Actress Ariana Grande accepts the award for favorite TV actress on stage at the 27th Annual Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles, California March 29, 2014. (Reuters)
LOS ANGELES | The green slime flowed freely at the Kids’ Choice Awards on Saturday, where boy band One Direction and actress-singer Ariana Grande took home orange blimps handed out by youth cable channel Nickelodeon.
Shot from canons, bursting forth from geysers and babbling in a river across the stage, everything and everyone, even “un-slimable” host Mark Wahlberg, were soaked by the green stuff.
The British-Irish vocal group, who won favorite music group and favorite song for “Story of My Life,” avoided the slime, accepting the awards from London where they are preparing for an upcoming tour.
Grande, a 20-year-old pop singer and star of Nickelodeon series “Sam & Cat” won for favorite TV actress and “Sam & Cat” was voted favorite TV show.
Viewers were able to cast votes online in more than 20 categories, spanning film, television, books, music and sport for the stunt-filled annual award show on the Viacom Inc-owned network.
The show, in its 27th year, is an annual stop for Hollywood stars who are popular among teenage and young viewers. It featured performances by singer Aloe Blacc and indie rock band American Authors, who closed with the hit “Best Day of My Life.”
Singer-actress Selena Gomez won an orange blimp for the sixth consecutive year. The 21-year-old former Disney actress was voted favorite female singer. She had won favorite TV actress from 2009 to 2013.
“I just have to say that you guys have been the most loyal, dedicated people in my life because you continuously every year bless me with the opportunity to do what I love,” Gomez said accepting the award.
A running gag throughout the stunt-filled show was how “Transformers” star Wahlberg could not be doused in slime.
BUTTKICKERS, BOOKS, BLIMPS
At the show’s end, the actor was distracted by his kids and comedian Kevin Hart until the slime rained down Wahlberg, who crossed himself and huddled to withstand the deluge.
“Iron Man” film series star Robert Downey Jr. won the favorite male “buttkicker” award for last year’s blockbuster “Iron Man 3.”
“I wasn’t always a buttkicker. In fact, life has kicked my proverbial butt countless times in many ways through many years until I decided one day to start kicking back,” the 48-year-old actor who struggled with addiction early in his career.
“To all the kids around this wonderful blue planet, thank you for this awesome statue, and remember: when life is kicking your butt, never forget to kick it back right in the face,” Downey added.
Actor-comedian Adam Sandler, 47, made it rain orange balls on the crowd with a garbled magic spell while accepting his blimp for favorite movie actor.
Other winners included sci-fi adventure film “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” as favorite movie, and its star, Jennifer Lawrence, won for favorite movie actress and favorite female buttkicker, but was not on hand to accept the awards.
Disney’s Oscar-winning film “Frozen” won for favorite animated movie, while comedian Hart won for favorite funny star and the youth fiction series “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” won favorite book.
Dan Schneider, an executive producer of popular Nickelodeon shows over the past two decades such as “Kenan & Kel,” “iCarly” and “Sam & Cat,” won a lifetime achievement award.
“Be Careful With My Heart” star Janella Salvador marked her 16th birthday on “ASAP” on Sunday with a special production number. Salvador sang “Feel This Moment,” which was originally recorded by Pitbull and Christina Aguilera.
Venus Raj
Her winning the title Binibining Pilipinas-Universe in 2010 and emerging fourth runner-up in the Miss Universe 2010 competition opened many doors of opportunity for Venus Raj, the Cinderella of sort from Bicol.
Her fame and popularity were heightened by her visibility in media during her reign as Binibining Pilipinas and fourth runner-up in the 2010 Miss Universe Beauty Pageant. Venus did TV hosting on ABS-CBN (“Umagang Kay Ganda” and other shows).
And now that her contract with the Kapamilya Network has expired, Venus has opted to be a freelance artist. That is why she accepted the offer to be Cristina Decena’s co-host on the latter’s show titled “Business Flight” which premiered on GMA News TV Channel 11 earlier today, March 30, at 9 a.m.
The TV program which Decena herself produces, aims to feature Filipinos with success stories to share which will inspire others to strive to make it big in their chosen professions.
“We all know that Venus is a good example of someone who struggled and worked hard to be successful In her undertakings. Venus comes from humble beginnings but she strived with great determination to rise above poverty. She is a model to emulate, to look up to, that’s why I chose her to be my co-host in ‘Business Flight,’” said Decena.
