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And no, this actress did not “marry” into an old rich family. Nor did she have a “phone kissing scandal” with another actor. Hehe! For some reason, during the presscon of Lobo, Shaina Magdayao was referred to as the new Gretchen Barretto. Guess it must be her mestiza, gorgeous look! In her latest project (Lobo), Shaina Magdayao had her first adult role. And she even had a kissing scene with Piolo Pascual! According to her, that scene took four takes because she was very nervous. Sabi pa ng batang aktres, “Sexy is okay, being daring is not okay. Kaya kong mag-kissing scene, pero hindi torrid. Nagpa-sexy din ako lately, pero sa covers lang ng magazines.” As for the Gretchen comparison, Shaina Magdayao is thankful. She says, “Wow naman kung ang tingin n’yo, ako ang bagong Gretchen Barretto! Salamat naman. We will see kung ano’ng mangyayari at kung susunod nga ako sa kanya.”

And yes, she’s very much married! Since last year pa in case you forgot. And since last July 2007, Nikki Valdez has been based in Toronto, Canada where his husband is a sales manager for Lexus (a high-end car dealership). And last December, the couple found out they were pregnant. Nikki Valdez shares, “My first trimester is so far, so good. Lahat naman ng nararamdaman ko, e, normal sa isang nagbubuntis at kahit ano pang nararamdaman ko, I make sure that I enjoy every single moment. All I can say is that being a mom is the most amazing thing ever! I am now officially on my ninth week.” Nikki Valdez also told PEP via email that after giving birth, they might come back to the Philippines. She says, “I do miss my family and friends so much, but I still keep in touch with a lot of them through email and live chat. Technology is the best! At least nakakatanggal konti ng homesickness ko. Hopefully this year, after I give birth, we can go home and visit everyone.”

With the pulling out of Jennylyn Mercado and Patrick Garcia in the “Maging Aking Ka Lamang” soap of GMA, Nadine Samonte and Polo Ravales got their chance to shine as lead stars when they took over. The young actress was initially apprehensive with the soap since it involves lots of kissing, and her non-showbiz boyfriend might object to that. Nadine Samonte laughingly shares, “Mamamaga yata ang labi namin ni Polo dahil sa drama na ito!” The Starstruck 1 Avenger adds, “Lagi nila kaming pinaghanda ni Polo sa kissing scenes. Natatawa na lang kaming dalawa. Mabuti na lang at okay si Polo. First time ko siyang maging leading man at kumportable na ako sa kanya agad.” As for Nadine Samonte’s boyfriend, she says, “Walang problema kay Emerson [Chua] kasi alam niyang trabaho lang ang ginagawa ko. Alam naman niya kung saan siya lulugar. Kapag trabaho, alam niyang focus ako doon. Pero kapag oras ko naman sa relasyon namin, doon naman ako naka-concentrate.” Good for you gurl! And good luck sa new soap nyo!

After so many delays, the first soap of the former Mulawin and Darna star will finally air in the Kapamilya network! Angel Locsin pairs up with Piolo Pascual in the new teleserye entitled “Lobo”. According to reports, “Lobo” will air on January 28 — that’s only 10 days to go!!! Ayon sa PEP, isa raw sa mga dahilan kung bakit napostpone ang pagpapalabas sa “Lobo” ng ilang beses ay dahil nagkasunud-sunod din ang mga bagong shows na ipinapalabas ng ABS-CBN simula nang taong 2008. Ang tanong ng marami ngayon, makakahatak pa kaya ng viewers si Angel Locsin?? She was gone for so long (last show was Asian Treasures) and her transfer to the Kapamilya network was beset with negative press. But according to a “Lobo” insider, they are happy dahil maganda ang reception sa tambalan nina Piolo at Angel sa mga out-of-town promo shows nila. Masaya din raw ang mga kapatid ng aktres dahil sa nakita nilang improvement sa acting ni Angel Locsin. Ngayon daw kasi ay nakakaya na nitong paartehin at paganahin ang emosyon niya mula sa kanyang mga mata. Hmm, galing naman! Makanood nga ng “Lobo”!

Kahapon ay nag-shooting sa isang memorial park in Angeles, Pampanga ang Marimar na pinagbibidahan nina Marian Rivera at Dingdong Dantes. At nashock ang production staff sa dami ng taong dumalo! Ang sabi pa nila ay “daig pa raw ang miting de avance” sa dami ng Pampangueño na dumagsa. Kuwento ng isang staff, “Grabe ang mga tao, bata man matanda, hindi napigilan sa pagdagsa nang malaman nilang nandoon ang cast ng Marimar.” Dahil sa dami ng tao, tumawag na sila ng pulis at barangay tanod para maayos ang lugar at maka-shooting na sila. Pero walang nagawa ang mga ito kaya “sina Marian Rivera at Dingdong Dantes na ang hinarap namin sa tao para pakiusapan sila dahil hindi talaga kami makakilos. Nagtsi-cheer sila ng Marimar at nang hinarap na ang dalawa para pakiusapan, sumunod naman sila na parang mga bata.” Tinanong rin daw ni Marian Rivera ang mga tao kung mahal siya ng mga ito. Oo raw, sagot ng lahat. Tapos dinagdag nya na kung mahal siya ng mga ito, kapag sinabing quiet, dapat quiet lahat. At sumunod naman daw ang lahat ng fans! Grabe talaga ang “kamandag” ni Marimar! =)

