Kris Aquino avoids Mayor Junjun Binay, gets closer with Diether Ocampo

Kris Aquino puts special friendship with Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay "on hold" after the latter was quoted saying things which didn't sound good to the Queen of All Media.

In a Philippine Star article last Sunday (July 17) headlined "To wed or not to wed: Hayden & Vicki, Junjun & Kris", Mayor Junjun revealed that he and Kris Aquino once dated, and that was during Justin Bieber's concert in the country just last May. “Yes, we are good friends. We saw the Justin Bieber concert together, and by gosh, when you’re with Kris, everybody wants to have a picture with her.”

And when asked if another marriage is possible for Junjun, who was widowed in August 2009, here's what he said: “Why do people marry? Because of lack of knowledge...Why do people separate? Because of lack of experience...Why do people remarry? Because of loss of memory.”

Kris expressed in a recent TV interview that she was disappointed to hear Mayor Junjun's statement, especially his answer on "why do people separate" which Kris thought was a "patama" to her.

Mayor Junjun, who just turned 34 last July 12, already apologized to Kris, but the 40-year-old Presidential Sister has decided to avoid Mayor Junjun Binay to avoid further intrigues.

Is Kris just getting extra sensitive?

While she decides to avoid Mayor Junjun, Kris is now getting closer to another special friend, hunk actor Diether Ocampo whom she calls as "D".

On Twitter yesterday, Kris posted a birthday greeting to Diether whom she considers as TRUE friend (not like Mayor Junjun?) and she's hoping to establish a lifelong friendship with him.

Diether Ocampo turned 35 yesterday, July 19, and he has been linked to Kris Aquino since they started filming the MMFF 2010 entry "Dalaw".

Kris reportedly gave Diether a very expensive watch worth 5-million pesos as birthday gift, but the actor has denied that during his birthday presscon.

Shalani Soledad thankful for Yahoo! OMG! award

Shalani Soledad emerged as the top winner in the Yahoo! OMG! Philippines Awards 2011 which was held Tuesday night at the Republiq.

The beautiful Shalani Soledad won the award Yahoo! OMG! Celebrity of the Year for 2011 and according to the award description, it's given to most-searched celebrity on Yahoo! Philippines from January to May 2011.

Shalani, who's currently Willie Revillame's co-host on "Wil Time Bigtime", deserves the award as I've seen her many times as one of the Top Celebrity Searches on Yahoo! Philippines (ph.yahoo.com) this year.

On Twitter, Shalani is so much thankful for the award she received from Yahoo! Philippines.

You can check her Twitter profile now and you can see there that Shalani is flooding it with tweets of thanks to everyone who congratulated her for the award.

She was inactive on Twitter for 2 weeks, and it's only yesterday that she logged in there again just to say thanks for the award.

Shalani was also nominated in Yahoo! OMG! Awards 2011 Favorite Female TV Host alongside Toni Gonzaga, Alodia Gosiengfiao and Pia Guanio. Winner in the said category was selected based on popular votes and unfortunately, Shalani got the least number of votes. Toni won the award.

Favorite Female TV Host Poll Results:
1. Toni Gonzaga (21,528) 56%
2. Alodia Gosiengfiao (12,398) 32%
3. Pia Guanio (3,298) 9%
4. Shalani Soledad (1,152) 3%

Even Willie Revillame also lost in the Favorite Male TV Host category and also got the lowest votes:
1. Luis Manzano (35,074) 47%
2. Mo Twister (33,930) 45%
3. Vice Ganda (2,631) 4%
4. Vic Sotto (2,150) 3%
5. Willie Revillame (382) 1%

Just last March 2011, Shalani was also recognized by another search engine, Google Philippines, when she ranked #1 on its list of 20 Most Influential Women of 2010 (also based on search queries) placing higher than Kris Aquino who ranked 2nd.

MMFF 2011 official entries announced

The 8 official entries for the 37th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF 2011) happening this December were announced today, June 17, 2011, by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

And just like in MMFF 2010, the "Kings" and "Queens" will still be part of MMFF 2011. I'm talking about Vic Sotto, Bong Revilla, Ai-Ai delas Alas and Kris Aquino.

