Kapuso seals no. 1 spot with new drama series

By Isah V. Red

Competition is heating up between two fierce rival networks with the advent of summer.

ABS-CBN continues to prop up its sagging ratings with continuously providing media with TNS survey results focusing on its unbeaten nationwide lead, while GMA Network maintains that its lead in Luzon, which accounts for 77 percent of total TV households in the country, is more than enough to put the Kapamilya in its proper place of being only second.

Now, GMA Network will pilot tonight another Pinoy adaptation of one of Korea’s most compelling drama series that became a phenomenal hit worldwide—All About Eve.

This is the show Diether Ocampo reportedly ditched after officials at the Kapamilya lot sweet-talked the nearly washed-out star to give ABS-CBN a second chance. It would have kicked Diether back in the whirr of show business had he accepted it.

What he lost, Mark Anthony Fernandez, whose fan base had surged dramatically since his appearance in another adaptation of a Korean drama series, My Name is Kim Samsoon, gained, starring as Kenneth, the guy two lovely women Nicole and Erika (played in the local adaptation by Iza Calzado and Sunshine Dizon, respectively) are fighting for.

All About Eve also marks the return of Richard Gomez to the drama mode, and he will be romancing two acclaimed actresses that made their mark on TV as contra figuras (kontrabida in local showbiz idiom). Villain divas Eula Valdez and Jean Garcia are reunited after a long time… much to the chagrin of Kapamilya executives who actually carved the careers of the two in a series long, long time ago.

The series is also a defining moment for Alfred Vargas, relegated much in his stay in the Kapuso network as a second lead. This time he shares screen moment as the other leading man along with Mark Anthony Fernandez.

GMA Network also convinced Eric Quizon to give acting a second chance and be part of the cast along with movie veteran Celia Rodriguez. Guess who is in the cast as well. It’s Carmen Ronda playing a grandmother. (Chuckle, chukle, chuckle!)

It makes me feel good to see Kempee de Leon playing straight in the series, and not the flamboyant gay character that he has patented for years. lan de Leon, Ina Raymundo, Angel Aquino, and Gabby Eigenmann are back in the drama mode as well, while Marky Lopez has slid quite fast from Luna Mystika to All About Eve.

We don’t know if the new series could pull off enough audience share to put ABS-CBN’s attempt to close in the gap in the ratings race to a halt, but if All About Eve becomes a sensation among primetime audiences in Luzon and hopefully in the Visayas and Mindanao as well, Gabby Lopez and Charo Santos need to take a look at its programming and production divisions and ask the network’s business heads, “What have you been doing?”

Galvante defends herself

Answering allegations of Annabelle Rama-Gutierrez that Wilma Galvante, senior vice president for TV entertainment, had been receiving commissions from the talent fees of Rama’s talents, Galvante hinted that she or anyone in the production staff might have been the object of Rama’s kindness but that didn’t mean that their “integrity” could be bought.

“We represent the network, and we will not put the company in a bad light,” she said, two hours before Rama’s presscon at nearby Max’s where the talent manager of JC de Vera and co-manager of Heart Evangelista poured her anger and loathing of Galvante, detailing sums of money she allegedly gave Galvante through the years.

The word war between Galvante and Rama has gone from bad to worse, and possibly could end in court.

Galvante revealed that Felipe L. Gozon, CEO and president of GMA Network Inc., had met with her and her staff to discuss the matter about Rama. “The only thing FLG [in reference to Gozon] said was, ‘You have to defend yourself [against all the allegations] but you don’t go down to her level.’ This is between you and her,” she said.

On the issues involving JC de Vera and Heart Evangelista, Galvante said that they will go by the contracts these two talents had signed with GMA Network. JC had apparently signed a renewal for another year (which will expire in 2010). “They can either go with it or our legal department will have to do something about them [contracts], if they continue to refuse assignments.

JC de Vera had been taken off the series that had Obra as working title. Geoff Eigenmann who moves to being a Kapuso is taking his place.

Heart, meanwhile, will continue to appear in SOP and Fashionistas by Heart on Q-11 as the afternoon soap she was supposed to star in along with Dennis Trillo had been scrapped temporarily.

“We can’t stop production due to problems like JC and Heart. Our production teams should go and do something because we have play dates to meet. Cameras must start grinding and casting for characters that have been refused should go on. We’re a network… we must not stop simply because someone like Annabelle wants something else for her talents,” Galvante said emphatically.

Once again Revealed

Fresh from his successful concert at The Library music and comedy bar last Feb. 11, Joaquin Garcia returns to the same venue for Revealed…Joaquin Garcia on March 11.

