NAKAUSAP namin si Heart Evangelista kamakailan sa launch niya bilang celebrity endorser ng Zion massage chair at isa sa natanong naming sa kanya kung sino si Heart Evangelista ngayon?

“I think… oh wow! I’ve come a long way… I feel… Before I would say I’m thirty-ganyan but I have the mind of a twenty one-year-old. I’m thirty eight but I feel like I have a mind of a fifty-year-old,” sagot ni Heart na napakaganda, fresh at recharged.

“I think I had a lot of learning to do with you know, with my job, personal things, with responsibilities. I’m on top of everything, and I love being on top of everything.

“I like the feeling that you could drop me off anywhere and I will survive.

“You know, I never used to travel by myself, now I travel by myself.

“Iniiyakan ko yung connecting flight sa Dubai, yung train. Ay, umiiyak na ‘ko. Nangangati na ko, puro na ako pantal before.”

Patuloy pa niya, “Now, I can do anything. I can take anything you want, I’m good and I love it!

“I love it that I’m not a hostage to anyone. I don’t need to rely on anyone, and I feel like it’s very empowering.

“And I really, really appreciate the people like my husband,” pagtukoy naman ni Heart sa mister niyang si Senator Chiz Escudero, “who is very supportive of, you know, me being a late bloomer, but you know being independent, and really learning to survive on my own. I love it.

“I feel really empowered.

“I’m still very sweet, but I know when to put my foot down, and I will fight for myself this time around. And I like that, I’m really like that.

“Hindi na ako makakawawa ngayon ng kahit sino, and I love it.

“I’ve always been very frank and honest about my emotions, I just didn’t know how to put them into words ‘coz I was afraid that people would think, di ba, gano’n tayo ‘pag artista, especially, you have a mold that you have to follow.

“But just as long as you say it sweetly and politely but you get the message across, I feel it’s very empowering that you know you’re given a voice.

“I love that I had to go through a lot throughout the years to be where I am today.”

Samantala, sa guesting ni Heart sa ‘Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, tinanong siya ng King of Talk ng, ‘what matters to you the most, right now?”

“My life and how I live it,” sagot ni Heart.

“My freedom, my choices. I don’t wanna live in a box. I’m so over, na kailangan sumunod ka sa molde, para magustuhan ka ng tao.”

Follow up ni Kuya Boy, kung napagod na ba ang aktres at luxury influencer.

“Pagod na pagod ako doon. Kaya in my live, I’ve been working, not as much compared to others.

“But for a long time, I played different characters. I kinda really enjoyed playing by myself now. With all my flaws, my insecurities and my fears. I feel it is a liberation for me.

“It is more authentic and I feel in the long run, people saw it and they appreciated it more. Just with the many chapters that I’ve been through.”

Dagdag pa niya, “but love is love. Kunin n’yo na lahat, you can have all the richness in the world. But if you have no love in your life, it’s not a life worth living.

“And it is my decision and I will fight for my happiness this time around.”

(ROMMEL L. GONZALES)

ISA sa mga big stars na sumuporta sa matagumpay at star-studded na blue carpet screening ng newest Amazon Exclusive crime-thriller na ‘Cattleya Killer’, last May 12 na ginanap sa Cinema 7 ng Trinoma Mall, ang fiancee ni Congressman Arjo Atayde na si Maine Mendoza, na tahimik lang na nanood sa taas ng sinehan.

Nagkaroon kami ng short interview sa host ng ‘Eat Bulaga’ katabi ang mother-in-law to be na si Sylvia Sanchez.

Unang natanong ang reaction niya sa performance ng boyfriend after mapanood ang pinagbidahang ‘Cattleya Killer’
Sagot niya, “mahusay, napakahusay. Wala akong masabi.”

Sobra ba siyang proud, “super.”

Dagdag pa ni Maine, “lalo na kay Tita, as a mom.” at biglang napahawak sa mukha ni Maine si Sylvia.

“As a mom to Ria, Arjo and to me,” tugon pa ng masayahin at mahiyaing si Maine at nagsigawan ang mga press people.

Sagot naman ni Ibyang, “malapit na,” sabay hakap kay Maine.

Pagpapatuloy pa ni Maine, “ang galing, ang galing, ang galing. Congrats Tita.”

“Well, wala akong masabi,” tugon naman ng premyadong aktres na producer na rin.

Napansin ni Maine na parang naiiyak na raw si Sylvia, “hindi, basta… magaling ‘yung mapapangasawa mo umarte.”
Sagot naman ni Maine, after muling magyakapan, “mahusay kayong lahat. Kanino pa ba magmamana?” patungkol niya ito kay Sylvia.

Kaya ganun na lang ang pasasalamat nito, “Thank you, thank you sa pagdating.”

Anyway, ang 6-part series ay batay sa classic Pinoy film na ‘Sa Aking Mga Kamay’ (In My Own Hands), na hatid ng ABS-CBN International Production at Nathan Studios (nina Sylvia, Arjo at Ria).

Mapapanood na ito sa Prime Video sa June 1 sa mga piling teritoryo gaya ng Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, at Taiwan.
Ang naturang serye ang kauna-unahang collaboration sa pagitan ng Prime Video at ABS-CBN, na nagbibigay ng plataporma para sa mga kuwento at talentong Pilipino na maabot ang global audiences.

Tampok nga sa ‘Cattleya Killer’ ang isang kahanga-hangang cast, na pinagbibidahan ng Best Actor sa 2020 Asian Academy Creative Awards na si Cong. Arjo, kasama sina Jake Cuenca, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Jane Oineza, Ria Atayde, Ricky Davao, Nonie Buencamino, at Christopher de Leon, na muling gagampanan ang papel bilang Joven de la Rosa mula sa orihinal na pelikula.

