AT FIRST, Albie Casino, rumored dad of Andi Eigenmann’s baby, wouldn’t like to talk at all about her. "Whatever I’d say, then sasagot sila and it’s never gonna end, so better to keep quiet, no comment na lang," he said at the presscon of "Aswang" where Mother Lily Monteverde officially introduced him. "I’m so nervous attending this kasi alam ko matatanong ako diyan. Ayoko sana, but Mother Lily told me I have to be present kasi first movie ko ito."
How does he feel that he was yanked out of "Way Back Home" because of the Andi issue?
"Okay lang. At least, nabigay sa’kin itong ‘Aswang.’ I play a bigger role here. Sister ko si Jillian Ward. We saw how hired killers Marc Abaya, Paulo Avelino and Nina Jose murdered our parents. Nakatakas kami and go to a remote town where Lovi Poe helps hide us. What we don’t know, aswang pala si Lovi. Sinundan kami roon ng killers."
How did he feel during the height of the Andi controversy?
"My family was there to support me, especially my mom," he pointed to his mom who was there at the presscon.
Didn’t he think of quitting showbiz?
"No. There’s no use in quitting. I’m not a quitter. Alam ko naman when I joined showbiz, magkakaroon ng intrigues. I’m a tough person and I consider it a learning experience. My mom was more affected than me. But I’m having fun in showbiz. I’ve learned to love acting."
He turned 18 on May 14 and is a high school senior at La Salle Greenhills. Did he really go steady with Andi?
"Yes, we’re neighbors. We were on for a year and a half. We broke up in March, then June lumabas ‘yung pregnant siya. You count."
Is he willing to undergo DNA paternity test?
"Yes, why not?" And if it’s proven he’s the dad, would he assume responsibility for the baby? "Yes. Basta I wish Andi all the best."
Does he have a new lovelife? "None. After her, wala pa."
His mom, Mrs. Rina Casino, says she also wishes Andi the best. "I see naman she’s happy so we really wish her the best. Basta kami, we’re not confirming or denying anything."
Would she also go for a DNA test? "I don’t wanna say anything about that. We’re really just praying for wisdom kung paanong gagawin namin. In God’s time, we know the truth will come out. We’re also praying na matapos na lahat ng ito dahil wala naman kaming iniisip na masama and we also want everything to be settled."
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After his success as lead actor in the Singapore TV production, "The Kitchen Musical," Christian Bautista launches his first international album with Universal Records. Although his ballads are big hits in some Asian countries, his albums then weren’t really geared for international release. This time, in "Outbound," he collaborates with artists from the US, Korea, Japan, Singapore and Indonesia. The first single, "All That’s Left," is composed by Tat Tong, a songwriter-producer-arranger responsible for more than 20 top 10 hits in Hongkong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and mainland China. Aside from "All That’s Left" (which has a bouncy music video with Alodia Gosiengfiao as Christian’s leading lady), he composed two other potential hits for Christian’s album, "Unphotographable" and "What Can I Do." He also arranged Christian’s cover version of George Michael’s "Faith," his first big solo in "The Kitchen Musical."
Why is the album titled "Outbound"?
"Because it’s an honest attempt to really go out of our own country and conquer new horizons," Christian explains. "It’s not my usual ballad albums as there are many dance tunes. It shows another side of me that was built up in ‘Kitchen Musical.’ First time I’m doing something na talagang kakaiba."
Aside from Tat Tong, Christian collaborates with other international artists in the album. He does "Never Far Away" with American instrumentalist Jim Brickman, duets with Avex Japan’s lovely Baby M in "Sakura" (she was at the launch to personally support Christian), does "Wrong Number" with K-Pop R&B Trio One Way, and sings Indonesian composer Satrio’s "I’m Already King" which he sang in his movie "A Special Symphony."
How about his lovelife? "I have no girlfriend but I do go out on dates," he said. "I’d rather keep them private na lang para hindi magulo."
His "Kitchen Musical" can still be seen at AXN on Mondays at 9 p.m. and Studio 23 every Saturday. He plays Chef Daniel, a sous chef in love with co-worker Chef Maddie, played by Karylle.
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Robin Padilla turned emotional at the presscon of his new ABS-CBN sitcom with Vhong Navarro, "Toda Max," when we asked him why he withdrew his "Mr. Wong" entry from the filmfest. "Gusto kong linawin na hindi ako umatras," he says. "Ako ang nagbigay sa isang kaibigan. August pa, ready na ako sa project. Ang problema, ‘yung artistang makakapareha ko, laging ‘di puede ang schedule. Nagbigay lang ako kay Gov. ER (Ejercito of Laguna, whose entry ‘Asiong Salonga’ replaced ‘Mr. Wong’). Sabi nila, may movies daw na ‘di pa nag-uumpisa, samantalang sila, tapos na. Foty-five million pesos na nagagastos nila. ‘Di sige, nagbigay na ko. Ako ang nawalan sa pagkakataong ito, pero ewan ko kung bakit may nagbibintang na nilokoko ko raw ang viewers at ako pa ang pinalalabas na masama. Sana, harapin na lang nila ako ng diretso."