And the excitement doesn't end up there: husband and wife Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos, whose movies "Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo" and "Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo" were the Festival Topgrosser during MMFF 2006 and MMFF 2007 respectively, are very much back in the festival with "My Househusband".

Expect the toughest box-office battle this MMFF 2011!

Here are the eight(8) MMFF 2011 Official Entries:

"Enteng ng Ina Mo" under Star Cinema / M-Zet Films / APT Entertainment
Cast: Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai delas Alas
Director: Tony Y. Reyes

"Hototay" under Regal Entertainment
Cast: John Lapus, Ruffa Gutierrez, Andi Eigenmann, Lovi Poe, and Melai Cantiveros
Director: Joel Lamangan

"Mr. Wong" under RP Productions
Cast: Robin Padilla and Angelica Panganiban
Directors: Trina Dayrit and Rechie del Carmen

"My Househusband" under OctoArts Films
Cast: Judy Ann Santos, Ryan Agoncillo and Eugene Domingo
Directors: Jose Javier Reyes

"Panday 2" under GMA Films / Imus Productions
Cast: Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr, Phillip Salvador, Marian Rivera and Iza Calzado
Director: Mac Alejandre

"Panday 2" lead stars Bong Revilla as Flavio and Marian Rivera as Arlana with Director Mac Alejandre

"Segunda Mano" under MJM Productions
Cast: Kris Aquino, Dingdong Dantes and Angelica Panganiban

"Shake Rattle & Roll 13" under Regal Entertainment.
Cast: Eugene Domingo, Kathryn Bernardo, Albie Casiño, Maricar Reyes, Paulo Avelino
Directors: Chris Martinez ("Lunod" episode), Richard Somes ("Tamawo" episode), Jerrold Tarog ("Parola" episode)

"Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" under Regal Entertainment
Cast: Dennis Trillo, Heart Evangelista, Carla Abellana and Ritz Azul

***

The three (3) scripts which were submitted but unfortunately didn't make it as an official entry are the following:

"Kimmy Dora N D Temple of Kiyeme" under Spring Films
Cast: Eugene Domingo

"Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story"
Cast: George Estregan Jr aka ER Ejercito, Carla Abellana, Bangs Garcia, Sam Pinto, Paloma, Baron Geisler, Robert Arevalo, Perla Bautista, Joko Diaz and Phillip Salvador
Director: Tikoy Aguiluz

"Love Will Lead You Back" under CineMedia
Cast: Judy Ann Santos, Coco Martin, Maja Salvador and Gina Pareño

The 37th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF 2011) will run from December 25, 2011 to January 7, 2012.

Pilipinas Got Talent Season 2: Jem Cubil Semi-Finals Performance

It's the 3rd week of Pilipinas Got Talent Season 2 Semi-Finals and another batch of 6 semi-finalists took the stage tonight, May 14, 2011, to compete for 2 slots in the grand finals.

Who do you think would own those 2 slots in the finals?

This 3rd batch of semi-finalists of Pilipinas Got Talent Season 2 actually isn't hard to judge, as opposed to what judge Ai-Ai delas Alas said that it was a tough batch just like the previous 2 semi-final weeks.

Among the 6 semi-finalists who competed tonight, I'm sure most of you would like 17-year-old Jem Cubil from Talisay City, Cebu to advance to PGT Season 2 finals, while the other slot could either be for Dance Selection or Happy Feet.

For his semi-final performance, Jem Cubil sang David Cook's "Time of My Life" as he played the guitar.

Did you like his performance? Or did you like him as he is, Jem Cubil a good-looking teen guy who can sing well and play the guitar?

Kris Aquino and Ai-Ai delas Alas, just like how they admired Markki Stroem in Season 1, have appreciated Jem's looks and charm more than his musical talent.

Ai-Ai said: "Napaka-fresh mo ngayong gabi na 'to. Ang cute cute mo ngayong gabing ito." while Kris said: "Pamatay ang kagwapuhan mo!"