Sa first episode na tumagal ng halos isang oras, nagpakita agad ng kahusayan ni Arjo, mula simula hanggang sa dulo ng episode, na kung saan nagpakita siya ng iba’t-ibang klaseng emosyon. Halos lahat nakapanood ay puring-puri ang aktor, na meron na namang ipinakitang kakaibang husay sa pag-arte.

Stand-out din ang performance ni Rafa Sequion-Reyna at Ketchup Eusebio. Ang ganda rin ng tandem nina Nonie at Ria, Ricky at Jane na palaban sa kanyang eksena.

Actually, halos lahat nang nasa cast ay mahuhusay at perfect sila sa kani-kanilang role. Ipinakita rin ang ilang eksena sa next episodes, na tunay ngang kapana-panabik at kagimbal-gimbal. Kaya for sure, pag nasimulan ay hindi mo na tatayuan ang 6-part series.

Samantala, ang classic ’90s film na ‘Sa Aking Mga Kamay’ (In My Own Hands), ay available din sa Prime Video, sa direksyon ni Rory B. Quintos at pinagbibidahan nina Aga Muhlach, Chin Chin Gutierrez, at Christopher de Leon.
Na hinihikayat ang mga viewers panoorin muna, bago dumating ang premiere ng ‘Cattleya Killer’ sa June 1.

(ROHN ROMULO)

BUKOD sa pagiging aktor at direktor, pinakita rin ni Xian Lim ang isa pa niyang talent at ito ay ang pagkanta.

Sa Instagram, nag-share si Xian ng photo at video habang nasa isang recording session siya. Inawit ni Xian ang isang song na makakasama sa soundtrack ng kinabibilangan niyang GMA primetime teleserye na ‘Hearts On Ice’.

“Excited for this! Thank you Hearts On Ice fam for this wonderful opportunity. Watch out for it in the coming episodes of our series,” caption pa ni Xian na ka-love triangle na niya kay Ponggay (Ashley Ortega) ay ang best friend niyang si Bogs (Kim Perez).

Obvious na inspired ngayon si Xian sa takbo ng kanyang career. Bukod kasi sa mataas ang ratings ng kanyang teleserye, nagagawa pa rin niya ang iba pang gusto dahil ito sa maayos na relasyon niya sa girlfriend na si Kim Chiu.

Sa huling post niya sa Instagram kunsaan kasama niya si Kim noong birthday nito last month, nilagay niya ay “Truly, Madly, deeply in love with you and I cherish every single moment I have with you. So many years have gone by and we’re still by each others side.

“Nothing beats silencing all the noise around us. Let the naysayers talk and assume all they want. No one knows more about our relationship than you and I. I love you and I will always be here by your side.”

***

NALABAS na and bagong love song ng Sparkle Artist and AraBella star na si Shayne Sava titled ‘U-Turn.’

Composed by Rina Mercado, tungkol ito sa pakikipaglaban sa pag-ibig at self-love.

“I feel honored to have this as my song kasi this is a dream come true lalo na at bukod po sa acting and dancing, my first love is singing. I am just overall happy and excited.

“The song is about whether to stay or to leave. Whether to stay because of the memories at syempre mahal mo ‘yung tao, or to leave because it’s getting toxic already.

“This song can also be about you, about self-love. Kasi at the end of the song, mas pinili niya ‘yung sarili niya. Mas pinili niyang mag u-turn mula sa taong mahal niya na paulit-ulit siyang sinasaktan. I think naka-relate rin po ako kasi I’m very particular po with self-love, self-care.”

Listen to Shayne Sava’s ‘U-Turn,’ now available on all digital streaming platforms worldwide.

***

PAGKATAPOS ng kanyang third term bilang city councilor ng Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan noong nakaraang taon, handa na ulit na balikan ng dating Viva heartthrob na si Matthew Mendoza ang showbiz.

Hindi raw maipagkakaila ni Matt na marami siyang na-miss sa showbiz noong maging isa siyang public servant for nine years. Pero updated naman daw siya sa mga nangyayaring bago sa showbiz.

Suportado ng kanyang pamilya ang muling pagbalik ni Matt sa showbiz.

“I have a very supportive family. My wife Angie, she’s been with me through thick and thin. Kung ano ang maging desisyon ko sa career ko, she’s always there at alam niya na they will always be my priority. I’ve always been a family man.

“My kids, Bea (23), Kyla (20) and Luke (17), malalaki na sila and they love whatever I’m into. Noong malaman nila na artista pala ako before, they want me to tell them stories about my time in showbiz noong ’90s. They are very interested in what my life was before being a politician.”

Huling napanood si Matthew sa 2018 sa teleserye na Wild Flower ng ABS-CBN. Bago iyon ay lumabas siya sa Destined To Be Yours (2017), Kapag Puso’y Sinugatan (2013), Angelito: Batang Ama (2012), Sinner Or Saint (2011), Alakdana (2011), Imortal (2010), Dyosa (2008) at Daisy Siyete (2008).

Isa sa top leading man ng Viva Films noong ’90s si Matthew sa mga pelikulang Dysebel, Sabado Nights, Nag-iisang Ikaw, Nang Iniwan Mo Ako at Ikaw Naman Ang Iiyak. Nakatrabaho niya ang mga mahuhusay na direktor tulad nila Joel Lamangan, Don Escudero, Jose Javier Reyes, Romy Suzara, Ike Jarlego Jr. and Emmanuel Borlaza.

Gusto naman ni Matt na makatrabaho ang maraming bagong artisa ngayon.

(RUEL J. MENDOZA)