Three years in the making, "Habang May Buhay" finally ready for airing

Direk Wenn Deramas is happy that he finally got to work with Judy Ann Santos in the new teleserye of the primetime drama queen titled “Habang May Buhay.” Direk Wenn is flattered and honored at the chance that was given to him by ABS-CBN to direct Juday for the first time.

He may have waited for quite a while and it took three years before “Habang May Buhay” finally got an airtime, still Direk Wenn is very grateful because he was entrusted with the project that changed directors twice, together with its production staff.

“It’s worth the long wait but we can’t extend it beyond 13 weeks because that was all there in our contract,” he said of the medical drama-themed series. But Direk Wenn will have more of Juday because they have started work on a movie titled “Hating-Kapatid” for Viva Entertainment where Sarah Geronimo plays Juday’s sister.

But before that there’s “Habang May Buhay” that also features Derek Ramsay as the main love interest as well as Joem Bascom, Gladys Reyes, Gina Alajar, Rio Locsin, Tetchie Agbayani, and John Arcilla, among others. It finally starts airing on Monday, February 1 on ABS-CBN Primetime Bida.

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The very first person who came to our mind when we heard that Regal Entertainment producer Lily Monteverde (Mother Lily to showbiz folks) is giving Senator Mar Roxas a presscon was Senator Loren Legarda, who, like Mar, is running for vice-president in the May 10 national elections.

Mother Lily is one of the staunch supporters of Loren when the former broadcaster entered politics in 1998. While Mother Lily really throws her support to a number of senatorial bets in the past, we thought all the while that Mother Lily is solidly behind Loren, until we attended the presscon she gave for Mar last Wednesday.

In a speech that she gave to welcome Mar and his wife Korina Sanchez, it was pretty obvious that she is throwing her full support to Mar. We no longer need to ask Mother Lily if she still is supporting Loren because how can she support two bets for the vice-presidential race?

Mother Lily said, “I did not think twice about supporting Mar because I believe in his ideals, his decisions, his vision. He committed himself to education, trade and industry, consumer welfare, the media, giving jobs to the unemployed and many more…

“I am proud to support Mar because I believe that he is a brilliant politician and a hardworking public servant. Together with Noynoy Aquino as president, I know they are out to make a good difference for clean, good and honest government."

“So let’s all support and vote for Mar. Tuloy ang laban.”

After Mother Lily’s speech, the senator asked the lady producer to autograph his copy of Mother Lily’s speech.

“I really appreciate it very, very much, from my heart at mula sa aking pagkatao, maraming-maraming salamat, Mother Lily. Alam ko Mother na hindi madali para sa isang independent na negosyante na tumayo at magsabi na para ako dito sa kandidato na ito. Talagang kakaiba po ito, Mother. It's gutsy but it's so motherly to stick your neck out for what you believe in, just like you stick your neck out for each one of your movies dahil mahal na mahal mo ang bawat sine (pelikula) na ginagawa mo at inihahain mo sa sambayanan," said Roxas as response.

“Parang feel ko na rin na isa ako sa mga anak mo, na nasa stable ng Mother Lily, and I am very, very honored. Hinding-hindi ko po kayo bibiguin. I will never make you look bad at pagsisihin na sinuportahan mo si Mar Roxas. Thank you very much, Mother Lily.”

When Korina was also asked to give a message, the broadcaster said that when she became Mrs. Roxas, she trained herself to not talk too much. Now, she said it seems she's having a lockjaw and can’t open her mouth.

“Pero there is gratitude and love of a very lovely and beautiful woman, Mother Lily. Of course, we all know, Mother Lily, lalo na sa amin na nasa news and Mar who is in politics, that Mother Lily is a star maker. Pero pag nakilala mo siya and in a course of several meetings, lalo namin nakita ang kadakilaan ng kanyang puso,” said the host of Rated K.

Korina also believed that Mother Lily took a big risk in supporting Mar. “Alam naman natin na ang laban na ito ay hindi madali. Malayo pa tayo sa last quarter kumbaga sa basketball. Yung tumataya ng ganito kaaga kay Mar ay hindi natin makakalimutan. Mother Lily, hindi ka namin bibiguin sa kahit na anong paraan. Maraming salamat sa iyong suporta,” she added.

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When news first came out that Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano were doing a concert together titled “As 1” for the first time after 25 years, there was much excitement and anticipation. The concert was immediately tagged as a sell-out and was predicted (if not expected) to be a success. And it proved as such when it was staged at the Mall of Asia concert ground last year and also became a hit when it went on tour in the United States.

We asked Gary V at the presscon of the second leg of the US tour of their “As 1” if he felt that the concert would be that successful in the US.

“In a way, yes, because it’s a spectacle for me. We can take it back there again and again. It can transform. Something else could be created in the process,” said Mr. Pure Energy.

“I know that a lot of people would surely come and watch but we didn’t expect the kind of response they gave Martin and I. Wow! That’s all I can say on the way the people responded to all the places we went to for our concert tour,” added Gary.

The second leg of “As 1” US tour takes Martin and Gary to Washington DC (Feb. 27), Connecticut (Feb. 28), Tampla Bay, Florida (March 6), Reno, Nevada (March 12), Canada (March 14), Dallas, Texas (March 19) Pasadena, California (March 21), Dubai (April 8) at Qatar (April 9).

Martin and Gary's fans around the world can look forward to their unforgettable production numbers and high-powered performances which include their greatest hits, today's chart-toppers, OPM classics and their classic theme songs from soap operas and movies. As an added treat, they will also get to see Martin dance with Gary.