LOVINGLY YOURS, TIYANG AMY PEREZ
MANILA, APRIL 7, 2011 (STAR) FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo - More than 250 episodes after it took a bow, TV5's Face To Face, touted as the only talak-serye in the country, celebrates its first anniversary with a five-day specials from Monday, April 4, to Friday, April 8, with host Tiyang Amy Perez (photo) flashing an understandably wide smile.
It has been a year marked by hair-pulling, slapping, chair-hurling, and exchanging of bleep-bleeped invectives and curses between protagonists with issues to settle on-cam that the barangay-hall level cannot — to the tune of high ratings.
Tiyang Amy's sidekick Hans Mortel serves as moderator among the sawsaweros and sawsaweras (members of the studio audience who take either the pula side or the puti side) while the trio tagapayo — Public Attorney's Office (PAO's) chief Persida Acosta or Ben Persida, legal experts; Fr. Sonny Merida or Fr. Gerry Tapiador, spiritual advisers; and Dr. Camille Caces-Garcia, resident psychiatrist — help enlighten the feuding parties.
As a nod to the show which I watch (almost) every day, Funfare caught Tiyang Amy on the "neutral" side with questions I guess Face To Face followers must be wanting to ask her but don't have the chance to.
I heard that part of the show's first-anniversary activities is a mass wedding. Are you and your beloved Carlo Castillo (ABS-CBN reporter) leading the pack? (Amy's petition for annulment of her marriage to Brix Ferraris, former vocalist of South Border, was denied by the Supreme Court.)
[Face To Face host Amy Perez and sidekick Hans Mortel]
"No, we are not…we cannot. Carlo and I have been together for 15 years. Wala na kaming hinihiling pa sa buhay kundi 'yon — marriage. The moment wala nang legal impediment, then…If Brix, who is abroad, becomes a US citizen then puwede niya akong i-divorce. Right now, I feel really blessed. Finally, I can say that the storm has passed."
Before you, there were Tiya Dely (Magpayo), Ate Helen (Vela), Ate Coney (Reyes) and Ate Charo (Santos-Concio). Who do you identify with?
"You know, I never imagined na dito mapupunta ang career ko. I learned a lot from all of them. Sana I can get even only a little bit of each of them. It would be a big honor for me."
Most of those who dish out pieces of advice come from broken marriages --- the voice of experience, you know. How do you feel when the show's protagonists are in the same boat (issues about bigamy, adultery, infidelity)?
"Gusto kong lumubog sa lupa. People might say, 'Ito naman si Amy, ikaw nga may ka-relasyon ka.' I'm bothered because I'm in the same situation. That's why I really hope that Carlo and I can get married para na rin naman sa mga bata." (Amy has a child by Brix and another by Carlo.)
In the show's Amynan portion where you give your opinion, is it scripted or does your piece come spontaneously?
"There's a guide but I change it depending on what happens during the show."
The protagonists sometimes engage in a virtual free-for-all. One time, you ran backstage for dear life. You could get hurt or, heaven forbid, get killed in the melee? Are you insured?
"I think I am. I should be! Maybe I am but I just don't know for how much."
What episodes do you find most memorable, most touching?
[Face To Face's Trio Tagapayo (from left): Fr. Gerry Tapiador, Dr. Camille Caces-Garcia and Fr. Sonny Merida]
"One, 'yung away ng mag-ina because I had a misunderstanding with my mom when I was younger, but we have a very beautiful relationship now. Two, 'yung about the girl dumped by her boyfriend for another girl because she didn't want to have sex with him, because had I waited for the right man, I wouldn't have committed a mistake. And three, 'yung about a woman who belittled her husband because he was only a house painter."
You and Brix never had any "closure," right?
"Yeah, wala pang closure." (Adding in jest) "Iniwan n'ya kaming parang naka-hung na telepono, iniwan n'ya kami sa sampayan na parang sando."
Would you agree to appear with Brix on Face To Face as protagonists?
"Why not? I would love to para may closure kami."
Wouldn't there be any sampalan, sabunutan, cursing or throwing chairs at each other?
"Wala na siguro. Nag-evolve na ako sa dami ng pagsubok na pinagdaanan ko."
(Note: Face To Face airs Monday through Friday on TV5, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Its spin-off show, Untold Stories, features stars playing the colorful characters of real-life dramas, airing Thursday nights.)
Marvin takes a bow as concert producer
[Marvin Agustin: Ready for more challenges.]
With his new production outfit Futuretainment Inc.'s first project, Bruno Mars' DooWops & Hooligans World Tour, in the can (well, almost!), can Marvin Agustin sit back now and relax?
"Not yet," Marvin told Funfare. "There's still so many things to attend to."
He has to arrange the hotel accommodations of Mars and his entourage both in Cebu for the concert on April 7 at the Waterfront Hotel and in Manila for the April 8 concert at the Araneta Coliseum. "I am relieved only because tickets to both shows are sold-out, with only a few prime-seat tickets available. (Call TicketNet at 911-5555; Futuretainment Hotlines 0917-5555415, 0917-5555475 and 0917-6234011; and Cebu Hotline 0922-8731043).
Marvin is producing the Cebu show by his lonesome and the Manila show with co-investors that include Kris Aquino, Boy Abunda and Deo Endrinal.
The show's front act, Fil-Am singer-actor-model Michael Copon, arrived from Los Angeles last Saturday and is booked at Discovery Suites. He's handled by Music Management International which helped Marvin bring in Bruno Mars. MMI is also the producer of Justin Bieber's concert on May 10 and Miley Cyrus concert on June 17, both at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Concert Grounds.
"It has been a tough learning experience," said Marvin, "and I'm glad I survived it."
Managing Futuretainment Inc. comes with Marvin's preparation for his new GMA show The Kitchen Superstar which is right along Marvin's alley because he owns and manages several restaurants.
Even before the Bruno Mars concerts are over, Marvin is already preparing for his second project, the Maroon 5 concert set for May 23 at the SMX Convention Center.
"I'm optimistic with this new venture," said Marvin, keeping his fingers crossed.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare.)
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Christian guest in 2NEI concert
After collaborating with Korean pop band One Way and opening for Rain's recent concert in Manila, Christian Bautista (inset) will again guest in an other Korean group's concert --- that is, that of the girl group 2NEI on May 15 at the Araneta Coliseum. One of the group's members is Sandara Park (second from left), now simply known as Dara, who starred in TV shows and movies after she won the ABS-CBN's Star Circle Quest. Other members of 2NEI, considered one of the most popular today in Korea, are CL, Bom and Minzy. 'I'm excited,' said Christian. 'I'm preparing hard for the concert.'
— Reported by STAR Correspondent CARLO OROSA
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Friends at Rizal Gov. Jun Ynares III's bash
Machete star Aljur Abrenica (upper photo) was among those who greeted Rizal Gov. Jun Ynares III a happy birthday recently, shown during the Guronasyon awarding recognizing the province's education sector. With them is Rizal First Lady Andrea Bautista (and daughter Cassandra Danielle), shown with Gov. Jun in lower photo with Boy Abunda who was the guest of honor at the same event held at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. Boy is also an educator, being a professor at the Philippine Women's University (PWU).
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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