Sparkle stars Zephanie, Marco Masa, Ashley Sarmiento, Dylan Menor, John Clifford, and Olive May will team up for GMA Public Affairs’ latest youth-oriented drama series MAKA .

On Tuesday (August 6), the Sparkle stars excitedly arrived at the MAKA story conference , where they got to know the characters they will be playing better.

Seasoned actor Romnick Sarmenta will also be joining them in the upcoming teen drama.

MAKA is the latest youth-oriented drama series of GMA Public Affairs, which will air this September on GMA.

MAKA features the story of six high school students Zeph (Zephanie), Marco (Marco Masa), Ash (Ashley Sarmiento), Dylan (Dylan Menor), JC (John Clifford), and Livvy (Olive May) who -enrolled in the Arts & Performance (A&P) section of the public school Douglas Mac Arthur High School for the Arts.

The story of MAKA begins with the return of an accomplished but infamous artist, Sir V, to his hometown to end his life. But, this changed when he became an Art teacher in a public high school.

MAKA will be directed by Rod Marmol.

Zephanie is grateful for the opportunity to work with her fellow Sparkle stars in a youth-oriented show. The singer-actress is also excited for MAKA .

After being introduced to their characters in the teen drama, Marco said, he related to his role.

“I immediately related to my character. I just remembered instances where it was like his character is what I would do personally. I’m really excited. ”

Ashley Sarmiento is grateful to be a part of MAKA . He is also excited to show his talent in the show such as singing and dancing.

Exciting for Dylan Menor the character he will play in MAKA . In addition, he is also looking forward to the first teen show on GMA.

According to John Clifford, when he read the script of MAKA he prayed to be accepted into its cast.

Olive May is excited to work with her fellow Sparkle artists at MAKA . The actress is also grateful to be included in the new teen drama series of GMA Public Affairs.

***
Alma Moreno REJECTED Mother Lily Monteverde hiring her to be an exclusive contract star of Regal Films in 1978.

Even though he was launched in the production of Crown Seven via ‘Ligaw Na Bulaklak’ in 1976, Mother Lily took an interest in him and wanted to make him famous.

“He just said to me ‘Make a movie with me. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you, you’re like my son.’ A lot of care and then when I get a little nervous, he watches over the set. Mother is mother.

“Because of course I’m still a ‘baby’, you’re going to wear something a little sexy, she’s watching over you as a mother, she’s supporting you,” said Alma who was only 17-years-old when she first wore a “magic nightgown” in the movie ‘Bomba’ Stars’.

Alma became a box-office star in the ’70s and ’80s under Regal Films. Some of the sexy movies he has earned are Nympha, Walang Saranasan, Sugar Daddy, Lagi Na Lamang Ba Akon Babae, Iwasan Kabaret, Waikiki, City After Dark, Bedspacers, Uhaw Sa Kalayaan, Throw Away Child, The Diary of Cristina Gaston, The Rape of Virginia P. and Secrets of Pura.

Alma also appeared in wholesome films such as I Confess, Wanted: Bata-Batuta, Lover’s Delight, Twist, Abandonada, Guwapings: First Adventure, Guwapings Dos, Aswang, Makati Ave: Office Girls and Paano Na Sa Mundo ni Janet?

Alma added that Mother Lily never abandoned her even though her showbiz career was sluggish.

“I want to thank Mother for taking care of me so much, whether my career went down or up, Mother Lily never left me. Mother Lily is the first to help me. You don’t have to ask.”

The Regal Matriach passed away last August 4, 2024.

(RUEL J. MENDOZA)

MARAMI ngang nagulat sa pinost ng award-winning actor na si Mon Confiado sa kanyang Facebook account noong Biyernes, August 9.

Hindi kasi niya nagustuhan ang mapanirang post ng isang content creator para magkaroon ng maraming views.

Nitong Huwebes, August 8, nag-post sa Facebook ang isang “Ileiad” tungkol sa pagkikita raw nila ni Mon sa isang grocery store sa Marikina City.

Ayon sa Facebook post ng nasabing content creator, magpagpa-picture siya sa kilalang aktor ngunit tinanggihan daw siya nito.

Ang hindi lang ‘yun dahil dinuro-duro pa raw siya ng aktor.

Kaya sa FB post ni Mon, sinimulan niya ito ng, “Ayoko na sana patulan itong certain Ileiad na ito pero tama pa ba ang ginagawa ng mga content creator na ito?

