Birthday ‘bonus’ for Derek

Curtain-raisers:

• There seems to be an “imbalance” in the way the three anchors of the GMA early-evening newscast 24 Oras are set-up. Unlike in the ABS-CBN newscast TV Patrol where Korina Sanchez, the lone female anchor, stands between Ted Failon and Noli “Kabayan” de Castro, on 24 Oras Mike Enriquez who should be between Mel Tiangco and new co-host Vicky Morales stands rightmost when he should be at the center just like how they are shown on the billboard. 

• A friendly reminder from election lawyer Romy Macalintal: Although the word “Xmas” has been commonly used, let’s use the whole word “Christmas” so that we always include Christ in our celebration of the holidays. Using “X” instead of “Christ” is tantamount to excluding Jesus Christ, whose birthday is being celebrated, from the Christmas Season. Let us not delete of “X” Christ out of Christmas. I never “X” Christ out of the season, so may I greet everybody “A Merry Christmas”? (I agree with you, Romy. In fact, The STAR never uses “Xmas” in any of the stories.)

• Here’s another contribution from Romy who said he got it from an Internet friend:

10 Things I Know About You

1.You are reading this.

2. You are human.

3. You can’t say the letter “P” without separating your lips.

4. You just attempted to do it.

6. You are laughing at yourself.

7. You have a smile on your face and you skipped No. 5.

8.You just checked to see if there is a No. 5.

9 You laugh at this because you are a fun-loving person and everyone does it, too.

10. You are probably going to send this to see who else falls for it.

* * *

A clarification is in order:

Yes, it was this corner that broke the good news (a “curtain-raiser” item) a few issues ago that Derek Ramsay was going back to somewhere (may babalikan), without specifying where and giving only three guesses: an “old” show, an “old” home or an “old” love?

Those who picked up the story concluded that Derek was moving back to the ABS-CBN Kapamilya Network, his “old” home before he signed up with the TV5 Kapatid Network. Although Derek was courteous enough to bid Kapamilya bosses fond farewell after his contract had expired, his “old” home seemed not to have forgiven him for leaving it as evidenced by its “ban” on showing trailers of movies with Derek in the cast. Regal Films planned to do a movie with Derek and Kris Aquino but the project was aborted when Kris’ home studio, Star Cinema, didn’t give her the go-signal (you know, any leading man but…).

Now it can be told: Yes, initial negotiations between Derek’s camp and Skylight Films have formally started last Tuesday for a possible movie starring Derek with…oops!...I’m not supposed to reveal the leading lady’s name and the movie’s title. Skylight is a satellite indie company under Star Cinema, which is a sister company of ABS-CBN, so if you put one plus one, that equals, well, Derek taking initial steps back into where he used to belong. You take it up from there.

Derek and Jennylyn with Dan Villegas, director of English Only, Please

In a chat with Funfare after the presscon last Tuesday for English Only, Please, the entry of lawyer Joji Alonzo’s Quantum Films in this month’s Metro Manila Filmfest, Derek confirmed Funfare’s “breaking news” but didn’t make any conclusion. You know, wait and see what will happen.

“My priority is TV5,” said Derek whose contract with the Kapatid Network is good until March next year. His current show, The Amazing Race Philippines (TARP) Season 2, will have its final airing on Sunday, Dec. 7, which happens to be his birthday. “TV5 has been good to me, so walang problema,” bursting the rumor about moving to ABS-CBN. In fact, he will have a new show on TV5, Extreme Challenge Kaya Mo Ba ‘To with the Final Four of TARP2 and possibly a sitcom titled Mac and Cheese with Empoy and Bianca King.

First week of January, he might start shooting for a movie called Bok for a new company. And, if negotiations are finalized, maybe the movie with Skylight?

Directed by Dan Villegas (who directed in the indie Mayohan that won Lovi Poe Best Actress in Cinemalaya), English Only, Please is Derek’s first rom-com starrer with Jennylyn Mercado as leading lady. Derek plays Julian Parker who flies back to Manila from New York City to brush up on his Tagalog and hires a Filipino-English tutor (Jennylyn) so he can deliver the right emotions in an angry letter he has sent to his former half-Pinay girlfriend (Isabel Oli).

Asked to describe Jennylyn, Derek said, “Hot Super hot!”

Incidentally, Derek gets a birthday bonus in the form of a week-long quality time with his 11-year-old son Austin. Derek said he felt great relief that the case between him and the boy’s mother has been settled out of court.

Teased that he should have another child, Derek said, “Can you recommend somebody to me?” Meaning, a woman who could help him on a “joint” venture. Why not Jennylyn who is, like Derek, fancy-free? “As much as possible,” said Derek, “ayoko na ng taga-showbiz.”

His last showbiz girlfriend was Cristine Reyes, with whom he went steady for a month but has remained good friends with her. Cristine is pregnant, courtesy of her foreigner athlete-boyfriend Ali Khatibi.

Meanwhile, let’s excuse Derek as he enjoys quality time with his son.

“I am on my way to fetch him,” he said after our interview.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)