16 Philippine Showbiz Today
December 8 - 21, 2018
2019 Shows revealed –
Star Cinema and ABS-CBN
Star Cinema and ABS-CBN
launched its lineup of coming
films and TV show for 2019 at a
trade launch recently. For the big
screen, they have the horror flick,
“Eerie,” starring Charo Santos
Concio and Jodi Sta. Maria, co-
starring Maxene Magalona, Sherry
Lara and Jake Cuenca, directed by
Mikhail Red. It’s now an official en-
try in the coming Singapore Inter-
national Film Festival. Bea plays a
clairvoyant guidance counselor in
all-girls Catholic school who helps
solve the suicide of a girl named
Eri in the school grounds.
Then there’s another horror
flick, “Clarita,” starring Jodi Sta.
Maria in her second horror out-
ing after “Maria Leonora There-
sa,” and Kapuso actress Jennylyn
Mercado returns to Star Cinema
in a new movie, “Heart of Mine,”
with Richard Gomez and JM de
Guzman. Her first movie with
them is the big hit, “Just the Three
of Us” with John Lloyd Cruz.
Coming soon is “Sakaling
Maging Tayo,” the launching film
of PBB discoveries Elisse Joson
and McCoy de Leon, who used to
be an item but have since drifted
away from each other. This is di-
rected by JP Habac of “I’m Drunk,
I Love You,” a story of unrequited
love. Also in the works is “Open,”
starring Arci Muñoz and JC San-
tos. Will this be as successful as
JC’s movies with Bela Padilla?
We’ll have to wait and see. This is
directed by Andoy Ranay. Their
last romantic film in their lineup
is a yet untitled movie starring
Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil,
directed by hitmaker Antoinette
Jadaone. Hope this will be as
successful as other “LizQuen”
movies directed by other direc-
tors before
The new TV shows is led by
“Idol Philippines,” ABS-CBN’s
version of “American Idol,” to
be hosted by Regine Velasquez.
It will be remembered it had
its own version then on TV5 as
“Philippine Idol.”
“Mea Culpa” is a thriller from
Dreamscape
Entertainment
Television. This will feature Jodi
Sta. Maria and Bela Padilla, with
Sandino Martin, Tony Labrusca,
Ketchup Eusebio, Kit Thomp-
son, and Ivana Alawi, with Dan
Villegas directing.
“Nang Ngumiti ang Langit”
is a new teleserye that will feature
the new child actress Sophie Re-
ola, with Kaye Abad and Cristine
Reyes joining her, directed by FM
Reyes.
General’s Daughter with Angel Locsijn and
Eula Valdez
Eerie with Charo Santos Concio & Jodi Sta. Maria
Elisse Joson and McCoy de Leon in Sakaling Maging Tayo
“The General’s Daughter” is
Angel Locsin’s comeback show
on primetime TV, an action-
drama series where she is sup-
ported by Albert Martinez, Tirso
Cruz III, Janice de Belen, Ryza
Cenon, Eula Valdez, Maricel So-
riano, Paulo Avelino, JC de Vera,
Loisa Andallo, and Ronnie Alon-
te join the cast.
“World of Dance Philip-
pines” is a dance contest fea-
turing Pia Wurtzbach and Luis
Manzano as the hosts while Billy
Crawford, Maja Salvador and Gary
Valenciano will be the judges. The
winner of the contest will have the
chance to compete in its US ver-
sion.
ABS-CBN now also offers its
own streaming service in iWant, a
separate channel that offers new
original shows and movies. Its
most popular offering is “Glori-
ous,” a May-December romantic
drama starring Angel Aquino and
Tony Labrusca, directed by Connie
Macatuno.●
How The Girl In The Orange Dress
saved Jessy Mendiola
If “the Girl In the Orange
Dress” had not come along, Jessy
Mendiola would be a private citizen
by now.
In a recent interview, the ac-
tress revealed seriously contem-
plating quitting show business just
days before the movie was offered
to her. She had even talked to her
boyfriend, actor Luis Manzano,
about it and he was said to have
told her to follow her heart.
But why? Well aside from the
bashing she’s been getting on-
line—ranging from people who
don’t approve of her romance with
Luis to things as mundane as her
body weight—Jessy said she felt
out of place all of a sudden.
The words Jessy used were
“feeling depressed.” She even con-
templated ending it all for good.
“I just had so many problems,
one after the other,” she said in
Filipino. “But then within the year,
I was able to work on myself, to
heal.”
She advised those going
through the same thing to seek
professional help.
“Do not be afraid or be
ashamed to ask for help because
it is your life we’re talking about
here. So ask for professional
help or even help from your fam-
ily, relatives, or friends – it’s really
important.”
For bullies, the actress re-
minded them to always be care-
ful of the words because nega-
tive ones definitely harm.
“You’ll never know how
much one phrase could change
the life of a person. It could af-
fect his or her life completely.”
Jessy wants to maximize her
star power to spread awareness
that “depression is no joke” and
that “bashing and cyberbullying
really affect people.”
Her knight in shining armor
Jessy credits Luis Manzano
for helping lead her to the right
path.
“When I became his girl-
friend, it affected my career
because of all the bashing and
stuff. Still, I would like to believe
everything happens for a rea-
son,” she said.
“And Luis is a huge reason
on who I have become now. He
encouraged me in everything
I do and changed my views in
life.”
Fame is not important to
Jessy, she insisted.
“All I want is to stay in the
industry for a long time,” she
said.
Does she regret letting Luis
come into her life because of
the bashing she gets, someone
asked.
Never, Jessy replied.
“He changed me a lot, he is
my ‘life filter.’ The way I look at
people, the way I look at life – it
all became positive. So whatever
- Malaya
shade people throw to me, I’ll take
it all in a positive way,” she added.
Indeed, the actress has his
support unconditionally.
“Luis told me I could do what-
ever I want and he would support
and help me.”
It Jessy’s first Metro Manila
Film Festival movie. It’s also her
first lead role in a film. She is paired
here for the first time with Jericho
Rosales.
In the movie produced by
Quantum Films, MJM Productions,
and Star Cinema, Jericho plays
Rye, a superstar who is the object
of many girls’ fantasy, including
Anna’s (Jessy) friends.
Rye and Anna cross paths. They
end up in a bed and from there, ev-
erything turns upside down when
their picture together goes viral and
becomes a hot topic on television.
Who is that girl, they ask. Who is
the girl in the orange dress?
The film also stars Sheena Hali-
li, Hannah Ledesma, Ria Atayde,
Nico Antonio, Cai Cortez, Via Anto-
nio, Juan Miguel Severo, and many
more.
“The Girl In The Orange Dress”
opens in cinemas on Dec. 25.●
- S.M. Bernardino, MB