Ariel (also) quits A.S.A.P.!

Curtain-raisers:

• Golden Lions Films’ NBI Files: The Cory Quirino Kidnap didn’t earn as much as expected (as did such Golden Lions blockbusters as Vizconde Massacres I and II and The Maggie dela Riva Story) when it opened in 78 Metro theaters yesterday but Golden Lions couple Donna Villa and Carlo J. Caparas (and other partners) are happy with the first-day gross (undisclosed). Good enough, they said, considering that times are really hard, there’s a war in Iraq, theaters are threatened with bombs and pirated copies of the Cory Quirino movie flooded the outlets days before yesterday’s opening (preceded by a smash-hit premiere at three SM Megamall Cinemas last Monday, March 24). Donna and Carlo’s next project will be an explosive one (can’t reveal what it is just yet), but that’s after they and their two kids shall have spent a long-deserved vacation in their native Cebu.

• After Ruffa Gutierrez and Yilmaz Bektas, several other couples are scheduled to walk down the aisle within one year, including Donita Rose and her half-American boyfriend sometime in June in the States (are they trying to, ehem, scrimp?), Tonton Gutierrez and Glydel Mercado "in early 2003" (according to Tonton), and Tintin Bersola and Julius Babao who have been telling people that they’re getting married as far back as 1999. Well and good. After all, these couples have been practically living-in and/or carrying on a "married-like" relationship but minus a formal marriage.

• Good news for regular habitués of Bento Box who might find themselves in the Makati area during lunch/dinner time. The Japanese-American restaurant, owned and operated by Happy (Ongpauco) and husband Wowie Rivera (with an original outlet at the Circle/Delta Rotunda in Quezon City), has just opened a branch on Carlos Palanca St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Check it out.

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First to go was Pops Fernandez who quit ABS-CBN’s A.S.A.P. and swang to rival station GMA 7 where she might star in her own musical show (and not to be added to the caboodle of S.O.P. hosts), a privilege never given to such GMA 7 "loyalists" as Regine Velasquez, Jaya and Lani Misalucha.

Next to go is Ariel Rivera who, after tendering a briefly-worded resignation letter two days ago, will surely be missed by followers of A.S.A.P. starting this Sunday, March 30. Ariel didn’t give any reason for quitting, but Funfare sources said that Ariel is starting to feel "left out"...or being eased out by the breed of new talents being bumped into the show?

But unlike Pops, Ariel (or his manager) isn’t making any move yet to negotiate with, yes, GMA 7 which has been sending "feelers" as soon as word spread that Ariel has quit ABS-CBN.

"Even if he has resigned from A.S.A.P.," said one Funfare DPA, "Ariel won’t be ‘jobless’. ABS-CBN has other plans for him."

Will these resignations (of Pops and Ariel) snowball into an "exodus" out of A.S.A.P. by the other "senior" hosts (Zsa Zsa Padilla and company)?

ABS-CBN should do some "damage control" quick before things turn from bad to worse.

From my e-mail

Here’s an interesting reaction to my story on the Oscars, from reader Avel Manansala of General Santos City:

Correction, please. The audience at the Kodak Theater actually rose more than three times during the Oscar ceremony. They stood up twice for Adrien Brody, first when he was announced as Best Actor (for The Pianist) and secondly, when he was wrapping up his speech where he mentioned his prayer for the war in Iraq to end soon.

I am sending you a transcript of his moving speech:

I bet they didn’t tell you that was in the gift bag.. Oh, my God! Thank you. Thank you, really. Oh, my goodness. It doesn’t come out in slow motion, but it doesn’t really ring a bell. The name – I didn’t know my name. This Adrien? Okay. I haven’t really written a speech because every time I wrote a speech for the past one of these things I didn’t win. But, you know, there comes a time in life when everything seems to make sense and this is not one of those times. What I do know though is that I’ve never felt this much love and encouragement from my peers and from people I admire and from complete strangers. And it means a great deal to me. And if it weren’t for the insomnia and the sudden panic attacks, this has been an amazing, amazing journey. I have to thank – they’re already flashing time’s up. I have to thank my mother and father, most importantly, for all the creativity and encouragement... they’ve been just real strength. They’ve given me a great deal of strength. What can I say? This film would not be possible without the blue print provided by Wladyslaw Szpilman. This is a tribute to his survival. I’d like to thank (director) Roman Polanski for the role of a lifetime. And for those of you who have seen the film and have sat through the credits, you know there are too many people to thank individually. I would not be there without all their efforts. And I thank them. And everyone worked extremely hard to make this film. And I have to thank Focus Features for getting us out there. To my longtime friend, manager, agent and consigliare Joanne Colonna, everybody at the firm, PMK/HBH. And you know, wait one second. One second, please one second. Cut it out, cut it out. I get one shot at this. I’m sorry. I didn’t say more than five names, I don’t think, but... This is, you know, it fills me with great joy, but I am also filled with a lot of sadness tonight because I am accepting an award at such a strange time. And you know my experiences of making this film made me very aware of the sadness and the dehumanization of people at times of war. And the repercussions of war. And whatever you believe in, if it’s God or Allah, may He watch over you and let’s pray for a peaceful and swift resolution. Thank you. And I have a friend from Queens who’s a soldier in Kuwait right now, Tommy Zarabinski, and I hope you and your boys make it back real soon. God bless you guys. I love you. Thank you very much.

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(E-mail reactions at [email protected])