Sen. Revilla hails Francis M as modern-day icon, ‘Pinoy pride’

Master Rapper Francis Magalona was as much a “Pinoy pride" as his signature shirts that were emblazoned with words and images of patriotism, according to fellow celebrity and Sen. Ramon “Bong" Revilla Jr.

In a message of condolence, Revilla hailed Magalona as a Philippine icon who had helped inspire the public, especially the youth, into not losing touch of their love for the country through the arts. Magalona on Friday succumbed to multiple organ failure. He was 44.

“The country has lost a modern-day artist, a nationalist in his own creative way. Francis M. used music and fashion to promote love of country among Filipino youth," said Revilla, who was a full-time movie star before entering politics.

Revilla praised Magalona for serving as a perfect example of not only hurdling medical ailments like leukemia but also honing one’s skills to live a productive life.

"Ehemplo siya bilang isang Pilipinong nadapa sa mga pagsubok ng kabataan ngunit nakayang bumangon at paunlarin ang kakayahan [He is a model of a Filipino who fell down as a young man but stood up armed with his talent]," the senator said.

“Gaya ng tatak ng mga T-shirt na ginawa niyang intrumento para palaganapin ang patriotism sa mga bagong henerasyon, siya ay maipagmamalaki ng bansa, tunay na "Pinoy Pride [Like the messages and symbols of his T-shirts, which he used to spread patriotism among the new generation, he is a pride of the country, truly the pride of Filipinos]," Revilla added.

The demise of Magalona was announced by Vic Sotto halfway into Friday’s episode of GMA’s noontime show "Eat Bulaga," in which Magalona stood in as host for over a decade.

The Master Rapper is survived by his wife Pia Maria Arroyo Magalona and his eight children, including celebrity Maxene Magalona.

Magalona’s remains were brought late Friday to Christ the King Memorial Chapel at Green Meadows in Quezon City.

Immediately after news of Magalona’s death broke out, relatives and friends immediately came rushing to The Medical City Hospital in Mandaluyong City, among them long-time friends Michael V, Ogie Alcasid, and Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista.

"Walang Michael V kung walang Francis M [There would be on Michael V without a Francis M]," Michael V said after emerging from the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital to face reporters.

Bautista – a showbiz personality himself – said Magalona was “a close friend [and a] great loss to the industry."

Fans also took the time to send messages of condolence through blog entries, with one blogger even alluding to an Eraserheads song that Magalona remade: “As the song 'Super Proxy' says, there’s no substitute for the real."

It would be remembered that Magalona himself mastered the technology of blogging to give fans a regularly updated account of his medical treatment, even posting pictures of his chemotherapy sessions.

As of 3 p.m. Friday, Magalona’s last blog entry got 700 comments, with at least 30 bloggers posting their condolences every minute.

Jennylyn Mercado's house not from Bong Revilla

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. has denied that he bought a house for former leading lady Jennylyn Mercado.

"Sa totoo lang hindi ko na siya nakikita. Huwag ‘yong tira ng tira dahil nakakasira kayo ng buhay ng may buhay," Revilla told “SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon.”

In a previous interview, Mercado already said there was no truth to that rumor, adding that she saw no reason for the senator to give her a house.

The controversial house is said to be located in Quezon City. Rumors said Revilla bought a house for Mercado, a single mother, after their movie “Resiklo” in 2007.

According to Mercado’s manager, Becky Aguila, the house is a rent-to-own type and the actress is the one paying the rent.

GMA Films may return to MMFF this year with Bong Revilla's Panday

Sa second press conference ng When I Met U ng Regal Entertainment at GMA Films last Monday, January 26, nakausap ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ang GMA Films executive na si Joey Abacan. Tinanong namin siya sa mga susunod na projects ng GMA Films para sa taong ito pagkatapos ng Valentine offering nila starring Richard Gutierrez and KC Concepcion.

"Maraming plano, pero isusunod na ang Sundo," sabi ni Joey, tinutukoy ang horror movie na pinagbibidahan nina Robin Padilla, Sunshine Dizon, Katrina Halili, at Rhian Ramos.

Malamang na bago mag-Holy Week ipalalabas ang Sundo. Talagang nagtagal daw sila sa post-production ng unang full-length horror movie ni Robin dahil sa special effects nito.

Naitanong din namin ang Angelina, ang movie version ng character nina Ogie Alcasid at Michael V sa Bubble Gang. Ngunit sa APT Entertainment daw ito at malamang na mag-co-produce lang ang GMA Films o di kaya ay mag-media partner.

