JANNO Gibbs is very busy this month with four of his completed films to be shown one after another. His super hero movie, “Mang Jose,” opens on Vivamax on December 24, while his action-drama with Dingdong Dantes, “A Hard Day,” is an entry in the Metro-Manila Film Festival that opens in theaters on Christmas Day. On December 31, his riotous comedy, “Sanggano, Sanggagot’ Sanggwapo 2: Aussie, Aussie, O Sige,” opens on Vivamax. And in January, his “Yorme” with Isko Moreno opens in theaters.
“Yes, thank God, maraming blessings,” he said. “Sana magtuloy-tuloy hanggang sa bagong taon. But for 2022, I have plans of directing a movie. Nag-pitch na ako ng possible projects kay Boss Vic del Rosario na puede kong idirek.”
“Sanggano, Sanggago’t Sanggwapo 2” starring the hilarious trio of Andrew E, Dennis Padilla and Janno Gibbs will be the special New Year offering of Vivamax as it opens on December 31, directed by Al Tantay. What is the secret of their trio as comedians who’ve been working together since the late ‘80s?
“Wala namang secret,” said Janno. “Siguro masaya lang talaga ang samahan namin kasi bigayan kami. When I think of lines na mas bagay kay Dennis or Andrew, I give it to them at gayundin naman sila sa akin. Ito ngang sequel, mas masaya kami sa lock-in shoot kasi sabay sabay kami kumain, kwentuhan, matulog, at gumising. We have a solid friendship for 30 years now, really great camaraderie. At kahit wala kaming shoot, we always text each other, kumustahan to keep in touch.”
The sequel to their blockbuster 2019 comedy movie “Sanggano, Sanggago’t Sanggwapo” now has the catchy theme song, “Aussie! Aussie! O sige!” by Andrew E., which is now a hit Tiktok trend. It’s about the misadventures of Johnny (Janno), Dondon (Dennis) and Andy (Andrew) in a beautiful resort hotel called Bonggacious Resort. Stream it on Vivamax starting December 31.
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‘“Yes, napag-uusapan naman namin yan, pero ultimately, si God po ang magde-decide kung kailan ang tamang panahon para sa amin. — Maja Salvador’
Maja Salvador and her boyfriend Rambo Nuñez are very open about their romance so Maja was asked if, like so many other showbiz couples who tied the knot recently, she and Rambo are also planning to walk down the aisle soon. The two are even business partners in their talent management agency, Crown Artists.
“Dapat yata siya ang sumagot sa ganyang tanong,” said Maja at her launch as the newest Beautederm endorser. “Yes, napag-uusapan naman namin yan, pero ultimately, si God po ang magde-decide kung kailan ang tamang panahon para sa amin. Darating din tayo dyan.
Hindi naman ako maramot sa press tungkol sa ganyan.”
Rei Tan of Beautederm says at this point: “Kapag ikinasal sila, sasagutin ko ‘yung reception.”
Maja is very happy to be the Beautederm ambassador for their Reiko and Kenzen Health Boosters formulated to help you maintain good health and lasting energy for a healthy lifestyle. Maja said she’s really been using Beautederm products for some years now. “Two years ago, nag-video call si Manang Rhea sa’kin, nag-Ilokano kaagad. She said, ‘Uy Bebeng, napintas na mga Ilokana, ‘di ba?’ So, ayun may connection kami agad. And nandun ‘yung feeling ko na darating siguro ang time na magiging member din ako ng Beautederm family kahit ang dami ng babies ni Manang Rhea. I think hinanapan niya ako kunsaan talaga ako perfect sa mga product niya at nakita niya sa video calls namin na ang hyper ko, so now, may energy boosters ako and I really love those health boosting supplements.”
So what are her and Rambo’s plans for the coming holiday season?
“My mom now lives in Canada after she married a Canadian citizen, so gusto ko sanang dalawin namin siya ni Rambo this Christmas and New Year. We applied for a Canadian visa, kaso matagal daw ang processing. We’re waiting pero kapag first week ng December at hindi pa approved, baka sa US na lang kami magkita-kita kasi ayaw niyang umuwi ng Pilipinas at maiwanan nang matagal ang trabaho niya roon. Sayang daw ang kikitain niya.”
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Rhen Escaño has made love with guys in “Untrue,” “The Other Wife,” and “Paraluman.”
Now, she’s paired with a real lesbian, singer Rita Martinez, in an eight-episode Girls’ Love series, “Lulu,” written and directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo who’s best known for her debut film, “Huling Chacha ni Anita,” a young lesbian’s coming-of-age story, and the sleeper hit, “Kita-Kita.”
“This is not something totally new for me,” said Rhen. “I also had a lesbian affair with Cindy Miranda in ‘Adan,’ pero si Cindy, babae talaga, unlike Rita na out as a lesbian. Drama-thriller ‘yung ‘Adan,’ but this one is very light, romantic comedy siya. I’m really happy to be a part of it.”
Rhen plays Sophie, a perky young woman who is crushed when her boyfriend breaks up with her. She deactivates all her social media accounts and runs away to the beach to wallow in her sadness. She’s so depressed she thinks of ending her life by drowning herself in the ocean, but when she’s about to drown, she changes her decision and tries to swim back. Just as she is about to drown, along comes Abi (Rita) who rescues her and that starts their romantic relationship.
Rhen is glad to do “Lulu” as she’s a true sympathizer of the LGBT community. “Para sa akin kasi, love has no gender. Basta love is love, kahit boy-girl or same sex, kapag love ang na-feel mo, ‘yun yon, love ‘yun. This is something new for me kasi puro mabibigat ang ginawa kong films before, but this one, romcom, so something new for me. Gusto ko rin namang lumawak ang kaalaman ko sa acting and doing a romcom is a different challenge for me. I also want to work again with Direk Sigrid na nakasama ko before sa ‘Untrue’.”
Direk Sigrid wants to thank Viva for greenlighting “Lulu.” “Kasi mas maraming gumagawa ng Boys’ Love series kaysa sa Girls’ Love. Most recent ‘yung ‘Pearl Next Door’ and ‘BetCin’ na tunay na mga babae ang gumaganap na lesbian. Here, Rhen is Sophie and I want to cast a real lesbian to be her love interest, si Abi, para mabigyan naman ng chance to star in a GL show ang totoong members ng LGBTQ community.”
“Lulu” will start streaming on Vivamax on January 7, 2022.
