ONCE and for all, Jericho Rosales has finally admitted that Heart Evangelista has been his girlfriend for five months. He said he cannot recall when the courtship began, but definitely it was while they were doing Panday.
Jericho said he had a valid reason for not coming out in the open earlier. “I was trying to protect somebody,” he claimed. He did not elaborate.
Fans are known to be very possessive. Will his admission harm his career?
“Fans are more open now. They know what is real and what is not. I believe they will still support the projects that I will do.”
Jericho said he has met Heart’s mother and finds her a very nice person. He still has to be introduced to Heart’s father.
The actor met with entertainment writers at the presscon of his new mo-vie tentatively titled Pacquiao.
As the title implies, it is about the life (and loves as well?) of our modern hero Manny Pacquiao.
Jericho feels very honored to have been chosen to play the champion boxer. Later on, we were told that Pacquiao chose Jericho, also the pick of Mommy Rose Flaminiano who is bankrolling the project with Pacquiao and Star Cinema as coproducers. That was the first time Jericho met Manny in person.
There are some parallels between Manny and Jericho. Both were brought up by their mother singlehandedly. Like Pacquiao, Jericho helped augment his family’s meager income by helping his mother sell fish in the market. Only after winning as Mr. Pogi in a TV show contest did life for Jericho become easier.
Observes Joel Lama-ngan, who will direct the movie from a script by his favorite screenwriter Roy Iglesias: “Manny’s life is very cinematic. It has all the elements of a blockbuster. It has drama, action, romance, and is inspiring as well. Did you know that he sold doughnuts as a teener? At an early age, he set his mind on becoming a bemedalled boxer and reached his goal in no time at all.”
Both Manny and Jericho are great lovers. Jericho doesn’t hide his being a single father. As for our champion, a woman named Joanna recently surfaced, telling Filipinos that Manny bore her a son.
Indeed, Jericho can relate well to the life story of Manny.
KIDS WITH CANCER CHEERED
CHILDREN with cancer were treated to two hours of singing and dancing by various artists from QTV 11.
Those who brought cheers included Carlo Aquino, Ryza Cenon, Nadine Samonte, Manilyn Reynes, Camille Prats and QTV’s Golden Girls Bella Flores, Gloria Sevilla and Baby O’Brien. Bibeth Orteza was there, too, for an inspiring message that left host Arnell Ignacio clueless on what to say next after her delivery, albeit he was able to bounce back by saying Now Na (his new show at QTV). And of course, there was Lani Mercado, always managing to look younger despite being a mother and a grandma.
Credit goes to Ricky Reyes, whose foundation manages Child Haus, which is inside the PCSO Complex. Child Haus provides temporary accommodation to cancer patients from different provinces who have no place to stay while undergoing treatment in Metro Manila. The facility includes a chapel (Munting Paraiso), outdoor playgrounds, indoor and outdoor kitchens, and an entertainment room where patients can watch and listen to music.
Inaugurated in October 2003 by GMA and Luli Arroyo, Child Haus is funded by the PCSO and other donors. Daily operations of the center are managed by Dr. Rachel Marie del Rosario, project director; Dr. Erwin Estimo, medical officer, and a staff consisting of Daydee Castillo, Rachel Cruzado and Marianne dela Rosa.
Towards the end of the program, red balloons tied to notes from cancer patients were released to the skies, hoping that the Lord will answer them immediately.
NEW R&B ALBUM BY THOR
R&B singer Thor is coming out with an album under Ivory Music & Video.
After signing a recording contract with Ivory, the veteran performer is slated to have a mid-year album release.
An initial listen to the tracks promises a more pop/R&B slant to Thor’s usual heavy R&B musings, akin to Jay-R and South Border rather than to the foreign artists he usually covers in his live performances.
A number of people remember the 20-something singer from his duet with Nina — The Closer I Get To You — in her big-selling album.
More recent is Kasalanan Ba from the Metro Manila Film Festival entry Kutob, for which Thor got the best theme song plum. Kasalanan Ba is included in his first album under Ivory.
Music lovers should keep an ear out for Thor, one of the better singers in the pop/R&B genre.
