SENATOR Lito Lapid recently hosted lunch for the entertainment press to express his gratitude for supporting him and all his projects. “I will be celebrating my 30th year as a public servant,” he said. “I served Pampanga as vice governor for one term, as governor for three terms and now, I’m on my third term as a senator.”
Does he have any other political plans?
“Wala na. After my term at the Senate, I want to focus more on acting. Nami-miss ko talaga. I will be taping for ‘Batang Quiapo’ with Coco Martin starting February and in March, I will be shooting a new movie for director Erik Matti of Reality Entertainment. It’s ‘Buy Bust, Part 2’ with Anne Curtis and Gerald Anderson. I have also finished two other films, ‘Lumang Bakal,’ a digital film for Star Cinema, and ‘Apag’, a family drama for Direk Brillante Mendoza.”
Does showbiz ever come into conflict with his duties as a senator?
“Hindi naman, kasi wala naman kaming sessions sa senado during the weekends,” he replied. “So I can tape or shoot on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Si Coco, alam na niya ang schedule ko.”
The senator came with his son Mark Lapid, who’s now the Tourism Infrastructure Authority CEO. Sen. Lito is very proud of Mark. “Before, lagi akong kinukutya at nilalait dahil hindi raw ako nakatapos ng pag-aaral at hindi ako maalam mag-ingles,” he says. “Kaya ang mga anak ko, pinilit kong mag-aral. Mark has a master’s degree and now, nagdo-doctorate naman. So ‘yung hindi ko naabot sa pag-aaral, ayan, I’m very proud of him sa kanyang educational attainment.”
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‘His on-screen love team with Barbie Forteza as Klay has won them countless fans who call their tandem “Filay.”’
David Licauco never thought his role as Fidel in GMA-7’s hit primetime series, “Maria Clara at Ibarra,” will truly boost his career. His on-screen love team with Barbie Forteza as Klay has won them countless fans who call their tandem “Filay.”
Fidel first came across as sexist and arrogant, but Klay changed him.
And not only that, his acting has never been generously praised as his portrayal of Fidel is reaping now. In last week’s episode of the show, he and Klay are witnesses to the death of Rocco Nacino as Elias. Netizens praised him a lot for his acting in this dramatic scene.
“Being part of a hit show like ‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ is one of the biggest blessings in my career,” said David. “I’m overwhelmed by the favorable reaction of the viewing public to our love team ni Barbie. First time ko rin to get so much praise for my performance and I’m really overwhelmed by the positive comments I’m getting.”
David said that the drama series will end on February 17 but they are now taping its Book 2 that will now focus on Jose Rizal’s second novel, “El Filibusterismo.” And since his love team with Barbie is a big part of the show’s enormous success, they will continue to play their respective role as Fidel and Klay. David is also a good singer and he sang the “Filay” theme song, “Kailangan Kita,” which is a hit with their fans.
He also feels jubilant to get his first endorsement with Barbie because of the huge success of their love team in “Maria Clara.” They were chosen by Ishin owners Mario Miguel and Shirleen Bautista as the ambassadors of Ishin Food Supplement for skin whitening and immune boosting after they were seen with the product in their social media accounts.
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Mark Anthony Fernandez is doing one movie after one another. Since he joined Viva, he has done “Doblado,” “Deception,” “Barumbadings,” “House Tour,” “Kaliwaan,” “Scorpio NIghts 3,” “Pamasahe,” “Night Bird” and the latest is “Bela Luna.” He has also finished a new mini-series with Rose Van Ginkel, “Stalkers,” that will stream end of October.
Mark turned 44 on January 18 and he feels he has been given a new lease on life with all the wonderful things that is happening to his career right now. We’ve noticed he’s been more daring in showing off his physique in the movies he does. In “Scorpio Nights 3,” he had frontal nudity in his scene with Christine Bermas. In “Night Bird,” he is shown walking around shirtless and in the scene where Christine is torturing him, he’s only in his underwear.
“Well, mas matapang ako ngayon kasi pinaghirapan ko naman ang porma ng katawan ko ngayon,” he said. “Talagang nag-e-ensayo ako everyday at hinahanap na ng katawan ko kapag hindi ako nakapag-exercise. I’d say I’m more fit now than when I was younger, so I feel puede naman akong maging mas daring sa movies that I do now.”
In “Luna Bela,” he plays a criminal who makes Angeli Khang his hostage while he is being pursued by cops. Soon, romance blooms between the kidnapper and the hostage. Angeli is the battered wife of Julio Diaz who often uses her against her will. In Mark, she feels the tenderness and care she has never felt before and she falls for him.