Venus Raj (who was born to an Indian father and a Filipino mother in Doha, Qatar but according to some accounts was registered by her aunt as Philippine-born) grew up in a nipa hut in the middle of a ricefield in Bato, Camarines Sur. She was raised by her mother who was a farming tenant and a seamstress.
While still in Bicol, Venus joined local pageants and even oratorical contests and the prize money she won she used as down payment for a ricefield that she bought for her mother. She also worked as part time model in Bicol and then later in Manila.
Before she joined the Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant, the statuesque Venus (she stands 5’9″ with 35-22-35 figure) was already the holder of some beauty titles. She was Miss Eco-Tourism 2008. She joined Miss Earth Philippines also in 2008.
Venus graduated with a Degree in Communication Arts major in journalism (cum laude) from Bicol University in Albay. Venus studied under a scholarship grant from Francis Papica Foundation. Venus initially worked as information assistant at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
In a recent interview, Venus was asked if she would also like to try acting. She said she is open to the idea but her focus at the moment is her studies at the University of the Philippines. “It’s for my masteral degree in Community Development,” she said. As to why she is taking a master’s degree, Venus’ answer was “Kasi I want to be a teacher in the future.”
For beauty queen contestants, will Venus advise them to undergo aesthetic operations or treatments like breasts enhancement and the like? “Lagi ko sinasabi when it comes to physical na pagpapaganda, ok lang yun hangga’t masaya sila sa kalalabasan, kung yun ang magpapa-confident sa kanila…but they have to make sure na yung pinabago nila sa katawan o mukha nila, hindi nun babaguhin ang pagkatao nila.”
Given the chance, will she undergo aesthetic operations like breast enhancement? Venus said, “No, I’m scared na maapektuhan ang mammary glands ko, Natatakot ako na hindi makapagpdede sa anak ko in the future.”
She also doesn’t want to pose sexy in a men’s magazine,”Kasi kapag nagkaroon ako ng pamilya in the future, gusto ko rerespetuhin ako ng mga anak ko.”
At the moment, Venus is happily single. “I am happy with the situation. I am in now with my studies, my family and my career,” she said. “I’m open to date but in God’s time, But if I’m going into a relationship again, I would prefer with someone na non-showbiz para hindi complicated at mas tahimik ang buhay ko…”
Enrique Gil celebrated his birthday on “ASAP” on Sunday. Accompanied by Sarah Geronimo, who sang Jennifer Lopez’s hit “Going In,” Gil, who turned 22 on Sunday, performed the rap part of the song as he showed his killer dance moves.
The top four favorites in this year's pageant: (clockwise from top left) Pia Wurtzbach, Kris Tiffany Janson, Yvethe Marie Santiago, and Mary Jean 'MJ' Lastimosa.
Check every online fearless forecast for the 2014 Bb. Pilipinas beauty pageant and chances are you’ll see the names of #8 Pia Wurtzbach, #13 Kris Tiffany Janson, #25 Mary Jean Lastimosa, and #35 Yvethe Marie Santiago.
These four ladies are considered as the heavy favorites for the five crowns up for grabs in the country’s most prestigious beauty contest. So how do these girls feel about the pressure that comes with being the frontrunners in the competition?
During a recent visit by all 40 candidates at the PLDT Home offices in Makati, InterAksyon got a chance to interview Pia, Kris, MJ and Yvethe and found out what makes them tick.
Pia Wurtzbach.
For Pia, the inclusion of her name in most online predictions is a positive push.
“It’s a push to work harder to make sure you don’t disappoint your fans, your family, your supporters. I think the pressure that comes with is a good kind of pressure, the kind of pressure that makes you want to do well,” said the 24-year-old native of Cagayan de Oro City and former Star Magic talent who was known as Pia Romero.
Best in National Costume winner Kris agrees.
Kris Tifanny Janson.
“It is actually an honor to see my name in forecasts of people. It made me realize that they see something in me that I might not have seen yet.
“But I’m not letting it get in my head and make sure I perform my best and show that I could do whatever it would take for me to win,” noted Kris, the 24-year-old lone representative of Cebu.
Whether their perceived popularity translates to actually winning a crown remains to be seen.
Mary Jean 'MJ' Lastimosa.
