Angel Locsin is Maxim Philippines May 2008 Cover Girl.

Ever since Angel Locsin signed for ABS-CBN last year, chances of her gracing the cover of Maxim has been very high, now the hot young star of Lobo is this month’s cover girl.

abs-cbnNEWS.com

The host of the U.S. game show "Deal or No Deal" Howie Mandel arrived in Manila on Tuesday to tape a special episode of the show in the country.

Mandel will host an episode with Kris Aquino as his co-host, as part of the show’s ongoing world tour.

He was welcomed by ABS-CBN officials led by Business Unit Head Alou Almaden at the NAIA. Howie will be touring Manila to showcase the city’s top spots in the two-hour episode that will be shown in America on May 7th.

U.S. contestants will play the game of odds following the Phillipine format, but they will win U.S. prizes.

Sixteen-year-old Jieriel Papa of Davao became the first Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus housemate to be evicted after voting ended Saturday night.

Jieriel's fellow nominees for eviction, Linda, Josef, Valerie and Priscilla were saved.

Jieriel received the lowest number of votes (4.59%) while Josef got the highest (47.49%). Automatic nominees Priscilla and Valerie got 19.98% and 18.66% respectively while Linda got 9.28%.

Known as the "Bubbly Girl from Davao", Jeriel made a tearful farewell to her fellow housemates.

She spent so much time saying good-bye that Kuya had to call her out several times before she finally left the premises.

This leaves 13 PBB teen housemates still inside the PBB house.

abs-cbnNEWS.com

BY BOY VILLASANTA
abs-cbnNEWS.com

An interesting mix of twelve wonderful teenagers makes the current "Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus" a wonderful visual experience.

The teeners were welcomed Sunday night as the new housemates of the Big Brother House, after going through rigorous auditions.

Most of the housemates were true-blue Filipinos; the rest were of mixed heritage.

One thing that a lot of the kids had in common was that they came from seemingly dysfunctional families. Here is a rundown of the colorful personalities comprising "PBB Teen Edition Plus".

Ejay Falcon, 18, comes from a poor area in Mindoro, where fishing and copra-making are the main livelihood. Ejay grew up under the sole guidance of his father, and is determined to make it on his own.

Kevin Garcia, 18, is of Spanish lineage on his father's side, and has Irish blood from his mother. He came to the Philippines with his mother after his parents separated.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Nicole from Cebu seems to be the luckiest girl in the group, having been born with a silver spoon in her mouth. She is the most pampered person in her household, and comes from a tight-knit family.

Half-Swedish, half-Filipino Linda from Iriga City has joined several beauty contests, bikini opens included, but has never made it as titleholder.

Three housemates are from Davao; namely Nan, 17, a natural comedian; cheerful Jieriel, 16, who grew up with her stepdad after her biological father left her when she was just a tyke; and the incredible Priscilla, 17, who despite her hearing deficiency wants to interact with people of all persuasions. She discerns other people’s actions and reactions mostly through lip reading. Priscilla has won beauty titles, including Miss Teen Philippines-Mindanao.

Italian-born Alex, 18, left Milan with his Filipina mom who worked as a domestic helper there for twenty years, to settle permanently in Manila. His parents also ended up parting ways.

18-year-old Rona from Dumaguete, beams with pride even if her father is in prison. "This is for you, Dad. I love you," she said.

Meanwhile, a Fil-German, Valerie, 18, became fatherless four years ago. Her elder brother has been missing for eleven years, so she went to the Philippines to look for him.

Two pluses to the reality search are Robi Domingo of Ateneo and Josef of De La Salle University, who are likely to bring the archrivalry between their alma maters into the PBB House.

These young people weave colorful moments 24/7, as their lives become increasingly entangled within the Big Brother House.

Game show host queen Kris Aquino maybe six weeks pregnant with her second child by husband cage star James Yap but wants to wait for another check up with her doctor before really confirming the report.

“Had my check up w/ Dr. Pastorfide. My yolk sac was visible sa ultra sound but no fetal pole yet because i'm going on my 6th wk pa lang. I go back on Wed to 100% confirm that my pregnancy is viable. We'll also do all my blood works & other tests to make sure I'll have healthy pregnancy,” Aquino told ABS-CBN’s Mario Dumaual through a text message.

