MANILA, Philippines?It was a refreshing visit, as this boy, 8-year-old Julian Duque, is a refreshing talent. And he didn?t even speak in his first starring role?in Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil?s acclaimed Cinemalaya movie, ?Boses.?
As Onyok, a battered child who turns out to be a violin prodigy, Julian has a speech impediment that is the direct result of abuse.
Well, the boy, accompanied by his dad Ian (himself an accomplished guitarist) and Direk Ellen, dropped by the Inquirer on Monday and played his violin for Inquirer fans after a special screening of ?Boses.?
He didn?t speak much, but his playing was absorbing, to say the least. And, punctuating every number?s end with a shy smile, he was a winner.
When Julian was tired and could play no more, he said so?which was also disarming?and the audience gathered in the newsroom sent him off with cheers.
?He?s our jewel,? Ellen said. ?And he?s really a student of Coke Bolipata?s (master violinist who also had a major role in the movie).?
Direk had some very good news: ?Boses? (graded A by the Cinema Evaluation Board) will have a theatrical run soon.
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And after that much needed respite, we go back to show biz, as we?ve come to know it...
Told you so
Child Star used to get teased about his feminine ways on the set of his old TV show. Now a teenager, CS seems to have fulfilled people?s predictions.
He openly swooned when he met Basketball Player/TV Host recently. Seems CS has followed in the footsteps of another celeb scion, the son of a Lady Politico who?s also happily gay.
Wish fulfilled
Now, that Gabby Concepcion?s dispute with manager Rose Flaminiano is out in the open, it can be told.
Even in the early stages of their business relationship, Flaminiano harbored misgivings because other ?managers? were hovering around Concepcion. Now, her worst fears are coming true.
Concepcion is reportedly planning to ask Annabelle Rama to steer his show biz career.
Mylene out, Teysi in
Since preggy Mylene Dizon can?t join the ?100? contingent in Pusan, her onscreen mom Tessie Tomas will join director Chris Martinez and co-star Eugene Domingo in the Korean film fest next month.
?I?m going by default,? Tomas relayed the news to Rushes. She should feel right at home in Pusan since she?s a cast member of the Pinoy version of the Koreanovela ?Kim Sam Soon.?
Speaking of which, Tomas related that it was her ?Kim? daughter Regine Velasquez who came up with a brilliant scene on the GMA 7 series: ?She told me to keep screaming ?Ang pangit, ang pangit (how awful)!? during Mark Anthony Fernandez?s harana.?
Diva wars
Now that Lady Exec wields a certain measure of power in a TV station, what will happen to frenemy Female Host?
Although civil to each other, LE and FH obviously hate each others? guts because they?ve been linked to the same guy, a Former Boss.
Should FH find her own Rich Politico so she?ll become more powerful than LE? Power can be addicting.
Not-so-fond farewell
What?s this we hear that fellow contestants are jubilant over the ejection of Beautiful Aspirant from a reality show?
It?s because BA liked to sow intrigues among the contestants, said a mole.
Moreover, BA was determined to win at all costs?just like a fellow Beauty Whiz in the contest?s previous edition.
Come to think of it, there?s one in every show.
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Top of the talk shows
For those who missed last weekend?s gabfests on TV. (And why we are moved, if we are moved.)
? Paolo Paraiso, asked if he?s reconciling with ex-girlfriend Mylene Dizon, who is six weeks pregnant with their second child:
?Nanliligaw ako ulit.? (Sweeeet.)
? Dennis Trillo, on what he can offer son Calix, who recently celebrated his first birthday:
?Sa tingin ko... ?yung oras na ilalaan para sa kanya para matutukan yung paglaki niya.? (Tumpak.)
? Paolo Contis, on marrying girlfriend Isabel Oli:
?Walang formal planning. But of course, habang nagkaka-edad ka, you prepare for the future. We?re hoping na kami yung magkasama sa future.?
? Francine Prieto, on why she doesn?t have a boyfriend:
?Walang nagkaka-type sa akin dahil mukha nga akong suplada.? (Boon or bane?)
? Gabby Concepcion, on the root of his conflicts with manager Rose Flaminiano:
?Wala naman nakalagay na kabayaran (sa aming management contract). Pwede siyang makipag-negotiate pero kailangan sabihin din niya sa akin kung ano yung ginagawa niya bago niya tanggapin. So doon kami nagkakaproblema.? (Laking problema ?yan.)
? ?Mommy Rose,? on Gabby?s charges:
?Walang katotohanan ang mga pinagsasabi ni Gabby Concepcion.Handa [akong] humarap sa media para sabihin ang buong katotohanan.? (Kitam?)
(Startalk, The Buzz)
E-mail us: rushes@inquirer.com.ph
