Solenn is a Net addict

Perhaps, much to the amusement of those who say that the Internet is detrimental to personal social interaction, local showbiz’s current “It” girl Solenn Heussaff  spends a considerable amount of time online sans apology, naming YouTube, Facebook and Twitter as her favorite sites.

“I once searched on YouTube an instructional video on how to cry on cue,” the French-Filipino model-turned-actress confessed somewhat sheepishly. “I thought that might be useful in my line of work.”

Solenn also goes online to keep abreast of goings-on in and outside the entertainment industry. Remember the brouhaha over an alleged incident that supposedly happened in one of her visits to Boracay? That rumor proliferated online where Solenn also slammed the issue and eventually cleared her name.

“Even online, there are always at least two sides to a story and it’s important that you get both before passing judgment on others,” she mused aloud.

Twitter is also a friend. Solenn, who has been on crutches these days after undergoing a foot operation, even tweeted photos of the wound on her foot. Apparently, a chunk of glass got embedded in her foot when she stepped on something in Thailand where doctors accidentally sewed it shut.    

Although the photo didn’t receive a million hits, it got various reactions from her followers, some of which amused Solenn to no end.

“They said, ‘Kakaloka — kadiri naman yang paa mo!’” she shared one of the tweets she received, laughing.

Asked how she handles bashers, Solenn turned pensive before answering. She acknowledged that for celebrities, any kind of publicity is still publicity. However, Solenn doesn’t think about it but simply clicks on the block button and, voila, basher vanishes hopefully forever.

With her “addiction” to the Internet, it’s no wonder that Solenn has been tapped to endorse TCAT, an Internet marketing company that specializes in creating online promotions on its various establishment partners.

TCAT Philippines offers daily deals ranging from 10 percent to 90 percent discounts in products and services from different merchants around the metro. It enables businesses to advertise, launch and promote their products and services online through offering attractive discounted deals that are applicable for a limited time.

“I’m very excited with this endorsement because I really love online shopping. Many sites these days show the whole range of products so it’s like you’re really there  inside their shops,” she enthused.

Consumers can visit www.tcat.com.ph to check the deals on for the day as well as sign up, receive emails and share those deals through social networking sites and receive rewards from TCAT.

Fortunately for Solenn, she has a lot of work these days so money won’t probably be an issue to the budding shopaholic.  We’ll call it retail therapy, right, Solenn?  

Cesar Hernando’s snapshots

Cesar Hernando’s Mula Sa Mga Aninong Gumagalaw: Behind The Scenes 1971-2001, a collection of snapshots taken while working in movies, will be on exhibit at 4 p.m. today. The event happens prior to the 6 p.m. opening of the seventh edition of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival at the CCP.

A Fine Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas, he began as an assistant director to National Artist Ishmael Bernal for his debut feature, Pagdating sa Dulo (1971). Later on, he would garner accolades and awards for his meticulously researched and imaginative designs for Mike de Leon’s Kisapmata (1981) and AKO Batch ’81 (1982) as well as for Maryo J. de los Reyes Tagos ng Dugo (1987) starring Vilma Santos. He also collaborated with Palm D’ Or recipient Raymond Red by doing the production design of the film Bayani (1993). He also designed Lav Diaz’s five-hour film, Batang West Side (2001).

Cesar has done some short feature films in 35mm like Maalinsangan ang Gabi (1993), Motorsiklo (2001) and Kagat ng Dilim (2006) starring Piolo Pascual. He is also a graphic designer and a professor at the University of the Philippines’ College of Fine Arts.

Admission is free. Museum hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily except Mondays and holidays. For particulars, call CCP Visual Arts and Museo at 832-3702.