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For the past 17 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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MANILA --- Former friends and business partners Rosanna Roces and Vicki Belo had a very public falling out early this year, resulting in a word war, and then formal charges and counter charges so dizzying at one point, that we didn't mind eventually losing track.
On Oct. 19, the Makati City prosecutor's office dismissed "for lack of evidence" the P25-million libel suit that the actress Roces filed four months ago against the doctor Belo.
In a joint resolution, assistant chief prosecutor Josefa D. Laurente also decided on a case earlier filed by Belo against Roces --and charged the actress with two counts of libel.
Lawyer Celine Casanova--an associate of Belo's counsel Raymond Fortun--said city chief prosecutor Feliciano Aspi countersigned the resolution.
Bail for Roces was set at P10,000, Casanova said. Belo is seeking P10 million in damages.
The actress used to be an endorser of the Belo Medical Group, specialists in dermatology and cosmetic surgery. On May 31, the doctor filed the two counts of libel after Roces claimed BMC had performed a "totally unsatisfactory liposuction" on her. She called Belo "a mere aerobic instructress, not licensed to perform" the body-fat eliminating procedure.
On June 21, Roces filed her own P25-million libel case against Belo, saying the doctor had started a rumor that her (Roces') 15-year-old daughter Grace Adriano was pregnant by Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla's 16-year-old son, Jolo.
Belo made the statement during an interview on ABS-CBN's television talk show, "The Buzz," on April 25.
In her complaint-affidavit, the actress claimed that Belo's "vicious slurs and ... cruel, degrading remarks" had caused herself and her family "deep personal anguish." She said the rumor had also caused the children to stop schooling, out of embarrassment.
This was the case that was dismissed.
Casanova quoted Laurente's resolution: "A careful perusal showed that nothing in the statement of Belo can be considered defamatory."
The libel case against Roces will be raffled off, according to the lawyer. She said a warrant for the actress' arrest would be issued in "give or take three days." (MNS)
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MANILA --- Bubbly Alessandra de Rossi is on the verge of international stardom.
She earlier scored a hit in international film festivals with her acclaimed film about a dedicated rural teacher, "Munting Tinig."
She is now in Singapore to finish filming all her scenes in the international movie, "The Maid," she is doing for Boku Films, the makers of such hit horror flicks as "The Ring," "The Eye," and "The Grudge" (whose rights were bought by Hollywood studios so they can make their own version).
She has definitely now surpassed her elder sister, Assunta, whose marriage no doubt affected her acting career adversely.
"I first shot in Singapore from Sept. 19 to 30, but I had to come back here to finish all my scenes in the movie I'm doing for Direk Joey Reyes, 'Spirit of the Glass,' the entry of Canary Films in the December Metro-Manila Filmfest," says Alex. "Shooting my first film outside of the Philippines is a very pleasant experience for me. The staff, crew and my co-actors are all very professional. We only shoot 12 hours a day, 'di gaya rito na inaabot ng magdamagan. Our director, Kelvin Tong, is young but very talented. Ang galing ng treatment nila sa akin even if it's my first time to work with all of them, so ang feeling ko, pang-international na talaga ang beauty ko."
The producers of "The Maid" got Alex to play the title role after they saw her in the internationally acclaimed "Munting Tinig" of Director Gil Portes, as arranged by Tikoy Aguiluz, the producers' representative in the Philippines.
"After seeing her, they didn't even ask her to audition anymore as they were so awed by her performance," says Tikoy. "They knew right away she's just perfect for the role of the domestic helper in Singapore who experiences a series of mysterious incidents in the home of her employer. Director Kelvin Tong tells me he's satisfied with her performance. This is surely a big break for Alessandra since 'The Maid' will be released in all of Asia and other parts of the world."
"I make sure namang talagang ginagalingan ko ang acting ko," Alex adds. "I feel kung papalpak ako, hindi lang ako ang mapipintasan kundi pati bayan natin. I want to show them all na world class talaga ang Filipino actors para hindi tayo mapahiya sa kanila. And so far, puro papuri ang natatanggap ko sa kanila."
The film is expected to be in the can by November and will be released in Singapore and the rest of Asia by December. "Sana naman, maging hit sa lahat ng bansang pagtatanghalan nito para magandang buena mano for my first film made outside of the Philippines," Alex sighs, hoping this will pave the way for her international stardom. (MNS)
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MANILA --- Broadcast journalist Julius Babao has a grand night at the 13th KBP Golden Dove Awards at the Aliw Theater at the Star City.
All of his shows with ABS-CBN bagged awards in different categories. “TV Patrol” was honored as the outstanding News Program for TV, he was bestowed the Outstanding Magazine Talk Show Host for Radio for “Magandang Morning with Julius and Tintin” and “Magandang Umaga Bayan” which is celebrating its 8th year anniversary this month won Outstanding Magazine Talk Show in TV-Manila.
“I’m elated,” he expressed of the awards his TV shows won.
The awards were tasteful icing to his hard work and dedication to his profession as a broadcast journalist, and another accomplishment of his career which he considers a milestone in his life was the realization of his goal as the anchor of “TV Patrol.” This for him came at the nick of time when things weren’t looking bright for him with ABS-CBN. And he thanked his patron saint, St. Anthony, for once again hearing his plea and granting his prayer.
“Since college, I’ve always wanted to be a newscaster. And I’ve always wanted to be in ‘TV Patrol’ kasi for me, ito ang benchmark ng pagiging isang broadcaster. And you are given a big responsibility in your role as a newscaster,” he explained.
He added that through the years, his work in “TV Patrol” has been a collage of the many influences he had as a broadcast journalist - from Ka Kiko Evangelista to Noli de Castro. “TV Patrol” requires you to have high energy when delivering the news...I found my own style from my years of experience as a news reporter. It also helps to be in radio.”
With regards to his devotion to St. Anthony, he said it began when he and his wife Tintin Bersola went in a pilgrimage to Padoba in 2000. On St. Anthony’s crypt where they saw numerous letters and prayers and pictures, they posted their own. And so far most of what they wished for had come true. This included “TV Patrol” and their baby. This and many more like where he and Tintin would get married became signs for him to maintain a devotion to St. Anthony.
“When we were looking for a place to get married, our Ninang told us to go to St. Joseph Church in Antipolo. We went there and we liked it. But we were surprised that it had a picture of St. Anthony. Yun pala nagkamali yung ninang namin sa name, it was San Antonio de Padua Church...San Antonio kasi yung patron ng mga nawawala o kulang sa buhay mo...isa sa hiniling ko yung maupo sa “TV Patrol,” he shared proudly.
As a devotee, he and Tintin have already decided to name their child, Marco Antonio, if turns out a boy, and Sophia Antonia, if its a girl.
Another celebration in Julius Babao’s career is the 8th year of “Magandang Umaga Bayan” a 5:30 a.m. TV-magazine show which he started with Panjee Gonzales before as “Alas Singko Y Medya.”
For its celebration, “MUB” held a special show for their audience. Gimmicks included them choosing 150 Very Important Viewers through text-messaging. And his co-hosts Erwin Tulfo, Bernadette Sembrano and wife Tintin Babao joined previous anchors of the 5:30 a.m. slot for a nostalgic TV anniversary celebration.
“Compared before hindi lang show namin ang nagbago but our audience too kasi lumaki sila. Ratings namin before two points, three points, four pints...kami ang nagsimula nito and wala pa kaming competition before. Through the years we accumulated an audience.” (MNS)
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