Korean rapper Psy in a scene from the 'Gangnam Style' video.
SAN FRANCISCO | The wildly popular “Gangnam Style” music video cemented its place Saturday as one of the defining soundtracks of the digital age, smashing through the two billion barrier on YouTube.
The infectious and satirical mega-hit by South Korean pop star Psy became a worldwide sensation, fueling a South Korean “K-Pop” trend after it was first uploaded to the popular video sharing platform in July 2012.
It continues to garner thousands of looks daily and already was hundreds of thousands above the two billion mark early Saturday.
Psy’s horse-riding-style dance moves in “Gangnam Style” have been mimicked in a myriad of videos uploaded to YouTube in various languages.
South Korea’s most successful recent export has also gained currency beyond YouTube, becoming often copied, much parodied and endlessly analyzed.
“‘Gangnam Style’ actually pokes fun at how the common man fantasizes about life in the fast lane, as symbolized by the ritzy area in Seoul known as Gangnam,” wrote an analyst in the renowned Harvard Business Review a few months after the release of the song, which by then was already a massive viral hit.
“The anti-materialism theme in the time of a global recession has helped broaden the appeal of the song,” the analysis said.
The song’s breach of the two billion views mark was a first at YouTube, where in February “Baby” by Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber became the only other video in the billion-view club.
“Two billion views; they are very honorable and very burdensome numbers,” Psy said in a statement YouTube shared with AFP on Friday.
“With the appreciation, I will come back soon with more joyful contents!”
His follow-up song “Gentleman” set the record for the most YouTube views in a single day — 38 million — on April 14, 2013.
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that Psy’s new song “Hangover,” a collaboration with rapper Snoop Dogg, was set for worldwide release on June 8 during a live broadcast of America’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” late-night talk show.
The new creation reportedly will be “completely different” and display Psy’s hip-hop side, his handlers told the newspaper.
The “Gangnam” in the hit song’s title refers to Seoul’s most upscale residential and shopping district lined with luxury boutiques, top-end bars and restaurants frequented by celebrities.
Psy sings about being the “guy who downs boiling coffee in one shot” and who “goes completely crazy when the right time comes.”
The video, which satirizes the area’s self-importance and ostentatious wealth, has Psy breezing through a world of speed boats, yoga classes and exclusive clubs while performing an eccentric horse-riding dance.
Only three percent of “Gangnam Style” views at YouTube have been from inside South Korea, underscoring Psy’s global appeal.
Reisha Nicole Magadia is crowned as Miss Teen Philippines 2014 at the PICC on Saturday. (Teddy Pelaez/Interaksyon)
Reisha Nicole Magadia, a 15-year-old high school student who hails from Antipolo City, was crowned Miss Teen Philippines 2014 during the Grand Pageant Night held Saturday night at the Reception Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center.
Exuding a vibe similar to actress/TV host and Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 1994 Charlene Gonzalez, Nicole impressed the judges not only with her poise and beauty but also with her winning reply to the question, “What is the best advice you’ve learned from your mother?”
“The best advice I’ve learned from my mom is women empowerment,” she boldly revealed.
Prior to her Miss Teen Philippines victory, Nicole was best known for winning one of the coveted slots in the Palmolive Circle of 10 nationwide search last year. She goes to school at St. John’s Wort Montessori School of Antipolo.
Aside from Nicole, four equally formidable candidates also fared very well in the pageant and were rewarded with their own respective titles. They were 1st Runner-Up Chiara Marie Ocampo, Miss Teen Philippines-Luzon Abby Gael Angel, Miss Teen Philippines-Visayas Jeri-Anne Henares and Miss Teen Philippines-Mindanao Victoria Leslie Ingram.
Ten other girls made it to the Top 15 finalists. They were Kimberly Jacqueline Weber from Zambales, Elizabeth Renee Scheer, Karla Carmina Joven Canlas, Julia Cassandra Casal, Eunice Diane Santiago, Naomi Fujii, Princess Jayme, Bianca Wilhelmina Willemsen, Claire Trinidad and Charisse Claire Lanchinebre.
With her big win and the prize package worth around P2.6 million that goes along with it, Reisha now officially becomes the Department of Education’s Ambassadress for Education. She will also become a member of the Philippine Delegation to the Southeast Asian Youth Program and the National Youth Parliament and will undergo the same training and preparation as the other members of the national team prior to their international travel.
Likewise, Nicole will also get a chance to dialogue and consult with global shapers and leaders in order to help her chart her future path as another woman change maker of her generation.
During the pageant, Nicole also won the People’s Choice award. Other special awardees were Eunice Diane Santiago (Miss Friendship), Abby Gael Angel (Miss SM Girls’ Teens’ Award), Elizabeth Renee Scheer (Miss Teen Jing Monis, Miss Cream Silk and Miss Teen Yakult), Jeri-Anne Henares (Miss Best in Evening Gown), Kimberly Jacqueline Weber (Miss Teen Glamorous), Charisse Claire Lanchinebre (Miss Photogenic) and Ivory Claire Dequilla (Miss Best in National Costume).
Miss Teen Philippines-Mindanao Victoria Leslie Ingram, Miss Teen Philippines-Luzon Abby Gael Angel, Miss Teen Philippines 2014 Reisha Nicole Magadia, 1st Runner-Up Chiara Marie Ocampo and Miss Teen Philippines-Visayas Jeri-Anne Henares. (Teddy Pelaez/InterAksyon)
Hosted by Rovilson Fernandez, Georgina Wilson and Jasmine Curtis-Smith, who is also a member of the pageant’s advisory council, Miss Teen Philippines made a glorious return to the national beauty pageant circuit.
Many of this year’s contestants, including those who did not make the semifinals or win special awards, impressed their assigned mentors and members of the media with their striking features, confident demeanor and the ability to think on their feet.
During the Q & A portion, all 15 finalists delivered smart answers and almost within the allotted time limit. They also did not lose sight of the fact that Miss Teen Philippines is also about advocating the importance of education through its tag line, “Global Readiness Through Education”.
The Miss Teen Philippines Grand Pageant night will air on TV5 on Sunday at 9:30PM.