Meanwhile, three-time contestant MJ from North Cotabato says the support from fans provides a big boost of confidence to each one of them.
“In pageants, you need a lot of courage. Knowing that a lot of people are believing in me gives me more confidence because I know I am not there alone. Having a lot of people praying for you and supporting you is not a bad thing at all. I don’t see it as pressure in any way.”
But while returning candidates Pia and MJ have been through this before, 20-year-old Yvethe admits that she had her share of jitters since she is joining the pageant for the first time.
Yvethe Marie Santiago.
“At first, I was really scared. Even though I joined a lot of pageants in our province, I know Bb. Pilipinas is a different level. Being the promdi girl that I was, inisip ko naku, baka maraming babaeng masamang ugali, ganyan,” she confessed.
Yvethe’s fears proved to be unfounded as this year’s batch turned out to be the friendliest in her experience. (Pia, Kris and MJ feel the same way).
“When I came here, it turned out to be the exact opposite of what I thought it was. Everyone is having fun and helping each other. When we forget our make-up, we can borrow from everyone. It’s really very easy to get along with these girls,” Yvethe added.
Fellow first-timer Kris echoes this sentiment.
“It wasn’t a problem for me to get along with those who joined before. In fact, MJ is one of those closest to me. All the girls are so relaxed and so carefree, it’s easy for us to get along with each other. There hasn’t been a problem because we’re not drawing lines or setting limits on each other. In fact, we’re all pushing ourselves to do better and show the judges what we have,” she observed.
Pia said the less competitive environment allowed her to loosen up and have more fun compared to her first time out in Bb. Pilipinas last year.
“The girls in this batch are really carefree, not too stiff. Everybody is so natural and getting along so well. Finally, I’m able to let the real me out. Hindi na masyadong robotic na pageant-conscious, mas natural na unlike last year when I was unsure and overthinking a little bit,” she admitted.
At 26, MJ is joining the pageant for the third and final time but rather than look back at her previous Bb. Pilipinas stints where she placed as high as second runner-up in 2011, MJ is looking at this as a fresh start.
“I’m releasing everything, all the past experiences that I’ve had and I’m treating this pageant as a totally new experience for me to show the new MJ. And I think I’m doing good. You know, I’m just grateful to experience this one more time,” she added.
When asked each of the five crowns they are setting their sights on, all four answered, “Miss Universe-Philippines”, of course. Realizing not all of them can win that particular title, MJ puts things on the proper perspective.
“I think any chance to represent the country in an international pageant is a big deal. A crown is a crown. Whatever crown we get, we’re all going to be very thankful,” she declared.
The Bb. Pilipinas 2014 Grand Coronation happens this Sunday, March 30 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Andrea Arnold. (AFP)
PARIS | Andrea Arnold of Britain, director of “Red Road” and “Wuthering Heights”, will head this year’s Critics’ Week jury at the Cannes Film Festival, organizers said.
Arnold, 52, received the festival’s Jury Prize in 2006 and 2009.
The Critics’ Week section, designed to showcase new talent, will run May 15-23 and its jury will be made up of four international journalists.
They will pick one of seven feature films to succeed last year’s “Salvo” by Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza for the honour.
The prize has provided breakthrough recognition for the likes of Mexico’s Guillermo del Toro and his compatriot Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Gaspar Noe of Argentina and Jeff Nichols of the United States.
After Arnold’s “Wasp” won an Oscar for best short film in 2003 she scooped up the two jury prizes in Cannes for her first two feature-length films, “Red Road” (2006) and “Fish Tank” (2009).
Her “Wuthering Heights” was screened at the Venice Film Festival in 2011.
Australian director Jane Campion (“The Piano”) will head the jury of Cannes’ main competition.
Ladylyn Riva answering a question from the media during the Bb Pilipinas candidates visit to the offices of PLDT Home DSL in Makati. (Teddy Pelaez/Interaksyon)
Aside from their respective profiles posted online, the recent ABS-CBN TV special “Bb. Pilipinas 2014: The Road To The Crown” also allowed the public to get to know the candidates up close and personal.
Several candidates talked about how much they missed their fathers in particular. Candidate #30 Joy Marie Gangan recalled how her father encouraged her to come to Manila to try her luck in beauty pageants but he died shortly after she heeded his advice.