Nabanggit din ang unang pelikula ni Marian Rivera this year, pero hindi pa puwedeng masabi ang pangalan ng magiging partner niya.

Dumako ang usapan sa nabalitang Andres Bonifacio biopic, na balitang pagbibidahan ni Dennis Trillo at magpapabalik sa GMA-7 sa taunang Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) tuwing Kapaskuhan. Pagkatapos ng Mulawin The Movie noong 2005, hindi na muling sumali ang film arm ng Kapuso network sa MMFF bagama't nag-media partner ito sa Regal para sa magkasunod na Desperadas at Desperadas 2.

May nakapagsulat na sasali ngayong taon sa MMFF ang GMA Films sa pamamagitan ng Bonifacio.

"Ha? May nabasa nga ako pero walang ganoon," paglilinaw ni Joey. "Pero baka sumali nga kami sa MMFF 2009, makikipag co-produce kay Bong [Revilla Jr.] sa Panday niya."

Sa thanksgiving party para sa entertainment press ng pamilya Revilla kagabi, January 27, sa Annabel's restaurant, ay ipinalabas ang isang teaser na sinimulan pagkatapos ng opening speech ni Senator Bong, kung saan binanggit niya na may bago nga siyang pelikula.

Mga logo ng GMA Films at Imus Production ang teaser movie, kung saan isang meteor ang bumubulusok mula sa kalawakan. Sa malaking tipak na bato, lalabas ang isang mahabang espada at sa lupa, makukuha ito ni Bong Revilla saka ilalabas ang buong titulo ng pelikula—Carlo J. Caparas' Panday.

Kinausap agad ng PEP ang aktor tungkol sa Panday. Ang alam niya, baka November daw ito ipalabas. Pero depende rin daw kung makakapasok ito sa screening committee ng MMFF 2009. Wala pa ring napipiling leading lady si Bong na gaganap ng original Flavio. (Sa Dugo ng Panday ni Bong noong 1993, kapangalang apo lang siya ng original na Panday na ginampanan ni Fernando Poe Jr.).

Sina Rico Gutierrez at Mac Alejandre daw ang magdidirek ng Panday mula sa panulat ni RJ Nuevas.

May apat na installment ang original na Panday series ng yumaong Hari ng Pelikulang Pilipino: Ang Panday (1981), Ang Pagbabalik ng Panday (1982), Panday: Ikatlong Yugto (1983), at Panday: Ika-apat Na Aklat (1984).

Noong 1993, ini-spoof ito ni Joey de Leon sa Pandoy, Ang Alalay ni Panday.

Taong 1993 din nang ibinalik ang Panday series sa Dugo ng Panday nga ni Bong ngunit descendant lang ng original character ang ginampanan niya kahit Flavio pa rin ang pangalan nito. Noong 1998 naman, si Jinggoy Estrada ang nag-Panday sa Hiwaga ng Panday, kung saan ang character niyang si Guiller ang nakakuha ng espada ni Flavio.

Sa primetime soap ng ABS-CBN na Panday noong 2005, hindi rin si Flavio ang ginampanan ni Jericho Rosales sa title role kundi isa pa sa mga nakakuha ng espada, si Tristan.

Pamalakaya to Bong Revilla: 'Stop your father’s Sangley dream'

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) is objecting to the reclamation of coastal areas along Manila Bay to give way to the development of Sangley Point in Cavite City.

The activist fisherfolk alliance on Thursday called on Sen. Ramon “Bong" Revilla Jr to convince his father Ramon Sr, a former senator and concurrent chair of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), to scrap the project because it would affect fishermen in Cavite.

Revilla Sr wants to transform Sangley Point, a former US Naval Station, as an international logistics hub in Southern Tagalog region.

“Senator Bong Revilla, as chair of the Senate Committee on Public Works and Highways, must listen to the voice of the fisherfolk and the people in general who are affected by this across-the-bay reclamation project of his father to pave way for the transformation of Sangley Point into an international port harbor in the tradition of Hong Kong and Singapore," Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a statement.

Revilla Sr had talked about his dream to develop the Sangley Point as an international logistics hub where casinos, hospitals, call centers and recreational centers would be built.

But before construction could take place, the PRA must first reclaim coastal areas in Manila Bay, particularly in the coastal towns of Bacoor, Tanza, Noveleta, Kawit and Cavite City.

