Is it goodbye to reunion movie of Sharon & Gabby?

Curtain-raisers:

• The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the Tribung Pilipino Foundation (TPF) welcome the public to Danny Dolor’s (photo) Harana Sa Dapithapon (Ika-10 Yugto), an afternoon tertulia musicale of Filipino love songs and immortal kundimans featuring Raul Sunico, Rachelle Gerodias, Lemuel dela Cruz, Liza Cabahug and Byeong in Park at the CCP Bulwagang Nicanor Abelardo on March 21 (Tuesday), 4 p.m.
• In a complaint against Cesar Montano, head of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), by TPB employees, Viva Films is mentioned having obtained a P12M sponsorship from TPB for the JaDine concert tour in the US and UAE to the tune of P12M. Here’s a clarificatory statement from Viva: At best, all we have is a proposal. Until all the approvals are obtained from the proper channels, any supposed sponsorship of the James Reid and Nadine Lustre (JaDine) tour is not binding on VIVA. Further, VIVA has not received any consideration from the Tourism Promotions Board for the supposed sponsorship. Thus, no Tourism Promotions Board sponsorship of the JaDine tour will proceed. (Signed by Jonathan Martin A. Montelibano, Vice President-Sales & Production, VIVA Communications, Inc.)
• Yes, of course, Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos has already been directed by Mike de Leon in a movie, the controversial Regal film Sister Stella L in which Vilma plays an activist nun. In last Sunday’s Conversation piece with Vilma, it was wrongly mentioned that she has never been directed by De Leon. Thanks to Pete Lacaba, Gil Portes and Ethel Ramos for the clarification.

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Are they or aren’t they? Re-teaming up in a movie, that is.

Almost three decades after they did a movie together, there are reports that Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion might do a reunion movie under Star Cinema. The report has actually been floated last year but up to now Star Cinema hasn’t issued any official announcement. Will it take forever for the project to materialize? Is the reel Sharon-Gabby team-up co-terminus with their real-life union?

All sorts of speculation have been spreading — that Gabby is asking for twice the alleged talent fee of Sharon (P5M times two?), that conflict of schedules is hampering the project, and that Sharon has been doggedly working out in preparation for the shoot that is taking forever to start.

“I have been waiting to shoot this movie forever,” Gabby texted back in answer to Funfare’s inquiry. “I have no reason to promote a movie at this time. Up to this day (Sunday, March 12), I have not been presented a script or a contract. However, it looks like the movie will be delayed indefinitely.”

Also contacted by Funfare (last Friday, March 10), Sharon said, “Minsan tuloy, minsan no. Now tuloy na naman. I’m not believing anything until we are actually shooting halfway through na.”

Funfare respectfully refrained from asking Sharon and Gabby about money matters. Late last week, Ahwel Paz reported on his dzMM program Mismo with Jobert Sucaldito that he texted Gabby to ask about the TF (Talent Fee) and Ahwel quoted Gabby as saying that he could do the movie “for free” just to please Sharon-Gabby fans who have been clamoring for their idols’ re-teamup.

As it is, Gabby may be too busy to do any project out of GMA with which he has just renewed his contract (two years exclusive). When he texted Funfare at noon last Sunday, Gabby said that he had just woken up because he finished taping early that morning for a GMA soap (he is in two shows, the trending Ika-6 Utos with Sunshine Dizon and Ryza Cenon and Tsuperhero with Bea Binene and Derrick Monasterio).

“My taping days are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday,” said Gabby, “and sometimes we do mall or out-of-town promo for Ika-6 Utos on Sundays. Family days are juggled between Thursdays and Sundays. GMA is my priority. We may find a way to squeeze in one or two shooting days a week if we do start shooting the movie.” But, added Gabby, “I am still hoping to do a movie someday.”

Finally, Funfare texted Star Cinema COO Malou Santos what the real score is.

“Actually, nothing is final yet on this project,” she texted back.

Anyway, if it would take forever, would the Sharon-Gabby fans still be interested if the movie were made?

Renz performs at 2017 Seasports Awards Night

Renz Verano (photo) and the Sassy Girls will treat Baywalk habitués to a free concert on Sunday, March 19 at 7 p.m., capping the awarding ceremonies for the 2017 Manila Bay Seasports Festival, to be hosted by Kristine Dera (of 90.7 Love Radio) and Tanya Chinita (of 101.1 Yes The Best).

Presented by Manila Broadcasting Company and the City of Manila, in cooperation with the Philippine Coast Guard, the seasports festival will feature Dragon Boat Racing as well as Stock & Formula Races for motorized bancas.

Teams taking part in the much-awaited annual water sports derby include Triton, Onslaught Racing Dragons, RCVP Sea Dragons, Philippine Blue Phoenix, Rogue Pilipinas, Dragons Republic, One Piece Drakon Sangres, Pilipinas Wave Warriors, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, NTMA Dragons, Amateur Paddlers Philippines, Bruins, Speed Devilz and Maharlika Drakon.

Motorboat racers from Antique, Aurora, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Dumaguete, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Mindoro, Navotas and Rizal will compete in stick and formula races.

The 2017 Manila Bay Seasports Festival is supported by EyeBerry, EO Optical and MyJuiz.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)