“Gumawa ng story using my name & my photo na meet daw n’ya ako sa grocery at magpapa-picture daw s’ya pero dinuro-duro ko daw s’ya sa mukha at nakita n’ya na hindi ko binayaran ang 15 Milky Way Choco Bars na kinuha ko at pinagsisigawan ko daw ang cashier ng grocery.”

Dagdag pa niya, “pinapalabas pa nito na magnanakaw ako nu’ng sinita ko. Joke daw ito at ito ay “Copypasta” at biglang nilagyan ng “disclaimer” ang post nya pero huli na.

“Pero hindi pa din inaalis ang post nya. Joke at my expense? Joke pero nakakasira ng tao? Bakit ka magjo-joke sa’kin? Close ba tayo? Parang sobra na itong mga ito ah at para makakuha lang ng mga likes kahit makasagasa sila ng tao. Tapos sasabihin Joke.”

At dahil sa viral post ng content creator, maraming nag-react lalo na ang mga kaibigang ng two-time Best Supporting Actor ng The EDDYS.

Pagpapatuloy niya, “ang daming nag-message sa akin at tinatanong kung totoo ba ito? Of course, Sabi ko hindi yan totoo. Never happened. At hindi ako ganung tao. At may pagka mayabang pa itong Ileiad na ito… nu’ng sinabi ko idedemanda ko s’ya dahil ayaw pa n’ya tanggalin ang post nya. Threat daw ba ito? Grabe itong taong ito!”

Pinost din ni Mon na palitan ng nila sa messenger, na humihingi ng apology.

Ayon kay Iliead, “My apologies. It’s not my intention to tarnish your image in anyway. Like what they said in the comments, it’s a joke although I do agree with you that not everyone will understand it.”

Sinagot ito ni Mon ng, “Joke?? At may expense?? Bakit mo ako sisirain at idadamay sa joke mo? Bakit hindi mo i-joke ang pamilya mo? Bakit ako? Ano ang nakakatawa sa joke mo? Sinira mo name ko? Now meron ka na disclaimer?

“And look how bastos you are! Nakita mo na ang effect ng ginawa mo at naka-offend ka ng tao! Pero hindi mo pa rin inaalis ang post mo! Do you even realize what kind of person you are and what attitude you have? Then you will say it’s a joke! Kahit makasira ka ng tao.

“Anyway, wait mo na lang legal actions. Madali ka lang i-trace I mean it. And this is not a JOKE!”

Matapang naman sinagot ito ni Ileiad ng, “Trace? Is this a threat?”

Kalat na nga ang screen shot ni Mon ang buong sinulat ng content creator at ngayon ay mukhang deleted ang Facebook page dahil hindi na ito available.

(ROHN ROMULO)

WALANG duda na noon ay kabilang sina Alma Moreno at Snooky Serna sa mga naging reyna sa Regal Films; lahat ng pelikula ng dalawang aktres para sa nasabing film outfit ay blockbuster.

At talaga namang sobra ang naging pag-aalaga sa kanila bilang Regal baby ng Regal matriarch na si Mother Lily Monteverde.

Kaya naman isang pagpupugay ang nangyari sa guesting ng dalawang aktres sa recent episode ng “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” para sa kanilang beloved Mother Lily.
Lahad ni Alma, “Malungkot.”

Inalala ni Alma ang panahong pumirma siya ng kontrata sa Regal at ang naging pag-uusap nila ni Mother Lily.

“Sabi lang niya sa akin, ‘Gawa ka ng movie sa akin. Huwag kang mag-alala, aalagaan kita, parang anak ko na,’” kuwento ni Alma.

“Sobrang pag-aalaga tapos kapag medyo ninenerbiyos ako, nagbabantay siya sa set.

Nanay na nanay. Kasi siyempre ‘baby’ pa ako, magsusuot ka ng medyo sexy, binabantayan ka niya bilang nanay, naka-alalay siya.

“Mararamdaman mo sa kanya yung pagmamahal niya sa artista niya.

“Gusto kong pasalamatan si Mother sa sobrang alaga niya sa akin, bumaba man o tumaas yung career ko, never ako pinabayaan ni Mother Lily.

“Ang unang tumutulong sa akin si Mother Lily. Hindi mo na kailangan hingian,” sinabi pa ni Alma.

Ayon naman kay Snooky, “It’s a very sad day.

“I really feel that she is my second mother talaga.

Pumaimbulog ang kasikatan ni Snooky sa pelikulang “Underage” with of course Dina Bonnevie and Maricel Soriano.

“Looking back, thinking back, nakaka-miss yung mga punchline ni Mother, yung sense of humor niya, yung kabaklaan ni Mother, and yung warmth niya.

