Ellen Adarna is new Bench babe

When a company like Bench gets a star as an endorser, it’s as good as saying that star has arrived. If you care to notice, most of the big celebrities, both young and old, were once a part or still a part of the clothing company founded by Ben Chan.

Some of the noted names in the Bench marquee include Richard Gomez (its original endorser), Marian Rivera, Regine Velasquez, Coco Martin, Richard Gutierrez, Piolo Pascual, Ogie Alcasid, Solenn Heussaff, Dingdong Dantes, Tom Rodriguez and Dennis Trillo. There are too many to mention, to say the least.

Bench has tapped the most popular stars to endorse their many products that include perfumes, pants, t-shirts and intimate apparel. The latest celebrity to join the growing family of Bench is sexy star Ellen Adarna who was launched as the newest Bench Body endorser on Monday, July 14, at the basement of the Bench building in the Fort.

Ellen agrees that being picked as an endorser by the famed brand means that she has indeed “arrived.” Of course, what adds excitement to it, she says, is the thrill of seeing her giant billboard along EDSA.

Asked why she failed to attend the FHM Top 100 Sexiest event, the Cebuana said she wasn’t ready for it. But she was there in the audience to cheer for her friend Beauty Gonzales. She was busy taping for “Moon of Desire,” her soap on ABS-CBN, for which she had to cut short her Japan vacation and come home to report for taping.

Not being on the catwalk this year would also allow some of her fans to miss her somehow. But she clarified that she would be more than willing to show off onstage next year, should she be invited to join.

***

Director Jay Altarejos is making his comeback to the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival after several years of absence. The director, who is known for his gay-themed movies like “Ang Lihim ni Antonio” and “Unfriend” (released in 2013) is also fielding a gay-themed movie this year, titled “Kasal.”

Playing leads in “Kasal” are Arnold Reyes, who won a Cinemalaya best supporting actor trophy for “Astig” some years ago and former teen star Oliver Aquino, who is making his bid as an actor in a mature role.

“Kasal” tells the story of a gay couple whose resolve to stay together is challenged as they attend a wedding. It is also an examination on how a gay couple navigates the different institutions of Philippine society.

“It is a take on the concepts of love and commitment and how the same are tested and redefined by time and circumstances,” said Direk Jay in a brief interview during the recent Cinemalaya presscon.

The director had some schedule problems with the stars that he had meant to cast in “Kasal.” When we first got wind of “Kasal” in an earlier interview with Direk Jay, he mentioned that Polo Ravales was cast in the role of Sherwin who is a lawyer. But Polo had to back out of the role because “Kambal Sirena,” of which he had a major role, was extended and he could no longer shoot. He was replaced by another actor Mike Liwag who had to back out as well because of schedule problems too.

“We had to reshoot most of the scenes when Arnold (Reyes) entered the cast and it was not easy to reshoot kasi siyempre matatapon na ‘yung mga naunang kinunan na. And we were pressed for time. Then there’s also the problem of finances. Cinemalaya is only giving us P500,000 as seed money so we had to look for additional funding as well. That is also not easy to do,” said the director who is happy that he was able to finish the project in time.

“It has been a long road in finding the final cast. But, like any kind of relationship, ‘Kasal’ is a work in progress and people involved in it tried hard to make it work,” he added.

Also in the cast of “Kasal” are Rita Avila, Maureen Mauricio, Ruby Ruiz, Rener Concepcion, Sue Prado, Ron Cieno, Chloe Carpio, Luis Ruiz, Kimmy Maclang, Ray-an Dulay,  and Christine Florendo.

***

Keanna Reeves is featured in a movie with her boyfriend Kevin Mercado. But it is not a soft porn flick and neither is it about their love story.

The movie titled “Magtiwala Ka: A Super Typhoon Yolanda Story” is about the aftermath of the super typhoon Yolanda and how it affected the lives of the people devastated by the destruction.

The indie film is about environmental awareness and societal statement. But we heard that Keanna was absent at the special screening of “Magtiwala Ka” because she got mad at her director. When Keanna saw the movie’s poster, she was aghast to find out that her boyfriend’s photo is bigger than hers.

She even said that she suspects their gay director named Joric Raquiza is “interested” in her 20-year-old boyfriend.

The director, says Keanna, is calling out through postings in Facebook to support Kevin, to Keanna’s consternation. “Ako ang bida sa movie, bakit si Kevin lang ang pino-promote niya?”

“Magtiwala Ka: A Super Typhoon Yolanda Story” is now showing in select theaters.