Vice Ganda (File)
Vice Ganda admits feeling blue these days, seemingly over his recent breakup with his non-showbiz boyfriend.
The Kapamilya host-comedian was absent on “It’s Showtime” on Thursday. On Friday, Vice said he thought it necessary to take a leave from the show even if only for a day as, “parang hindi (na ako) totoo, hindi na ako normal.”
“Palagi kong sinasabi sa opening ng ‘It’s Showtime,’ ‘Tumawa tayong lahat, masaya tayong lahat,’ eh hindi naman ganoon ang realidad,” he added. “Sa isang buwan, isang araw kang malungkot at mag-isip-isip, hindi naman siguro masama ’yon. Nakaka-tao, hindi ka robot.”
Vice believes taking a break during such times is necessary to rediscover happiness.
“Dahil kapag nakadama tayo ng lungkot, kinabukasan (ay magiging) mas masaya.”
Vice Ganda reiterated that “it’s okay to cry once in a while” inasmuch as repressed pain could be a negative force that could swallow one whole.
“Kapag ’di mo nailabas ’yan, ’yung lungkot, nagiging galit at ’yung galit, nagiging muhi. Sa pagkakataong ’yon ay ’yung kalungkutan, nagiging kasalanan,” he said, before urging his audience to “stay positive.”
Melizza Shawn Banaag, Abby Gale Angel, Kimberlyn Jacqueline Weber, Alexa Amico Patriana and Dana Loise Abbe Ledonio. (Photos courtesy of Miss Teen Philippines 2014)
In brief interviews with the media following their introduction, most of the 40 candidates of this year’s Miss Teen Philippines have actually participated and even won in pageants held in either their hometown or schools.
Regardless of the results, many of them hope to “graduate” to major pageants like Binibining Pilipinas, Mutya ng Pilipinas, Miss World Philippines and Miss Philippines-Earth. But for now, their focus is on Miss Teen Philippines, and the doors that it could open for them after the pageant is over.
Up for grabs is a prize package worth an estimated value of P2.6 million. Aside from the title of Miss Teen Philippines 2014, the winner will also the Department of Education’s Ambassadress for Education as well as automatically become a member of the Philippine Delegation to the Southeast Asian Youth Program and the National Youth Parliament.
Here are five candidates InteAksyon believes will figure prominently in the Grand Pageant Night this Saturday at the PICC.
#5 MELIZZA SHAWN BANAAG
This 18-year old Batangas native who currently studies at the Philippine State of Aeronautical Colleges has been flying high with victorious stints in campus and local pageants for quite a including Miss Teen Taal where she placed third. She hopes to find similar success in Miss Teen Philippines.
#13 ABBY GALE ANGEL
Another formidable contestant is this dusky 17-year old stunner from Columban College who won the local and regional titles of Lakambini ng Kalikasan 2014 as well as the Miss Teen Olongapo crown that eventually led her to MTP. She takes her inspiration from Miss World 2013 Megan Young who is also from Olongapo.
#21 KIMBERLY JACQUELINE WEBER
A native of Subic in Zambales which is just a stone’s throw away from Olongapo, Sweet 16 Kimberly is a student at the Lyceum of Subic Bay. Initially not a fan of pageants, she said she joined MTP because she hopes it will lead to her growth as a person and give her a chance to become a role model for education.
#33 ALEXA AMICO PATRIANA
Inspired by Miss Universe-Philippines 2014 Mary Jean Lastimosa who is also from Mindanao, the 17-year old Cagayan de Oro native who goes to school at Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan believes that MTP is the right place and moment for her to become a better person.
#35 DANA LOISE ABBE LEDONIO
Not as tall as the other contestants, this 14-year old charmer takes her inspiration from Stephanie Sol who won in the pageant in 2004 despite standing only 5’3”. A straight A-student at Western Visayas College of Science and Technology, she said what she lacks in height, she will more than make-up for in poise and intelligence.
Psy’s ‘Gangnam Style’ has set another world record (Screengrab)
The video for “Gangnam Style,” the 2012 viral song that made Korean rapper Psy a global star, has achieved another world record by garnering 2 billion views on YouTube.
It has also amassed 8.3 million likes and 5.18 million comments as of this writing.
The milestone was reached around 11:33 AM, May 31 (Manila time), a year and 10 months after it was uploaded on YouTube in July 2012.
“Gangnam Style” is the title track of Psy’s album “Psy 6 Part 1″ which was released on July 15, 2012.
The quirky music video became viral after several international celebrities took notice.
American rapper T-Pain took to Twitter to comment how “amazing” it is.
Singer Josh Groban, on the other hand, tweeted, “It’s a Gangnam Style world, we’re just living in it.”
Guinness World Records declared “Gangnam Style” the most liked video in YouTube history in September 2012. It reached 100 million views on YouTube the same month.
The song spawned parodies, with other artists, including Grammy winner Nelly Furtado, performing their own version of it.
In October 2012, “Gangnam Style” climbed to the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed on the spot for weeks.
The same month, its music video earned 500 million views on YouTube. Psy then graced the cover of Billboard magazine.
The following month, Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism bestowed on Psy the Order of Cultural Merit for his contribution to spreading hallyu or Korean Wave.
“Gangnam Style” became the third bestselling single in the world in 2012 with 9.7 million copies sold, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
It also won Best Video at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2012, New Media at the American Music Awards, and Song of the Year and Best Video at the Mnet Asian Music Awards 2012.
Last year, it won the Music Video of the Year and International Song of the Year at the NRJ Music Awards in France and Digital Daesang at the Golden Disk Awards held in Malaysia.
Eric Quizon and Zsa Zsa Padilla (File photos)
Eric Quizon has confirmed that singer-actress Zsa Zsa Padilla will inherit part of the late comedian Dolphy’s estate.
“Definitely mayroon. Kasi ‘yun ang binilin ng daddy ko, na gusto niya ay pantay-pantay (kami). Kasama siya (Padilla) sa 19, kasi 18 lang kaming magkakapatid,” Quizon told ABS-CBN News, Friday.
