offered, ?The dare must be realizable or workable, and at the same time fun to do and entertaining for the audience. It shouldn?t be a dare for dare?s sakes.?

We will watch out for the things Marc and Rovilson will do in Dare Duo every Saturday, 8:10 p.m., on Q Channel 11.

BB Gandanghari lands on the cover

Rustom Padilla is no more, but BB Gandanghari lives. In fact, during the launch of the showbiz magazine S at Powerbooks in SM Megamall, the actor who transformed himself as a woman was actually mobbed. Among the many guests who came included Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel who invited BB to testify in Congress on her Anti-Discrimination Bill. S Magazine columnist and Ang Ladlad chairman Danton Remoto also expressed public support for BB. Rustom?s transformation into BB is chronicled in a revealing interview with S Magazine editors this March, which also features close-up glamour photographs of the controversial star.

As the ?cover girl? of Mega Publishing?s entertainment glossy, BB shares with associate editor Gabby Libarios (formerly of Manila Standard Today) her darkest hours as she struggled through an identity crisis, how she prepared in New York City to assume her new persona and the fresh life she?s leading now.

?It has been a long journey of self-discovery. To this day, I am still learning and discovering,? BB admits. ?What I?ve realized in life is, the only way you can find happiness is to let things be the way they are supposed to be.?

The special report of S Magazine also includes interviews with BB?s brother, action star Robin Padilla, mother Eva Cari?o and sister Rema Padilla-Ohno and their respective reactions to Rustom?s ?big switch.?

Disney auditions

Ryan Cayabyab recently announced that an international casting team from Hong Kong Disneyland would be in Manila to audition musicians on March 19 and 20, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at The Music School of Ryan Cayabyab in Robinsons Galleria.

The Disney casting representatives are seeking professional performers at least 18 years old who possess both excellent musicianship and showmanship for the following instruments: piano, trumpet, trombone, tuba, saxophone, clarinet, flute and percussions (drum set, marching drums and African hand drums). There will also be special auditions for pop a capella trios and quartets with fun and contemporary repertoire.

The maestro is proud of the presence of Filipino artists in Hong Kong Disneyland. ?The roster of Filipino musicians, dancers and actors who have added Hong Kong Disneyland in their resum?s is growing. This indicates a high level of confidence of Disney casting representatives in the Filipino talent,? revealed Cayabyab.

This Disney audition is the opening salvo of the summer program of The Music School of Ryan Cayabyab. The music school offers courses for voice and instruments for both children and adults.

Pre-registration for the auditions is now going on at The Music School of Ryan Cayabyab. For more information, call 637-9840 and 914-5055, send e-mail to auditionsmanila@gmail.com or visit www.hongkongdisneyland.com/careers.