Nude No More for Alfred Vargas

There's a new racket in showbiz, as TV host and model Kat Alano found out.

Somebody who introduced himself as Rex texted Kat asking if she wanted to make money and gain media mileage at the same time. How? By making it appear she is dating a politician.

Kat was skeptical; she didn't know Rex, and the whole thing sounded fishy. She didn't text back.

But Rex was insistent. He called up Kat but she clicked him off. He texted again, claiming that the gimmick worked for Vina Morales, whom he said he paired with Congressman Miguel Zubiri. "Do you remember the Migz Zubiri and Vina Morales PR? My client wants that kind of PR. Kaya I want to know kung ok. We will pay naman for the PR," Rex texted.

Perhaps this mystery Rex was insinuating that Vina received a nice bundle for being bruited about as having a thing with the young lawmaker.

I can't help but wonder if Rex belongs to a PR outfit servicing some obscure politician preparing to run in next year's elections and who wants to get talked about.

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"Ang Kubrador," which was adjudged as the best film in competition at the recent 28th Moscow International Film Festival, kicks off Cinemalaya, the gala of award-winning movies at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. It will be the first time the film will be shown here.

"Ang Kubrador" has also been invited to join the Locarno Filmmakers Competition in Switzerland on August 2 to 16. But producer Joji Antonio is not sure if the film is qualified. To join the Locarno festival, a movie has to have at least one European premiere.

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Lolit Solis has turned down an offer from a glossy magazine to have her ward Alfred Vargas pose in the nude.

It would have been the second time Alfred will appear in the buff in the mag. He has also posed for a coffeetable book where his photos were steaming hot! Nanay Lolit feels Alfred might be overexposed, literally and figuratively.

There's another reason that's preventing Alfred from having another nude pictorial: He appears in GMA News and Public Affairs' new offering, "Ang Pagbabago." His co-host in the show is Diana Zubiri. The two had a thing going for several months.

I didn't see the show's premiere but the feedback from those who did was encouraging.

Catch "Ang Pagbabago" every afternoon on GMA-7.

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I thoroughly enjoyed "My Girl," ABS-CBN's Koreanovela. I just finished the entire serial on DVD. I give it high marks for viewer pull. But I don't want to spoil things by revealing the ending.

The Philippines is prominently mentioned in the telenovela. The heroine, Yoo Rin, supposedly lived here.

Speaking of cameo references for the Philippines, Manila was mentioned in "Superman Returns." I watched it with two of my friends at the Director's Chair in the Mall of Asia. The theater is unique because the seats are not just seats. They're lounge chairs that vibrate, jostle and rock you in time with action on screen, making you feel you're in the movie.

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As I write this, a court in Manila issued a temporary restraining order against the holding of Famas' 54th awards night. The ceremonies were supposed to be held last Saturday at the UP Theater in Diliman, Quezon City. But TRO, issued by Judge Felixberto Olalia, is good for 72 hours beginning Friday. That means the organization will not be holding the annual event for the first time in its history.

The injunction was sought by a certain Col. Jimmy Tiu, who is contesting the election of Famas President Art Padua. Tiu claims to represent another set of Famas officers who were elected in June 25.

Padua says the election was declared void by another judge.

Also named as respondents in last week's TRO are Angel Calso of UP Theater, UP Theater business manager Vonn Perdon Golfo and the unnamed managing director and program acquisition director of the television network ABC 5 which Padua hired to air the event.

Tiu alleges that Padua's group cannot put up an awards night because the Famas as an organization listed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ceased to exist on May 26, 2003.

The Famas awards should have been the second in the country's yearly movie awards season. Last month the Philippine Movie Press Club held its Star Awards for Movies.

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Congratulations to The FREEMAN on its 87th anniversary. It's an honor for me to be writing for such an esteemed and venerable publication.