DINDONG DANTES is not bothered at all by rumors that Marian Rivera and Rhian Ramos snubbed each other because of him. ?I do not see a rift,? Dong says. ?There is no reason for me to believe there is one.?
Rhian teams up with Dong in GMA 7?s Pinoy adaptation of the hit Koreanovela ?Stairway to Heaven? which premieres tonight after ?Darna? on the Telebabad block. It centers on childhood best friends Cholo and Jodi who eventually become lovers. Their complex love story will pierce your heart.
Just like the character he portrays, Dong has so much passion for love. What was the most passionate thing he has done for love? ?It is yet to come,? Dong replies.
What are his sentiments about the Aquinos? desire to tap him to endorse Noynoy?s candidacy? ?I am honored that the opportunity has presented itself for me to do my part to reciprocate the service the Aquinos have contributed to our country.?
Doesn?t he have any political inclination? ?I?ll run ? just for health benefits [laughs].?
The new love team of Dong and Rhian is bound to arouse curiosity. Enough to make their show?s rating rise like it?s climbing the stairway to heaven.
Comeback movie
I can hardly wait to watch ?In My Life,? which opens on September 16. Since the Vilma Santos-Luis Manzano-John Lloyd Cruz starrer is about a mother?s acceptance of her gay son, I will be able to relate to it in many ways because I went through that phase myself when my son IC came out of the closet.
The Star Cinema masterpiece marks Ate Vi?s return to the big screen after seven long years. She portrays Shirley, a woman at the crossroads of her life who accepts her son?s invitation to visit him in New York. What comes next is a journey that will change her life forever.
Every time Ate Vi and I bump into each other, she teases me by calling me ?Miss Controversial.? I fondly remember always tagging along with my mom to Ate Vi?s Magallanes home. There was a time they were teasing me to Ate Vi?s younger brother just for kicks. Her refreshing smile and warmth are part of my show biz childhood memories. Stars like Ate Vi make growing up in the biz worthwhile.
Flavor of the month
Dennis Trillo and Maxine Eigenmann were spotted being quite sweet in Boracay and in the plane en route to Manila. Considering the track record of Dennis with women, is Max his ?flavor of the month? or has he mellowed after the tragic accident of his friend while they were in Bora? Perhaps Max was just trying to cheer him up. A shoulder to cry on and/or a heart to tickle?
Guess list
?A producer scrimped on the expenses of a bunch of singers? concert tour abroad. ?Tinipid niya nang sobra para kumita siya lalo [He scrimped so much so that he can earn more],? says a promoter. ?Nagpa-book siya sa pinakamurang airlines [He booked with the cheapest airlines]. Hindi tuloy relaxed ang mga artists kaya nung showtime, fatigue took its toll on them and they ended up making tarayan onstage [This was why the artists were not relaxed that?s why during showtime, fatigue took its tool on them and they ended up bitching each other on stage]. Ayaw na ng dalawang singers sumali sa repeat [Two singers mo longer want to be part of the repeat]. Sayang, kasi napuno nila ang venue [It?s a pity because they were able to fill up the venue].? Big savings for the producer while the performers feel spent.
?A young actress got dead drunk during the launch of a product she?s endorsing. ?Na-challenge kasi siya sa [She was challenged by the] guests who were questioning her credibility as endorser,? a PR lady reveals. ?They don?t believe she really takes the product so she tried hard to prove to them that she does. But she had one too many so she ended up vomiting.? She badly needs a crash course on how to consume alcohol without letting alcohol consume her.
PERSONAL: D.H. thanks for bringing sunshine in time for my birthday.
E-mail wateringholeshangrila@yahoo.com
