Richard Gutierrez

Richard Gutierrez has a wide following among kids that's why Maggi Noodles cooked up a promo to tie up with Richard as Captain Barbell via Sisikat Kash sa Captain Barbell Collect and Text Promo. Richard is the newest endorser of the noodle brand, which traditionally gets a female endorser for the product (if we were not mistaken, Sharon Cuneta was an endorser of Maggi Noodles before). He signed a contract with Nestle last Tuesday at the GMA 7 studios.

Richard is flattered since it's the first time that Maggi is getting a popular male star as endorser. According to Nestle executives, they only had Richard in mind as endorser when they thought of this promo. "I never expected this coming but like I've said, I am really honored to be part of Nestle family once again. It's going to be a big project so it's really an honor for me."

He also added that doing "Captain Barbell" has been a big boost to his career and he'd like to thank GMA 7 as well as Nestle for this chance to reach out to more kids, and adults as well via the special promo with Maggi Noodles. He feels blessed to be given this big break.

Aside from taping "Captain Barbell," he's also shooting the movie "Mano Po 5" for Regal Entertainment. Then he's scheduled to have a nationwide promo tour. Every week starting October 21, Richard will be visiting public markets and supermarkets where consumers will get to meet him in person and get the chance to have an autographed Captain Barbell picture. Lots of gift packs and other prizes will be given out on the day of the event.

Maggi Noodles will take Captain Barbell to the following cities: Davao (October 21), Cagayan de Oro (October 28), Batangas (November 11), Cebu (November 18), Bacolod (November 25), Nueva Ecija (December 2), Baguio (December 9), Lucena (November 16) and Greater Manila Area (December 17).

Richard's so busy that he hardly has enough time for sleep. But he's not complaining. "I've gotten used to this kind of schedule. As long as I am enjoying my work and having fun, it's okay for me to do roadshows and movies since that's what I really enjoy doing. Every time I see the reaction of the kids, especially the kids from the provinces, how happy they are to see me, really makes me happy and is very humbling for me," says the lead star of "Captain Barbell."

He has shot for one day with Angel Locsin for "Mano Po 5" and he's happy to be reunited with her. "I don't feel any pressure working with her. We are always happy to be working together and I look forward to working with her," he says.

We asked Richard to comment on the issue that he snatched away the "Mano Po 5" project from Dennis Trillo who earlier told the press that he will be doing the movie with Angel. "I didn't snatch the project away from him. The script was given to me. I read it and I liked it so we accepted it. Dennis and I don't have a problem regarding this issue. The people who are complaining that this project was given to me instead of Dennis should direct their complaints to our producer. I am just an actor in the movie. I don't have a say on who should be in it," explains Richard. Iwa Moto pregnant?

There's trouble brewing on the set of youth-oriented program "Posh" being aired on QTV 11, every Saturday at 5 p.m.

Last Wednesday, controversial Starstruck 3 runner-up Iwa Moto was rushed to the hospital after she collapsed on the set of "Posh" in Antipolo. According to a text message we received from a certain M.R., Iwa started vomiting and soon after collapsed. Being blamed as the culprit is singer PJ Valerio, one of the Viva contract stars appearing in "Posh," a joint project of Viva TV and QTV 11.

The text message added that Gian Carlos, Vivo Ouamo, and Nikki Bacolod are mad at PJ. A meeting was held at the office of Viva TV executive Veronique del Rosario-Corpus. PJ and Nikki, who are being groomed as a loveteam in "Posh," are not in good terms after PJ said in an interview that his crush is Iwa Moto. Nikki, who is being matched with PJ, felt slighted. Same with Gian Carlos, who is the loveteam partner of Iwa, dating back to their "Starstruck" days.

The text message we received insinuates that there's something "sexual" happening between PJ (a Fil-Am, whose manner of speaking and actions are oftentimes misinterpreted as braggadocio) and Iwa who disappear always on the set of "Posh" during breaktime.

The text message states PJ, who is still a virgin, has the hots for Iwa who has this reputation for being a hot lady and would be willing to "give in" to anybody willing and able. This has caught the ire of Nikki, and Gian Carlos as well. The two obviously felt that with PJ and Iwa seemingly having the "hots" for each other, their respective loveteams are being put in disarray.

The text message we received though didn't say why PJ is being blamed for Iwa's collapsing on the set of "Posh." When we verified the information we received, Ferdie Cruz, PJ's handler in Viva TV, says PJ was not involved in the scene when Iwa suddenly collapsed. Ferdie was likewise clueless as to why PJ was being blamed for what happened to Iwa.

We are still trying to find out what caused Iwa to vomit and then collapse. Well, we hope she's not pregnant. Although a number of people who received the same text message we received were wondering as well if Iwa was pregnant. Robin-Regine reunion a success

Congratulations to GMA Films and Viva Films for the success at the box-office of their initial co-production venture "Till I Met You" starring Robin Padilla and Regine Velasquez, which opened last Wednesday at theaters nationwide.

GMA Films breaks its own record for biggest first day gross on regular run. "Targets have been exceeded," says Jayce Perlas of the GMA Corporate PR who handled the publicity for the Robin-Regine starrer that is packing crowds in theaters nationwide. Another competition for 'Donsol'

After winning the Special Jury Prize in the Asian Marine Film Festival in Makuhari, Japan, "Donsol" will be competing in the 21st Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival from October 16 to November 14 in Florida, U.S.A. Awards include Best Film, Best Director and Best Performer.

The festival begins with a pre-fest-kick-off week of films from October 16-19, with October 20 as the official opening night. Whether intense or light and funny, FLIFF's 2006 line-up offers a diverse selection of feature film, documentaries, shorts and tribute films from the U.S. and around the globe.

"Donsol," a fascinating story of healing and love, stars Angel Aquino and Sid Lucero. Directed by award-winning scriptwriter Adolf Alix, Jr., "Donsol" was one of the entries in the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.