Why compare Sarah and Angelika?

I's not fair to compare the acting of Sarah Geronimo and Angelika dela Cruz in Bituing Walang Ningning. Sarah is the hero and Angelika is the villain. Those are two different roles. It's not good PR strategy trying to pit Sarah against Angelika. The show will likely suffer.

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Some politicians are pressing Susan Roces to reject the posthumous National Artist Award conferred by Malacañang to her husband Fernando Poe Jr. They warn her that to accept the award on Ronnie's behalf would be legitimizing the presidency of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

I hate it when politicians meddle in showbiz. They should stop treating Ms. Roces as if she were their puppet and manipulating her for their own ends. She is capable of making her own decisions. To her credit, Ms. Roces has refused to be drawn into the new controversy and has not issued a statement.

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After teaming up with Judy Ann Santos in Sa Piling Mo, Piolo Pascual will pair up with Claudine Barretto in Walang Kapalit, ABS-CBN's new teleseries directed by Wenn Deramas.

Don't be surprised if Juday-Piolo fans raise a fuss about Piolo and Claudine together in a new show. They haven't forgotten about the rumors that Piolo and Claudine had a fling when they were filming Milan. Those rumors should have dissipated after Claudine married Raymart Santiago, but sometimes the grapevine has a way rejuvenating withered stories.

Aside from Walang Kapalit, Direk Wenn is lining up another TV series, this time starring Anne Curtis. But Wenn is under oath not to reveal the title. The taping for Walang Kapalit starts June 15. Target date for its airing is September.

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Wenn also told me the script for "Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso Not Once But Twice" has not been revised despite a change in the cast. Gretchen Barretto was supposed to be Sen. Bong Revilla's love interest in the film, but the role went instead to Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman.

Precious took six days to shoot her part. "Had it been Gretchen, we would have taken seven to eight days," Wenn said. "Gretchen can't shoot after 4pm because she has to return home before Tonyboy (Cojuangco) arrives."

Wenn is amazed at how quickly Precious absorbed his instructions, considering that it was her first time to do a movie. But it doesn't mean that he spared her from a scolding. He remembers raising his voice at her. "It was a big scene and I was tired, I was up all night and could hardly my eyes open. So I really gave her a piece of my mind."

Direk, however, didn't say what made him chew out Precious. But he said that she didn't get offended. Wenn sees in Precious the makings of a good drama actress.

"Kapag Tumibok" is Imus Productions' latest offering.

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Direk Wenn almost always includes comedian Eugene Domingo in his projects. Eugene is a graduate of Theater Arts from the University of the Philippines, so that says a lot about her talent. "She's really good," Wenn said.

Eugene's stint with Wenn began with "Mula sa Puso." Wenn has directed seven films so far: "Mula Sa Puso (The Movie)," "Dahil Mahal Na Mahal Kita," "Kung Ikaw Ay Isang Panaginip," "Tanging Ina," "Volta" and "D' Lucky Ones." Most of them are comedies.

Now he wants to try something different. "I'm now trying out drama," he said.

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Mel del Rosario had written the script of "Kapag Tumibok" a long time ago, but no producer seemed to be interested in it. When someone finally took on the project, they couldn't seem to find a leading lady. "We practically considered every actress in the country for the role. And then AiAi's name cropped up. Search over," Mel said.

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TJ Trinidad, who played Carding in ABS-CBN's teleseries Gulong ng Palad, was guest of honor in this year's fiesta of my hometown, Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte. TJ was scheduled to crown the town's Reyna delos Flores and acted as her consort.

Last year, Diana Zubiri and Julianna Palermo starred in a concert in Sta. Elena, the proceeds of which went to the building of the town church.

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Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt skipped the presentation of his latest movie, "Babel," at the Cannes film festival because he was awaiting the birth of his and Angelina Jolie's baby.

"With the imminent arrival of the new addition to our family, I am unable to join Alejandro, Cate, Gael and the rest of the cast and crew in introducing the film," Brad wrote in an e-mail. "I am tremendously proud of 'Babel' and want to congratulate everyone involved for this great achievement."

The baby will be the couple's first biological child together. They already have an adopted four-year-old son, Maddox, and an adopted 16-month-old daughter, Zahara.