As a viewer myself, I actually didn't care about his singing. I was just looking at his face and smile as he stood there on stage. He was looking his best tonight.

I know this is Pilipinas Got Talent and not a star-search hunting for both good-looking and talented, but I think having the ability to charm the audience, which is a quality that every performer should have, is a talent and Jem has it.

Watch Jem Cubil's PGT Semi-Finals Performance:


***

This is how Mykiru's Poll ranks this week's batch of PGT Season 2 semi-finalists:

1. Happy Feet, Bukidnon (Tap Dancing Brothers/Duo)
2. Jose Emmanuel "Jem" Cubil, 17, Talisay City, Cebu (singer / musician)
3. Dance Selection, Taguig City (cheerdancers / acrobats)
4. Collins Gutierrez, 24, San Pedro, Laguna (singer)
5. Rafael Pavia, 5, Matina, Davao City (singer)
6. Zaldy Carlos, 38, Tondo, Manila (singer)

If Jem Cubil doesn't get the highest votes and be pitted against Happy Feet or Dance Selection for the judges' votes, he'll find it hard to enter the grand finals. Judge FHM might not pick him while judges Ai-Ai and Kris will be having a hard time to make a decision.

Here's how to vote for your favorite contestants:

Just type

PGT HAPPY for Happy Feet
PGT JEM for Jem Cubil
PGT DANCE for Dance Selection
PGT COLLINS for Collins Gutierrez
PGT RAFAEL for Rafael Pavia
PGT ZALDY for Zaldy Carlos

and send it to 2331 for Globe, TM and Sun Cellular subscribers or 231 for Smart and Talk 'N Text.

Video courtesy of ABS-CBN, uploaded on Youtube by princessanne228

Pilipinas Got Talent (PGT) Season 2's first 2 grand finalists: Freestylers, Madrigal Siblings

The Freestylers, a dance group from Calamba, Laguna, becomes the 1st Pilipinas Got Talent Season 2 grand finalist when the group got the highest number of text and online votes during the first semi-finals' results night Sunday, May 1, 2011.

They got a high 46.32% of the total votes, which was more than half of the 2nd placer, Romarico Sanorjo aka Rico The Magician, who only had 22.31%.

Rico The Magician and the 3rd placer, the Madrigal Siblings which got 14.11%, had to compete against each other to win the judges' votes and earn the 2nd slot to the grand finals.

Judge FMG picked Rico The Magician while Kris Aquino and Ai-Ai delas Alas chose the Madrigal Siblings, who gave an outstanding performance of "Ako Ay Pilipino".

PILIPINAS (PGT) 1ST SEMI-FINALS RESULTS:
1. Freestylers, Calamba, Laguna (dance group) 46.32% - VOTERS' CHOICE
2. Romarico Sanorjo aka Rico The Magician, 60, Caloocan City 22.31%
3. Madrigal Siblings, Cainta, Rizal (singing trio) 14.11 - JUDGES' CHOICE
4. Brian Brady, 10, Cabungaan, Laoag City (Filipino-raised American singer) 7.80%
5. Jeremie Tampoy, 29, Maa, Davao City (Blind singer and pianist) 5.09%
6. Light Gauge Acoustic, Eroreco, Bacolod City (band) 4.36%

***

It was actually a surprise that the Freestylers won the votes bigtime. I actually thought Rico The Magician will top the votes.

Mykiru has this poll for the Top 36 semi-finalists, and among the first batch of 6 semi-finalists who competed Saturday night, it's Rico The Magician who was ahead of the others.

