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Iwa Motto, the real survivor

BUZZSTATION

Edgar Cruz

03/31/2009

Iwa Motto is the only real survivor of Starstruck Batch 3. Jacky Rice is still around, but she’s still in the process of recovery. Iwa shared, “Hindi pa talaga siya handa to start being active again in showbiz. But I’m looking forward to working with her again.” Ultimate Sole Survivor Marky Cielo, of course, passed away.

During her pocket interview at GMA Center Annex, Buzzstation asked Iwa about her plan now that she does not have a running show in GMA. She answered, “Siguro kailangan ko isiksik ang sarili ko para mapasama ako sa mga shows. Inaayos ko na sarili ko para makabalik.”

Iwa is not exactly without projects. She has a new indie movie, Soxy Topacio’s Rock ‘n’ Roll. It’s her third horror film after White Lady and Shake Rattle and Roll. She admits loving horror flicks particularly zombie movies.

The cast of Rock ‘n’ Roll is made up of GMA Artist Center talents such as Mark Herras, Ryza Cenon, Rainier Castillo and Yasmien Kurdi. Dominic Roco and IC Mendosa are also included. In the flick, a group of teenagers goes on a road trip and accidentally gets stranded in a remote seaside town. While playing a video game, Iwa gets possessed by the spirit of a dead woman (Yasmien) while in a lighthouse.

Iwa has learned how to deal with issues affecting her reel and real life like being overweight. How? By accepting it! She explained, “Hindi ako bothered kasi malaking bulas talaga ako. Hindi na mawawala ang mga curves ko. Kaya proud ako na malaman ako. Hindi ko naman type na magmukha akong tingting sa TV. Mamaya niyan sabihan pa ako na drug addict! Ha ha ha! Mas gugustuhin ko nang tawagin akong balyena kesa sa adik!”

She also plans to close down her Facebook account because she does not have to lie anymore. She has been posting shocking entries to call attention to herself such as she wants to die, or she’s married already when very much single.

She explained, “Nagda-drama lang ako! May dismenoreya kasi ako kaya ‘yun. Gusto ko lang mapansin noon. But what I did ay mali pala.”

Catch the attention of whom? Her family, specially her mother. (Her Japanese father is dead.) She wants to replace her Facebook account by reopening her Friendster account.

Gian Sotto wants to be a pastor

“Reading the Bible” is Gian Sotto’s guilty pleasure. He’s one of Star Magic’s birthday boys for March. He turned 28 last March 18. Of course, everybody knows he’s a showbiz royalty. He’s the son of 1960s pop icons Helen Gamboa and Tito Sotto. He explains, “Last year, nalaman ko na lumihis na ako ng daan at lumayo ako sa Diyos. Ngayon eager akong umuwi ng maaga to see my two kids and to be able to read the Bible. Gusto kong maging pastor kung mabibigyan ng pagkakataon.”

Like his parents, Gian is funny and outgoing, with occasional seriousness. A lead vocalist his own band called Anesthesia Nerveline, he’s active doing gigs. He’s its chief tunesmith, about to finish a Christian grunge type of music. Aside from music, his other passion is acting, well, just like his actor mother and father.

As a Star Magic artist, he has several Kapamilya shows. He gave justice to important roles in Pieta and Eva Fonda apart from Margarita and other TV appearances. He was also visible on the big screen. He did a Cinemalaya digital film entitled Huling Pasada and an indie film, Iliw. His birthday wish is to do action-packed movies with Robin Padilla and Mel Gibson.

All up to Monique Rae

It’s easy to mistake singer/songwriter Monique Rae for a foreign artist as she looks like one and has a name that matches. She sings a mixture of folk, pop and rock in her own style that she sounds like a foreign artist except that she sings Filipino songs, exposing her identity. Experience Monique Rae’s catchy hooks and brilliant compositions in her debut album All Up to Me, released by Polyeast Records.

