MANILA, Philippines — Na-cast ang isang Pinoy actor sa bagong American series ng CW na Kung Fu. Siya ay si JB Tadena at kasama siya sa season two ng naturang series as Chef Sebastian. Bida sa Kung Fu ay ang Chinese-American actress na si Olivia Liang.
Kuwento ng 38-year old Fil-Am actor, ilang beses daw siyang na-reject sa auditions at muntik na siyang sumuko.
“I get this audition, same with a number of our friends within the community. And it says you know, ‘hot chef.’ I was just thinking in my head, there’s just no way just because something like that usually calls for, you know, CW-attractiveness which is beyond the scale of 10.
“I love Sebastian. He’s a charming chef with an edge. He’s very, on the surface, has everything together. He’s confident, he’s very charming, but like all these kinds of characters, there’s something that’s just beneath and there’s so much, so many layers that need to be peeled before you get to him and his vulnerability. It’s something I think that’s in all of us, and it’s fun to explore, and to do it with this cast has just been a blessing.”
Masayang nakasama si Tadena sa Kung Fu dahil nagkaroon na raw ng malakas na following ang CW series dahil sa groundbreaking Asian representation nito at sa pag-spotlight sa underrepresented talents.
“It’s pretty crazy because up until I booked this, I still thought it was an impossibility for me to play a love interest on national television, but it’s here. It’s happening. Slowly, we’re making these strides. And I think, you know, it’s going to be new for people to see. And I think they’re gonna enjoy it.”
Parehong Filipino ang parents ni Tadena at pinanganak siya sa Los Angeles, California. Nagtapos siya ng college sa Pennsylvania State University at nagtrabaho siya bilang satellite engineer for seven years bago siya magdesisyon na maging actor.
Kabilang sa TV credits ni Tadena ay ang paglabas niya sa US series na SEAL Team, Hawaii Five-0, NCIS, Westworld, Kat Loves LA, American Horror Story, Criminal Minds, Grey’s Anatomy, Perception at Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Kasama rin siya sa upcoming Disney animated series na Firebuds.
Katrina, naudlot ang pagsali sa American Idol
Hindi na matutuloy ang Suklay Diva na si Katrina Velarde na makasali sa American Idol.
Sa kanyang Facebook account, kinuwento ni Katrina ang pag-audition niya virtually para sa American Idol noong nakaraang taon. Nakapasa naman daw ito sa audition, pero naging problema raw ay ang kanyang visa kaya hindi na siya nakarating para sa in-person audition niya. “Last year, someone from American Idol reached out to me and asked if i want to audition virtually so i did. I sang at 5am PH time. Kaloka dzai. Producers of the show were watching and more. I remember a lot of an amazing singers from different countries auditioning. I passed the levels but then the problem came and it’s always the VISA. I wont make it to the audition in person. Sayang! Pag hindi pa talaga time, it’s not going to happen yet... So dont rush, because there’s no shortcut. Might be a long way but if god wants you in there, then you will be.”
Hindi kataka-takang mabighani ang producers ng American Idol sa boses ni Katrina dahil nahasa ito sa pagiging kontesera niya. Naging contestant si Katrina sa Little Big Star noong 2006 kung saan nakasabayan niya sina Charice Pempengco a.k.a. Jake Zyrus at Sam Concepcion. Sumali rin siya sa Talentadong Pinoy noong 2011 at sa X Factor Philippines noong 2012.
Valeen, inggit sa mga kaibigang may pamilya
Handa na raw si Valeen Montenegro mag-asawa at kung mag-propose na raw sa kanya ang non-showbiz boyfriend na si Riel Manuel, mabilis daw siyang sasagot ng ‘”oo.”
Inamin ng Bubble Gang mainstay na nasa tamang edad na siya para mag-settle down na. Tsaka karamihan daw ng mga kaibigan niya, in and out of showbiz, ay may mga asawa at mga anak na.
“Nakakainggit lang, ‘di ba? Kasi makikita mo sa social media accounts ng friends mo na they have their own families na. Kapag nag-post sila, kasama ang mga anak nila. Tapos ako mag-isa lang akong nagse-selfie. Parang nakaka-sad para sa akin, eh!” tawa pa niya.
Dagdag pa niya: “I’m in this age na I should be thinking about settling down. But I am not pressuring my boyfriend naman. Ayoko siyang i-pressure. Ako lang ito. When he feels na it’s the right time, mararamdaman ko naman iyon.”