Hicap said the reclamation project would displace not less than 26,000 fishing families along the bay from Bacoor to Cavite City. He said the reclamation would also fast track the “death of Manila Bay" as a major fishing ground in the country.

Pamalakaya said Senator Revilla, as chairman of the powerful Senate Committee on Public Works and Highways, could intervene in favor of the collective interest of the people in Cavite.

Revilla Sr, a strong ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said the P 200-billion Sangley Point Development Project can lead to various businesses and if completed could rival other major international ports in Asia like that in Singapore and Hong Kong. It is also seen to generate jobs to people of Cavite.

New prosecutor to handle Revilla case

A new prosecutor will handle the preliminary investigation of the child abuse case against Princess Revilla, sister of Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., filed by her former maid.

Lawyers of Renalyn Arota, 17, sought a new prosecutor after they expressed concern that she would not get a fair hearing. They asked the former prosecutor, Dennis Pastrana, to inhibit himself from the case for allegedly showing “extraordinary preferential treatment” to Revilla. The Pasig Regional Trial Court resumes hearing of the case this month when the new prosecutor, who has yet to be named, will take over.

In a motion filed in August, lawyers Yvonne Gaddi-Festejo and Irene Alogoc said certain acts of Pastrana created “serious doubts in the mind of the complainant as to his impartiality.”

The lawyers said that during the July 14 hearing, for example, the prosecutor allowed Arota’s mother and relatives to participate in the proceedings “despite the fact that they are not parties to the case.”

Arota’s mother allegedly tried to take her daughter forcibly after failing to convince the young girl to drop the case.

Pastrana, the lawyers claimed, did not even attempt to control the situation.

They also said Pastrana changed the time of the July 28 hearing from 2 p.m. to 11 a.m., without informing the complainant and her lawyers.

Pastrana, they said, had their contact numbers and Arota was staying at the Department of Social Work and Development’s Pasig office in a building nearby.

During the hearing, the prosecutor received counter-affidavits of Revilla’s witnesses. Arota, her lawyers said, was deprived the right to confirm the identity of the witnesses.

“With due respect, what transpired in the preliminary investigation on July 28, 2008 created serious doubt in the mind of the complainant as to the impartiality of the Honorable Fiscal,” the lawyers said in their motion.

Arota filed the child abuse case against Revilla in June after allegedly escaping from her former employer’s Valle Verde residence on June 12. She told the police she had been beaten with a broomstick.

She also claimed she was maltreated a number of times and on March 28 and was illegally detained at her employer’s condominium on Roxas Boulevard after she was allegedly mauled.

Revilla denied Arota’s claims in earlier affidavits, adding that the housemaid ceased to be her employee at the end of March.

Bong Revilla appeals for more prayers for his father

Former Senator Ramon Revilla health has improved but is still critical after suffering a stroke Tuesday morning.

His son, Senator Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr., said that on a scale of one to ten (ten being the best), her father's condition has improved from 2 to 5 as of Tuesday night.

Revilla said the next three days will be critical for the 81-year-old patriarch of the Revilla clan.

He asked the public to continue praying for his father's recovery.

"Kailangan pa rin ng dasal," said Revilla, who followed his father's successful career from acting to politics.

Revilla said his father is battling his illness as indicated by his response after he told him that he has a new great grandchild, Alexa Daniela del Rosario, who was born Tuesday to parents Inah and Vince del Rosario.

"Napaluha siya...napangiti siya," Revilla said of his father's response.

Bong's daughter, Inah, gave birth at 6:59 p.m. at the Makati Medical Center just hours after her grandfather suffered a stroke.

The Revilla patriarch became senator in 1992 after a long career in the movie industry. He became known as the father of the Public Works Act which was signed into law in 1995.

Lani Mercado leads husband's Senator Bong Revilla Jr. bloodletting project

In Time for his husband's birthday, Lani Mercado headed the bloodletting project of Senator Bong Revilla Jr.

"This is our second year of doing this. We had organized same event last year and it turned out well so we decided to do it annually," the Revilla's matriarch said.

The senator celebrated his birthday Wednesday, September 24, 2008.

The bloodletting project is a personal project of Senator Bong in partnership with the different hospitals located in Pasig.

"Anybody who will donate blood will get blood for free," Lani said. "And then, if anybody goes to us and ask for blood we can give it for free."

According to Lani, this project of Senator Bong is an original project of Purposeful Stewardship Institute, a group where Lani is a member.

