Angel free as a bird

“Angel is now a freelancer. She doesn’t have any existing (TV) contract with any network.”

That was the terse reaction of Becky Aguila, Angel Locsin’s manager, to Funfare’s banner story yesterday (Will Angel’s wings be clipped?) upon her arrival from L.A. after the premiere in two US cities of Angel’s trilogy starrer Angels which Angel herself stars in and co-produced with Becky.

There are speculations that Angel might sign up with rival network ABS-CBN now that her contract with GMA has expired. Sources at ABS-CBN however said that the network hasn’t made any offer to Angel even if Becky reportedly gave an assurance that Angel is now a freelancer. But first, the sources added, ABS-CBN execs asked Becky to produce a “release paper” before any negotiation could start.

“There’s no need for any ‘release paper’ because Angel’s five-year contract with GMA expired last March 31,” said Becky who called Funfare three hours after she arrived on a PAL flight early yesterday morning.

“I must add that I never said that Angel has an offer from ABS-CBN or any other company.”

Angel’s only existing contract, added Becky, is with Regal Films.

“It’s a movie contract. I still have to meet with Mother Lily before I can say anything about it, though,” said Becky. “I’m not about to reveal what our options are until after I discuss them with Angel’s father.”

Angel was 17 when she was tied down to an exclusive (TV) contract with GMA which made her a big star.

“It was a co-managerial contract,” explained Becky, “with GMA’s Artist Center and I co-managing Angel.”

Starting with the youth-oriented TV show Click, Angel appeared in a few more shows before she was launched as “solo” star in big-budgeted projects like Mulawin, Darna and Asian Treasures; and a few films GMA Films co-produced with Regal Films, including Mulawin The Movie, TXT, I Will Always Love You and The Promise.

Becky said Angel was offered the lead role in Marimar, the new GMA TV series inspired by the popular Mexican telenovela. “But,” explained Becky, “we have to turn it down because Angel was scheduled to take up a crash course in fashion in London. Besides, Angel wanted to have a rest; she has been working and working, and she badly needed a break.” The role landed on Marian Rivera’s lap.

Together with Becky and Angels star Jennylyn Mercado and company, Angel arrived L.A. on July 5 without, contrary to reports, rumored suitor Marvin Agustin (who’s also in the cast of Angels) who arrived the next day for the Angels screening and left on July 10. Only two screenings were held, one in San Francisco and the other in San Diego.

Asked if it’s true that the L.A. screening was scrapped due to poor ticket sales, Becky said, “It was due to poor marketing. But we told ticket-holders in L.A. that they could use their tickets for the San Diego screening.”

No, said Becky, Marvin is neither Angel’s boyfriend nor her suitor.

“And, no, Angel is not pregnant according to rumors. She has been rumored to be pregnant so many times that it doesn’t bother us anymore. Paano siya mabubuntis...sa hangin?”

But she did express appreciation and approval for lawyer Michael Templo, son of Mildred Ortega and Mitch Templo (retired general) and reported to be Angel’s “admirer,” whose office processed the papers (visa and all) Becky, Jennylyn and company. (Angel has a five-year US visa.)

Deadset on putting up a sportswear store before the year ends, Angel is enrolled at the London Fashion School for a two-week course. Classes will begin on July 23.

“This belies rumors that Angel didn’t pass an ‘entrance’ test and that she wasn’t given a visa by the British Embassy,” continued Becky. “Angel is a sports-lover. She’s a good swimmer; she’s involved in other kinds of sports. That’s why she’s putting up a sportswear store; nasa linya niya ang sports. When she comes back (third week of August), Angel will enroll in a Business Entrepreneurship course

in the same correspondence school in Eastwood City where Joyce Jimenez studied.”

Briefly Noted

 No truth to cruel rumor about Tintin and Julius’ daughter Antonia — Don’t believe the rumor that Antonia, daughter of Tintin Bersola and Julius Babao, has died. Tintin texted Funfare the following clarification on behalf of Antonia (who, incidentally, is my inaanak): Good morning, Ninong. Anya here. Have you heard the wild tsismis going around that I died or I am comatose? Bad joke, really! But it has reached Dad and Mom many times! Crazy, di ba? is this some form of social experiment on the anatomy of tsismis? Well, I’m alive and well, a smart and healthy two-year-old baby, going to toddler school na! Did you see my ad for Qualibet beside your column in today’s (yesterday’s) STAR?

 Iza Calzado is being considered but... — Reacting to last Monday’s Funfare about the Hollywood remake of his Regal thriller Sigaw (retitled Echo) which starts shooting in Canada first week of August, director Yam Laranas (who also directing Echo) called from Canada that he’s hoping Iza, who stars in Sigaw with Richard Gutierrez, will be permitted by GMA to star in Echo. “Three weeks is all I need for Iza to finish her scenes,” said Yam. The offer is good, said Ida Henares, head of the GMA Artist Center, “but then, even we want Iza to do Echo, her tight schedule just won’t let her. She’s doing the TV series Impostora and another project.” I guess Yam might just have to get another actress in place of Iza. Cast in Echo are Jesse Bradford (of Flags of Our Fathers, etc.) and Louise Linton (as the best friend of the female lead).

 GMA reporter’s movie-directorial debut — Congratulations to GMA 7 reporter Cesar Apolinario who’s having his movie-directorial debut in Banal, with Christopher de Leon as lead actor, which will be shown in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (second phase, starting next Jan. 1) Except to say that Banal is a story “that has something to do with the military,” Cesar isn’t elaborating on it just yet. “I’m excited,” he said. “Directing a movie is my big, long-kept dream. I’m glad that Christopher agreed to do the movie even if I’m a newcomer.”

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