Marian Rivera is Today’s Hottest Star

Marian Rivera is obviously the hottest star of the moment and proof of this were the loudest cheers she received at the Red Carpet premiere of “Desperadas” held Sunday night at SM Megamall cinema which drew an SRO crowd.

Yes, the other cast members of “Desperadas” namely Ruffa Gutierrez, Rufa Mae Quinto and Iza Calzado had their own share of shrieks but the loudest of them all were reserved for Marian, who should be a contender for a best actress award.

The star of “Marimar” is so effective in her role that this early we seem inclined to give her a best actress nomination for Best Performance by An Actress in a Musical or Comedy in the 5th Golden Screen Awards to be held next year.

Marian plays the youngest sibling Courtney. Ditzy and accident-prone, she’s a swimwear and underwear designer who is engaged to be married to basketball star Patrick (Will Devaughn).

“Desperadas” is the story of four beautiful half-sisters with different idiosyncracies and issues on family and relationships. It portrays the many trials of many a Filipino woman and how she copes with life’s unending ups and downs but in the end realizes that all she really needs is love.

The film directed by Joel Lamangan showcases some of the country’s most captivating and stylish actresses in unforgettable roles set to make the audience laugh, cry and be entertained this holiday season.

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We were among the four lucky souls invited by Alfred Vargas to have lunch with him last week in his new home in Quezon City. He also gave us a tour of his abode, which has an entertainment room in the third floor. Alfred’s room is on the second floor and one thing that we noticed was the absence of the picture of LJ Reyes, his former girlfriend. They recently broke up and Alfred says reconciliation is remote.

The actor is excited with his filmfest entry titled “Banal”, directed by GMA reporter Cesar Apolinario. It’s the first time Alfred has worked with Christopher de Leon and Paolo Contis. It’s also his first major role in a festival movie since he did supporting roles in “Bridal Shower” (for which he won Breakthrough Performance by an Actor in the Golden Screen Awards and was nominated in Gawad Urian) and “Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah.”

He’s portraying one of the lead roles in “Banal” but he’s playing a bad cop. “It’s a big deal to be given the opportunity to work with Boyet (de Leon). I prepared hard for this role. The story’s focal point zeroes in on me and Paolo (Contis). I am proud of what I did and I am hopeful the people would like me in a different role. I also hope that the jurors would like my performance,” says Alfred.

“The role I play can be described as unexpected yet very meaty. You will see me at the beginning and in the ending of the film. It has a different kind of twist. And I made sure that from my opening scene to my last scene in the movie, the people would believe that I am cop. I really prepared for my role as I really want to look credible in my role as a cop,” adds Alfred.

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It’s been a while since Dominic Ochoa was rumored to have a love life that’s why many are wondering if he’s no longer keen on having a relationship since he broke up with Janna Victoria several years back.

At the presscon of the Star Cinema movie “Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo,” Dominic admits he’s into a relationship right now with a non-showbiz girl. He denies that he’s afraid to have a relationship since he broke up with his ex-girlfriend.

“I just believe in the right timing when it comes to having a relationship,” says Dominic whose scenes in “Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo” were shot in Barcelona, Spain. “There’s no perfect relationship. I also get into disagreements with my girlfriend. At times we are apart whenever she goes abroad and we hardly talk and this causes some friction. But in a way, we are able to work things out and manage our relationship. We work things out and not resort to giving each other the cold shoulder treatment when we have a misunderstanding. I am not getting any younger so I really need to work things out when it comes to my relationship,” adds Dominic.

But he’s not yet ready to tie the knot at the moment. But he says he will certainly do, when the right time comes.

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Ms. Gina Pareño was unable to attend the two scheduled presscons for “Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo.”

The first time she was absent, Tita Gina was in Singapore to attend the Asian TV Awards (where she won the best drama actress award for the “Rehas” episode of “Maalaala Mo Kaya”). On the next presscon, she had to go to the hospital for her annual check-up. Her co-star Ms. Gloria Diaz was asked to react if Gina felt bad because Gloria’s name came ahead in the billing in the movie’s poster.

“She has won so many awards. I think she can go way ahead of everybody. She has won 12 awards to be specific. I didn’t realize that there’s something wrong about the billing until you mentioned it to me but I don’t mind,” says the former Miss Universe.

Gina won the best supporting actress award for “Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo” in last year’s filmfest and more awards came her way for the same role in this year’s awards season. Does Gloria think she can pull one over this time come filmfest awards night?

“Oh, Gina is very good. It would be very hard to beat her,” says Gloria who’s still very beautiful, 38 years after she won the Miss Universe crown.