Monique’s fresh sound with a very melodic soulful edge made PolyEast Records sign her up in August 2007. Her voice has been described as a cross between Alanis Morissette and Carrie Underwood. A&R director Chito Ilagan shares, “Monique has a definite style of her own.” Her biggest influence is Eva Santos, her mom, who is also a singer and a former vocalist of Cebu’s Zee Band. Monique recorded “Sundown” with Hale for the band’s third album Above, Over and Beyond, released in 2008.

Monique is not a showbiz newbie. She started singing in a Christmas program at Cebu International School at age seven. She did the lead role in Oliver! musical at 11. She co-hosted Sabado na Gyud at ABS-CBN Cebu at 14. She hosts, sings and dances. She did a single featuring K9. In 2004, she made the big move to Manila, winning the Studio 23 VJ Hunt which started off her present entertainment career.

“Set Me Free,” her 12-track CD’s first single, an upbeat pop rock which compliments her voice, is about falling in love. Soft-rock pop marked by well-crafted lyrics as produced by Jon Jon Castaneda includes the very light “Funny Feelings,” “With You,” “I Am Empty,” the memorable ballad “Gunita,” the beautiful but sad “Halik Sa Hangin,” as penned by Gabby Alipe, Urabandub’s vocalist, the folk- and jazz-influenced “Panaginip,” the guitar-driven “Free,” “Promises,” “Pwede Ba” and “Doon,” all written by her mom.

Jake resurfaces!

Since his character Dave was killed in a battle with rebels in Tayong Dalawa, Jake Cuenca has been missing. He has not appeared in public, whether for personal or professional reasons. Does he fear the early morning shootout of his vehicle in front of his Boni Avenue residence by unidentified persons? For sure, no! Buzzstation thinks he’s purposely making himself scarce. This is in preparation for his eventual reappearance in Tayong Dalawa. His dead body was not shown when he was buried as it was mangled during the fight. This is a sure indication Dave will resurface as he had not been killed.

Voila! Dave reappeared in last Thursday’s episode as a long-haired captive. He did not die, but was captured by the rebels. He was set free but was captured again. Exciting plot twist!

Rhian, future Edsa Queen

“Marian still has more billboards along Edsa,” Rhian Ramos observes, asked if she has taken over Marian Rivera as Edsa Queen. Edsa is the single stretch of street in the country with the highest concentration of billboards, advertising various products and services.

She came late during her launch as image model of Soda Scents and Fragrances by Pink Soda. Why? She came from the TVC shoot of another endorsement, PLDT MyDSL. To think she returned to the metro from her shoot of Zorro in Bagac, Bataan, just to be able to fulfill her commitments with these two endorsements. Undoubtedly, Rhian might not have replaced Marian as Edsa Queen by her own account, but she’s getting there. To date, she has seven endorsements including Soda Scents and Fragrances.

If Rhian is an in-demand image model, that’s because she’s a credible product pitcher. Rhian uses the products and services she endorses like Soda Scents and Fragrances. She loves perfume. She used to spray herself with men’s scents. Actually, this practice showed her strong personality. Now she has turned to Soda’s sweet scents meant for girls her age.

Want to smell Rhian? Or Dennis Trillo? Get a chance to do that in a date in Puerto del Sol Bolinao, Pangasinan, by joining the Soda Scents and Fragrances by Pink and Blue Soda Two Hot Summer Escapade promo. For details, log into www.sodalove.com.ph.

Blind corner: A track record of tardiness

This funny actor-host is in big trouble! For failing to show up on time in his new game show, network executives are already replacing him. One time he had a taping and claimed to be sick, he was substituted by a twisted host. Well, this is not something new. He has a track record for being late. In his two noontime shows, his producer has learned to deal with his tardiness: they don’t put him in the opening. Problem is he’s the only actor in the game show so if he’s late or a no-show, he has to be substituted so taping will not pack up. He had better shape up. His producer is already thinking of replacing him with the twisted host.