The expectant mom said she'd prefer to give other details of her pregnancy and be interviewed after the Holy Week.

In another text message she said her check-up next Wednesday would be “when we can be sure 100% sure”.

Aquino’s message rooted from abs-cbNEWS.com's breaking report that the host-actress had already announced her pregnancy during the taping of her newest game show “Wheel of Fortune.”

In the report, it said that Aquino was told by her gynecologist that there were already heartbeats heard during the Doppler Test.

Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino in real life, is the daughter of former president Corazon Aquino and the late senator Benigno Aquino Jr., both key figures in toppling the Marcos regime.


The expectant mom has a son, Joshua, with her former live-in-partner, actor Philip Salvador. On April 19, 2007, Aquino gave birth to her first child with Yap, by caesarean section.

She has been dubbed as the "Queen of Talk" because of her success in hosting talk shows. Aquino was also crowned the Box Office Queen for her hit movies "Feng Shui", "So…Happy Together" and "Sukob."

Her current television programs in the Kapamilya network are the daily talk show "Boy & Kris" and the game show "Wheel of Fortune."
Source: www.abs-cbnNEWS.com

abs-cbnNEWS.com

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court threw out a petition filed by GMA-7 which sought to stop ABS-CBN from airing reports about the alleged TV ratings manipulation scandal that purpotedly cast "dishonor, discredit and disrepute" to the former.

Judge Alexander Balut in his ruling denied GMA-7's petition for preliminary injunction on three grounds:

1) GMA-7's petition to stop ABS-CBN's supposedly libelous reports comes too late--the reports have already been aired;

2) GMA-7's petition for injunction goes beyond the prayer contained in its complaint; and

3) GMA-7's petition for injunction constitutes prior restraint of freedom of expression and, therefore, unconstitutional.

Judge Balut in his ruling said that since ABS-CBN had already aired its reports, there is nothing for the court to stop. "It is clear that plaintiff’s causes of action are based on acts that were already consummated. Having already been committed, these acts can no longer be enjoined. Simply stated, there is actually nothing to enjoin," wrote the judge.

The judge also ruled that it "appears" as though GMA-7 "seeks to enjoin acts beyond the prayer in the complaint", adding that "[this] cannot be done. It is anathema to an existing jurisprudence on the matter."

Unconstitutional

Finally, the judge said that the court cannot grant the petition for preliminary injunction because doing so would violate the Constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression.

"To issue the writ of preliminary injunction in this case would be to impermissibly interfere defendants' freedom of expression. It would be constitutive of a previous restraint or censorship, which no less than the Constitution abhors," the judge ruled.

Balut also said that GMA-7 failed to lay down enough justifiable grounds to warrant prior restraint of ABS-CBN's reports.

"Applying one of the tests, i.e., The Clear and Present Danger Rule, the Court finds that plaintiff failed to lay down factual bases constituting a clear and present danger that would justify prior restraint. In fact, the bone of contention is purely civil in nature, such that the "substantive evil" which the State has the ultimate right to prevent is wanting."

The judge also wrote in his decision that GMA-7 may still avail of other legal remedies outside of a preliminary injunction (filing libel cases, etc.,) if it feels that it has been wronged by past or future reports aired by ABS-CBN:

"If it believed defendants' acts are contemptuous or obstructive of a free and fair hearing on the case, plaintiff has other remedies provided under the Rules of Court."

However, Judge Balut also warned ABS-CBN not to abuse the right to free expression, either to destroy GMA-7's reputation or influence the outcome of cases being heard in court:

"Needless to state, pending the trial of this case on its merits, free expression must not be used as an instrument to perpetrate unlawful ends to the obstruction of the administration of justice."

In its petition to the court, GMA-7 claimed that ABS-CBN tailored its news reports on the TV ratings manipulation scandal to portray the former as "a fraudster and manipulator of the ratings in Bacolod City by deliberately twisting and distorting the statement of Ms. Reformina, the general manager of AGB Nielsen..."

GMA-7 further complained that ABS-CBN's reports on the scandal were "orchestrated and/or scripted and intentionally perpetrated to defame, impeach and besmirch the reputation of plaintiff GMA 7".