“Just the same, she’s really one of a kind, she knew what would work,” saad pa ni Snooky.

Dagdag pa ni Snooky, “I want to take this opportunity to say sorry, kasi may mga times din ako na medyo problematic, but Mother was always there to understand, to be by my side.”

***

HINDI lang pala sa singing and dancing nag-e-excel ang bunso ng SB19 na si Justin de Dios dahil magaling din si Justin sa acting at directing.

Sa recent episode ng online podcast na Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel, ibinahagi ni Justin na kasama sa mga pangarap niya na maging isang aktor o visual artist.

Lahad niya, “To be honest, ako, siyempre, although I’m a performer, singer din po, yung pinaka-dream ko rin talaga, other than the group, sa solo career ko po, yung dream ko is more of nasa visual arts or acting.”

In fact napapakinabangan ni Justin ang kaalaman niya sa acting sa pamamagitan ng pagdidirek ng music video ng mga kanta nila, tulad ng latest song ng SB19 na “Moonlight.”

“Because of music, nagagawa ko yung acting, nagagawa ko yung visual arts which helps po,” ani Justin.

Nais rin ni Justin na magka-collab sa ibang artists bilang direktor o aktor.

“If makikipag-collab po ako sa mga artist, parang gusto ko na collaborate as a visual artist , magdirek ng music video nila, gumawa ng concept for them.”

Sa mga hindi nakakaalam, si Justin ang direktor ng ng music video ng OPM band Cup of Joe na “Misteryoso.” Ito ang unang beses na humawak siya ng music video para sa ibang grupo bilang isang direktor.

Si Justin rin ang ang sumulat ng bago niyang kanta na “Kaibigan” at siya rin ang artista at creative director sa music video nito.

(ROMMEL L. GONZALES)

HINDI napigilan ng batikang aktor na si Cesar Montano na maluha matapos panoorin ang digitally restored and remastered version ng ‘Jose Rizal’, ang pelikulang pinagbidahan niya noong 1998 sa makasaysayang Manila Metropolitan Theatre.

“This movie was released about 26 years ago, hindi ko akalain na mapapaiyak pa rin ako, e. Sobra, sobrang ganda. Magaling ‘yung pagkakagawa, napaka-genius talaga ng pagkaka-direct nitong movie,” saad niya.

“Ako, natutuwa ako because of this newly-restored movie na ‘Jose Rizal.’ Nalulungkot din ako dahil sana nandito si Direk Marilou na na-witness niya ‘tong restoration na ‘to. It’s really a great honor to be part of this movie.”

Bago magsimula ang pagpapalabas sa pelikula, binalikan ni Cesar kung paano nila pinaghandaan ang pagganap bilang Jose Rizal.

“Nung time na ‘yun, 1998, ang nasa isip ko lang ay paggawa ng action films, puro action films po ginagawa ko. At ito pong ating mahal na direktor, eh siya po ang dream ng halos lahat ng aktor sa Pilipinas na makatrabaho dahil napakagaling po talaga nito ni Direk Marilou Diaz-Abaya, biglang in-offer sa ‘kin ang ‘Jose Rizal,’” pagbabalik-tanaw ni Cesar.

“Sabi ko pa, parang ito na lang ‘yung maaalala sa ‘king pelikula ‘pag wala na ako bakit hindi ko tatanggapin itong ‘Jose Rizal.’ At tinanggap ko naman, sabi ko naman, siguro madali itong gawin.

“Eh kasama ko pa po puro mga National Artist. Ginawa ko po, hindi ko naman alam na napaka-perfectionist pala ng nanay nito ni Marc Abaya. Pinag-aral po ako ng Espanyol ng pitong buwan.”

Bukod rito, may mga araw din na pupunta sila sa bahay ng batikang direktor para lang magbasa ng libro at mga sulat noong panahon ni Rizal

***

NAGING sobrang close daw si Paul Salas kay Wendell Ramos sa taping nila ng ‘Shining Inheritance’ kaya turing niya rito ay parang second father niya.

“Nagkaroon ako ng second dad sa taping ng Shining Inheritance kay Kuya Wendell Ramos. Si Kuya Wendell, iba mag-advise. Hindi lang siya sa on-cam advice kundi off-cam din, sa kung paano i-treat ‘yung showbiz life, siyempre sa longevity ni Kuya Wendell Ramos,” sey ni Paul.

Para na rin daw niyang ikalawang pamilya ang buong cast ng kanilang teleserye.