Mykiru's PGT Poll Ranking, as of May 1:
1. Marcelito Po Moy
2.Rico The Magician
3. Buildex Pagales
4. Happy Feet
4. Madrigal Siblings
6. Kenny Padalla
7. Brian Brady
8. Karinyoso Boys
9. Angel Calalas
9. B4
9. Jeremie Tampoy
9. Kapidamu Band
9. Skeights
14. Freestylers
14. Suwahib Samplidan
16. Filogram
16. First Beat Effect
18. Jem Cubil
19. Collins Gutierrez
19. DJP Trio
19. Jacqueline Schubert
19. Larvae
23. Dance Selection
23. Gracelle & Kristelle Lapinid
23. Next Generation Band
23. Rafael Pavia
23. Virgilio Del Carmen
28. Genevieve Arandia
28. Madonna Pianista
28. Zaldy Carlos
31. John Michael Narag
31. Leoniel Enopia and Elizabeth Dazo
31. Light Gauge Acoustic
34. Bourbon
35. Joy's Divas
35. Maribeth Callanta

If you notice, except for Freestylers, the order in the poll ranking of the first batch of 6 semi-finalists is also the order in the actual results.

I actually sided with judges Kris and Ai-Ai in choosing the Madrigal Siblings over Rico The Magician. The latter was impressive, however, there was no more impact when he performed again Sunday the same tricks and magic he did Saturday night. He should have prepared a new magic to perform for the audience and the viewers.

Unlike the Madrigal Siblings, the trio were able to sustain tonight their great performance from last night's competition and you would love to hear them singing again and again even if they sang the same song.

As what Kris Aquino said, the Madrigal Siblings gave a hair-raising performance, to which I also agree.

But definitely, Rico The Magician was also deserving to be part of the grand finals, very much deserving.

***

If you were to be asked, were you satisfied with tonight's results?

Anne Curtis hits 1 million Twitter followers!

Anne Curtis' followers on Twitter has now reached 1 million, becoming the first from the Philippines to reach the million mark.

Anne Curtis, who is an active Twitter user since March 2009, now has 1,003,302 followers on Twitter as of 2PM today, April 29, and Anne Curtis is ranked 388th worldwide, according to Twittercounter.com.

She is even ranked higher than Victoria Beckham and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Anne is also the only one from the Philippines to enter the Top 500 list of Twitter users with the most followers.

Here's how some of our local celebs rank worldwide:

Anne Curtis 338th
Angel Locsin 628th
Kris Aquino 633th
Bianca Gonzalez 803rd
Sam Milby 804th
KC Concepcion 826th
Angelica Panganiban 827th
Cristine Reyes 894th
Iya Villania 923rd
Pres. Noynoy Aquino 952nd
Luis Manzano 984th

Charice who's considered an international celebrity ranks 932nd.

'The Price is Right' Hotties: Felix Tolentino and Mark Robrigado

If you watch "The Price Is Right" on ABS-CBN, probably you've noticed already these two hotties as Kris Aquino's assistants and showcase models.

They are Rafael Felix Tolentino and Mark Anthony Robrigado.

I already featured Felix here 2 years go. Read HERE.

He was also screened for Mister Philippines International 2009 pageant, but sadly he didn't meet the minimum height requirement of 5'11.

Felix is also the brother of my high school batchmate Rose Tolentino, but I haven't met him yet.

Kris Aquino 'My Heart's Journey' album released

Kris Aquino has released a new album entitled 'My Heart's Journey', which is already her 5th spoken-word album.

Two of her previous 4 albums reached platinum sales, so we'll see if this new album will also reach that mark.

There are 15 tracks in the new album featuring 10 artists. Jed Madela is singing 5 of them.

1. GOD BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD - Toni Gonzaga
2. WHAT ABOUT LOVE - KC Concepcion
3. LOVE MOVES IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS - Christian Bautista
4. ONLY LOVE - Jed Madela
5. IT MUST HAVE BEEN LOVE - Karylle
6. TO WHERE YOU ARE - Jed Madela
7. CHANGES IN MY LIFE - Jed Madela
8. I WILL BE HERE - Gail Blanco
9. WHEN YOU BELIEVE - Regine Velasquez & Lani Misalucha
10. IN YOUR EYES - Gail Blanco
11. I'D REALLY LOVE TO SEE YOU TONIGHT - Zsa Zsa Padilla
12. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS - Nina
13. HEALING - Jed Madela
14. BEAUTIFUL IN MY EYES- Jed Madela
15. ARAW MO- Christian Bautista

"My Heart's Journey" is under Universal Records and is now available in record bars nationwide.