Sa loob ng Bahay ni Kuya, binansagan syang the “Wild Child” sa second season ng PBB Celebrity Edition. Nabigyan rin sya ng forced eviction because he displayed offensive behavior when he got drunk sa Christmas party ng mga housemates. Kumusta na kaya si Baron Geisler ngayon? Sa panayam with The Buzz kahapon, sinabi ng actor na “I feel great and…nakapag-move on na.” At nagapapasalamat din sya sa PBB pagkat natulungan syang maintindihan nito ang kanyang sarili. Sabi pa ni Baron Geisler, “Para sa akin, ang PBB nakatulong na, ayun, makilala ako ng mga tao. Mas mahalin ako ng mga tao, na tanggapin nila ako kung sino ako. I think yung PBB nagbukas ng maraming pintuan para sa akin, para mas makilala ko ang sarili ko ‘ata, parang mas tinanggap ko na nga yung problema.” At para sa kanyang mga fans, eto ang mensahe ni Baron Geisler sa kanila: “Ang gusto kong mangyari, subaybayan n’yo lang ang pagiging better ko. Kung minahal n’yo man ako sa Pinoy Big Brother, sa loob ng bahay, e, huwag n’yo sana ako kalimutan at mahalin n’yo pa rin ako.”

The 19-year old Kapamilya young actress was supposed to go on break after her “Pangarap na Bituin” soap, but thanks to Kristeta, she got in ABS-CBN’s new horror show “Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara”. Maja Salvador said it was Deo Edrinal, ABS-CBN business unit head, who informed her about Kris Aquino’s request to include her in the cast. She relates, “Sabi po ni Sir Deo [Edrinal], sabi daw niya [Kris], ‘Gusto ko si Maj.’” Maja Salvador continues, “Yun nga po, nagte-thank you po ako kay Tita Kris kasi after Pangarap na Bituin, dapat po wala pa po akong show. So, noong Pangarap na Bituin, nagte-taping na rin po ng [Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara].” And so far, she’s been enjoying her experience though a bit nervous when sharing a scene with Susan Roces. Maja Salvador shares, “Yung kay Ms. Susan po, tinatawanan ako ni Tita Kris kasi tuwing kaeksena ko si Ms. Susan, parang lagi akong nabubulol, yung ganun po, dahil sa sobrang kaba … Yun, sinabihan nga po ako ni Tita Kris, ‘Relax lang.’”

And it’s from boyfriend Ryan Agoncillo, who else?? And Judy Ann Santos even cried when she received it! So what was it? A GUCCI BAG! And according to Ryan, he didn’t expect the award-winning actress to cry. After all, it was just a bag. But Juday explains, “Alam ko kasi yung presyo! At hindi ko ine-expect na magbibigay siya ng ganoong klase ng regalo sa akin. Hindi rin kasi siya yung tipo ng tao na naniniwala sa mga mamahaling bags, sa mga grand designer’s bag. Parang we find it very unreasonable to buy. Kahit ako rin naman, kaya hindi ako bumibili ng ganoon kamamahal na bag, kasi namamahalan talaga ako.” She continues, “Kapag more than P25,000 na ang cost ng bag, hindi mo na talaga ako mapapabili, kasi naiisip ko rin, bag lang ‘yon, ang daming nagugutom at walang makain na tao.” In fact, all of Judy Ann Santos’ designer bags are just given to her as gifts. Hmm, sosyal ha! And when asked if she already used the Gucci bag that Ryan Agoncillo gave, Judy Ann Santos joked, “Ay oo! Hindi ko nga binibitawan! Ngayon ko lang binitawan kasi nasa presscon ako!” Hahaha!

It seems that Jen Mercado’s ex-boyfriend is also making news in showbiz. Not as big as Jen’s pregnancy announcement but surprising as well. Mark Herras have been going steady with Lian Paz, an EB Babes member, for 10 months already. Unlike his relationship with Jen, the one with Lian was relatively tampuhan free. That’s why it came as a surprise that they broke up. And Mark Herras indirectly admits it’s because of a third party. Surprisingly, not on his side but Lian’s! PEP asked the first StarStruck Ultimate Male Survivor if the third party angle is true and the young actor replied, “Opo, pero ayoko na lang pong magsalita dahil nakakahiya naman kay Lian. Siya ang babae.” Last Monday (January 7), a tabloid printed that Mark Herras was jealous of a certain basketball player. When asked if he knew who was it, the Bad Boy of the Dancefloor joked, “He he he, secret po eh, ha ha ha, yuppy PBA. Hayaan niyo na po, tapos na naman.”

FHM’s Sexiest for 2007 happily celebrated her 22nd birthday yesterday at Barrakz Bar in Tomas Morato, Quezon City. Katrina Halili had a simple celebration, with only her close friends, some entertainment media, and “Marimar” workmates. She didn’t even have a birthday cake! Says Katrina Halili, “Biglaan din kasi ito, and noong una, parang mga friends lang tapos yung mga taga-press. Parang tsikahan lang at inuman. Wala nga akong cake, kasi walang nagmamahal sa akin.” As for her birthday wish, the onscreen villainess known as Angelica wants more work as opposed to having a lovelife. Katrina Halili shares, “Birthday wish ko, maging happy at sexy kahit loveless at saka maraming trabaho. Iyon ang importante sa akin, trabaho and happiness, saka na ang love life, next time na iyon dahil baka bigla akong mapakasal niyan, e.” Her birthday well-wishers include Andrew Schimmer (her ex)), Marco Alcaraz, Bing Loyzaga, Paolo Paraiso, Michael Roy, Sheena Halili, Alvin Aragon, etc. Again, happy birthday Katrina Halili!