Growing up in Bacolod, much awarded actor and restaurant owner Joel Torres dreamt of being a filmmaker. In fact, he enrolled in a filmmaking couse in Bacolod. Later he apprenticed for highly respected filmmaker Peque Gallaga.
It was while working as a production assistant that he was asked to substitute for an actor who was indisposed.
“Parang ‘di totoo, ‘di ba?” Joel said. “But it happened. Meaning, kahit hindi mo pangarap, kapag sinuwerte ka, nangyayari. Kaya learn to embrace the suwerte.”
Now, Joel is regarded as one of the best and most reliable actors in the country. He remains very in-demand and is currently in the series, “Starla,” as the father of Judy Ann Santos.
“Hindi siya namimili ng role,” a movie production staff said. “Once nagustuhan niya ang role offered to him, maliit man o malaki ang exposure, he always does his best.”
His role as Boss Sol in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2019 entry, “Miracle in Cell No. 7,” is one to crow about. Aga Muhlach plays the lead, Lito, a simple man wrongly imprisoned in Viva’s tearjerker.
Those who have seen the film agree Aga is a shoo-in for best actor. For best supporting actor, they predict it is Joel.
Want to know why?
Watch “Miracle in Cell No. 7” this Dec. 25 in theaters nationwide.
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A truly blessed individual is Ogie Diaz.
A self-made man, Ogie worked at an early age to help augment his family’s income.
He helped sell barbeque at a stall on the side of the Our Lady of Loreto Church in Sampaloc, Manila.
“May maliliit din kasing palengke roon na maraming mamimili. Plus ‘yung mga nanggagaling sa simbahan, malakas ang barbekyuhan kaya may extra bonus ako, madalas sa may-ari,” he related. “Ipina-uuwi niya sa akin kapag may natirang barbecue. Na isang malaking bagay sa pamilya ko.”
Ogie has always been a movie fan. Aga Muhlach was his favorite and he dreamt of seeing the actor in person. He planned to apply as Aga’s alalay.
Later, he did become an alalay — but not to Aga but to Cristy Fermin, then editor, publisher and managing editor of Gossip, a top entertainment magazine.
Cristy, at that time, had a talk show.
“Everytime may lakad si Tita Cristy, isinasama niya ako. Parang kanang kamay niya,” recalled Ogie. “One time, I showed her an article about an actor I interviewed. Sabi ni Tita Cristy, magsulat na ako sa Gossip. And, in time, I became one of its staff writers.”
Now, Ogie is a highly successful comedian, producer, and talent manager. Top actress Liza Soberano is one of his wards. He also has a radio show, DZMM’s “OMJ,” with MJ Felipe.
“Aaminin ko, frustrated actor din ako,” said Ogie. “Kaya tumatanggap ako ng acting offers. Besides, napagbigyan ko na ang sarili.”
His biggest achievement, though, is his family. He has a beautiful wife, Georgette, and five wonderful daughters: Erin, Godhie, Georgina, Cory and Meerah Khel.
“They tell me, they are all proud of me, kahit ano pa ako,” said the gay comedian.
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Alden Richards has yet to have a movie after “Hello, Love, Goodbye,” his highly successful team-up with Kathryn Bernardo.
He remains visible though. He has a series on TV, “The Gift,” several endorsements and also personal appearances abroad.
“Para raw makilala lalo siya ng ating mga kababayng nakatira sa ibang bansa,” said a GMA 7 insider. “One asset ni Alden, never lumaki ang ulo nya. Kahit puwede na niyang sabihing superstar sya, he has remained kind and mahusay makisama.
“His greatest love is his family. For Christmas, he plans to bring all of them to Korea.
Alden continues to miss his mom, who died of cancer before he made it big in showbiz.
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Vic Sotto denied that his son, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, has a girlfriend.
At the press con of “Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity,” the veteran comedian was asked about the current state of heart of his politician son.
“He is single,” said Vic.
The young politician is currently being linked to host Gretchen Ho after several photos of them circulated on social media.
Gretchen, as far we know, is also single. She has not been in a relationship since her breakup with host and VJ Robi Domingo, who now has a girlfriend.
“Hintayin natin na si Tita Coney (Reyes) ang magsalita tungkol sa lovelife ni Mayor Vico.
Very close sila sa isa’t isa,” said a kibitzer. “Pero hindi naman Mama’s boy si Mayor Vico.”
“Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity” is a Metro Manila Film Festival 2019 entry opening on December 25. It is produced by Mzet Productions and APT Entertainment. It is directed by Mike Tuviera.