Inhibitions

Judge Balut is the third judge to hear the P15-million libel case filed by GMA-7 against ABS-CBN. The first judge, Judge Samuel Gaerlan, inhibited himself following a motion for his inhibition by ABS-CBN. Gaerlan had earlier admitted that a member of ABS-CBN's legal department is his cousin.

The second judge to hear the case, Judge Henri Jean Paul Inting, also inhibited himself following a motion filed by ABS-CBN.

Inting had earlier granted a petition for a temporary restraining order filed by GMA-7 against ABS-CBN's airing of reports related to the TV ratings controversy.

ABS-CBN then filed a petition for certiorari before the Court of Appeals to stop the implementation of the TRO. ABS-CBN maintained that "the issue of corruption as brought out by the discovery of the TV ratings manipulation is a matter of clear public interest, and therefore needs to be reported on."

The network also deplored the fact that the TRO "grants GMA Network a virtual immunity from accusation. No person or entity has ever enjoyed such a privilege, not even the highest public officers of the land.

In his order for inhibition, Inting said that he is following "the Supreme Court ruling that at the very first sign of lack of faith and trust in his actions, whether well-grounded or not, the judge has no other alternative but to inhibit himself from the case."

"Not the end"

GMA-7 in an official statement said that the libel case against ABS-CBN will continue despite Balut's denial of its petition. The statement noted that Balut based his ruling partly on evidence that Inting had earlier dismissed.

"Current Judge Balut allowed what the previous judge found irrelevant - and that was to allow more testimonies from other ABS-CBN informants. In the hearing before Judge Balut, these ABS-CBN informants admitted they had no proof of employment with GMA, NO ID, no contracts."

Reacting to the court's ruling GMA Network legal counsel Gener Asuncion said that "Freedom of expression does not mean they (ABS-CBN) have the right to destroy another's reputation. An abuse of freedom also destroys it."

In the statement GMA-7 said that it would continue efforts to stop ABS-CBN from airing its reports. "This is not the end of the libel suit. ABS-CBN wanted the end of the TRO and they wanted to block the injuction because ABS-CBN wanted to continue atacking the reputation of GMA Network. We will try not to let them do this."

Angel Locsin is gracing the cover of Cosmopolitan Magazine, the local edition of the largest young women’s magazine in the world, for the third time, but this one’s different from what she did from any magazines before - she posed in a swimsuit!

ABS-CBN’s Lobo star, Angel Locsin has also appeared on the cover of Cosmopolitan Magazine last May 2005 and November 2006.
Here are Angel Locsin’s previous covers for Cosmo:

‘KC’ doesn’t have Jolie’s lips but has her passion By REYMA BUAN-DEVEZA abs-cbnNEWS.com She’s smart, articulate, and doesn’t mind going to dangerous places. Angelina Jolie? No, she’s Kristina Cassandra ‘KC’ Concepcion, the Philippines’ first National Ambassador Against Hunger. "KC is the total package: she is beautiful, she is charming, she is articulate, she is smart, she is down to earth. She did not complain during our fairly difficult traveling around in Mindanao; she relished it,” said United Nations World Food Program (WFP) Country Director Valerie Guarnieri, in an interview with abs-cbnNews.com KC went to Pikit, North Cotobato February 18 where she distributed rice, formulated meals and took part in on-site feeding. “I mean the first thing that she said when we asked her to join our effort as the national ambassador against hunger was : ‘When can I go to Mindanao? I wanna go there as often as possible I really wanna see it for myself. I wanna help.’” Guarneri said. “And it’s that spirit that makes KC the perfect person for this job.” KC is the second ambassador against hunger from Southeast Asia after Indonesian TV and film actor Luna Maya. KC and Drew Hollywood actress Drew Barrymore is a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the World Food Program. Guarnieri said KC and Barrymore also have similar traits. "What I find about them that so similar is that both Drew and KC are so charming. I mean that’s the thing that comes across. I mean lots of people can be beautiful, but charm has something that comes all the way from the inside,” she said. “It’s something that people really respond to because beauty in itself can make you a little bit aloof, but with charm, you bring people to you and they want to listen to you and be with you.” Guarnieri said KC is a fast-learner. “When I first met her and I was talking to KC about hunger and the programs of the World Food Program in the Philippines, she just got it immediately. She really understood that hunger was such a basic issue, that food assistance was something that could not only address hunger but really make a difference in people’s lives,” she said. “And so it was just immediately apparent to me that she would be the voice of our programs of the people of Mindanao here and the Philippines.” She said KC also connected well with the community. "When we were traveling with her in Cotabato it was just amazing to see how children reacted to her, how everybody reacted to her, they were so touched that she visited them that she cared about their issues,” Guarnieri said. "KC just has a tremendous appeal among young people, among adults." Screening, Security Risks In a press conference February 21, KC revealed it wasn’t easy getting picked for the job by the UN. "I went through a screening process for four months, and the [UN offices in] Rome and Thailand ang nag-screen. So, wala kaming kinalaman (we had nothing to do with it),” she said. “Pwedeng hindi ako ang napili (It could have been someone else), but in the end, I'm just very, very happy.” The UNWFP declined to name the other candidates. KC said there’s great risk in being an ambassador, but it’s worth taking. Her family also gave her full support despite the dangers that go with the work. Her stepfather, Senator Francis Pangilinan, who was at the press conference, said he was "very proud and very happy and excited” of KC’s new advocacy. “As a public servant, these are some of the issues that are close to my heart: how to address issues such as poverty, hunger and unemployment,” he said. “So her own participation and involvement is welcome, and I’m very proud her, and we hope to be able to continue provide her the guidance and advice as she goes to this new job.” Although KC’s mother, actress Sharon Cuneta, wasn’t at the press conferences, Pangilinan said her wife was also fully supportive of her daughter’s new mission in life. "Same feeling,” he said. “Of course, may halong takot.” “We felt this is good. In the long run it’s her education… part of her personal growth and development, and I think this experience will also be a continuing education and enlightenment for her and experience for her,” Pangilinan said. To help her stepdaughter’s cause, Pangilinan committed P5 million from his priority development assistance fund for the Food for Education Program in Mindanao. WFP Country Program WFP is funded entirely by voluntary contributions. The major donors to WFP's emergency assistance program for people affected by the conflict in Mindanao are: multilateral funds (US$15.2 million); Japan (US$2.4 million), Spain ($1.47 million) Australia (US$1.4 million) and Germany (US$985,000). WFP returned to the Philippines in 2006 to contribute to a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Mindanao by addressing the food security needs of vulnerable people in conflict affected areas and by supporting the security of beneficiaries and their livelihoods. WFP's Food for Education Program in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and adjacent areas uses food support as an incentive to promote school attendance and reduce dropouts in conflict-affected areas. Over the past year, it has increased enrolment by 40 percent and cut dropouts in assisted schools by providing monthly food support to more than 180,000 children in 800 schools. In addition to its school feeding program, WFP supports nearly one million people in Mindanao, including internally-displaced, pregnant and nursing mothers and others affected by the conflict.

By REYMA BUAN-DEVEZA
abs-cbnNEWS.com

Is 'Asia's Songbird' Regine Velasquez really moving to ABS-CBN now that her contract with GMA-7 has expired?

If we believe earlier reports, she isn't doing any such thing because, according to the reports quoting Velasquez's current flame Ogie Alcasid, she can never bring herself to leave GMA-7 while he still has shows there (a weekend variety show and a gag show).

But wait. Now Velasquez is saying that Alcasid never made such a statement.

“Actually sinabi niya na hindi daw nanggaling sa kanya (Actually, he told me that he never made such a statement),” Velasquez told abs-cbnNews.com during a press conference for her coming lead role in an episode of ABS-CBN’s “Maalaala Mo Kaya", held at 9501 of ELJ’s Building inside the network’s compound Saturday afternoon.

“He did not say that ‘Regine will not leave me.’ He just said that ‘I don’t think I should be talking about it’, that’s what I know,” she explained.

Velasquez made said hat her beau is a very supportive person and will always be there to comfort her and make her happy no matter what her decision may be.

“He will support me. Whatever decision I will make he will support me,” she said.

Velasquez revealed that she received offers from both networks but hasn't made up her mind yet. She added that in making her decision, she will definitely consider Alcasid's feelings.