He downplayed malicious insinuations about the whole issue, saying, “Understood na ‘yon na Zsa Zsa will always be part of the family.”
The actor-director also reiterated how he and Zsa Zsa go a long way back — even prior to her romance with his father.
“Kasi nung nag-uumpisa din ako (sa pelikula) ay kasabay ko siya,” he related going on to reveal how their bond was strengthened “during the time na nagkasakit na ang daddy ko and all that.”
“Lahat nang pinagdadaanan namin, we always discuss. Kung anuman ang nangyayari sa buhay niya, she’s very open about it and open naman siya sa pamilya namin,” Eric added.
Asked to confirm rumors about Zsa Zsa’s supposed impending marriage to architect Conrad Onglao, Quizon said, “Wala pa naman akong
nababalitaan… Kung mayroong ganoon, I’m sure sasabihin sa akin ni Zsa Zsa. But like I said before, kung saan masaya si Zsa Zsa, then masaya kami para sa kanya.”
Quizon, who admitted to having already met Conrad, sees nothing wrong with the idea.
“If you consider the person your friend, you will understand kung anuman ang magiging decision niya sa buhay niya, not unless mali ang ginagawa niya,” he said.
Lee Jin Wook and Gong Hyo-jin on a date (Photos: wwws.sportsseouli.com)
Actress Gong Hyo-jin, 34, and actor Lee Jin Wook, 33, are the new celebrity couple after a news site published photos of the two dating.
The photos published exclusively by Sports Seoul on May 29 showed the two dating in Gangnam, Seoul. Gong Hyo-jin is seen wearing a hat and a face mask to hide her identity.
The two attended the 2013 Spring Seoul Fashion Week, the report said.
Gong Hyo-jin’s agency, Management Soop, confirmed that the two are dating.
“After checking, we confirmed that Kong Hyo Jin and Lee Jin Wook came to have good feelings for each other recently after having been good colleagues. They will each be showing good sides as they stand in their positions as an actor and actress,” said the agency, according to ENewsWorld.
Gong Hyo-jin starred in Korean drama such as “Pasta,” “The Greatest Love” and “Master’s Sun.”
Before being involved with Lee Jin Wook, Gong Hyo-jin had a 10-year relationship with actor Ryoo Seung-bum. The two ended their relationship in 2012.
Lee Jin Wook was the former boyfriend of hallyu actress Choi Ji Woo. They broke up in 2011.
He starred in dramas such as “Air City,” “Formidable Rivals,” “Myung-wol The Spy” and “Nine: Nine Time Travels.”
His recent films are “Miss Granny” and “The Target.”
The Kimye kiss (Photo from Kim Kardashian’s Instagram)
LONDON (AP) — A photo of reality TV star Kim Kardashian kissing rapper Kanye West on their wedding day has broken the record for the most likes on Instagram.
A European spokesperson for the photo-sharing site said Friday the picture, shared from Kardashian’s account, received 1.96 million likes, becoming the most popular post on the site so far.
The wedding snap has overtaken a photograph shared by pop star Justin Bieber posted five months ago, showing actress Selena Gomez embracing him, which received 1.83 million likes.
Kardashian and West were married on Saturday in a private ceremony at Belvedere Fort in Florence.
The flaming logo for the Los Angeles premiere of “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” is seen at the Nokia Theatre LA Live in Los Angeles, California, November 18, 2013. (AFP / Robyn Beck)
Interactive entertainment company Kabam announced Friday that it agreed with film studio Lionsgate to make a title for play on smartphones or tablet computers based on the dystopian books and films.
San Francisco-based Kabam specializes in mobile games that are free-to-play, instead bringing in revenue through tactics such as digital ads or hawking virtual goods or abilities.
“Lionsgate has an unparalleled track record of developing and producing blockbuster movie franchises like ‘The Hunger Games,’” Kabam chief operating officer Kent Wakeford said in a release.
“Partnering with Lionsgate, Kabam will build a mobile game that’s as much fun to play as the movie is to watch.”
Kabam’s vision for the game included casting players in roles as District members out to build alliances and liberate themselves in the spirit of the story told in the books on which the film is based.
The story centers around a futuristic society which stages televised death matches among youth.
The first two “Hunger Games” films starring Jennifer Lawrence have taken in more than $1.5 billion at box offices worldwide, according to Kabam.
The next installment in the series is set for release in November.
“We are so pleased to be working with Kabam to give the fans an experience like they have never had before,” said Lionsgate executive vice president of digital media Danielle DePalma.
“Being able to role-play with the mentors straight from the world of ‘The Hunger Games’ will let fans feel as if they are in the middle of the action.”
The game will be developed in the Kabam studio in China that made a mobile game based on “The Hobbit.”
Vitalii Sediuk (AFP Photo)
LOS ANGELES (AFP) – A notorious Ukrainian prankster who attacked Brad Pitt at a Hollywood red carpet event was put on three years’ probation Friday, after pleading no contest to two charges against him.
Vitalii Sediuk was also given 20 days of community labor and ordered to undergo psychological counseling and stay away from future red-carpet or celebrity events, two days after the incident.
The 25-year-old was ordered to remain at least 500 yards (meters) away from Pitt and his partner Angelina Jolie, and stay away from the Hollywood & Highland Center — the home of the Academy Awards.
Sediuk, who knocked Pitt’s sunglasses off at the premiere of Jolie’s new film “Maleficent,” pleaded no contest to charges of battery and unlawful activity at a theatrical event.
Two other charges — assault and interference of a theatrical event — were dismissed as part of a plea deal, prosecutors said.
Sediuk was arrested Wednesday after jumping over a barrier outside the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood and attacking the actor.
He made contact with Pitt’s face, but neither the actor nor Jolie seemed fazed by the altercation.
Sediuk is a Ukrainian TV journalist who has a reputation for celebrity-related gatecrashing and stunts.
At this year’s Cannes film festival, he burst onto the red carpet, threw himself to the ground and put his hands around “Ugly Betty” actress America Ferrera’s ankles for a few seconds.
Other targets of his affection have included Will Smith, Madonna, British singer Adele and Leonardo DiCaprio.