He denies he’s also moving to TV5 like his wife Mariel Rodriguez. "Hanggang todo max ang suporta ng ABS sa’kin, todo max rin ako sa kanila. Happy ako dito sa ‘Toda Max’ sitcom na binigay nila sa’kin. Nang lumaya ako mula sa piitan in 1998, binigyan nila ko ng show with the late Redford White, ‘Puedeng-Puede,’ at tinanong nila ako kung sino gusto kong makasama. Si Vhong ang hiningi ko, bata pa siya noon, tuwang-tuwa kami kasi lahat ng iutos namin sa kanya, ginagawa, kahit tumambling siya. Then nakasama ko siya sa movie namin ni Claudine Barretto na ‘Oops, Teka Lang, Diskarte Ko ‘To.’ So nang naghahanap si Direk Joyce Bernal ng bidang gaganap as ‘Mr. Suave,’ sabi ko, si Vhong ang kunin mo, malaking future nun sa comedy. At ‘yan nga, sa kabila ng tagumpay niya, he has remained humble."
In "Toda Max," Robin plays a single dad to Icee Canillo and Aliyah Benisano. Vhong as his cousin is Justin Bibbo who’s deceived by an illegal recruiter and now owns a carinderia. Also in the cast are Pokwang as noveau riche neighbor.
"Toda Max" is helmed by Malu Sevilla, to be shown Saturdays after "Maalaala Mo Kaya" starting November 5.
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Joem Bascon won a couple of acting awards for his role as Iza Calzado’s ill=fated husband in "Batanes" and as Coco Martin’s crippled brother in "Noy." He now plays a totally different role in "Aswang." "I play the fierce leader of the clan of aswangs," he says. "Very ruthless ako, kumakain talaga ng tao. Si Lovi Poe ang pasaway na aswang sa’min. Hangga’t maari, she avoids killing people. Tapos, na-in love pa siya with a mortal, si Paulo Avelino."
It’s his first time to work with their director, Jerrold Tarog, and he is impressed by the young filmmaker. "He might be young but he definitely knows what he’s doing. Marami siyang alam na techniques kung paano tatakutin ang audience."
He’s been around for sometime but how come ABS-CBN hasn’t given him any lead role even in soaps. "Okay lang. I’m not aiming naman to be a real big star or a matinee idol. I just want to be recognized as a good actor, that’s why I don’t mind playing character roles. I support Alessandra de Rossi in the Cinema One indie film, ‘Ka Oryang,’ about the political awakening of a woman during martial law, directed by Sari Lluch Dalena."
Is it true Meryll Soriano broke up with him when she learned he’s two-timing her with a dancer who belongs to the group of her dad Willie Revillame? "It’s true I met a dancer through some friends na kasama pala ng dad ni Meryll but when I met her, matagal na kaming split ni Meryll. So she’s not the reason why we broke up. But when I found out na the girl is with Kuya Willie, I backed off right away. I’m now dating a student who’s a commercial model. Siya ‘yung model ng Silka with Erich Gonzales."
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Atty. Joji Alonso is celebrating the 19th anniversary of her long-running nightly legal show on GMA News TV Channel 11, "Legal Forum," this November with special guest luminaries in the field of law. From November 17 to 11, her guest is Chief Justice Robert John Torres of Guam, from November 14 to 18, it’s Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Roan Libarios, and from November 21 to 25, it’s Supreme Court administrator and spokesperson Midas Marquez. "Legal Forum" is shown Monday to Friday on Channel 11 at 12:30 a.m. and on Channel 33 at 7:45 p.m. As if she’s not that busy yet with lawyering (her company is in charge of the extension of our expressways to La Union and also to Cagayan Valley), working on a merger for an American company, and doing business with one of the richest Japanese companies in the world, she wears another hat as producer of Quantum Films. She’s now busy campaigning for their award-winning film, "Ang Babae sa Septic Tank," to be the first Filipino film to be nominated in the Golden Globe and the Oscar Awards. The Hollywood screening is on November 14. She and the film’s lead star, Eugene Domingo, will be there. The screening for Oscar members is scheduled in January. She already hired a Hollywood PR firm to help promote the movie and the initial fee alone is already $12,500, which comes out from her own pocket.