“Kasi alam niyo siyempre iko-consider ko iyong feelings niya at saka iyong siya na hindi kami magkikita sa work iko-consider ko talaga iyon but still it’s my career, it’s my decision and he knows that.”

(Of course I'll think about how he will feel and the possibility that we won't be seeing each other at work. But still it's my career, it's my decision and he knows that)

Velasquez is starring in MMK for the second time. Her first was with hunk actor Piolo Pascual back in 2002. Her performance earned for her a Star Awards Best Actress recognition.

This time, the singer/ actress will work with award-winning actor Albert Martinez and award-winning director Jeffrey Jeturian in a story about lovers being torn apart by their families.

Watch Velasquez’s rare appearance in country’s longest running and most-awarded drama anthology “Maalaala Mo Kaya” this coming February 22 (Friday), after “Maging Sino Ka Man.”

Velasquez is now preparing for the second season of Celebrity Duets and reports say she will be doing a movie with Alcasid with working title "Love is Deaf... And Blind."
Soure: abs-cbnnews.com

By REYMA BUAN-DEVEZA
abs-cbnNEWS.com

It's been a long time coming.

Showbiz royalty KC Concepcion became emotional and shed tears as she shared the experience of acting for her very first television drama project with ABS-CBN’s “Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK).”

“Naiiyak nga po ako kasi parang hindi ko alam na naging dream come true pala siya na ito ang kinalakihan ko. Hindi ko na experience ang fulfillment na ito that came to reality until now,” KC told members of the entertainment media.

“I'm very, very happy to be here for another reason. So, excited about this experience, about this offering, this project. It took me 22 years to get here to be speaking to you about this TV debut, this acting project, this acting experience,” she added.

KC, Maria Kristina Cassandra Concepcion in real life, is the daughter of Megastar Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion.

Cuneta, who is now married to Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, has previously said that she did not want KC to join local showbiz.

KC said that she really enjoyed her acting debut and felt overwhelmed doing it with her very own Kapamilya network. She credited her mom for exposing her early to the entertainment business.

"Of course my inspiration for this is really my mom because dinadala niya ako sa set nong bata pa ako at doon ako gumagawa ng homework ko at doon kami nagba-bonding together. So hindi ko alam (na) malaki pala talaga iyong influence na iyon sa akin in terms of the craft at napapanood ko siya doing iyong commitment niya doon sa trabaho niya," she said.

The MMK special sees KC play the role of Darlene, a young lady who lives a comfortable life until a tragedy leaves her family without a father. From a rich and sheltered party-girl, Darlene becomes her family’s breadwinner.

Concepcion will be joined by multi-talented actor Ricky Davao, model and actor Derek Ramsay and singer actress Agot Isidro. The show is directed by Jerry Sineneng.

The MMK special will be aired this coming Friday, February 15, as the Valentine offering of Kapamilya network.

My Big Love is an upcoming movie of Star Cinema this Valentine which features the love team of Sam Milby and Toni Gonzaga. This is their third movie from star cinema, with the special participation of Kristine Hermosa.

My Big Love is set to Premiere on February 27, 2008.

One of the Philippines beautiful and talented young actress Maja Salvador has just won a brand new SUV in Wheel of fortune. Maja Salvador bested fellow young actresses Melissa Ricks and Kim Chiu in the Wednesday episode of Wheel of Fortune. The jackpot puzzle that Maja was able to solve was “BLIND DATE”.

This coming valentine in production of GMA Films presents a perfect movie offering that will surely capture the hearts of the people. Starring two of the hottest stars of this generation Richard Guttierez and Marian Rivera with JC de Vera and Ehra Madrigal. It’s the perfect Valentine movie because people will laugh, people will fall in love, people will cry, and in the end, everyone will be happy.

My Bestfriend's Girlfriend Movie Trailer

Evo is a spoiled, arrogant kid who doesn’t know what to do in life, while Grace is a hard working student who finds joy in things despite her circumstances. Evo (Richard Gutierrez) and Grace (Marian Rivera) meet at a stag party and it's hate at first sight. Grace isn’t really a sexy dancer, however. She was just forced to accept that job out of need. Grace needed some money for an emergency that’s why she took the job and danced. When Evo uses Grace to make his girlfriend (Ehra Madrigal) jealous, things start getting complicated.

