Will heads roll in Eat, Bulaga!?

First, the good news: GMA 7’s 28-year-old noontime show Eat, Bulaga! will undergo a major reformatting anytime now. Good for its followers both here and abroad (reached by Pinoy TV) who have stuck to the show through almost three decades, through its changes in hosts, through its ups and downs, through its constant "reinventions."

Now, the bad news: Heads will inevitably roll in the process of reformatting, but the Funfare DPA didn’t reveal who the "casualties" will be. "There are just too many hosts," said the DPA.

The DPA added that the reformatting has nothing to do with the fact that the rival noontime show, ABS-CBN’s Wowowee, sometimes overtakes Bulaga! in the ratings game.

"In the past 28 years," explained the DPA, "Bulaga! has been undergoing regular reformatting in keeping with the times. Bulaga! has been on the air for so long, moving from RPN 9 to ABS-CBN and then to GMA, and it has proven its durability more than enough."

If you want to find out, well, whose heads will roll, stay tuned to Bulaga! Don’t change channels.

Being Kris not new to John L.

John Lapus doesn’t hide the fact that, yes, he’s swinging both ways. I mean, he now appears on GMA shows (as co-host of S-Files, etc.) and in movies produced by Star Cinema, sister company of John’s former home station ABS-CBN, like the company’s latest project, Ang Cute Ng Ina Mo (topbilled by Ai-Ai de las Alas in the title role).

"It’s because my exclusive contract with GMA is only for TV," said John, "so I can do movies for other companies and ‘live’ shows produced by other companies."

Such as Rock da Vote which is the second production (after the concert starring Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby) of ASAP Live Productions (also associated with ABS-CBN), slated for April 13 and 14, and 20 and 21, at the Music Museum. John will reprise his impersonation (as Kris Anino) of his good friend Kris Aquino (and also as Madame Auring and Tita Cory). Rock da Vote also stars Jon Santos (as Ate Vi, Kuringning Sanchez and Madam Melding), Candy Pangilinan (as Presidentita Gloring and Miriam Defensive Santiagot) and Pooh (as Manny Pacman).

Guesting on Rock da Vote are Tessie Tomas (as Meldita) on April 13 and 14; and Chokoleit (as Sherap Espada and Bro. Mike) on April 20 and 21.

Isn’t Kris peeved by his exaggerated impersonation?

"I don’t think so," said John. "If you recall, everytime Kris was absent from The Buzz, I would replace her, dressed like her and sound like her. Once, I even guested as Kris Anino in a special edition of Pilipinas, Game KNB?"

Holding the singular "honor" of being the only other man (aside from Phillip Salvador, Joey Marquez and James Yap) who has seen Kris in the nude — in the flesh!!! — John said that he knows Kris very well, upside-down, inside-out.

"Without her knowing it," said John, "I’ve been studying Kris closely; I’ve been observing her...the way she talks, the way she moves, even the way she frowns, smiles and laughs. Pareho din kaming medyo paos ang boses."

What about Madame Auring?

"Ay, riot ang portrayal ko sa kanya," exclaimed John. "Talagang may asim. Maasim na maasim."
Michael Templo is his own man
He could have been in the military like his dad, Gen. Mitch Templo (Ret.). Or in showbiz (he has the looks, doesn’t he?) like his mom, actress Mildred Ortega.

But Michael Templo opted to be his own man and instead became a lawyer (who graduated from a university in New York where he studied and worked for seven years).

Now specializing in immigration cases, Michael and his associates last January opened a Templo & Templo office in Manila (at the fifth floor, YL Finance Building, 115 V.A. Rufino cor. Salcedo Sts., near Mile Long, Legaspi Village, Makati City).

"This time, it’s more convenient for us to help our kababayan," said Michael who still shuttles between New York and the Philippines. "We charge 50 percent less than what other (immigration) lawyers charge."

The Templo & Templo office provides immigration assistance for the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK for the following: Tourist visa applications, student visa applications, working visa applications, family-based immigrant petitions, employment-based immigrant petitions, business temporary entry, business and investment, permanent resident, family migration, skilled and business migration and change of status/adjustment of status.

"We provide free consultation," said Michael.

(Note: You may call the Templo & Templo office at 893-59-64 or send text messages to 0916-4909715 or 0917-5380797.)
Welcome to the Taiwan Filmfest
TEAM Communication and the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office invite everybody to the Taiwan Film Festival which opened yesterday and ends on Thursday, March 29, at the William Shaw Little Theater, De La Salle University, Manila.

Showing are the following films:

Bohemians in Taipei by Hung Hung, today, 10 a.m. to 12 noon;

The Magical Washing Machine by Lee Yun-Chan, today, 1 to 2 p.m.;

Three Times by Hou Hsiao-Hsien, today, 2 to 4 p.m.;

The Rhythm in Wulu Village by Wang Chung-hsiung, Wednesday (March 28), 10 a.m. to 12 noon;

Summer Dream by Cheng Yu-Chieh, Wednesday (March 28), 1 to 2 p.m.;

Do Over by Yu-Chieh Chieng, Wednesday (March 28), 2 to 4 p.m.;

Let It Be by Len Yan Chun, Thursday (March 29), 10 a.m. to 12 noon;

Small Station by Lin Chien-Ping, Thursday (March 29), 1 to 2 p.m.; and

Chocolate Rap, Thursday (March 29), 2 to 4 p.m.

(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph.)

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