Candidate #3 Joanna Angelica Romero wants to surprise his father with a win at the pageant when he finally comes home this month after working in Aruba for many years. Ditto with #38 Janine Asanion who takes care of her mom in the absence of her dad and #24 Ednornance Agustin whose parents are both working overseas.
After working overseas herself in a five-star hotel in Macau, #17 Diana Arevalo said she realized the sacrifices that her dad had made when he left their family to work abroad.
But #39 Ladylyn Riva is missing her father for a different reason altogether, she never knew him.
“I was six months old when my mom moved to Italy with my dad. Iniwan nila ako sa lola ako. After 12 years my mom went back here to the Philippines, then she passed away after four years,” the 26-year old Aklan native recalled at the TV special.
“After my mom passed away, that’s when I called my Italian dad. When I talked to him, he said, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, Ladylyn but I am not your father’ and that’s the time I cried.”
In an interview with InterAksyon during a recent courtesy call by the Bb. Pilipinas candidates at the office of sponsor PLDT Home DSL, the returning contestant said it was painful to know that she grew up thinking she was half-Italian when she is, in fact, half-German. But other than her real dad’s nationality, there’s nothing else she knows about him.
The Binibining Pilipinas 2014 candidates pose with PLDT Fibr group head Gary Dujali at the entrance of the PLDT Building in Makati. (Teddy Pelaez/Interaksyon)
“The Italian that I grew up recognizing as my dad said he doesn’t know anything about my biological father. Neither my mom nor my lola who both passed away also told me about him,” she lamented.
Knowing that the TV special will also be shown in the network’s overseas affiliates, Ladylyn took the opportunity to address her biological father in the hopes that if he were still alive, he would come forward and be reunited with her.
“If you’re watching right now, dad, I really don’t know who you are. If ever, you might know Loida Rivera. She’s my mom, I hope you’ll give me a chance to know you,” she said in a riveting plea.
Although her official Bb. Pilipinas profile states that if she is determined to win a crown in honor of the grandmother who raised her, she said her quest for her father, which began 10 years ago when she was 16, is an equally motivating factor.
“I haven’t given up on finding him. At the very least, I want to know what happened to him. Wherever he is, hopefully he will hear about me if I win one of the crowns and compete in the international pageants,” she noted.
Despite possessing one of the prettiest faces in this year’s field, a good track record in beauty pageants that include winning Miss Casino Filipino 2013, a 1st runner-up finish in Miss Resorts World 2011 and making the Top 12 semi-finalists of the Century Tuna Superbods, Ladylyn is considered one of the dark horses in the competition.
But as only one of two candidates from the Visayas (with Cebuana #13 Kris Tiffany Janson being the other), Ladylyn enjoys strong support from the region. She topped a readers poll conducted by Kattera Beauty pageant blog. She also landed in the Top 10 of Jag Jeans’ “She’s So Jag”.
Ladylyn Riva.
She got good reviews for her performances in the Jag Fashion Show and National Costume Competition. The catwalk sashay she dubbed as her “Dynamite Walk” was also favorably received.
Still, she remains an underdog in a particularly strong batch of beauties this year. Actress and former beauty queen Alma Concepcion said that’s not a reason to lose hope as she herself was a dark horse when she joined Bb. Pilipinas in 1994.
“Wala kayang pumapansin sa akin nun. Ang gaganda ng mg ka-batch ko, sina Charlene Gonzalez, Cara Subijano, Abigail Arenas and Janine Barredo, among others,” she recalled to InterAksyon.
“They also said I was not qualified to win Bb. Pilipinas-Universe and Bb. Pilipinas-World since I was still a teenager and were not qualified for those titles because of my age. When I did not win any special award, I was already disheartened but to everyone’s surprise including my own, I won Bb. Pilipinas-International that year.”
Last year’s Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Ariella Arida and Bb. Pilipinas Tourism Cindy Miranda were also considered as surprise winners who threw a monkey wrench into most fearless forecasts.
At 26, this is also the last time Ladylyn can join Bb. Pilipinas so it’s now or never for her. Win or lose, she still hopes to be reunited with her dad someday.
The registered nurse and freelance make-up artist is also not ruling out a career in showbiz as not a few have noted her resemblance to actress-turned politician Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez.
“I think the most important lesson I’ve learned is to never give up. No matter how many times you get knocked down you have to get back up because life will always be full of struggles,” she conceded.
The Bb. Pilipinas 2014 grand coronation night will take place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, March 30.