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation's chief legal officer said the media giant will file a motion for reconsideration, after the Supreme Court dismissed the network's petition requesting a dismissal of an investigation conducted by the Department of Justice on the "Wowowee" stampede that killed 71 people.

The deadly stampede on February 4, 2006 happened as a crowd of 'Wowowee' fans (estimates run as high as 30,000 people) tried to get into the show's first year anniversary bash inside the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

ABS-CBN earlier questioned the DOJ probe before the Supreme Court, claiming that the speedy investigation as well as certain statements by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez proved that the agency is biased against the network.

The 22-page decision penned by Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales said that the high court found nothing defective in the DOJ's complaint and resolution despite having no signed affidavit from the victims. The Supreme Court said that the facts of the case as stated on record are sufficient.

The high court also said that remarks made by Gonzalez to the media do not indicate that he has already pre-judged the case. It added that any fear on the part of the network regarding possible bias is just "speculation."

The Supreme Court also disagreed with ABS-CBN's contention that the DOJ violated lawful procedure by conducting both the criminal as well as preliminary investigation on the Wowowee stampede.

The high court said that records show that it was the National Bureau of Investigation, not the DOJ, that conducted the criminal investigation.

Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez said that the high court's decision paves the way for the continuation of legal proceedings, although the network still has 15 days to file a motion for reconsideration.

ABS-CBN's official statement on the Supreme Court ruling is as follows:

"ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation will file a motion for reconsideration with the Supreme Court.

"We want to emphasize that this is not a ruling on the merits of the case. There is no finding of any liability on the part of any officers or staff of ABS-CBN.

"We maintain our position that ABS-CBN was not remiss in taking the necessary precautions in undertaking the event. While we believe that there was no negligence on the part of the network’s officials, ABS-CBN has taken the lead in helping the victims’ families through the 71 Dreams Foundation."

abs-cbnNEWS.com is the online news department of ABS-CBN Interactive Inc., an ABS-CBN subsidiary.
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=107308

It is probably a good thing that comedy queen Ai Ai delas Alas isn't the lightning-powered, thunderbolt-wielding Filipino superheroine Volta in real life: otherwise a convenience store in Manila would have been reduced to a smoking wreck by now.

Then again, delas Alas, who plays Volta in the movies and on TV, doesn't need superpowers to protect her son.
Delas Alas was angered after her 16-year-old son told her that he was manhandled, verbally abused and detained by a staffmember of a convenience store after he was accused of shoplifting two tubes of candy.

"Hindi ko alam yung magagawa ko. Gusto kong magwala, gusto kong pumunta doon, gusto ko silang murahin lahat, gusto kong pasabugin yung tindahan nila," the comic actress told ABS-CBN's "The Buzz" on Sunday, as she described the state she was in when she learned about what happened to her son.

(I didn't know what to do. I wanted to go crazy, I wanted to go there, I wanted to curse them to their faces. I wanted to blow up their store.)

She said that instead of giving in to such destructive urges, she decided to take legal action against the store's owner and staff.
"Natuto na ako. Noong araw ganito ako magalit. Nagwawala ako. Ang nangyayari yung mga kaaway ko, ako rin ang dinedemanda," she said, prompting some unintentional laughter from the studio audience. (I learned my lesson. In the old days I would get angry like that. I go ballistic. What would happen is my enemies end up suing me.)

"The Buzz" also reported that delas Alas's lawyer would be filing charges of child abuse against the storeowner and the staff involved.

Delas Alas said one of the store's male staffers allegedly took the boy inside the stockroom and accused him of theft. The man then took off his shirt and started punching the boxes of supplies, apparently to scare the boy into a confession.
The supposed attacker allegedly hit delas Alas' son twice, and only calmed down when the boy said that he wasn't a thief, showed that he had money to pay for the candy, and identified himself as the son of the actress.

"The Buzz" was able to get the side of a store official, identified as personnel manager Eric Diez, who denied that the comedian's son was abused in any way.

Diez explained that it was unlikely that the staffer involved, identified only as "Melvin", would attack the comedian's son.

"Actually mali rin yung nasa diyaryo na ikinulong at binugbog, hindi naman siguro sasaktan. Ang laking tao ni Melvin para saktan yung bata," said Diez in a taped interview with "The Buzz".