In February 2013, he gatecrashed the Grammy music awards, going up on stage after presenter Jennifer Lopez read out Adele’s name.
That stunt landed him in jail overnight, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The public, through social media, is finally having glimpses of the grand Florentine wedding between hip-hop artist Kanye West and reality television star Kim Kardashian, who tied the knot last week.
On her Instagram account, Kardashian, 33, first posted a photo of their kiss in front of a lavish wall of white flowers, reportedly taken soon after they said their vows.
HAPPY BRIDE – Known as the ‘Kimye’ couple, Kim Kardashian, looks gorgeous in her white Givenchy gown, while Kanye West, looks dashing in his Givenchy suit. Kardashian, 33, posted a photo of their kiss in front of a lavish wall of white flowers after getting married – the third for Kardashian and the first for West — on the night of May 24 at the 16th century Forte di Belvedere in Florence, Italy. (Photo from Kardashian’s Instagram)
She also posted a second photo with West, 36, walking down the aisle among their friends. Its caption read: “Mr. & Mrs. Kanye West.” Seen in the background is Kardashian’s mother, Kris Jenner, holding the couple’s nearly one-year-old daughter North West.
In the photo, the smiling bride looked gorgeous in her white Givenchy gown; a happy West, meanwhile, also looked dashing in his Givenchy suit.
Kardashian and West, known in the media and to their followers as “Kimye,” got married on the night of May 24 at the 16th century Forte di Belvedere in Florence, Italy.
Another image that surfaced after the couple’s wedding showed some details of the preparation like Kardashian’s glorious Haute Couture lace gown photographed from the back. It showed the long lace train of the backless dress as well as the long veil.
The photo, released by E! News, was shot during her last fitting at the Givenchy atelier in Paris before the wedding ceremony.
Various other wedding details were released by the media, including the couple having the famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli singing during the ceremony while Kardashian walked down the aisle; and John Legend as the evening’s live performer singing his hits – including his current massive hit, “All of Me” – while he played on a marble piano.
At the reception, guests were reportedly having fun at the photo booth while the bar flowed with cocktail and songs like Otis Redding’s “These Arms of Mine” and Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It” played in the background.
Reports also said that West gave a toast at the reception where he described the Kardashian family as “the most remarkable people of our time.”
Kim, who starred in the hit reality TV series Keeping up with the Kardashians, was infamously involved with another singer, Ray J, in 2003. In February 2007, a sex tape of the couple was leaked just months before the launch of the family’s TV show.
This is Kardashian’s third marriage. Prior, she eloped with music producer Damon Thomas in 2000. She was only 19 and the marriage ended in divorce in 2003.
In August 2011, she married NBA player Kris Humphries, then of the New Jersey Nets, in an extravagant ceremony in Montecity, California. The controversial union eventually led to Kardashian filing for divorce on October 31 that same year, after only 72 days of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.
Charlize Theron. (AFP)
LONDON | Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron sparked a flurry of criticism on Friday after she compared media intrusion into her life to rape.
The South African-born star, who was in Britain to promote her new film “A Million Ways To Die In The West”, made the comments when she was asked by a Sky News interviewer if she ever entered her name in a search engine.
She said: “I don’t do that, so that’s my saving grace. When you start living in that world, and doing that, you start I guess feeling raped.”
Pressed on whether she felt so strongly about the issue, she said: “Well, you know when it comes to your son and your private life. Maybe that’s just me.
“Some people might relish all that stuff but there are certain things in my life that I think of as very sacred and I am very protective over them.”
Theron, 38, who won the leading actress Oscar in 2003 for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos, runs an anti-HIV project in Africa and has campaigned against sexual violence.
In 1999 she made an advert for the Real Men Don’t Rape campaign in her South Africa, telling viewers that every 26 seconds a woman is raped in the country.
Katie Russell, a spokeswoman for sexual violence charity Rape Crisis in England and Wales, said: “What is particularly surprising is that this case does not come out of ignorance as Charlize Theron has been involved in campaigns around rape and sexual violence so she should understand that when she speaks there will be a huge number of victims of sexual violence among her audience.”
Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt pose at the premiere of 'Maleficent' at El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, California. (Reuters)
LOS ANGELES | The Ukrainian prankster who struck actor Brad Pitt in the face at the Los Angeles premiere of the movie “Maleficent” will be charged with battery and assault, officials said on Friday.
Vitalii Sediuk, a 25-year-old Ukrainian TV reporter infamous for pulling pranks on celebrities at events, will be charged with four counts that also include unlawful activity and interference at a theatrical event, Los Angeles City Attorney’s office spokesman Rob Wilson said.
Sediuk jumped across a fence and onto the red carpet at Wednesday’s “Maleficent” premiere in Hollywood, where Pitt had joined his partner Angelina Jolie, the film’s star, to sign autographs for fans.
Police said Sediuk struck Pitt in the face, and was arrested immediately. He is being held on $20,000 bail, according to Los Angeles County Jail records.
Pitt was not seriously hurt and continued to sign autographs for fans after the incident, but was issued a restraining order against Sediuk.
Wilson said the city attorney’s office will also seek a stay away order for Sediuk from multiple entertainment industry events.
In previous exploits, Sediuk tried to climb under actress America Ferrera’s dress as she posed for photographers at the Cannes Film Festival, stormed the stage during singer Adele’s Grammy acceptance speech, and was slapped by Will Smith after kissing the actor at a Moscow premiere.
PIOLO PASCUAL with his son, Iñigo (Photo from his Instagram account)
The name “Papa P” may just be a term of endearment coined by his fans and showbiz kibitzers, but as regards life goals, being the best dad to his son is really a priority for Piolo Pascual.
Despite the distance, the actor makes it a point to be there for his only son, Iñigo, who is studying in the US.
“I try to be present every day,” Piolo tells Bulletin Entertainment in an exclusive interview. “I call him, I check up on him…”
Many teenagers, like Piolo’s 17-year-old, don’t appreciate parents getting into their affairs but he smiles and says, “We’re good. I try to be friends with him so at least he won’t have to hide anything from me.”
