First-time revelations from Diether

Coco Martin, winner of the Best Performer Award of the Young Critics Circle for "Masahista," at first didn't believe that he won the award. "I thought my manager was only kidding me," said Coco in our interview during the last shooting day for the digital movie "Siquijor: Mystical Island" held at the garden residence of production- designer-turned director Dante Mendoza (who directed "Masahista").

Coco bested the likes of Jaclyn Jose (who played his mother in the Dante Mendoza flick), John Lloyd Cruz (who was nominated for "Dubai"). But he refuses to make a big deal of his victory although he admitted that he's very happy with the accolade that was given to him. Coco and the rest of the production staff of "Masahista" (which swept all the categories of the YCC Awards) will get their awards on March 17.

"I didn't expect to win an award for my work. I just did my best. I am already honored to have been part of that movie," added Coco who's very happy that "Masahista" garnered critical acclaim not only here in the Philippines but also abroad, where it won the Golden Leopard Award at the Locarno International Film Festival.

"Honestly, I didn't want to believe I won but when direk Dante told me that I won and that our film also got all the awards, actually nahihiya ako sa nangyari. Nagulat talaga ako," he said.

So, what can he say about the fact that he and Katherine Luna (the mother of his child) are both acting awardees of YCC?

"I don't know what to say. I am happy for the child, since his parents are both award-winners," he said with a smile.

But the sad chapter of his love affair with Katherine made Coco wary of falling in love with a showbiz personality. During the time he was promoting "Masahista," Katherine also came out on TV, spewing venom and discrediting Coco in the eyes of the public by accusing him of neglecting his obligations as a father. Coco decided to keep quiet even if Katherine lambasted him. As to why he kept silent, he said he knows the truth and he doesn't owe anybody an explanation since he had never been remiss in his duties. But he hasn't had the chance to see his child.

* * *

The victory of Angelika dela Cruz as grand champion in "Shall We Dance" has earned her the tag as "New Dance Diva" after besting fellow celebrities Angelu de Leon, Sheryl Cruz and Arnell Ignacio en route to annexing the win. She certainly deserves to be grand champion as she showed grace and composure in her dance routines, thus earning the nod of the judges. As juror Maribeth Bichara said, "She completes the dance floor" thus nearly getting perfect scores from the three judges.

Her dad Ernie should share the credit for Angelika's victory. After all, it was Daddy Ernie who trained her daughter in dancing. While singing is Angelika's first love, dancing is also some sort of passion for her. That's why she enjoyed her stint in "Shall We Dance" even if she did encounter some difficulties executing the dance steps.

Showbiz observers have claimed that the Dance Diva tag fits Angelika to a T since she really displayed grace and élan on the dance floor. She definitely shone never mind if there were other dancers moving with her. If she gets the break, she can surely be a good dance show host.

She just signed up with ABS-CBN to do the role of Lavinia in the upcoming soap opera "Bituing Walang Ningning" where she's ready to lock horns with Sarah Geronimo. She was offered a handsome talent fee, good billing and important role in the series, as ABS-CBN believes she deserves this break, no matter if she's playing kontrabida to Sarah. With "Bituing Walang Ningning," Angelika should prove that the network did the right choice in giving her the part.

* * *

Assunta de Rossi said she's not mad at director Gil Portes who, up to this time, hasn't paid her in full for the services she rendered in the filmfest entry "The Mourning Girls."

"Hindi naman masyadong malaki ang atraso niya sa akin for me to get mad," said the award-winning actress. "In fairness to direk Gil, he talked to me and explained to me the reason why he still can't pay me. Of course, I still expect to get paid for my work but at least he had the decency to inform me why he has been unable to do so."

Assunta was her usual jolly self when we got to talk to her on the last shooting day of "Siquijor: Mystical Island." She said she came straight from Tuguegarao where she shot a commercial for Studio 23.

"It was some sort of road trip in which we tested how good a vehicle Ford Escape is. We went to Vigan, Ilocos Norte, Pagudpud, until we reached Tuguegarao, as in we practically toured northern Luzon in just two days," said Assunta who didn't show any sign that she was tired even if she immediately reported to the set of "Siquijor: Mystical Island" after her backbreaking trip. She left Tuguegarao around 8pm Monday and arrived in Manila at 6:30am on Tuesday. She was on the set of her latest movie by 12 noon that same day, hardly showing the effects of a very taxing trip.

Assunta is still hoping that she and husband former congressman Jules Ledesma would finally be able to take their much-delayed trip to Europe for their honeymoon. "We have been married for two years but we have yet to go on a honeymoon," she shared. "I want to have baby, yes, but I'd love to go on a honeymoon first."

If she gets pregnant, Assunta wants it in a relaxed atmosphere. "As it is, everything is very stressful. If I want to have a baby, I'd rather have it as a honeymoon baby so that Jules and I would be relaxed so we can do what we want. It's got to be on a vacation so we won't have to think about work," expressed the actress.

* * *

If you think you already know everything about Diether Ocampo, be sure to watch out for a forthcoming episode of "Sharon," the talk show hosted by Megastar Sharon Cuneta and aired every Sunday on ABS-CBN.

We dropped by the taping of the show last Tuesday and Diether did reveal many things about himself, some of them he has said for the first time on TV. So touched was Sharon of Diether's revelations that she was driven to tears, especially when Diet talked about his dad and how he worked hard to take on the responsibility of bringing up his siblings.

The Megastar becomes emotional whenever topics center on fathers since she remembers her dad, the late Pablo Cuneta, that's why when Diet revealed some things about his dad and his family, Sharon couldn't help but be moved. Diet was almost on the verge of crying but somehow managed to hold back his tears, although for a bit there we thought he'd break down.

It was a very inspiring episode titled "Sikat Dahil Nagsikap" which tackled the rags to riches stories of its guests that include, aside from Diet, Kuh Ledesma, comic artist Chocolate, businesswoman Lady Ann Suyito and the owner of the famed Mila's Lechon (sorry we missed her name).