MANILA, Philippines--Michael V has a bottomless reservoir of creative ideas. His newest brainchild is the first-ever reality sitcom, ?Pepito Manaloto? which will premiere on March 20 after ?Pinoy Records? on GMA 7?s ?Sabado Star Power.?

It tells the almost true-to-life story of Pepito (Michael V), a poor man who dreams of providing a good life for his wife Elsa (Manilyn Reynes) and only son Jonjon (Joshua Pineda). His life changes dramatically when he becomes the lone winner of P700 million in the national lottery.

Pinoys would certainly desire Pepito?s rags-to-riches story. Michael V himself had humble beginnings.

What does he miss about his life before he became rich and famous? ?I miss the anonymity,? he says. ?But I can find that by going somewhere else. Rich and famous is a tall order. I?d like to think of myself as comfortable.?

How does he keep himself from being trapped in the trappings of success? ?We in the family keep each other grounded,? he quips. ?We are our own worst critics. I keep in mind what my good friend Ogie Alcasid told me that hindi mo ?yan madadala sa langit. Our kids are the only treasure we can take up there.?

What have fame and fortune taught him? ?That I can use money to make not just my life better but other?s lives as well.? Michael V has truly found the joys that money can and cannot buy!

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I was rooting for Makata-Tawanan in the grand finals of TV5?s top-rater, ?Talentadong Pinoy.? Too bad he was beaten by Yoyo Trigger.

Although the teen yo-yo expert?s performance was also quite impressive, there?s something about Makata?s simple charms that makes him so endearing. In this high-tech age of computers, it?s so rare to find someone like Makata who takes time to weave the beauty of the written word into a poem.

The good-natured Bulakeño ought to be given a well-deserved break. I heard TV5 is looking into the possibility of including Makata in one of their shows. I will be cheering him on.

I asked Makata on the spot to compose a poem about his sentiments on the results of ?Talentadong Pinoy.? Here goes:

Ferdinand Clemente, ang makatang kengkoy, Obrang makabayan sa puso dumaloy.

Residenteng galing, bayan ng Hagonoy, Dugong Bulakeño, Talentadong Pinoy.

Opisyal na dyaryo itong binabasa, Lahat po ng laman, talagang maganda.

Lagi ang Inquirer ang gusto ng masa, Yaring aking tula dito?y isinama.

Aking naging laban doon sa Cuneta, nasaksi ng lahat gwapo kong itsura.

Nagbibiro lang po, wag kayong kokontra, Eh kung nanalo lang, mas masaya sana.

Channel 5 ang daan ng aking tagumpay at kahit na ako?y nalulumbay, Radyo, telebisyon, libro?t dyaryong tunay, baon kong talento?y pwede pang matunghay.

Aking binabati kapwa Hall of Famer, Joshua Rafael Davis alyas Yoyo Trigger.

Ako?y si Makata na friend mo forever.

Laki ng premyo mo, pwede bang maki-share?

As always, Makata-Tawanan never fails to deliver. He may not have had the last laugh in the ?TP? finals but with his unusual talent, he will surely go laughing all the way to the bank in no time at all.

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Having grown up in the biz, I hardly get starstruck. But I turned into a swooning fan when I met my ultimate crush, Bongbong Marcos, at the ANC studio.

He gamely posed for a pic with me, and that photo is now my cell phone?s wallpaper and is displayed in my Facebook account. I chided Bongbong that I want to have his campaign shirt but his aide didn?t bring an extra one.

He hollered to his aide in jest: ?Take your shirt off and give it to her.?

I also told him that I wanted to add him in Facebook but his account is already full. He shot back, ?Then it?s time for me to make a new one.?

He?s really too charming for words. I am thrilled beyond words that Bongbong sent me many of his shirts and other paraphernalia through the Viva studio during the taping of my daily show ?Stop, Talk & Listen? with Mr. Fu and Maui Taylor.

I am now seriously considering to put up a bonggang bonggang Bongbong Fans? Club!

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Lotlot de Leon got to talk to her mom, Nora Aunor, after the Superstar?s cosmetic surgery in Japan. ?Ma told me that she now looks like my daughter Janina,? Lot quips. ?We both had a good laugh. She?s in Canada now. Then she will fly back to LA before her grand homecoming here in Manila.?

No place can ever be home for the Superstar without Lotlot and her other kids around. La Aunor?s new face is ready for its close-up.

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Could it be true that a TV personality has been chronically late for her show because she stays at the pad of an actor till the wee hours? They both have denied their romance. What else is new? Hide and seek will never be ?game over? in show biz.

E-mail wateringholeshangrila@yahoo.com