Father’s Day is fast approaching and the actor can’t hide his excitement. “My son is coming next week. He’s only here every (time it’s) summer in the States. So I get to spend more time with him.
“As long as I’m with him, I’m happy,” he says.
No goodbyes yet
At this point in his more than a decade career, Piolo admits already feeling exhausted from it all at times. In fact, reports about him retiring have already made the rounds of the press several times.
“I was initially thinking of that because I’m not getting any younger,” he clarified.
Still, his fans need not fret. Even the universe doesn’t want him to retire yet.
“I guess ABS-CBN has a different plan for me or maybe the Lord has another plan for me. Short to say that it’s not my will, but it’s the Lord’s will,” he says.
He disclosed having signed up to host a program on ABS-CBN Sports+Action channel (formerly known as Studio 23) even as his new soap opera comes out this month. Apart from these, there are talks for him to star in another movie this year.
“I’m just really blessed to be where I am right now. I’m thankful for the opportunity. So retiring is just there in the horizon, if it happens, it happens. Well, if I’m still needed here in the business, I’ll stay on,” says he.
Piolo starred in a Star Cinema blockbuster movie recently titled “Starting Over Again,” which grossed a whopping P400 million.
He is also the brand ambassador of sportswear and casual apparel Under Armour, which has opened their store on Bonifacio High Street in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Sean Hanish, writer and director of 'Return to Zero'.
Although most people think it does not happen that often, stillbirth or the loss of an unborn child inside the uterus during the latter part of pregnancy or later is actually quite common. In the US alone, approximately 26,000 or about one out of 160 unborn babies die every year.
The rate is even higher in developing countries where immediate and adequate medical care is hard to come by.
A death in the family, let alone the loss of a child, is never easy to take. The impact of stillbirth is particularly devastating—especially to the mothers who often suffer in silence believing that their grief and trauma is theirs to bear alone.
Hollywood filmmaker and screenwriter Sean Hanish lost a son from stillbirth in 2005. The difficulty that he and his wife suffered in dealing with the loss is something he would later chronicle in his latest feature film for Lifetime, “Return to Zero”.
“I really thought that me and my wife were one in a million, that this happened to nobody else. And that it was an absolute freak of nature. We would later discover that it actually happens more often than people think. As a creative artist, I then tried to look for something that would help me grapple with what we were going through. But there was nothing out there that really addressed what my wife and I were going through,” he recalled.
That was when Hanish realized that he could be the first person to tackle the subject of losing a child late in the pregnancy head on.
“Because the truth is stillbirth is relatively common. At the end of the day, my wife and I felt so alone. We did not know who to reach out to. And my hope is that through the film, people who have been through this would know that they are not really alone, that there are people out there that they can reach out to,” he pointed out.
Asked why the title is “Return to Zero”, Hanish said the term refers to “a place where you you have to build an entire new life philosophy from scratch.”
“Because when you lose a child in this way in a way you never thought possible because no one ever talked to us about it. You come to a place where you question everything. I mean, it makes you question if you’re safe, how the world works as well your relationships. Basically, it takes you back no matter how far up the ladder you’ve reached. It takes you all the way back to zero point, kinda like starting over.”
Minnie Driver and Paul Adelstein play a successful couple who has to deal with the devastating loss of their son in 'Return to Zero'.
For the film, Hanish has assembled a stellar cast headed by Academy award nominee Minnie Driver (“Good Will Hunting”) and Paul Adelstein (“Private Practice”) as the couple who find it hard to recover from their loss.
“I know people know Minnie Driver has been nominated for both an Oscar and an Emmy but I don’t think people think of her as one of the top actresses in the world. I think she really is. She has courage and wit and intelligence and she’s game for anything,” Hanish pointed out.
“I did not know Paul Adelstein personally but I think he brought such a fresh, interesting take to his television roles that I was really excited with what he can do with a film role. Turns out, he’s really superb. The two of them have a special chemistry that Minnie said she’s only had with in the few other times in her career. One was with Matt Damon; the other time was with Eddie Izzard on that television show ‘The Riches’ which she was wonderful in, and with Paul.”
One of the scenes that impressed Hanish the most about Driver and Adelstein was also the most difficult for him to shoot.
“It’s the scene where Minnie gives birth to her son and she finds out that he already died. The day we shot that scene was the most intense day of production that I’ve ever been associated with, and I think it would always be,” he vividly remembered.
“For Minnie to get to a place where she could pull off the extraordinary performance that she did, I told her I never thought I’d ever see someone that would remind me of that day when I saw my wife gave birth to our son Norbert, who had already passed away. But she did, and so did Paul. When I mentioned this to her the next day, she just looked at me and said, ‘Well that’s good. I’m glad to hear it because I can’t remember a thing from last night’.”
“Return to Zero” airs on Lifetime this Saturday, May 31 at 1AM and 11:45PM.
Eddie Gutierrez and Annabelle Rama (Publicity)
They say true love never dies, so that should hold true even when youth and beauty fade. While some may see older couples being romantic a little odd, the truth is, with showbiz relationships falling by the wayside left and right, in this case the romance of a veteran showbiz couple is a good thing indeed.
Despite the seemingly vast difference in their personalities, Eddie Gutierrez, 72, and Annabelle Rama, 61, have managed to stick to their wedding vows and are inseparable, spending most of the time together going to concerts, attending parties, and taking vacations.
“Kasi masaya siyang kasama,” Eddie says of his wife to Bulletin Entertainment in a recent chat. “At ’saka kasi ang tawa ni Annabelle, nakakahawa. Nake-carried away ako ’pag tumatawa siya. Mahilig (siyang) mag-comedy.”
He downplays Annabelle’s public image of being a rabble-rouser, saying, “Si Annabelle, ’pag hindi nakikipag-away, masayang tao. Nag-iiba lang siya ng character ’pag may kaaway.”
Eddie maintains that he keeps his wife in check. “Minsan ’pag sobra na, ’pag hindi ko na gusto ang nangyayari, pinagsasabihan ko na siya. Nakikinig naman.”