“Nagkaroon din kami ng friendship nina Kyline Alcantara, Kate Valdez and Michael Sager. And, of course, si Tita Coney Reyes na sobrang na-surprise ako dahil at first sobrang nape-pressure ako feeling ko seryosong tao si Tita Coney, but sobrang jolly niya and she always shares the word of God and sobrang nakaka-inspire and sobrang kulit ni Tita Coney. So lalong nagiging masaya ‘yung set namin.”

***

TINAKBO sa ospital si Zac Efron after a pool incident in Ibiza, Spain.

Ayon sa report ng TMZ: “Efron was swimming in the pool in the early morning hours and took a dive. His chest hit the bottom of the pool, and he ingested a large amount of water in his lungs. He reportedly appeared in distress and security helped him out of the pool.”

Pagkatapos ng ilang X-rays, natanggsl na ang water sa lungs ng High School Musical star. Kaya na-released siya agad sa ospital.

Last Sunday, nakunan ang aktor na nagwu-workork sa tabi ng pool. Post pa niya sa Instagram: “Happy and healthy – thanks for the well wishes.”

(RUEL J. MENDOZA)

SA Facebook post ni Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr., noong Martes, ilang araw ng pagpanaw ni Mother Lily Monteverde, mababasa ang kanyang bagong resolusyon.

“Atin pong inihain ang Proposed Senate Resolution No. 1099 na nagbibigay-karangalan kay Lily Yu Chu-Monteverde o mas kilala natin bilang Mother Lily.

“Sya ay tunay na haligi ng entertainment industry na nagbigay-oportunidad sa mga artista, direktor at manunulat na maipakita ang kanilang angking husay at talento— na siyang nagpayabong sa pelikulang Pilipino.

“Kaya naman, nararapat lamang bigyang-pagkilala ang kanyang ‘di matatawarang kontribusyon sa sining at kultura ng ating bansa.”

At pagkaraan ng dalawang araw ay muling nag-post ang butting senador tungkol sa kanyang inihaing resolusyon.

“Sa aking Sponsorship speech sa Senado para sa Senate Resolution No. 1099, ating binigyang-pugay ang haligi ng industriya ng pelikula at telebisyon na si Lily Yu-Chu Monteverde, o mas kilala bilang Mother Lily.

“Sa kabila ng ating lungkot at pagkabigla sa kanyang pagpanaw, inalala natin ang kanyang ‘di matatawarang kontribusyon hindi lang sa karera ng marami sa showbiz, kundi sa sining at kultura ng ating bansa.

“Mother, dalangin namin ang iyong kapayapaan sa piling ng ating Diyos Ama. Habambuhay kang mananatili ka sa aming puso at isipan. Maraming salamat at paalam.

#MotherLily #BongRevilla #BongRevillaJr #UgaliAtGawa

***

PUMUNTA kami sa wake ni Mother Lily sa 38 Valencia Events Place last Tuesday, August 6 at ramdam kakaibang ambience dahil sa makukulay na bulaklak na naka-decorate malapit sa casket ng sikat na film producer.

Sabi nga namin, very Mother Lily pa rin na masayahin, na nakagawa ng more than 1,000 movies ang Regal Films.

Kaya natanong namin si Ms. Roselle Monteverde sa mga plano ng Regal after nang pagpanaw ni Mother Lily?

“So, the plan is really to continue on the legacy of mother that created. So, more movies. Meron din kaming mga series na kini-create for certain OTT (over the top) platforms,” sabi ni Roselle na matagal-tagal na ring namamahala ng Regal Entertainment.

Hindi nga madaling tanggapin na magkasunod na pumanaw ang kanyang mga magulang. Six days after na mamatay si Father Remy Monteverde ay sumunod na nga si Mother Lily, isang araw pagkatapos ng libing.

“Of course, it is very overwhelming. It’s a mixed feeling, since syempre hindi naman masaya talagang to lose both your parents in the span of just a week. But then, every time I think about it, they’re also tired because, as you know, their bodies are not well enough to live.

“I think it’s better talaga for them, and you know they’re together. I’m sure they’re together, kasi parang it’s a matter of, you know, ‘yung burial ng Dad namin. Right after that, we rushed to the hospital, kasi tinawag kami. Parang timing naman.

“Then we got to the hospital, sabi ng doctor; parang they thought my mom’s going to be well, but then suddenly bigla na lang siyang nag-bid na unexpec­tedly.

So, the doctor gave us a choice, so we stayed with her until her passing. So ‘yun na, sinundo siya talaga ng Dad ko,” pagbabahagi pa ni Ms. Roselle.

(ROHN ROMULO)