A winner (Original Composition category) in the 2007 World Championship of the Performing Arts, Joaquin wowed the audience with his solo spots and medleys of different genres of music from Broadway to Jazz to OPM and even R&B.

Who would think this balladeer of “I Need You Back,” a Raymond Lauchengco original and “Leaving Yesterday,” a Keno hit in the ’80s, can do various kinds of music?

Joaquin was the second artist to have brought home two gold medals at the prestigious World Championship of the Performing Arts held at Los Angeles, California in 2007. He took after Jed Madela who was named overall champion.

Aside from being named overall champion in the Original Composition category, he also won the Gold Medal at the Contemporary Category. He also bagged two silver medals from the Broadway and Gospel Categories. Joaquin beat several participants from all over the world.

Doing a show in an up-close and personal venue wasn’t easy for Joaquin. At first he was very nervous and tensed. But with the guidance of his manager-mentor and the director of his first concert, Joaquin even made the house brought down.

Among his guests are Rufa Mi, tagged as the perfect clone of Rufa Mae Quinto (also a home grown talent of The Library) and Beverly Salviejo.

Celebrity home makeover series

Take an exclusive peek at some of the local celebrities’ abodes as Q Channel 11’s House Life—led by program host Tessa Prieto-Valdes and her team of young and talented interior designers—ushers its viewers to a series of home makeover this month.

First stop last Monday (March 2) was Sunshine Dizon’s place. As Sunshine transferred to her new house, she found that the biggest challenge was making her bedroom reflect her personality. Given her hectic and erratic schedule, Sunshine also wanted her private space cozy and not too flashy so as to induce sleep and relaxation. Do-it-yourself master Tristan Jovellana helped her by experimenting with colors, draperies, and a few pieces of furniture which transformed Sunshine’s bedroom into a relaxing haven.

Next on the list is Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski’s youngest kid’s room. The white-walled and cluttered room is livable but not too invigorating for a kid who’s in his curious stage. Aesthetic guru Marilen Faustino-Montenegro will play it up with a mural of the solar system and a washable acrylic wall to stimulate the kid’s imagination and creativity.

Bubbles Paraiso shares a bathroom with her brother Paolo, and she wants a not-too-girly, not-too-masculine bathroom for both of them. While she considers her Kuya’s needs, Bubbles also wants her own “space” in this shared room. Designer Aissa Gonzales will come to the rescue as she creates a “his” and “hers” bath without making the space look too confusing with a dual-personality on March 16.

Given the limitations of a studio-type condominium unit, Tessa will prove that she is the Queen of House Makeovers as she creates a full house complete with bedroom, living, and dining areas without compromising on space for Benjie Paras on March 23.

Catch how these House Life designers do their magic! House Life airs every Monday, 7:25 p.m. on Q Channel 11.

US Navy Seventh Fleet Band at SM City North Edsa

The US Navy Seventh Fleet Band recently treated mallgoers at SM City North Edsa to an afternoon of all-American contemporary and brass band music. The band’s performance is part of the routine port call and goodwill visit of the USS Blue Ridge, the flagship of the US Seventh Fleet to the Philippines.

No less than HE US Ambassador Kristie Kenney attended the performance, proudly introducing the band, posing with the kids from Gawad Kalinga, and gamely dancing with the audience.

The band is best known for its wonderful performances of its New Orleans style of music-bass lines and funky street beats, recreating this with a modern touch that merges traditional American Dixieland with brassy arrangements of popular music.

The audience was thrilled as they rendered well loved songs like Michael Buble’s version of “Come Fly With Me,” Lenny Dee’s “In The Mood,” Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable,” Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why,” Journey’s “Open Arms,” and Liza Minelli’s theme from “New York, New York.”

The band was first organized in 1943, and is comprised of professional Navy musicians from the US Seventh Fleet’s flagship USS Blue Ridge, which is based in Yokosuka, Japan. The Seventh Fleet is the largest, forward, deployed US Naval fleet and consists of 60,000 sailors and marines, over 400 aircraft, and more than 50 ships operating in a 52 million square mile areas of the Pacific and Indian Ocean.

This ceremonial and marching band is dedicated to performing for official military and civic ceremonies, as well as providing music for public concerts. As such, it has performed throughout the Pacific and Asian area, and continues a long and proud naval heritage by stirring patriotism and strenghtening ties with international audiences.

The US Navy Seventh Fleet Band performance is one of the many exciting events at SM City North Edsa.