The veteran actor also admits to how Annabelle used to badger him over his leading ladies, some of whom include the biggest stars of his era like Susan Roces, Amalia Fuentes, and Pilita Corrales.
“Noong araw, noong bata pa kami, madalas kaming mag-away… kasi nagseselos siya. Kahit wala namang nangyayari sa amin ng leading lady ko, (sa) mind niya, may nangyari na. So iyon, in-e-explain ko sa kanya na ganon talaga ang show business hanggang na-realize niya na, kaya ngayon bihira na kami mag-away,” he shares.
Still, Eddie insists he never tried to control her.
“I always want Annabelle to grow and enjoy her life. Hindi ko siya pinipigilan kung meron siyang mga meetings, mga lakad; hindi na ako nagtatanong ‘Saan ka pupunta, saan ka galing?’”
Gutierrez’s guts
Annabelle and Eddie’s three children are active in show business. Even at a young age, Ruffa, now 39, and twin brothers Richard and Raymond, 30, had to adjust to life in the limelight.
“Bata pa ako, alam ko na nasa showbiz na kami. Alam ko, maraming mga intriga, may mga intriga na hindi naman totoo. So parang ako, growing up, hindi ko na masyadong pinapansin ’yung mga intriga,” says Richard.
Despite the seeming drawbacks, they wouldn’t have it any other way.
“No regrets whatsoever, it comes with the territory and kung wala namang intriga, kung walang issue, hindi naman kami napag-u-usapan, it will be so boring. Kakambal na namin ang intriga, sanay na kami do’n,” Ruffa says.
It helps that they give each other unconditional love and support. Raymond says, “We stick to each other no matter what happens. We’ve been through a lot of intrigues, of problems, and controversies, pero no matter what, we’re still one as a family and as a unit.”
Asked what it takes to be a Gutierrez, Richard says, “Kailangan matatag ka, kailangan may perseverance ka and may patience and a lot of love.”
“It Takes Gutz To Be A Gutierrez” premieres on June 1 at 9 p.m. on E! available via SkyCable Ch. 57, Cignal Ch. 25 and Cablelink Ch. 33.
Carmina Villaroel (File)
TV host-actress Carmina Villarroel has reacted to the allegation supposedly made by accountant Flora Capili that her husband, Zoren Legaspi, has several different Tax Identification Numbers (TINs).
Actress-TV host Kris Aquino shared on Wednesday evening via “Aquino & Abunda Tonight” a message supposedly sent by the actress to her insisting that Legaspi didn’t know that he has multiple TINs.
“Gusto niyang ipaalam sa mga tao that he (Legaspi) has only been using one TIN,” Aquino shared. “Gusto nilang i-emphasize talaga na hindi sinabi ’yung apat (TINs) ng accountant nila.”
On Wendnesday morning a report on GMA News quoted Capili as saying that although Legaspi is seemingly paying his taxes, they discovered “discrepancies” in the manner by which he filed it.
“Kumuha lang kami certificate of confirmation (from the companies that he worked for)… lumabas iba’t-iba ang TIN. (Kaya ngayon) bine-verify namin sa companies bakit iba-iba ang TIN,” Capili said.
Having more than one TIN is prohibited under the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC).
The investigation on Legaspi resulted from the tax evasion complaint filed by the BIR against him on May 8.
In previous interviews, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares said that Legaspi under-declared his income for years 2010 and 2012 by only giving the figures of P6.79 million and P1.82 million, respectively. This was compared to the alpha lists of withholding agents, which showed Legaspi received total income of P9.64 million in 2010 (under-declaration of 42 percent) and P6.49 million in 2012 (under-declaration of 256 percent).
Assistant Prosecutor Stewart Allan Mariano gave Legaspi up to June 6 to submit his counter-affidavit and be represented by counsel.
Legaspi has expressed openness to resolve the issue.
Nikki Gil (5th from left) with other PhilPop 2014 interpreters (Enie Reyes)
Nikki Gil admits to being hesitant in accepting the offer to interpret “Babalikan Mo Rin Ako,” one of 12 PhilPop 2014 song finalists unveiled on Thursday.
“Sabi ko, ‘Title pa lang, uhm, pwede bang ’wag na lang?’ because I felt quite awkward. But when I listened to the song and heard the melody, I fell in love with it,” Gil said.
It helped that friends in the industry also encouraged her to take on the song composed by Soc Villanueva.
She related, “I consulted people in the industry that I trust and they were telling me, ‘You know this is a good song and since you’ve moved on, (do it).’ I think you couldn’t sing the song if you haven’t moved on yet.”
The Kapamilya singer-actress stressed that the song, released exclusively via SPINNR as powered by Smart Music, “echoes the sentiments of so many women.”
“Maganda naman ’yung twist ng kanta and it gives hope. It just so happened that it’s a reality that a lot of women face,” she added.
Gil understands why people would think that the song has something to do with with her and ex-boyfriend Billy Crawford, who is now rumored to be in a relationship with “It’s Showtime” co-host Coleen Garcia.
“’Yun lang ’yung medyo kabayaran ng trabaho namin – everything will be traced back to that, but… (the) fact is, the song was written with a married couple in mind. Alam ko, kwento talaga ng mag-asawa ito. At marami akong more adult friends, mga kaibigan ng mommy ko, na naririnig ko ’yung mga kwento nila, which reflect more or less the same mechanics in their relationship (expressed in the song),” she explained.
Gil admit that she relates to the song herself, and that her experience allows her to give it justice.
“I am able to give it more emotion, I guess, but I wouldn’t say it’s dedicated to anyone in particular. It gives hope na hindi kayo nag-iisa (kahit) marami ang napagdaanan – it happens. At the end of the day, it’s up to you to get up and just move forward.”
Happy and busy
Almost a year after getting “wrecked” by her controversial breakup, Gil is finally back on her feet and is now “at peace.”
In fact, the 26-year-old host-VJ shared that she is exclusively dating a non-showbiz guy.
“Yes, it’s doing very well. I am happy. My heart is very happy,” she revealed.
