Carlos Agassi's birthday wish

Carlos Agassi is celebrating his birthday today but he doesn't have any special wish except that he hopes his latest album titled "Amir," which he produced, would turn gold soon. He is happy with the feedback he has been getting for his new album, which contains six cuts and a music video as well. If the album sells well, Carlos plans to come up with a repackaged version in which he will add four more songs and another music video to come with the package.

He is likewise elated that his album producer Gloc 9 (he was the one who supervised the album but Carlos paid for everything) has been nominated as best album producer for an awards affair for hip-hop artists. Carlos plans to attend the awards rites to support Gloc 9. He was likewise invited to attend. He'd probably do a number if requested.

"But I am ready to get booed just in case," says Carlos, recalling that when Diether Ocampo was invited to the same affair last year, he got booed. "I am aware that there are some quarters who have yet to accept me as a rap artist. I understand their resistance but I hope they also recognize the fact that music is universal. I just want to express myself as a rap artist."

What excites him is the possibility of doing a kontrabida role in "Panday" topbilled by Jericho Rosales. If plans don't miscarry, he'll start taping in January or as soon as the writers have finalized what kind of character they would want Carlos to portray.

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Angel Locsin is not hoping to win the best actress award in the forthcoming Metro Manila Film Festival for "Mulawin The Movie" where she reprises her role as Alwina. "I'd be happy to get an acting nomination for my work in the movie since this is harder than the TV series," says the hottest young actress to date. "But I'd be happier if our movie makes money at the box office. The movie is really different from its TV version. But you won't get lost in the story even if you hadn't seen 'Mulawin' on TV."

"The movie role is more demanding physically and more dramatic," she says. "I also figure in a number of battle scenes."

She wishes "Mulawin The Movie" would emerge number one at the box office even if there are other big-budgeted fantasy films as well entered in the festival like "Enteng Kabisote" which features her real-life boyfriend Oyo Boy Sotto. There's also "Exodus" by Sen. Bong Revilla. "Shake, Rattle and Roll" also makes its comeback to the festival.

While she misses doing "Darna," Angel didn't totally miss the flying scenes since she also gets to fly in "Mulawin The Movie." But she guarantees the movie is bigger and better than what we've seen on TV.

Sexy star and the original "Pantasya ng Bayan" Joyce Jimenez is in town. She's on a break from her studies in Australia. But she's flying to Los Angeles for the Christmas holidays. While here in Manila, Joyce visited several Private Joyce outlets in various malls. She manned the cash register and entertained shoppers at the Private Joyce outlets.

She graced the 2nd Golden Screen Entertainment TV Awards held at the Zirkoh Comedy Bar recently, which warmed the hearts of the Entertainment Press (Enpress) members who were very pleased with Joyce for accommodating their request despite the short notice. She became one of the presenters of the awards and was likewise acknowledged by Paolo Bediones when he accepted the award of "Extra Challenge" as Outstanding Reality Show. Joyce is one of the favorites of "Extra Challenge" because of her professionalism. She would always emerge as winner whenever she's on "Extra Challenge," save for the last time when she was disqualified because of Maui Taylor.

Maui had already apologized for what happened on TV and did it when Joyce wasn't in the country anymore. When asked for comment, Joyce thinks it's best for her not to give one.

She also adds that she's loveless. "I'd rather concentrate on school. Sayang naman ang ibinayad ko sa school if I won't study hard so 'wag muna ako mag-isip ng lovelife for now. That can wait."

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"Encantadia" ended last Friday with a bang. It led Mega Manila ratings from its pilot to its conclusion but there's no stopping the people behind "Encantadia" to come up with something bigger and grander in scale. Hence, premiering tonight is "Etheria," the fifth kingdom of Encantadia. This magical world opens its doors to more exciting and mind-boggling adventure.

Tasked to handle "Etheria" is the same creative team behind "Encantadia," directors Mark Reyes and Gil Tejada. We had a chance to talk to direk Mark at the fabulous set of "Etheria" last Thursday night and he admits it's a big challenge to match, if not surpass, what "Encantadia" had accomplished.

"The challenge is to maintain the position of 'Encantadia' as being number one. We had lesser time to put this show ('Etheria') together. For 'Encantadia,' we had a year. For 'Etheria,' we only had weeks. Tapos na dapat ang 'Encantadia' but it was extended because it rated so well," he shares. "Why cut a good thing?"

On top of that, direk Mark also shot the Encantadia scenes in "Mulawin The Movie" and is doing another film entitled "Moments of Love" for GMA Films that also features his "Etheria" stars - Dingdong Dantes, Karylle and Iza Calzado.

"We are trying to equal if not supercede 'Encantadia' which has an enviable record of being number one from its pilot telecast till its final episode. To maintain that, we had to create new sets, create new characters, so we are getting bigger and bigger in the real sense of the word. We can't shortchange our audience."

And because of that, direk Mark says he and the rest of the production staff, plus the stars, had not slept for two months. "We haven't really had a good sleep. Most of us sleep in our cars because of the extensive work we put into this. And mind you, as we talk today we haven't finished our pilot episode."