Richard: Full sked after Full House

The GMA romance-comedy Full House (in which he co-stars with Heart Evangelista) is ending soon but Richard Gutierrez’s schedule remains even fuller, prompting him to politely turn down hosting the next season of Survivor Philippines (once hosted by Paolo Bediones who is now with TV5).

Anytime now, Richard will resume playing his usual superhero character in the return engagement of Captain Barbell. He’s also starring in a movie (no title yet) with Claudine Barretto and Anne Curtis in a joint venture between GMA Films and Viva Films, which will be partly shot in California sometime next month.

He has also been named spokesperson of the National Commission on Culture and Arts Festival (NAM-PIAF) 2010, launched in Malacañang Palace with NCCA officials led by executive director Cecile Guidote-Alvarez. A big factor in his selection is his being an “environmental hero” as host of the GMA docu shows Signos, Full Force Nature, Planet Philippines and Ondoy Special which had a great impact in keeping the environment clean and green. Richard assisted in the symbolic lighting of the NAM-PIAF 2010 logo and cutting of the ribbon of the art exhibit billed Ani ng Sining sa Malacañang.

More good news about Richard: The libel case he filed against PEP has been settled with the apology from PEP editor-in-chief Jo-Ann Maglipon. GMA executive Atty. Annette Gozon-Abrogar helped in the amicable settlement. Jo-Ann invited Richard and his parents, Eddie Gutierrez and Annabelle Rama, to the 10th-anniversary party of YES! magazine, sister company of PEP, at the NBC Tent at The Fort, Taguig City, on Feb. 23. The Gutierrezes promised to attend, together with Annabelle’s other talents.

Babyface at Big Dome March 10

It was “love at first song” with local fans when Babyface performed here two years ago.

It will be “love at first-to-the-last-song” when he returns for another concert on March 10 at the Araneta Coliseum.

To be mounted by Ovation Productions, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds Live! will showcase the talent and versatility of a musical phenomenon who has transformed pop music with his achievements in virtually every major facet of it as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist, record producer, film producer and entrepreneur.

Babyface’s own recordings were credited for helping rejuvenate the R&B tradition of the smooth, sensitive urban crooner, but their success was overshadowed by his successful songwriting and production work for other singers and artists.

Some of the hits that he either wrote or produced for other singers were I’ll Make Love To You, End Of The Road, When Will I See You, Whip Appeal, Breathe Again, Change The World, Exhale (Shoop Shoop), Take A Bow, When You Believe, Fire and Rain and many more.

(Note: The Philippine STAR is among the supporters of Babyface’s concert. Tickets are priced at P3,800, P3,500, P2,800, P1,800, P1,000 and P500. Call Ticketnet at SM department stores at 911-5555.)

Their say on COMELEC ‘ban’

Here’s ABS-CBN’s official statement on the COMELEC and PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting) position on the use of talents as endorsers/campaigners:

The call for ABS-CBN talents who endorse candidates to go on leave during the campaign period is not required by the Fair Election Act or its implementing rules and regulations. Section 36 of COMELEC Resolution No. 8758 in relation to Section 1(4) thereof and the Fair Election Act merely requires that media practitioners such as talents “shall not use his/her time or space to favor any candidate.” In this regard, it is ABS-CBN’s policy that its talents may not use any program to endorse or promote any candidate. This policy is strictly enforced by the network.

The provision of law cited by the PPCRV and COMELEC that requires media personalities to either resign or go on leave applies to employees only. Talents are not employees of the network and, therefore, the said provision does not apply to them.

And here’s what Dingdong Dantes (who’s endorsing Sen./Presidentiable Noynoy Aquino and his running mate Sen. Mar Roxas) says:

The COMELEC rule prevents artists from participating responsibly in a very important political exercise. It even deprives some artists the chance to earn extra income only because they are working in a candidate’s campaign. Worst, it forces many artists like me who are volunteering for Kuya Noynoy for free, even shouldering our own expenses, to choose between making a decent living and making a difference in a supposedly democratic exercise. I appeal to the sense of reason of the COMELEC and the Supreme Court to clarify the present issue and what I perceive as a flaw in the law. I request legal luminaries to guide and support us on this important issue. Most of all, I call on my friends and fellow workers in the industry to make a common stand.

Philipp Ines’ first solo show at Paseo Gallery Feb. 16-March 1

Startalk artist Philipp Ines’ first solo exhibit opens tomorrow, Feb. 16, at the Paseo Gallery (fourth floor, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City) where it will run until March 1.

A Fine Arts graduate from UP and finalist in the 1999 Shell National Student Art competition, Philipp called his exhibit Pinilakang Tabing because he sourced images from dated Filipino films, particularly photographs from LVN Pictures circa 1930s-1940s. He creates ambivalent scenes where “the line defining what is contemporary and what is modern is blurred, crossed over and questioned.”

(Paseo Gallery’s phone number: 706-5514.)

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