Asked if she feels that it is time for her to commit to a relationship again, Gil said, “I don’t think I ever fell into the trap of ‘ayoko na’ or ‘ayoko muna’ but ang sabi ko nga before, hindi naman ganun lagi eh. It just so happened na hindi sinuwerte… I don’t want to be cynical about it because it doesn’t mean naman na napaso ka sa isa ay hihinto ka na.”
Describing herself as always careful, she added, “I’ve been always the type of girl na seryoso Hindi ako marunong maglaro. (In relationships) I use a good amount of my head and my heart.”
One reason Gil has kept new romance on the sidelines is “I have never been as busy.”
She has a primetime soap, ‘Hawak Kamay,’ with Piolo Pascual. She is also recording an album and has an upcoming musical play.
“Ang bait ng Panginoon,” she said.
Charice (Twitter)
Charice’s coming out has apparently not affected her fans abroad.
Testament to this is her sold-out show at Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks, California over the weekend.
Gary Sy, an avid fan, told ABS-CBN News, “I am watching her and seeing her for her talent not because of who she is or her sexual preference. Everybody has their agenda and priorities in life so be it. But again, I support her.”
“I think Charice brings to the table, talent and I think that’s more important behind what goes on inside closed doors,” said Jmarc Javelosa, another fan.
Tessie Guinto of South San Francisco said, “I’m curious but hopefully she maintains that former Charice of TFC that I know is good.”
Hillsborough resident Chona Mirdana added, “I’m curious if there is anything new but I hope she’s still the same.”
Edna Ramos of Edna’s Ichiban Productions, producer of the show, only has good words for the singer-actress.
“I rarely admire a star but she’s really good,” she related.
Charice reportedly performed R&B and dance songs on her show at Cache Creek. (MD)
Kylie Padilla (File)
Kylie Padilla has confirmed rumors that she and boyfriend Aljur Abrenica are no longer a couple.
“Just to make it clear, hiwalay na nga po kami ni Aljur and it’s been a while,” she told GMA News.
Earlier, Kylie hinted at the status of their relationship by deleting any signs of Aljur and by posting cryptic messages on her Instagram account.
One previous post was a photo with a text that read: “Let Go.”
Kylie is thankful for the support she gets from her family during this trying time.
She says that her mother, Liezl Sicangco, was the first to comfort her after the breakup. “Ang unang una mong hinahanap kapag heart broken ka, eh, nanay mo. Nanay ko ang unang nandun at unang yumakap sa akin.”
The actress thinks that there’s no chance of them becoming a couple again, saying, “We still talk naman eh but mahirap nang ibalik ’yung dati after what happened.”
While Kylie did not cite the reason for the split, reports point to Aljur’s “Kambal Sirena” leading lady, Louise delos Reyes, as the alleged third party.
Incidentally, Aljur’s name was also dragged in the separation of Louise and Enzo Pineda months back.
In a recent press launch, Aljur reportedly evaded questions about Kylie.
Journalist Vitalii Sediuk is walked off carpet in handcuffs after allegedly attacking Brad Pitt at the world premiere of “Maleficent” at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — He tried to kiss Will Smith in Moscow, attempted to steal Adele’s spotlight at the Grammys, dove under America Ferrera’s dress at Cannes and now, police say, accosted Brad Pitt on the red carpet of a Hollywood premiere.
Vitalii Sediuk’s antics have earned him a smack in the face from Smith, probation for the Grammys stunt and have cost him his job with the Ukrainian television station that up until his incident with Ferrera, gave the 25-year-old a platform to cross the line with celebrities.
Sediuk remained in a Hollywood jail Thursday, one day after police say he leaped over a fan barrier and made contact with Pitt, who was signing autographs at the premiere of his partner Angelina Jolie’s latest film, “Maleficent.” Pitt was apparently uninjured, but Sediuk’s conduct has left him alienated from supporters and facing another possible criminal case.
An emergency restraining order has been issued to Sediuk to stay away from Pitt, Los Angeles Police Sgt. Albert Gonzalez said. The order could be extended for a month, but the actor would have to petition a civil judge if he wants the order extended, Gonzalez said.
A case against Sediuk was presented Thursday to prosecutors, who will make the ultimate determination on charges, he said.
Ukranian TV station 1+1 fired Sediuk roughly three weeks ago, around the time he rushed Ferrera and hid under her voluminous dress at the premiere of “How to Train Your Dragon 2″ at the Cannes Film Festival. The station’s general director Oleksandr Tkachenko wouldn’t disclose the exact reason for Sediuk’s dismissal.
Sediuk’s antics have repeatedly brought him too close for comfort to Hollywood’s elite. In perhaps his tamest incident, Sediuk presented Madonna with a bouquet of hydrangeas at the 2011 Venice Film Festival, prompting the singer to express her disgust for the flowers. The following year, he attempted to kiss Smith on the mouth on a red carpet in Moscow, prompting a slap from the actor.
The incidents raised Sediuk’s profile and apparently emboldened him to new stunts to attract attention. His grab of the microphone before Adele accepted a Grammy Award at last year’s ceremony led Sediuk to plead no contest to trespassing and earned him a three-year probation sentence.
He hugged Bradley Cooper’s crotch earlier this year at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and streaked down a runway in a G-string at a show during February’s Fashion Week in New York City. No charges were filed after either incident.
Sediuk’s intentions toward Pitt are unclear. He remains jailed in lieu of $20,000 bond, and his attorney Anthony Willoughby said he had not yet spoken to his client. Willoughby said he was surprised by the Pitt incident, which he said could lead a probation violation for Sediuk.
“He’s not a violent individual,” Willoughby said. “He’s an easygoing young man.”
Publicist Christa Scherck, who worked with Sediuk for the past two years and helped him get credentialed for entertainment events, said she was severing ties with him after his arrest. She said she was never aware of his prank plans.
“This goes beyond pranking,” Scherck said. “This is no longer entertaining.”
She said Sediuk did not tell her he’d been fired from 1+1 after the Ferrera incident, but he said his employers were unhappy with him and he was going to lay low.
After his arrest for crashing the 2013 Grammys, Sediuk said he accepted responsibility for his actions but wasn’t sorry for what he did.
