Carlos and the rumor that refuses to die

For somebody rumored these past three years to be of failing health and undergoing dialysis, Carlos Agassi surprisingly looks, as they would say, fit and fabulous; and, to quote a cliché, as healthy as a bull.

Looking a bit heavier than he was before he went on a self-imposed respite from showbiz (the few extra pounds sit perfectly well with his 5’10”/185-pound frame), Carlos told a handful of movie writers at a dinner presscon at Dulcinea (Tomas Morato) for the half-century-old Guitar brand (men’s wear) which Carlos has been endorsing for four years now, with the recently-named Urian Best Supporting Actor Joem Bascon (for the indie Noy) as the new one (since January this year).

“Up to now I don’t know who spread that nasty rumor,” admitted Carlos, a non-smoker who attributed his finely-trimmed body to regular workout at his own gym at home and a healthy all-white diet (white meat, three dozens of egg whites per day, etc.) supplemented by veggies (broccoli, etc.) and fruits (apples, pineapples, guyabano, etc.) “That rumor has become irritating. It refuses to go away. I guess that somebody who envies me has started that rumor. I just hope it doesn’t boomerang on him. Look,” added Carlos, 31, lifting his shirt to show his six-packs, “the way my body looks now is the way it looked when I was 16.”

Or maybe people began wondering, suspecting the worst, when they saw Carlos all muscles and concluded that he was taking steroids that eventually ruined his kidneys. The rumor seemed to gain credence when Carlos dropped out of the scene for a while.

“Actually, I might start taking steroids when I turn 50 and then I will compete in the Mr. Universe contest. By then, I will have my own family with a few children.”

During his brief absence, Carlos said he spent his time helping mostly his celebrity friends (among them John Estrada and beauty contestants) work out at his own gym.

“I still do that, only by appointment now, but merely as a hobby. I still consider showbiz as my profession. So I’m back full time.”

He was in the just-concluded ABS-CBN fantasy-adventure Imortal (with John Lloyd Cruz and Angel Locsin) and will star in the forthcoming Private Benjamin, a co-production between Viva Films and Star Cinema.

Like Carlos, Joem has gained a few (becoming) pounds not, he hastened to add, caused by depression resulting from his break-up in July last year with Meryll Soriano (who initiated it when she went to London to take up a course in fashion-designing) but due to lack of time for workout since he has been busy with projects, mostly indies.

“But I did work out before we did the pictorial for Guitar,” said Joem.

Discovered by a talent scout during a shoot at their family residence in Antipolo City, Joem has been getting good breaks in indie films which give him a chance to showcase his talent. Joem got the nod of the Manunuri (who are behind the Gawad Urian) for his performance as Coco Martin’s invalid brother in Noy.

In the beginning, Joem was “packaged” as a Piolo Pascual lookalike which turned out to be a minus factor (you know, why settle for a “clone” when you can have the original?), until he managed to shine on his own away from Piolo’s long shadow. Talent prevails, see!

Holding a poster of Guitar showing Carlos and Joem in trunks, a movie writer asked if they did some “padding” to make them look, you know, “gifted.”

Carlos and Joem laughed, blushing.

“No need,” said Carlos.

“Everything you see is real,” seconded Joem.

Oops! Kuryente?

Somebody close to Cannes Best Director Brillante “Dante” Mendoza was “embarrassed” to read a small item in a newspaper (not The STAR) that Dante’s film Prey with French actress Isabelle Huppert has “secured an early slot” in the 68th Venice Film Festival, quoting Variety.

Dante’s friend requested Funfare to set the record straight by sending the following item from PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal, http://www.pep.ph/news/#viewcom):

Nilinaw ng director na si Brillante Mendoza ang balitang lumabas sa (name of newspaper) na pumasok na sa Venice International Film Festival ang pelikula nyang “Prey.” Ayon sa director, “Just a speculation of the writer.” Nahihiya raw si Brillante at huwag muna raw sanang ipamalita dahil hindi pa tapos ang pelikula. Diumano, kasali ang “Prey” sa 50 films na pwedeng magkaroon ng slot sa Venice Filmfest sa September. “Not an official entry yet,” paglilinaw pa ng director.

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