How about the father-son tandem of Edu and Luis Manzano to host "Wowowee"?

PLUS: Boy Abunda "perfect" as CCP head; Landmark film "Emir" pays tribute to OFWs

Boy Abunda is keeping his options open when it comes to assuming a government post under the administration of President Noynoy Aquino. Noynoy had mentioned Boy as his choice for Tourism secretary.

“Am I going to accept a government post? Now, no. That is a categorical no,” the TV host said in a TV interview last week.

That doesn’t mean, however, that he is closing the door to offers to join the incoming administration. “I am not,” he firmly said

It’s just that right now, Boy has so many things to attend to. Aside from hosting “The Buzz” and “Showbiz News Ngayon”, he is also a talent manager, and those two jobs alone require a lot of attention.

If Boy finds the Tourism portfolio too taxing, Philippine Star entertainment columnist Ricky Lo suggests he is perfect as head of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. That could be a wise choice, if ever Boy accepts.

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Luis Manzano is a natural as a host in “Wowowee.” Last week, he, John Lloyd Cruz and Billy Crawford took over from Robin Padilla, and on their first day in the show, “Wowowee’s” rating jumped to almost 10 percent!

My neighbor, a “Wowowee” addict, told me she likes the show even better now. “It’s something new. No one makes fun of or puts down the contestants,” she explained.

What I’d like to see is Luis teaming up in the show with dad Edu Manzano. Now that would be a formidable team. But first, Edu must be coaxed into returning to showbiz. When he signed up as the vice presidential candidate of Gibo Teodoro, Edu said he would be giving up movies and TV after the elections, no matter if he wins or loses.

If I know Edu, it won’t be hard to convince him to give showbiz one more chance. Once an actor, always an actor.

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Rolando Atienza, chairman of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, can’t help but be upbeat about “Emir.”

For one thing, it has a sterling cast drawn from the theater. “Even the supporting characters are big-time,” gushed Mr. Atienza. For another, it is directed by Chito Roño. And its budget is a whopping P50 million.

“Emir” is a full-length musical about an Ilocana (played by Francheska Farr) who finds work in the Middle East as a yaya to the son of a sheik. The young prince absorbs Filipino values, including the language, from his nanny, who becomes almost a surrogate mother to him.

Mr. Atienza said the film is a tribute to overseas Filipino workers all over the world.

Nestor Jardin, the co-executive producer, has high hopes that “Emir” will be a “landmark film.”

Joining Farr in the cast are theater luminaries Dulce, Beverly Salviejo, Liesl Batucan, Melanie Dujunco, Kalila Aguilos and Julia Clarete.

The film was shot in Ilocos, Ifugao and Morocco. A big part was shot in high definition. The Dolby 5.1 Digital Surround Sound was processed in Bangkok.

 “Emir” is a production of the Film Development Council in association with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and Viva Films. It will start screening in local theaters this week.

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For Paul McCartney, it was the perfect song.

Last week, the ex-Beatle serenaded US First Lady Michelle Obama with the Lennon-McCartney classic, “Michelle.”

McCartney was called to the White House to receive the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, awarded by the Library of Congress, from President Barack Obama.

The Obamas were obviously starstruck by the 67-year-old McCartney. The President was swaying to the beat while his wife silently sang the lyrics.

Among the artists that performed McCartney hits at the White House concert were Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris and Herbie Hancock.

McCartney himself relished the moment and offered to sing regularly at the President’s official residence.

“Lunchtimes, we could come around,” he said. “We’re cheap.”

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