He said he was just trying to create interesting reports for audiences back home but had been stymied by publicists. “I just need to get a little access,” he said at the time.
Even without access, Sediuk has proven he can circumvent security and get uncomfortably close to celebrities, but whether that continues remains to be seen.
An untitled ink drawing by John Lennon of a seated man and floating creature, which is part of an 89-piece collection of his original whimsical drawings, poems and prose for his books “’In His Own Write”’ and ‘“A Spaniard in the Works’” that will be auctioned by Sotheby’s in New York (AP Photo/Sotheby’s, John Lennon)
NEW YORK (AP) — Whimsical drawings, poems and prose created by John Lennon for his acclaimed books “In His Own Write” and “A Spaniard in the Works” are coming to auction.
The books’ British publisher, Tom Maschler, has owned the material for a half century and is offering it for sale at Sotheby’s on Wednesday. It is the largest private collection of Lennon’s work to come to the market, the auction house said.
Among the 89-piece collection’s highlights is a cartoon of a boy with six birds that appeared in “A Spaniard in the Works,” published in 1965.
The drawing was used 30 years later as the cover for the Beatles’ release “Free as a Bird,” written by Lennon in 1977. Twenty-five years after the group’s breakup and 15 years after Lennon’s death, the song was released as a single with additional instrumentation and vocals from the other three band members. The cartoon has a pre-sale estimate of $12,000 to $15,000.
A nine-page manuscript, a Sherlock Holmes parody titled “The Singularge Experience of Miss Anne Duffield,” is estimated to bring $50,000 to $70,000.
“The Fat Budgie,” a beloved nonsense poem, could fetch between $25,000 and $35,000.
Before becoming famous as a musician, Lennon had trained as an artist at the Liverpool School of Art.
Maschler, who worked with Lennon on the two books while literary director at Jonathan Cape publishers, called the late singer a man of “extraordinary talent and imagination.” But he said in a statement that Lennon’s art has been underrated and he hoped that the auction “will redress the balance.”
Maschler has worked with other famous authors, including Tom Wolfe, Edward Albee, Philip Roth and Salman Rushdie.
“In His Own Write” is a collection of 31 short stories and poems, full of puns and spelling errors, published in 1964. It was a big hit with reviewers who compared Lennon to Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear.
A year later, “A Spaniard in the Works” was published, containing more humorous and nonsensical stories. The title is a pun on the British term “a spanner in the works,” similar to the American expression “a monkey wrench in the works.”
Lennon once told the BBC his stories were short because he typed slowly, “I couldn’t be bothered going on.”
The official candidates of the 2014 Miss Teen Philippines pose for the media at their residence, The New World Hotel in Makati, on Wednesday. The coronation night will be held at the PICC on Saturday. (Teddy Pelaez/InterAksyon)
After a seven-year hiatus, Miss Teen Philippines is back with a particularly strong field of young and smart teenage girls vying not only for the prestigious crown but also for the privilege of becoming the Department of Education’s Ambassadress for Education.
Last Wednesday, 40 candidates from different parts of the country aged 13 to 18 were formally presented to media in a program hosted by actress-TV host and Miss Teen Philippines 2004 Stephanie Sol at New World Makati Hotel.
Many of the candidates stood out not only for their physical beauty but also for the way they carried and introduced themselves.
Among those who gave an immediate impression were candidates #1 Bianca Wilhelmina Willemsen from Cebu, #4 Julia Cassandra Casal from Pasig, #13 Abby Gale Angel from Olongapo, #17 Princess Nicolas from Tarlac, #21 Kimberly Jacqueline Weber from Zambales, #26 Elizabeth Renee Scheer also from Cebu, #33 Alexa Amico Patriana from Cagayan de Oro and #35 Dana Loise Abbe Ledonio from Iloilo.
Also on hand during the presentation were members of Miss Teen Philippines 2014 advisory council composed of TV5 primetime princess Jasmine Curtis-Smith, actress and former Miss World second princess Ruffa Gutierrez, actress and former Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman-Alcaraz, fashion blogger Laureen Uy, make-up artist to the stars Robbie Piñera and celebrity hairstylist Jing Monis.
Having had a chance to interact with the candidates, Precious Lara said she was very impressed with the girls whom she described as “mature women in teenagers’ bodies”.
Given that height is not always might in this particular pageant, Lara cites Stephanie Sol and herself as examples of aspirants who did not need to tower over everyone else to win the title. “If someone who stands 5 foot 5-inch like myself can become Miss International, nothing is impossible,” she pointed out.
Ruffa added that more than winning the title of Miss Teen Philippines, it is equally important for the girls to try their best to be a role model and inspire teenagers in general.
“That means you must love yourself, finish your education, lead a healthy lifestyle and stay away from drugs and alcohol,” she stressed.
In relation to what Ruffa said, Laureen also cautioned about using social media properly and consciously. “Be careful about posting personal stuff about yourself especially the negative. Maintain positive vibes,” was her advice.
For her part, Jasmine said that although she never had a chance to compete in beauty pageants, she can still share her knowledge about her craft and the important lessons she has learned so far. “Being identified with my sister, I learned how to live up to people’s expectations. I think this is something these girls, especially the winners, should also keep in mind down the road,” she maintained.
In addition to receiving a prize package worth an estimated value of P2.6 million, this year’s Miss Teen Philippines will also become a member of the Philippine delegation to the Southeast Asian Youth Program and the National Youth Parliament and will undergo the same training and preparation as the other members of the national team prior to their international travel.
Miss Teen Philippines 2014 will likewise get a chance to dialogue and consult with global shapers and leaders in order to help her chart her future path as another woman change maker of her generation.
As the DepEd’s Ambassadress for Education, she will also serve to inspire and actively engage the youth to value education while promoting the various DepEd youth-directed priority programs.
The Miss Teen Philippines 2014 Grand Pageant Night, to be hosted by Georgina Wilson and Rovilson Fernandez, will be held on Saturday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. It will air on TV5 on Sunday at 9:30PM.
The 40 candidates as viewed from another angle. (Teddy Pelaez/InterAksyon)
