‘The pandemic gave me time to reflect on the things I want to do and the dreams I want to chase. — Bea Alonzo’
BEA ALONZO
BEA Alonzo is now formally a Kapuso.
“When I heard the news from my manager, Shirley Kuan, that it’s a done deal, I was so happy. It feels so good. I feel empowered. It feels right as I’m starting a new chapter in my life. The pandemic gave me time to reflect on the things I want to do and the dreams I want to chase. When the offer came, it’s a big blessing, then the negotiations began and it just flowed naturally.”
Did she formally say goodbye to her ABS-CBN bosses?
“I said goodbye when the deal was already 99% final. I called my former boss, Sir Carlo Katigbak, and I asked for his blessing. It was very emotional kasi 20 years of my life, I spent with them. He wished me well and he wished me good luck.”
What are her GMA projects?
“I’m doing a film with GMA Films and Viva with Alden Richards. With Alden, I also like to work with him on TV kasi masaya siyang kasama. Si Dingdong Dantes, I made a movie with him so sana, sa teleserye naman. Also Marian Rivera. I think it’d interesting na pagsamahin kaming dalawa. And si Dennis Trillo, bagets pa kami nang makatrabaho ko siya sa ABS, so I look forward to working with him again. Also with Derek Ramsay na naging leading man ko rin sa movies. Also sina Jennylyn, Lovi, Barbie, Sanya, Jasmine, Ruru, basically all of them.”
What can she say to fans who don’t seem to approve of her move? “I’m hoping that they will embrace my decision and they’ll be happy as I’m happy with what I’ve decided to do with my career. I pray that they will continue to support me and continue to grow with me now that ang feeling ko nag-uumpisa ako uli. It’s like a rebirth for me and it feels so good.
I just want to dwell on the negative and not the positive. As of now, I am really excited to do the movie with Alden. We already had a workshop with Direk Nuel Naval. We will start shooting in September kasi I’m leaving for the States in a few days. Matagal nang plano ‘yun and I need to re-energize para pagbalik ko, ready na ako to work. Ready na ako to collaborate with new people. May primetime soap daw for me pero ‘di pa puwede i-reveal ang details. Excited din ako to do lock-in taping kasi ‘di ko pa na experience.”
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Paolo Gumabao was so happy after the press preview of his launching flick “Lockdown.” Everyone congratulated him for his touching performance as the OFW from Dubai who lost his job during the pandemic and suffered serious setbacks in his life that forces him to be a cyber prostitute. Which is the most difficult of the nude and sex scenes he did with both and women?
“I didn’t find the sex scenes hard to do. I just followed Direk Joel Lamangan’s advice to let go of all my inhibitions, including doing frontal nudity. What was harder for me were the acting scenes, lalo ‘yung emotional at umiiyak ako. First is when I visited my father in his hospital bed at naiyak ako, then when I was alone on top of the rocks at the breakwater where I was crying quietly by myself. Pinakamahirap ‘yung scene near the end with Allan Paule as a cop who abused me brutally. Umiiyak ako sa takot. I shed real tears in all those scenes.”
Paulo is the son of Dennis Roldan (whose real name is Mitchell Gumabao). “Ako lang ang anak niya sa mommy ko, but they broke up even before I was born, then my mom met my Chinese stepdad who took us to Taiwan. That’s where I grew up. I studied in a Chinese school in Taipei, so I speak Mandarin. We went back to Manila ng mom ko after they separated when I was 13. ‘Yung stepdad ko ang kinagisnan kong father ko and we’re very close up to now. I met my real dad when I was 15, and my half-siblings, including Kuya Marco who’s older than me by 3 years. I’m turning 23 on July 25. Just when we were getting close ng biological dad ko, he was jailed naman. Dinadalaw-dalaw ko siya sa Bilibid.”
He hopes “Lockdown” will be an eye-opener for those who look down on people who are forced to sell their bodies for a living. “Don’t just judge them as you don’t know what they’re going through. Life is so hard due to the lockdown. Like my character Danny, he’s pushed against the wall, sarili namang katawan niya ang binebenta niya, he’s not stealing or hurting anyone. Ang masama, ‘yung ginawa sa akin ng pulis na talagang inabuso ako.
So huwag nyo sila basta huhusgahan as you don’t really know them. So people should watch ‘Lockdown’ kasi lahat ng ipinakita rito is a reflection of reality, kung ano talaga ang nangyayari ngayon sa totoong buhay.”
Produced by the For the Love of Arts Films, the uncut version of “Lockdown” is streaming worldwide on July 23, 2021 through ktx.ph, upstream.ph and RAD (iamrad.app)
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Katrina Velarde gained fame for being a “biritera” as the Suklay Diva. She now gets a sound makeover in her latest single for Viva Records, “Sa Panaginip.” “I did it for a change kasi nakakapagod din namang puro birit at matataas ang kinakanta mo,” she says. “So now, lumihis ako ng konti with this R&B upbeat song para may iba namang marinig sa’kin ang listeners.”
She likes the song for its positive message. “It says na sa panaginip, lahat, puedeng mangyari. Iba ang vibes niya, very encouraging and uplifting, specially sa panahon ngayon.
Ako, masayahin akong tao, so gusto ko ito. Very sing-able siya. Madaling kantahin at sabayan. Puede ring nilang sayawin, lalo ngayong usong-uso ang mga nagtitiktok.”
She doesn’t hide that she had facial enhancements and she definitely looks more gorgeous now than ever before.
“New look, kasi married na ako. I’m now Mrs. Mike Shapiro. At mas okay raw ang short hair sa’kin, kasi kapag mahaba ang buhok ko, mas nagiging maliit akong tingnan. At yes, ayan, o tingnan nyo, ang ganda ko, sa tulong ng siyensiya.”
Katrina and hubby Mike were married in Tagaytay only last May.
“I met Mike five years ago sa U.S. tour ni Tito Gary Valenciano who gets me as back-up singer and as his front act. Drummer siya ni Sergio Mendez and other top singers pero sa Pinoy, kay Kuya Gary lang siya tumutugtog. So doon ko siya na-meet, but naging on kami, two years ago lang. Hirap kasi sa ako sa pa-English-English. Ngayon nga, pag nag-aaway kami, walkout na lang ako para hindi na ko mag-English. Ha ha ha!”
Mike is now based in Manila. “He loves it here. Magkasundo kami as we’re both musicians.
So now, wala nang kulang sa’kin. Height na lang kasi 4’11” lang ako, halos 6 feet siya. But as of now, sanay na siyang yumuko so he can reach me down. Mike helps me grow. We’re now doing a new song na love song-wedding song for our next release. The title is ‘Sa Dulo ay Ikaw’.”
She asks Mike to join her in the press con. So how is it being married to Katrina? “We’re having a good time together,” he says. “I’m kind of an introvert, on the shy side, but we have a lot of things in common and we have a similar vision about what music and why we do it. It’s not just to make money but because it’s what we love. And it’s nice to do that and be creative with the person you love.”
