Roderick Paulate provides comic relief in 'Rosalinda'

Roderick Paulate is playing the role of Florencio, the flower shop owner and godfather of Rosalinda (played by Carla Abellana) in the new GMA 7 series “Rosalinda” that premiered last Monday, July 6.

At the presscon of Rosalinda last week, we jokingly asked Kuya Dick if he’s now a Kapuso star. He’s very much identified as a Kapamilya star, having done several shows on ABS-CBN like “Tonight with Dick and Carmi,” “Oki, Doki, Doc” and a lot more.

“If the definition of the word Kapuso is that you have a show on Channel 7, well then Kapuso ako—if that’s the basis. But what I can say is that I am a KaPinoy,” the award-winning actor remarked. “Ang isang KaPinoy, may pamilya at may puso.

Kuya Dick is excited to be working anew on the Kapuso network, especially on Rosalinda where he is reunited with Direk Maryo J. Delos Reyes

“I have been a Kapuso star before. I’ve always had a pleasant experience working on GMA 7. Kahit na umalis na ako sa kanila, they still want to get me. Nakaka-touch naman. It rarely happens that when a star goes to the Kapamilya network, the Kapuso network would say, if you’re not doing a show there, would you be willing to do a show for us? It’s very good gesture. Since I am not doing any show for ABS-CBN, I am free to accept projects on GMA.I also don’t have a contract with Channel 2. I only do shows with them on a per project basis,” he explained.

He’s also excited to be working again with Direk Maryo. “Besides, I am reunited with Direk Maryo J. delos Reyes, whom I worked with before in several movies like High School Circa. Kapag nakikita niya ako, he remembers the movies we did together like High School Circa ’65, Bala at Lipstick. Very relaxed ang taping namin. Kung ano ang gusto kong gawin sa role ko, kung anong joke ang gusto kong ibigay, okay lang ako. Minsan lang pinipigil ko lang kasi tumatawa na ang mga bata,” said the star of the indie film “Dead Na Si Lolo,” which did very well at the box-office.

Regarding his role as Florencio in the new GMA series, Kuya Dick explained that his role was actually an old man in the original series. Rosalinda runs to him for help and calls him Ninong. “They just changed the character since they wanted to add a different touch on the role. I think the producers abroad agreed in the change of the character that I am playing that’s why I am playing a gay character in the series,” he said.

If there’s a good project that will be offered to him, Kuya Dick wouldn’t mind doing another show for the Kapuso network.

Aside from doing Rosalinda, Kuya Dick is also in the cast of the Regal Entertainment movie “Oh My Girl,” starring Judy Ann Santos and Ogie Alcasid. He plays the adoptive father of Ogie while Carmi Martin plays the surrogate mom of Juday. Yes, Dick and Carmi are reunited after a long absence. “Inapi niya si Ogie kaya inaway ko siya. Dick and Carmi fought this time. It was a novel idea that Direk Dante Garcia thought in bringing back my tandem with Carmi and I am glad since we haven’t worked together for a long time.”

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Jericho Rosales had a successful solo concert titled Gintong Galing ng Pinoy held last Saturday, July 4, at the Aliw Theater. Produced by Western Union, this was the third leg in the concert series that had been staged in Cebu and Davao.

We were able to talk to Echo backstage before the concert and he told us that he considers it a big break for him to be given this chance by Western Union to headline this concert. Performing with Echo were Christian Bautista and Yeng Constantino.

According to Echo, the people from Western Union were pleased and pleasantly surprised when they saw him perform in the Cebu leg of the concert. “I really wanted to do my best and I didn’t want to disappoint them for the break they gave me. I am glad they liked my performance but I promise to do even better in our succeeding shows,” said the actor who is bent on making his own mark as a singer.

He was surprised when he learned that Western Union took interest in getting him for this concert series. He was very thankful and prayed hard for the concert’s success. In fairness, Echo did fairly well in his performance. The concert was rather long but the audience didn’t seem to mind, especially the females in the audience who went crazy over Jericho.

Echo also told us that he’s set to resume taping for the new soap opera with Kristine Hermosa. He’s excited to be working again with Kristine and is glad that there is a great clamor for their team-up to return.

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Getting a big break in the indie film Astig, one of the entries to the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival to start this July at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, is young actor and Eat Bulaga’s Mr. Pogi winner Edgar Allan Guzman. The film produced by Boy Abunda and Boy So is directed by GB Sampedro.

Edgar is in good as the four-episode film features him alongside noted actors Dennis Trillo, Arnold Reyes and Sid Lucero.

He plays the lead role in Episode 2 which tells the story of Boy, an expectant young father who has to sell his body to pay for his wife’s hospital bills. Edgar says it’s a big challenge for him to be given such a big role and he hopes that with the help of his director, he was able to perform well.

Astig is a full-length feature digital movie that will compete at the 2009 Cinemalaya Film Festival. It will have its world premiere at the CCP Main Theater on Saturday, July 18 at 9 p.m. and will also have gala screening at the CCP Main Theater on July 23 at 6:15 p.m. It will also be shown in various CCP venues on July 19, 21, 22, 24 and 25.