(Actually, the newspaper reports are wrong about the detention and physical abuse. I don't think the boy was hurt. Melvin is such a big guy, he wouldn't dare hurt the child.)
Diez also denied that the storeowner and staff are hiding Melvin. Diez explained that Melvin had filed his resignation letter on December 1, so by December 16 he was no longer with the store.

The incident involving Melvin and delas Alas' son happened on December 11.

The store's owner, a certain Sammy Lopez, was interviewed by "The Buzz" but he requested that the interview no longer be aired.
Instead, he gave a message to the comedy actress, advising her to find out the truth about the incident and maybe, in the end, she would be the one to apologize to him.

Such an unsympathetic remark did not sit well with the actress, who countered: "Hindi niyo alam kung anong pakiramdam ng isang ina na ginanon ang anak. Alam ko po ang totoo. Kilala ko ang anak ko. At sana'y ikaw kung sino ka man na may-ari, ikaw sana alamin mo yung totoo. Yung tamang totoo. At baka ikaw ang mag-sorry sa akin."

(You have no idea how a mother feels when her son is abused. I know the truth. I know my son. And I hope that you, whoever you are, you find the truth out. The real truth. And maybe you'll apologize to me.)

Delas Alas insisted that her son is incapable of lying about the matter and that her son did not steal anything.

"Kilala ko mga anak ko. Labing-anim na taon kong inalagaan yung anak ko. Pinalaki ko sila sa pagmamahal. Pinalaki ko silang may takot sa Diyos. Pinalaki ko silang hindi sinungaling. At higit sa lahat pinalaki ko silang hindi magnanakaw," she said tearfully, her face twisted in anger and hurt.
(I know my children. Sixteen years I raised my son. I raised them in love. I raised them with the fear of God. I raised them not to be liars. And most of all I raised them not to be thieves.)

The comedian said that what she cannot accept is they way her son was treated by the store staff.

"Menor de edad ang anak ko. Bata pa yon na walang kalaban-laban. Ano'ng karapatan ninyong saktan ang anak ko? Yan ba ang SOP sa tindahan niyo? Na kung meron man ilalagay niyo sa stock room? Ano'ng gagawin niyo sa stock room? Tatakutin kagaya ng ginawa niyo sa anak ko? Gugulpihin kung gusto niyo? Dahil wala namang nakakakita sa kanila doon di ba?," she told the camera.

(My son is a minor. He's young and defenseless. What right do you have to hurt my son? Is that standard procedure in your store? That if there is a suspect you take him to the stock room? What would you do there? Terrorize him like what you did to my son? Beat him up if you want? Because there would be no witnesses, right?)

The comedian even had a message for his son's alleged assailant: "Sana wala kang anak para hindi mo maramdaman kung anong nararamdaman ko. Hindi biro pag sinaktan ang anak. Hindi niyo alam ang pakiramdam."
(I hope you don't have children so you wouldn't feel what I feel. It's no joke when your child is attacked. You have no idea how bad it feels.)

Delas Alas also quoted his son as telling the store staff: "Hindi ko po sisirain ang pangalan ng nanay ko dahil lang po sa kendi." (I would never ruin my mother's good name just because of some candy.)
Source:abscbnNews.com

Davao comedian Ruben Gonzaga is the Big Winner for Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition Season 2, winning the grand prize of P2,000,000. He garnered 506,402 votes or 32.17% of the total tally from fans who texted in their votes Saturday night.

Gonzaga also received a Sony Bravia, a two million pesos worth Goodah business franchise package and a condominium unit at Chateau Valenzuela.

Second Big Placer and Ms. Earth contender Riza Santos received P1,000,000. She garnered 430,135 votes or 27.33% of the total tally.

Filipina racer Gaby dela Merced and model Will Devaughn won Third and Fourth Place.

Dela Merced received 406,892; or 25.85% of the total number of votes, while Devaughn received 230,509 votes or 14.65% of the total.

Dela Merced won P600,000 while Devaughn received P400,000.

There was some extra good news for Devaughn, who was informed that he has been chosen as the new official endorser for JAG jeans.
abs-cbnNEWS.com

By REYMA BUAN-DEVEZA
abs-cbnNEWS.com

A deal for a movie starring former Philippine president Joseph Estrada and comedy queen Ai Ai delas Alas has been finalized.

