Just a thought: Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. – Benjamin Franklin

MANILA, Philippines — Talents Unlimited: Star Magic, ABS-CBN’s home-based talent development and management agency, has, for the record, the highest number of artists fielded in movies taking part in the 37th Metro Manila Film Festival.

Twelve of the agency’s top artists are cast in the seven filmfest entries currently breaking box office records. Their roles range from lead (Maricar Reyes, Kathryn Bernardo, and Sam Concepcion in “Shake, Rattle & Roll 13,” Angelica Panganiban in “Segunda Mano”) to support (Zanjoe Marudo in “Shake 13,” Megan Young and Xyriel Manabat in “Enteng ng Ina Mo”).

Star Magic, under the helm of veteran TV director Johnny Manahan, simply known as Mr. M., remains one of the most reliable talent suppliers in the entertainment industry.

Endorsers’ Haven: Today’s actors and actresses make their living not so much on talent fees for their work on TV dramas or movies. They make much more in their new expanded role as commercial endorsers.

In a release sent by Star Magic before the end of the year, the agency listed down its top artists who are also among the country’s leading commercial endorsers. An update on these stars’ current and forthcoming activities is also listed.

Piolo Pascual: Still Star Magic’s main man, Piolo Pascual opens 2012 with a positive vibe as he leads the cast of ABS-CBN’s new soap, “Padre de Pamilya.” He co-stars opposite Christopher De Leon, Jericho Rosales and Maricar Reyes starting in February. Piolo has just wound up a successful Asian tour in Malaysia and Singapore, a US tour, and shows for The Filipino Channel in Kuwait, Qatar and Japan.

Piolo’s accounts include Myphone Mobile, Clear Shampoo, Centrum, Canon cameras, Belo, Quickchow, NTT Japan, Century Corned Tuna, Century Bangus, Century Properties, Real Leaf, Bench, GAOC, Jewelmer and Sunlife.

Angelica Panganiban: Always controversial, Angelica Panganiban co-stars in the filmfest entry, “Segunda Mano.”

She will soon be seen in the teleserye, “Alta” with Gretchen Barretto, KC Concepcion, Zanjoe Marudo and Diether Ocampo.

Her clients are Pantene, Ponds, Bench and Zest Air.

Diether Ocampo: Last seen on the teleserye “Guns and Roses,” Diet is at work on “Alta,” billed as a high-society drama series.

Diether is the face of Pizza Hut, Bench, Celio and Oakley’s.

Bea Alonzo: Bea Alonzo recently renewed her contract with ABS-CBN, which is assigning her a reunion teleserye with John Lloyd Cruz in early 2012.

She has a long line of product endorsements, including Clear, Colour Collection Kashieca, Lactacyd, Olay, Pacific Blue shades and watches and 4G anti-oxidants.

Gerald Anderson: The toast of the teleserye grind for his moving portrayal of “Budoy,” Gerald enjoyed huge success in 2011.

His two movies with Sarah Geronimo, “Catch Me… I’m in Love” and “Won’t Last A Day Without You” were big box-office hits.

He comes close to Piolo Pascual in clinching endorsement deals, such as those he does for Globe telecom, BlackBerry phones, Mint, Century Tuna, Clear, Dermablend, Unisilver, Puma, Faces and Curves, GAOC, Bench fragrances, L-Time studio and a new food chain to be announced soon.

Kim Chiu: Kim Chiu is riding high into 2012 with the high ratings of her teleserye “Binondo Girl” and her new on-screen partnership with Xian Lim. The two are set to do a movie in 2012 on top of Kim’s other new film “The Healing,” which co-stars her with Star For All Seasons Vilma Santos.

Kim campaigns for Adidas, Bantex, Beabi, Bench apparel and scents Charms and Crystals, Cherry Mobile, Faces and Curves, Goya chocolates, Monami gel pens, Olay beauty bar soap, Rejoice, Skin White, M place by SMDC and Whisper. She has the longest list of endorsements at Star Magic.

John Lloyd Cruz: One of the newsmakers of 2011, John Lloyd opens 2012 with a provocative movie opposite Angel Locsin, “Unofficially Yours,” and a reunion teleserye with Bea Alonzo.

John Lloyd models for Greenwich, Biogesic, Banana Peel, Tropicana, Bear Brand, PS Bank, Natasha, Sun Cellular, Cherry Mobile, Adidas, Swatch, GAOC, Head and Shoulders, Magic Crackers, Lucky Me Namnam and Lucky Me Pancit Pares.

(nescuar@yahoo.com)