2010 plans

Last month, Senator Bong convened some of the press people to have a small dinner and talk. Many thought that was the initial way of the senator to express his plans in running for the 2010 elections.

But for Lani, she said: "Basta umiikot lang kami we're weighing what's going to happen. There is still no final decision because there are a lot of factors to consider. So far he is just continuing his work as a senator and that's it."

When asked if the senator has plans to run for a higher position, she said: "Kung yun ang pulso ng tao. He might say I want to run but then people might not like him so he needs to consider the people's want also. Kung sino ang makakasama niya and is he going to transfer or stay in Lakas. Maraming factors so pinag-aaralang mabuti ang lahat."

Bong Revilla's second grandchild expected soon

Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. said Wednesday he and wife, actress Lani Mercado, thought that daughter Inah, who is expecting her first child, was to give birth on Monday.

Revilla, however, said it was just false alarm.

“Actually, akala namin manganganak yung aking anak the other day, pero false alarm pala,” Revilla said an interview Wednesday on radio dzMM’s “Talakan.”

Reports said Inah is due to give birth to a baby girl on October 1, but the Revillas said the baby might come out earlier, maybe even coincide with the senator’s birthday.

The actor-turned-politician is turning 42 on Thursday, September 25.

During Mercado’s 40th birthday in April, Revilla confirmed that his 18-year-old daughter Inah and then boyfriend Vince del Rosario were tying the knot because of the baby.

The confirmation came amid speculations about the real reason behind the hastily-planned wedding. The two got married in May.

When asked about his political plans for 2010 elections, meanwhile, Revilla said nothing is definite yet. He said he is focusing on his work right now.

“Wala pa, [di pa] sigurado kung tatakbo tayo," he said. "Pero as of now, ayaw ko munang pag-usapan ang politika." 

Kap, Bitoy rule weekend primetime

Senator Bong Revilla's Kap's Amazing Stories and Michael V's Bitoy's Funniest Videos topped the primetime race last weekend.

Kap's Amazing Stories was on top of the ladder among Sunday (September 21) primetime programs with an amazing 30.9 percent; closely followed by Paolo Bediones's Tok! Tok! Tok! Isang Milyon Pasok—where a contestant got the jackpot prize of P1-M—with 30.6 percent.

Completing the Top 5 are Mel & Joey (27.7 percent), Pinoy Dream Academy Little Dreamers (24.4 percent), and Goin' Bulilit (22.9 percent).

Sharon Cuneta's documentary titled Mega Tatlong Dekada, which commemorates the Megastar's 30th anniversary in showbiz, managed to grab the 8th spot with 14.2 percent.

SOP grabbed back the top spot in the daytime race with 16.9 percent while Showbiz Central came in second spot and reclaimed the crown in the battle of the Sunday showbiz talk shows with 15.5 percent.

SOP's rival ASAP '08 came in third with 14.1 percent while Showbiz Central's competitor The Buzz rated 9.7 percent to take 6th place.

Bitoy's Funniest Videos, on the other hand, led all Saturday (September 20) primetime shows with 30.2 percent; followed by the Survivor Philippines special of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, which amassed a total of 27.2 percent.

ABS-CBN's longest-running drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya, featuring John Lloyd Cruz's stunning portrayal of a schizophrenic, grabbed the third spot with an impressive 24.6 percent. GMA-7's Celebrity Duets came at No. 4 with 23.7 percent while Imbestigador completed the Top 5 with 23.2 percent.

The daytime race was ruled again by Eat Bulaga!, which collected a total of 20.8 percent.

A far second was Pinoy Records with 17.6 percent while Wowowee came in third place with 17.2 percent. Wish Ko Lang and Cinema FPJ tied at fourth place with identical 15.3 percent rating. Fifth place went to Takeshi's Castle with 13.7 percent.

Dyesebel ruled the primetime race last Friday, September 19, with 39.2 percent. It was followed by four other Kapuso shows in the Top 5: Codename: Asero (35.8 percent), Ako Si Kim Samsoon (34.9 percent), Survivor Philippines (31.4 percent), and 24 Oras (3o percent).

Completing the Top 10 are TV Patrol World, I Love Betty La Fea, Dyosa, Bubble Gang, and Iisa Pa Lamang.

Afternoon soaps Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan and Una Kang Naging Akin took the first two spots in the daytime race with 25.5 percent and 24.6 percent, respectively.