According to a report from radio dzMM’s Laila Chikadora, negotiations between Estrada, delas Alas and ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema were successfully concluded.

There is still no working title for the forthcoming movie but the report said it would most likely be a family-oriented comedy.

Delas Alas has said that she is elated over the prospect of starring opposite Estrada, who is one of the most respected, legendary figures in Philippine cinema even before he entered politics.

The comedy star has been doing well in her career, and will soon be seen on the small screen in the superhero series “Volta” to be aired over ABS-CBN.

She plays the title role of Volta, a female superhero with the power to generate bolts of electricity.

Estrada has not acted in a film for three decades. His last film as an actor was “Sa Kuko ng Agila” (In the Claws of the Eagle) way back in 1989.

Estrada in an earlier interview with radio dzMM said that he prefers doing a comedy film for his comeback, since at his age—he’s 70 years old---any romantic scenes are out of the question.

However, the report quoted delas Alas as saying that a kissing scene between her and the former president would be a good idea.

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ABS-CBN's Star Patrol received a text message from a showbiz insider that actress Jennylyn Mercado is pregnant with the child of actor Patrick Garcia. This piece of news was soon confirmed by Mercado's own manager, Becky Aguila.

According to Garcia, he and Mercado had already gone to the Makati City Hall to consult a judge about the possibilty of a civil wedding.

“Jennylyn is 6 weeks pregnant. I want to set things right sana at panagutan siya,” said Garcia, who added that he wanted to do the right thing for his girlfriend.

After talking to the judge for over an hour, the couple decided to hold off the wedding and reconsider when the best time for the wedding would be.

“The judge said it is easy to get married, but for the right reasons daw sana. Sabi niya we still have time,” said the actor.

Garcia also said that he is taking into consideration the fact that his sister Cheska, also an actress, is scheduled to tie the knot this year. The actor is well aware of the belief in "sukob" or wedding curse.

According to Filipino belief, no marriage should happen within the family if an immediate family member has either died or gotten married within the same year. If this is not followed, disaster and tragedy will happen.

Mercado meanwhile said that she is already feeling the effects of her pregnancy. “Masakit na ang tiyan ko, nahihilo ako. Morning sickness,” she said.

The couple said that they never considered hiding the truth from the public, adding that what matters most to them is that they love each other.
Sorce:abs-cbnnews.com

Model Jon Avila (known as the "English Outcast") got the boot for serious violations of Pinoy Big Brother House rules, leaving the remaining celebrity housemates to fill out the Big Four slots.

With Avila's forced eviction from the PBB House, model Will Devaughn, beauty queen Riza Santos, Davao comic Ruben Gonzaga and Filipina racer Gaby dela Merced are left in the final Big Four lineup.

The PBB Celebrity Edition Season Two Big Winner will be chosen from among them.

The 4th Big Placer will get P400,000; the 3rd Big Placer P600,000; and the 2nd Big Placer P1.000,000. The Big Winner will receive a Sony Bravia, a Goodah business franchise package, a condominium unit at Chateau Valenzuela and two million pesos.

Avila was meted a forced eviction for his virtual sabotage of the nomination and eviction process, wherein he maneuvered the rest of the housemates in order to create a five-way tie in the nomination for eviction.

Avila and the other housemates had earlier refused to nominate each other, explaining that they had become so emotionally bonded, they couldn't bear to have one of them evicted.

After the unprecedented derailment of the eviction process, PBB consulted with Endemol, the worldwide owner of the Big Brother reality show franchise as to what steps to take.

PBB later explained that all PBB housemates are required to participate in the nomination/eviction process as stated in their contract with Pinoy Big Brother. Any attempt to evade participation, or worse, sabotage the proceedings, would be a serious violation of the rules of the Big Brother franchise.

Big Brother consultant Anuska Ban also stressed that the process of nomination is sacred and no one is allowed to discuss it outside the confession room—which Avila violated by manipulating the housemates into voting for a five-way tie result.

Kuya later explained to the housemates that no matter how close they now feel toward each other, they are still in a competition and must go through the elimination process.
Source:abs-cbnnews.com