Lovi Poe is a creature of the night in Aswang

Lovi Poe is certainly one of the busiest actresses of the year. She has appeared in several movies like Temptation Island, My Neighbor’s Wife and forthcoming this November is another Regal Films offering titled "Aswang" where the award-winning actress is paired with new Kapamilya hunk Paolo Avelino.

In this new movie directed by Jerrold Tarog, Lovi reprises the role played by Alma Moreno many years back. It’s the first time Lovi is playing an aswang and it’s also her first horror assignment.

How is it like playing an aswang? "It’s fun to do a horror film and each time I finish a take, we all burst into laughter," said Lovi at the press conference of "Aswang" held the other day. "I am not used to scaring people since the movies that I did were mostly dramas, if not comedy. First time kong mananakot ng tao."

She said the atmosphere on the set is very light, everyone is relaxed, even if at times they finish the shoot early in the morning the next day. Lovi finds it a challenge to do the role. "It’s hard to scare people plus imagine, I emerged from the ground. They dig into the ground and then I come out to scare people or I transform into a crow," says the actress about her role as a creature of the night.

Lovi says it’s fine with her to do a horror film. In fact, she’s doing another one with Dingdong Dantes. "In this movie, I scare people but in the movie with Dingdong, I'm the one being chased that’s why I am scared as well." She says that Direk Jerrold told her she should act like an animal that's why in some scenes, as part of her scaring tactics, she lets out a roar like an animal.

"Direk Jerrold says I should think that I am animal but I don’t have a peg on what animal I should pattern my role. Besides, inisip ko na hindi ko naman magagawa sa totoong buhay na maging aswang so magandang role talaga because I can play with it," added Lovi.

She says her director is meticulous but is very cool on the set. "He just gives instructions but once the camera starts rolling, wow, cool na cool, especially when it’s already late at night. He plays good music which makes everyone on the set feel relaxed," said Lovi.

How does she size up Paolo, her new leading man? "I find him very mysterious kasi tahimik pero kung minsan nagpapatawa rin siya. He’s the object of fantasy of many people on the set," said Lovi who added that even if she’s playing an aswang, in a dream sequence, she and Paolo gets to kiss.

"Aswang" opens on November 2. In line with the movie’s promo, Regal Entertainment is having a "bitefest" contest involving Paolo and Lovi. For more details, just log on to http://bit.ly/aswanglovi and http://bit.ly/aswangpaolo.

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Sexy actress Ehra Madrigal wouldn’t want to comment on the issue involving her talent manager Annabelle Rama and Nadia Montenegro. "I don’t want to comment because I am afraid that Tita Annabelle might get mad at me," jokingly said Ehra at the presscon of "Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin" held on Tuesday night.

Nadia and Annabelle are at odds because of Nadia’s filing a child abuse case against the controversial matriarch of the Gutierrez clan who manages her daughters. The two are exchanging unpleasant tweets on the Net, to the detriment of the young kids involved in the fiasco.

"All I can say is that I am happy with the way Tita Annabelle has handled my career. I don’t have any problem with her," said Ehra who added that she’s not in the position to comment because the rift does not involve her, only her manager and Nadia.

From being a model, Ehra was transformed by her Tita Annabelle into a TV star. It was Annabelle who molded her career and was instrumental in her appearing in TV shows and movies as well.

"I was a nobody before but through her efforts, I was able to have a contract with GMA at nakilala ako kahit paano. As talent. Tita Annebelle took good care of me and for that I am very grateful."

Ehra is likewise happy with the role given her in "Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin" as the doctor/psychiatrist of Tanya Garcia (who plays the wife of Gardo Versoza). It’s a mature role and she will be romantically linked to Gardon in the story.

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GMA Tween Star Joyce Ching at first couldn’t believe the break given to her and fave screen partner Kristoffer Martin to be the lead stars of Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin together with Barbie Forteza and Joshua Dionisio in the new afternoon drama series that will premiere on Monday, October 10.

Joyce said she was overwhelmed when she saw the large photos of her, Kristoffer, Barbie and Joshua at the venue where the presscon was held. "I am so overwhelmed because I just got back to GMA Artist Center last year when I did Endless Love then comes this big role," said Joyce.

When the story conference for Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin was held a few weeks back, Joyce didn’t want to believe when she was told by the production staff that she and Kristoffer are among the leads.

But both of them felt a little sad because they had to say goodbye to "Munting Heredera" (their characters were killed) because Joyce and Kristoffer could no longer accommodate Munting Heredera tapings on their sked because of their new afternoon drama.

"Nakakapanghinayang kasi ang dami talagang audience ng Munting Heredera. Ang taas ng rating, Nakaka-miss ang mga bata kasi sobrang close na kami sa isa't-isa. Medyo naiyak ako nung tanggalin kami kasi hindi ko ini-expect na tatanggalin kami kasi ang sabi kaya pa naman daw ng schedule namin para dito sa bagong show. Kaya tuloy pa rin kami sa Heredera. Tapos po nung dumating kami sa taping bigla na lang sinabi na kailangan na raw kaming patayin sa series kaya nakakalungkot po," said Joyce.

She admits feeling the pressure being the leads in the new afternoon series which is a remake of an old GMA show ten years ago, which was also a toprater. "Our wish is that the public would support our new show and we hope that our show will also be successful.

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Singer-composer Ogie Alcasid had a successful launch of his new perfume brand for Bench called OPM at the SM Mall of Asia last Friday, with no less than her pregnant wife Regine Velasquez gracing the occasion to show her support.

The launch was started via a mini concert by Ogie followed by an audio visual presentation where the new perfume brand with variants Gold and Platinum were presented to the public.

Ogie even joked that he’s now in the same league with Piolo Pascual and Dingdong Dantes since they’re all endorsing their own brand of Bench scents.

Part of the sales of the OPM perfume would go to the endowment fund of OPM (Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit) of which Ogie is the president.